THE NEW EARTH & ETERNAL HEAVEN

IS IT PHYSICAL?

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE THERE?

Recap from Last Weekv Heaven as a “physical” placev Earth as a shadow of Heavenv Heaven influenced earth, not vice versav “We should stop thinking of Heaven and Earth

as opposites and instead view them as overlapping circles that share certain commonalities.” - Alcorn

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

GOD

MAN

Present Heaven | Physical Paradiseü Paradise was not generally understood as mere

allegory, with a metaphorical or spiritual meaning, but as an actual physical place where God and His people lived together, surrounded by physical beauty, enjoying great pleasures and happiness.

ü What happened? (Genesis 3:24) Didn’t end!ü Eden’s Paradise/Tree of Life = Maintains identity as

a physical place but was not longer accessible to mankind.

ü “HEAVEN” – Quotes on Pages 56-57

Do we have intermediate bodies in the present Heaven?

Present Heaven | Intermediate Bodies

ü God didn’t create Adam as a spirit and place him in a body, but first created a body, then breathed into it a spirit.

ü There was never a moment when a human being existed without a body.

ü We can’t be fully human without a spirit and a body.

LIFE IN THE PRESENT HEAVEN

Present Heaven | What’s Life Like?

ü Do we remember life on earth?ü Can we see what is happening on earth?ü Do we pray for those on earth?ü Can it be heaven if people are aware of

anything bad on earth?

Present Heaven | Revelation 6:9-11Verse 9ü They relocated to Heavenü People in Heaven remembered for earthly livesVerse 10ü They could express themselvesü Raised their voices. Voices represents individualsü Martyrs awareness of each other, God, and the

situation on earth.ü They ask God to intervene on Earth and act on their

behalf.

Present Heaven | Revelation 6:9-11Verse 10ü We can ask God questions / We can learnü People know what’s happening on earthü Still have concern for justice and retribution, not a

passive disinterest in earth’s eventsü We won’t be satisfied until enemies judgedü Remember lives on earthü Pray for suffering saints on earthü See God’s attributes

Present Heaven | Revelation 6:9-11Verse 11ü Actual physical forms (wearing of robes)ü God answers their question / communicate with Himü We won’t know everything if we have questionsü Still have anticipation of the future of promisesü Means New Earth is where no more sin, curse, and

suffering, etc.ü Strong familial connection with those on earthü God’s sovereignty is evident

THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME…OR IS IT?

New Earth | Restored?ü We are homesick for Eden | Built into usü This world is NOT our natural stateü Sin/Death/Suffering are not natural, but are

devastating results of rebellion against Godü We are “connected” to earth (Adam)

“Just as we are made from the earth,so too we are made for the earth.”

- Randy Alcorn

New Earth | What about John 14?ü Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for

us and would take us to live with Him foreverü What is that place?ü Revelation 21 = New Earthü New Jerusalem – Our true homeü “Only then will we be truly home.”

NATURE OF THE ETERNAL HEAVEN

Nature of the Eternal Heavenü Heaven is a city. (Hebrews 11:10; 13:14)ü What is a city like? ü Heaven is a country. (Hebrews 11:16)ü Countries have territories, rulers, citizensü We’ll have bodies, rest, serve Christü If it is a “New Earth” we can expect to find

“earthly” things there. (Revelation 21-22)

”The problem is not that the Bible doesn’t tell us much about Heaven. It’s that we don’t pay attention to

what it tells us.”- Randy Alcorn

Is the Eternal Heaven and Actual Place?ü Is heaven a “place” or a “state”ü Jesus spoke of a house with many roomsü New Earth & New Jerusalem are portrayed as

places with physical descriptions (Rev. 21-22)ü John 14 = “Come back and take you” refers to

movement and physical destination

Are we just a-passing through?

To where will we “travel”?ü Homeless Shelter – Orlando to Dallas to CAü Earth has been damaged by sinü The earth (under the curse) is not our homeü The world (as it was) and (as it will be) is homeü “It’s not that we yearn or long for ”another”

location as much as we yearn or long for a redeemed location.” – Alcorn

ü Eden…the original plan

THREE PHASES OF EARTH’S HISTORY

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

ü Human History & Human Destiny

Genesis 1-2 Gen. 3- Rev. 20 Revelation21-22