New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem
TEXT: Rev. 21:1-5
THESIS: To examine the New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem promised in Rev. 21.
INTRO:
A. The words "ALL NEW!" or just simply "NEW!" are plastered on every thing from beans to Bibles, from cars to canned carrots! In fact "there is nothing NEW under the sun" according to the wisest man who ever lived. Creation is an event of the distant past. But re-novation or regeneration will "make all things NEW!" (V.5)
B. Let's examine 3 of those "ALL NEW!" things which God will make.
✨Why are they made NEW?
✨What will the differences and similarities be?
✨Who will be the recipients of all these NEW things?
TRANS: The Bible is a circle, an infinite Book. Revelation leads us right back to Genesis. In Genesis we have Paradise Lost and in Rev. Paradise Restored. In Gen.1:1 we have "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" and in Rev. 21:1 we have "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth"...
I. THE NEW HEAVEN: v.1
A. Not Annihilation But Renovation:
1. Comparing Script. With Scripture in II Pet. 3 it appears that renovation regeneration and recreation are in view, not annihilation.
ILLUS: When a person becomes a "NEW CREATURE" his old man is not done away with, the new man is added. So with the new creation. The elements which "melt with a fervent heat" are apparently refashioned & refurbished.
2. Peter uses the first destruction by water to illustrate what will take place the next time by fire.
2 Pet. 3:6-7
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But 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.
B. Not One Heaven But Three Heavens:
2 Peter 3:12-13
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.
1. The atmospheric heaven: where the birds fly and the clouds hover.
2. The planetary heaven: where the stars, planets and galaxies are located
3. The heaven of heavens: where God dwells and the souls of the departed believers live.
NOTE: Apparently the 1st and 2nd "heavens" are in view in 2 Peter whereas in Revelation only the visible atmospheric heaven is noted.
Our sin has affected even the weather of our planet. Hurricanes, cyclones, lighting, tornados, wind, rain, sleet, hail, snow, ice, et. al. are by products of God's curse on His creation due to man's sin. It will be restored to its pristine, primordial state as it originally came from the hand of God!
a. Even stars burn out today and comets collide with planets.
ILLUS: The cover story on a recent TIME magazine had to do with a giant comet colliding with the planet Jupiter with the effect of millions of hydrogen bombs exploding at once. They then asked the question: "Could it happen here (on earth)?" There answer was yes.
b. Our climactic pattern is changing and this is in line with the atmospheric disturbances prophesied just before the Lord returns.
ILLUS: Nothing needs to be changed about God's heaven! It doesn't need renewal...it is perfect and unaffected by man's sin.
II. THE NEW EARTH: v.1
A. Ruined!
Rom. 8:21-22 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
1. The vegetable world is cursed...thorns and thistles, mosquitoes and microbes. "...not willingly..."
2. Animals give birth in suffering, pain and death and then must live by teeth, claws, fangs and blood.
3. Our humanity...childhood, youth, manhood, old age...a continual process of deterioration, disease and death.
ILLUS: The new earth will no longer be cut into graves and cemeteries. No longer will the earth be watered with showers of human tears. No longer will the earth be stained with the crimson blood of animals or humans. No longer will earth's highways bear the processions of those who are bereaved and brokenhearted.
QUOTE: Criswell: "There are no stonecutters chiseling epitaphs in glory. There are no wreaths on the mansion doors in the sky. There are no graves on the hillsides of heaven. There are no obituary columns in the newspapers. There are no funeral processions over the streets of gold." v.4
ILLUS: There is no need any longer for Drs., hospitals, insane asylums, drug rehab centers, prisons, lawyers or judges! There are no more sodomites, prostitutes, drug pushers, pimps, pornographers, blasphemers, liars, ,etc. cf. v.8
TRANS: Oh how wonderful is the NEW Heaven and the NEW Earth. But there is even more. There is...
