#11~ Rev.21: NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH 8-31-13
Today we'll talk for a few minutes to do with a few of these verses in Rev.21:
In this chapter we see that the history of time is finished; the history of eternity as we think of it is about to begin.
Chapters 21 and 22 are a description of the eternal state following the Millennium and the final judgment of the lost, along with the destruction of the old earth.
~~~As I have already pointed out, I believe the old earth will be burned up at the same time the White Throne judgment of the lost is underway--why do I believe this?
>Rev. 20: 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
~ These at this judgment have no place to hide, their standing out in space on absolutely nothing, the old earth has fled away we're told, this is when it's being destroyed.
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~ Not too long ago I talked about the earth being destroyed in 2nd Pt.3:10-13.
>10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
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~ You might recall, I put forth the question, "where would the saved people, including Israel be as this old earth is being destroyed with fire?"-- It seems logical to me that they'll have to be placed some place else at this time, -- I mentioned what Jesus said in John 14:1-3,
He said in His Fathers house was many mansions, I personally think that these saved people will be moved to a place of safety, perhaps some where among these many mansions, and later be placed on the New Earth when it is on the scene.
~There may be another explanation, but as of right now I'll have to go with this one.
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~In Rev.21: we'll see the description of this wonderful place; this is the place that Jesus was telling about in;
>John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
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Rev.21: 1And 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.
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~Let me say, that the earth as we now know it will be destroyed, but the foundations of this earth standeth sure. -- listen as I read some scriptures to do with this fact.
>Psalm 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
>Psalm 102:25-26 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
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>Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited:
>Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
>Psalm 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
>Ecclesiastes 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
~ As we can see there is much scripture to do with this earth, it will never be completely annihilated.
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~It's much the same as; when we are born again we become a new creature in Christ Jesus, people are not as they were before, that is if their truly saved.
>2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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~We understand that if the rapture doesn't happen soon these old bodies will die, but God will bring the same bodies back to life in a much better condition.
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~The Bible teaches us that while the Earth will be destroyed for a while, it will be restored. God will take the old burned earth and change it into the "New Earth," which will be better than it ever was.
~Think about the Flood that happened during the time of Noah, although the earth seemed "destroyed," it really wasn't, it continued to exist.
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~ The eternal state is clearly indicated here in the absence of sea, but the frequent mentions of bodies of water occur in millennial passages.
>Psalm 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
>Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
~ So we see that there will be seas during the Millennium but not in the New Earth.
~~Since there will be no more sea, the increased land space will be fully capable of handling large numbers of redeemed people from all ages.
~The sea has been a barrier and also a border for mankind, which in some cases has been good and in others bad.
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~LISTEN, there are "three heavens" that we're told about in the Bible.
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~Paul said in 2 Cor. 12: 1- 4 -- here Paul is talking about himself, as he was stoned in Lystra and dragged out of the city, his attackers thought him to be dead. Acts 14:19
>2 Cor. 12: 1- 4 It is not expedient *(Advantageous) for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) --Paul says he's not sure.
4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
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~Paul was not allowed to talk about what he saw; it surely must have been a magnificent place.
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~ The 3rd heaven is where God the Father abides; we see here also that it is where "paradise" is, this is where all the deceased saints are now, O.T. and N.T.
~So since there is a 3rd heaven, there certainly must be a 1st and 2nd.
~ The 1st and 2nd are the heavens that Peter says will be burned with fire and fervent heat. -- The 1st heaven takes in the air we breathe, where the birds and air planes fly, it is also the domain of Satan and his angels at this time.
>Eph. 2:2 -- according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
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~ The 2nd heaven is the solar system, where the planets, stars, sun and moon are.
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~ The New Jerusalem will be the eternal habitation of the saved; it is a holy city, totally separate from sin.
> Heb. 11:10 "Abraham" For he looked for a city which hath foundations, ** (12- vs.14) whose builder and maker is God. -- Telling about this city "New Jerusalem."
