Table of Contents
The first pages of the Holy Scriptures give the record of how the great God created the heaven and the earth in six days. “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1:31.
The last pages of the Bible – the Revelation – assure us of how the Creator is going to create anew the initial state that existed on the earth before the fall of man.
For six thousand years, the prince of darkness has ruled this earth (John 14:30), but the day is coming when Jesus – by His kingly authority – shall put an end to evil and banish temptation and sin forever. Regarding this day, the apostle Paul writes the following:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
When John was on the isle of Patmos, God showed to him how the earth shall be made pure with fire and brimstone and how after this new heaven and new earth shall appear (Rev. 20:9-15), because Peter says: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13.
The new earth
God told Isaiah: “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.” Isiah 65:17-19.
Here the prophet clearly describes the new earth, the saved and the capital of God’s everlasting kingdom. This is truly the new homeland of the redeemed, who are going to sing the song: “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Rev. 15:3, 4.
Every curse shall be removed forever (Rev. 22:3). No sickness, no doctors, no surgical interventions, and no death. All tears shall be wiped out from the eyes of the righteous forever. Rev. 21:4. What love, what mercy, what care will Christ show to those who treasure by faith His love and sacrifice! Christ shall be their King forever and they shall be subjects of His everlasting kingdom which shall fill the whole earth.
The righteous will behold the face of Jesus and His name shall be upon their foreheads. In the New Jerusalem, there will be no night, and the saints will have no need of a candle or sunlight because the Lord will shine upon them and reign forever and ever. Rev. 22:3, 5.
At the creation of the new earth, God will create animals again. Isaiah assures us that the wolf will live together with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion will rest together, and a little child will lead them. “And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah tells us that all these animals shall do no harm, nor destroy in the new earth, “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD…” Isaiah 11:7-9.
The New Jerusalem
In a vision, John saw how the holy city – the New Jerusalem – comes down from heaven. The apostle heard a voice from heaven, saying:
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. 21:1-3.
Of this heavenly city were all the patriarchs longing. They believed that the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, shall be the capital of Christ’s kingdom. This is why when Abraham was called by God to leave his kindred and go into the promised land, he listened to the voice of God and settled in the promised land by faith, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, because he was waiting for the city, “he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb 11:8-10.
Later Paul says that all those righteous people died in faith without seeing the fulfillment of the promise. But they beheld them from afar off, and in all their lives they proved that they were seeking the heavenly homeland. And for this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God, because He has prepared them a city – Jerusalem which is from above. Heb. 11:13-16; Heb. 12:22.
To the prophet Zechariah, God revealed how the heavenly city shall come down from heaven to the new earth, on the Mount of Zion. This is where the New Jerusalem will be situated – the capital of Christ’s kingdom. The city is in the shape of a square, as the length of it equals the width of it. The walls of the city are made of jasper.
The city itself is made of fine gold, like pure glass. On the four walls of it, John saw twelve gates, each of them made of one pearl. At every gate, John saw an angel standing. The streets of the city were of pure gold, transparent as glass. The city had no need of a sun or moon to shine over it, because the glory of God would shine upon it, and the Lamb would be the light of it.
Who are going to be the inhabitants of this golden city? Undoubtedly, the righteous ones who live a pure and holy life and who prove by their works that they are foreigners in this present world. Not all shall have the right to enter through the gates and to become citizens of this heavenly city. The Revelation says:
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 21:27; 22:14.
Therefore, only those who have fulfilled by faith the requirements of the Ten Commandments will be transported to the New Jerusalem – only those who have revered God by keeping His sacred will. To them, God shall say: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12.
Filled with gladness, they shall praise their Savior, and say with rejoicing: “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isaiah 26:1, 2.
The Savior Himself told His disciples about this city, saying: “In my Father’s house are many mansions… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me…” John 17:24.
All the Old Testament prophets, and also the New Testament followers of Jesus, along with a multitude that will come at the Second Coming from the east and the west, from the north and the south, shall inhabit the eternal city. They shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of God. Luke 13:29. In a little while, the Savior shall say to the righteous who are waiting for Him: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…” Matt. 25:34.
The Sabbath in the new earth
In the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 66 and verses 22-23, we read that the redeemed who shall inherit the new earth shall worship God from one Sabbath to the other. Therefore, the worship of God in the new earth shall be done on the Sabbath. What a worship service this will be!
Those worshipers have been, in their lives, as the Revelation says, victors over the beast, his image, and victors in faith. John sees them singing the song of the Lamb: “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Rev. 15:3-4.
God gives precious promises through the prophets to His people who keep the Sabbath holy by faith, just before the Second Coming. Isaiah says, in chapter 56, verses 1-6, that before the salvation of God and His righteousness shall be made manifest, blessed shall be those who keep the Sabbath that they should not pollute it. To them, God says: “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls [the New Jerusalem] a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”
Here we can see very clearly that the promises are for the Gentiles also, who would come to believe and keep the Sabbath holy, according to the Fourth Commandment.
Isaiah continues, saying that the faithful ones shall love and serve God on the Sabbath, shall love His name, and keep His covenant – the Ten Commandments. This is the reason why Paul wrote to the first Christian church in 68 AD the following words: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest…” Heb. 4:9-11.
Reader, do you want to be with God forever? Do you want to become a citizen of the heavenly city, and see the face of your Creator forever, and enjoy the new earth forever more?