What’s New?
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
In the concluding and climactic passage of the Bible we are told about the exalted vision given to the Apostle John: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev. 21:1). Might we not conclude that the ultimate outcome of the new covenant God made with His people, along with the new birth, new name and new life will be a new heaven and a new earth in which to live that new life forever?
We commonly speak of our eternal future being set in heaven, yet the Bible concludes with the thought that eternity future will be set on a new earth and canopied by a new heaven. The vision given to John continued with his testimony, “I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:2). The vision seen also was accompanied by the loud voice that declared, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Rev. 21:3–5).
When Jesus comes
Included in the “all things” that God will make new are a new heaven and a new earth. The logical precursor to the creation of a new heaven and a new earth will be the dissolving of the old heaven and earth. This is precisely what 2 Peter 3:10–13 declares: “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells.” Amazingly, eight centuries before Christ came, the prophet Isaiah heard God declare, “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isa. 65:17).
Destined for heaven
Commonly envisioned and simply stated, the redeemed of the Lord are destined for heaven. Jesus spoke of this destiny as being with Him in His Father’s house (John 14:1–3). However, contrary to this common vision of eternity future for the people of God as being in heaven, the Bible’s concluding vision of that future describes the destiny of believers to be an earthly destiny, albeit not on this present earth but on a new earth.
The prospect of all things becoming new is not for the purpose of us speculating concerning the details of how and when God will accomplish it. This hope for the future is given us that we might be encouraged to live holy and godly lives in the present while looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise of new heavens and new earth when sorrow, tears, pain and death will be no more.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jerry Batson is a retired Alabama Baptist pastor who also has served as associate dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and professor of several schools of religion during his career.
Share with others: