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NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
Following the great tribulation and the events immediately following
the blowing of the seventh trumpet we encounter the appearance of the
New Heaven and the New Earth.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away.
[ The first heaven and first earth pass away during the tribulation.
2 Pet 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which now exist
are kept in store by the same word, reserved
for fire until the day of judgment and perdition
of ungodly men.
2 Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night, in which the heavens will pass away
with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; .... ]
The appearance of the New Heavens and New Earth is also mentioned in other
Scriptures.
Isa 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
....
:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.
Zech 8:12 .... The ground shall give her increase,
and the heavens shall give their dew. ....
2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells.
NEW JERUSALEM
At the time of the appearance of the New Heaven(s) and New Earth we also
encounter the appearance of New Jerusalem.
Rev 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.
New Jerusalem will replace the former adulterous Jerusalem. The first
Jerusalem will have perished.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast,
these will hate the harlot, make her desolate
and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with
fire.
Ezek 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
:2 "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her
abominations, ...."
:36 .... "Because your filthiness was poured out
and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry
...."
:37 "surely, therefore, I will gather all your
lovers ...."
:39 "I will also give you into their hand, and
they shall throw down your shrines and break
down your high places. They shall strip you
of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry,
and leave you naked and bare.
:40 They shall also bring up an assembly against
you, and they shall stone you with stones
and thrust you through with their swords."
In prophecy Jerusalem is not a literal city, but a religious system.
A religious system in a covenant relationship with God. An unfaithful
Jerusalem will be replaced by a faithful New Jerusalem and be joined
in marriage with the Lamb of God.
New Jerusalem is also identified as the '144,000' (Rev 7:4, 14:1).
The children of New Jerusalem, her future sons and daughters, are
identified as the 'great multitude' (Rev 7:9).
Isa 66:20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for
an offering to the LORD out of all nations,
on horses and in chariots and in litters,
on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain
Jerusalem, ....
Isa 60:4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar, and your
daughters shall be nursed at your side.
Gal 4:27 For it is written:
"Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who do not travail!
For the desolate has
many more children
Than she who has a husband."
The book of Revelation predicts and presents the cleansing of the people
of God (of spiritual Israel) and the subsequent establishment of the
'Kingdom of God'!
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