A SECOND GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

Will the New Earth have other Natural Wonders?

What the scripture tells us about the river of life and the tree of life and its fruits is indicative of the natural wonders that will be part of the New Earth. We should expect lakes to be formed by the many rivers. John speaks of “a mountain great and high”- Rev. 21:10. John says “a” mountain not the singular “the” mountain, indicating most likely many more. Just as our resurrection bodies will be better than our current ones, the New Earth’s natural wonders will presumably be more spectacular than those we now know. To view the New Earth as having fewer and less beautiful features than the old earth, pictures the earth’s regression. This is contrary to what we are told over & over. In fact, I believe God was just “warming up” and getting started with this current earth. If we were to think about all the wonders of this earth (Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Himalayas, etc.) we should consider that these will be more spectacular and even a great many more of them.

Will there be Space and Time?

What does the Bible mean by the term “new heavens”. In Genesis 1:1 it speaks of God creating “the heavens and the earth”, the words are synonymous with what we mean by universe. In this case “heavens” refer to the realms above the earth; atmosphere, sun, moon, stars and all that’s in outer space. Isaiah 65:17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.” This corresponds to Genesis, indicating a compete renewal of the same physical universe God first created. Rev. 21:1-2 says “I saw a new heaven and a new earth…”. This too seems to be referring to exactly the same atmospheric and celestial heavens as in Genesis.  It also corresponds to the “new heavens” of Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, and 2 Peter 3:13. The new heavens will be superior to the old heavens -which are confirmed by the Bible’s final two chapters. Earth is the first domain of mankind’s stewardship, but it is not the only domain. Because the whole universe fell under mankind’s sin, we can conclude that the whole universe was intended to be under mankind’s dominion. If so, then the entire new universe will be ours to travel to, inhabit, & rule- to God’s glory. Even under the Curse, we have been able to explore the moon, and have technology to land on Mars. What will our accomplishments be for God’s glory when we have resurrected minds, unlimited resources, complete scientific co-operation, and no more death? Will the far edges of our galaxy be within our reach? Scripture appears to be hinting that “all things are possible through Christ, who strengthens us”. In Rev. 2:28, Jesus says “I will also give him the morning star”. The morning star is a celestial object- the planet Venus. Of course Jesus was Himself referred to as the “morning star”. However, here Jesus is saying I will give it to him. Is this a figurative statement that means something else or is this saying that there will be a new Venus, as part of the new heavens that we will be able to travel to and rule over? This is likely another of those mysteries. However, we can logically conclude based on the other scriptures we have pointed out that the new cosmic heavens will be the old – renewed!

Will we Live is a Spatial World?

The doctrine of the resurrection is an emphatic statement that we will forever occupy “space”- we’ll be physical human beings living in a physical universe. The resurrected Jesus said “Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”-Luke 24:39. He walked on Earth, we will walk on Earth. He occupied space; we will occupy space. Eden was in space and time, and the New Earth will be in space and time. The promise of Heaven is not that we will become infinite that would be inhuman, but that we will become far better finite humans than we have ever been. The Biblical texts speak of time and space in the New Earth similarly to how they speak of them here and now. Jesus spoke of the uttermost parts or farthest ends of Heaven – Mark 13:27. Even the Present Heaven appears to occupy space. But certainly the new heavens and the New Earth will. God is the one” who inhabits eternity”-Isaiah 57:15. By being with Him on the New Eath, we will share space and time with God.

Will we Experience Time in Heaven?

This is a different look at time than what we did in “space and time”. King James’ version of the Bible translates Rev. 10:6 as “There should be time no longer.” Several other translations have gone back to the original manuscripts (we learned from the Pastor’s study that the KJV did not go back the original source) -to translate this correctly as “There will be no more delay”, which means not that time itself will cease but that there is not time left before God’s judgment is executed.  There is an old hymn that also gets this wrong. In that hymn there a phrase “Time shall be no more”. Ironically in the same hymn it speaks of “When morning breaks…” Both the words “morning” and “when” are references to time. “Amazing Grace” has a better grasp of time: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’d first begun.” I have attached a list of ten scripture references (copied from the book) that contain evidences of time in Heaven. How can scripture be clearer about time in Heaven? Right down to point 8. (on the list) about silence in Heaven for half an hour. The sixth day of creation was followed by a day of rest- time again. Time was never the mark of the world’s fallen state; it was sin. So time is good and its God’s time, without any time pressure that our future is limited or that we have to do something at a certain time in Heaven. Our future in Heaven will be unlimited. We’ll no longer have to “number our days”.-Psalm 90:12.

