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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 32

John S. Torell

April 13, 2003

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The Bible gives us very little information about the eternity which is to come after the end of the present age we are now living in. This is the only chapter, where God is giving us a glimpse of what is going to be. Let us begin by looking at this overall picture:

ETERNITY --- TIME --- ETERNITY
Current creation

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have always existed and God is one, yet able to divide himself into three persons. The current creation which we as humans are part of, exists between an eternity going backwards forever and an eternity going forward forever. Genesis 1:1-27

Verse 1: This verse tells us that the entire current universe shall be destroyed. Details of this destruction is to be found in 2 Peter 3:1-14. This passage by the apostle Peter was written around 66 AD, which means that this information was revealed to Peter some 24 years, before the Book of Revelation was given to the apostle John. The term for the destruction used in 2 Peter is "dissolved," which means the physical material making up this creation will cease to exist in its current form. If we compare this with Hebrews 11:1-3, it tells me that the physical material we call atoms, electrons, neutrons and other atomic particles are nothing but energy frozen in time. When we turn to Hebrews 1:1-3 we are told that Jesus Christ is upholding or maintaining all created things by the word of his power. The moment Jesus turns off this power, the universe with all it contains will dissolve and return to its original form of energy, which Jesus also created.

Note: Man has learned that energy is indestructible, it just converts itself to a different form.

When the Bible tells us that the believers in Christ have been taken to the third heaven, it becomes clear that the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6) is not part of the creation, but is a place existing through eternity where God has always dwelt. During the time of the destruction of the current creation, the believers in Christ will reside with God in his dwelling place. There is one portion of the current creation which will not be destroyed, and that is THE LAKE OF FIRE. This place will become a sealed unit, which will be placed somewhere by God. It will be an eternal prison, that for eternity will burn and torment the Devil, his fallen angels and all the people, who did not accept Christ on this present earth. Revelation 20:10

Verse 2; 9-27: In the new creation, there will be a new planet earth, but it will be different, no more oceans. This is a very interesting revelation, if we think about it, that in our current universe most of the planets do not have any oceans.

As far as I understand it, the New Jerusalem is a pre-fabricated city, which has been built in the third heaven and then flown down to the new planet earth. This city will be anchored on the surface of the new earth, and it is going to be a cube, 1,333 miles wide and long and 1,333 miles high (The distance from San Francisco to Denver is approximately 1,333 miles).

Verse 3: This is the first time in the book of Revelation, that we are told that we now are going to be able to have a personal relationship face to face with GOD THE FATHER! In other words, the redeemed in Christ shall now be able to exist in the very presence of the fullness of God, with no restrictions. Compare this with 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Verse 4: I believe that at this time, God will remove all memories of the terrible Great White Throne Judgment, and the memories of those loved ones and friends who were cast into the Lake of Fire. How much memory from the old earth we will retain, is not told to us here, but from this day we shall never never again grieve or be hurt. The testing and all the trials are over, and now we will begin to do the great things of God in this new creation.

Verse 5: This verse confirms that now is finished all new things as God had promised.

Verse 6-7: This is an affirmation, that those who have been born again shall inherit all of this.

Verse 8: This is a final warning given to the people, who prior to the return of Jesus Christ to the old earth, shall know, that unless they are born again and have the changed nature of Christ in them, shall have no part in the New Creation.

Verse 24: As far as I am concerned, this is a mystery verse to me. On this new earth there shall again be nations ruled by kings. Who these nations shall be, the Bible does not tell us. Before Adam and Eve were created and Lucifer had sinned and rebelled against God, there were nations and kings on this earth - Isaiah 14:12-19; Ezekiel 28:14-19. We have never in the Bible been told what really was happening at that time on the earth, we are just told that there was a civilization.

ALL WE CAN DO IS TO APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE BEEN CREATED, SAVED AND SANCTIFIED. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE A LIVING HUMAN BEING, IT IS A GREATER PRIVILEGE TO BE A BORN AGAIN HUMAN BEING AND A JOINT HEIR WITH JESUS CHRIST! Romans 8:14-18

            Do you appreciate your life?

Do you have an ear to hear with?

To be continued...

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