New Heavens and Earth

Isaiah 65:17–25 ESV

17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

The Plot of the Story

In school, I often dreaded doing book reports. Because I didn’t particularly enjoy reading long books and often procrastinated, I ended up cramming the project or sometimes making up the reports (hint: lied). Every report required me to explain the plot of the story.

Who were the characters?

What was the setting?

What was the conflict?

How was it resolved?

Let’s review the plot of the Bible as we near the end of the book of Isaiah. God created humanity to be His representatives to care for the earth. Humans were made to have a meaningful relationship with the Creator and each other. But we are stained by sin from Adam and Eve, and we continue in that sin, so we are by default, separated from God. But God is not through with humanity, even though we are off track. He continued to provide the solution through His covenant promises. The descendants of Abraham received the privilege of the covenant. However, they did not remain faithful. But even this could not destroy God’s plan. Ultimately, God’s solution is a New Covenant through Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin and calls us into a new relationship of faith and obedience. And, there is more to the story. God will bring His creation back to the original plan of Eden in a New Creation.

The New Heavens and Earth Promise

The context of these verses is the promises of God to establish justice on the earth through the Suffering Servant. The Servant will take up the failures of sinful people will bring righteousness in a New Covenant. This New Covenant will be a radical change that can only be described in terms of New Creation. God once again takes up the role of Creator on behalf of His creation.

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New Creation

The New Creation will reverse the curse of sin and its effect. God will transform this physical world created in Genesis 1:1. We must not assume that the writer is speaking of “heaven” as the dwelling place of God, but rather the “heavens,” the place above the earth. In addition to the physical changes, the Covenant People will experience a closer relationship with God than before. God will be present among them and intimately available to them. The whole transformation occurs at the deepest levels, not only for the people but all that God has created in the Genesis account. The predatory and carnivorous nature of the animal kingdom will end.

Illustration of the cats becoming vegans.

The promises of God for the New Heavens and Earth were given for hope and encouragement for the people to continue in faithful obedience and reliance upon God. They had to live in patient hope and faith for the day that God would make good on His promises.

The Day of the Lord

In the Old Testament, the prophets often spoke of the “Day of the Lord”, when God would ultimately judge all people. It was a day to anticipate the justice of God who would reward the righteous and judge the rebellious and unrepentant. They often spoke of this day in “apocalyptic” terms. Even though the word “apocalypse” means “a revelation or revealing of something”, the term is used to describe sections of scripture and messages that emphasize the following:

The confrontation between God and those who fight against Him

A confidence that God would ultimately defeat His enemies

The victory of God would be preceded or characterized as an upheaval or catastrophic events

In the New Testament, the understanding of the Day of the Lord focused on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When Christ returns, the promises of the Day of the Lord will be completed. The letter of 2 Peter speaks about the New Heavens and Earth promises of God connected to the Return of Christ.

2 Peter 3:8–13 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

To encourage the believers, Peter reminded them of God’s promises concerning the Day of the Lord. It will certainly come in God’s appointed time. It may seem delayed, but God is faithful and merciful in his timing. Peter connects the promises of New Heavens and Earth with the Second Coming of Christ. This New Creation will involve an apocalyptic event where the present heavens and earth are subjected to fire so intense that it is described as dissolving and melting! Only after this can we expect the New Heavens and Earth from God.

What Sort of People?

In light of this promise and hope, Peter asks an essential question. What sort of people should we be? In light of the plot of the story, in light of the dramatic ending and resolution that God has revealed, how should we live in anticipation of God’s promises?

1. In Holiness and Godliness

The term "holiness" describes being separate from the “world”. The “world” from which we are to be separate is not the physical existence but the system of living that does not acknowledge God nor submits to Him. When we recognize this, we understand why Isaiah recognized that he was both in the world and part of it and acted in repentance toward God. God cleansed him with the coal from the burning altar; thus, he was made clean and ready to be in God's presence.

The term godliness refers to:

...a God-honouring manner of life, issuing from a true knowledge of God and his grace in Jesus Christ

D.G.P. "Godliness." Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible dictionary 1996 : 423. Print.

Those who know the plot of the story will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, who regularly points out our need to be different. He makes us aware of it and empowers us to live as we ought to.

John 17:14–15 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

2. Waiting and Hastening

Secondly, Peter points out that we are to live in a waiting and hastening manner. The term "waiting" in the text implies expecting something to happen with a level of fear or seriousness. We might imagine our current situation of drought in California. We know the lack of rain will likely result in fires this season, and so we wait for the inevitable fires. The coming of our Lord is a joyful event but one that will also involve serious judgment. And so we wait with that tension in mind.

Peter also reminds us to live with a hastening disposition. The term here implies speeding up or facilitating something to occur. Our outward actions toward godliness are included in God's redemption of this physical world. He allows us to play a part in his plot through our obedience in life and in our calling others to come to know Him and be ready.

3. Without Spot or Blemish

These terms were often used to describe something that was ready to be used in the Lord’s presence. Sacrifices and the clothing of the priests were to be made ready for the presence of God. In an earlier verse, 2 Peter 2:13, Peter described the false teachers in the church as being "spots and blemishes." Therefore, his encouragement was to leave false teaching, which was characteristically marked by false living. Those who know the truth are to live lives characterized by truth.

4. At Peace

Finally, Peter reminds the believers in light of the God-centered story and plot to live at peace. This is more than just an inner feeling of peace. It includes harmonious relationships within His covenant community. We know the Hebrew term for peace is Shalom, which is part of the name Jerusalem, the symbol of God's presence God among His community. Those who are part of God's covenant have peace with God and live at peace with others.

You know the plot

In our day, some have suggested that we need a "reset" of this world. This would involve a collapse of infrastructure, health, and economics. Some view the current virus, which is looking more and more like it was not a natural thing but a manufactured thing, as one of the many ways we need to reset this world in order to put it back on track. No amount of drastic change from humanity will provide the renewal that the human heart requires. Only through God will we see the New Creation, not reset, that will result in God's plan for His world. But we don't have to wait until the end to begin to experience the promise of God in Isaiah 65. We can taste that New Creation through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Our hope is not in this world, but we can experience God's promises while we are here and look forward to His coming. This is life in Christ. People who know the story of God's promises will live life in preparation and anticipation of the glorious ending and new beginning.