Heaven

Many have questioned the reality of heaven, where it is located, and what it is like. While some have given personal impressions of their perception of heaven, it is important that we view heaven based on what the Holy Scripture reveals. While the Bible falls short of giving us a full picture of heaven, we can take the scriptures listed in the Word of God and gain some knowledge of this wonderful place that is promised to all believers. We can also take assurance that God only reveals to His children what they need to know. Anything more simply becomes presumptuous and susceptible to error.

The location of heaven 

According to the Word of God, heaven is the home of the redeemed in God, meaning the Old Testament righteous in God and the New Testament righteous in Christ.

The Bible tells us there are three heavens. According to the Hebrew and Greek meaning of heavens, we learn that the first heaven is the air we breathe - the atmosphere around us. The second heaven is the area of the sun, moon and stars - our inter-planetary system and all the starry spaces in our universe.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens (plural - including all three heavens) and the earth KJV. Psm. 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the works of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained...KJV.

The third heaven is the heaven where God Almighty dwells. It is where He sits on His throne. 

Heb 10:16 But now they desire a better, this is, a heavenly country.
2 Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ..(whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven KJV. 

Heaven and earth are very similar.  According to the book of Isaiah, heaven is located in the north part of our universe in relationship to the earth. 

Is 14:12...I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation of the farthest side of the north.

Angels : Heaven, and the things of heaven, have material substance just as those things on earth; we are just unable to see them.

Col 2:16 For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. 

Invisible things are made up of material substances which are visible in their own realm. Created things, such as spirit beings (angels), are all of material substance. Some substances are of higher types than others. Though all are visible in their own realm, some may not be visible to others of lower realms.

Spirit beings (angels) are of a higher substance than flesh and blood beings.

Ps 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. KJV

Angels are not limited to ordinary substance as we know it, for they can go through closed doors, walls, and other physical material objects - as proved by what is recorded in Scripture regarding angels. Even the resurrected body of Christ went through walls and doors here on earth after His resurrection.

To house all the angels as well as all believers who have ever lived, heaven has to be bigger than the present earth.

Heb 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. 

Paradise:  Paradise is referred throughout Scripture in four separate places. Either it was destroyed each time in the first three places, or it was transferred from one place to another. From all indications, it appears that paradise was transferred each time God refers to it in Scripture.

On the earth under Lucifer: Paradise was originally referred to as the garden headquarters for Lucifer upon the earth long before the creation of Adam and Eve. Ez 28:13 You (Lucifer) were in Eden, the garden of God. From the 28^th chapter of Ezekiel, we discover that Lucifer was an important angel to God, able to come into His presence, which is reserved for just a few. According to Eph 6:12, there are ranks of angels, and Lucifer was probably an archangel, meaning the highest rank. The book of Ezekiel also tells us that Lucifer had sanctuaries and angels under his authority, with him being their ruler. He was full of wisdom and beauty, musical and perfect in all of his ways until he wanted to take over the position of God as ruler over the earth and all of the heavens. Lucifer and his host of angels came against God; however, in one sweep God judged Lucifer (renamed Satan) and his angels, casting them out of heaven (Luke 10:18) and destroyed his domain (Is 14:12-14).

On the earth under Adam: The Greek Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) translators used paradise to describe the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis and other beautiful gardens listed in Scripture. Paradise - the Garden of Eden - was referred to as the Garden of Adam and Eve – given to them by God.

Gen 2:8-15 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…Then the Lord God took the man and put him I the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  

Man was the steward under God, given to rule over the garden and upon the earth, taking dominion and authority over everything. The garden of God was a paradise with fruit trees of all kinds. A river flowed out of the garden watering it, and continued on into four rivers into the earth to give it life as well.

When Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating of the tree of God, God judged them, Satan, and the earth. The earth became cursed and God placed angelic guards at the garden gate of Eden to prevent Adam and Eve from entering into it to receive life from the trees. They were forced to find other places on the earth that was now cursed.

