The New Heaven And The New Earth

I do not doubt that many of these have received these visions and revelations they claim they have received, but knowing the life of some of these, I do doubt that these visions and revelations came from God.

Some are quick to point out that many of the New Testament Saints had such visions.

Yes, they did, but they did not have the complete revelation of God’s Word that we have, and God would often speak to them through dreams and visions.

But two thousand years ago, John had a vision from the Lord.

• It was not some kind of MEDICATION that caused him to hallucinate and see things

• It was not something that he ATE for supper that caused this vision to occur

• It was not a bump on the head caused by falling off the back of a camel that caused this vision

God gave this vision to John, and the Word of God records what he saw.

Look at Revelation 21:1-3, we read, “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. And 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.”

Notice, there is going to be a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH.

Now let me say upfront, I believe what God’s Word tells us that that God created a new HEAVEN and a new EARTH literally.

WHY DO I SAY THAT?

Because there are liberal preachers who do not preach the NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH literally!

They have a hard time believing God’s Word…I DO NOT!

For example, let me read to you of one liberal preacher who said this about this NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH.

Illus: “In John’s vision, he saw a heaven and earth that might appropriately be called new, having such transformations and such changes in their appearance that they seemed to be just created.

He does not say that they were created now, or that the old heavens and earth were obliterated; but all he says is that there were such changes that they seemed to be new.

If the earth is to be renovated by fire, such a renovation will give the world the appearance of being newly created; and such changes to the world might be accompanied with an apparent change in the heavens, so that it too might be said to be new.”

God’s Word tells us “And I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…”

The word NEW MEANS NEW!!!

This NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH is not created here on earth. God created it in heaven.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?

We read And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,

WHY MUST THERE BE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

Isaiah 65:17 gives us a clue as why there must be a new heaven and new earth.

We read “For, behold, I create new heaven and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

Notice these words, “…The former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

Is that significant? Yes!

Let me illustrate…

Illus: Years ago in Columbia, S.C. a young girl lived a very wicked life. She was a harlot, and her reputation was widespread!!!

Later she gave her heart to the Lord and was gloriously saved by the grace of God.

But as she lived in the same city that she did so much evil during her life it became very difficult for her to live there.

She told her pastor one day that she was thinking about moving to another city hundreds of miles from where she was living.

He asked her why she was moving?

She told him, “It was difficult for her to live the Christian life where she lived because it reminded her of all the evil places she had done these evil things.”

Suppose God did not create a new heaven and new earth would we not be reminded of the evil things we once did on earth?

Look at this verse of scripture the Lord tells us about this new heaven and new earth, “And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

In this new heaven and new earth God’s Word tells us two things:

1) And the former shall not be remembered…