The successive covenants in Scripture, talk of an everlasting covenant (berith ‘olam) made with creation. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had PASSED AWAY. 21:1). All later tabernacles and temples within the history of the people of Israel are a reflection of Eden. Creation and new creation are the bookends of the Bible. In short, God is committed to his creation. All the kings of the earth will be welcome to the city to honor God. 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Frankly, when those verses do line up perfectly, they are difficult to understand. The vast majority of the Old Testament, for example, focuses heavily on the idea that the Israelites struggled to follow the commandments and laws that God gave to Moses when the Israelites were gathered at the base of Mount Sinai after they had left Egypt. Where the rivers will go or what that means for the empty expanses the oceans once filled is never explained. Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. There are entire books in the Bible that are devoted solely to explaining how the Israelites had failed. He is committed to his creation. The premillennial view thus reads the verse literally to mean that when the end times are over there will be an entirely new heaven that is created, and it will exist alongside an entirely new Earth. God is concerned for the renewal of this earth. As such, the premillennial view asserts that those who manage to survive the various disasters described in Revelation will live out their lives on a saved and purified Earth that has become almost indistinguishable from heaven. 23:5), and with Israel after the Babylonian exile (Isa. Following the judgment of the great white throne depicted in the closing verses of chapter 20, John’s attention is next directed to the new heaven and the new earth which replace the old heaven and the old earth … Both of these events are mentioned in 2 Peter 3, a chapter of the Bible that is sometimes cited as proof that all will be destroyed. (Isaiah 65:17) As the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. God is concerned for the renewal of this earth. 24:5, 6; 55:3; 61:8; Jer. Our bodies will also be raised in a way that will allow us to live in the new heavens and the new earth. In Genesis, the Tree of Life is forbidden, and Adam and Eve lose the ability to see and speak with God when they are thrown from Eden. Both. The dross of sin will be removed and the purity of the gold will be exposed. God is not a lifeless statue within this temple, but he walks and talks within the garden (Gen. 3:8). In the light of this, it is surprising that so many Christians view the earth as transient at best and something to be forsaken at worst. The traditional idea of a new heaven and new Earth is one of the latter ideas. This is because the language has changed so much in the last several thousand years. There are two views concerning the meaning of the phrase, “new heavens and new earth.” Since they represent opposing viewpoints, one of them must be false.. The Scripture is taken as face value, and there are no deeper or further metaphorical or symbolic layers to be uncovered in the phrase. Clearly, God wants us to remember Isaiah 65 which began with these words of promise from God, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” 10 Things You Should Know about Christian Ethics. What do you need to know about the new heaven and new Earth? In verse 1 John says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1, ESV). Work in the new heaven and new earth will be all that good work was intended to be. They have always wondered what it would be like. 8:38–39). Ian K. Smith is the author of Not Home Yet: How the Renewal of the Earth Fits Into God’s Plan for the World. The Bible gives few details of what that state will be like. Most people, however, have likely not paid too much attention to the creation of the new heaven and new Earth as described in Revelation. But it is a temple with a difference. There are, however, only two main interpretations of the verse underpinning the arguments about details. 24:8), David (2 Sam. As we await the general resurrection, we will be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. It is not surprising, therefore, that Scripture talks of the fulfilment of this rescue as “new heavens and a new earth” (Isa. Thomas Schreiner shares 10 important things you should know about the biblical covenants—the backbone of the biblical story. Creation has always captured humanity’s attention. But the Hebrew word berith (covenant) can often mean a one-sided pledge. The length of time over which the disasters in the. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. For the first heaven and earth, no “place” will be found, but in their stead a new heaven and a new earth will appear (Rev. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pet. If our lives are transformed by the power of the gospel, our workplaces, families, marriages, friendships, and world will be impacted. 2:18). Next in both books comes discussions of fruit, crops and plants. The writers of the Bible were not immune to this idea. The images in the temple are not made of wood or stone, but are human flesh and blood named Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26, 27). Also there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1) 2. Learn more or donate today at, Not Home Yet: How the Renewal of the Earth Fits Into God’s Plan for the World. Immortality means that our life will not be interrupted by death, but resurrection means the raising of our physical bodies. When God cuts a covenant with Abram, Abram was asleep (Gen. 15:12). Similarly, the effects of the kingdom of God can be lived out on Mondays as well as on Sundays. The phrase means either a renewed earth or it is a figurative expression for heaven itself. God’s image bearers are given a purpose within the temple. Perhaps what we will be doing is what we have done in this life but without the sweat and frustration experienced here…Since there will be no curse on work, the workplace, or the worker, labor will be personally and completely satisfying, far more than was obtainable in this life. In the meantime, the division is not between a sacred kingdom and a secular kingdom. Though their life may end, they could hold fast to the knowledge that a better life awaited them at the ful˜llment of God’s plan for this world. The story of the Bible begins with “God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1) and ends with “a new heaven and the new earth” (Rev. The scope of this rescue operation encompasses all that has fallen. the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing The earth that God created is not a functional, monochrome, utilitarian machine. Christian ministry is not just about telling people how to get into heaven when they die, essential though that is. 11:15). It is also concerned for what happens in this world. The effects of sin can be just as sorely felt in the church as in the workplace. There is nothing that the human brain obsesses over more than a mystery that remains unsolved. The fruit of the Tree of Life “is filled with fruit and leaves for the healing of the nations,” and people once again see God regularly. 21:1) within which our resurrected bodies will live. There will not be a new and perfect Earth that exists for people to live on after the end times are over. When Jesus returns, it will not be just for a visit, to pick us up and take us elsewhere. In this new creation, “the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. These languages then later had to be translated so that scholars could create Latin Bibles. If they had, they might have noticed that the creation of the new world mirrors the creation of the old. 1. 16:60; 37:26). 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