New Heavens and New Earth

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#506 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Glorious God’s Grace

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Another promise that we have from God is that He will hear the people even while they are speaking.  There is no time when God does not hear our prayers and petitions and begin His work of grace.  God answered the prayers of Paul and Silas even while they were praying and singing praises to God when they were in prison in Phillipi.[1]  This has continued to happen since that time with God blessing and working in revivals even while people of God were praying to Him for revival; a two-week revival becoming a month-long revival and a start of a new church,[2] and countless other revivals that have swept not only cities but even countries.  We as Christians should feel blessed and privileged that we have a heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers, and we should be faithful in spending our time in prayer, not just for our own needs and desires but for revival to spread in our cities, states, and countries.

Are you praying daily for revival and the salvation of your family and friends?

“And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”  (Isaiah 65:24b)

May God Richly Bless You Today

[1] Acts 16:25-26

[2]Abingdon,Virginia, in 1954

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#505 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Glorious Relationship of Prayer

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our God is faithful, and Isaiah tells the extent our relationship will be with God, whether in the millennial kingdom or in the eternal new heavens and new earth, a relationship that indeed will be glorious.  The personal relationships mentioned by Isaiah are ones that we have the privilege of having today.  Just as today, prayer will be an integral part of the new creation of God, and so close is the contact between God and His people through prayer in that day that God will anticipate their desires, see their needs, and grant them the blessings they need.  Today, God anticipates our needs before our prayers and provides us answers for which we have not yet directly asked Him by laying the foundation and means for granting the needs.  When we think of daily blessings we receive from God, many, if not the majority, are those we have not directly asked of Him.  God’s grace is entirely sufficient for His people.

In the next few days, notice the blessings God bestows upon you, thinking of how many of them you have asked of Him, and then thank Him for each one of them!  

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer.”  (Isaiah 65:24a)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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#504 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Glorious Longevity

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Isaiah does not seem to distinguish in this chapter between the millennialkingdomofGodand the eternal state which is considered the new heavens and new earth, probably seeing them together as one.  We know that in the eternal new heavens and new earth there will be no sin and death, whereas in the Millennium there will be sin and death though life spans will be as trees which run many centuries old.  Though a person dies at a century, he will be as a youth and it will be because of sin; even though Satan will not be present in the millennial kingdom sin will be present and judged.  This longevity will be accompanied by safety, peace, plenty, and the comforts of life, all because no enemy will deprive anyone of the privilege of these blessings.  Let’s continue tomorrow by seeing our relationship with God during this period.

Just reading about what God has promised for the future should give us the longing to share His Word with as many as possible!

“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days:  for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  They shall not build, and another inhabits; they shall not plant, and another eat:  for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”  (Isaiah 65:20-22)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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#503 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Glorious Experience

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Eternal life in this world today would not be a pleasant experience as our body becomes more feeble and diseased as we advance in age, and extended life would be miserable because we could not die.  God does not have that in mind for us as Christians in the new heavens and new earth.  “God’s variety is not only unending, but it is a new quality of life, embodying all the glory and radiance and freshness of youth, the mature discretion and wisdom and perception of middle age, and the mellow tolerance of the sunset years.”[1]  There will be gladness, joy, and rejoicing by both ourselves and God, and this will not be a temporary thing but forever as we spend eternity with Him.  No weeping will be heard or seen as all tears will be wiped away, leaving nothing but enjoyment and tranquility that will not be interrupted.  That is going to be a glorious experience that we dare not miss.

If you are a Christian, thank the Lord today that our hope is in the promise of eternal life with Him in the new heavens and new earth!

“For, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people:  and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” (Isaiah 65:18b-19)

May God Richly Bless You Today

[1] Henry Jacobsen, ed., Message of Hope, Isaiah, Wheaton, IL, Scripture Press Publications, Inc., 1974.

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#502 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Glorious Creation

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As Isaiah describes the new heavens and new earth, we come to realize how glorious it will be.  We think of amazing places and things seen here on earth, natural places such as the Grand Canyon, beautiful water falls like Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls, great mountains like the Alps and Grand Tetons, and man-made wonders like the Great Wall of China and beautiful gardens like Butchart Gardens; all of which we fly or drive thousands of miles to see.  Countries of the world with great prosperity and high living standards build more and greater edifices, fancier and more powerful vehicles and spacecraft.  All of these impress us to the extent we feel the beauty and magnificence cannot be matched or exceeded; however, the new heavens and new earth will be so spectacular that all of these present, amazing places and things will be forgotten without our even missing them.  But it is not only the beauty and magnificence that make it so glorious; it is how we are going to experience our time there.  We will look at some of that aspect of the new heavens and new earth tomorrow.

Imagine the most beautiful place you have ever been and the grandest man-made wonder you have ever seen, and then imagine new heavens and new earth that will cause you to forget what you have previously seen! 

“But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create:” (Isaiah 65:18a)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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#501 Judgment and Promises (Isaiah 65) – A Christian’s Ultimate Hope

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The ultimate hope of God’s people is a place of perfection in which to live, a place that could only come with new heavens and a new earth, this also being the final goal in God’s plan of redemption for mankind.  As The Book of the Prophet Isaiah draws to a close God inspires him to write about this place of perfection in which we as Christians will abide.  But, the emphasis of this hope does not do away with the fact of judgment for those defying God and failing to accept Christ as Savior.  The righteousness of God demands that judgment be placed upon unbelievers while reward is presented those who believe and accept Him.  The new heavens and new earth will be a place for believers where sin and evil will no longer have dominion, a place where the pain of the past will not even come to remembrance.  Let’s continue looking at this magnificent hope of ours tomorrow.  

The most important question:  “Have you prepared to spend eternity in the new heavens and new earth by accepting Christ as Savior?”

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:  and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”  (Isaiah 65:16)

May God Richly Bless You Today