S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Many people have a misconception of what heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 gives us a detailed picture of the new heavens and the new earth. After the events of the end times, the cur...

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July 01 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

doug clark Supporter

This is an answer to the question of whether or not God will vacate Heaven to reside in New Jerusalem. 

Keep in mind that God resides everywhere. One of the attributes of God is Omnipresence by which He fills the universe in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole of God is present in every place. This is true of all three members of the Trinity. They are so closely related that where one is the others can be said to be, also.

I Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Jeremiah 23:23,24
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord.

So the answer to your question is no God will not vacate "heaven" and just reside in the New Jerusalem. God is an unchanging God. None of his attributes will change and that means forever and ever. There is no place where God is not already there.

November 26 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rotimi EWEDEMI Supporter Very keen Bible Researcher

Let us first focus on the new earth. Let us note that the passage says there will be no sea in the new earth. What could this statement mean? Are we to take it as meaning that the new earth will not have bodies of water? Will the planet earth be earth if there is no water on it? 

Let us think: could it be that the " sea" in that Revelation 21:1 is not a literal "sea" but a symbolic " sea?" The Bible helps us to actually see that the " sea" is figurative, a symbol of something. How so? 

A. Compare Revelation 17:1 with 17:15. " And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters"."And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues"

From this, we can see that the "sea " of Revelation 21:1 is likely not literal sea. It symbolises " peoples, multitudes, and nations"? But which kind of peoples?

B. Isaiah helps us out. Isaiah 57:20 : "But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand". 

Thus, the " sea" of Revelation 21:1 symbolizes wicked, ungodly, tumultuous mankind. 

So, if the "sea" of Rev 21:1 is not a literal sea, it follows that the "earth" and even the "heaven" of the same verse cannot be literal. As for the "earth", please see Psalms 96:1. "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth". Surely, we recognize that the earth herein is not literal earth but " people on the earth"

To summarize : the old earth that will be removed is an earth filled mainly with wicked, ungodly and dying humans; the new earth is one to be filled with righteous, obedient and peaceful and undying humans. The bible assures that the literal earth...the planet earth, has been created as an everlasting home for obedient mankind, and will never be made to totter, for ever. 
" Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty...Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. (Psalm 104:1,5)

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalm 115:16)

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)

The situation existing in the old earth, I.e. as at now, is well depicted in the Bible, in Genesis 3:17-19: "And unto Adam he said...cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"

In contrast, the situation that will exist in the new earth is also depicted in the Bible: " And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).

That meek, righteous/ godly humans will live on earth for ever is confirmed in Psalms 37:9-11, 22,27,29,34; Proverbs 2:21-22; Matthew 5:5. 

As for the new heavens, this means the Government of God under Jesus (new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2); this replaces the old heaven, that is, current governmental system under Satan's control. See Daniel 2:44

October 25 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mi Shad Ow Supporter Layman

This is an answer to the question of whether or not God will vacate Heaven to reside in New Jerusalem. Yes he will. The bible is clear that once the renovation of earth (Isa 65:17; Heb 1:11-12; 12:26; 2 Pet 3:7 & 10; Rev 21:1) is done. 

God will live with his people forever (Rev 21:3; Eze 43:7: Exo 29:46: Ps 68:16; 132:14) it has always been his desire to dwell with us. 

I hope this helps.

November 27 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report