Butch5
Active
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2019
- Messages
- 3,338
This is meant as a Bible study, not a debate topic.
Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth. He was quoting David from Psalm 37. Psalm 37 is all about how the righteous will inherit the land and the wicked will be destroyed. Here are few passages from Psalm 37.
Psalm 37:9 (NKJV): For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth
This is the passage Jesus quoted.
Verse 10 carries on this thought.
Psalm 37:10–11 (NKJV): For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Again, the meek inherit the earth and the wicked are destroyed. One more passage should suffice.
Psalm 37:18–20 (NKJV): The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Again, the righteous inherit the land and the wicked perish. A key word here is "inherit". This word carries all through the Bible. As we'll see it is God's plan through the Bible
What was man's original destiny?
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Gen. 1:27-30 KJV)
What we see here is God giving man dominion or rule over His creation. Man was to rule and subdue it.
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:7-9 KJV)
Here we see that Adam was to tend the garden. We also see that Adam had eternal life. He had access to the tree of Life.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Gen. 2:19-20 KJV)
Here we see Adam naming the animals, showing that he did indeed have rule over them.
We know that Adam ate from the tree of knowledge and lost all of that. God placed an angel to guard the way to the tree of life lest Adam should eat of it and live forever. This is what we find in the very beginning of the Bible.
Let's jump to Revelation.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev. 2:7 KJV)
Here we see Jesus saying to the one who overcomes He will give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the garden of God. That's the garden of Eden. So, at the end of the of the Bible we see what we saw in the beginning. We see man eating from the Tree of Life. Adam had access to the Tree and could live forever. He sinned and lost that. In Revelation we see it restored. Everything in between is God working this all out.
God's original plan was for man to rule over creation. Adam sinned and lost that. However, God's plan wasn't thwarted. It's still the plan. All that we see between the beginning of Genesis and Revelation is the process of God fixing what Adam lost.
That's the birds eye view or the big picture if you will. Let's now get into some of the details and how all of this works. One thing to keep in mind is that through the Bible, believers are referred to as the sons and daughters of God. Why is that? Why aren't we just called a people of God or the friends of God? Why children? Remember that word inherit that Jesus used? Who gets the inheritance? Is it not the children? Keep that in mind as we continue.
We see that Adam was given rule over the creation but lost it. Let's look at the words of David again.
Psalm 8:4–9 (KJV 1900): What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
The apostle Peter tells us that David was a prophet. But in this Psalm David simply marvels at God's creation and the fact that God had given man dominion over all of His creation. He says all things were put under man's dominion. The apostle Paul quotes this passage.
Hebrews 2:5–8 (KJV 1900): 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Notice Paul says that God has not put the world to come in subjection to angels. The world to come? He's talking about the restoration of all things which I'll try to develop as a separate line. Then Paul quotes David noting how God made him a little lower than the angels, crowned him with honor and glory, and has put all things in subjection to man. But then at the end there he says we do not yet see all things put under him. So, God's original plan was for man to rule over all of creation but Paul says we don't see that yet. The key word there is "yet". By saying "yet" Paul indicates that he does expect to see it. So, we dont see it yet. Then Paul says,
Hebrews 2:9 (KJV 1900): 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
"But we see Jesus". There's the answer to the problem. He was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with honor and glory. In other words, He was made man. Adam sinned and lost the dominion that God had given him. "But we see Jesus", He is the solution. How will man regain dominion over the creation? Jesus, He was made man so that man could once again have dominion over the creation.
So, Jesus is the answer, but, how did God carry this out? Remember that word inherit. Let's go back to David again. In Psalm two David prophesied the words of Christ before His incarnation.
Psalm 2:1–12 (KJV 1900): Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little.Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
In this Psalm David speaks of the Lord and His Annointed. The word Annointed in the Greek Old Testament is Christos, Christ in English. He says the Lord has said to me, 'thou art my son, this day have I begotten you'. Then He says, 'ask of me and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance and the ends of the land for your possession. Here we see that Christ's inheritance is the heathen or the nations and the land. Notice too that He will rule them. Man ruling over creation.
