An entire end-times section could be present in many bookstores and most online Christian bookstores. These books typically bear fiery colours or a canopy design that immediately evokes a way of disaster. And why not? So lots of these books go into vivid detail in regards to the coming judgments, providing a timeline for the longer term tribulation. Often, the main target is on the apocalyptic events recorded in Revelation. Very little, if any, space is given to a discussion of eternity.
Eschatology, the study of the top times, is vital in a believer’s understanding of the Bible and faith. However, we should always query why a lot of the teaching found inside books and sermons is concentrated on the tribulation and apocalypse. It seems as if fear and implausible images are what pull many individuals to some of these materials. But all the top times judgments and plagues we discover in Scripture will not be there solely for their very own sake. They are a part of the outpouring of God’s righteous wrath on sinful humankind as He purges evil from the world in anticipation of the earth’s devastation so it may well be made recent. Throughout Scripture, we discover God pursuing humankind, working to bring them back into relationship with Him in order that His original intent of dwelling with people would develop into reality.
If we keep our focus only on the scenes of terror and persecution, then we are going to miss the opportunities to search out hope within the promise of a recent heaven and a recent earth, our everlasting home. Revelation ends with this scene to spur believers onto greater faith, trusting that irrespective of what they endure or what fears they face, their inheritance is secure. Today, we will receive the identical hope because the early believers once we direct our focus to eternity.
The Problem with Viewing the Earth as Only a Temporary Residence
Songs about heaven often help us look beyond our circumstances and suffering to do not forget that the difficulties we face now will not be without end. There is a greater day coming when we are going to now not be burdened with troubles. We will live with the Lord without end, declaring His praises as we sing old and recent songs in our heavenly home.
Yet, the issue with many songs about heaven is that they often make it seem as if the earth has no relation to eternity or ascribe features to heaven from the Bible that apply to the New Jerusalem. For example, many describe people walking on gold streets in heaven or mention how the earth just isn’t our home. We are left with the pervasive, yet misplaced, view that we’re going to live as spiritual beings in a spiritual realm without end.
Such views leave us wondering what to do with the earth now and how one can fit it into eternity. If, as lots of the songs say, there may be a disconnect between the world we see now and our future home, then do our activities matter? How should we view the planting of crops and trees? The care of animals? Or any work we try this just isn’t specifically inside “spiritual” confines?
The problem of viewing earth as temporary and unnecessary in eternity signifies that we downplay our lives now, and we start to stick (often unknowingly) to Platonism, of claiming that matter is evil while spirit is sweet. Author and pastor Randy Alcorn labels any such thought amongst Christians as “Christoplatonism,” a term he created and discussed in his book Heaven. He argues that this view often leads people to disclaim the resurrection and to “imagine they are going to spend eternity as disembodied spirits.” And that contradicts what Scripture teaches about our lives now and in the longer term–for we’re being transformed to reflect the Savior’s glory and can in the future live with resurrected bodies on a renewed earth.
Biblical Teaching about Our Eternal Home
Scripture tells us that after we die and leave this tent of a body, we’re immediately within the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1, 8). Every believer who dies immediately goes to heaven to stare upon the face of their Savior. The Apostle Paul described this state as higher than remaining in the current, sinful system on earth (Philippians 1:23). Thus, we discover in Revelation the depiction of the multitude of tribulation martyrs in heaven across the throne of God, worshiping Him. Unlike the teaching of cults, the Bible doesn’t say that we enter a soul sleep or that we must await the longer term resurrection before we start having fun with unbroken communion with the Lord. As Jesus promised, we are going to live regardless that we die (John 11:25).
Every believer is a citizen of heaven while also remaining a citizen of this earth. We are pilgrims awaiting a land to call our own, which can’t be present in the current evil system (Hebrews 11:13). Thus, we’re on the earth but not a part of it.
Our everlasting home, though, just isn’t the current heaven. The Apostle Paul and other believers who’ve gone before us is not going to remain within the heavenly realm, and neither will we once we arrive there after our deaths. Paul spoke of how we await a Savior from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will return and resurrect all believers (Philippians 3:20-21). Our bodies will likely be transformed so that we’ll live without end in glory (1 Corinthians 15:42-43). As Randy Alcorn notes, “we shouldn’t consider the current Heaven as if it were our ultimate home. The best is yet to return—everlasting and pleasant life, worshiping and serving the forever-incarnate Jesus on the New Earth.”
Hence, other passages speak of our future as connected to the brand new heaven and recent earth, sometimes referred to by scholars and teachers because the everlasting heaven. As the Apostle Peter wrote, “we’re looking forward to the brand new heavens and recent earth he has promised, a world crammed with God’s righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13, NLT). The present earth and heaven will likely be consumed by fire, just as prior to now the world was destroyed by a worldwide flood (2 Peter 3:5-7, 10). Yet, even then, the fundamental foundation of the earth remained. For just like the Christian, who will likely be resurrected, so will the earth and heavens be renewed. They will pass away, as our body does at death, but recent life will come.
In the book of Isaiah and Revelation, we discover a bigger picture of our future home. The New Jerusalem will likely be there, beautiful with precious stones and golden streets that reflect the majesty and purity of our Lord (Revelation 21:15-21). Everything will likely be made recent, and nothing will ever be affected by death again. The Lord said, “I’ll rejoice over Jerusalem and take enjoyment of my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will likely be heard in it no more” (Isaiah 65:19, NIV). Not only will believers never suffer death or the lack of family members again, but crops will likely be abundant, the Dead Sea will flow with fresh water, and the tree of life will bear fruit every month (Revelation 21:4; 22:2; see also Ezekiel 47:8 and Zechariah 14:8-9).
The most amazing a part of this restored earth is that God will dwell with humankind. What was lost in Eden, a detailed communion with the Lord, will likely be restored in eternity. As Revelation 21:3 says, “he’ll dwell with them. They will likely be his people, and God himself will likely be with them and be their God” (NIV).
A Restored Vision for Our Future
An apocalyptic give attention to the top times and a spiritualized version of heaven fail to encourage us to greater faithfulness. It just isn’t fear or a low view of the physical earth that Peter mentions as a basis for living holy lives, but a give attention to the brand new heaven and the brand new earth (2 Peter 3:11-14). What we anticipate has a direct impact on how we live today.
Yes, we should always study the several judgments in Revelation and understand what they teach us in regards to the character of God. However, we should always not neglect the eschatological hope of the everlasting kingdom where we are going to dwell with our Savior. Focusing on that kingdom can propel us to greater faithfulness now and might buoy our hope during times of suffering and loss.
To restore our vision for the longer term, we must develop a more biblical theology that upholds the continuity of our present life with the one to return–the resurrection of our physical bodies that’s patterned after the physically resurrected body of Christ, and a renewed earth where God will reside with humankind. These same bodies which are sown perishable will likely be raised imperishable, and the earth will likely be restored to what it was all the time intended to be: a phenomenal home where perfect communion between the Lord and His people takes place. Such a vision can change the best way we view the whole lot in life.
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