The new earth will be the eternal home of the redeemed. God's plan of salvation includes the transformation of heaven and earth as well as the redemption of man. The Messiah and his glorified immortal brothers and sisters will dwell upon this planet after it is cleansed by fire, purified, and transformed into the paradise of God. This cleansing by fire will take place after the time of the White Throne Judgement after all those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the fire and destroyed. The last thing that is destroyed is death and the grave.
The Bible contains many prophecies concerning the new heaven and a new earth
and God's plan for this planet. "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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out
of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:1,
2). "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former
shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and
her people a joy" (Isaiah 65:17, 18). "For as the new heavens and the
new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yehovah, so shall
your seed and your name remain. 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, says Yehovah" (Isaiah 66:22, 23). "Nevertheless
we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwells righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).
I. THE EARTH WILL ABIDE FOREVER
The Bible
pictures the earth as the future home of the glorified and immortal redeemed
and teaches that the earth will abide for eternity. God created this planet for
a specific purpose, and His plan eventually will be realized. Isaiah wrote,
"For thus says Yehovah that created the heavens; God himself that formed
the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain, He
formed it to be inhabited: I am Yehovah, and there is none else" (Isaiah
45:18). "One generation passes away, and another generation cometh: but
the earth abides forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4). "Who laid the
foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever" (Psalm
104:5). "Your faithfulness is unto all generations: you have established
the earth, and it abides" (Psalm 119:90). According to these verses, the
earth will abide forever. This planet will be cleansed by fire, purified, and
transformed, but it will not be destroyed.
2. THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS
In His Word, God promises believers that they will inherit the earth. Jesus taught, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). "His seed shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 25:13). The major refrain of Psalm 37 is that the wicked will be destroyed [in the Lake of Fire], and the righteous will inherit the earth. "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon Yehovah, they shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 37:9). "The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psalm 37:11). "Yehovah knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever" (Psalm 37:18). "For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of Him shall be cut off " (Psalm 37:22). "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever" (Psalm 37:29). "Wait on Yehovah, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shalt see it" (Psalm 37:34). "The heaven, even the heavens, are Yehovah's: but the earth He has given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16). "The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth" (Proverbs 10:30). "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth" (Proverbs 11:31). Jesus taught the disciples to pray: "Your kingdom come. You will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). The Messiah's Kingdom will be on earth; the saints will dwell in that Kingdom with the Messiah. "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High [God], whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him" (Daniel 7:27). "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10).
Inheritance of the earth has been promised to believers through the Abrahamic
Covenant. God promised Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:14,
15; 17:7, 8) and the world (Romans 4:13) for an everlasting possession. The
Messiah Jesus is the one specific Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), and through
him, the promises will be fulfilled. Through conversion to the Messiah, as new
creations in him, believers become Abraham's seed, and also during the 1000-year
rule of the Messiah Jesus become co-rulers and co-heirs of the promises with the
Messiah. "And if you be the Messiah's, then are you Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).
3. CHRIST'S KINGDOM WILL BE ON THE EARTH
This
planet, earth, belongs to God. "The earth is Yehovah's, and the fulness
thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the
seas and established it upon the floods" (Psalm 24:1, 2). God has the
right to give the earth to whoever He desires. God has given this planet to His
only begotten Son, Jesus the lord Messiah, as his inheritance and possession.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the
decree: Yehovah has said unto me, you are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the
uttermost parts of the earth for your possession" (Psalm 2:6-8). The earth
will be the inheritance of the Messiah not only because he is the Seed of
Abraham and the heir of the Abrahamic Covenant, but also because he is the Son
of God, who God has made Lord and Messiah over all His creation.
The Messiah's future Kingdom will be upon earth. he will occupy David's throne
(Luke 1:32, 33; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Acts 2:30), with Jerusalem as his capital city.
(Matthew 5:35; Isaah 2:2, 3; Zechariah 14:16; Revelation 21: 2-27; 22:1-5.) The
Messiah's future Kingdom is described as being "under the whole
heaven" (Daniel 7:27) and as covering the entire earth. "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"
(Daniel 7:14). "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our
Lord [Yehovah], and of His Messiah [His anointed one]; and he shall reign
forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). "He shall have dominion also
from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Psalm
72:8; also, Zechariah 9:10). As King, the Messiah will reign on the earth for
1,000 years, and will execute judgment in the earth. "Behold, the days
come, says Yehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King
shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice in the
earth" (Jeremiah 23:5). Our Saviour, according to these verses and many
other texts, will reign on this planet as its Owner and King. Glorified,
immortal believers will be co-heirs with him and be co-rulers with him on
earth. (Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21; 5:10; 20:4, 6; 22:5.)