Paul says all things were made through Him and for Him.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (KJV 1900): God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Notice Paul says that God has appointed His Son heir of all things. Christ is heir of the creation. So let's see how this all works. Back in Genesis God made a promise to a man named Abraham. After Abraham separated from Lot the Lord appeard to him.
Genesis 13:14–17 (KJV 1900): 14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Here God told Abraham that He was going to give Him all the land that he could see. That He would give it to him and his seed.
Here again God promises the land.
Genesis 17:1–8 (KJV 1900): And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;
Notice here God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and again, He promised all the land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed. God made this same promise to Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 26 (KJV 1900): 26 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Here we see God making the same promise to Isaac. He promised the land and that all nations would be blessed through him. Notice Moses recorded that God had sworn an oath to Abraham.
Genesis 22:15–18 (KJV 1900): 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
So, the promise that God made to Abraham has now become a sworn oath. At the point where God makes the promise to the Isaac, Abraham has already died. Because God swore the oath and Abraham had died the promise is certain. Nothing can change it. The promise is based on Abraham's obedience. So God has made this promise to Abraham and Isaac. Next He makes it to Jacob.
Genesis 28:10–14 (KJV 1900): 10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
However, before God appeared to Jacob Isaac had given him a blessing.
Genesis 28:1–5 (KJV 1900): And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob:
Isaac wants God to bless Jacob and multiply him. But notice what else, he says, and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee and to thy seed after thee that without mayst inherit the land that God promised to Abraham. What we see here is that the "blessing of Abraham" is to inherit the land that was promised to Abraham. Keep that phrase, "the blessing of Abraham" in mind. It's crucial to a point the apostle Paul is going to make. So, the promise has been made to Abraham and his seed, Isaac and his seed, and Jacob and his seed. Let's look at what the apostle Paul has to say about this. In Galatians three Paul compares the Abrahamic covenant, the promises made to Abraham, with the Mosaic covenant, the Law of Moses.
Galatians 3:6–7 (KJV 1900): Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Ok, here Paul says that those of faith are the children of Abraham. Believers are children of Abraham? Remember the inheritance. He continues.
Galatians 3:8–9 (KJV 1900): And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Here we see Paul explaining the promise. When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him He was talking about the Gentiles coming to God through faith.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV 1900): 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Here Paul says that Christ has redeemed the Jews from the curse of the Law. But then he tells why. Remember that phrase "the blessing of Abraham"? It was to inherit the land promised to Abraham. This is where Paul starts to bring it all together.
Galatians 3:13–14 (KJV 1900): 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
He says that Christ died so that the "blessing of Abraham" might come upon the Gentiles.
So, the land promised to Abraham and his seed might also come to the Gentiles if they believed. Remember he said those of faith are the children of Abraham. Now Paul brings it home.
Galatians 3:16 (KJV 1900): 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Remember when the promise was made? It was made to Abraham and his seed. The Jews believed they were that seed. However, the apostle Paul states otherwise. When God made the Promise to Abraham and his seed, He didn't mean seed plural as in seeds. He meant seed singular as in one Seed and that Seed is Christ. This is the same thing we saw back in Psalm 2. God promised His Son, the nations and the land. But, theres more.
Galatians 3:27–29 (KJV 1900): 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
He says, if you have been baptized into Christ then you are Christ's (belong to Christ) and if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. He ties it all together. If you are a baptized believer you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. There's that word again, inherit, inheritance, heir. You are an heir of the promise. What promise? The promise made to Ahraham, the blessing of Abraham, the land promised to Abraham as an everlasting possession.
But we have a little problem. Stephen said that Abraham never received that promised land.
Acts 7:1–5 (KJV 1900): Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
Stephen says that God had promised the land to Abraham, but Abraham never received any of it. So how will the promise be fulfilled? The only way it can be fulfilled is through resurrection.
Let's look at some more of Paul's words about the subject. In Roman's 8 Paul explains a little more.
Romans 8:14–16 (KJV 1900): 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Here Paul says if we are lead by the spirit we have received the spirit of adoption and he says we're children of God. Remember the earlier question, why are we called children of God and not friends of God or a people of God? The answer is in the next verse.
