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Isaiah 65:17-19 says, “For, behold, I create [Heb. bârâ'] new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 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. 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."
The Hebrew word bârâ' means to create, shape, form or fashion. In Scripture it refers to what God does to the heaven and earth, and to man, when He comes. The word describes new conditions and circumstances and transformations.
According to the book of Revelation when does the new heavens and new earth appears – before or after the millennial period? Does this match up with anywhere in Revelation or anywhere in the New Testament?
Of course!
Revelation 21:1-5: “And I saw a new [Gr. kainos] heaven and a new [Gr. kainos] earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away [Gr. parerchomai]; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven … God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new [Gr. kainos].”
It is not hard to see the likeness and correlation between Isaiah 65:17-19 and Revelation 21:1-5. They depict to the exact same arrangement that arrives at the exact same time. This is the same eternal age. In the biblical new heaven and new earth everything is made new and perfect and the past corruption and sin, death are gone forever.
Please note: it does not say He makes ‘all new things’. To create a new arrangement does not require the complete destruction / replacement of what we now have. It requires the creation of a new perfect glorified environment that is purged of all the bondage of corruption (the result of the Fall). So, this does not negate the renewal/regeneration of this current decaying earth.
This is also pictured in God's redemptive work with us. Interestingly, the same Greek words are used to describe both acts of regeneration. 2 Corinthians 5:17 confirms: “if any man be in Christ, he is a new [Gr. kainos] creature: old things are passed away [Gr. parerchomai]; behold, all things are become new [Gr. kainos].”
Paul uses the same terms “new” and “passed away,” talking about the condition of renewed believers after salvation, as John does in Revelation 21 describing the new heavens and earth. The exact same Greek construction is found in both of these writings.
No one would argue this means that we are not the very same entity after salvation. We are! But we are irrefutably changed through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. We are new spiritual creatures. We are a new person. We think different. We feel different. We function different.
Just as we have become a new creation in Christ, yet we remain the exact same entity, so it is with this current earth when He appears. Also, when Jesus comes and glorifies the redeemed are we annihilated? Are we destroyed? Do we become a completely new person? No! We are changed. We take on a new perfected eternal form. This is what happens to this current earth.
It would have been great if this had meant that my old nature was completely eliminated and that I had become completely brand new, although, in a spiritual sense I did – even though my physical appearance remained exactly the same. This did not mean that the core “us” did not continue. It did! But our spiritual outward covering was forever changed. We are now clothed with His perfect righteousness. That will be realized in all it literal and physical fullness at the second coming. This is a strong reason to think the earth is going to undergo similar.
The Premil “millennial new heaven and new earth” are more of the same.
The Hebrew word bârâ' means to create, shape, form or fashion. In Scripture it refers to what God does to the heaven and earth, and to man, when He comes. The word describes new conditions and circumstances and transformations.
According to the book of Revelation when does the new heavens and new earth appears – before or after the millennial period? Does this match up with anywhere in Revelation or anywhere in the New Testament?
Of course!
Revelation 21:1-5: “And I saw a new [Gr. kainos] heaven and a new [Gr. kainos] earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away [Gr. parerchomai]; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven … God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new [Gr. kainos].”
It is not hard to see the likeness and correlation between Isaiah 65:17-19 and Revelation 21:1-5. They depict to the exact same arrangement that arrives at the exact same time. This is the same eternal age. In the biblical new heaven and new earth everything is made new and perfect and the past corruption and sin, death are gone forever.
Please note: it does not say He makes ‘all new things’. To create a new arrangement does not require the complete destruction / replacement of what we now have. It requires the creation of a new perfect glorified environment that is purged of all the bondage of corruption (the result of the Fall). So, this does not negate the renewal/regeneration of this current decaying earth.
This is also pictured in God's redemptive work with us. Interestingly, the same Greek words are used to describe both acts of regeneration. 2 Corinthians 5:17 confirms: “if any man be in Christ, he is a new [Gr. kainos] creature: old things are passed away [Gr. parerchomai]; behold, all things are become new [Gr. kainos].”
Paul uses the same terms “new” and “passed away,” talking about the condition of renewed believers after salvation, as John does in Revelation 21 describing the new heavens and earth. The exact same Greek construction is found in both of these writings.
No one would argue this means that we are not the very same entity after salvation. We are! But we are irrefutably changed through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. We are new spiritual creatures. We are a new person. We think different. We feel different. We function different.
Just as we have become a new creation in Christ, yet we remain the exact same entity, so it is with this current earth when He appears. Also, when Jesus comes and glorifies the redeemed are we annihilated? Are we destroyed? Do we become a completely new person? No! We are changed. We take on a new perfected eternal form. This is what happens to this current earth.
It would have been great if this had meant that my old nature was completely eliminated and that I had become completely brand new, although, in a spiritual sense I did – even though my physical appearance remained exactly the same. This did not mean that the core “us” did not continue. It did! But our spiritual outward covering was forever changed. We are now clothed with His perfect righteousness. That will be realized in all it literal and physical fullness at the second coming. This is a strong reason to think the earth is going to undergo similar.
The Premil “millennial new heaven and new earth” are more of the same.
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