BIBLE TEACHINGS MADE PLAIN part 28
New Heaven and a New Earth
From the beginning in the Bible we learn that when Adam and Eve sinned they were taken out of the Garden of Eden and not to return anymore. Read Gen.3:22-24.An angel was placed at the entrance of the Garden to make sure nobody could enter and eat from the tree of life. How long that situation has lasted is not known, but it is assumed that the Garden has been taken up into heaven before the flood could destroy it.
When we read the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22 we learn that access to the tree of life has been restored. 22:2. In between these two scripture passages of Genesis and Revelation we have the sad and tragic story of the human race on planet earth. But we also have the revelation of the divine plan of salvation through which what was lost will be restored and humans will be able to have part in that restoration, have eternal life on a most beautiful renewed earth.
In our studies of the past lessons at length we dealt with this divine plan which is encapsulated in the beautiful text of John 3:16 In a more practical manner it is stated in Matthew 28:18-20 which means to accept Jesus Who has all the power, learn about His teachings, be baptised and then start a new life of a faithful and true disciple of Jesus. You will read more about this topic in the next lesson, part 29
This time we will learn more about this restored place, a new earth and a new heaven. With heaven is not meant the vast universe, but what surrounds planet earth or our solar system. Why does that need renewal as well? Over the last decades the heavens surrounding planet earth or space have been loaded with electronic communication junk and even the Moon has been contaminated and Mars as well. We won’t find that stuff anymore once it is all over and sin and sinners are no more. I don’t think it will be difficult to see the need for a renewal of the heavens (space around planet earth) as the Bible teaches. Sin and its result are confined to planet earth and its immediate surroundings. Read Rev.12:9 and 12. When Satan lost his rebellion he was cast out to planet earth. For sometime he had still access to heaven as earth’s representative. Read first part of Job 1 and 2. But when Christ gained the victory and came forth from His grave the Devil lost that position as well and Christ is now earth’s representative and our only mediator, 1Tim.2:5.We have an advocate in heaven, Jesus Christ, 1John 2:1. The Devil is the accuser, but Jesus Christ is our defender, if we confess to Him and accept Him as our personal Saviour.
When creation was finished God declared that all was very good. Gen.1:31. But sin changed it, vegetation was changed, animal character changed. Human life and character also changed, Gen.3:16-19
But it will all be renewed, through Christ we will be changed already in the here and now, 2Cor.5:17 “In Christ we become a new creature” and read also Eph.2:6-10 In Christ a new creation and sitting with Him in heavenly places, Eph.2:6 Dear reader that can be your privilege now and today if you accept John 3:16 individually. For the sake of your eternal salvation and because Jesus loves you and gave His life for you in your place, accept Him today as your personal Saviour and the Lord of your life.
What will the new earth be like? We have not been left to guess work, read Isa.11:6-9 and Isa.35:1-10. What a delight to read such scripture passages. The Lord makes it very attractive to create a desire in our hearts to be part of it. Read also Isa. 33:24 where it read no one will say “I am sick”. How often do we say now, “I feel sick”, but not on the new earth, physicians will be out of a job and hospitals are not needed any more.
Then go to Isa.65:17-25 another beautiful description of what the new earth will be like. Verse 20 is a bit difficult to understand with our present situation. It is Hebrew poetry and the translators had a difficult time to put it in good English for us. I have found another translation which reads as follows:” There will no longer be an infant who lives for only a few days, or an old man who doesn’t live a long life. Whoever lives to be a hundred years will be thought as young. Whoever dies before he is a hundred years old will be cursed as a sinner.” (God’s Word, translation) The last sentence is to be understood as in case that would happen, but it will not happen because sin is eradicated from the earth.
Another scholar reads as follows: “Never again will babies die or infants need to be buried who live only for a few days. Those who reach a hundred will have just begun to live but sinners will be no more.” (Dr.Jack Blanco).The Hebrew writer Isaiah took samples from this life to indicate what will not be on the new earth.
Read more about the new earth in Isa.66:22, 23 and learn that we will also go from Sabbath to Sabbath to worship the Lord our Creator and Redeemer and what a pleasure that will be and listen to angelic heavenly choirs.
Now we turn to Revelation 22:1, 2 and we are told that the tree of life is back on earth with its restoring and healing power. Healing is not in the sense of being healed from sickness, because nobody will be sick. But it will be healing in the sense of further restoration and growth. Turn also to Rev.21:2-7 a summing up of what will not be on the new earth
Two questions remain, who will not be there and who will be there. First who will not be there, read Rev.21:27 and 22:15 and check with Isa.35:8 where it says “the unclean will not pass there”. Unrepented sinners will have no place in the new earth. Those who refuse to accept Jesus as their Saviour and to make Christ the Lord of their lives will not be found on the new earth.
But who will be there? Isa.33:24 has the answer, people who have their sins forgiven. How do we get our sins forgiven and be made clean? Read 1John 1:9. Read also Ps.37:9, those who wait upon or serve the Lord will be there. Read also Ps. 25:12, 13; 37:11 and 69:36, the meek and those who love the Lord. Meek is the opposite of being stubborn or rebellious against God. We must surrender and give our heart, soul and mind to God, Rom.12:1, 2, and that is reasonable. Not to do it is unreasonable.
In Revelation 7:14 we are given a vision of the people who will be in that renewed place, they are the ones who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, which means who accepted Jesus Christ. Read Isa.1:18, 19. The same people are described in Rev.14:1-5, they are the people who live by the grace of God, Titus 2:11-15, they are clean and pure, thus made by Christ and through faith in Christ and His sacrifice.
Dear reader this is the day to accept Jesus and surrender yourself to Him. I invite you in Christ’s name to kneel down and make that surrender, which you will never regret once you walk the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem, but by faith it can be yours already today and right now.
Read 1John 5:11 and 12 if we accept the Son, Jesus Christ, we have eternal life already now, if we refuse we do not have life. God bless you in making the right decision now. We invite you to accept the commitment here below.
Commitment: By God’s grace and through faith in Jesus I do accept Jesus as my personal Saviour and thus will prepare myself to have eternal life and a place in the new earth.
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