Heaven

Lesson 3Grasping Redemption’s Far Reach

In this our next lesson in our study of heaven, we examine some of the topics discussed in Section 3 of Randy Alcorn’s book. This section covers Chapters 8 – 10 of his book and is entitled "Grasping Redemption’s Far Reach".

Heaven

Looking at the New Earth being prepared for us as our final home with God, our "heaven on earth" if you will, we will get a glimpse of the eternal home that awaits us at the end of this age when the present heaven and earth are completely destroyed and a new heaven and a new earth come down from God as he restores his creation.

God’s plan from eternity past has always been to restore His creation to its original intent, without sin, and enabling mankind to have eternal fellowship with God. Let’s look at this plan in more detail and see what God’s Holy Word specifically says about this New Earth.

Read the scripture passages below and consider the following questions:

  1. Read Revelation Chapters 21 and 22; then read Hebrews 11:10, 11:16, 13:14 and John 14:2. What insight does each of these passages provide us about our home on the New Earth mentioned in Revelation?
    1. Hebrews 11:10
    2. Hebrews 11:16
    3. Hebrews 13:14
    4. John 14:2
  2. Just as God planted a garden in Eden, He will plant a garden down the center of the new city of Jerusalem. What tree from the Garden of Eden will he plant in the new garden, in the new city, in the new heaven? (see Genesis 2:8-9 and Revelation 22:2)
  3. We encountered the concepts of "the new city" and "the new heaven and earth" in our review of Revelation Chapters 21 and 22. Are these terms mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, or only in the book of Revelation? (see Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, and 2 Peter 3:13)
    1. Isaiah 65:17
    2. Isaiah 66:22
    3. 2 Peter 3:13
  4. Look again at Isaiah 65:17. What does God say will happen to things in the past when we enter this new heaven and new earth?
  5. When will there be no more death, crying or pain? When we leave this earth and go to "heaven"? (see Revelation 21:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 15:22-25)
    1. Revelation 21:1-4
    2. 1 Corinthians 15:22-25
  6. Read Isaiah Chapter 60 and note what God is telling his chosen people about the new heaven, new earth, and the new city of Jerusalem. How closely does this parallel Revelation Chapter 21 and 22 and God’s desire to restore both His creation and His chosen people?

So we see that God’s desire is to completely restore his entire creation. Our eternal destination is a real physical place called the new heaven and the new earth, where we will live in the new city Jerusalem. We will exist in resurrected bodies, eat food, and live in new homes created especially for us. God will walk with us and we will have contact with Him, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as we live out in eternity God’s plan for us. What excitement, what a hope, to know that God has a plan for each of us that runs through eternity! What a joy to know that, as created beings, God will restore us to his original intent! He will provide us a purpose and a relationship unlike anything that we have ever experienced on this earth.

Rejoice with me today as we consider this eternal hope, this new heaven and new earth that God is creating for us through his son Jesus. And while we’re at it, let’s pray today that God will lead others to accept the gift of Christ so that they may also enter in to this great eternal destination.

Have a great week everyone, and thanks for studying with us.

Wes

[2009]

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