Heaven Past Present and Future

                            Chapter 9 

THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH

Sometime ago God mourned over His separation from the material creation after the fall of Lucifer. In its chaotic condition God saw great value. In His great-unsurpassed love He found a way to bring all things back unto Himself through Jesus Christ His Son. The account of Scripture shares how God used the time variation between Himself and the rest of creation to His advantage. In good stewardship God found a way to accomplish this worthy goal. Man was a part of this plan that was formed before the foundation of the world we live in now. In gratitude God promises heavenly blessing to those who will receive them through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly (places) in Christ: 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: 5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: 7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, (I say,) 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of (God's) own possession, unto the praise of his glory. ASV

Simply put, as believers in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, we hope for this fulfillment of God’s promise to a special inheritance prepared for those who love Him.  This hope to enjoy fellowship with Him will come when God has finished His purposes over a predetermined period of time only He knows.  God has shared much prophetically about this destiny of His adopted children in Christ. His children today call this place God promises affectionately “heaven.” Yet heaven is only part of this new domain to come.  May we for a few moments consider …

The New Heaven and Earth

The first question to arise is what about the old where we live now? What will happen to all we see around us? While we enjoy the earthly blessings of this world Scripture shares an interesting destiny for the creation God designed for man in the plan of redemption.

Present Material Creation Burned With Fire

 

2 Peter 3:2-13

Prophetically Foretold

 

2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Peter wants his readers to recall the prophetic inspired word about this current material creation. Those prophets shared it is “reserved for fire” and “kept for the Day of Judgment.” All will be destroyed.

From an earthly perspective it appears this promise will never happen. Due to his limited under the heaven view man thinks everything has and will continue as always. Nothing has changed for a long period of time in the heaven and earth, so they are expecting nothing will change in the future.  This incorrect temporal worldview of an unchanging creation brings a false sense of stability that temps man to constantly scoff at God and His promises.

Peter reminds us of the forgotten judgment of the world in the past. Chapter 1 – In Beginning showed this judgment Peter refers is probably before the judgment of the flood of Noah. A Just and Holy God had long before the flood begun dealing with sin in His Kingdom when an angel of light began sowing weeds in his beautiful garden. Just as God’s judgment was begun at Lucifer’s fall that judgment will come to completion. The “present heavens and earth” and “ungodly men” have a reservation for a day of judgment by fire in destruction. 

God Is Waiting For Every Possible Person To Repent

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Some may think God is taking a long time to bring this promise of finishing His judgment and ultimate reunion of the creation to Himself. Peter reminds of an important principle in interpreting God’s plan in the redemption of the creation. God’s time is different from the creation’s time. Apart from the light energy of God, time in the present material creation is slowed. In God’s domain of time, He being Light, this period allotted to redeem the creation passes quickly. Our thousands of years are mere days to God the Father.

There is a special reason God waits patiently allowing this sinful decaying creation to continue to exist. God wants to allow time for every possible person to repent so as not to perish. He lovingly waits for the last possible soul to accept His Son as Savior and Lord.

The Day of The Lord Will Come As Promised

When the last possible soul is saved the “day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Everything we see will be melted down to its smallest parts by heat. The heavens that separate God from this creation will disappear with a roar. The stars, planets and earth will dissolve in the destruction by fire. The Apostle Paul tells how the creation, just like believers, groans patiently for this day to come together in unity and oneness through the completed work of Jesus Christ in the plan of God the Father.

 Romans 8:18-25

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. NIV

Out of this destruction by fire and heat, our new home of righteousness will be born. On this day of judgment of the creation the “sons of God” will be “revealed.[1]” The adoption of God’s children is completed this day. Believers in Jesus Christ will be unveiled before everyone in God’s kingdom – before kings, powers and principalities.  We will live eternally in a new heaven and earth. The last chapters of God’s Word foretell this wonderful place we will call “home” forever.

God Unveils a New Heaven and a New Earth Revelation 21-22

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

As previously shown the first earth passes away. John sees in his vision a new heaven and a new earth. The word “new”[2] here sheds light on God’s method of creating this new Kingdom. That which we see before us is not all brand new in the sense of being young and never used. It is a remodeling and reforming of the old, what already had existed from long ago.

All creation that exploded in the wrath of God at the fall of Lucifer long ago will be drawn together as one again in a new form. All the matter of the sun, moon, stars, planets and galaxies will be redesigned as the New Heaven and The New Earth that the Apostle John sees.  

This new creation has no sea. In our present creation the sea is responsible for maintaining stable energy production apart from God’s energy. These oceans currently are a major source of oxygen and food. It is essential for the present existence of life. Future existence will no longer depend on energy from the breakdown and utilization of the creation, but will come from God. The sea is no longer needed in its present function.

New Jerusalem Sent from God

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

John also sees the focal city of this New Earth, the New Jerusalem. It descends out of heaven from God. John compares its beauty to that of a bride dressed for her husband. He is enamored and awestruck by the beauty of this Holy City from which God reigns eternally. Later in this chapter John attempts description of his wonderful place.

