end times prophecy

What Will the New Earth be Like?

The new earth is not mentioned much in the Bible, but we can get enough information to find out what life might be like for those who are saved. But first let us quickly find out from the Bible when the earth is made new. If you take a look at the thousand years millennium study, you will see that when Christ Jesus returns at the second coming, He will resurrect the saints who have died and together with the saints who are still alive they will go to heaven for the thousand years. Satan is bound during this time. Then, when the thousand years are finished, the saints will return to earth with Christ and the New Jerusalem. The lost are then resurrected and with Satan they go to attack the New Jerusalem, but then God reigns fire down from heaven and destroys them all. Where do the lost go? Do the lost burn in hell forever?

Now the fire that God brings down from heaven doesn't just destroy the wicked, it is also used to make the earth new ... Revelation 21:1 ...'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.' ... So the first heaven and earth have passed away, they have been burned by fire, and we now have the new earth and the new heaven. John also says that there is no more sea. Now if this is a literal statement and not a symbolic one, then we can conclude that on the new earth there will no longer be any great expanses of water. No more big seas or oceans, but there is a river that flows out from the New Jerusalem ... Revelation 22:1 ...'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.' ... This river will be like no other river you have seen or imagined before.

Revelation 21:5 ...'And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.' ... As we can see from this verse, God isn't going to renew some things, He is going to make ALL THINGS NEW! We won't see anything from the old world, because God says in Revelation 21:4 ...'for the former things are passed away.' ... Everything from the old world has gone, it's been burned up by the fire.

Life on the New Earth

There are a few verses that give us an idea about what life will be like and what we will do. Even if we didn't have any verses about life on the new earth, we would know it will be amazing because of what God has promised ... 1 Corinthians 2:9 ...'But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' ... What a wonderful promise that is, and one we can trust in. We know from this verse alone that life on the new earth is going to be beyond our wildest dreams!

Isaiah 65:17-19 ...'For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.'

God has also given us a little peek at what life will be like. Take a look at the following verses:

Isaiah 65:21-22 ...'And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.' ... So we will build our own houses on the new earth and plant gardens and enjoy the work of our own hands. No longer will we have to work for others like we do now.

Isaiah 66:22-23 ...'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.' ... So on the new earth we will go to the New Jerusalem every month (new moon) and every Sabbath day to worship God. We can understand going to worship God every week on the Sabbath day, but why every month also? Because there is a tree in the New Jerusalem, the tree of life, that will produce new fruit every month, and we will go to eat of that fruit ... Revelation 22:2 ...'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.'

Will there be any animals on the new earth? Yes there will be ... Isaiah 65:25 ...'The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.' ... We can see that on the new earth, the animals will dwell together in peace. Praise God!!

2 Peter 3:13 ...'Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.'

Life on the new earth is going to be glorious. No more pain, no more tears or sorrow, because we will be immortal. We will have a beautiful new earth to explore and build homes and gardens upon, and we will long enjoy the work of our own hands. Then there is the New Jerusalem where God's throne, and the throne of Christ Jesus will be. We will go to the New Jerusalem every week and month to worship God and Jesus. Just imagine what that worship service will be like? I don't know about you, but I can't wait for it!! There will be no night time in the New City because God will lighten it Himself with His presence ... Revelation 22:5 ...'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.'

The only thing that the Bible doesn't confirm is the fact that there is a vast universe out there for us to explore. Will we be able to explore the great universe that God has created? I believe we will, after all why would God create it all if we couldn't enjoy exploring it? It does confirm that we will be made like the angels ... Luke 20:36 ...'Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels.' ... Now the angels can fly, so it's a good chance that if we are made into like the angels, then we will be able to fly also.

The new earth awaits all those who follow Christ Jesus, and have the grace of God. I want to be there, how about you?