Under the earth in hell : Paradise is next referred to being in the lower bowels of the earth where Jesus went to after he died on the cross. It was the place that housed the saints of God after their death before the death of Christ. When Jesus died, He went down to paradise to release all of the saints and delivered them out their awaiting place. Paradise became empty in the grave of the earth. (For more information, refer to the biblical question on “hell” – the section on “paradise.”)

In heaven above : Paradise is next listed as being in heaven where it still remains today. Rev 2:7…To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor 5:6-8 that when we leave this body on earth, we shall immediately be at home with the Lord. 1 Cor 13:12 tells us that right now we see through a glass darkly, but when we get to heaven, we shall see God face to face. The apostle told of an experience of his when he was transferred to paradise. He didn’t know if it was a vision or revelation, or even if it was a bodily or spiritual experience; however, he claimed paradise was in the third heaven and filled with the glory of God (II Cor 12:2-4). There is nothing on this earth than can compare with it.

It is not conclusive, but it appears that paradise in the third heaven is a place where physical forms are visible since the apostle did not know whether he was in or out of the body, meaning there will be some sort of recognition of individuals. At the appointed time of the rapture of the Church, all saints will receive their bodies. The dead, decayed bodies of all of the saints will arise from the grave and will be made anew, joining the spirits/souls of believers to be with the Lord for all eternity. 1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. KJV

Matt 22:30 reminds us that there will be no marriage in heaven because all believers are the bride of Christ and He is our bridegroom. There will be no proliferating in heaven, as natural men and women have always done. We are preparing the marriage feast of the Lamb. This verse does not say that we will no longer be male nor female, just that there will be no marriage. If our bodies are going to be raised from the dead, then our gender parts will probably remain intact. Scripture also points out that we will be eating or drinking in heaven, but it will not be necessary for life; only for pleasure. After Jesus’ resurrection, He ate literal food; so from this we can assume that we, in our resurrected bodies, will do the same thing.

Many departing souls have stated that when they were about to leave this life and go to heaven, their angelic hosts, or even a loved one, awaiting to escort them in. While sounding desirous, there is no scriptural evidence pointing to such truth. The journey to heaven is swift and easy. 2 Cor 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

The New Jerusalem:  The Scriptures has more to say regarding the New Jerusalem than paradise . Rev 21:10 …and he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God KJV. Chapters 21-22 in the book of Revelation, gives us much of what we know on the heavenly city. The New Jerusalem appears to be the capital city of heaven. In it lie the tree(s) of life. The Holy City measures 1,500 miles on each side - like a square, and 1500 miles upward. Most biblical scholars state that the upward shape is probably like a pyramid, or mountain - possibly groups of peaks that build into one huge mountain. Imaging the immensity of this space, picture the Holy City on a map. It would reach from New York City to Denver, Colorado, and from Canada to Florida, covering 1500 square miles. Imagine, also, this coverage also extending 1500 upward into the mountains, having the throne room of God on the top. Over 40 billion people have lived on our planet since the creation of Adam. Of this number, more than 6 billion are living today. God designed the New Jerusalem to virtually house all 40+ billion people. Simple mathematics would calculate that each person would have about a half an acre in which to live.

There is a thick wall of over 300 feet tall that surrounds the New Jerusalem. All four walls contain various precious stone that are laid one on top of another which contains the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Christ.

1st layer - Jasper	5th layer - Sardonyx (white stone with layers of red)	9th layer - Topez
2nd layer - Sapphire	6th layer - Sardius (fiery red stone)	10th layer - Chrysoprasus (blue-green stone)
3rd layer - Chalcedony	7th layer - Chrysolyte (transparent golden yellow stone)	11th layer - Jacinth (violet stone)
4th layer - Emerald	8th layer - Beryl (sea-green stone)	12th layer - Amethyst (flashing purple stone)

Three gates made of pearl are in each of the four walls (totaling 12) with angels guarding each gates on who can and cannot enter. Only those with the name of God written on their forehead can enter, and they are the ones whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Inside the gates of the Holy City are twelve streets of gold that go up to the mountain of God. Along these gold streets are rivers that flow down all the way from the throne room of God with trees planted along the rivers for continuous healing . These tree bare twelve fruit, each in its own season, yielding fruit every month. Its leave are for the healing of the nations for the New Earth, which is explained in the last section. Darkness or night will not enter into the New Jerusalem because the glory of God and the Lamb will be the light.  