III. THE NEW JERUSALEM: v.2
A. The Holy City:
1. The Old Jerusalem was for the nation of Israel; the New Jerusalem is for the Bride of Christ, the Church.
Gal. 4:25-26
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
2. The Old Jerusalem was called the "holy city" but was unholy due to man's sin and rebellion, the New Jerusalem will be holy indeed, because the Lamb of God is there with His blood-washed disciples. v.22,23
B. The Heavenly City:
1. It comes "down from God out of heaven".
2. It is the abode of God and the Lamb. v.23
3. It is supernatural in origin and fantastic in description. v.10ff
a. First John describes it from the outside as he saw it descend. v.10-21
b. Then he describes it from the inside. v.22-27; 22:1-5
ILLUS: This fantastic place is an "I.F.O." which floats down from heaven and hovers over the new earth. It sparkles like the jeweled crown of God Himself! John gives us a 1st class tour of this unbelievable place! Beverly Hills, Tahiti, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands all rolled into one cannot compare. The most expensive mansions on the planet together do not come close. The Taj Mahal, the Pyramids and the Parthenon combined pale into insignificance. Yet it will be our home!
CONCL: God creates "ALL THINGS NEW" just for His blood-washed saints!
WARNING: The promise of these new things are for believers only!
(Part of a sermon By Dr. Paul Fedena - CLICK)
1. Outside the City the “nations” and “kings” reside, but since only the redeemed survive the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium, the question is who are these people?
2. Perhaps they are those who have mansions in the city, but have estates and governments and activities outside the city.
3. Perhaps they are humans in an innocent state like Adam before the fall continuing on the earth after the Millennium (if so they would have had to have been “raptured” off the planet before it was purged by fire, and glorified ).
4. This would place a very literal interpretation on the Abrahamic Covenant which promised that his seed would be as the sand upon the seashore and the stars in the heavens.
5. It would also help us envision the fulfillment of the Messianic promise in Isaiah 9:7 that “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.”
6. Also, if the nations of the saved were to continue to multiply, as would Adam and Eve, if they had not fallen, God’s command to “fill the earth” and “subdue it” would be finally accomplished.
7. Think of the productivity and promise of the planet where sin has been banished forever and where the nations can develop and expand infinitely.
8. Neither the kings of the earth nor the nations will seek their own glory, but “bring their glory and honor” into the city to the Lord of Glory!
(This is one of the Greatest Mysteries of Bible Prophecy)
Mathematics of the Kingdom:
How Many Mansions + What Size?
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Nowhere in Scripture is there a Resurrection for Millennial Saints - Matthew 25:31-46
(Verses compiled by Rob Madden)
Is. 9:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Dan. 4:34-35
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine under-standing returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Dan 7:14 - And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
II Sam. 7:16
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Psalms 89
1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
Psalm:89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
Psalm:89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
II Sam. 7:16
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Genesis 9:12
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
(Here we have reference to a 'perpetual' number of generations.) See also Psalm 100:5, 45:17, 119:90
Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroard, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 9:12 - And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Deut. 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (1,000 x 70 = 70,000)
Psa 105:6 - O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Psa 105:7 - He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
Psa 105:8 - He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Isaiah 60:19-22
More: (Compiled by Rob Madden)
Revelation 22:4-5
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
✔ If they are going to reign with Him for eternity in the Holy City there must be people to reign over. This should make it clear that not all alive in eternity will live in the Holy City.
✔ The mystery we need to solve is whom do the people in the Holy City reign over?
💥It cannot be those cast into the Lake of Fire, because scripture says that they will not even come to mind anymore.
💥It cannot be Israel because the whole commonwealth of Israel are those that reign with Jesus.
✔ This allows for only one possibility: They reign over the children of God born after the bride of Christ marries Jesus.
🔶No one speaks about what happens to the people born during the millennium who do not follow Satan at his last revolt.
🔶We must assume that in this dispensation there will also be saved people as there were in every other dispensation of time.
🔸After all, the prime reason for the millennial kingdom is to create conditions on earth where many people could be born and saved.
🔸It is simply not sound reasoning to think that everyone on earth came against Jerusalem in this last revolt and that fire came down and consumed believer and unbelievers alike.
🔶There really is only one possibility, as to where these people are. The faithful in this dispensation will also be removed from the earth as Enoch and the faithful Church were removed before God's judgment came in their dispensation.
🔷There are three raptures:
🔹Enoch,
🔹the Church and
🔹the saints who live through the millennium.
🔶The prophetic scriptures about the snatching away of believers may include a progressive future fulfillment at the end of the great millennial day.
🔶They may or will be removed (Protected or Relocated, not necessarily Resurrected!!!) just before fire comes down from heaven and destroys all the people deceived by Satan at the final rebellion.
🔸This fire is the renovation of heaven and earth by fire that Peter speaks of (2 Pet 3:12).
Further, it is not possible that...
1. The saved in this millennial dispensation would be included as part of the bride of Christ, because
2. They become His children after He is already married.
3. The faithful since the marriage obviously are saved individuals or they would be cast in the Lake of Fire at the judgment.
Therefore, let us assume that these people are written in the book of life and are either resurrected at the second resurrection or they never died and were removed from the earth like Enoch prior to the renovation of heaven and earth by fire.
🔶Now with those assumptions the body of Christ has people to rule and reign over for eternity.
🔶We might even want to speculate a bit more and take this one-step further and say that these people may still reproduce in eternity. In that event, the body of Christ would have limitless people to rule and reign over. God made Adam and Eve to populate the earth before they even fell and became mortal. The scriptures also indicate that angels wrongfully reproduced with women to produce the race called the Nephilim.
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
✨We know there is a scripture that says we will not marry in the resurrection but that passage obviously was talking about those who attain the first resurrection.
1. We are told those in the first resurrection will become like the angels.
2. The passage was not talking about those born after the first resurrection who, when death is conquered, have human immortal bodies like Adam and Eve had before the fall.
Controversial, but worthy of thought: (R. Madden)
The passage about not marrying also says nothing about not being able to reproduce. What we see as reproduction today was a result of the curse. We are told in scripture that Eve came out of the side of Adam. Jesus Himself did not come from normal human reproduction and He is the last Adam (1Co 15:45). Reproduction in eternity may not take marriage or even sex. (Don Koenig - Commentary on Revelation 22)
God told Abraham that his seed would be like the sands of the seashore and like the number of stars in heaven (Gen 22:17).
👉That number is uncountable and probably has no end since sand particles and stars continue to be created.
👉There are trillions of trillions of stars that we know about in the universe. Who even knows how many stars there are that we do not know about?
👉The promise given to Abraham might mean that God created man to populate His entire creation. His creation has no end, no boundaries, and it may continue to expand forever.
👉From this point on, like in the Garden of Eden, there may be an actual reason to eat from the tree of life so those born in this new creation receive spiritual life. David tells us about man's destiny:
Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
If man were created to have dominion over the works of God's hand, it would include the whole universe not just the earth.
What if Adam and Eve never sinned and ate of the tree of life; would their descendants have been limited to earth, or would they have filled God s creation? Man is even attempting to do this in his fallen mortal state. Who would have limited them if they were immortal? The purpose God created man for will be fulfilled even if man has to first go through a learning process of trust and obedience. God does not make mistakes; all this was planned before the foundation of the earth.
The early philosophers were correct. Earth is the center of the universe. It is where God began human life in His image.
The Holy City will be the throne of God and those in the bride of Christ will rule and reign with Him over all creation for eternity, but the planet earth may only be just the beginning of God's plan for the human race. The realm of man created in the image of God (the second Adam) may be destined to endlessly reproduce more children for God.
(Verses compiled by Rob Madden)
Is. 9:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Dan. 4:34-35
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine under-standing returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Dan 7:14 - And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
II Sam. 7:16
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Psalms 89
1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
Psalm:89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
Psalm:89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
II Sam. 7:16
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Genesis 9:12
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
(Here we have reference to a 'perpetual' number of generations.) See also Psalm 100:5, 45:17, 119:90
Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroard, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 9:12 - And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Deut. 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (1,000 x 70 = 70,000)
Psa 105:6 - O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Psa 105:7 - He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
Psa 105:8 - He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Isaiah 60:19-22
More: (Compiled by Rob Madden)
Revelation 22:4-5
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
✔ If they are going to reign with Him for eternity in the Holy City there must be people to reign over. This should make it clear that not all alive in eternity will live in the Holy City.
✔ The mystery we need to solve is whom do the people in the Holy City reign over?
💥It cannot be those cast into the Lake of Fire, because scripture says that they will not even come to mind anymore.
💥It cannot be Israel because the whole commonwealth of Israel are those that reign with Jesus.
✔ This allows for only one possibility: They reign over the children of God born after the bride of Christ marries Jesus.
🔶No one speaks about what happens to the people born during the millennium who do not follow Satan at his last revolt.
🔶We must assume that in this dispensation there will also be saved people as there were in every other dispensation of time.
🔸After all, the prime reason for the millennial kingdom is to create conditions on earth where many people could be born and saved.
🔸It is simply not sound reasoning to think that everyone on earth came against Jerusalem in this last revolt and that fire came down and consumed believer and unbelievers alike.
🔶There really is only one possibility, as to where these people are. The faithful in this dispensation will also be removed from the earth as Enoch and the faithful Church were removed before God's judgment came in their dispensation.
🔷There are three raptures:
🔹Enoch,
🔹the Church and
🔹the saints who live through the millennium.
🔶The prophetic scriptures about the snatching away of believers may include a progressive future fulfillment at the end of the great millennial day.
🔶They may or will be removed (Protected or Relocated, not necessarily Resurrected!!!) just before fire comes down from heaven and destroys all the people deceived by Satan at the final rebellion.
🔸This fire is the renovation of heaven and earth by fire that Peter speaks of (2 Pet 3:12).
Further, it is not possible that...
1. The saved in this millennial dispensation would be included as part of the bride of Christ, because
2. They become His children after He is already married.
3. The faithful since the marriage obviously are saved individuals or they would be cast in the Lake of Fire at the judgment.
Therefore, let us assume that these people are written in the book of life and are either resurrected at the second resurrection or they never died and were removed from the earth like Enoch prior to the renovation of heaven and earth by fire.
🔶Now with those assumptions the body of Christ has people to rule and reign over for eternity.
🔶We might even want to speculate a bit more and take this one-step further and say that these people may still reproduce in eternity. In that event, the body of Christ would have limitless people to rule and reign over. God made Adam and Eve to populate the earth before they even fell and became mortal. The scriptures also indicate that angels wrongfully reproduced with women to produce the race called the Nephilim.
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
✨We know there is a scripture that says we will not marry in the resurrection but that passage obviously was talking about those who attain the first resurrection.
1. We are told those in the first resurrection will become like the angels.
2. The passage was not talking about those born after the first resurrection who, when death is conquered, have human immortal bodies like Adam and Eve had before the fall.
Controversial, but worthy of thought: (R. Madden)
The passage about not marrying also says nothing about not being able to reproduce. What we see as reproduction today was a result of the curse. We are told in scripture that Eve came out of the side of Adam. Jesus Himself did not come from normal human reproduction and He is the last Adam (1Co 15:45). Reproduction in eternity may not take marriage or even sex. (Don Koenig - Commentary on Revelation 22)
God told Abraham that his seed would be like the sands of the seashore and like the number of stars in heaven (Gen 22:17).
👉That number is uncountable and probably has no end since sand particles and stars continue to be created.
👉There are trillions of trillions of stars that we know about in the universe. Who even knows how many stars there are that we do not know about?
👉The promise given to Abraham might mean that God created man to populate His entire creation. His creation has no end, no boundaries, and it may continue to expand forever.
👉From this point on, like in the Garden of Eden, there may be an actual reason to eat from the tree of life so those born in this new creation receive spiritual life. David tells us about man's destiny:
Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
If man were created to have dominion over the works of God's hand, it would include the whole universe not just the earth.
What if Adam and Eve never sinned and ate of the tree of life; would their descendants have been limited to earth, or would they have filled God s creation? Man is even attempting to do this in his fallen mortal state. Who would have limited them if they were immortal? The purpose God created man for will be fulfilled even if man has to first go through a learning process of trust and obedience. God does not make mistakes; all this was planned before the foundation of the earth.
The early philosophers were correct. Earth is the center of the universe. It is where God began human life in His image.
The Holy City will be the throne of God and those in the bride of Christ will rule and reign with Him over all creation for eternity, but the planet earth may only be just the beginning of God's plan for the human race. The realm of man created in the image of God (the second Adam) may be destined to endlessly reproduce more children for God.
