The New Heavens And The The Earth - Part 2 Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

Introduction

The City Bank of Binghamton, New York, sent flowers to the management of their new branch, on the opening of their new facility. Unfortunately, the card accompanying the flowers read, "Deepest Sympathy." The florist who made the mistake, called later to apologize for the mixup. What really worried him, he said, is the message meant for the bank was sent to a funeral, and it read, "Congratulations on your new location." (Sermon Central: Glenn Dale Pease)

Heaven isn’t a mere concept or a dimension. It is a real place. A physical place that many Jews, including the Apostle Paul, called the ‘Third Heaven.’ “In the sacred writings, three heavens only are mentioned. The first is the atmosphere… The second, the starry heaven… And, thirdly, the place of the blessed, or the throne of the Divine glory.” (Clarke)

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven." (2 Corinthians 12:2)

“There are several verses indicating heaven to be “above” the earth” are numerous. At the Tower of Babel, God says, “Come, let us go down” (Genesis 11:7) Heaven is described as “high above the earth” in Psalm 103:11, and the place from which the Lord “looks down” in Psalm 14:2. Jesus is described as having “ascended into heaven” and “descended from heaven” in John 3:13 (ESV). In Acts 1:9–11Jesus is described as being taken “up” into heaven, and when God takes John to heaven in Revelation 4:1, He says, “Come up here.” These passages have led to the conclusion that heaven is beyond the earth’s airspace and beyond the stars” (GotQuestions.org).

Jesus told his disciples, that he was going to go and prepare a place.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3)

I. The God of Life v.5

?And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5 LSB)

There is an essence of de-creation in the narrative of Revelation. However, unlike the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The purpose of God’s work is to restore, give life, and eliminate the curse of death. Those who continue to worship the system of this world and the father of death will find themselves in eternal death and those who put their faith and trust in the Author of Life (Psalm 36:9), will live eternally with Him.

This de-creation is believed to begin during the tribulation in association with all the judgments. Regarding this, John MacArthur wrote: “The traumatic upheavals of the tribulation period will have brought these conditions to a climax with devastating famine conditions and with terrestrial waters so depleted and poisoned that all the animals of the sea had perished. Had such conditions been allowed to persist much longer, all life on earth would become impossible. In some marvelous way, God will use the physical convulsions of that awful period to purge and cleanse the land and the earth's waters, as well as its moral and spiritual climate.”

"But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." (2 Peter 3:7–8)

All of this happens at the end of the Millennial Kingdom when death itself is thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14). That includes everything that is associated with death or the product of death: sickness, decay, pain, mourning, weeping, separation, grief, sin, etc. This is the result of the one who gives life and life abundantly assuming his throne over all the world.

And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

What an amazing statement to make after such a magnificent promise.

“For behold, I am creating a new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come upon the heart. 18 “But be joyful and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for joy. (Isaiah 65:17–18)

Jesus tells John to write these things down. Inscribe them into the eternal words of Scripture.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Luke 21:33)

Forever, O Yahweh, Your word stands firm in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)