Once God’s Promised Kingdom, the Millennium is over, a new Jubilee is established. God creates anew. The earth is cleansed by fire (2Pt 3:10) and reformed. There is no longer a sea (Rv 21:1). This new earth is different from the old version. There is no longer a curse (Rv 22:3). Heaven comes to earth.

This time of earth’s future history has been compared to the Jubilee which God instituted with Israel.  It was a time when everything started anew. All debts were cancelled, all land returned to its original owner, and all slaves were freed (Lv 25). This was a time of great rejoicing. A lot can happen in fifty years. People can get into trouble, get financially bankrupt, and have to do whatever it takes to survive. God knew that. Therefore, he proclaimed Jubilee as a time of renewal, a time to start over. That is what this is for the earth. It is back to the beginning, back to the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – before it all happened, before sin crept in and destroyed perfection. And that is what is presented here, the Garden of Eden reborn, but much better. Perfection reestablished.

There are two groups who enter into this Eternal State:

1.           Those who were resurrected or transformed at the Rapture, or resurrected just prior to Christ’s reign (and who had been serving/ruling with Christ during the Millennium). They will continue to serve/rule with Christ throughout eternity.

2.           Those who accepted Christ as Savior during the Millennium. Because the Bible does not indicate there is another resurrection, or another transformation, and the Bible does state that the Tree of Life will be used by the nations (Rv 22:2), it is likely these individuals will not be transformed into a body like Christ. It is more likely they will possess a body like Adam and Eve had at the beginning in the Garden of Eden but without a sin nature or the propensity to sin. They will eat of the Tree of Life and drink of the River of Life to sustain their eternal state. They may be able to have children since Adam and Eve were able to have children. These are probably those who are identified as “nations” (Rv 21-22).

Overpopulation will likely not be a problem. The earth could be larger than it is now. There will be less bodies of water. There could be up to eight times the present land mass because there will be no more sea. Also, the whole universe could be opened up for use and expansion of people. With God all things are possible.

Does this get you excited? I sure hope so, because this is the eternal hope we have when we trust in Christ as our Savior. Isn’t that what everyone wants: no more hardship, true peace, no more want, and freedom to live joyously? It can be your future, too. All it takes is a little faith and placing it in the one who can make it all happen. Jesus Christ has an extended hand waiting. Take it.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Once God’s Promised Kingdom, the Millennium is over, out of heaven descends the New Jerusalem. This city is magnificent. It is like a giant crystal which descends to the earth. It has a wall with twelve gates, each of a single pearl, and twelve foundations, each of a precious stone. Its main street is of pure gold, translucent and reflective, as well as is the city itself (Rv 21:15-21). It is fifteen hundred miles square.

It is likely that the city is described as being square because the Holy of Holies has always been square (1Ki 6:20; 2Ch 3:8; Ek 41:4). Since the tabernacle and temple were replicas of heavenly things (Hb 8:5), this is where God dwells. Some believe it may also be pyramid in shape. Or the city could be on top of the jeweled foundations that are pyramid in shape. In either case, God will rule from the highest place on the earth (Is 2:2-3; Jl 3:17). This may be why Satan had the tower of Babel originally built because this was his first attempt to be like the Most High (Is 14:14). It may also be why Babylon had the hanging gardens to try to replicate what God is going to have here in this new world capital. Atop of this magnificent city is God’s throne. From this flows the River of Life reflecting the glory of God through all the light of the precious stones, as well as in that of the golden street and city. One can view this magnificent city from thousands of miles away. The light given off by the Shekinah glory of God will reflect off, and refract through, these crystalline materials making the whole city sparkle and very likely will produce many colors as the light is refracted. It is going to be absolutely spectacular. Truly, “…eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1Co 2:9).

This New Jerusalem will be on the new earth. Although the new earth could be a lot bigger than ours today, one can use the dimensions given in Revelation and the size of the earth today to better understand the enormity of the city. If Jerusalem is the center of the city and the city is almost fifteen hundred miles square, then, based upon today’s earth, the city would stretch from the top of Turkey to below the bottom of Egypt and from the eastern border of Iraq to the eastern border of Greece. If this structure was placed inside the continental United States, it would cover almost two-thirds of the country. By anyone’s standard, that is big! From the dimensions given, one can also get an idea as to how far away the city may be seen. If one takes into account the height of the city and how far away the unobstructed horizon would be, one could start to see it from as far away as the southern tip of Africa to the middle of Alaska; from Greenland to Indonesia. If God’s Shekinah glory that will be shinning from the center and at the top of the city is taken into account, the glow could be extend much further.

The Bible states that this city will have walls that are almost two hundred feet high (some translations state thick) and composed of jasper (Rv 21:17-18). The exact name of these gems may not be known or translated to what they are known as today. However, the Bible states that this stone is clear as crystal. This would provide a bright glow outside the city. Therefore, some interpret that the walls are very thick and as high as the city itself, while others state that the wall is two hundred feet high but that the tallest point in the city, i.e., where God’s throne will be, is fifteen hundred miles high. Either way, it will be totally magnificent.

Excited? Our future in Christ will be absolutely wonderful. It will truly blow our minds. Get yourself ready!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

It would seem life in the Eternal State may be similar to what life was like during the Millennium: Christ will continue to rule, Israel will continue to lead in worship, those glorified will continue to help rule, nations will still exist, and the people will continue to worship Christ with tribute of his glory. It is possible that now the whole universe will be open for exploration and bringing praise to God. All the talents and skills of each individual will be used to bring glory and honor to our King. However, there will also be key differences. The propensity to sin will be removed, the entire Trinity will dwell with mankind, and a New Jerusalem will descend out of heaven to earth and there will be no need for a temple (Rv 21-22).

This New Jerusalem will be huge and magnificent. It is possible that the new earth will be much larger than the earth today. That we don’t know, but we have been given the dimensions of this fabulous city: 1500 miles square. On today’s earth, if the current Jerusalem is its center, the city would stretch from the northern boundary of Turkey to the southern boundary of Egypt, and from Greece to parts of Iran. It would take up about two-thirds of the area of the continental United States. Some say it is cube shaped. Others, it is pyramid shaped. It may even be shaped like a ziggurat. No matter its exact shape, it will be magnificent.

Its streets will be of pure gold, a river (termed River of Life) will flow from God’s throne and the Tree of Life will be back again. Both the water from this river and the fruit of this tree will be the life sustainer of the nations of the earth. The city is composed of many precious stones, and most will be clear as crystal. The streets are of gold so pure they are transparent. God’s throne will be at the peak of the city. God’s Shekinah glory will radiate from there and through all the crystalline structures and streets of gold creating a glorious, colorful, and wondrous beauty. It is likely the river flowing from God’s throne will be like a huge waterfall through the middle of the city. Spray from it will create rainbows of color as the light refracts through the water droplets. It will truly be a wonder of the new world. If on today’s earth, and assuming no obstructions of the horizon, the city’s light would be seen from Alaska to South Africa, and from the east coast of the Americas to Japan. Of course, with God’s Shekinah glory being there, its light could extend much further.

As you can see, this will be the epitome of wonderful and this brief description will pale in comparison to how wonderful it will really be. Yet, I think you would agree this is not something to take lightly. Therefore, if you have not made Christ the Hope of your eternal future, you still have time. Don’t waste it but make haste. Such a glory should not be missed!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens