|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH
Introduction
The creation of the new heaven
and earth is the future world Jesus Christ referred to in Matthew 12 verse 32, Isaiah 66 verses 22 – 24, Revelation 21 verse 1, Hebrews 1 verses 10 –
12. In this new world, every single aspect of God’s creation starts afresh.
( Read Revelation
21 verse 5). This passage of the Bible is corroborated by similar account
in II Peter 3 verse 13. These
passages of the Bible appear to suggest that the current Heaven and Earth will
disappear and a completely new Heaven and Earth will be formed to replace the
current one. However a closer look at Ecclesiastes 1 verse 4 says that the “…Earth abideth for
ever”. If the earth will continue
forever, it therefore means that the formation of the new Earth could be as a
result of a transition from the current earth to the new Earth. The Heaven referred to in this passage is not
the third of Heaven (or abode of God),
but rather the atmospheric heavens around the planet and other component of the
solar system which have been polluted by Man and demonic influences for
thousands years.
The book of Haggai 2 verses 6 - 9 also talks about this from another
perspective. Here the recreation of the new Heaven and Earth is described as “…shake…” When this happens, the glory of
the latter “…house…” or the new planet and heaven will be better than the old
earth. Unlike the old earth which witnessed turbulence and sin in the last
6,000 years, the new earth will experience “…peace…”.
Also the book of Hebrews 12 verses 25 -
29 provide better understanding to the word “…shake…”.
This is the same as the removal of things that are made (or components of the current earth that was created). Not only will
Jesus Christ shake (or recreate) the
earth, but He will do so to the heavens (or
the atmosphere around the earth). The “…shaking…” of the earth and heavens
will be done through fire, because “…God is a consuming fire…”
Among Bible scholars, there are
two teachings of how this transition or recreation will take place. Based on
the expression “…Earth abideth for ever” in Ecclesiastes 1 verse 4, some believes
that the current earth will simply be rejuvenated through the purging of fire
over the surface of the earth. In other words, the current earth will not be
completely obliterated. Others believes based on the use of the expression “…elements shall melt with fervent heat…”
in II Peter 3 verse 10 that this
current earth will melt off and disappear and a new one will be formed. (Read
also II Peter 3 verses 7 - 13).
Irrespective of which of the
above two schools of thoughts will become a reality, the fact that is
established from the above passages of
the Bible is that there will be a huge conflagration on the current earth and this will result in the
formation of a new earth.
Click on the following links below in order to explore what
the Bible has to say about this period.
1.PART 1: Different Types Of Heavens.
2.PART 2: The New Heavenly Jerusalem.
3.PART 3: Nations Of
The New Earth.
4.PART 4: The Tree Of Life Will
Sustain Nations of the New Earth.
5.PART 5: Nations of the New Earth
Will Have Access Into The “New Jerusalem”.
6.PART 6: All Evil Will Be Permanently
Eliminated.
7.PART 7: Eternal Reward Of The Saints.