A New Heaven And A New Earth

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.   Revelation 21:1

We can understand why God would make a new earth, but why would he make a new heaven? Answer: before there was ever rebellion on earth, there was rebellion in heaven. Satan wanted to ascend God’s throne, and he was cast out of heaven. The possibility of evil existed both on the earth and in heaven.

In his vision, John saw evil consigned to destruction forever, and he saw a new heaven and a new earth, free not only from the presence of evil but even from its possibility. The sea speaks of all that separates man from God, and John saw “the sea was also gone” (Revelation 21:1). The first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Human history as we know it had been brought to a close.

John saw a “new earth.” These two words are significant—new means it will be wonderfully different; earth means it will be strangely familiar. The destiny of the Christian believer is not dreamlike existence in a spiritual never-never land. God will reshape, re-create, replenish, and renew the whole earth—“the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Romans 8:21).

The Resurrection teaches us the same truth about ourselves. We will have new bodies. The resurrection body will be wonderfully different in that it will not be subject to aging, sickness, or death. But it will be a body, enabling us to live on the new earth, the home of righteousness.

The Bible begins with God creating the heavens and the earth. It ends with God creating a new heaven and a new earth. Everything Adam lost will be restored—and much more. If you are among the people of God, you will one day enjoy life here as you always dreamed it might be but never imagined that it could be.

For further reading, see Romans 8