Romans 8:17 (KJV 1900): 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Remember Paul said that the promise was made to Abraham and his Seed. That Seed was Christ. Here Paul says the believers are joint heir with Christ. Joint heirs of what? The land. Paul goes on.
Romans 8:19–23 (NKJV): 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body
Paul says that the creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God. He continues, the creation which was subject to the curse will also be delivered from bondage and be deliever into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Here Paul tells us that the creation will be delivered from the curse. It will he restored and delivered to the children of God. Remember in the very beginning we saw Adam had rule or dominion over all of creation. Here we see Paul telling us that the creation will once again be delivered into the hands of man and man will rule over the creation. When will this be? Paul continues.
Romans 8:22–23 (NKJV): 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body
Here he tells us how the creation and even believers suffer under the current situation waiting for the adoption the redemption of our bodies. That's the Resurrection. All of this will begin at the Resurrection.
But there's more. After saying all of this about the creation being delivered from bondage and delivered to the believers at the Resurrection he says,
Romans 8:24 (NKJV): 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
"For we are saved in this hope". This statement nails it. His words here are contrary to what most churches teach. Most churches teach that people go to Heaven when they die. That's not what Paul said. He goes to great pains to explain the promises to Abraham and pointing out that the same promises were made to Christ and how those promises carry over to the Gentiles through Christ. Then he says we are saved in this hope. The hope of the Christian is not going to Heaven but rather to inherit the land promised to Christ. Paul laid this all out hasn't said a single word about Heaven.
What do we see in Revelation?
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
21 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. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of 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. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.(KJV Rev. 20:15-21:4)
John saw a new heaven and new earth. That should read renewed. They are not different ones, they are the current ones renewed. He says he saw the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven. He heard a voice saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and He shall dwell with them. The new Jerusalem is the current one restored. We see that God will dwell with men. Notice He comes here. We are also told that Jesus would sit on the throne of His father David. Where was David's throne? Jerusalem.
This is the hope that we are save in. The hope of living forever in a renewed earth with God and Jesus living here also.
I've got more to say on this but you guys probably need a few days to digest all of this. I know it's a lot and it's not what you're used to hearing. But as you can see it is all directly out of Scripture. I posted a lot of Scripture so you could see that I wasn't cherry picking passages to make my point. It's all through the Bible.
Earlier I quoted Paul in Hebrews speaking of the world to come and said that it was the restoration of this world and not another one. I'd Like to develop that idea a little further. Early in his ministry Peter said,
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19-21 NKJ)
Here Peter says that heaven must receive Christ until the restoration of all things. So according to Peter all things will be restored. That's the same thing we saw from Paul in Romans 8 where he said the creation would be delivered from bond and to the children of God. But notice what Peter said after that. He said, "which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began". So we see that this idea of the creation being restored is a central theme in the Bible. One has to wonder how modern Christianity has missed this. Since it's a central theme of the Bible I'd like to develop it a little more. One place we see this idea of restoration is in with the prophet Isaiah. From chapter 40 to the end of the book of he talks about the restoration. A lot of it is about Jerusalem being restored. It's the New Jerusalem we see in Revelation. That it's the current Jerusalem restored can be seen in chapter 65.
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (Isa. 65:17-21 NKJ)
God says, ' I create Jerusalem a rejoicing'. Then He says, "the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her". The words, no longer, imply that weeping was heard in her previously. We know the current Jerusalem has had much weeping.
Obviously I'm not going to paste 23 chapters. You can read them if you'd like to see all of it. I would like to go to chapter 66 though.
22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD. 24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Isa. 66:22-24 NKJ)
Here God speaks through Isaiah of making a new heaven and new earth. Again, this is the restored heaven and earth. This is the restoration of all things that Peter spoke of. We see this same thing in Revelation.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.(Rev. 21:1-2 NKJ)
John saw a new heaven and new earth. This is just what we see in Isaiah. Then notice what God says after that.
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." (Rev. 21:5 NKJ)
Notice He said, "behold I make all things new". He didn't say I make all new things. All things will be restored as Peter said.
On a side note, I'd like to point out the last two verses of this book.
