The New Heavens And New Earth: A Sneak Preview

Oct26
by Michael King on October 26, 2016 at 10:43 am
Posted In: new heavens and new earth

The Shadow That The New World Casts Upon This Creation

In my view, understanding the New Heavens and New Earth in scripture is essential. Understanding the world to come is the vantage point that allows us to see how everything else in scripture fits together. Without putting everything in a context of a New Creation, many scriptures seem like puzzle pieces having little or no relation to each other.

The scriptures foretell of a new world

To begin with, God specifically said,

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

Isaiah 65:17

And,

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.”

Isaiah 66:22

Then in the New Testament,

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

2 Peter 3:13

Moreover, Jesus said,

“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”

Mark 10:30

Furthermore, Paul states,

“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.”

Hebrews 2:5

finally, in the book for revelation John sees,

“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

It’s a New Creation

These and many more scriptures reference the New Creation of God.

The New Heavens and New Earth are exactly what it sounds like, i.e. a new creation that God makes after the total destruction of this present cosmos.  God creates the world to come, which is essentially a re-creation of this present world.  The difference is the world to come is perfect and without sin. It is place for the people of salvation to live forever in the presence of God through Jesus Christ.

God saves us from the corruption of this present world.  The New Heavens and New Earth is what God saves us to.  This creation is scheduled for destruction by fire and whoever does not receive Christ as their Lord and Savior will die eternally in the lake of fire. The saved live forever in the paradise of God, which is the world to come.

The dead in Christ must resurrect before they can enter into the kingdom of heaven.  God must glorify our bodies and make them perfect in order to live in the New Creation.  Just as we need bodies in order to interact with this present creation, so too we need perfect bodies in order to interact with the new creation which is perfect. This is the purpose of the resurrection.  The rapture translates those who are alive and remain up to heaven when the resurrection occurs.

There is a “greater than marriage” in the New Heavens and New Earth

People do not marry in the world to come. However, there will be relationships and children will be born throughout eternity. People will form unions and bring forth children as the Holy Spirit directs. Earthly marriages that were not of divine origin will not carry over to the new creation. God ordained unions, those couples connected through His Spirit, will endure.

The wolf will lie down with the lamb, i.e. their natures will revert to their pre-fallen state, in the New Heavens and New Earth. Many scriptures that people apply to the millennium actually refer to the world to come.  In fact, the 1000 year reign of Christ is one big picture of the New Heavens and New Earth.

You must be born again to enter into the kingdom of heaven on this new world

People are “born again” into the new creation of God.  We are born once into this creation through the will of the flesh and we are born again into the new creation through the will of the Spirit,

Paul says,

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 8:11

Jesus, is the first born from among the dead,

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood”

Revelation 1:5  NAS

The resurrection from the dead is the second birth

Therefore, we are born again when we resurrect to newness of life.  God provisionally saves us when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.  However, until we receive our glorified bodies we are not born again.

The New Heavens and New Earth is the kingdom of heaven

Jesus says,

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”

Matthew 26:29

And,

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

John 18:36

The New Heavens and New Earth is where the eternal kingdom of Heaven is.   It is called the kingdom of heaven because this prayer is fulfilled,

” Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10

The error many make, in reference to this scripture, if that they assume that “thy kingdom come” refers to this world when, in actuality, it refers to the world to come.  Again, because we do not understand the teaching of the New Heavens and New Earth we do not understand what many scriptures are really saying.

The New Heavens and New Earth is a re-set of God’s plan for mankind.  Once sin is dealt with, God re-creates a perfect creation complete with a New Earth.  Our Father restores the Tree of Life and we begin again on the path that God foreordained for us.  God makes all things new, including us through His Son Christ Jesus.

Jesus foresaw the New Heavens and New Earth

Christ sacrificed himself for our sins for the joy set before Him, i.e. the world to come.  Jesus knew full well the paradise that God intends for us to have in the world to come.  In fact Jesus promised,

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:42,43

A foretaste of the world to come

God gives us His Holy Spirit as a foretaste of the world to come.  We can do miracles through the Spirit of God because it is a portion or a down payment of what we receive in full in the New Creation.

The New Heavens and New Earth is not heaven because God says,

“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.  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 21:1-2

In conclusion, the new creation is not a refurbished world made new again.  Peter says,

“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.”

2 Peter 3:10

likewise,

“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

Therefore, God destroys this creation and makes a totally new creation.

