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Both Peter and John mention “new heavens and a new earth” in reference to the future, eternal abode of the righteous (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1). The Jehovah’s Witness cult teaches from these passages that the righteous will forever dwell on this present earth, after it has been renovated. Dispensational Premillennialism teaches that at there will be a first “second” coming of Christ, during which there will be a seven-year period of “rapture,” hovering somewhere above the earth. Afterwards He will appear on the earth for a second “second” coming to reign on this renovated earth for a thousand years. Both theories are rendered false by the very plain words of 2 Peter 3:10:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat and the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This inspired passage describes the utter disintegration of the physical universe, as do other passages in both the Old and New Testament (Psa. 102:26; Isa. 51:6; Mat. 24:35).
What are the “new heavens and new earth” for which the saints look and hope? The word new means “fresh,” “not worn,” but in new “form,” “quality,” and “nature,” in contrast with the present “heavens and earth.” God has a brand-new place for His servants to live with Him eternally. Jesus said:
In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2–3).
Paul is speaking of this when he teaches that the righteous shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air at His only return, to be with Him forever (1 The. 4:17). Notice that Christ does not come upon the earth to be with His people here forever, or even for a thousand years, but His people leave this earth to be with Him forever.
The present physical heaven and earth are man’s habitat. The new heavens and new earth is a figurative expression for the new eternal habitat for the redeemed of the ages, thus of Heaven itself, the abode of God and the home of the soul. Peter says This new home for the godly is a place “wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pet. 3:13). Righteousness, keeping the commands of God, exists only where righteous people live. The place where only the righteousness will live is Heaven itself (1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19–20; Rev. 21:6–8; 22:12–18).
[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in the “Bible Thoughts” Column for the Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, June 12, 1977.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
