The New Heavens And New Earth

Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22 predict that God will in future create a New Heavens and New Earth.

One view suggests that the New Heavens and New Earth will be totally new and not just a renovation of the older heavens and earth. Matthew 5:18, Mark 13:31 and Revelation 21:1 may suggest this when they refer to the older heaven and earth passing away.

Another view says that the New Heavens and New Earth will be a renovation or renewal of the old heavens and earth. Romans 8:18-21 may prove this view. Also note Matthew 19:28 refers to the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth as “the regeneration”. In Greek, the word “regeneration” here is “palingenesia” which means “a new birth”. [1]

Maybe the truth is that the renewal or renovation of the old heavens and earth will be so perfect, it will seem like a total replacement of the old by the new.

All decay, rust and death will be removed from the New Heavens and New Earth (see Romans 8:19-21).

 

The New Jerusalem

 

Part of the New Heavens and New Earth is called the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:1-2). The New Jerusalem may be in the New Heavens or on the New Earth. The New Jerusalem will have the following features:

 

a)        God will live with His people in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:3 predicts: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

b)        Only those humans whose names are written in the Book of Life will be with God in the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:27). God’s Name will be on the foreheads of those who live there (see Revelation 22:4).

c)        There will be no death, sorrow, sadness, unhappiness, crying or pain in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:4 predicts: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

d)        There will be no darkness or night in the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:23-25). The glorious Presence of God and Jesus Christ will provide all the necessary light there (see Revelation 21:23).

e)        There will be no curses in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:3 says: “And there shall be more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” Curses are things like sickness, death, needs not being provided, being rejected, being hurt, being depressed and being full of fear (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

f)         In the New Jerusalem, there will be no evil or wickedness. Revelation 22:15 states: “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” In the New Jerusalem, there will be no hate, resentment, envy, greed, murders, rapes, violence, fear, worry, anxiety, stress, lying, stealing, unjust laws, feeling rejected and any similar wicked thing. In Matthew 6:20, Jesus emphasises that in heaven there is no thieving or burglary: “…in heaven…where thieves do not break in and steal.”

g)        People living in the New Jerusalem will be totally filled with God’s Spirit and as a result will be filled with His love, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace and joy (see Galatians 5:22). Most of us find it hard to imagine such a good place.

 

 

Bible Study Questions

 

1.       Explain the different views about the nature of the future New Heavens and New Earth.

2.       What will be the features of the future New Jerusalem?