The Marriage of the Lamb:  All believers will be joined to Christ at the Marriage of the Lamb. That includes all Old and New Testament saints. Rev. 19:-7-9 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” We will have been prepared, fully sanctified, pure, and without blemish to join Jesus. Dressed in white fine linen, we will be presented to Christ. Immediately following the marriage of the lamb we will travel with Christ back to earth to fight the battle of Armageddon. Dressed in white linen robes, we will be gathered together upon horses for our ride back to earth. Rev 19:11-17 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on Him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses…”Come and gather together for the supper of the great God… The Battle of Armageddon will be swift, with Satan and his followed being cast into the Lake of Fire. Christ and all of his saints (immortal) are now ready to rule and reign for 1000 years – a period known as the Millennium. (For more information, refer to the article on the Marriage of the Lamb).

Before we proceed any further regarding heaven, it is important that the period of the millennium be discussed in order to give better clarity of what eternity will be like – the time when God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth.

Millennium:  The millennium is three-fold in nature: (1) A period of the redemption of Israel – for God has not forgotten nor forsaken His people. He made a covenant with them 4000 years ago, and desires to fulfill and complete every promise. (2) A period of restoration upon the earth with Jesus and His saints ruling and reigning over the natural people who survived the Battle of Armageddon. (3) A period of time to prepare the earth for God’s coming – the entrance of the new heaven and the new earth – eternity. This period of the millennium will last for 1000 years.

At the Battle of Armageddon Satan and his evil cohorts will be defeated and thrown into the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Evil will have been captured. Jesus Christ will be hailed as Lord over all the earth, with His resurrected saints by His side to rule and reign with Him. Those who survived the battle will be tested on their obedience to Christ through the governing of resurrected saints. During this 1000-year period, all natural people upon the earth must conform to the will of God. For that of happen, all rebellion will have to be put down upon the earth. Resurrected saints will be exalted to their place and positions of rulership and authority to accomplish such a feat. All enemies must be brought into submission to bring perfect conditions back on the earth, as it existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. Rev 20:4&6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. With Satan and his evil angelic cohorts held captive in the bottomless pit (see article on “hell”), unable to influence mankind with any evil deed, all powers of the enemy will be removed from the earth, and man will no longer be tempted by their influences of wickedness.

As Jesus takes His reign from Jerusalem, Israel will be busily burying the dead and cleaning up their land with those slain in the Battle of Armageddon. There will be millions of people slain in battle, and Scriptures states it will take seven full months to bury and dispose of the bones after the birds and beasts have had their feast of devouring the flesh. Ezek 39:14-16 They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a market by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog…Thus they shall cleanse the land. KJV. There will be, however, large numbers of natural men upon the earth to continue to populate during the period of the millennium.

A new temple will be erected in Jerusalem, similar to the one during the time of Kings Solomon and Zerubbabel (Ezek 40-46). Its beauty of gold and immense size will be the center of worship and sacrifice upon the earth. Christ will set up His “Theocratic” government, with Him ruling with an iron rod under God. All immortal saints (those who came down with Christ from heaven at the Battle of Armageddon) will have part in ruling as kings and priest with Christ. Earth will become a “One-world kingdom,” under the reign of Jesus Christ. Is 9:6 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward even forever. KJV

The Scriptures also tells us that King David (as resurrected saint) will sit on the throne of Israel under Christ to rule over Israel. Jer 30:9…but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king Whom I will raise up for them… Ezek 37:14 David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. All Jews will again be able to sacrifice their animals at the temple, setting up their earthly priesthood. The Levites will serve in the millennial temple – going back to their former sacrifices, feasts, and rituals of temple worship. According to Ezek 40-46, this practice will be continued throughout the millennium and eternity as an eternal memorial.

