All Things Made New

Let’s look at the future that awaits all those who “call on the name of the Lord” (see Act 2:21; 22:16; Rom 10:13; 1Co 1:2; cf. Gen 4:26; Isa 12:4; Psa 91:14–15; 105:1; 116:4, 13, 17) in truth and righteousness (Joh 4:23–24; cf. Psa 145:18; Jud 3), who “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14), and who “fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and … made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Ti 6:12). Realize that what we see around us in this fallen world today is not what we as Christians have to look forward to in the future for eternity, for God has promised to “wipe away every tear” (Rev 21:4) and “make all things new” (see 2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:1–7; 22:1–21).

THE CURSE IS UNDONE

Looking back, we have seen how God’s initial creation was “very good” (i.e., perfect; Gen 1:31). But man disobeyed God, and humanity fell into sin. Furthermore, as a result of man’s disobedience, this fallen world was “cursed” (Gen 3:17–19). God did that out of love and for our good so we would not live forever in a state of sin and spiritual separation from Him. It is this cursed creation that we see all around us today, as it is still “groaning” under the curse (see Rom 8:18–23; cf. 2Co 5:2; Rom 7:24). So God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to redeem us from this curse and bondage to sin, Satan, and death. Everyone who chooses to believe in and obey Jesus (via His Gospel) can be “born again” (Joh 3:1–8) to new life (Psa 23:3; Rev 20:6) by “the spirit of God” (Rom 8:9, 14; 1Co 2:11, 14; 3:16; Php 3:3; 1Jn 4:2; cf. Joh 3:6), be “reconciled” to God (see Rom 5:10; 2Co 5:18; Eph 2:16; Col 1:19–23), and have “the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago” (Tit 1:1–2; cf. Tit 3:7; Joh 3:16–17).

Jesus proved He could (and will) reverse and completely undo the curse through His many miraculous healings—even raising people from the dead. Those were just small demonstrations of the grand curse removal that will happen at the end of time on the “last day” (Joh 6:39–40, 44, 54; 11:24, 48; cf. Rev 22:1–3), when we, along with creation, are restored to “glory” (Rom 8:21; 2Co 3:18; 1Pe 5:1–4; Rev 18:1; 21:11, 23–26; Php 3:20–21).

WE WILL PUT ON IMMORTALITY

After Jesus rose from the dead, He “ascended into heaven” (Joh 3:13; Act 2:34; cf. Act 1:11), where He is now “seated at the right hand of God [the Father]” (Col 3:1), ruling and reigning in His kingdom.[1] But before Jesus ascended, He left us with a promise:

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places[2]; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also [in heaven].” – Joh 14:2–3

Scripture further tells us that Jesus will return one final time (visibly, literally, and bodily), not as a tiny baby in a manger but as “king of kings and lord of lords” (Rev 19:16), in the full “power,” “might,” and “glory” of God Almighty (Act 1:11; 1Th 4:16–17; 2Th 1:7; Jud 14–15; Heb 9:28; Tit 2:13; 2Co 3:18; Rev 15:8; 19:1) and as Judge for humanity. And as I have explained, the very same day that Jesus returns will also be the great “day of judgment,” the climax and “last day” of human history, and the very end of time itself.[3] On that day, we are told that:

• This present material world (heaven and earth) will be done away with (2Pe 3:7–13; Mat 5:18; 24:35; 1Co 7:31; 1Jn 2:17; Psa 102:25–27; Isa 34:4; 51:6; Heb 1:11–12; Rev 21:1), for it is actually the spiritual things that are eternal (2Co 4:18; Heb 11:3), not the physical things of this world.
• God will “make all things new” (see Rev 21:5), and “we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2Pe 3:13) and where God will dwell with us (Rev 21:3–4; 22:3).
• God will “wipe away every tear,” and there will no longer be any curse, corruption, sin, suffering, disease, wickedness, evil, or death (1Co 15:26, 35–57; Heb 2:14–15; Rev 7:16–17; 20:14; 21:1–22:21; cf. Joh 17:24; Rom 8:18, 29; 2Co 4:17; 5:1–8; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 2Ti 1:10; 2Pe 1:4; 1Jn 2:25; 3:2; Jud 21; Rev 1:18; 19:20; 20:10; Isa 25:8; Hos 13:14).
• He will “raise us up” (see Joh 6:39–40, 44, 54) to “eternal life”[4] and translate us into His glorified heavenly “eternal kingdom” (2Pe 1:11; cf. 1Th 4:13–17).[5]
• We will “put on immortality” (1Co 15:53–54) as we are “raised imperishable” (see 1Co 15:42–44, 50–58) with our new eternal, spiritual, “glorified” “heavenly” bodies, which will be “in the likeness of His [Jesus’] resurrection” (Rom 6:5; cf. Rom 8:30; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; Act 24:15; Joh 5:25; 1Th 2:12; 4:16; 1Co 15:40–57; 2Co 3:18; 5:1–4), and “we will be like Him [Jesus], because we will see Him just as He is” (1Jn 3:2).
• We will inhabit heaven for eternity with God (Mat 19:29; Luk 18:30; Rom 6:22; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 21:6–7).

