The New Heavens and New Earth

Part 2- a further analysis: Connecting the dots.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

In the previous article we started our look into the “new heavens and new earth” with this verse. Let’s do the same for Part 2. But approach this from a different perspective.

Previously, concerning this verse we asked, “Where was there no more ‘sea’? Over the entire planet earth, or just locally around Jerusalem ? Is this even a “physical” reference to a body of water?” and we never answered that question, letting the readers research the answer for themselves. Sufficient time has passed and the answer now needs to be addressed definitively in order to continue in our journey on this subject.

Mountains and Seas

Let’s suppose, for the moment and the sake of discussion, that this “no more sea” is literal, and means that there are no more oceans or seas as we know them- Then, Why? Why not? What is different? Many try to explain that this is a second new heavens and new earth, even newer than the one Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 65 and elsewhere. Usually, those of this persuasion also claim that there are no more mountains as they were all lowered for the first of these two “new heavens and new earth” according to Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. This is necessary to justify an expanded cultivatable surface area to accommodate billions of extra people who will supposedly be resurrected back to physical life (claimed as being their “first” chance for salvation). Yet, is a literal “understanding” of the Revelation 16 verse warranted?

We will immediately notice that just a few verses later, in chapter 21: Re 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, there appears a great and high mountain from which John has the vantage point to view the supposed “coming down out of heaven” of the new Jerusalem. Momentarily ignoring the problematic use of “every” in chapter 16 and the idiomatic expression, “descending out of heaven from God” we are left with am apparent contradiction wherein John is on one of those mountains that cannot exist, at the very time when they do not exist- according to the theory (understanding).

It would seem reasonable that coming from this perspective, we already have sufficient cause to seriously doubt the premise offered that Rev. 21:1 refers to an actual sea or ocean. But to solidify the problem for those holding to such a tenet we would respectfully point out the use of “every” which is “pas” in the Greek. Pas is translated to “all,” “all things,” or “every” over 1,000 times, yet “every” time it is, this grammatical “absolute” is limited by the context.

For example: Mr 1:5 And there went out unto him all (pas) the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem , and were all (pas) baptized of him in the river of Jordan , confessing their sins.

No one really thinks that every person living in Judaea was baptized by anyone. This should be readily apparent since it is unimaginable that Jesus detractors were baptized by John. Thus, every absolute term is limited by context. However, we often fail to apply this fact to our study of the bible and it leads us to some rather indefensible positions.

So, if we do not have those beautiful, rugged, snow capped peaks any longer, then the New Jerusalem cannot possibly be as “literal” as thought. Actually, even if we do, it does not need to be as literal as many assume, but the point being that if there are no mountains, then there cannot be a literal New Jerusalem without creating a huge contradiction.

Continuing, “descending out of heaven from God” is simply a Hebrew idiom denoting that it is God who is the source of whatever it is being discussed. Now, being the “source” in no way requires the thing or item being discussed- to actually be in, or go through, “heaven”. For example: James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

No one requires that a pot of stew left on the porch of a hungry family travel through “heaven” to arrive on that porch. It is “understood” that it is the God Way that drives us to be a good neighbor to those in need. Similarly, when it states:

Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

We immediately understand that John did not come from God out of heaven, but that God was the source. Of course, we then tend to ignore such phrases when they are about Jesus (Yeshua), don’t we, and we think that they must be understood to mean that Jesus was up there somewhere before he “came down” here.

At this point, may we now consider that Revelation 21 and the “no more sea” may be a metaphorical reference of some kind, but to what?

One Sea we can see that does not hold any water.

There is a biblical “sea” that might just work here, if we put the scriptures together. What is the “sea” in the following verse:

Revelation 13:1 ¶ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Hopefully, we can dispense with showing that this is not to be taken literally, but is metaphorical language to be understood as symbolic. However, as with all symbolism, there needs to be an anchor for the symbols meaning, otherwise there can be no meaning.

The question then becomes, what is this “beast” that comes up out of this “sea”? Since that is covered in other articles, let’s just say, for simplicities sake, that this “beast” is a non-Israelite human empire. Now, keeping it simple, let’s look at

Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

We see more “beasts” come up out of the sea. Might we begin to see that some seas are not water, but seas of non-Israelite humanity? And, that these “beasts” are Empires who rise up from, or out of, the so-called “gentile” nations (“gentile” used here to mean non-Israelite)?

But, what does having no more “gentile” opposition have to do with the “new heavens and new earth” of Revelation 21? It simply goes right to the heart of the matter that the “new heavens and new earth” are a “refreshed and renewed” Israel living under the Jeremiah 31 New Covenant, just as discussed in the previous article by the same name.

What about Peter’s “new heavens and new earth”?

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

For a more in-depth look at just what Peter did say, see: “Does 2 Peter 3:10 & 12 Speak of the Elimination of the Physical Universe?”

Short of that, we will point out here that the context is “the Day of the Lord” in which these “new heavens and new earth” appear, not some 1,000 years after it, just as shown in verse 10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

For a full biblical explanation of “elements”, please see the previously mentioned article on 2^nd Peter, but suffice it to say that the word has no implication or reference to the physical planet or universe, but to the works of man just as described in every other appearance of the word in the New Testament.

One further reminder to the reader is that the expression “new heavens and new earth” actually has nothing to do with the universe or even the planet earth, as brought to light in numerous articles including the original article on that very subject. The words translated to “earth”, whether Greek or Hebrew never refers to the planet, and the words translated to “heaven” have no application beyond what we perceive overhead.

Back to Revelation 21

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In verse 24 we see a reference to “nations” that were saved? Wouldn’t this, by definition, eliminate those gentile lands (from which the beast power rose) who opposed Israel and, rather, be a reference to the nations or people of Israel and those other nations conquered by this “beast”? Then we see “kings” of the surrounding “land” (remember that earth means land, not the planet) coming to this New Jerusalem (New Israel), which is precisely what we find in:

Zechariah 14:16 ¶ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Please notice that these kings are the “losers”, and not those “saved”.

Finally, the point raised in verse 27 above should not be overlooked. When there is a positive statement proclaiming that nothing will enter in that can defile this New Jerusalem, there must be, by necessity or default, the existence of such defilement as a possibility. This puts a definite damper on any proposed “spirit” new heavens and new earth. Could this then even refer to those who are still opposed to this New Jerusalem even after losing in the Day of the Lord?

Zechariah 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt , and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

It might, but regardless, it remains quite apparent that there will still be humans and some of these humans will rebel against the God of Israel and His Ways, but they will not be welcome in this greatest of all Jerusalems- The New Jerusalem.

Richard Fix

August 2005

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