Why Does God Create a New Heaven and a New Earth?
Bible Study Guide
This Bible study will dive into the reason why God would want to create a new heaven and new earth.
The earth has seen the worse devastation of its history in a matter of only seven short years. This seven year Tribulation period was first introduced to us by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9) and the seventy weeks (seventy – 7 year periods).
(Verse 1) John tells us in Revelation 20 that the old earth and the old heaven are no longer.
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.” (Revelation 20:11)
Then John sees a new heaven and a new earth. We’ve mentioned in several previous Bible studies the difficulty that John must’ve experienced in translating heavenly visions into earthly words. We’ll see this occur again here in this passage.
There are literally no earthly words to describe the awesomeness of the visions that sit before him.
The idea of a new earth and heaven are not new teachings. In fact, this concept that our existing earth will be replaced is one that was taught back in ancient times.
They Also Saw A New Heaven and Earth
Isaiah spoke these words from God some 750 years before the birth of Christ.
“See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more.” (Isaiah 65:17-19)
Notice carefully how Isaiah’s words from God align closely with this Revelation 21 passage.
Peter also spoke of this in his letter as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)
This passage reveals a consistent biblical pattern. The thread of prophecy has been woven into God’s word from ancient times up to our current age and into the future. This is why we like to repeat that the best interpreter of God’s word is God’s word. No where in the Bible does God ask us for our opinions or thoughts on what He has told us.
Let scripture define scripture. This opposes those who believe in sinking sand theology.
The New Heaven and New Earth Concept
The idea of the old earth and heaven being destroyed and a new earth and heaven coming down in John’s vision gives birth to a whole host of questions.
Mainly, if the old earth is gone and the new earth is coming, what happens to everyone in the interim? Naturally, our curiosity leads us to want to know more. Because so much is of the heavenly realm that we can’t quite make sense of it all.
Remember, Deuteronomy reminds us that God reveals to us what once was a mystery. He also reminds us that there are things that are secret to God. This doesn’t mean that we’re given to freedom to make up things from earthly ideas about God’s plan.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
To understand this soon to come new heaven and earth concept, we must detach ourselves from worldly thinking and focus our minds on heavenly things. And we must remind ourselves of who God is.
For nothing is impossible for God. He is the God who created all things and exists outside of all things. He’s always in control. God is not a passive God. He doesn’t sit back and allow human events to dictate outcomes.
Paul said it well in his letter to the Colossians.
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17)
A New Heaven and New Earth With No Sea?
In John’s first recorded vision of Revelation 21, he writes something interesting. He says, “There was no more sea.”
Notice John doesn’t say that he didn’t see any ocean or large bodies of water covering the earth. He plainly says, “There was no more sea.”
There is nothing in the Old Testament or the New to indicate that there will not be any oceans of any kind on the new earth. Neither is there any reason or explanation as to why there will not be a sea upon the new earth.
However, the sea is often used in the Bible as a metaphor to the chaotic, destructive and disorderly state of mankind. From ancient times to present day, sailors have always known the sea as a formidable opponent. Because when the see churns and finds victory, it rarely gives up it’s dead. This is likely why Revelation 20 portrays the sea as a place for the dead who’ll experience the second death.
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Revelation 20:13)
The sea was also a place that only Jesus could calm on that stormy night when His disciples found themselves in peril on the stormy sea of Galilee. This is a beautiful reminder of how we should always rely on Christ during those stormy times in our lives.
Revelation 13 also teaches us that the sea is where the beast (Antichrist) metaphorically came out of. This indicates that he’s human and will come from out of mankind. He’ll be someone out of earth’s population.
The absence of the sea likely indicates that this new heaven and new earth will be absent of the one thing that made life on the original earth a human burden. This will no longer exist when all things are made new. We’ll discuss this further in the verses to follow.
God still has more God news to come.
Why Does God Need a New Heaven and New Earth?
God is a God that does not change. He’s a holy, holy, holy God and will always be holy. On the other hand, the world that currently exists for humanity will drastically change. More than that, it’ll be destroyed. But why?
First, we need to remember the curse that God placed on the earth because of the sins of Adam and Eve. After this, God continued to witness the evolution of mankind’s evil heart.
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)
Throughout history, the sins of mankind had become so great even among His chosen people that the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 10) saw the glory of God depart from the temple and the holy of holy places.
The earth is a place filled with sin. The ground itself is covered in the blood of innocent people who’ve died due to the sins of the world.
Because God is a holy God, He cannot abide in sin. This is what separates a sinful mankind and a holy God. The Bible teaches us that God himself never returns to this current earth.
Combine God’s great love to want to be in the presence of His creation and His holiness, explains why He will create a new heaven and a new earth where all believers will be finally reunited with God Himself in the presence of Christ.
We’ll talk more about that in the next Bible study.
The world can stop all the cows from farting. They can shut down every gas burning engine on the planet. Even if they continue by shuttering every factory that emits polluting smoke. Not one of these crazy worldly ideas will hit on the real problem – sin.
But we have a holy, faithful, and loving God who will address the issue of sin. It’ll not stop or delay His plan for the destruction of this world and the highly anticipated and welcome of the new heaven and the new earth.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
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