All prophecies concerning the eternal reign of Messiah will be fulfilled. For the first time in its history, Israel will inherit all the land originally promised by God. Their long awaited land will become theirs, and it will be theirs forever. The millennium also begins a time when the earth will begin to be restored as it was before sin came with Adam and Eve.

A new river emerging from underneath the sanctuary in Jerusalem will flow south through the city and then divide. Half will flow into the Mediterranean Sea, and the other half into the Dead Sea. It will continuously flow and create life wherever it goes. As it continues to flow and divide, it will surround the earth flowing into all bodies of water. The life of Jesus Christ will flow through these waters to give and sustain life to all natural man in the earth. Zec 14: 8-9 And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth. All natural people will drink and bathe from the “rivers of life” and renew their bodies for healing and refreshing.

The Bible says that human life will be prolonged, so that men will live as long as “trees.” Life will continue on for the natural man. Babies will be born and grow up, with new babies born continuously. The population will multiply with little or no death. Is 65: 22…They shall build, another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat, for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people.

Natural man, ruled by resurrected saints, will continue God’s original purpose, as if man had never sinned. Natural man will be free to live in perfected earth conditions in every respect as before the fall of Adam. The curse will have been removed, but man will still be tested. Human nature, with its tendencies and lusts, will still be a part of mortal man’s nature, but his opportunities for overcoming them will be greater because there will be no satanic powers or influences, which include sickness, disease, pain, or any other bodily disorder. Rebellion is a sin and cannot have its way in the earth - there will be strict laws in place to put down all rebellion. Not to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ will carry the death penalty, and discipline will be forceful and tough . It will be the responsibility of the resurrected saints to govern the world to make sure that true righteousness reigns.  Is 11:3 …He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Is 2:4…He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people…

Natural man will continue to marry, have families, work, and find fulfillment in life through leisure and recreation. Progress will continue as it has in past generations, and will multiply faster because the powers of the enemy will be bound in hell. War will be a thing of the past.

Mic 4:3-4…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks.; nations shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more…

God’s greatest law is, and will be, love – for God is love. All natural mankind will be taught by ruling immortal resurrected saints to serve one another in love. Love will flow throughout the whole earth. James 2:8 if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures, you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. All Scripture will be taught, and God’s law will be enforced upon every natural human being on the face of the earth. We the saints, fully immortal, will be executing all the laws that Jesus will put in place. God’s love and His righteousness will be the primary law, shown in the law of love.

They will also be civil laws in place. I Cor 15:24-25 Then comes to end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till has put all enemies under His feet. Wrong deeds of the flesh will be outlawed. Is 2:3-4…he will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people…

Weather conditions throughout the millennial period will be at its best. Fruitful seasons will be enjoyed for the most part without interruption. Flowers will bloom continuously throughout the entire season, and the leaves on the trees will not wither. Deserts will bloom, and all waste places of the earth will be restored to usefulness. Is 30:23-25 Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth; it will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures. Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat cured fodder, which has been winnowed with the shovel and fan…. Meat eating animals will become vegetarians. How God is going to do this is uncertain, but perhaps when Satan is taken out of the earth, the sin of man and beast will be removed, and there will be no need for animals to be flesh eaters any longer. Their desires will be toward food that will not harm anyone. Is 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat. The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nurshing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

There will be universal peace and prosperity . Is 2:3-4 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Worshipping Jesus will be regular practice throughout the earth. Yearly visits to the temple of Christ, just as the Jewish people have done for centuries, will also be a requirement. All nations will send representatives to Jerusalem to acknowledge Christ as Lord of heaven and earth, and to celebrate the feasts.