23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."(Isa. 66:23-24 NKJ)
Jesus quoted from this passage in Isaiah and said it is the place where the wicked will be cast. He quotes it three times.
43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 "where `Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 "where`Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 "where`Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mk. 9:43-48 NKJ)
Isaiah speaks of a place where those who transgressed against God are in a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Jesus speaks of sinners being cast into a place where the worm doesn't die and the fire is not quenched. Clearly He is referencing this passage in Isaiah. Jesus calls this place Gehenna. It's translated "hell" in you Bible, but that's an awful translation. The English concept of hell is a subterranean place of torment. Gehenna, is an actual place. It's also known as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. It's a valley located just outside of Jerusalem. To call this place hell does an injustice to the reader. It's also called Tophet in the Old Testament. The reason people will burn here is because this is where the Israelites offered their children as sacrifices to the pagan gods.
31 "And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart. 32 "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when it will no more be called Tophet, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Tophet until there is no room. 33 "The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. And no one will frighten them away. (Jer. 7:31-33 NKJ)
God said He was going to turn the valley into a place of slaughter. The passage in Isaiah that Jesus quoted is often quoted as proof that the wicked are tormented for eternity. However, it we look at the passage, we find that it is corpses that are burning, not living ghosts of people. It's dead bodies. When Isaiah quotes it he's referring to those who come against the Lord at Armageddon. However, Jesus says that sinners will also be cast here. This is the Lake of Fire we find in Revelation.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:12-15 NKJ)
John says that the dead were judged out of the books base on their deed and those not found in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. This is what is descried in Isaiah 66, the fire that is not quenched. Here is a link to images of The Valley of the Son of Hinnom or Gehenna. As you can clearly see it's not a subterranean place of torment. It should never have been translated hell. Doing so is simply translator bias. Even though this place called the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna is a place of where the wicked will be destroyed. It will not last forever. This is another way we know that the idea of eternal torment is not what the Scriptures teach. The prophet Jeremiah also prophesied about this place.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. (Jer. 31:38-40 KJV)
God says through Jeremiah that the city will be built and the whole valley of dead bodies and ashes shall be made holy to the Lord and it shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore. That's Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom.
God's Plan and Man's Purpose
Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth. He was quoting David from Psalm 37. Psalm 37 is all about how the righteous will inherit the land and the wicked will be destroyed. Here are few passages from Psalm 37.
Psalm 37:9 (NKJV): For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth
This is the passage Jesus quoted.
Verse 10 carries on this thought.
Psalm 37:10–11 (NKJV): For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Again, the meek inherit the earth and the wicked are destroyed. One more passage should suffice.
Psalm 37:18–20 (NKJV): The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Again, the righteous inherit the land and the wicked perish. A key word here is "inherit". This word carries all through the Bible. As we'll see it is God's plan through the Bible
What was man's original destiny?
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Gen. 1:27-30 KJV)
What we see here is God giving man dominion or rule over His creation. Man was to rule and subdue it.
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:7-9 KJV)
Here we see that Adam was to tend the garden. We also see that Adam had eternal life. He had access to the tree of Life.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Gen. 2:19-20 KJV)
Here we see Adam naming the animals, showing that he did indeed have rule over them.
We know that Adam ate from the tree of knowledge and lost all of that. God placed an angel to guard the way to the tree of life lest Adam should eat of it and live forever. This is what we find in the very beginning of the Bible.
Let's jump to Revelation.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev. 2:7 KJV)
Here we see Jesus saying to the one who overcomes He will give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the garden of God. That's the garden of Eden. So, at the end of the of the Bible we see what we saw in the beginning. We see man eating from the Tree of Life. Adam had access to the Tree and could live forever. He sinned and lost that. In Revelation we see it restored. Everything in between is God working this all out.
God's original plan was for man to rule over creation. Adam sinned and lost that. However, God's plan wasn't thwarted. It's still the plan. All that we see between the beginning of Genesis and Revelation is the process of God fixing what Adam lost.
That's the birds eye view or the big picture if you will. Let's now get into some of the details and how all of this works. One thing to keep in mind is that through the Bible, believers are referred to as the sons and daughters of God. Why is that? Why aren't we just called a people of God or the friends of God? Why children? Remember that word inherit that Jesus used? Who gets the inheritance? Is it not the children? Keep that in mind as we continue.
