The new earth

Nowadays the earth is ruled by people who claim the power, but in the end the earth will be inherited by Gods people.

Dreams about the new earth.

God does not let go of His creation. And why should He? Aside from the curse and sin that have messed things up, it's a fantastic stage to live together. Peter says:

“(…) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (II Peter 3:13).

A sign of things to come.

Throughout the history of our world, the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem have become a sign of what is yet to come. The Jewish prophet Isaiah 65:17-25 received a vision of this distant future:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying (Isaiah 65:17-25) "

Note that Isaiah combines the vision of the new heavens and earth with the city of Jerusalem. He is obviously not talking about the historic Jerusalem as he knew it. The former things will no longer be remembered. The vision points to something which goes far beyond world history as we know it today. Revelation chapter 21picks up this theme of the new heavens and the new earth. John sees the new heavens and earth, like Isaiah did, including the city of Jerusalem, but this is the 'heavenly Jerusalem', built by God himself. So, the historic city of Jerusalem is important, but not the essence. It foreshadows the new world to come.

The land of Israel, the covenant people, the tabernacle, the temple, and the city of Jerusalem as we know it from history all point forward to God's new world and to the new Jerusalem which is yet to come. Along the same lines, Hebrews explains that the earthly tabernacle, temple, and sacrificial service represented the heavenly version. In the history of this one nation, God has, as it were, represented the history and future of all His people. The covenant promises pertain to all of God’s children, including Jew and Gentile, and will be implemented for the whole earth. In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul explains this "mystery": the Gentiles are joint heirs of the promise. This connection does not materialize by somehow participating in the biological lineage of Israel and its history. The community finds its cohesion based on Gods promise, centered in the Messiah. He will bring all his children together in one gigantic, eternal family and by then the whole earth will be full of the glory of God.

Participation in this wonderful future world is the legacy that God has in store for every single person who wants to be part of His covenant. Will you be there too? Don’t refrain but entrust your life still today to the CEO of our future, Jesus!