Lesson
12
Time
Ends—Then Eternity
VI. Time
Ends—Then Eternity
The times after the
White Throne Judgment are not described in detail but the Bible does give us
some insights that are very interesting.
A. Earth Aflame
II Peter 3:10 tells
us, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in 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." The whole earth and space around it will be aflame. Everything man
has made on the earth will be burned and destroyed. Everything man has sent
into space and outer space will be totally done away with! The earth and the
heavens around it will be completely purged.
B. New Heaven and
New Earth
"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" (Revelation 21:1).
This is what John saw
after the White Throne Judgment. Peter said, "Nevertheless we, according
to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth
righteousness" (II Peter 3:13). Most scholars believe there will be a
renovated heavens and earth because of what Peter said in verse 6 about Noah's
world, "being overflowed with water, perished." The earth was totally
changed by the water but was not destroyed.
C. The
New Jerusalem
John saw a
beautiful city coming down from God.
"And
I, John, saw the holy city. New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2).
There will
be a new heaven, a new earth, and a new city. Jesus said, "In my father's
house are many mansions. . .I go to prepare a place for you. . .that where I
am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). Revelation 21:16, John saw the
angel measure the new city. It was 12,000 furlongs or 1,500 miles square. The
Holy City could reach from the east coast to West Texas and from Canada to
Florida. It would take in over half of the United States. The city was also
1,500 miles high. What a city! What a place to look forward to visiting. The city
was made of pure gold like clear glass, (verse 18) with walls of jasper and
gates of pearl (verse 21). It will not need any power plant, or sun, neither
moon to shine for Jesus will be the light (verse 13). Here time and eternity
meet. The temporal will cease forever and the dreams of the righteous from all
ages shall be fulfilled.