ISAIAH 65:17-25                                            THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH                                                           Day 30

REVELATION 21:1-27

Isaiah spoke of blessings not yet received:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox…. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-7, 9)

“The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (Isa. 65:25)

These, and many other prophecies, point to the fulfillment of the Messiah’s work. In bringing the new creation, Jesus is bringing a day of peace. This peace has begun in those who walk with him now. It will be complete and absolute when he returns to bring the new heavens and new earth.

There is a striking resemblance between the coming heaven and earth and the Garden of Eden. They are not the same, but are similar. The new paradise will surpass Eden. The first paradise was a garden; the last is a city. In the first, God came to walk with Adam & Eve in the cool of the day; in the second, “the dwelling place of God is with man.” In the first, God was a visitor to the Garden; in the second, He is the Father of those there.

The measure of the new Jerusalem is a perfect cube – like the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple. This symbolizes the place where God lives among His people. However, in the Temple, the High Priest, but not the people, could enter but once each year; in this city, God’s people will live eternally blessed.

In a sense, our presence in this home of God has already begun, as we sit with Christ at the right hand of God, having been raised with him to newness of life. Today, we realize this only by faith; then we will know it completely.

The earth itself will also be new, as Paul wrote:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:18-23)

Truly, God has prepared for us “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined…” (1 Cor. 2:9). However, God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. And, as Israel in the wilderness looked forward with hope to the land of milk and honey, so we live in hope of what is unseen, but for which we long.

Even so, Come LORD Jesus!