Politicians promise us a better earth if only we would elect them. Many poets and authors of books have described a utopia. Dictators have sought to rebuild Eden upon the earth. Communism and Fascism have failed to bring about lasting change for the better. The hope for God’s people is expressed in the Lord’s Prayer. In Hebrews 14:16 we read that the Old Testament saints looked for a better world.

1 – The promise

There are several scripture references about the promise of a new heaven and new earth that also tells us what it will be like.

• Isaiah 66:22. The time is coming and it will last forever.
• Isaiah 65:17. The new will be so great that it will cause us to forget the old.
• 2 Peter 3:13. It will be a place of righteousness.
• Hebrews 1:10-12. God will fold up and put away the old and make it new.
• Revelation 21:1. It is clear that the old will be replaced with the new.

2. The purification

The new heaven and earth are a purification of the old.

• The information – See 2 Peter 3:10-12. This happened after the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Will the earth be obliterated and start again from scratch?
• The interpretation – The actual word in the text is about purifying rather than destroying. The evidences of the reign of sin and death will be removed. The new heaven and earth will not be new in the sense of never existed. It will be refreshed. It is fresh like it was before Satan, sin and death came to ruin it. God has taken a ruined masterpiece and restored it to its previous glory.
• The illustration – See 2 Peter 3:5-7. The flood was a purification of the world in the time of Noah. It was destructive but did not obliterate it. In the same manner the fire will purify more but will not destroy the earth totally.

3. The principle

See Revelation 21:1. What will life be like after this purification?

• The removal of the sun – Over two-thirds of the earth is covered with water. It will be different in the future! We need water now, but then with our glorified and resurrected bodies there will be no need for water. Our bodies will not need water and blood. Blood is 90% water and our flesh 60% of water. There will be no need for salt. There will be fresh water only that comes from the throne of God.
• The reversal of the curse – See Revelation 22:3. The curse happened in the Garden of Eden. See Genesis 3:17-19. There will be thorns and thistles no more. There will no more child-bearing in pain or death.
• The restoration of all things – See Ephesians 1:10. The things in heaven and earth will be reunited. There is a great gap now but not in the future. The spiritual and physical world will be reunited. This is where our future history is heading.

4. Conclusions

There are a few other conclusions that we can glean:-

• Appreciation of the world we live in – We can care for this earth. It is part of our future. We will have access to heaven and earth.
• A new anticipation of the world to which we are going – It is the opposite of much of this world. It will be better and it will work. It will last for all eternity.

Categories: Revelation