4. THE EARTH MADE NEW
The new
earth will be this planet which will be cleansed and transformed. The earth in
its present condition is referred to as "the first earth" (Revelation
21:1) and "the heavens and the earth, which are now" (2 Peter 3:7).
Through future divine judgment, the earth will be renewed and transformed. The
earth needs to be purified because it has been polluted and misused by sinful
mankind. Man's spiritual disruption was and is the cause of Earth's physical
disruption. We know that, because of man's sin, "the whole creation groans
and travails in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). God's plan of
salvation, however, includes the redemption of the earth, and, eventually, this
planet will be transformed into a beautiful paradise. "For the earnest
expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For
the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him
who has subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God" (Romans 8:19-21).
"He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new"
(Revelation 21:5). Note that God said, "I make all things new."
He did not say that He will make all new things, but all things
new. The earth will not be annihilated; it will be renewed. God will not
burn up this planet, remove the ashes from this spot in the solar system, and
then put a different planet in its place. God will not make a new planet; He
will make this planet new. In redemption, God will take the things that man
has misused, perverted, and twisted, and make them new. God will take this
planet and will purify and transform it.
5. GOD'S GLORY IN THE NEW EARTH
The new
earth will be the setting for the eternal revelation of Yehovah’s glory. This
planet, which was a scene of paradise lost, is destined to be the scene of
paradise restored. Earth will be made heavenly; it will be pervaded through and
through with glory. Unbelievers complain that Bible prophecies make heaven
earthly; according to Yehovah- God's plan, however, He will make earth
heavenly. These persons assert that these prophecies make glorious
things materialistic; God's word teaches, however, that someday He will
make material things glorious.
As sinners,
saved by the blood of the Lamb, will be testimonies of God's amazing grace (Ephesians
2:7) through ages of eternity, so this planet, purified and transformed into
the paradise of God, will be the "theater of the universe," the
setting or scene for the revelation of His eternal glory.
God promised, "But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with
the glory of Yehovah" (Numbers 14:21). Habakkuk, the prophet, predicted,
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yehovah,
as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). After describing the glory
of the Messiah's future Kingdom, David, the psalmist, exclaimed: "Blessed
be Yehovah God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things. And blessed
be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His
glory; Amen, and Amen" (Psalm 72:18, 19).
Summary
Some people think that the New Age refers to the 1,000 rule of the lord Messiah Jesus. however, that is not true. the New Age comes after the White Throne Judgement after the earth has been cleansed by fire that the apostle Peter mentions. After the earth has been cleansed then Yehovah will renew the earth so it will be an amazing Paradise and the heavens will also go through a renewal as well. The only ones who will enter the New Age will be those glorified immortal men and women who are Yehovah's own purchased by the sin-offering sacrifice of the lord Messiah Jesus. At that time the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and Yehovah God will descend and take His place at Zion with the Messiah Jesus at His side.
Revelation 21:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more.
And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, “Look! The tabernacle of God is with man, and he will live with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, nor will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, anymore; the former things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, “Look! I make all things new.” And he said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
And he said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts a drink from the spring of the water of life freely.
Who so overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and the sexually immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem And one of the seven angels came; one of those who had the seven bowls full with the seven last plagues; and he spoke with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
And he carried me away in the spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal, having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on it, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
The city is laid out like a square, and its length was as great as its width, and he measured the city with the rod, about 1,380 miles, length and the width and the height of it are equal.
And he measured the wall of it, about 200 feet,b according to the measure of a man, which is also the angel’s.
And the material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass.
The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, jacinth, the twelfth, amethyst.
I did not see a temple in it, because Yehovah God, the Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple.
The city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.
Its gates will never ever be shut by day (for there will be no night there), and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it, and unclean things will never ever enter into it, nor whoever does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1-7:
He showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of the street. And on this side of the river and on that side was the tree of life, bearing all manner of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
There will be no curse anymore, and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His [God's] servants will serve Him, and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from a lamp, nor light from the sun, for Yehovah God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.
He said to me, “These words are faithful and true, and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angels to show to his servants the things that must shortly come to pass.”
Look! I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12=21:
“Look! I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to each one according to his work.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
I testify to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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