The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ 10

 LESSON 10

THE NEW EARTH: THE ETERNAL HOME OF THE SAVED

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible Study Programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The topic for this study is: The New Earth: The Eternal Home of the Saved. 

In our last study, we considered the joyful, yet solemn study of the millennium and the end of sin. We learnt that after the saints have spent a thousand years in heaven, they will descend to earth in the beloved city of God. This city, the New Jerusalem, which comes from heaven, actually settles on mount Olives (Zechariah 14:4). From our previous study, we noted that at this same time when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, the wicked dead are resurrected by God. When the wicked are resurrected, Satan quickly deceives them and marshals them into a gigantic army in a final struggle to overtake the beloved city, and ultimately the government of God. Now, as the wicked surrounds the beloved city, fire is poured out from God out of heaven to destroy them (Revelation 20:7-9). This fire that destroys the wicked also cleanses the earth from the curse of sin. With this introduction from our previous study, we will now move on to our study on the new earth. This study is categorised into five sub-sections as follows:

1. GOD WILL CREATE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

After the lake of fire has cleansed and purified the earth from sin, God will now create a New Heaven and a New Earth. After the account of the destruction of sin and sinners in Revelation 20, the first thing we read about in Revelation 21 is the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. From Revelation 21:1, we read the following from the apostle John: "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" (Capital Emphasis Added).

Friends, the promise of a new heaven and a new earth is found in several portions of Scripture. The following are some of such passages:

a) "17 For, behold, I create NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy" (Isaiah 65:17-18; Capital Emphasis Added).

b) 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" (Isaiah 66:22; Capital Emphasis Added).

c) " 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:12-13; Capital Emphasis Added).

Friends, the passages above make it clear that there is going to be a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. This present earth and the atmosphere which has been tainted by sin are going to be replaced by God with a New Heaven and a New Earth. But it is important to note that this New Earth is not going to be some alien place that we have never known. The New Earth is basically going to be a restoration of this present earth to its Edenic state. 

2. THE NEW EARTH WILL BE THE ETERNAL HOME OF THE SAVED

After God cleanses our present world with fire, He will recreate a New Heaven and a New Earth. The saints will then move out from the New Jerusalem and inhabit the earth.

From the psalmist, we read the following promise: "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psalm 37:11).

Christ Himself reiterated this promise to His disciples: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

Friends, the New Earth will be the eternal home of God's beloved people. As we have studied earlier, the saints will spend "only" a thousand years in heaven (Revelation 20:4, 6). They will then descend to the Earth with the New Jerusalem which will actually become the CAPITAL CITY of the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-27).

3. GOD HIMSELF WILL DWELL WITH US

From the New Jerusalem, the God of the universe will reign. The beloved apostle chronicles this fact in the following text: "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. 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" (Revelation 21:3).

Friends, every Sabbath, the people of God who inhabit the New Earth will come to the capital city; the New Jerusalem to worship the Creator God. From the prophet Isaiah, we come away with such an understanding: "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. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Beloved, as the Sabbath was celebrated by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:1-3), so will the Sabbath be celebrated in the New Earth by the people of God. The saved from all ages will gather in the New Jerusalem every Sabbath to worship the Creator God. My good friend, if you are not keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath, begin to reflect upon this fact seriously. The saints will keep the Sabbath in the New Earth. Please don't allow the enemy of souls to deceive you into believing that the Sabbath has been done away with. The Scripture makes it clear that God's end time people will keep all of His commandments which include the Seventh-day Sabbath (see Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12). In case you want to study more on the Sabbath truth, please request for our Sabbath studies through any of our WhatsApp numbers below. This series of study is designed to answer various questions that you might have on the Sabbath issue.

If this was a live presentation, I believe someone is likely to have asked this important question at this point: It is clear from Isaiah 66:22-23 that the saints will go to the New Jerusalem every Sabbath to worship the Lord. But why will they go there every New Moon? I thought the New Moon festivals have been done away with! Yes! It is true friends, that the New Moon festivals have been done away with, but there is a good reason why the saints will visit the New Jerusalem every New Moon. The apostle John makes a statement in Revelation 22:1-2 that provides us with a clue on the above question: "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. 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" (Revelation 22:1-2).

From this passage above, we learn clearly that within the city of the New Jerusalem is found the tree of life. Now, on every New moon (that is, the beginning of every month), the saints will go to the New Jerusalem, the capital of the New Earth to partake of the fruit of the tree of life. The fruit of this tree is what will perpetuate the life of the redeemed. We are told that even the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2). Friends, sin has dwarfed our physical structure and marred the beautiful image that the Lord endowed us with at creation. As we eat of the tree of life and partake of its leaves in the New Earth, we are going to grow and be restored into the full image of God.

4. SOME AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE NEW EARTH

The Bible gives us several beautiful insights about how our condition of life will be like in the New Earth. I have captured below some of these wonderful promises:

a) Day and night will continue in the New Earth.

