The Creation of the New Heavens and Earth Part 1

The Creation of the New Heavens and the New Earth

Part 1

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  (2 Peter 3:13)

The new heavens and the new earth by their name are “new” in contrast with the “old” or the “first” heavens and earth.

What are those “first” heavens and “first” earth?

“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)

We have to go back to the Old Testament Scriptures in order to know what the “first” heavens are and the “first” earth that God created.

The First Heaven and The First Earth

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Here in Genesis was the first mention of the heaven and earth.  God created the heaven and earth in the beginning. In the beginning of what? Of course, of that heaven and earth.  That was the first mention of heaven and earth. And it says that those were the “first” heavens and “first” earth.  The heaven and earth have generations. And generations have beginnings.  That’s why the book of Genesis is called “Genesis” because it is the Book of Beginnings.

Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

The next verse of Genesis 1 tells us that the earth was without form, and void.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Many Bible teachers use this verse as supporting verse for the “Gap Theory”. They teach that the planet earth was not a young earth, but an old earth with billions or trillions of years.  And they continue that this being without form and  void of the earth   happened as a result of the chaos that happened that because of the rebellion of Lucifer and his angels.  But no scripture supports that theory. It is all speculation.

The earth spoken of here in Genesis beginning verse 1 is not the “planet earth” or “the globe”, but “a local earth”, “a land”.  The writer of Genesis [Moses] was in ancient days when the knowledge of astronomy was not great as today. What the writer was writing were things he could see or observe with his eyes. For example, he could not see a round planet or a globe as seen when by the astronaut on the moon, for the writer was not in outer space or on the moon. He was on the land, and what he was talking about the earth was a “flat land” and not a “round planet”. We have to establish this so we can understand the next things about the earth. If we are wrong on our idea or view of what that earth was, then we will err in many things.

The same thing with heaven: the writer was not talking about the outer space because what he could see at that time with his bare eyes, not with telescopes, was the “sky” where he could see the sun, moon, stars, clouds, etc.  You try to look at the sky right now. What do you see? You can see the clouds, the sun, the birds, etc. If it is night, you can see the moon and the stars. But can you see the planets of the solar system? Can you see the galaxies? Of course not.  What you can see in heaven are only the things you can see with your bare eyes.  You may say that the sun, moon and stars are in the outer space.  Yes, you are right. We know that because of modern science. But during Moses’ time, they did not yet discover things discovered by today’s science.  So we can say that the sun, moon and stars are what the writer could see with his eyes in the sky.

The earth in Genesis 1:2 was not a “round” planet but a “flat” land.  It says, the earth/ land was without form and void. Why? Because it was under the waters. Imagine an island soaked under the sea. That land was under the waters. It was unseen, though it already existed, because it was under the waters. That’s why it was described as without form and void.

“And the Spirit [Breath/Wind] of God [the Creator] moved upon the face of the waters. The breath of God was moving upon the face of the waters so that the land would appear.

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Why was it dark then? Because the land was deeply under the waters: hidden. It was there but unseen, covered by darkness.  So God spoke his creative words “Let there be light”. Was there no light then before that? Was there no light in the “planet”? No, it was not talking about the round planet or the globe but only about that “local land”, that “piece of land”.  There was no light in that land yet. Why? Because it was deeply buried under the waters.

Genesis 1:4-5 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

That was the first day.   God called the light “Day”.  And he called the darkness “Night”.  That was the “first day” of existence of that “earth” which was a “flat land”.  We can compare a land to a baby inside the mother’s womb (the watery and dark womb). The moment the baby gets out of that darkness of the womb that becomes his “first day” or his “birthday”. Then he will see “light” for the first time. That will be the day one of his existence. That’s the same with the land. 

That “earth” or “flat land” of Genesis was the “land of Israel”. God was preparing the “land of Israel” for the “people of Israel” which during that time did not yet exist. The earth just like the nation and a man can be born in one day.

Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

This time, the earth/land was no more buried deeply under the waters, but still under the waters, seeing the light.

Genesis 1:6-10 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

God then divided the waters which were above the firmament (clouds) and under the firmament (seas).  The firmament was called “heaven” or “sky”. It was not the “outer space”. It was simply the “sky”.  Above the sky were the clouds (waters above). What happened?  The waters evaporated unto the clouds. The waters under the sky (firmament) gathered unto one place were called “seas”. And the earth/land now appears. It was no more under the water. What did God call the “dry land”? He called that as “earth”.  You see, the earth spoken of here was not “the round planet” or “the globe” but a “dry land”.

Genesis 1: 11-13  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Now that the dry land appeared from under the waters, the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed and fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind. The vegetation.

