It seems extreme to speak of a Heaven that is even more marvelous than Heaven already is. But the Book of Revelation makes it plain that God is going to create a “New Heaven” and a “New Earth.” The very language He uses proves that He is planning something so magnificent that its description is beyond words. The Holy Spirit said, “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). Our Great God is full of unfathomable and unfailing plans for our future.

While it is perfectly grand to simply wait until we arrive to see all of the glory that the Father has designed, the Bible would suggest it’s also okay to see a little of it in advance. “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. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Let’s be cautious as we consider some of the exceptional changes that we can expect.

Satan has been a part of our Biblical scene from the beginning. Before we were created, he was a beautiful angel and held a strong position in the Father’s Kingdom. This lovely creature that may well have provided Heaven with his exceptional music decided that he wanted the Father’s throne. He lost his place and the Father’s Son saw him falling from Heaven. He wasn’t barred from Heaven but lost his dwelling place and became a vagabond in this great universe.

Since that day he has been the accuser of men that seek to please the Father. He also labors to hinder the holy angels that busy themselves with the Father’s pleasures. An angel confessed to Daniel that a prince from Satan’s realm had withstood him for twenty-one days as he came to this servant of the Lord with the Father’s answer, “And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me” (Daniel 10:11-13). Heaven has tolerated this scroundel as the great redemption plan has unfolded and stretched toward the final finishing moments. Almost simultaneously with the Rapture, Satan will be cast from the Father’s presence and forever forbidden from the celestial world. He will never even see the New Heavens, much less seek to render it unclean by his evil presence.

Presently, the great hosts of angels that call Heaven their home are busy on duty as ministers to the saints in their struggles with Satan. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). The angels ascend and descend at the command of “The Lord of Sabbaoth” to care for our needs. Jesus Christ is that Lord and has all power in Heaven and in earth, so Heaven is never free of our burden and cares. Heaven is the staging ground of these ministering spirits, “And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Luke 4:11). The Father has not left His saints to fight alone.

The Heavenly Temple in God’s Capitol City is the center of His glory. Here is the great altar of which the Ark of the Covenant was but a golden shadow. This is the grand center of the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here, He intercedes for the saints continually because there is no night here. Every burden and care that has been entrusted to Him is remembered. The Son of God has the Father’s ear to defend our cause and accomplish the Father’s actions. In his dying minutes, Stephen looked within the Heavenly realm and saw the exalted Son standing at the Father’s right hand. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). This business of redemption will be finished when the New Heaven appears.

The multitude of saints that are absent from the body, but present with the Lord, are waiting to return with Christ for the living Saints. Their presence in Heaven is without their glorified bodies. It is beyond my words to describe the future addition of this grand company with their shouts and worship throughout God’s New Heaven. Apostle Paul said that Jesus Christ would bring them with Him and wake up those that are awaiting resurrection, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16).

When this great Hallelujah Multitude reaches the shores of the present Heaven, it will certainly prove that something majestic is in the air. This event we call the Rapture will start the Redemption Apocalypse. We will arrive on time and will probably have the joy of watching from the Ivory City as Michael organizes his angelic battalions of angels. You will be out of place if you do not believe in shouting God’s praises because Heaven will be alive with glory. The devil and his evil hordes will be seen in great defeat as they depart the Heavens for their last time. Not one of his fallen angels will see the face of God again. There will still be a lot of glory in the present Heavens as the Marriage Supper occurs. The multitude of saints will see New Jerusalem waiting the moment that it will descend. I believe the rewards given at the Marriage Supper will conclude with our mansions in the New City and we will occupy the city while we rule the earth for the Millennium.

To tell the whole story of the coming New Heaven and New Earth is not for man to know at this present time. What I already know is certainly enough for me to say goodbye to this world and to live under the hope of tomorrow. Remember, “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).

Joseph R. Chambers, DD, DSL
 jrc@pawcreek.org

The birth of Jesus Christ is the greatest contradiction of Secular Science in human history. The Bible is full of our Heavenly Father creating Science, but never of His great actions being subject to Science. Science does not control God, He controls Science. It drives secular scientists crazy trying to defy God and make His actions subject to their ideas. Because scientists have learned a few of God’s great principles, they love to think of themselves as beyond the existence of a Creator. It would be funny if it was not so insane to watch and listen to these great minds trying to eliminate Him.

But God’s great action — both in the past and present — transcends the limited world all around us. Men set their political sights to rule nations and even the whole world and yet every action can be found written in Bible prophecies. Some of these prophecies were written two and three thousand years ago and still read like the latest news. The computer world has created a world without walls and boundaries. Traveling on the great vehicle of fire and speed causes men to laurel those geniuses of discovery. The Nobel Peace prizes are given to hundreds of persons because somehow they found a spot to accomplish one of God’s foreordained plans. It’s amazing to read our Bible and see the great mind of God at work all around us.

The Son of God’s entrance into our world of limited space and time is one of our Creator’s greatest marvels. He is eternal and called by the Father, “the first and the last.” The God of all languages used the Greek language to call Him “Alpha and Omega.” The translators used English to call Him “the Beginning and the Ending.” It did not start in Genesis One and One; it never started, for He is eternal. The Son of God has forever existed in the undefined world of our great Creator.

By some mystery of divine splendor this Son of God stepped out of His eternity and was born in Bethlehem, Israel. For nine months He hid Himself in a virgin’s womb while Heaven bemoaned His absence. The Father ordained that He would first lie in a manger of straw and sleep to the quiet sounds of farm animals. While angels sang of His presence, politicians would scheme to remove His threat to their powers.

It was so during His entire earthly life that men used every human design to eliminate Him. He would pass in their midst as they sought to lay hands on Him. Officers were sent to arrest Him only to be arrested by divine speech that parted His lips. His miracles were so contradictive of nature that his enemies were speechless. Demon-possessed men were instantly made whole while crippling diseases simply vanished. He could call into a tomb and a decaying body would step forth to be loosed of their death clothes.

His visit out of eternity made all Science nothing less than the tools of our Creator. Read what David says for the Father, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:2-6). This earthly visitor did not go away; He simply moved His throne to the “holy hill of (Heavenly) Zion.”

Our world is quickly groaning its last groans. While men think themselves so smart and in charge of our future, the divine hands of sovereignty are guiding our course toward the finishing line. This great Son that the Father sent to redeem His creation is soon to return and finish all things. He did not step out of eternity to make a splash and then allow all things to continue as they had been. His presence at the Father’s right hand has guided the church to harvest the willing out of wickedness.

The Holy Spirit spoke by David and then by Peter at Pentecost.“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries” (Psalm 110:1-6). What a picture of the developing world scene! This is God’s picture of this very hour.

Our scientific world appears to be at their zenith. Military capacities are capable of ending human existence on this earth. Computers have created a world of control from a central place of political power. Even in our financial crisis, money is flowing like a river. Pleasure is designed for happiness but all is not well. Even in plenty, the human heart is weary. Clearly that great visit of the Eternal Christ at Bethlehem is desperate for the next visit of the Father’s Only Begotten Son. Date setting is forbidden in Scripture. The Heavenly Father sent His Son the first time and He alone will send Him again.

Joseph R. Chambers, DD, DSL
 jrc@pawcreek.org