Lesson 15: A New Earth

The Bible tells us that God has a plan for a new earth that will be very different from the present earth.

The apostle John saw a future new earth that would exist after the present earth. There was no more sea, which implies great changes in design of the earth (Revelation 21:1).

The apostle Peter said that the present earth will be burned up and completely destroyed. He said that Christians are waiting for a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13).

The writer of Hebrews said that the earth will become old, will perish, and will be changed (Hebrews 1:10-12). He said that the earth will be shaken and removed by God so that only eternal things will remain. He said that we are waiting for an eternal kingdom (12:26-28). The apostle Peter mentioned the time when everything will be renewed (Acts 3:21).

These Scriptures tell us that Christians should not be attached to things of the world that will not endure. We should be working for eternal values. Our families and friends can be saved and share eternity with us. Our material possessions will be destroyed.

A student should read Hebrews 12:25-29. What did the apostle say about Christian living, based on eschatology?

Why must God change the earth completely? Because the present earth is not appropriate for God’s perfect plan for life in the future.

The earth has been under the curse of sin since the first human sins were committed (Genesis 3:17-19). Because of the curse, the earth is less productive of good things and produces things like thorns. Living creatures conflict with each other and survive by killing and eating others. Living creatures experience physical deterioration, pain, and death.

The earth shows the results of thousands of years of the curse. Many of the species of animals God created no longer exist. The earth has been abused and neglected by sinful man, who could not properly fulfill his role of managing the earth (Genesis 1:28).

Since the worldwide flood (Genesis 7:11-24) 71% of the earth has been covered by water. Large areas of the earth are covered with deserts, rocky wastelands, or ice. That means that a small percentage of the surface of the earth is useful and habitable for people.

God will make a new earth because the present earth is far from what he originally designed it to be.

The group should look at Romans 8:17-23 together.

All of creation groans under the curse of sin. Christians still have physical bodies that suffer from the curse. We are waiting for the time when we will be completely delivered from all the effects of sin. We are willing to suffer with Christ now because of the glory we will experience later. Paul’s immediate point was that Christians endure because of the promise of a renewed creation and eternal glory.

The Bible tells us that before the worldwide flood there was no rain (Genesis 2:5-6). The earth was watered a different way.

There was a large river that divided into four rivers. This is different from the present earth, where rivers join one another and become larger until they flow into the sea. Apparently, the rivers originally were supplied by an underground source.

Apparently, the original earth had a large amount of water in the sky (Genesis 1:7-8), perhaps in the form of vapor. Many Christian scientists believe that this vapor could have caused a stable climate worldwide, making the entire earth habitable and productive.

During Noah’s flood, rain fell heavily for forty days, which would not be possible in the present earth. This amount of rain during the flood was possible because of the water canopy. Water also came from under the ground (Genesis 7:11-12). After the flood, the canopy no longer existed, and almost ¾ of the earth’s surface continued to be covered with water.

The large amount of evaporation from the oceans makes possible the rain and flow of rivers that we have today. Before the flood there may not have been seas and oceans like we have today, and the present water cycle would not have existed. The fact that there will be no sea on the new earth (Revelation 21:1) implies that there will be another great change.

In the early centuries after creation, people lived for hundreds of years (Genesis 11:10-32). The numbers declined, especially after the flood. The changed conditions of the earth and the accumulated effects of the curse over time shortened human life.

We should not assume that God will make the new earth exactly like the original earth. However, the original earth helps us to understand that God’s design is very different from the earth we see now. The contrast between the original earth and the present earth shows us the effects of sin.

How can we describe life on the new earth? The Bible gives descriptions of the millennium, the period of Jesus’ rule on the earth (see the lesson about the millennium). Scholars do not agree on the interpretation of those details, and we don’t know if the description of the millennium also describes the new earth.

God will design a new structure for the universe.[1] For example, right now the earth orbits around the sun. If the sun continues as it is, it will eventually be consumed and no longer provide a center for the orbit of the earth. The new heaven and earth will not wear out; therefore, God has a new design that we do not understand yet.

Revelation 21:27 – 22:5 describes a city coming down to the earth from God. It is lighted by the glory of God. The passage gives measurements and describes walls and gates. Scholars do not agree about whether the details should be considered literal or figurative. We know that the most important fact is that it is the home where we will live in the presence of God (21:22, 22:3-4). We know that it is a place of beauty because of the description of gems. We know that it is safe, because the people there never need to close the gates (21:25). We know that no sin ever enters the city (21:27).

The curse of sin will be completely ended. There will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain (21:4).

All our ideas about life are based on the natural life on earth that we have known. We have never lived without the presence of sin and its results. We have never lived without the reality of suffering. We are not able to imagine eternity as God has planned it, and he has not revealed many details to us.

What will be our occupation for eternity? Whatever it is, it is the purpose for which we were created. The centuries of human history on earth were preparation for God’s ultimate plan, and sin caused an interruption of God’s plan. God has not chosen to reveal very much about eternity. We do know that worship of God is central to our purpose.

The saints will rule with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). We don’t know exactly what it will mean to rule. The Bible also says we will rule over angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

The apostle Paul contrasted earthly conditions with eternal conditions in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. People who are focused on the earth think that the things they see and feel are more real than spiritual and eternal things. Paul emphasized that the things we see will pass away. He even calls our suffering “light” and refers to the “weight of glory.”

We cannot imagine what it will be like to be in the presence of God. Moses asked to see God, and God said that a man could not survive a direct vision of God (Exodus 33:20). The mortal human body is too weak to experience the glory of heaven. Paul said that the mortal body would be changed for the experience of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50-51). We cannot imagine the joys and pleasures of heaven, because they are beyond what our present bodies could experience. In the presence of God is fullness of joy and pleasure (Psalm 16:11).[2]

Imagine a child who thinks that romantic love is not interesting because it is not like chocolate or ice cream. He cannot imagine something that is beyond his experience, especially because he is incapable of experiencing it. To persist in sin is the awful mistake of holding to something earthly because we cannot imagine that God offers something better.

Created in the image of God, the redeemed person will live forever. We are not accustomed to living without the limitations of time. Empires decline and fall, but a soul never dies. Even the stars will eventually be consumed and disappear unless God renews them, but a soul never ceases to exist. Jesus said it would be a foolish choice if you could gain the whole world but lose your soul (Mark 8:36).

Near the end of God’s Book is an invitation (22:17). Everyone can receive the water of life. God offers to every person the opportunity to be part of his eternal kingdom.

The group should look at Acts 2:14-21 together.

Peter said that Pentecost was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, but not all the details were fulfilled that day. The Holy Spirit filled the disciples, but the darkening of the sun and other heavenly signs did not happen. Pentecost began the period that would end with the heavenly signs and the day of the Lord.

The activity of the Holy Spirit through the church would change the world. Peter’s immediate point was that the work of the Spirit, as he worked at Pentecost, should be expected in the last days.

If we live in the last days, we can expect persecution and difficulties. However, we should remember that God promises to do great things by his Spirit in the last days.

[1]“Whatever remains after the world is renewed will remain forever, generation and corruption being done away.”
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

[2]“If one can believe that the world has been created and exists in all its complexity, one can believe that the resurrection can occur in all its complexity.”
- Thomas Oden, Life in the Spirit