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.

Why is There No Escape From Hell?

 You might be surprised by this but some errant churches teach that hell won't last forever. Even the cultic house church I once attended believed that every person ever born would eventually be saved.

Even a casual reading of the Bible proves that there's no escape from hell. The most famous story of that place is told in Luke's gospel.

In Jesus' parable, a rich man found himself in hell and he begged Abraham in heaven to send the beggar Lazarus to cool his tongue with a drop of water. The rich man also asked that somebody warn his five brothers not to end up where he was.

Luke 16:25 and 26 (BBE) says, "But Abraham said, 'Keep in mind, my son, that when you were living, you had your good things, while Lazarus had evil things: but now, he is comforted and you are in pain. And in addition, there is a deep division fixed between us and you, so that those who might go from here to you are not able to do so, and no one may come from you to us.'"

Heaven, by contrast, is a place of perfect righteousness. When the universe has it's epic melt down and is replaced by new heavens and a new earth, only goodness will be allowed there. As 2 Peter 3:13 (BBE) states, "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."

And though some people think that the New Jerusalem will be a physical city, I believe it's actually the returning saints of Christ. The verse in Revelation 22:15 (BBE) shows that wicked people won't be part of God's new kingdom. "Outside are the dogs, and those who make use of evil powers, those who make themselves unclean, and the takers of life, and those who give worship to images, and everyone whose delight is in what is false."

A day will come when everybody who ever lived will be judged. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10 (BBE), "For we all have to come before Christ to be judged; so that every one of us may get his reward for the things done in the body, good or bad."

Furthermore, the Lord wouldn't be just if he let the unrepentant and infinite sin of Christ-rejecting wicked folks pass without eternal punishment. Isaiah 45:21 (BBE) shows how serious he is about his righteousness. "Give the word, put forward your cause, let us have a discussion together: who has given news of this in the past? who made it clear in early times? did not I, the Lord? and there is no God but me; a true God and a saviour; there is no other."

We rejoice then that God won't pardon the unforgivable sin of rejecting him until death. And because we can count on his wise judgement, I'll include that in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? As I've written before, we have enough revelation in creation to know that there's an all-powerful maker.

On Saturday, I plan on posting about work and a Cat Stevens song.

Saturday Song: Randy Stonehill, "World Without Pain"

Throughout human history, people have yearned for a world where there was no pain or sorrow. Stories and movies have created imaginary worlds where people finally found paradise. As just on example, C. S. Lewis' "The Last Battle book ended with the characters finally finding that wondrous world of endless beauty and perfect health.

Hear Randy Stonehill's song here.

A day will come when people who trust in Christ will live in such a world. As we read in 2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)  "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

The Lord promised this in Isaiah 65:17 (KJV)  "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."

In that glorious day, all that happened in this world will doubtless seem like a bad dream. Like C. S. Lewis wrote, we'll be out of the shadow world and in one more real than this dim place.

That day can't come soon enough for me but for others it'll be too late. Only by surrendering one's life to the leadership of Christ can people enter that glorious world. I hope you're one of those.

So, what do you think of Randy's song and what I wrote here? Please leave me a comment. Or else, have a great weekend anyway.

Saturday Song: Eric Burdon & The Animals, "Sky Pilot"

I remember feeling offended by this song when I heard it in the spring of 1968. To me, Eric Burdon was saying that God was inept and that prayers were futile in the face of monstrous carnage. Because we, through Adam and Eve, chose to do things our way, God let us suffer the consequences.

Hear Eric Burdon and the Animals' "Sky Pilot" here.

I now understand what Eric was getting at. He was examining the matter of how God could let horrors like war happen. But not being instructed by the Holy Spirit, he couldn't comprehend the vast plan God has for each human life.

How wonderful it is that we aren't stuck with this damaged world forever. Isaiah 65:17 (KJV) promises, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."

And as the Lord says in Isaiah 66:22 (KJV), "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain."

Here's another assurance of the good eternal life to come for believers. The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:13(KJV) that, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

So, what memories come to you when you hear Eric's song? And what do you think of what I wrote? Please leave me a comment in the box below. Or if you don't wish to do that, have a wonderful weekend anyway.