PROPHECY: New Heaven & Earth.
The present earth and its atmospheric Heaven have been defiled by man’s sin and the demonic spirits that dominate the unseen world.
THE NEW HEAVEN & EARTH
What will the New Earth be like? People often ask what the new Heaven and Earth will be like. While droves of people make it all kinds of things, the best way to answer that question is it will be much like the Garden of Eden before sin entered the earth. However, since Satan lived on this planet and was in the garden before Adam and Eve fell, even that answer falls short.
The new Heaven and the new Earth will be exactly that – new. The present earth and its atmospheric Heaven have been defiled by man’s sin and the demonic spirits that dominate the unseen world. Both need to be destroyed. Isaiah 65 tells us:
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness. "I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
Before we get too deep into our message today, remember that all scriptures are written to the Jews, not Gentiles. However, all those who become born-again in Christ are graphed into the pure bloodline Body of Jesus Christ, which makes us Jewish.
Now, back to our topic. Peter said some inspired words.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
While this is not a pleasant topic to review, it is an immovable event that must occur before the New Heaven and Earth are revealed. I know, it sounds like an apocalyptic move – fireballs from Heaven burning up everything that has life, including the earth. I know it is hard to imagine, but the current earth and its atmospheric heavens will draw to a close, and the universe will collapse like a building in flames. Everything He once created turns to ashes.
Let’s quickly review what has happened leading up to this horrific moment. Jesus died on the cross; He was buried, resurrected, and offered indwelling life to all who received Him. The next event is the Rapture – all indwelt believers, past and present, are taken up to greet Jesus personally. The believer’s judgment occurs, the wedding feast concludes, and the Saints await Christ’s Second Coming. The Tribulation, led by Satan, takes place on the earth during this time. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus returns with His Bride and the 144,000 pure-bloodline Jews. Satan is chained and locked in the pit of Hades for 1,000 years during the 1,000 reign of Jesus Christ. The world is at perfect peace, like the garden condition before the “fall.” At the end of the Millennium, Satan is released to form one more rebellion. Jesus wins the battle and sends Satan and his followers to the now fiery pit of Hell. Once this is completed, Jesus conducts the Great White Throne of Judgment, sends unbelievers to Hell, and destroys the earth and the universe with intense heat – fire. That brings us up to date.
The Greek word for “new” is neos, creating something from nothing. While some adhere to reconstruction theology – taking the old earth and making it new.
The reason I don’t adhere to this is simple. If Satan, his demons, and all unbelievers go to Hell in the core of the burning earth, reconstruction will put them under our feet throughout eternity. And more significantly, the Word says He tosses the earth into outer darkness. This creates a massive problem regarding this theology.
When Jesus said He had to go and prepare a place for His Bride, He most likely was referencing the New Earth. The new Heaven and Earth will not contain any darkness or a starry sky, nor will there be people in Hell under our feet. There will be no darkness in any sense of the word. All things will be new and of light.
While most of us enjoy playing in the sea, the New Earth does not have such.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)
However, the Word talks about the sea of glass.
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)
There are two views of this glass sea. The first is that it is in heaven or on the new Earth. The second view is more plausible. The glass sea is mixed with fire, which could be the victorious standing on the edge of the lake of fire in which God tossed all refuters of Jesus into – shouting out victory and praise with the harps of God. Plus, after this experience, verse five reveals the temple of God opening, the seven angels holding the seven plagues come forth. This would place the glass sea long before the new Earth is delivered.
Little is known as to the details of the new Heaven and Earth. Rightly so. Why would Jesus spend so much time building a gift and tell us what it looked like before He gave it to His Bride? This is our wedding gift. He likely wants it to be a complete surprise.
We do know this new home will be without the curse, no sin will be found, no darkness or evil will be found, and everything will be perfect, including our new bodies.
I will not attempt to make this wedding gift something birthed in my imagination. The few details given are enough for me. To know that I will be with my Husband and experience the New Jerusalem, the new Earth, and the new Heaven surrounding it is enough for me to set my affections on things above.
God has given us far more details regarding the New Jerusalem than that of the New Earth. The reason is simple. Since the new Jerusalem comes out of the sky at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ, there is good evidence that this will be the home of the Bride of Christ.
God reveals such details as the city's square footage, gates of pearl, foundations of precious stones, streets of gold, the light bursting forth from the Lamb of God, the tree of life at its center, and the river of life pouring forth from it. While some use these descriptives to define the new Earth, the new Jerusalem is the capital city of the New Earth and the New Heaven. If God details what the new Jerusalem will look like, the New Earth is bound to be more glorious than human words can describe.
In the meantime, I want to leave you with ten things to consider.
Evaluate yourself: Pray and ask God if the indwelling Life of Christ authentically has saved you. If not, you might want to make things right.
If you are saved: Stop detaching yourself from the Body of Christ. Hang out with those who share your faith. Stop judging people; it isn’t your job.
Release the indwelling Life: There is a difference between “following” Christ and releasing the Holy Spirit from within. Learn the difference. Following produces self-works, and releasing the Spirit produces His works.
Get discipled: No matter your age or experience walking in the Spirit, all Body members should be discipled by another until death. What is in motion tends to stay in motion.
Love even when it hurts: Loving amid betrayal is the toughest thing to do. Keep in mind that Jesus loved His enemies AND His people. There is no difference between the love you have been given for your enemies or that of a brother or sister who loves you back.
Study the prophecies: Most believers avoid the study of the End Times. Fear is usually the reason. View the prophecies as a gift God gives you to gain peace and understanding of things that are and are to come.
Be active in ministry: Inactivity in ministry is the number one reason believers fade into lukewarmness. Find a ministry focusing on releasing the Life of Christ and get involved.
Live a forgiving life: Unforgiveness is one of the leading causes of bitterness. Bitterness is the force that blocks us from giving our lives away. No human can forgive. However, Jesus can forgive through you.
Rest in Christ: Resting, abiding, and walking in the Spirit is the answer to all trials, persecutions, and distress. Resting starts with trusting Jesus. If you don’t trust – you will rust.
Discover your identity: All the above cannot be attained unless you know who you are in Christ. The key is in exploring who Jesus is. The more you know regarding the identity of Jesus, the sooner you will discover who you are.
Producing this documentary has been one of my highest honors to date. I have been in ministry for over 40 years and have been blessed beyond measure. However, making this series for the masses has stirred up many challenges. It required every ounce of the Holy Spirit within me. The result is joy. Joy over the many testimonies of transformation by our viewers. Thank you for being a significant part of this journey.
Question. Do you believe there will be a New Heaven & Earth?