The God of creation is also the God of re-creation. He’s the God who restores, the God who makes beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He takes what sin has spoiled and repairs, refurbishes, reconditions, and rebuilds. He makes the ruined shine with His glory. Jesus, “seated on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new’ ” (Revelation 21:5).
The Sixty-Sixth Book, the Revelation, is the record of John’s travels in time, it’s the record of his grand tour of Glory. What did he see?
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1–2).
Peter encouraged the “elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1) to endure to the end, to “wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
Hundreds of years earlier, Isaiah recorded God’s words: “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will remain before me … so your offspring and your name will remain. All humanity will come to worship me from one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another” (Isaiah 66:22–23). “For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her” (Isaiah 65:17–19).
When God created this earth, He stepped back, and with an appraising eye said, “That’s good!” (Genesis 1:31). Will the New Earth be patterned after Eden? Will the New Earth be better than the first?
Just wait… you’ll see!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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