Categories: Devotional

Bible doctrine New heaven and New earth.

TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE SHALL BE STUDYING IN DETAILS,

BIBLE DOCTRINE 21: THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

God’s Word teaches:

That the New Heaven and the New Earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness” will be made by God and the redeemed shall dwell with God forever.

This present earth, which has been polluted by sin, will pass away after the Great White Throne Judgment – (Psalm 102:25,26; Isaiah 51:6; 65:17; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1).

Psalms 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

In the new heaven and new earth, No unclean thing will be there.

We shall know each other, our knowledge having been perfected.

There will be no more curse upon anything.

There will be no more night; the glory of the Lord will be the light thereof – Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:12,13; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2,3; Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-5.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of 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 shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

,Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

The present age in which we live is referred to in Scriptures as the “last days” (Hebrews 1:1,2).

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

This age is very significant in the plan of God as it ushers us into another important series of events often called in theology as “Eschatology”.

Also called the Church age, our present age is marked by evil, the dominion of Satan, darkness, ungodliness, lust, murder, lying and all manner of sins (Ephesians 6:12; Galatians 1:4).

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The Church is not left out.

There is and there will be a denial of God, Christ, faith, sound doctrine, and Christian living (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:3,4; 3:1-8).

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

The land is under a curse (Genesis 3:17).

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

The devil and all his fallen angels walk to and fro the whole earth.

The atmospheric heavens are polluted by the activities of Satan.

The believers today grow under the harsh and hard conditions of the earth.

They look forward to a change – a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and holiness.

God has the ultimate plan to judge sinners. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”.

With the final judgment of sinners, God’s divine plan is to replace this polluted, evil earth and atmospheric heavens with a New Earth and a New Heaven that will match His glory, holiness, and righteousness (Revelation 21:1-8).

Isaiah 65:17)

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

This gives a good picture of what shall become of the present earth and heavens.

All what we may call beautiful edifices and empires today will melt away in fervent heat because “…

2 Peter 3:7,

the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store; reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7,10-14).

The glories of men and all the so-called “wonders” of the world shall not stand this fervent heat.

Herein is wisdom: believers should lay up their treasures in heaven, not on earth “where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

This new creation is entirely free from any taint of sin and therefore the consequences and effect of sin are absent.

Here there is neither death, sorrow, pain, tears, nor separation from God (2 Peter 3:13;

3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

Revelation 21:4).

21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

As God created the present heavens and earth, so will He create the New Heavens and the New Earth – NEW in quality and in TIME

. The great, holy, and eternal heaven will have New Jerusalem as its capital.

This is the capital of the eternal state called the “Bride” because of its virgin beauty, unstained with sin.

Here Christ and all the saints, from all ages will reside forevermore.

Indeed, all things will be new. “Behold, I make all things new”. This is the eternal destiny of the saints from all ages.

This is the place Jesus spoke about, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3).

We shall appear with Him in glory and be like Him

(Revelation 21:3;

21:3 And I heard a great voice out of 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 shall be with them, and be their God

Colossians 3:4).

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The Holy City, New Jerusalem, is a material city not a mystical one.

Its beauty is beyond human description.

About 15,000 miles in length and a breadth and height of about 15,000 miles,

the streets are made of pure gold, as clear as glass. With walls of jasper and its twelve foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones,

it has twelve gates of twelve pearls. The entire city wall is pure gold, as clear as glass.

This is a city without any temple. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

“The city has no need of sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

The redeemed of all the earth shall bring their glory and honour into the city. This is a city whose gates are never shut (Revelation 21:16-26).

Revelation 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

The pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeds out the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The tree of life by the sides of this river bears twelve manner of fruits monthly.

These fruits and leaves are for the healing of the nations.

“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever: (Revelation 22:1-5).

Revelation

22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Words are insufficient to describe this new creation. But what will it take to partake in this inheritance?

In order to partake in this new inheritance, sinners must repent and believers must overcome.

Revelation 21:7).

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:7).

We must overcome the world (1 John 5:4,5; 2:15-17)

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

We must overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11). False prophets, sin, and evil must not have dominion over us.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We must flee from all appearances of evil

(1Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 12:17-21).

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Whether they be persecutions or temptations, we must overcome to be part of this great inheritance (Revelation 2:10,26-28).

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.

The overcomer is the one that prevails and triumphs over all the works of the devil (Acts 19:16).

Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The sinner must be thirsty for righteousness and salvation.

“I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

It will be too costly to miss this glorious experience.

Sinners must repent today. Backsliders must return to the Saviour immediately!

The life of the redeemed in this eternal city will be glorious.

It will be a life of fellowship (1 Corinthians 13:12),

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

rest (Revelation 14:13),

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

full knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:12),

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

holiness (Revelation 21:27),

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

joy (Revelation 21:4),

Revelation 21:4).

service (Revelation 22:3),

22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

abundance

(Revelation 21:6),

21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

glory (2 Corinthians 4:17)

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

and worship (Revelation 19:1; 7:9-12).

Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Unfortunately, the contrary for unrepentant sinners.

Revelation 21:8).

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

There is punishment for the unrepentant and coward who would rather chose to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

They will suffer torment eternally in the lake of fire. We have only one life to live (Hebrews 9:27),

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

therefore the believer must remain faithful and steadfast in the Lord,

the sinner must repent and be saved, and the backslider must come back home and be restored.

Negligence of this so great salvation will be unfortunate.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

We should not miss the glories of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Let him that hath ear, listen to what the Spirit is saying unto the churches.

Revelation 3:11,12).

“Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:11,12).

Because you are going to be a partaker in this new heaven and new earth, hold fast this doctrine till Christ comes.

Revelation 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.