"THE PROMISE OF NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH"
2 Peter 3:13
INTRODUCTION
1. In describing the events pertaining to the Day of the Lord, the
apostle Peter...
a. Depicts the destruction of the heavens and the earth - 2Pe 3:7,
10-12
b. Declares that we look for new heavens and a new earth - 2Pe 3:13
2. The hope for new heavens and a new earth is based upon a promise;
what promise has been made regarding such things...?
a. One in the Old Testament, centuries before Peter's statement - Isa
65:17; 66:22
b. One in the New Testament, possibly decades after Peter's statement
- Re 21:1
[Since we are to "look" for such things (2Pe 3:13), let's examine what
has been promised about a new heavens and a new earth...]
I. AS PROMISED BY GOD
A. PROPHESIED IN ISAIAH...
1. A detailed promise of new heavens and a new earth - Isa 65:
17-25
a. In conjunction with the promise of a new Jerusalem
b. Depicting long life, physical blessings, peace among the
wildlife
2. A brief reference to new heavens and a new earth - Isa 66:22-24
a. In conjunction with the preservation of Israel's remnant
b. Depicting worship by the nations, torment of the
transgressors
B. INTERPRETATIONS OF ISAIAH...
1. Some understand these promises to apply figuratively to
Israel's return from exile
a. "The passage before us is highly poetical, and we are not
required to understand it literally.... The immediate
reference here is, doubtless, to the land of Palestine, and
to the important changes which would be produced there on
the return of the exiles;" - Albert Barnes, Notes On The
Bible, commentary on Isa 65:17
b. "I think it refers to the full conversion of the Jews
ultimately; and primarily to the deliverance from the
Babylonish captivity." - Adam Clarke, Commentary on the
Bible, commentary on Isa 65:17
2. Some suggest a secondary if not primary reference to the church
today
a. "but it cannot be doubted that, under this imagery, there
was couched a reference to far more important changes and
blessings in future times under the Messiah - changes as
great as if a barren and sterile world should become
universally beautiful and fertile." - Barnes, ibid.
b. "We conclude that...Isaiah's new heavens and new earth are
the present order under Christ (65:17), which followed the
passing of the old heathen systems (34:3-4) and the Jewish
order (51:6,16)..." - Homer Hailey, A Commentary on Isaiah,
Appendix B, p. 539
c. "Isaiah used this...imagery when he prophesied of the new
order that was to replace the Mosaic economy." - Robert
Harkrider, Revelation, Truth Commentary, p. 239
3. Others suggest a secondary if not primary reference to the
eternal state of the redeemed
a. "Isaiah 65:17-25 must also be understood as describing the
final state of the redeemed" - Anthony Hoekema, The Bible
and The Future, p. 178
b "This passage (Isa 65:17-25)...does not need to be
interpreted as describing the millennium, but makes good
sense when understood to be an inspired picture of the new
earth which is to come." - ibid., p. 203
c. "'The new heavens and the new earth,' like many other
prophecies has an immediate and a remote fulfillment, the
first being the creation of 'an utterly new environment' in
the first advent of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel
to Jews and Gentiles alike. The remote and final fulfillment
is yet to occur when God will shake the earth the second
time, signifying its 'removal' (He 12:27), when the present
earth and the works within it are 'burned up' (2Pe 3:7-10),
when the 'elements shall melt with fervent heat,' and when
has arrived that final 'day of judgment and destruction of
ungodly men.' It is freely admitted that these sensational
promises could all be interpreted figuratively; but this
writer, along with many others, clings to the conviction
that cosmic disturbances of the most tremendous and far-
reaching nature are most surely associated with the final
Judgment Day in the Word of God." - James Burton Coffman,
commentary on Isa 65:17-25
C. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ISAIAH...
1. The final chapters of Isaiah (60-66) concentrate on the glory
to come for restored Zion
2. I believe much of this section was fulfilled with the
inauguration of the Messianic age in the first coming of Christ
3. Isaiah may have also looked forward to the future glory of Zion
(spiritual Israel, i.e., the church) to be experienced at the
culmination of the Messiah's reign at the end of time,
following the resurrection and final judgment - cf. Isa 11:1-4
4. If so, Isaiah framed his description of the new heavens and new
earth in terms to which the Babylonian captives could easily
relate
5. Thus I tend to favor Coffman's perspective of both an immediate
and remote fulfillment
a. The immediate fulfillment pertained to the first advent of
Christ
b. The remote fulfillment pertains to the second advent of
Christ
[When Peter said "according to His promise", I believe he had reference
to the promise made in Isaiah, first written to provide great hope to
Israel facing Babylonian captivity. To Christians in the first century
facing persecution, a similar prophecy concerning new heavens and a new
earth was written to them...]