Will the New Earth have Sun, Moon, Oceans, and Water?

Rev. 21:23, Rev. 22:5, & Isaiah 60:19-21 say that the New Jerusalem will not need the light of the sun & moon because they will be outshone by God’s glory. None of these scriptures state that there will be no more sun or moon. So the emphasis is on them being overshadowed by the greater light of God. In Genesis 1 God was the light source before He created the sun & moon. So here is another example of how the last chapters of the Bible reestablish something from the first chapters. Other scriptures that tell us God is the light are Isaiah 60:19, Rev. 21:23, John 1:9,5, John 8:12 and Isaiah 60:13. The New Jerusalem will be a city illuminated not only by God’s Holiness but also His grace. So if the New Earth is full of God’s light, does that mean no more sun rises and sunsets? Our sun is on of countless billions of suns. It is likely we will see many more sunrises & sunsets on many worlds. Darkness was part of the original creation and darkness is not evil- only what sinful people do in darkness. Without sin on the New Earth, darkness will be good and even better. Because God created the first celestial heavens to display His Glory-(Psalm 19:1)! He makes the new celestial heavens, they will perform their mission even better. That means we’ll have to be able to see sunrises and sunsets, but maybe not in the Holy City itself. Light may be constant in the New Holy city but not necessarily in the other cites and countries outside of the city gates.

Will there be Oceans?

Rev. 21:1 states there will be “no longer any sea”. However, the core meaning seems to be that there will be no more of the cold, treacherous waters that separate nations, destroy ships, and drown our loved ones. This may be referring to the fact that there will be no more creatures swallowing up seafarers and no more poisoned salt waters (typically used to clean up hazards). Of course God created the seas- Genesis 1:31, but the Curse had a devastating effect on all creation. Revelation 22:1-2, as we talked before, tells us a great river flows right through the capital city. Flowing rivers go somewhere. We would expect lakes and quite possibly huge sea-like, lakes. However, these will likely be fresh water “oceans” or large lakes without the problems of the seas as we know them. Even now many large lakes are ocean like in size and some are fresh water. There will also need to be large bodies of water for the animals (we will talk details about animals a bit later) that live underwater. Isaiah 60 says the renewed Jerusalem will have “the wealth of the seas brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come”- Verse 5. Then in Isaiah 60:9 it speaks of inhabited islands and their ships traveling the sea, “Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your sons from afar, with silver & gold, to honor of the Lord your God.” So it seems the New Earth will have large bodies of water- likely all fresh water- for all types of activities. Remember- No Death, so we can not drown.

Will there be Seasons and Varying Weather?

In Ezekiel 34:26-27, God says “I will bless them and the places surrounding My hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessings. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops.” So rain is a good thing (where has it been?) We will see trees bearing fruit on the New Earth, so presumably they will be rained on. Job 37:3-6 says that lightning, thunder, rain and snow all declare God’s greatness. So is there any reason to conclude such things will not be part of the New Earth? None!! However, no one will die or be hurt by such weather on the New Earth. When we live on the New Earth, could we go hiking in a snowstorm without fear? Could we jump off a cliff into a river three hundred feet below? Could we stand in an open field in flashing lightning and roaring thunder? Must the New Earth be tamed, stripped of high peaks, waterfalls, huge valleys and thunderstorms? I like the seasons, each of them, but without the danger. Jeremiah 5:24- “God who gives autumn and spring in seasons.” There are no specific scripture that clearly says that when the New Earth comes down that everything GOOD won’t be part of the New Earth. The upgrade from the old Earth to the New Earth will be vastly superior to anything we know about or have experienced.

Will we be Ourselves?

Unless we grasp the full meaning of the resurrection, we won’t believe we’ll continue to be ourselves in the afterlife. We are physical beings now and we will be physical beings again after the resurrection. Also as we learned in week #2, we will be in some form of physical state in the present Heaven- although not likely as superior or in a completely physical form as when Jesus comes to Earth (Second Coming). Jesus called people in Heaven by name, including Lazarus in Present Heaven (Luke 16:25) and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in eternal Heaven (Matthew 8:11). A name denoted a distinct identity, an individual. The fact that people in Heaven can be called by the same name they had on Earth demonstrates they remain the same people. If you “know” Jesus, you’ll be you –without the bad parts- forever. (Sherlock Holmes would love this type of logic.)

Will we be Unique?

