A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

PROCLAMATION

“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”  Revelation 21:1-2 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this twenty-first chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit, John saw the new heaven and the new earth.  He also saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. (Revelation 21:1-2)  Then John heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people …”  It said He will be their God.  There will be no crying, dying, mourning, or pain there for that has all passed away. (Revelation 21:3-4)  Then John was carried away in the spirit by one of the seven angels who had one of the seven bowls full of the wrath of God to a high mountain.  There he saw the new Jerusalem shining brilliantly like a precious jewel. (Revelation 21:9-11)  Then John gave a detailed description of the city including its gates, walls, foundation, and its contents. (Revelation 21:12-26)  Nothing impure will ever enter it. (Revelation 21:27)

 

APPLICATION

After the present heaven and earth pass away there will be a new heaven and a new earth as it was predicted. (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, and Revelation 21:1)  The only people that will be there will be those whose names are written in The Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

 

THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

PROCLAMATION

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.  The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.  But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.”  Isaiah 65:17-18 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah.  Chapter sixty-five of The Bible Book of Isaiah begins with the rejection of The Lord God by the Jews and His acceptance by the Gentiles. (Isaiah 65:1-7)  Then The Lord God states that He would preserve a remnant of His people. (Isaiah 65:8-10)  He goes on to describe what will happen to those people who forsake Him as compared to those who serve Him. (Isaiah 65:11-16)  After this He states that He will create new heavens and a new earth, then He briefly tells what life would be like in the new Jerusalem and how peaceful things will be for man and animals. (Isaiah 65:17-25)

APPLICATION

After the Rapture and after the Millennial reign, The Lord God will create new heavens and a new earth.  The old ones will have passed away. (Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1)   There will be no more crying there (Isaiah 65:19) and the wolf and the lamb will feed together. (Isaiah 65:25)  The weaknesses of infancy and the infirmities of old age will no longer exist. (Isaiah 65:20)   There will be joy and gladness there forever. (Isaiah 65:18)  Will you be there?

READ AND STUDY THE WORD OF GOD AND GROW

Proclamation:

“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Peter, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the scattered believers after the crucifixion of Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2)  This is the third and final chapter in his second letter to them.  He begins by stating that he is writing this letter to them to serve as a reminder of previously spoken words and to stimulate wholesome thinking among them. (2 Peter 3:1-2)  He tells them that non-believers will come to them and attempt to discourage them. (2 Peter 3:3-7)  Then he reminds that The Lord’s way of measuring time is much different than their way, and that a day to Him is like a thousand years to man. (2 Peter 3:8)  He tells them that the Day of The Lord will come, earth will be destroyed by fire, and that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Revelation 21:1)  He ends by telling them that since they have been forewarned, they should be on their guard, and that they should grow in The Lord.

Application:

As believers, we know that we have already been guaranteed the victory through our Lord and Savior, Jesus, The Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  Therefore, we should hold on to our belief in Christ and do our best to follow His teachings.  We should learn as much as we can about The Lord God and His Holy Word, and we should do our best to live by it.  The Day of The Lord is coming.  To God be the glory!!!

THE LORD GOD IS KING FOR EVER AND EVER

Proclamation:

“The Lord is King for ever and ever; … You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere mortals will never again strike terror.”  Psalm 10:16-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This untitled psalm is thought to be a continuation of Psalm 9.  David begins this psalm on a note of despair. (Psalm 10:1)  He spends most of this psalm focusing on the hostile actions, words, and thoughts of the wicked.  He asks The Lord God to raise up His hand (Psalm 10:12) and break the arm of the wicked. (Psalm 10:15)  Then he offers words of encouragement to the believers telling them that The Lord is in control and that He has heard their cries. (Psalm 10:16-18)  This psalm begins with a statement of despair, but it ends with a statement of faith.

Application:

We live in a world full of atheists. (Psalms 10:4, 10:11, and 10:13)  If we listen to them, we will be discouraged.  We need to understand that The Lord God is The King of kings and that He has all power in His hands. (Matthew 28:18)  We are just passing through this world headed to our home in heaven.  Jesus said that, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)  He also said that going to prepare a place for us so that we could be with Him throughout eternity. (John 14:1-6)  We need to know that there will come a time when the heathen and the wicked will be destroyed. (Psalm 10:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-26)  When The Lord establishes the new heaven and the new earth, the wicked will no longer exist. (2 Peter 3:13)  The weak and the meek, the fatherless and the oppressed will be avenged.  The Lord knows of our suffering and He has heard our cries.  One day, we will sit at His feet and be blessed.