When we die we go to be with Christ (II Cor. 5:8) which is wonderful. But we are still incomplete, in a pre-resurrected state, anticipating Christ's return to earth, and our resurrections. The place we'll live forever will be where God comes down to dwell with us, on the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-3).
If I had only Scripture to judge by I would assume it is a young Earth. If I had only science to judge by I would assume it is an old Earth. I know that the two can be reconciled but I'm not entirely convinced either way. I probably lean toward the young Earth in the belief that the assumptions guiding the testing of the Earth's age may be faulty (e.g. uniform rate of decay).
Question from a reader:
In Chapter 26 of your Heavenbook, you discuss space and time. You say, “I can easily envision our inhabiting and governing other resurrected planets.” Does this lend credit to the Mormon belief that you get your own planet when you die?
The New Testament reflects much more specific revelation from God of the afterlife. Yet there are some strong Old Testament indicators, though not nearly as many.
Job had the assurance that although he was going to be eaten by worms, he would receive a new body and in that body would actually see God face to face, obviously conscious. In Job 19:25-27 he says that “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself ...
I’m reading your book on Heaven but still struggle with Heaven “being the same, only without sin” because I somehow believe we won’t enjoy many of the same things on the New Earth as we do on this Earth. Don’t you think they will seem rather boring and mundane in the light of being redeemed?
I think redemption is first and foremost return to a prior state. That’s why I emphasize all the re-words. Now, resurrection, also a re- word, is an improvement on original state, but the ...
The Bible teaches that our eternal home will be a place we’ve already been—earth. It will be a New Earth, a transformed earth.
Throughout the ages, Heaven has played a dominant role in the thoughts and lives of God’s people. Heaven is the North Star by which countless Christians have navigated their lives. But have you noticed? Heaven today has largely fallen off our radar screens. If we are honest, we must admit that we are not daily and consciously looking forward to Heaven, much less to a New Earth. We’ve reduced Heaven to an otherworldly state, and we’ve ignored the clear biblical promise of a redeemed universe over which we will serve as God’s delegated rulers. We’ve ...
Randy Alcorn answers the question, "What will happen to this earth?" in a televised interview with The Inspiration Network.
Why should we sharpen our gifts, skills, abilities and character now while on Earth, partially in preparation for Heaven (where those gifts will be used for Christ), when we'll have eternity to do so?
Answer from Randy Alcorn:Part of the issue is why should we be working on something now? Because this life is a limited opportunity to make choices to follow Christ in a world that is opposed to Him. The idea of why not wait until eternity, since we’ll have all eternity to learn things, is answered because God says not ...
Returning to the prefall-Adamic state is not our destiny. The glorification we'll experience in the resurrected state will entail the righteousness of Christ which is far beyond the innocence known by Adam and Eve. But the Curse placed on the Earth because of the fall will be removed and the natural world will have an Eden-like quality, as we see from Revelation where the Tree of Life that was in Eden will be on the New Earth.
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