What about the New Heavens and New Earth?

If you haven’t noticed, things around here are broken. Do you know what I’m thinking about?

When sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, God cursed humanity and the earth itself.

Most people have grown so accustomed to the world we are in that they fail to recognize that the world as it is was not God’s plan. Thankfully, God has come to the rescue. The writer of Hebrews refers to a better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:14-16). Peter wrote about the destruction of the current heavens and earth which will be followed by new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13).

However, this did not originate in the New Testament. Prophesying to a rebellious nation, Isaiah warned Judah of God’s wrath but also gave a ray of hope for a remnant of faithful servants who would be preserved in new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah:65:17). Isaiah’s prophecy of divine judgment was echoed in Revelation where the new heavens and new earth would follow the destruction of death, Hades, Satan and all whose names are not found in the book of life. In John’s visions he then saw “the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

You might remember that when the temple of God was built in Jerusalem God said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name” (2 Kings 21:4). This was God’s city in which was built the house of God (temple). So, Jerusalem was God’s dwelling on earth, where God met man.

Back to Isaiah’s prophecy...

God was displeased with Judah because there was no justice. Yet, God would raise up a Redeemer to go to Zion (the City of David, Jerusalem) to bring salvation and righteousness. Zion would be restored, purified and glorified. God would show compassion to his people by gathering them into Zion.

Then all your people will be righteous;

They will possess the land forever,

The branch of My planting,

The work of My hands,

That I may be glorified.

—Isaiah 60:21

The prophecy of Isaiah foresaw the restoration of physical Judah, but also looked forward to Zion where “all your people will be righteous,” undoubtedly a reference to spiritual Zion. The prophecy went on to tell of the adornment of its citizens with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. The final verse of Isaiah 61 describes figurative vegetation in Zion:

So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up....

The writings of John and Peter drew heavily from Isaiah in describing the new heavens and new earth. Of greatest significance…

Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them. 

—Revelation 21:3

But according to His promises we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 

—2 Peter 2:13

Unlike physical Jerusalem where there was a physical temple, a copy of the heavenly one (Hebrews 9:24), God Himself will live among His people in the New Jerusalem. Unlike the current world where some people are righteous and some are not, in the new heavens and new earth only righteousness will dwell.

Our current world is broken. Death is here. God created life; He wants us to live forever with Him! Let’s set our eyes on the New Jerusalem!!


Mark Stinnett

August 7, 2022