New Heavens and New Earth

Throughout Jewish and Christian history, people looked forward to paradise regained. Many biblical passages speak of a time when sin and suffering will be no more. Justice will be done and the wicked will be sent out of God's benevolent presence.

Our Lord promised a repentant thief on the cross next to his that he'd be with him there. Luke 22:43 (BBE) reads, "And he said to him, 'Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in Paradise.'"

We need new heavens and a new earth because the universe we have now is cursed by the fall. After Peter wrote of the destruction of the old creation, he explained in 2 Peter 3:13 (BBE), "But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness."

What a joy it will be when we will be free from sin and temptation. As Isaiah 66:22 (BBE) predicts, "For as the new heaven and the new earth which I will make will be for ever before me, says the Lord, so will your seed and your name be for ever."

How wonderful too that the nasty things of this world won't even be remembered in the one to come. Isaiah 65:17 (BBE) tells us, "For see, I am making a new heaven and a new earth: and the past things will be gone completely out of mind."

Better still, we'll have new bodies which won't grow old and die. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:53 and 54 (BBE), "For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life. But when this has taken place, then that which was said in the Writings will come true, 'Death is overcome by life.'"

Best of all, God will be with us forever. Never will sin be a barrier between him and us. Revelation 21:3 and 4 (BBE) assures us, "And there came to my ears a great voice out of the high seat, saying, 'See, the Tent of God is with men, and he will make his living-place with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end.'" Amen!

If Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about Who's responsible for COVID-19.