Frequently Asked Questions
New Heavens & New Earth?
Question: What Is Meant By The Promise Of A New Heavens & New Earth?
One passage in the Old Testament containing that promise is Isaiah
65:17: "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the
former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." What sometimes is
forgotten is that every passage has a context. Isaiah was a 7th
century BC prophet. His work was just before the destruction of Judah
by the Babylonians. Much of his book of 66 chapters has to do with the
people's sin, which was the cause of the coming destruction. But there
are also many prophecies within Isaiah that foretell of the coming
Messiah and the "new order" that would be under the Christ, and under
His new covenant.
Isaiah 65:17 is one such prophecy. Isaiah, like Jeremiah, foretold of
the end of the old Jewish order, and the new provisions that would be
ushered in under Christ (see also Jeremiah 31:31-34). The key to
understanding the "new heaven and a new earth" of v. 17 is v. 25,
"...They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain...". This
is the same mountain referred to in Isa. 2:2-4, which spoke of the
mountain of the Lord's house that would be established in the latter
days. The New Testament clearly shows that the latter days were
ushered in on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16,17. The mountain that
was spoken of is identified as spiritual Mount Zion; it is "the
general assembly and church of the firstborn..." (Hebrews 12:23). This
is without doubt the meaning of Isaiah's prophecy in 65:17.
Then in the New Testament Peter also refers to new heavens and a new
earth: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2
Pet. 3:13). Peter uses this expression, in a context referring to the
second coming of Christ, to describe the final dwelling place of the
righteous, which is heaven itself, as Jesus taught in John
14:1-4). Notice that the "new heavens and the new earth" are promised
after the present heavens and earth have been destroyed (2
Pet. 3:10). So the context, and the teaching of other passages, show
that this term (new heavens and new earth) is a figurative expression
for heaven itself.
Another reference is that of Revelation 21:1: "And I saw a new heaven
and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed
away (v.1). At the second coming, the wicked will be cast into the
lake of fire but the righteous will receive their glorious state.
This new heaven and new earth which John saw is the new and glorified
state of the saved. As Peter stated, the present earth on which we now
live will pass away. It is stored up for fire (II Pet. 3:7, 10). Just
as Isaiah's new heaven and new earth looked unto the New Testament
order (Isa. 65:17-25), the new heaven and new earth of Peter and John
looks unto the "new order" which begins at the consummation of the
Christian age. The heaven and new earth of Rev. 21:1 is that city
which was looked for by the godly men and women of old, "which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. 11:10,
13-16). Again, it is heaven itself which is being described.
The reward of the saved is in heaven (Mt. 5:12; 6:19; John 14:1-3; 1
Pet. 1:3,4). There is no passage that promises everlasting life on the
earth.
© Copyright, Leon Mauldin, 1994-2007
Share Online