We see that Adam was given rule over the creation but lost it. Let's look at the words of David again.
Psalm 8:4–9 (KJV 1900): What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
The apostle Peter tells us that David was a prophet. But in this Psalm David simply marvels at God's creation and the fact that God had given man dominion over all of His creation. He says all things were put under man's dominion. The apostle Paul quotes this passage.
Hebrews 2:5–8 (KJV 1900): 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Notice Paul says that God has not put the world to come in subjection to angels. The world to come? He's talking about the restoration of all things which I'll try to develop as a separate line. Then Paul quotes David noting how God made him a little lower than the angels, crowned him with honor and glory, and has put all things in subjection to man. But then at the end there he says we do not yet see all things put under him. So, God's original plan was for man to rule over all of creation but Paul says we don't see that yet. The key word there is "yet". By saying "yet" Paul indicates that he does expect to see it. So, we dont see it yet. Then Paul says,
Hebrews 2:9 (KJV 1900): 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
"But we see Jesus". There's the answer to the problem. He was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with honor and glory. In other words, He was made man. Adam sinned and lost the dominion that God had given him. "But we see Jesus", He is the solution. How will man regain dominion over the creation? Jesus, He was made man so that man could once again have dominion over the creation.
So, Jesus is the answer, but, how did God carry this out? Remember that word inherit. Let's go back to David again. In Psalm two David prophesied the words of Christ before His incarnation.
Psalm 2:1–12 (KJV 1900): Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little.Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
In this Psalm David speaks of the Lord and His Annointed. The word Annointed in the Greek Old Testament is Christos, Christ in English. He says the Lord has said to me, 'thou art my son, this day have I begotten you'. Then He says, 'ask of me and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance and the ends of the land for your possession. Here we see that Christ's inheritance is the heathen or the nations and the land. Notice too that He will rule them. Man ruling over creation.
Paul says all things were made through Him and for Him.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (KJV 1900): God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Notice Paul says that God has appointed His Son heir of all things. Christ is heir of the creation. So let's see how this all works. Back in Genesis God made a promise to a man named Abraham. After Abraham separated from Lot the Lord appeard to him.
Genesis 13:14–17 (KJV 1900): 14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Here God told Abraham that He was going to give Him all the land that he could see. That He would give it to him and his seed.
Here again God promises the land.
Genesis 17:1–8 (KJV 1900): And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;
Notice here God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and again, He promised all the land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed. God made this same promise to Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 26 (KJV 1900): 26 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Here we see God making the same promise to Isaac. He promised the land and that all nations would be blessed through him. Notice Moses recorded that God had sworn an oath to Abraham.
Genesis 22:15–18 (KJV 1900): 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
So, the promise that God made to Abraham has now become a sworn oath. At the point where God makes the promise to the Isaac, Abraham has already died. Because God swore the oath and Abraham had died the promise is certain. Nothing can change it. The promise is based on Abraham's obedience. So God has made this promise to Abraham and Isaac. Next He makes it to Jacob.
Genesis 28:10–14 (KJV 1900): 10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
However, before God appeared to Jacob Isaac had given him a blessing.
Genesis 28:1–5 (KJV 1900): And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob:
Isaac wants God to bless Jacob and multiply him. But notice what else, he says, and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee and to thy seed after thee that without mayst inherit the land that God promised to Abraham. What we see here is that the "blessing of Abraham" is to inherit the land that was promised to Abraham. Keep that phrase, "the blessing of Abraham" in mind. It's crucial to a point the apostle Paul is going to make. So, the promise has been made to Abraham and his seed, Isaac and his seed, and Jacob and his seed. Let's look at what the apostle Paul has to say about this. In Galatians three Paul compares the Abrahamic covenant, the promises made to Abraham, with the Mosaic covenant, the Law of Moses.
Galatians 3:6–7 (KJV 1900): Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Ok, here Paul says that those of faith are the children of Abraham. Believers are children of Abraham? Remember the inheritance. He continues.