Therefore, a Christian doesn’t have the same perspective as an unsaved person does when facing death, because for a Christian, death is not an awful event to be feared and dreaded. Instead, it ushers in the hope and reality of eternal life with God and Jesus in heaven (Php 1:21–23; 2Co 5:6–8; 1Th 4:17; Heb 11:16). While there is sadness at the loss of a friend or loved one, we understand that death is the doorway to eternal life for the child of God (Rom 14:7–9; Act 20:24; 1Th 4:13–18; 5:10; Rev 14:13; Joh 3:16–17; Php 3:20–21).[6]

Furthermore, on the Day of Judgment, we will be given new “heavenly” “immortal,” and “imperishable” bodies (see 1Co 15:49, 53–54)—free from the corruption (disease, decay, pain, suffering, and death) that we have today in our mortal fleshly bodies—as we are “raised up on the last day” (see Joh 6:39–40, 44, 54; cf. Joh 3:15–16; Mat 25:21, 23, 34, 46; Rom 8:18; 1Co 15:42–57; 6:14; 2Co 3:18; 4:17; 5:6–8; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1Pe 5:6; 1Jn 3:2; Heb 9:28; Rev 21:3–4) “to meet the Lord [Jesus] in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1Th 4:13–17).[7]

THE GLORY OF HEAVEN

Scripture gives us a wonderful and beautiful symbolic portrayal of what heaven is like (Rev 21:10–22:5), also described as “new Jerusalem”[8] (Rev 3:12; 21:2). Compare and contrast this present fallen world (full of dirt, disease, and death; rocky, barren, rusting, tarnished, muddy, molding, dull, decaying, etc.) with the symbolism used to describe heaven (pure, clean, clear, gleaming, shining, costly, righteous, holy, glorious, etc.). Heaven is depicted using the best and noblest of materials we have here in this present world (gold, jasper, sapphire, clear crystal, etc.) in order to convey to us the almost unimaginable beauty, splendor, grandeur, majesty, and purity of heaven, which is described as “Paradise” (Luk 23:43; 2Co 12:3–4; Rev 2:7) and where nothing and no one unclean (i.e., sinful, corrupt, wicked, evil) will be allowed to enter (1Co 6:9–10; Gal 5:19–21; Eph 5:3–5; Joh 8:21; Mat 13:41; cf. Heb 12:29; Rev 9:20–21; 20:12–15; 21:1–8, 23–27; 22:15; Luk 12:5).[9] Only those covered by the blood and righteousness of Christ will inhabit heaven for eternity.

And heaven will be glorious! Imagine the glory of God beheld face-to-face, as we will then “see God” (Mat 5:8; cf. 1Jn 3:2) and His Christ as they really are in the fullness of their awesome splendor, purity, brightness, majesty, righteousness, holiness, power, and glory (Mat 17:2; Mar 9:2–3; Luk 9:29; Act 22:11; 1Ti 6:16; 1:17; 2Th 2:8; cf. Mat 28:3; Exo 20:18; 34:29–35; Rev 1:13–17; 10:1; 19:12–13).[10] God will dwell among us, and He will be our “Lord” and our “Light” (Rev 22:5; cf. Mat 4:16; 17:2; Luk 2:32; Joh 1:4–9; 3:19–21; 5:35; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35–36, 46; 1Jn 1:5–7). Creation will be restored to righteousness, and God’s Law, which is the Law of Love, will again rule everywhere, while sin and all things sinful, wicked, and evil—including Satan (the devil), the angels that sinned, and all those who have chosen to disobey God and remain in their sins (the wicked, corrupt, ungodly, and unrighteous)—will be banished from heaven forever, “away from the presence of the Lord” (2Th 1:9; cf. Mat 5:29; 7:23; 8:12; 10:28; 22:13; 23:33; 25:30, 41; Luk 13:3, 5, 27; 1Co 6:9–10; Gal 5:19–21; Heb 12:29; 2Pe 3:7; Jud 13; Rev 20:10, 14–15; 21:8; 22:11, 15).[11] Amen.

MARANATHA (COME, LORD JESUS)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. – Php 3:20–21

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” – Rev 4:11

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city….

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost….

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. – Rev 22:12–14, 17, 20–21