Just as our genetic code and fingerprints are unique now, we should expect the same of our new bodies. Heaven’s inhabitants don’t simply rejoice over nameless multitudes coming to God. They rejoice over each and every person (Luke 15:4-7,10). That’s a powerful affirmation of Heaven’s view of each person as a separate individual whose life is observed and cared for one at a time. When Moses & Elijah appeared out of Heaven with Christ at the Transfiguration, the disciples with Christ recognized Moses & Elijah as the distinct individuals they were, the same men they were on Earth, infused with holiness. Matthew 8:11 tells us we will sit at a banquet and eat with Abraham & Isaac and others, sitting, eating, talking, laughing with particular individuals. So what makes you –you? It’s not only your body but also your memory, personality traits, gifts, passions, preferences, and interest. In the final resurrection, it is logical to believe all of these facets will be restored and amplified, untarnished by sin. Do you remember when you really felt good, (not in pride or arrogance), about yourself when you honored God? That was just a little taste of who you’ll be in Heaven. Let’s review when we are to get our resurrected bodies. Rev. 20:4-6 says the first resurrection, when all believers’ bodies join their spirits, occurs before the millennium right after Jesus returns to clean up the Tribulation.

Will we become Angels?

No!! The same person who becomes absent from his or her body becomes present with the Lord-2 Corinthians 5:8. The person who departs is the one who goes to be with Christ- Philippians 1:23. Angels are angels. Humans are humans. Angels are beings with their own histories and memories, with distinct identities like Michael and Gabriel. Under God’s direction they serve us on Earth (Hebrews 1:14). Daniel 10:13 & Rev. 12:7 tells us about Michael serving under God. In Heaven, human beings will govern angels- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3. Angels have been with us from childhood, protecting us, standing by us, doing whatever they could on our behalf (Matthew 18:10) Besides God, no one could know us better. According to John’s encounter, angels will show us around in Present Heaven and then we will also walk & talk with them on the New Earth. How great will it be to get to know these brilliant ancient creatures who have lived with God from their creation. We will consult them as well as advise them, realizing they too can learn from us, God’s image- bearers. If we really believed angels were with us daily here and now, wouldn’t it motivate us to make wiser choices?  There is no Biblical basis for trying to make contact with angels now (not even Tess and Monica). We are to ask God, not angels, for wisdom (James 1:5). However, scripture teaches that one or more of God’s angels may be in the room with you now, every once in a while you might say “Thank You and I am looking forward to meeting you.” We won’t be angels but we’ll be with angels- and that will be far better.

Will we have Emotions?

In scripture, God is said to enjoy, laugh, have love for His children, take delight, and rejoice, as well as be angry, happy, jealous, and be glad. So we should consider that our emotions are derived from God’ emotions! To be like God means to have and express emotions. Hence, we should expect that in Heaven emotions will exist for God’s glory and our good.  Rev 6:16 & 7:10 talks about emotions John encountered in Heaven. Even angels respond emotionally –(Rev. 7:11-12, 18:1-24). While Revelations 21:4 says there will be no crying or pain, it is clearly speaking of those emotions not happening because of injustice or sorrow. However, how about tears of joy when we see Jesus, and experience all the good things of banquets, feasts, singing and being with loved ones? Luke 6:21 says people will laugh in Heaven.

Will we have desires?

We will have many desires in Heaven but they won’t be unholy desires. Everything we want will be good and pleasing to God. One of the greatest things about Heaven is that we’ll no longer have to battle our desires. Christianity is unique in its perspective of our desires, teaching that they will be satisfied and fulfilled on the New Earth. Also that Jesus takes our sins away while redeeming our desires. God’s law, the expression of His attributes, will be written on our hearts- Hebrews 8:10. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”- Psalm 37:4. Whatever we want will be exactly what God wants.

Will we Maintain our own Identities?

You will be you in Heaven. It is obvious that the resurrected Jesus did not become someone else, He remained who He was before His resurrection: “It is I Myself” Luke 24:39. In John 20:10-18, 24-29, 21:15-22, the resurrected Jesus deals with Mary, Thomas, & Peter in very personal ways, drawing on His previous knowledge of them in His pre-resurrected state. Also if we were not ourselves in the after life, we couldn’t be rewarded or held accountable for activities we did in this life. Isaiah 66:22, “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before Me, declares the Lord, so will your name and descendents endure.” The names of God’s children are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 20:15 21:27). To have the same name written in Heaven that was ours on Earth speaks of continuity between this life and the next. In addition to our earthly names, we’ll receive new names in Heaven (Isaiah 62:2, 65:15, Rev. 2:17, 3:12). New names don’t invalidate the old ones. Many people have had multiple names in scripture. When God is finished with the resurrection, we will be ourselves without sin- meaning we will be the best we can be.

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