If your son died a horrible death on the front porch of your home What would you do?  Most, if not all people, would move from that house, leaving behind the bad memories associated with it.  Likewise, God destroys this creation and makes another to forget what happened here.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard

The world to come is paradise restored.  It is a place where peace and love reign supreme.  YHWH re-creates us back into His image and likeness.  We do God’s will on the new earth as it is done now in heaven.  YHWH’s original plan, that He ordained for mankind, begins again.

Finally, God says this about the New Heavens and New Earth,

“But as it is written, 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.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Beyond The Sky by Fernando Ortega

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Episode 5: I In You And You In Me

Oct25
by Michael King on October 25, 2016 at 10:38 am
Posted In: Holy Consummation
Closer

Where Do We Go From Here?

Paul says,

“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Ephesians 4:3-6

Experience shapes our perspective

Most tend to interpret scripture from the standpoint of their own experiences.  We naturally do this because how else can we see the world except through the lens of what we know? However, doing so sometimes causes us to misinterpret what the apostles wrote because we lack their point of view, i.e. the experiences they wrote from.

With Esther and I, we literally feel each other inside ourselves. She in me and I in her with God flowing through us and in us. As we become closer, no sense of separation exists between us, even though we live very far apart. I believe that this is what Paul talks about when he speaks about one spirit and one body.  It is an experiential “oneness” which believers share with one another through the bonds of love in Christ.

Closer than a brother

Esther says,

“I feel we should let our spirits speak to each other.  I have never used tongues like that before”

Michael,

“Yes, we need to step back and allow our spirits to come closer.

Esther continues,

“This closeness seems strange when I think or talk about it, knowing the distance between us physically. Yet not strange just normal when not putting my brain in gear.  I agree, I think that speaking in other tongues to each other is a cool idea. It is like you are sitting close, facing me and holding me, but not at the same time. Feels like a weird world shift. Like some crazy sci-fi episode.”

I continue,

“I always feel you with me, inside of me, mingling with me.  Feels natural though.”

Esther,

“I feel like I am flickering between two worlds.  Yeah, I can feel you doing that now. I don’t know if it is meant to be like this always.”

Trusting God to be so close

Michael ,

“How so?”

Esther shares,

“Well, am I meant to be feeling you like this all time, even stronger when thinking of you or talking or doing musings or checking out your writings…anything really…this connection is switched on always and it makes sure I know it’s there all the time. Not saying I feel it’s wrong or right just commenting on it really.”

I reply,

“I think we are experiencing the unity of the Spirit. It’s like the more we become one, the more God comes through.”

Esther,

“I literally have to trust God concerning where I am, what I say, what I feel, what being right is.  This is all taking me out of my comfort zones. The not knowing or being in control.”

It’s all about giving control to God

Michael,

“I think it gets much deeper than this.  It’s about losing control and becoming closer.  I think spiritual connections are the anti-type of natural sex. It is a surrender to God through each other.  We move as one as God leads us.  We are a living picture of God’s creation.”

Esther,

“Yeah, I agree, as deep as you will allow it to go.  Letting go of this earth and all it’s influences, turning from all you’ve learnt in structured, systemic ways

Trust is never an easy mountain to climb for me.  With the Spirit, it is like there is always another mountain to climb after the summit you’ve just reached. As soon as I deal and manage one trust issue there always seems to be another one just beyond it.

Before, it seemed my trust issues were hills and each just a little higher, but with you it is like managing mountains.  As long as I don’t look down it is OK. Makes me green looking down and that color doesn’t do anything for me!”

Michael,

“yeah, don’t look down!”

Hinds feet on high places

Esther,

“I think I’m getting wary now even for me.  I’m feeling stretched going this far in the spirit with you.  Mostly, up until now, I’ve been quite comfortable. The things we have done are relatively familiar to me…but now I feel I am going beyond all that, which is not necessarily a bad thing.”

Michael replies,

“What is bothering you? Can put your finger on it?”

Leaving our comfort zones

Esther,

“Just, I suppose it’s time to go further or get out of my comfort zones…and really, spiritually speaking, I shouldn’t have any kind of zones or direction at all.

I’m not so much bothered, it’s just new territory for me and I am wary…remember I am used to having my being and operating in the spirit world more from the shadows alone where I am constantly attacked and on watch all time… coming out of the shadows and approaching God directly is going beyond a defensive stance I have had to have for so long. This is all very alienesque. It is like asking a warrior to disarm and not even be on alert. Ultimately what I have to do is to let go and go deeper into this. I don’t know how to explain, sorry.”

Michael,

“That’s ok, God will bring clarity to us in this.”