At the very end of the millennial period, Satan and his evil cohorts will be loosed from the bottomless pit for a brief period of time. This will be a time to give man a final opportunity to rebel openly and try to overthrow God’s government. Satan will again, through his deceptive cunning ways, persuade multitudes of people to follow him to defeat and overthrow God in battle. There will have been new generations of people who will have been born, raised, and grown up during the1000-year millennial period. Many of them will not have witnessed or experienced the Battle Armageddon, or will have forgotten about the wrath of God. Some of them will rebel with Satan against God and His righteousness. When Satan’s battle with God is set, every rebel will gather together with him to go against God. They will meet in Jerusalem armed and ready to fight. Fire, however, will come quickly down from God and devour every rebel. Rev 20-7-9 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, God and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sands of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. Thus God will bring to an end the rebellion in His universal kingdom which began with Lucifer and his unfaithful angels long before Adam and Eve. Satan and his evil angelic cohorts will then be cast eternally into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone to be tormented night and day forever. Rev 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Eternity :  The period of the millennium gives us a picture of what eternity will be like.  Studying that gives us a clearer picture of eternity.

It has been pointed out in other writings that God works in a circular motion. Westerners tend to think in a linear fashion with having a beginning and an end, with the end being different from the beginning. That, however, is not how God works. How God first created the earth in the beginning with Adam and Eve will be how eternity - the “age of all ages” - will become. The beauty of His creation will be repeated in its completion and finality.  All the way through Scripture you will see signs of repetition. His works keeps revolving over and over until it is completed to perfection.

When Satan and his followers are cast into the Eternal Lake of Fire, God will begin the final dispensation called eternity. Those who are privileged to enter into eternity with God are: (1) the faithful angels who served God. (2) All of the Old Testament saints who awaited in Paradise below the earth and was resurrected when Christ came to set them free. They then went to Paradise, which was located in heaven and came back to rule and reign with Christ during the millennial period. (3) All of the New Testament saints – those who are believers in Christ Jesus. Their souls were also in Paradise – in heaven above. They also came back with Christ to earth to rule and reign with Him during the millennial period. (4) The natural man who survived the Battle of Armageddon and was obedient to Christ during the time of the millennial reign of Christ, or was born during that time and was submissive and obedient to Christ. It will be a new dispensation of the “faithful angels and the redeemed of the Lord. Faithful angels and resurrected saints will be helping God to administer the affairs of the universes from the earth.

The Scriptures claim that at the end of time, meaning the “age of all ages,” God, in His infinite wisdom and power, will bring about a new heaven and a new earth; new heaven meaning the 1st and 2nd heaven where the air we breath all the way up to the sun, moon and stars reside.  Rev 21:5 Behold I make all things new.  The New Jerusalem, which presently lies in heaven, will come down and rest on the new earth and become the eternal headquarters for God’s government for all times.  II Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. KJV Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away… KJV.  The first and second heaven has been the atmosphere where Satan and his angels roam and needs to be cleansed.  The Scriptures tell us also that the earth will be burnt with fire. Any place that had any form of evil must be cleansed.  In its place a new heavenly atmosphere will come about that will cover a new earth filled with the glory of God.  When everything is purified, the New Jerusalem (heaven) will come down and rest upon the earth. The process of purification by fire, however, is somewhat questionable. Will the heavenly atmosphere and the present earth be burnt or totally destroyedand anniliated by fire. Will there be a completely new heavenly atmosphere and earth, or will the old ones be renovated.  Either way, the Scriptures tell us that it will be accomplished by fire.  Since God thinks in a circular motion, looking back at the flood of Noah - God first cleansed the earth by flood. The earth was not anniliated; the earth still stayed in tact.  Only Noah and his family, along with two-of-a-kind animals were saved. The earth was renovated to begin again with the proliferating of mankind anew. God made a promise to Noah that the earth would never be destroyed by a flood ever again; however, he said it would be destroyed by fire (II Pet 3:7-13). The elements will melt with fervent heat and burn up. Then a new heaven(s) and earth where only the righteousness will come in its place.  The Prophet Isaiah of the Old Testament also prophesied that a new heaven and earth would one day come ( Is 5:17 & Is 66:22 ).

