“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isa. 65:17).
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.. . And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: “It is done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Rev. 21:1,3-8).
It was only yesterday that I realised that the idea of “new heavens and a new earth” didn’t mean an entirely different world but a renewed world. Even though the language used here is largely figurative, the meaning behind it all is that when things in our world are restored, then all that you are familiar with will blend with what will be fresh creating a transcended version of what you know.
There will be no more curse, represented by the “sea” which speaks of disorder, unpredictability and a threat to an agrarian society.
From these 2 quotes, above, we can establish 3 points:
1. The world can’t evolve into goodness – it needs the second coming of Jesus.
2. God has promised this so we can be certain that this will happen.
3. This new world is not for those who are habitual sinners and reject Jesus.
I don’t want to see anyone in that group who will experience what is euphemistically termed “the second death.” My plea to you, today, is to keep this vision before you, trust in Jesus and persevere in fellowship with Him and others.
Quotes are from the NIV.