Supporting Text:

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

Friends, even though day and night will continue in the New Earth, there will be no night in the capital city of the New Earth. The beloved apostle explains why: "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. 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. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there" (Revelation 21:23-25).

From the prophet Isaiah, we read something similar: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously" (Isaiah 24:23).

b) The entire land will be habitable.

Supporting Texts:

i) "1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God" (Isaiah 35:1-2).

ii) "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" (Revelation 21:1).

In the New Earth, there will be no vast deserts and mighty oceans to separate the redeemed from one another. The entire land is going to be habitable.

c) The saints will build their own houses and inhabit them.

Supporting Text:

"65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

(Isaiah 65:21-24)

Because of the high level of poverty in our world, many of God's people have never dreamt of building their own houses in this present earth. However, God's promise is that in the New Earth, we are going to build our own houses and inhabit them. Think about the building materials that will be at our disposal. Do you want a glass house as it’s fashionable today? Well! That might be obsolete in the New Earth. We are going to have free access to better building materials such as gold, silver, sapphire, jasper, emerald, topaz, sardius and many more. With all these materials at our disposal, coupled with the best of celestial technology, we can only begin to imagine the kinds of buildings that will spread out on the surface of the New Earth.

d) The animals will be tame and friendly.

Supporting Text:

"11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."

(Isaiah 11:6-9)

What a privilege it will be to have a close relationship with the animals with the assurance that none of them will hurt us. Like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, we will go out and be at one with nature. We will befriend the animals on the earth (Isaiah 11:6-9). Talk about a better Zoology! All this will be experienced by the saints in the New Earth.

e) The saints will enjoy never-fading flowers, delicious fruits and magnificent trees.

Supporting Text:

"And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine" (Ezekiel 47:12).

Friends, our experience in the New Earth is going to be superb. Never fading flowers are going to perfume the environment. Like Eden, we are going to enjoy as our food the amazing fruits that dangle nicely on numerous magnificent trees. None of us is going to feed on animal food. Beloved, I think it is important that we begin to learn to get accustomed to the original diet that will be available to us in the New Earth. For the animals, instead of being food for us, will rather be real companions and true friends (Isaiah 11:6-9).

f) The people of God will have a fulfilling social life.

In the New Earth, we will have the opportunity to socialize and interact with our family, friends and people that we knew on the Earth. This will be made possible because the identities that we have on Earth now will be preserved after our translation. The Bible clearly teaches that when Christ resurrected from the dead, the disciples could identify Him. Mary could identify His unique call (John 20:11-16). The two disciples who encountered Him on the Emmaus road recognised Him by His unique mannerism in the breaking of bread (Luke 24:13-35). The apostles identified Him later by His physical form (John 20:19-20).

The Bible makes it clear that when Christ appears the second time, we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). We will possess a glorious physical body like that of Christ after His resurrection (Philippians 3:20-21). And as the disciples of Christ could identify the Lord after His resurrection, so would our friends and relatives be able to identify us in heaven and on the New Earth. And throughout eternity, the people of God will enjoy close social communion with friends and family they knew on earth.

Moreover, we will also socialize and interact with God's children who have lived through the various ages of human history. The apostle Matthew records the following in relation to social life in heaven: "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 8:11).

Beloved, the saints will also have a similar experience on the New Earth. Think about having lunch with Abraham; reflect about taking a walk with Elijah and then spending a night at Moses' apartment. It is refreshing to ponder on the fact that we will be able to befriend and spend quality time with all the redeemed of all ages because we have all eternity at our disposal.

Unchained from the shackles of sin, we will be able to travel and explore the universe of God (Isaiah 40:31). Something that we are struggling to achieve today despite all our current technology, will then be made possible. From the earth made new, we will be able to travel from planet to planet, and interact with intelligent beings from other worlds. We will then be able to access their wisdom, knowledge and experience that they have accumulated over the years (see hints of intelligent life in Scripture: Job 1:6-7; Job 2:1-2; Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 11:3).

But beloved, the greatest relationship that will give us our ultimate pleasure in heaven and on the New Earth will be the relationship that we will have with our Creator. The Scripture teaches that we will see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4). Day by day, we will learn more of His amazing love and greatness. What a privilege it will be to commune face to face with the King of the universe. The Scripture teaches that God Himself will dwell with us, and we shall be His people (Revelation 21:3). The love He will bestow on us will know no bounds. He will even be willing to sing for us. Did you ever catch that from Scripture? The God of the universe giving us a song! From Zephaniah 3:17, we read just that: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with SINGING" (Capital Emphasis Added). 

g) What about the marriage relationship? Will there be marriage in the New Earth?

Concerning social relationships in heaven and on the New Earth, many have pondered whether the relationship of marriage will be continued after this life. Beloved, the Scripture has a straightforward answer to this question. From the words of Christ Himself, we learn the following:

i) "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven" (Mark 12:25).

ii) "35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:35-36).

