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A New Heaven and a New Earth
January 8, 2011

As 2011 starts with the promise and hope of a new year, it will not take long for the new year to look much like the old year. Even though this pattern repeats itself every year, it is during the beginning of the new year that we hope for a better year than the previous year. And there is nothing wrong with this hope and desire. I find myself thinking during this time of year about the new heaven and new earth that are mentioned in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 21:1-22:5
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb�s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb�s book of life. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

I believe that when the Bible references the Kingdom of God, this will be established here on earth, that we will not be ascending to Heaven to join God, but rather that God will descend to earth to live here with his children. These verses show that this new heaven and new earth will be new in an entirely different way than the new years we celebrate during the present age. When we celebrate a new year, we are merely enumerating the passage of time without changing the conditions that exist on earth, and hoping for a different result. Albert Einstein is attributed with the idea that to do the same thing over and over again and hope for a different result is insanity. Yet every new year we hope for a better year as we continue to do the same things over and over again. The new heaven and new earth is a change that will facilitate a new beginning for mankind. This will not be an enumeration of the passing of time as we know it; this will be a change to a new world. Gone will be the world as we know it. Gone will be those who reject God. Gone will be that which causes us to enumerate time; death. Gone will be the sorrows of this present age. Gone will be the poverty that ensnares so many in this world as we live in a world of magnificent beauty. And in the capital city of New Jerusalem, gone will be the distinction between night and day as God�s light will shine brightly. All nations that are saved shall walk in this light as will those who rule these nations.

As 2011 starts, do hope for a better year and remember to make this happen, we cannot do the same things as we have previously done. More importantly, we must remember that God will one day establish a new heaven and a new earth that will eclipse any new year we have ever seen.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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