“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isa. 65:17).
To understand New Earth Doctrine, you need understand four things:
- What God is doing (His big-picture plan to restore His kingdom)
- Why God needs to create new heavens and a new earth
- Why He created man to have dominion over the earth
- What God thinks about mankind (in general)
There are many false teachings and institutional church assumptions to those four questions, so let’s begin by clarifying some basic points:
- Jesus is Lord, “The Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:39; Psa. 100:3), and He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. There is no other God other than the Lord (Isa. 44:6; 45:15, 21; Dan. 3:29; 1 Cor. 8:4).
- The word “heaven” (Greek: ouranos-Strong’s 3772) is plural (i.e. many heavens)
- The scriptures use two terms to identify two spiritual kingdoms at war against the other on this planet. The “earth” is the Lord’s – but “this world” (John 18:36) is under the domination of Satan. Once the war is over, King Jesus will create a new heaven and a new earth, and restore everything on earth back to its original condition called: Paradise
- Jesus never promised us heaven, the apostles never preached it and our creeds don’t teach it. Mankind was created by God to inhabit earth and steward the earth. Search the scriptures to discover this truth for yourself. Jesus said: “No one has ascended to heaven, but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13). How can Jesus claim He is “in heaven” as He stands on the earth? That’s because… Jesus is the King of Heaven and wherever King Jesus goes, He takes territory to establish the Kingdom of Heaven. Once you comprehend that truth, everything else in scripture regarding the kingdom of God being established on earth comes into perfect alignment! Book #8 goes into great detail with hundreds of scriptures to authenticate this truth. There are, however, four exceptional people groups from earth that are in heaven, and they are: A) people like Moses and Elijah; B) 144,000 male virgins; C) those who were martyred for their faith; and D) a great multitude that were killed in the great tribulation (which hasn’t happened yet). If you fit into one of those categories, then you are rare. Very rare!
- God created man to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26). God never said anything about going to heaven afterward. When Jesus began preaching, He said: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). Jesus told His disciples to preach the Good News of the kingdom, and as you go, say: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7). The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is knowable and tangible! Search the scriptures for this phrase: “men go to heaven” and listen to what the Holy Spirit teaches you. (FYI – this phrase does not exist.)
- When I ask people (and preachers) where we go after the body dies, they all say: Heaven. Then I ask them: “where does the resurrection take place?” – and they get this confused look on their face because they know the resurrection happens on Earth. Then I ask them: how do you get from heaven – back to earth for the resurrection – and they realize some of our institutional church doctrines don’t make sense! Since you believe in the resurrection, then your soul must wait in the heart of the earth for the judgment and resurrection, and after the resurrection you receive a new glorified spiritual body (habitation) which comes to you ‘ex’ – from out of heaven (2 Cor. 5:2)
- Most ministers use John 14:3 to substantiate man’s after-life destination is heaven, but that is a misinterpretation; that is not what the scripture says; the word “place” (topos) refers to a topographic place (on the New Earth), not a room in a mansion.
- As one member of God’s family, you were created to inhabit earth as the host of earth (Gen. 2:1). Earth is your rightful place and proper domain in God’s kingdom! You were born here, grew up here, fell from grace into sin here, were rescued by the grace of Jesus when you repented from sin here, will be sanctified here, became born anew by the Spirit of Truth here, will raise a family here, will operate under a commission with an anointing here, eventually die and be buried here, and then you “rest” as you wait for the resurrection which happens – HERE! You never go off planet! Earth is your current home now (temporary) and Paradise on the New Earth becomes your eternal (permanent) residence where you will rule and reign with Christ for all eternity.
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).
By faith, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21)! The most important thing about humanity is: comprehending our reason and purpose for being on earth. God created us to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26). That is your primary purpose and mine for being on this planet; your reason, though, is specific to your God-given commission. God created us to partner the stewardship of this planet with Him by operating under His authority and with His power (i.e. dominion) to overthrow the kingdom of darkness that Satan established after he was cast out of heaven and fell to earth. In the truest sense: God granted us dominion (with authority and power) over the earth, He gave us a commission to rule and reign with Him, we are supposed to come against principalities and powers and rulers of this world, and He will judge everyone on the last day and repay them for all things they did on earth (either good or evil). The principle of sowing and reaping is at work during this time period: you get out of it what you put into it. What you do for King Jesus according to faith – that gives Him glory – will be forwarded into your faith account which becomes your recompense and true riches (i.e. your inheritance) for your use on the New Earth.
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for this reason [gar] the kingdom of the heavens [ouranos] has come near [eggizo]” (Matt. 4:17).
Jesus did not come to create a way for us to get into heaven; rather, He came to get the culture of heaven into us! His message to us back then is true for us today: the kingdom of heaven is at hand – and – it is in you (Luke 17:21)… whereby you were activated by faith to imitate Jesus and let heaven out. You were sent here to usher in a regime change from darkness to light.
The earth in its current form is not how it was originally meant to be, but in the regeneration… God will make all things new (Rev. 21:5). King Jesus will restore the Kingdom, He will restore Heaven and Earth to their original glory, and He will give you a new spiritual body to live eternally on the New Earth with Him. Heaven is the eternal habitation of angels, but the earth (not heaven) is man’s eternal habitation and proper domain (Psa. 115:16).
“May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psa. 115:15-16).
The reason mankind wants to spend eternity anywhere except on earth is because we see this world as cruel and chaotic, but the New Earth will operate orderly according to righteousness with love and peace.
This is wisdom: we are simply caretakers, stewards and sojourners who manage the Lord’s benevolent resources upon this earth – for the praise of His glory!
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away [gone away]. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new”” (Rev. 21:1-5).
The Lord is not going to make all new things… He is going to make all things new (again).
Newness is one the primary themes of the Lord’s salvation narrative for the earth and mankind… which He accomplishes this way: newness through truth, change and oneness – until we operate in oneness of the Spirit with Him.
“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. 6:17).
And this is why the scripture says:
“Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom. 8:9).
Truly, the Spirit of Christ will raise us up on the last day for resurrection. So I encourage you to walk in the Spirit, hear His message and do what He says… and all will be well with your soul both now and eternally. Now that you know your future promised land is the New Earth, don’t you think you should be planning ahead for what you will be, what you will have and what you’ll be doing? Read Luke 16:8 – and plan ahead for your eternal destination.
Consider this: the soul is eternal (Psa. 49:8-9); the soul is your mind and heart (who you are now) and this will be the same soul you have in eternity. Ponder that! You do not get an upgrade. So I ask: do you want to think the way you think now – or do you want to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” so you think like Jesus (Rom. 12:1-2). Understand this truth: if you can think like Jesus, then you can act like Him… and establish the kingdom of heaven on earth like Jesus did… right now… “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).
Jesus did not come to make a way for us to get into heaven, but rather – to get the culture of heaven into us – so we can effect a regime change on the planet from darkness to light. That’s why Jesus called us: “The light of the world” (Matt. 5:14)!!! “As He is, so are we” (1 John 4:17).
Start thinking about the way you want to live in eternity – and start living that way now.
What you believe creates the world you live in – both now and eternally. Grace and peace!
It’s all about Jesus – and God gets the glory!