Thus friends, there will be no marriage after the resurrection, neither in heaven nor in the New Earth. Our highest pleasure, just like that of the angels, will be to serve and worship the Lord. And this pleasure, I believe, will be more superior and fulfilling than any form of pleasure that marriage couples have ever experienced on this earth. In fact, the book of Psalms makes it clear that the saints will enjoy pleasures forever more in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11).

Contrary to what many think about heaven and the New Earth, the Scripture teaches that the saints will have fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). For the apostle Paul echoes this precious promise in the following text: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Beloved, our joy will be full and our deepest longings will be met by our Creator. Loneliness and boredom will be a thing of the past. In the New Earth, we will put our highest mental faculties to work. And we will have joy immeasurable as we relate with God and the rich treasures of His creation.

h) Sin will not surface again.

In the New Earth, sin and sinners will be no more. Satan, the host of evil angels, and all the people they managed to deceive to rebel against God will be consumed by God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-10). They will never again resurrect to harass the people of God. From Nahum 1:9, we read the following precious promise: "What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time."

Friends, in the New Earth, sin will not rise up again. The saints will go about their work and life without any fear of evil. We will not be afraid when we are left alone on the streets at night. For there will be no robbers, rapists, murderers or any kind of evil to haunt us. According to the apostle Peter, the New Earth will be a land wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).

i) The curse of sin will be forever gone.

From the prophet Isaiah, we read the following blessed conditions in heaven and the New Earth:

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

65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."

(Isaiah 65:17-19)

From Revelation 21:1 and 4, we read similar words from the beloved apostle:

"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.

21:4 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."

(Revelation 21:1, 4)

Friends, as the passages above clearly spell out; any curse of sin will not be found in heaven and the New Earth. There will be no sorrow, suffering, pain, sickness or death. There will be no troubles, tragedies, tears, disappointment, hunger or thirst. There will be no funeral trains of people mourning for their dead. Physically challenged people will be made whole. From the prophet Isaiah, we read this precious promise: "5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:5-6).

Halleluiah! In the New Earth, the things of this present life that makes our hearts heavy and sad will be forever gone. The apostle John summarises the New Earth experience with these inspiring lines: "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" (Revelation 22:3).

5. HOW CAN I BE PART OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE NEW EARTH?

Beloved, it is a clear fact that this present world has nothing better to offer us; for it is filled with the bitter curse of sin. Our fondest aspirations of the future are always cut short by sickness, sorrow, and death. Maybe you are pondering in your heart, how can I be part of the inhabitants of the New Heavens and the New Earth? How can I be part of the true paradise that God is going to prepare for His people in the New Earth? Beloved, it is quite very simple. From John 3:16, we read about what each one of us ought to do; for we are told that "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The same apostle reiterates this same promise in the book of Revelation: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).

My dear friend, Christ is inviting you and I to take the water of life freely. I wholly accepted His invitation some years ago. And I have never regretted for making that decision. Will you accept His invitation today? The only thing that can prevent you from entering into the gates of the New Jerusalem is by refusing to accept the precious gift of salvation that God offers us in the Person of His Son. You don't have to worry about where you are coming from or what you've done in the past. The salvation that Christ offers us is able to cover all our sins and our past (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12). If you accept Jesus today, He will help you to gain victory over sin. And He will prepare you a place in the New Heavens and the New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness (John 14:1-3).

Exhortation: "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18).

"But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD" (Numbers 14:21).

"And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;" (Isaiah 32:18).

SOME BIBLICAL EXPLANATIONS AND EXHORTATIONS FROM ELLEN G. WHITE

1. "Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God." -- GC 675 (1911).

2. "Jesus lifted the veil from the future life. "In the resurrection," He said, "they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" [Matt. 22:30]." -- DA 605 (1898).

3. "There are men today who express their belief that there will be marriages and births in the new earth; but those who believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a part of the "sure word of prophecy." The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the question of marriages and births in the new earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family." -- Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, vol. 2, Page 163.

4. "There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of which we now catch glimpses through the microscope, when we look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope, when, the blight of sin removed, the whole earth shall appear "in the beauty of the Lord our God," what a field will be open to our study! There the student of science may read the records of creation and discern no reminders of the law of evil. He may listen to the music of nature's voices and detect no note of wailing or undertone of sorrow.... All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in contemplation of God's handiwork." -- Ed 303, 307 (1903).

5. "Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar--worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe, and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul.... With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation--suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the Creator's name is written, and in all are the riches of His power displayed." -- GC 677, 678 (1911).

In our next study, which happens to be the last in our series on The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ, we will map out a summary of the sequence of events from the Second Coming of Christ to the Creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth. I believe this summary will help us to recapture the high points in this series of study.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!