Why Bible Prophecy Matters! The New Heavens & New Earth our Ultimate Home. Part Three

When we try to imagine what heaven is like or a fully restored and glorified earth most of us get stuck or we can only imagine things from our limited perspective. Even trying to recreate the Garden of Eden before the fall we can never fully grasp what perfection looks like. Yes, we know Jesus Himself either transplanted a part of heaven to earth or created it from scratch and made the most beautiful and lush garden in the world. It was magnificent with tens of thousands of plant species, fruit bearing tree’s, abundant with water as four rivers flowed through it and the land was rich in precious stones and gold Genesis 1:29; 2:8-15. We also know the garden had thousands of species of animals, birds and fish Gen. 1:30, 2:19-20. I suspect our ultimate home will be similar, but even grandeur!

So, as we sojourn here in this fallen world, what should be our proper perspective as Christians as we await Jesus second coming and look in hope of our future eternal home and the final New Heavens and Earth that are promised to all believers? Just before Jesus would go to the cross, He prayed His High Priestly prayer in John 17. John 17:15 states, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of this world”. Please let that sink in to your heart and mind, we are NOT of this world once we embrace Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

We also face an evil enemy in our life, and I believe Jesus protects believers 1000’s of times through our journey while on the earth. I often say to myself, “My life is in the Lord’s hands” especially when I travel. If you have been saved more than a few minutes, you have probably realized we have an enemy of our soul who does everything in his power to trip us up, tempt us and tries to destroy us. We are in a very real spiritual battle, and we must always be on guard and use our spiritual authority in Christ. The weapons of our warfare that Jesus has provided are needed often especially if you are daily engaged in walking and living out your faith and building His Kingdom, 2 Corinthians 10:4 and Eph. 6:10-20.

We are also strongly warned to NOT to love the world or the things of this world and the emphasis is on desires of the flesh (sexual activity outside of God’s intended lifelong marriage covenant of a man and a women), and the desire of our eyes (never satisfied with what we have and always wanting more) and the pride of accumulating possessions (look at all my stuff and then you place your value and pride as a person on things, instead of your worth being based on your privilege of being in Christ as sons and daughters and adopted into His family). 1 John 2:15-17. Verse 17 reminds all of us, “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever”. This is a very important passage we need to reflect on often as believers.

Jesus clearly tells us, “Do not lay up treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal” Matt. 6:19-20. Jesus instructs us to “lay up treasure in heaven” in contrast. If you live in a developed country as I do or an emerging market country these are tough words as we so often focus on material things. Both you and I will have to give an account for 100% of all that we do, what we say and what we focus on (or obsess on) while on our temporary journey called life. I believe many Christians deeply struggle to have our hearts set on the eternal things (as I have), like sharing our faith or leading someone to Christ, discipling new believers or giving a cup of water in Jesus name or whatever service He calls you to. We all need to be diligent about our individual callings and His business. I took my quarterly day retreat a week Friday, and as I quieted my heart and listened to Jesus speak to me, He reminded me “to continue to be about His Kingdom business, it needs to be my top priority and not to waste time”.

Let us have grateful hearts with thanksgiving and rejoicing in God for all the good things He has abundantly provided in this life, I Timothy 4:4 and I Thes. 5:16-18 and be a people of continuous prayer and intercession.

Another important exhortation is given from our dear brother Peter and found in his second letter. 2 Peter 3:1-13 Peter makes an earnest plea to believers to remember the predictions of the Holy Prophets and the commandments of Jesus (this is what you are doing if you are reading this blog as it is focused on Bible Prophecy). Peter sternly warns of scoffers in the last days (vs. 3-6) who will mock the Lord’s return and their lives are ruled with selfishness, sinful and perverse desires. Possible you know one or two of these scoffers Peter foresaw.

Peter reminds us that just as God intervened through creation and the flood, so in His perfect timing His Son will return with a 100% guarantee! Any delay from our perspective is for the benefit of non-believers so they can be saved. Peter in Vs. 7 instructs us that the current heavens and earth are stored up for FIRE which will coincide with the day of judgement (after the millennium rule) and the destruction of the ungodly. Revelation 20:11-15 describes this just judgement. Theologians have debated if this fire is to completely destroy the current heavens and earth or to purify and renovate just as silver and gold are purified through intense fire. I tend to think it will be purification and restoration of our future eternal home; but for the scoffers it will be eternal fire of torment.

Just as the Apostle Paul warned that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief to the non-believer (I Thes. 5: 1-7), so Peter shares the same thought in Vs.10. The believer will be awake, alert and will know the approximate timing of when His Lord is about to act whether it is His second coming or the final judgement of fire. Peter then goes on to further describe the consequences of the coming fire, “the heavens (sky) will pass away with a roar, the heavenly bodies (stars and planets) will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed”. There will be no hiding in this event!

Peter summarizes his thoughts relating to this coming judgement by fire and asks, “what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” Peters final word is our promise to all sincere followers of Jesus of every race, tribe and nation, “But according to the promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells”. Our final home will be perfect, all peoples will live righteously because we will dwell with our Righteous King and our heavenly Father for all eternity. This is our promise and I encourage you to stand firm in it; especially as we will all see our current world rapidly change in the coming days with growing turmoil and unrest. Remember what Jesus said, “we are not of this world”!

I will conclude this blog and complete this series next time as the Word of God is so rich in content on the subject. Lord willing next week we will transition to Revelation and gain a more complete picture of the new heavens and new earth that awaits us. May His grace and peace keep you unto we meet again next week.

From a friend, Bill W…if you have found these studies insightful and encouraging pass them on to a friend! Maranatha…Our Lord, come!