S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Many people have a misconception of what heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 gives us a detailed picture of the new heavens and the new earth. After the events of the end times, the cur...

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July 01 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

doug clark Supporter

This is an answer to the question of whether or not God will vacate Heaven to reside in New Jerusalem. 

Keep in mind that God resides everywhere. One of the attributes of God is Omnipresence by which He fills the universe in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole of God is present in every place. This is true of all three members of the Trinity. They are so closely related that where one is the others can be said to be, also.

I Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Jeremiah 23:23,24
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord.

So the answer to your question is no God will not vacate "heaven" and just reside in the New Jerusalem. God is an unchanging God. None of his attributes will change and that means forever and ever. There is no place where God is not already there.

November 26 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rotimi EWEDEMI Supporter Very keen Bible Researcher

Let us first focus on the new earth. Let us note that the passage says there will be no sea in the new earth. What could this statement mean? Are we to take it as meaning that the new earth will not have bodies of water? Will the planet earth be earth if there is no water on it? 

Let us think: could it be that the " sea" in that Revelation 21:1 is not a literal "sea" but a symbolic " sea?" The Bible helps us to actually see that the " sea" is figurative, a symbol of something. How so? 

A. Compare Revelation 17:1 with 17:15. " And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters"."And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues"

From this, we can see that the "sea " of Revelation 21:1 is likely not literal sea. It symbolises " peoples, multitudes, and nations"? But which kind of peoples?

B. Isaiah helps us out. Isaiah 57:20 : "But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand". 

Thus, the " sea" of Revelation 21:1 symbolizes wicked, ungodly, tumultuous mankind. 

So, if the "sea" of Rev 21:1 is not a literal sea, it follows that the "earth" and even the "heaven" of the same verse cannot be literal. As for the "earth", please see Psalms 96:1. "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth". Surely, we recognize that the earth herein is not literal earth but " people on the earth"

To summarize : the old earth that will be removed is an earth filled mainly with wicked, ungodly and dying humans; the new earth is one to be filled with righteous, obedient and peaceful and undying humans. The bible assures that the literal earth...the planet earth, has been created as an everlasting home for obedient mankind, and will never be made to totter, for ever. 
" Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty...Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. (Psalm 104:1,5)

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalm 115:16)

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)

The situation existing in the old earth, I.e. as at now, is well depicted in the Bible, in Genesis 3:17-19: "And unto Adam he said...cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"

In contrast, the situation that will exist in the new earth is also depicted in the Bible: " And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And 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 (Revelation 21:3-4).

That meek, righteous/ godly humans will live on earth for ever is confirmed in Psalms 37:9-11, 22,27,29,34; Proverbs 2:21-22; Matthew 5:5. 

As for the new heavens, this means the Government of God under Jesus (new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2); this replaces the old heaven, that is, current governmental system under Satan's control. See Daniel 2:44

October 25 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mi Shad Ow Supporter Layman

This is an answer to the question of whether or not God will vacate Heaven to reside in New Jerusalem. Yes he will. The bible is clear that once the renovation of earth (Isa 65:17; Heb 1:11-12; 12:26; 2 Pet 3:7 & 10; Rev 21:1) is done. 

God will live with his people forever (Rev 21:3; Eze 43:7: Exo 29:46: Ps 68:16; 132:14) it has always been his desire to dwell with us. 

I hope this helps.

November 27 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What are the New Heavens and the New Earth?

2nd Peter 3:13 ASV Bible: "But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

The "new heavens and new earth" is a concept from the Bible, particularly in Isaiah, 2 Peter, and Revelation, which describes a final state of creation after Jesus' return. It represents the renewal and restoration of all creation, in which sin and its effects are completely eradicated, and believers will live with God forever in a renewed universe. This concept is central to Christian study of the end times. 

The connection of the "heavens" with ruling power aids in understanding the meaning of the expression "new heavens and a new earth" found at Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 and quoted by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:13. 

Observing such a relationship, M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia (1891, Vol. IV, p. 122) comments: "In Isa. Lxv, 17, a new heaven and a new earth signify a new government, new kingdom, new people."

In the original-language text, the Hebrew word sha·maʹyim, rendered "heaven(s)," is always plural. Its plurality appears to reflect, not a plural of excellence, but the idea of a plural "of local extension," or the idea of "a whole composed of innumerable separate parts or points." 

In 2 Peter 3:13, the apostle used the Greek plural. Just before that (2 Pe 3 verses 7, 10, 12), he spoke of the present wicked "heavens," using the plural. So he was consistent in using the plural in 2 Pet. 3:13. Moreover, he seems to have been quoting from the original of Isaiah 65:17, where the Hebrew is in the plural, just as at 2 Peter 2:22, he quoted from the Hebrew text of Proverbs 26:11. Peter pointed to "new heavens [plural] and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise."

Conclusion:

1: What, then, is the "new earth"? It is not a new planet, for God made the earth just right for human habitation, and it is his will that it remain forever. (Psalm 104:5) 

2: The "new earth" refers to a new society of people. (Genesis 11:1; Psalm 96:1) The "earth" that will be destroyed consists of the people who make themselves part of this wicked system of things. (2 Peter 3:7) The "new earth" that replaces them will be made up of faithful servants of God, who hate wickedness and love righteousness and justice. (Psalm 37:10, 11) And, Satan's world will be gone.

3: A redeemed physical world: It will be a restored physical world, which will eventually replace the current one after the old earth is dissolved. 

Key aspects of the new heavens and new earth:

A new creation: It is not simply a different place but an entirely new state of the universe, where God makes "everything new."The end of sin. 

The new creation will be free from the curse and suffering caused by sin, as sin itself will be fully eradicated.

Absence of sin and suffering: In the new heavens and new earth, "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4). The curse of sin will be lifted entirely.

Eternal dwelling place: It will be the eternal dwelling place for believers, where they will be with Jesus and experience God's presence without hindrance.

Relationship with God: The new heavens and new earth signify a restored, perfected relationship between God and humanity, in which God will dwell with his people.

This vision, detailed in books like Isaiah (65:17, 66:22), 2 Peter (3:13), and Revelation (21:1), represents the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the reversal of the consequences of the fall of man.

It is the culmination of the biblical story of redemption, signifying a complete renewal and restoration of the current world, rather than its destruction and replacement with a non-material heaven.

12 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report