A Glorious New World (What Will The Future Of Eternity Be- Part I) Series

Many of you have asked how life’s been as new parents. Like so many had described our son has brought more change…and more joy than we ever could have imagined. We are blessed with plenty of laughter. One of his constant sources of joy…our dog Trooper… his dog Trooper…Because of what he hears us saying to Trooper most often, he thinks his name is “down” or “no”. He also likes to talk…a preachers son’s…he goes on and on.

As I watch him grapple to comprehend and communicate…I can’t help but think of us trying to imagine the glories of heaven…the reality of eternity. Have you ever tried to think of eternity? Were like children…who find even the concept of tomorrow is a long ways away!

Last week…present heaven…that which awaits all who die before the culmination

of history…or as I posed the question… “What’s Up When I Go Down?”

This week…FUTURE HEAVEN…particularly as foretold in the Book of Revelation. “Heaven” occurs more than fifty times in the Book of Revelation given to John.

It is visionary in nature…and very similar to Ezekiel’s long before.

In each…we find a human given a revelation by God and their use of human language to describe divine glory.

Though wild in nature…the essence of John’s Revelation…is simply an unfolding of that which was revealed through the prophets (especially Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) and Christ…a glimpse into the future which culminates in a glorious new world.

Rev. 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. [2] I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

[5] He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

[6] He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. [7] He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

What a marvelous sight…what a stirring revelation of what lies ahead.

Our worlds can seem so closed in at times, but here in an ultimate sense…the walls that enclose our lives will come down…and our lives expanded by the reality of eternity.

What is God telling us about our future?

1. The future of eternity will be the fulfillment of a CLIMATIC RECREATION.

Verse 1 describes the climatic point at which history as we know it comes to a close…a final judgment comes followed by the emergence of a new heaven and a new earth, for the first earth and the first heaven pass away. Some reading this for the first time might wonder if such a vision is really a part of God’s Word as a whole. For the Bible has stood the test of time…and proven prophetically profound.

Jesus himself spoke often of the end…the day of judgment…and of going to prepare a place where he was going. Most pointedly he stated, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

> His word is eternal, but not heaven and earth.

The apostle Paul…

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Romans 8:22

Paul understood that the entire created realm was suffering from the Fall…from separation from God. All creation is in tension… the heavens and the earth…groaning as in the pains of childbirth waiting to be reborn into a new and eternal existence united with God. For a while many modern minds began to conceive of the world as without change…no need for God and no signs of disruption or change. Yet today it is the most rational of minds that are declaring the impossibility of the earth continuing as it is.

God spoke long before such rational perceptions…

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD, “so will your name and descendants endure.” Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22 (cf. 34:4;51:6; Daniel 2:44; 7:14; 7:22-26; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Gal. 4:26; Gal. 4:21-31; Heb; 12:22.)