The New Heavens and the New Earth: a brief presentation
Dec 25, 2013 2:32:47 GMT
Post by Colossians on Dec 25, 2013 2:32:47 GMT
This material is for the teaching of the Body of Christ, however the author reserves copyright over it.
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THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH - A BRIEF PRESENTATION
Isaiah 65:17-25 provides for us the most comprehensive description of the New Heavens and the New Earth:
[17] "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
Note this “create” is present tense: it relates a current creation, and also a progressive creation.
This “former shall not be remembered nor come to mind” is in reference to our being made new in Christ, where we “forget what lies behind” (Phil 3:13).
[18] "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."
This “be glad forever” is in reference to the forever result of the Cross.
This Jerusalem which rejoices is the church.
[19] "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
This is also in reference to the fact that the Christian’s joy is found in the Spirit, and is regardless of the troubles he experiences in the world. Thus Peter refers to our “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pe 1:8).
[20] "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed."
This “infant” here is in reference to our ‘giving birth’ to Christ in our lives; that is, our overcoming in Him.
This “old man” who lives a good long life, is in reference to the fact that God is no man’s debtor, and ensures the believer is satisfied with his life on earth.
The reference to the sinner who will be accursed if he lives to 100 years, is in reference to the fact that God marks the evil man and will repay in the next life. Thus Solomon says not to worry when you see an evil person prosper. It is also in accord with the statement in Revelation that nothing unclean shall enter into the ‘holy city’, which is the church.
[21] "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. [22] They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
Here we see more reference to the fact that God ensures our labour in Christ is rewarded.
So Paul:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Cor 15:58.
[23] "They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them."
Again another reference to our bringing forth Christ in our lives, which is essentially the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul declared: “I labour until Christ be formed in you”.
Christ declared: “Wisdom is justified of all her children”.
Revelation also refers to this as the woman giving birth to the man child who was caught up to God's throne from which He would reign over the nations (Rev 12:5). For Christ reigns through His Body.
[24] "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
God’s provision for those in Christ. Thousands of Christians can testify to God's having answered them before they called upon Him.
[25] "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD."
As per the NT adjuration to “be diligent to preserve the bond of unity”, this verse relates that those who would be naturally retaliatory toward each other as non-believers (for whatever reason), will lay down their arms in Christ and act as one.
The statement that dust shall be the serpent's food, relates Satan's position, to wit, he has been cast out and defeated.
The holy mountain is Zion, which is another term for Jerusalem, and which Hebrews 12 tells us is that to which those in Christ have come.
Summary
The New Heavens and the New Earth are all about Jesus Christ. They are not a reference to a new physical creation, but simply a Jewish figure for our domain in Christ.
Amen.
____________________________________________________________
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH - A BRIEF PRESENTATION
Isaiah 65:17-25 provides for us the most comprehensive description of the New Heavens and the New Earth:
[17] "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
Note this “create” is present tense: it relates a current creation, and also a progressive creation.
This “former shall not be remembered nor come to mind” is in reference to our being made new in Christ, where we “forget what lies behind” (Phil 3:13).
[18] "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."
This “be glad forever” is in reference to the forever result of the Cross.
This Jerusalem which rejoices is the church.
[19] "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
This is also in reference to the fact that the Christian’s joy is found in the Spirit, and is regardless of the troubles he experiences in the world. Thus Peter refers to our “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pe 1:8).
[20] "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed."
This “infant” here is in reference to our ‘giving birth’ to Christ in our lives; that is, our overcoming in Him.
This “old man” who lives a good long life, is in reference to the fact that God is no man’s debtor, and ensures the believer is satisfied with his life on earth.
The reference to the sinner who will be accursed if he lives to 100 years, is in reference to the fact that God marks the evil man and will repay in the next life. Thus Solomon says not to worry when you see an evil person prosper. It is also in accord with the statement in Revelation that nothing unclean shall enter into the ‘holy city’, which is the church.
[21] "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. [22] They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
Here we see more reference to the fact that God ensures our labour in Christ is rewarded.
So Paul:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Cor 15:58.
[23] "They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them."
Again another reference to our bringing forth Christ in our lives, which is essentially the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul declared: “I labour until Christ be formed in you”.
Christ declared: “Wisdom is justified of all her children”.
Revelation also refers to this as the woman giving birth to the man child who was caught up to God's throne from which He would reign over the nations (Rev 12:5). For Christ reigns through His Body.
[24] "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
God’s provision for those in Christ. Thousands of Christians can testify to God's having answered them before they called upon Him.
[25] "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD."
As per the NT adjuration to “be diligent to preserve the bond of unity”, this verse relates that those who would be naturally retaliatory toward each other as non-believers (for whatever reason), will lay down their arms in Christ and act as one.
The statement that dust shall be the serpent's food, relates Satan's position, to wit, he has been cast out and defeated.
The holy mountain is Zion, which is another term for Jerusalem, and which Hebrews 12 tells us is that to which those in Christ have come.
Summary
The New Heavens and the New Earth are all about Jesus Christ. They are not a reference to a new physical creation, but simply a Jewish figure for our domain in Christ.
Amen.