Musing - What will the New Earth & Heaven be like, Biblically?

Hebraic Musing - What will the New Earth & Heaven be like, Biblically?

Was Creation and Heaven the basis of God’s plan right from the beginning?   In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.   They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. Ps. 102:25-26

Should the destruction of this corrupt earth be a surprise?  It was foreseen and understood by Isaiah!
…look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Isa. 51:6     

Were the OT’s prophetic messages understood by Peter in the NT?    I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets ….   First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, “Where is this ‘coming' he promised?  Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Pet. 3:2-4    

Peter knew that “scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires,”  And Peter knew what the scoffers would forget.  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  Thus Peter knew what was coming.  He knew fire was coming, according to the Word in the OT!   By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.   2 Pet. 3:5-6&7    

What happens to our old earth?  Peter knew the OT’s prophesies so he wants us to look to the future.  Why?   2 Pet. 2:12-13    as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Paul, an OT scholar, also told of the fulfillment of God’s plan by the earth being “liberated from its bondage to decay.”    The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, …, in hope  that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  Rom. 8:19-21 

Having explained God’s plan, Paul had to tell us to be patient, and why!   We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Rom. 8:22-23

Isaiah knew of God’s ultimate plan, or was told.   “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”    Isaiah 65:17    

And Isaiah answered the question on the hearts of pet owners  – “Will my Fifi be with me in heaven?”  Apparently there will be Animals in the New Earth.   Isaiah 11:6-8  mentions  The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard … with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together… cow … the bear, … lion will eat straw like the ox.   The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child … the viper's nest.  

And we will have an improvement in our level of understanding since Isaiah 11:9 says … the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD …   .

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Let us wake up and recognize that the universe is doomed, there is death everywhere!

Good News!  God’s plan can be summarized in the Six R’s of a Future Hope*, using biblical words:
Redeem      Restore      Recover      Return      Renew      Resurrect

♫ When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be.   When we all see Jesus, …   ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 4, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

.*  Each of these words begin with the “Re” prefix, suggesting a return to an original condition that was ruined or lost.

Note – Inspired by Randy Alcorn’s video presentation of “Heaven” from Creation Ministries Int’l