Galatians 3:8–9 (KJV 1900): And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Here we see Paul explaining the promise. When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him He was talking about the Gentiles coming to God through faith.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV 1900): 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Here Paul says that Christ has redeemed the Jews from the curse of the Law. But then he tells why. Remember that phrase "the blessing of Abraham"? It was to inherit the land promised to Abraham. This is where Paul starts to bring it all together.
Galatians 3:13–14 (KJV 1900): 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
He says that Christ died so that the "blessing of Abraham" might come upon the Gentiles.
So, the land promised to Abraham and his seed might also come to the Gentiles if they believed. Remember he said those of faith are the children of Abraham. Now Paul brings it home.
Galatians 3:16 (KJV 1900): 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Remember when the promise was made? It was made to Abraham and his seed. The Jews believed they were that seed. However, the apostle Paul states otherwise. When God made the Promise to Abraham and his seed, He didn't mean seed plural as in seeds. He meant seed singular as in one Seed and that Seed is Christ. This is the same thing we saw back in Psalm 2. God promised His Son, the nations and the land. But, theres more.
Galatians 3:27–29 (KJV 1900): 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
He says, if you have been baptized into Christ then you are Christ's (belong to Christ) and if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. He ties it all together. If you are a baptized believer you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. There's that word again, inherit, inheritance, heir. You are an heir of the promise. What promise? The promise made to Ahraham, the blessing of Abraham, the land promised to Abraham as an everlasting possession.
But we have a little problem. Stephen said that Abraham never received that promised land.
Acts 7:1–5 (KJV 1900): Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
Stephen says that God had promised the land to Abraham, but Abraham never received any of it. So how will the promise be fulfilled? The only way it can be fulfilled is through resurrection.
Let's look at some more of Paul's words about the subject. In Roman's 8 Paul explains a little more.
Romans 8:14–16 (KJV 1900): 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Here Paul says if we are lead by the spirit we have received the spirit of adoption and he says we're children of God. Remember the earlier question, why are we called children of God and not friends of God or a people of God? The answer is in the next verse.
Romans 8:17 (KJV 1900): 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Remember Paul said that the promise was made to Abraham and his Seed. That Seed was Christ. Here Paul says the believers are joint heir with Christ. Joint heirs of what? The land. Paul goes on.
Romans 8:19–23 (NKJV): 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body
Paul says that the creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God. He continues, the creation which was subject to the curse will also be delivered from bondage and be deliever into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Here Paul tells us that the creation will be delivered from the curse. It will he restored and delivered to the children of God. Remember in the very beginning we saw Adam had rule or dominion over all of creation. Here we see Paul telling us that the creation will once again be delivered into the hands of man and man will rule over the creation. When will this be? Paul continues.
Romans 8:22–23 (NKJV): 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body
Here he tells us how the creation and even believers suffer under the current situation waiting for the adoption the redemption of our bodies. That's the Resurrection. All of this will begin at the Resurrection.
But there's more. After saying all of this about the creation being delivered from bondage and delivered to the believers at the Resurrection he says,
Romans 8:24 (NKJV): 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
"For we are saved in this hope". This statement nails it. His words here are contrary to what most churches teach. Most churches teach that people go to Heaven when they die. That's not what Paul said. He goes to great pains to explain the promises to Abraham and pointing out that the same promises were made to Christ and how those promises carry over to the Gentiles through Christ. Then he says we are saved in this hope. The hope of the Christian is not going to Heaven but rather to inherit the land promised to Christ. Paul laid this all out hasn't said a single word about Heaven.
What do we see in Revelation?
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
21 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. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of 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. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.(KJV Rev. 20:15-21:4)
John saw a new heaven and new earth. That should read renewed. They are not different ones, they are the current ones renewed. He says he saw the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven. He heard a voice saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and He shall dwell with them. The new Jerusalem is the current one restored. We see that God will dwell with men. Notice He comes here. We are also told that Jesus would sit on the throne of His father David. Where was David's throne? Jerusalem.
This is the hope that we are save in. The hope of living forever in a renewed earth with God and Jesus living here also.
