Heaven (Part 31) - What Will the New Earth Be Like? (Part B), New Jerusalem (Part A)

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Heaven (Part 31) - What Will the New Earth Be Like? (Part B), New Jerusalem (Part A) C. What features will be found on the new earth? i. There will most likely be mountains, plains, bodies of water, trees, plants, flowers, animals, breathtaking landscapes, and many of the other beautiful things that this current earth possesses. ii. We know for sure that there will be the following things on it: a. Mountains (Isa 11:9) b. Highways (Isa 35:8) c. A city (Isa 65:18-19) d. Houses (Isa 65:21) e. Vineyards (Isa 65:21) (i) If there are vineyards, there will be soil, water, and light. (ii) If there are vineyards, there will likely be other vegetation as well. f. Animals (Isa 65:25) g. Rivers (Rev 22:1) (i) If there are rivers, then there will likely be large bodies of water which they flow into. (ii) If there are rivers and large bodies of water, there will likely be fish and other sea creatures in them. h. Trees (Rev 22:2) i. Fruits (Rev 22:2) iii. It is said that there will be "no more sea" on the new earth (Rev 21:1). a. Sea n. - 1. a. The continuous body of salt water that covers the greater part of the earth's surface. (i) This could mean that there will be no salt water oceans on the new earth. (ii) But it doesn't necessarily demand that there will be no bodies of water on the new earth for the following reasons. b. Seas were part of the original creation (Gen 1:9-10). (i) The new earth will be a restoration and a glorification of the original creation (see Section IX - The nature of the new earth). (ii) The vast salt water oceans we have today were most likely not part of the original creation, but were a result of the flood (Gen 7:11, 19-20). (iii) Seas can also be smaller bodies of water (small in relation to the ocean, but still huge) 1. The sea of Galilee (Mat 15:29) and the sea of Chinnereth (Jos 13:27) are examples of a smaller seas. 2. Sea n. - 3. A large lake or landlocked sheet of water, whether salt or fresh. Obs. exc. in inland sea and in proper names, as the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Aral. (iv) Rev 21:1 specifically says that there will be no more sea, not seas. (v) Given that “seas” were part of the original creation (Gen 1:10), that there are seas in the present heaven (Rev 4:6; Rev 15:2), and that there must be at least one large body of water for the river of life (Rev 22:1) to flow into, there must be large bodies of water on the new earth. (vi) "Even if this passage means literally "no more ocean," of course this wouldn't require the absence of large bodies of water. Revelation tells us a great river flows right through the capital city (22:1-2). How much more water will there be outside the city? Flowing rivers go somewhere. We would expect lakes. Some of the world's lakes are huge, sealike. The New Earth could have even larger lakes, especially if they have no oceans to flow into. Huge lakes could, in effect, be freshwater oceans." (Randy Alcorn, Heaven, pp. 274-275) D. The new earth will not have the corruption of the old earth. i. There will be no sin on the new earth (2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:14-15). ii. The curse of sin will be removed (Rev 22:3). a. This means that the ground will no longer be cursed and man will not have to work in sorrow (Gen 3:17). b. The ground will not bring forth thorns and thistles (Gen 3:18). c. Man will no longer have to toil against the elements as he works (Gen 3:19). d. The creation will not groan and travail any longer (Rom 8:20-22). E. The new Jerusalem will be on the new earth (see next question). 53. What will the New Jerusalem be like? A. New Jerusalem is a holy city (Rev 21:2, 10). i. Holy adj. - 1. Kept or regarded as inviolate from ordinary use, and appropriated or set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated, dedicated, sacred. 4. Conformed to the will of God, entirely devoted to God: in earlier times often connoting the practice of asceticism and religious observances; now usually: Morally and spiritually unstained; free from sinful affection; of godly character and life; sanctified, saintly; sinless. ii. There will be nothing in it which defiles, works abomination, or makes a lie (Rev 21:27; Rev 22:15). iii. Only the holy, redeemed saints written in the book of life will inhabit it (Rev 21:27b; Rev 22:14). B. New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and be placed upon the new earth (Rev 21:1-2). i. The city was prepared by God as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev 21:2). ii. The city is called the bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev 21:9-10). a. The bride of Christ is the church of all of God's elect for which Christ died (Eph 5:25-27 c/w Eph 1:4). b. The general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written in heaven currently dwell and assemble in the heavenly Jerusalem in the present heaven (Heb 12:22-23). c. This heavenly city is currently filled with the spirits of just men made perfect (Heb 12:23). d. After the resurrection it will be the dwelling place of the resurrected saints when it is placed on the new earth. e. The city is called the Lamb's wife because it is the dwelling place of the Lamb's wife. f. Similarly, the church of Corinth was called “Achaia” because the region of Achaia was the dwelling place of the saints in that church (2Co 9:2).