In the book of Hebrews, God makes it a little clearer how He will bring about a new heaven(s) and earth. Heb 12:26-27…whose voice then shook the earth but now he has promised, saying, “yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more, indicates the removal of these things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Just as the earth received a hug shaking with the casting down of Satan from heaven (Luke 10:18) way back near the beginning long before Adam and Eve, God will do another shaking of the earth – but this time it will be done with fire.  How that will affect the natural man living on the earth is uncertain.

The Scriptures tell us that when the new heaven(s) and earth come, all massive oceans will leave the earth. Rev 21:1…Also there was no more seas. It must be noted that before the time of the tower of Babel, the earth did not have any seas. Gen 10:25 ...for in his days was the earth divided...KJV.  God again is coming full circle, bringing about a perfect earth for His creation.

As the 3rd heaven comes down and rest upon the new earth, the twelve gates of the Holy City will open up and the twelve great rivers that have been flowing down from mountainside from the throne of God will flow out into the earth. These rivers are very similar to those that flowed from the temple of Christ in Jerusalem during the millennial period.  These heavenly rivers will impart to the whole earth the waters of life from God. The waters will filtrate into the rivers, lakes and streams throughout the whole earth to receive life – eternal life. Gen 3:22…And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever… The tree(s) of Life will be planted alongside all of the waters for the healing of the nations.

The fall of man did not do away with God’s original plan to replenish the earth with natural people. It only postponed it until the time of the restitution of all things. Acts 3:21 Whom heaven must receive until the times or restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. All natural men who lived through the millennial 1000-year period will have been taught God’s law, the law of love, and servicing one another, and will live forever.  Natural babies will be born sinless as God intended 7000 earlier at the time He created Adam and Eve.  Everything will be made anew, and conditions as before the fall of Adam and Eve will prevail eternally, and things will continue as if the fall had never happened.

Planting, harvest, summer,, winter, cold, heat, day, night times and seasons, and every other phase of natural life will be fully realized forever. Summers wil not be scorching hot nor mugg, neither will winters be cold. Weather conditions will be favorable among all people. Gen 8:22 While the earth remains seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night shall not cease.

The natural earthly people who live on the earth outside the New Jerusalem will be allowed to walk inside the city to bring their gifts in to the Lord. However, only the saints of God will live in the Holy City because heaven is their home.  Rev 21:23-26 And the city had no need of the sun or of the moonm to shine in it, for the glory of God iluiniated it, and the Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are save shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day… There is not light from the sun inside the Holy City – for there is no need for the sun, moon, or star, because the glory of God and Jesus light it up.  Questions arise, however regarding the need of light for the earth and its inhabitants because they will not live in the Holy City of God.

Sin is not a part of eternity - all angels, immortal saints and natural mankind will have been purged of all possibility of falling into sin.  Everyone will be obedient to God’s laws and perfect will. Rev 22:3 And there whall be no more curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.

Satan, his followers and unregenerate men will reside in the eternal lake of fire. As a continual reminder of the penalty of sin, mankind will be able to see into an opening of the Eternal Lake of Fire. Is 66:24 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.  The only information we have regarding the viewing of repulsive sin and fire is scripture's example of Gehenna (refer to the article on "hell" - Gehenna.)  Sin will be so disgusting to all mankind and their penalty for sin will be visible to the eye of everyone as a reminder of what was and is never to come.  They shall be an abhorrence to all who look upon it. 

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Knowing and understanding the reality of heaven and hell (refer to section on hell), and that it is an eternal, an opportunity to accept Christ is offered to you right now to spent eternity with Christ in heaven. The Bible is clear to say that if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins, eternal life in heaven with Him can be yours.  John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  Whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life. 

Take this time now and pray this prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven,  I come to you stating that I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son Who died for me on the cross of Calvary.  I want to invite Jesus to come into my life right now.  I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is coming back to receive His people unto Himself very soon.  I desire to be one of Your people and spend all eternity with You in heaven.  I receive you into my heart right now.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will live my life for you.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.