I've got more to say on this but you guys probably need a few days to digest all of this. I know it's a lot and it's not what you're used to hearing. But as you can see it is all directly out of Scripture. I posted a lot of Scripture so you could see that I wasn't cherry picking passages to make my point. It's all through the Bible.
Earlier I quoted Paul in Hebrews speaking of the world to come and said that it was the restoration of this world and not another one. I'd Like to develop that idea a little further. Early in his ministry Peter said,
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19-21 NKJ)
Here Peter says that heaven must receive Christ until the restoration of all things. So according to Peter all things will be restored. That's the same thing we saw from Paul in Romans 8 where he said the creation would be delivered from bond and to the children of God. But notice what Peter said after that. He said, "which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began". So we see that this idea of the creation being restored is a central theme in the Bible. One has to wonder how modern Christianity has missed this. Since it's a central theme of the Bible I'd like to develop it a little more. One place we see this idea of restoration is in with the prophet Isaiah. From chapter 40 to the end of the book of he talks about the restoration. A lot of it is about Jerusalem being restored. It's the New Jerusalem we see in Revelation. That it's the current Jerusalem restored can be seen in chapter 65.
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (Isa. 65:17-21 NKJ)
God says, ' I create Jerusalem a rejoicing'. Then He says, "the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her". The words, no longer, imply that weeping was heard in her previously. We know the current Jerusalem has had much weeping.
Obviously I'm not going to paste 23 chapters. You can read them if you'd like to see all of it. I would like to go to chapter 66 though.
22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD. 24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Isa. 66:22-24 NKJ)
Here God speaks through Isaiah of making a new heaven and new earth. Again, this is the restored heaven and earth. This is the restoration of all things that Peter spoke of. We see this same thing in Revelation.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.(Rev. 21:1-2 NKJ)
John saw a new heaven and new earth. This is just what we see in Isaiah. Then notice what God says after that.
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." (Rev. 21:5 NKJ)
Notice He said, "behold I make all things new". He didn't say I make all new things. All things will be restored as Peter said.
On a side note, I'd like to point out the last two verses of this book.
23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."(Isa. 66:23-24 NKJ)
Jesus quoted from this passage in Isaiah and said it is the place where the wicked will be cast. He quotes it three times.
43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 "where `Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 "where`Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 "where`Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mk. 9:43-48 NKJ)
Isaiah speaks of a place where those who transgressed against God are in a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Jesus speaks of sinners being cast into a place where the worm doesn't die and the fire is not quenched. Clearly He is referencing this passage in Isaiah. Jesus calls this place Gehenna. It's translated "hell" in you Bible, but that's an awful translation. The English concept of hell is a subterranean place of torment. Gehenna, is an actual place. It's also known as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. It's a valley located just outside of Jerusalem. To call this place hell does an injustice to the reader. It's also called Tophet in the Old Testament. The reason people will burn here is because this is where the Israelites offered their children as sacrifices to the pagan gods.
31 "And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart. 32 "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when it will no more be called Tophet, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Tophet until there is no room. 33 "The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. And no one will frighten them away. (Jer. 7:31-33 NKJ)
God said He was going to turn the valley into a place of slaughter. The passage in Isaiah that Jesus quoted is often quoted as proof that the wicked are tormented for eternity. However, it we look at the passage, we find that it is corpses that are burning, not living ghosts of people. It's dead bodies. When Isaiah quotes it he's referring to those who come against the Lord at Armageddon. However, Jesus says that sinners will also be cast here. This is the Lake of Fire we find in Revelation.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:12-15 NKJ)
John says that the dead were judged out of the books base on their deed and those not found in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. This is what is descried in Isaiah 66, the fire that is not quenched. Here is a link to images of The Valley of the Son of Hinnom or Gehenna. As you can clearly see it's not a subterranean place of torment. It should never have been translated hell. Doing so is simply translator bias. Even though this place called the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna is a place of where the wicked will be destroyed. It will not last forever. This is another way we know that the idea of eternal torment is not what the Scriptures teach. The prophet Jeremiah also prophesied about this place.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. (Jer. 31:38-40 KJV)
God says through Jeremiah that the city will be built and the whole valley of dead bodies and ashes shall be made holy to the Lord and it shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore. That's Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom.
