Question from a reader:

If Isaiah 65:17 and the following verses refer to eternity, what do we do with verse 20, “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; (ok so far, but...) For the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.”?

P.S. (I have always been an amillenialist so the new heaven and especially the new earth are new concepts to me and very exciting the way you present them. I have always had a problem being amillenial because I recognized the references to the restoration of the earth but never understood how.)

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

The standard understanding of this part of the passage is it is in reference to the millennial kingdom. The millennial kingdom is almost a cross between the present era and the new earth in that sin, suffering and death will be greatly reduced yet still exist. The curse still exists and will exist until God brings to end this present earth and fashions the New Heavens and New Earth spoken of in Rev. 21-22.