Beyond our comfort zones

Esther continues,

“It’s more like I let you play in my playground but you busted us out of that and I’m wary because this been my private zone for so long. Look, I’m not saying it’s bad per se, but I feel cautious and wary. I suppose we’ve all had our existences and learnt our ways. Now that it’s time to move on, it’s like unnerving umm type territory… lol”

Esther, for many years, operated in the spirit alone.  This was more out of necessity than choice.  When you experience spiritual things, often times you can’t tell people about them because they get nervous and sometimes misjudge you. You fear to let people get closer.

Many misunderstand those with spiritual gifts

People with spiritual gifts learn very quickly, if they are not in the right environment, that they must hide who they really are in God. Now that God is bringing those gifting’s out into the open with our spiritual connection, it feels a bit uncomfortable for Esther.

Many people have squashed who they really are in God. Unfortunately, when people hide their spiritual natures, the whole Body of Christ suffers lack.  We need to identify and nurture those God moves in, however strange or different that manifestation of His Spirit may be, encouraging them to be who they really are.  We do not need to fear what God does because our Father promises to give us only good gifts.

Loving and fearing spiritual intimacy at the same time

Esther,

“It is like I want to let go and be deep and be intimately closer in spirit with you wherever that goes, but at the same time I don’t know how far or what is right and acceptable and honorable to do in God. I don’t know what to make of the feelings and reactions it’s creating.

On one hand, surely if our hearts are with God in all this, then He is guiding us and nothing can be bad or wrong.  On the other hand; I don’t want to be bad and do something that leads me wrong.”

Michael,

“Just know that your body reacts to spiritual love pretty much like it does to natural love. So don’t be freaked out and think you are unholy. Misjudging what God is doing can cause condemnation if you allow the devil to make you think you are sinning because of physical reactions…or emotional for that matter. Love feels like love no matter if it comes through our spirit or our soul.”

This is potent stuff!

Esther,

“Yeah I understand that. Potent stuff spiritually huh…how can it be you wanna be closer than close with someone and then that be right? It certainly flies in the face of what churchianity teaches you. I equally don’t want to upset or freak you out either because really I struggle to explain this without sounding wrong.”

Michael,

“I am not bothered at all. When you live so completely intertwined you begin to be one in God and that has side effects. If you don’t understand what is going on, that kind of stuff can really mess with your natural mind.”

Esther,

“I begin to think that I need to process this whole thing. Then I think, no I don’t at all because that’s half of mankind’s problem…always needing and wanting to process things. I feel much comfier and free-er (if that’s the word to use) just going with the flow than thinking, even though, in the natural, I need order, method and processes to my life.”

Aroused in the Spirit

With very strong connections, like Esther and I have, as you love each other in the Spirit your bodies sometimes react as they do if you loved someone naturally. The difference is, that the love you feel is coming through your spirit and not your soul. Some experience feelings of arousal when strong spiritual experiences occur and think, “Oh no!  I can’t be having this happen to my body at the same time I am experiencing God!”

However, God made our bodies to react to pleasurable experiences whether they come from the spiritual realm or the natural realm. If you are literally experiencing the spirit of your connection inside you, of course your body’s going to react.

Pure and holy love

However, God says that when you walk in the spirit, you do not fulfill the lusts of your lower nature.  A woman or man may be aroused by strong feelings of spiritual love between them, but never desire to act on them inappropriately.  Obviously, if you kiss someone with a holy kiss, it is going to feel good because it is pure love.

When I speak about such things, I do so because these are the real issues that come up during spiritual connections.  People, who are coming closer together in the spirit may feel their private areas become aroused.  For some, this brings condemnation because these are the same sorts of feelings that other, less godly, activities produced. The motivation, though, is totally different. Whereas one is Eros and selfish, spiritual love is Agape and self sacrificing.  Therefore, I believe that, instead of leaving people to figure this stuff out on their own, it is better to talk about it openly so that these concerns will not become a stumbling block to them.

The unity of the Spirit is a spiritual experience that brings you closer

In conclusion, the unity of the Spirit is a literal experience that connections feel between and in themselves.  It is a sense, it is a knowing, that somehow your connection dwells inside of you and you in them.  It is spiritual, yet it produces physical sensations which are good and holy before God.

Finally, these chronicles are meant to be bread crumbs so that when you come along these same paths you can take comfort in knowing that others have gone before you. Trust God in all things, remain humble and open to His Spirit, and you will do fine. 

Oceans Deep by Hillsong

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