Former Things Have Passed Away

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

(Revelation 21:3-4) ESV

God comes down from heaven to dwell with humanity, but not on Earth because it’s gone. God takes up residence on the site of the original singularity, created on the second day, the original foundation of the Earth.

The creation that we’re currently a part of will have fulfilled its purpose. All of the impurities and corruption will have been collected together and cast away. What we find fascinating is the possibility that when the heavens rolled up like a scroll, they formed the new Earth and new Jerusalem, and that’s what comes down from heaven.

The refinement system that was centered around the singularity caused the Earth to be full of darkness and corruption, but the heaven was full of light and purity. Obviously God can do whatever he wants, but it makes sense that the material that was used as the third heaven, or firmament, is of value going forward into the new creation. Since it’s gathered up at the beginning of the tribulation it would serve well as the foundation and the building material for the new Jerusalem.

It can be dangerous to let our imaginations run away with themselves when we talk about the Bible. On one hand, it would probably be a really good idea if more of us spent some time applying our imaginations to what heaven will be like, and being excited about going there. On the other hand, we have to be careful to allow our imaginations to follow the threads that God has given us to think on, and not start making up our own. The idea that the firmament was rolled up to form the main body of the new Earth and new Jerusalem is convenient, logical, has physical economy of the use of preexisting matter and energy, and will be seen to be consistent with some of the other things God tells us about what heaven is like.

But so what? we’re not vain enough to think that we actually understand all that the Bible is telling us about the new world that we’re going to inhabit. We’re quite sure that we’re going to be as surprised and amazed as anyone else when we finally get to see heaven. We may be embarrassed at the thought of how we’ve tried to conceptualize it in terms that we understand now, having no concept of what it may be possible to understand then. Even so, whether we’re a little bit right or completely wrong, we’d still rather think about these things than such mundane earthly things as: what to watch on Netflix?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

(Philippians 4:8) ESV

You may be going through some tough times. You may have had news that’s going to have serious ramifications in your life. You may be depressed or lonely. You may be all of the above. Think about heaven. The time is going to come when we’re not going to worry about any of these earthly problems any more. Put your faith in Jesus Christ and know that no matter what this world throws at you, you’re going to inherit eternity.

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

(1 John 5:5) ESV

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