God the Father Returned to His Creation

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

The answer to the model prayer “thy kingdom come” will be realized. God the Father will be reunited with His creation. Like never before God will “live with them” and they will “be his people.” As He fellowshipped with His creation “in beginning” prior to Lucifer’s destructive choice God the Father will again “be with them and be their God.”

God Fulfills His Promised New Existence to His Creation

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

The existence and life of God’s people is wonderfully changed. In the glorified body will be no need for tears, no suffering of death, no mourning of loss, and no crying or pain. These are but a few of the many changes when the Father returns to the material creation. A new order comes as the old order passes away. The present creation proceeds from order to disorder. Then all will be new no longer suffering the present decay.

At this point the plan of God the Father is completed. Just as Jesus cried, “It is finished” on the cross, God will say, “It is done.”  While we as believers in this present time of God’s plan greatly anticipate the “gathering together” to the Lord in the second coming we still will not be in our final home of heaven. Imagine how much greater the excitement when we hear the words of God announce, “It is done” as we experience the fullness of our hope in the new heaven and earth. In this new “home” God will provide “the water of life” to all thirsty without cost picturing his sustaining of every necessity of our new life.

“He who overcomes will inherit all this” in the relationship as a child. Just as children receive an inheritance from earthly fathers God as our Father will give an allotment He as predetermined of His kingdom of the New Heaven and The New Earth to believers. The Father gives this new inheritance according as His children “overcome”[3].   

The Father will reward those who remain faithful in service of Jesus Christ on this day. Jesus spoke of such reward for those who overcome in His message to the church at Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:11-13

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. NIV

The author of Hebrews tells of the day of revealing of the Sons of God. It will be a glorious assembly of the firstborn with a great host of angels watching. 

Hebrews 12:22-29

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."  27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." NIV

Sin Is Separated In The Second Death

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Nothing sinful will exist in this new home but all will be separated in the second death forever. All who have not called upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation from sin have an eternal destiny in God’s wrath.

John 3:18

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. NIV

 

John 3:36

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."  NIV

A Description of the New Jerusalem

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21  The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

An angel gives John a detailed glimpse of the Holy City Jerusalem as it comes down from heaven. Finally is the heaven for which believers visualize, dream and hope. It is brilliant and bright from the Light of God the Father. No shadows will exist. Contrast and definition will exist by color and light intensity as shown by John’s descriptive use of stones and elements. The size measured is about a one thousand five hundred-mile cube.

No places of worship exist in this city. No temple is needed for “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”  No sun or moon is needed because God will now be the Light. There is no night for darkness will never again exist in the presence of God the Father.

The “nations” or believers abiding in other geographical areas of the new earth will come and enter this Holy City Jerusalem to glory and honor God. The new earth will likely contain once again all material creation united as one. The stars and planets will be together again as before the destruction at Lucifer’s fall. To be sure only those names written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter this city whose gates shall never shut.

God’s Light Now Sustains Creation

Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

The basics of current existence require water and food. Without water and food life quickly decays to eventual death. Access to  “the water of life” and “ the tree of life” give the believer power to sustain eternal life without the decay of our present creation. Our life sustaining energy comes from God. In heaven there is no need for healing – the need for healing is prevented from occurring. No longer will we obtain needful energy inefficiently from the breakdown of creation. Having no flesh and blood we will no longer require oxygen to breath. No waste will exist of carbon dioxide and water from burning carbon chains for energy.

The curse of sin that brought decay and disorder will no longer exist. Nothing will wear out or breakdown any longer. No part of creation will destroy another part of creation for its own existence. See Chapter 7 – With What Body Do They Come?

In this new home as His servants we will serve and worship God. As Lord God He will reign forever and ever. We will see His face and enjoy His name. We can only imagine what it will be like to belong to His family.

The Promise is Coming Soon

6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" 10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." 12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

At present God allows the creation to continue in the state of chaotic battle of sin and righteousness separated from Himself. But He is coming soon! The prophecy of the book of Revelation is open to all, remaining unsealed. Understanding this prophecy we are to recognize the Lord is coming soon! When He comes He will “reward everyone according to what he had done.”

Those who have washed their robes will have the right to the tree of life and go into the city. Those who have failed to wash their robes in forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ have no access to this life sustaining eternal energy of God. They will forever remain outside.  

The Churches Receive This Message

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

The churches of the Lord have received this testimony as given from the angel to the Apostle John. True churches share faithfully this message of hope and promise looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:8-16

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. NIV

Last Invitation, Warnings, and Final Promise

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

God invites all who will to “Come!” God says, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” God promises the blessings of heaven, that new home, to all who will receive Him.

                         

John 6:35-40

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." NIV

God warns the listeners of the churches to not corrupt this message of prophecy. Changing the content of the message results in God taking “away from him his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.” Believers never lose salvation, yet rewards with an inheritance in heaven are according to what was done. While all will have eternal life that have ever trusted in Jesus as Savior, not all life energy and blessing in that heavenly kingdom will be identical.

As believers continue to walk in faith, God’s final promise is always to remember the Lord says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Our prayer echoes with John… “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”