New Heaven and Earth Discussion

Tsquared

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Revelation 21:1 says "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." Personally, I've always been intrigued by this verse. I know there is no clear/obvious answer in regards to what the purpose of the new earth is for, but I want to hear everyone's views and ideas on this subject. What thoughts do you have concerning this passage?
 

Greg Merrill

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I have read that it is the "sea" (oceans) that divides large amounts of people. On the new earth this division will be gone. Personally, I like the ocean. Things I presently like I will not miss, however, for I will be experiencing something better.
It will be like enjoying writing letters with pencil and paper and sending them by snail mail, and having that replaced with access to the Internet.
I believe that the Bible teaches the planet earth will exist forever (see such promises to Israel). The new earth is not a new planet, but the old planet renovated. New carpet, new fixtures,... the works. The planet presently has a curse upon it (Genesis 3:17), but that will be removed on the new earth (Revelation 22:3). New heaven (new atmosphere), not polluted by man, and probably improved in various ways for various unknown reasons presently.
 
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Tsquared

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The sea in near eastern mythology is usually associated with the chaos that existed before the gods set things in order. Perhaps it is a reiteration of that idea, the subjection of all things under Christ's feet.
That is quite interesting, I've never thought of it like that before. It is very interesting to read about all these views!
I have read that it is the "sea" (oceans) that divides large amounts of people. On the new earth this division will be gone. Personally, I like the ocean. Things I presently like I will not miss, however, for I will be experiencing something better.
It will be like enjoying writing letters with pencil and paper and sending them by snail mail, and having that replaced with access to the Internet.
I believe that the Bible teaches the planet earth will exist forever (see such promises to Israel). The new earth is not a new planet, but the old planet renovated. New carpet, new fixtures,... the works. The planet presently has a curse upon it (Genesis 3:17), but that will be removed on the new earth (Revelation 22:3). New heaven (new atmosphere), not polluted by man, and probably improved in various ways for various unknown reasons presently.
I do agree with you Greg, in the fact that the "new" Earth will be much better than it is today!
 
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inquiring mind

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I believe this represents heaven, a place that resembles earth as we know it today – same natural types of landscape, just no seas. It will be a more physical than spiritual place, only everything will be better. I’ve read that many scholars think the absence of sea means no danger from enemies.
 
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Kenny'sID

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My simple minded explanation...it means there will be a new earth, one with no sea, as in ocean, as in salt water.

Whether the earth will be changed or replaced altogether, I still am not sure.

The earth is mostly water on the surface. Where will all of that water go?

Bounty paper towels?...lots of them.

Piece of cake for God...he made it, he can drain it. :)
 
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Hall

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I think the oceans will evaporate due to this:
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

But there will be a beautiful river of life:
Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
 
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Kenny'sID

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, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

That was kind of the idea I got, I'm just not sure if it was from that verse, though it did indicate destruction by fire.

Most of us know what happens after we burn off a field or sometime after a forest fire...things grow back nicely.
 
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Tsquared

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Thank-you everyone for your posts so far, this is very interesting! I have always wondered "why" we would have a new Earth. As I said earlier, I know there is not definitive answer to this, but it is so interesting to ponder. Do you think we will be able to travel between this new heaven and new earth, or will be be restricted to one or the other? So many aspects to examine :)
 
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ViaCrucis

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Revelation 21:1 says "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." Personally, I've always been intrigued by this verse. I know there is no clear/obvious answer in regards to what the purpose of the new earth is for, but I want to hear everyone's views and ideas on this subject. What thoughts do you have concerning this passage?

In Romans 8 the Apostle writes about creation itself groaning as it awaits its freedom, when God shall raise the dead. Creation itself looks and longs for resurrection, the resurrection of the dead we look forward to when the Lord returns in glory is also the renewal, restoration, and healing of all creation--there will be newness, new life, new creation breathed into this damaged, hurting world. God who, in the beginning, declared all which He made as "exceedingly good" is not going to let it fall apart into nothingness, meaninglessness, and death, God is saving His creation. For this reason Christ came, for this reason He has called us to Himself and to share in the life of that future world, and to bring all things to their destined purpose in Christ.

Salvation isn't about our "souls" going to a place called "heaven" somewhere "up there"; it is about God setting creation right, in Jesus, and bringing all things to their place which He has purposed for them.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Tsquared

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In Romans 8 the Apostle writes about creation itself groaning as it awaits its freedom, when God shall raise the dead. Creation itself looks and longs for resurrection, the resurrection of the dead we look forward to when the Lord returns in glory is also the renewal, restoration, and healing of all creation--there will be newness, new life, new creation breathed into this damaged, hurting world. God who, in the beginning, declared all which He made as "exceedingly good" is not going to let it fall apart into nothingness, meaninglessness, and death, God is saving His creation. For this reason Christ came, for this reason He has called us to Himself and to share in the life of that future world, and to bring all things to their destined purpose in Christ.

Salvation isn't about our "souls" going to a place called "heaven" somewhere "up there"; it is about God setting creation right, in Jesus, and bringing all things to their place which He has purposed for them.

-CryptoLutheran
I see what you are saying, however, I am simply asking views on the new heaven and new earth. As the old song says ♫Jesus will be what makes it heaven for me♫. As long as I end up where Jesus is when I leave this earth, I am more than content. Salvation allows us to spend eternity with our savior :)
 
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ViaCrucis

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Thank-you everyone for your posts so far, this is very interesting! I have always wondered "why" we would have a new Earth. As I said earlier, I know there is not definitive answer to this, but it is so interesting to ponder. Do you think we will be able to travel between this new heaven and new earth, or will be be restricted to one or the other? So many aspects to examine :)

"Heavens" here shouldn't be thought to refer to some otherworldly abode, some place called "heaven"; the term "heavens" refers to everything we see above us--everything "out there". "The heavens" are where the sun, moon, and stars exist; as a reference to God's dwelling this is euphemistic, Solomon says to God, "The heavens, not even the heavens of heavens, can contain You", the phrase "heavens of heavens" is an example of a Hebrew couplet wherein it refer to the greatest or highest (other examples: king of kings, lord of lords, god of gods), which is why some translations render this as "the highest heavens". The point is that God is bigger, more vast, more glorious than the furthest reaches we can see, fathom, or comprehend. The Psalmist says, "The heavens are Your throne, the earth is Your footstool" in attempt to speak of how glorious and vast and bigger than everything God is. God does not dwell in some dimension or place called "heaven", instead the Bible uses the limited vocabulary of human beings to speak of things so sublime and glorious that we can ultimately only say, "You are very, very, very big". The point in speaking about a "new heavens and a new earth" is to speak of all creation as a whole, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth", that means everything, the entire material creation. Our tiny blue orb, and everything else.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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