II. AS PROMISED BY JESUS
A. PROPHESIED IN REVELATION...
1. The present earth and heaven are no more - Re 20:11
a. At the day of Judgment they have "fled away"
b. There was found "no place for them"
2. John saw a new heaven and new earth - Re 21:1
a. For the first heaven and first earth had "passed away"
b. There was also "no more sea"
B. INTERPRETATIONS OF REVELATION...
1. Some believe it is a depiction of the church today
a. Following the persecution by the forces of Satan in the
first couple of centuries
b. A picture of the church purged and purified by suffering
2. Others believe it is a depiction of the eternal state of the
redeemed
a. "Peter and John were both writing of the final judgment and
what should follow, rather than of the church today, purged
and purified by suffering." - Homer Hailey, A Commentary on
Revelation, p. 406
b. "John's prophecy in this vision was about things beyond the
final judgment (20:13)...From Peter and John's position in
time, the destiny of the redeemed after the final judgment
stands in contrast to this present era of the church age."
- Harkrider, ibid.
C. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON REVELATION...
1. Revelation was written to comfort persecuted Christians in Asia
Minor - Re 1:4
2. It describes events that would "shortly take place" - Re 1:1,3;
22:6,10
3. Such Christians were assured that Christ would be victorious
- Re 17:14
a. Over the harlot, first supported by the beast and then
devoured by it - Re 17:3,16
b. Over the beast and the false prophet, puppets of Satan - Re
13:1-4,11-12; 19:20
c. Over Satan himself, first by binding him for a long time
- Re 20:1-3
4. The Christians in Asia Minor were also comforted by scenes in
the distant future, similar to how Isaiah comforted his
contemporaries by looking to the future
a. The ultimate end of Satan - Re 20:7-10
b. Deliverance from condemnation at the Judgment - Re 20:11-15
c. The eternal blessedness of the heavenly city - Re 21:1-22:5
5. Thus I favor the perspective espoused above by Hailey and
Harkrider
a. John wrote of the final judgment and what was to follow
b. He depicted the destiny of the redeemed after the final
judgment
[Having now reviewed the prophecies of God and Jesus as found in Isaiah
and Revelation, let's summarize what is "The Promise Of New Heavens And
A New Earth"...]
III. AS PERCEIVED BY MAN
A. IN RELATION TO HEAVEN ITSELF...
1. Some believe it has nothing to do with heaven, but only the
church today
2. Many believe it to be a metaphor of heaven itself, in which we
will spend eternity
3. Yet the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed, the New
Jerusalem, is depicted as being separate from the present
dwelling place of God (i.e., heaven)
a. "...the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from
My God." - Re 3:12
b. "... the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God" - Re 21:2
c. "... the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God"
- Re 21:10
4. As depicted, the eternal destiny of the redeemed is...
a. Not our spending eternity with God in heaven (His current
dwelling place)
b. But God spending eternity with us in the New Jerusalem which
comes down out of heaven (His current dwelling place) - cf.
Re 21:2-3,22-23; 22:3-5
5. This eternal heavenly city, which comes down out of heaven, is
depicted in the context of the new heavens and a new earth - Re
21:1
a. Not in heaven itself, where God now dwells
b. But in a whole new order or spiritual state, where God will
dwell with us!
B. IN RELATION TO THE PRESENT HEAVEN AND EARTH...
1. Some believe the "new" heavens and earth are the old purified
and renovated
a. Including amillenialists like Barnes, B.W. Johnson, Hoekema,
Kistemaker
b. Some arguments in favor
1) The Greek word kainos (new, 2Pe 3:13; Re 21:1) does not
mean new in time or origin, but new in nature or quality
2) Renewal over annihilation seems to be supported by Paul
in Ro 8:19-22
3) A supposed analogy between the new earth and the
resurrected bodies of believers
4) If annihilation instead of renewal, then Satan would have
won a great victory
2. Others believe the "new" heavens and earth are a new creation
altogether
a. Such as Hailey
b. Some arguments in favor
1) The Hebrew word bara (create, Isa 65:17) is the same word
used to describe the initial creation of the heavens and
earth - cf. Gen 1:1; Isa 40:26
2) Jesus said, "heaven and earth will pass away" - Mt 24:35
3) The Hebrew writer refers to "the removal of those things
that are being shaken" (i.e., heaven and earth) - He 12:
26-27
4) Peter tells us concerning the present heavens and earth:
a) The heavens will pass away, be dissolved, being on
fire - 2Pe 3:10,12
b) The elements will melt with fervent heat - 2Pe 3:10,
12
c) The earth and the works in it will be burned up - 2 Pe
3:10
5) John describes the present heavens and earth:
a) As "fled away" - Re 20:11
b) Had "passed away" - Re 21:1
3. Some are uncertain, such as Coffman (and myself):
a. "We confess our inability to find any certainty on this
question"
b. "It is not really necessary for us to know exactly what may
be meant by this promise"
CONCLUSION
1. One may be uncertain whether the old heavens and old earth will be...
a. Renovated by fire, in preparation as an eternal dwelling place
b. Annihilated by fire, to be replaced by a totally new eternal
dwelling place
2. Yet one can be certain that in some way there will be new heavens and
a new earth...
a. For God has promised it - 2Pe 3:13
b. And God cannot lie! - Tit 1:2; He 6:17-18
How then should we live in view of this promise? Hear the words of
Peter...
"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;"
- 2Pe 3:14
Are we looking forward to those things described by Peter and John?
Even more important, are we being diligent to be found prepared for when
Jesus comes again...?
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