>Heb. 12: 22--23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, -- Let me say, --
"Mount Sion" became a synonym for the city of Jerusalem, and later the inhabitants of Jerusalem are personified as "the daughter of Zion"
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~LISTEN, The first heaven and the first earth are replaced by a new heaven and a new earth, foretold by Isaiah--
>Is. 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
~I don't believe we'll remember our lost loved ones at that time, or nothing else to do with the old things of the old earth, to think that they were in hell would not be a good thing, that would be a sorrowful thing.
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>Isa. 66: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. "ISRAEL"
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Rev.21: 2 And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
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~ The New Jerusalem is a holy city, totally separate from sin, from God shows its divine purpose, and out of heaven its divine origin.
Some people seem to think the New Jerusalem is heaven but it's not, the New Jerusalem comes down "from heaven" from God.
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~ Notice, it don't say that the New Jerusalem comes down and rest on earth, from what I understand the New Jerusalem, the home of the Bride, the Church, will descend but remain suspended above the millennial Jerusalem, it will also be suspended above the New earth.
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* There are many differences between the Jerusalem of the Millennium and the New Jerusalem of the eternal state. --LISTEN
1. The Jerusalem of the Millennium is located around the now present site; the New Jerusalem in the eternal state is a satellite above the earth.
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2. In the "Millennial Jerusalem" there is natural light; in the eternal Jerusalem there is supernatural light, the Shekinah glory, Rev. 21: 23.
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3. The Millennial Jerusalem has no walls, Zech. 2:4-5, but the eternal Jerusalem has very high walls, Rev. 21:17.
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4. There is a temple in the Millennial Jerusalem; there is no temple in the eternal Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22), the Shekinah Glory who now indwells the believer as the Lord Jesus Christ will function as the temple.
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5. In the "Millennial Jerusalem" there are animal sacrifices mentioned, Ezek. 40:-48: there are no animal sacrifices in the eternal state.
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6. Living water comes from the millennial temple, according to Ezek. 47:1; in the Eternal Jerusalem the Water of Life comes out from the throne of God in Rev. 22:1.
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7. There will be unbelievers that live in the city of Jerusalem in the Millennium, Zech. 12:6; 14:11; only believers live in the city in the Eternal State, Rev. 21:4, 7; - 22:14.
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8. There are trees for food and healing in the millennial city of Jerusalem, Ezek. 47:7-12; there is the Tree of Life in the eternal Jerusalem, Rev. 22: 2.
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~This New Jerusalem should not be confused with the old Jerusalem, the earthly Jerusalem that is here now.
~ This glorious dwelling place of God and His people is described as the holy city. --- Cities are places where there are many people, and people interact with each other, it's a perfect community of the people of God.
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* We read about a millennial Jerusalem in;
> Isaiah 2:1--2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain (Kingdom) of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, (above all kingdoms) and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
~ This is telling about the Millennial Jerusalem.
In the eternal state the New Jerusalem is suspended in the sky above the sight of the original Jerusalem but it is a much larger city.
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3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
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~ A tabernacle suggests moving about; the saints will have access to all of God's creation, there will be communication between the millennial Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem. God will dwell with men; there will be no change in the eternal state.
~The ancient tabernacle in the wilderness represented God's presence and glory in the midst of Israel.
~ All of the rich meaning symbolized in the tabernacle of Israel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
~God will make His tabernacle with His saints forever and ever; He will give His presence to them forever and ever.
~Christ is the unique Man of the ages, the only man who is God. He is the God-Man. For this reason, He will be the only Person in the Trinity whom we shall see with our eyes in that day.
~ We shall behold Him in the full display of His glory throughout eternity.
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4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
----In verse 4, we see that there will be no more tears, death, or sorrow. All of these came into the world through sin, Gen. 3: but now the curse is removed, Rev. 22:3.
~ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes - This will be one of the characteristics of that blessed state, not a tear shall ever be shed there. How different will that be from the condition here?