Genesis 1: 14-19

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

God then made two great lights: the sun and the moon. They will now have functions: to divide the day and night and to be measurers of seasons, days and years.  This Genesis account was not about the creation of the universe, but about the creation of the heavens and the earth which were localized.  This account is not also about the creation of the sun, moon and stars.  There were already the sun, moon and stars. There was light on the first day. How could there be first day if there was no sun yet?  We measure day by the sun. But this account was about the making or placing of the sun, moon and stars into their respective roles over that land, the land of Israel. The sun, moon and stars which would play greater roles in the life and worship of the Israelites, who would observe days, weeks (Sabbaths), months (new moons) and years (festivals).

Genesis 1: 20-31 continue with the fifth and sixth day creation.  God created moving creatures, fowls and fish from the waters. Then God made the land animals. And finally he created man.

Genesis 1: 26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Now after preparing the sky, the land and the waters, and made them so beautiful with the trees and plants, with the animals on the land, and the fish in the seas, and birds in the sky, the last creation was man. Because God already prepared the land since the first day up to the sixth day, now it was fit for man to dwell on it.  The special account of this 6^th day creation is in Genesis Chapter 2.  The sixth day creation was zoomed in or magnified by a magnifying glass.

That land that was prepared for man was called “The garden of Eden”.  That garden of Eden was to be the land of Israel, “the promised land”.

Genesis 2:1-3

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

That’s the creation of the “first” heavens and the “first” earth.  That’s the local land of Israel, the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), the Promised Land, prepared carefully by God to be inhabited by his people, beginning with the first man Adam. That’s the land where God’s covenant people would dwell.

The Spiritual Significance of the Natural Things

You may say, “Why was it only “heaven” in Genesis 1:1 but “heavens” in Genesis 2:1?”  The heaven is the sky. Now in the sky are the sun, moon, stars, clouds, birds flying, etc.  The heavens are the things in the heaven. It is not the traditional 3 heavens.  

Yes, they were literal, physical, natural heavens and earth.  These natural things have spiritual significance.  The heaven/sky represents the throne of God and the land is his footstool. The heavens/skies declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

The heaven/sky which is “above” the earth/land represents the majesty of the government/kingdom of God. “God rules and reigns from the heavens”.

Whenever we think of God, we think or look at the sky. Why? Because the sky/heaven is above us. We “look up” to heaven.  We look up to God, the Sovereign. Which means we acknowledge that he is above us, our Creator and Redeemer and King.  God was portrayed in the Scriptures as one dwelling in the heavens. Heaven is the dwelling place of God.  Yes, God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. He cannot be limited in a place. But saying that God is in heaven simply means that God rules and reigns over men of the earth. The heavens are just symbols of God’s kingdom, law, rule and judgment.  But of course we cannot limit God on the sky, even on outer space. God is in the super-heavens.  Which means he is above all, even the heavens. The Heaven/sky is a place. Yes! It is!  But is God literally there in the sky sitting on his throne in the clouds? No. The heaven symbolizes his kingdom and glory. The heaven symbolizes God himself. God is heaven. Heaven is God’s kingdom.  When we say God is in heaven, we mean God is in his kingdom. Where is his kingdom? Surely not in the sky. The sky is just a symbol. God’s kingdom cannot be limited in a place or time. Because God is infinite.

Psalms 57:11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

The “first” heavens made [locally over the land] were where God was ruling, reigning and judging over his people.  The earth/land was his footstool. It means that earth was his subject. Under his feet. Under his authority and power. The area called the garden of Eden was the first heavens and earth.

The Principle of “Natural” to “Spiritual”

If the “new” heavens and earth are called “new”, it means they would be the same as the “first” heavens and earth in the way they were created. The first heavens and earth were created in six days. You may say, that they were not literal six days, but six ages. It doesn’t matter how you see it. I see it as literal six days. I see Adam as a literal real man and not just a metaphor or a figure. I see the Garden of Eden as a literal land. You may see it differently, but what matters is that we know and agree that the first heavens and earth were not created in an instant as a magic.  But it took six days, or you may say six age-days. Yes it took time for creation.  My point is: The first heavens and the first earth were prepared and created progressively. It took six days to finish the creation and everything in it. And after that, God rested on the seventh day. Which means. Everything finished. None left undone.

If the “first” heavens and earth were created in six days, it is the same with the “NEW” heavens and earth. They would be created in the same way, though not six days, but progressively.

But let us first learn a very important principle:

1 Cor. 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The Principle is:

First, natural. Afterward, spiritual.

First, soul. Afterward, spirit.

First, earthy. Afterward, heavenly.

First, corruption. Afterward, Incorruption.

First, mortality. Afterward, immortality.

First, dishonor. Afterward, glory.

First, living soul. Afterward, quickening spirit.

First, Adam. Afterward, Christ.

The first heavens and earth, the garden of Eden, the land of Israel were  “NATURAL” and “EARTHY” heavens and earth. These “natural” and “earthy” heavens and earth are pictures of the “spiritual” and “heavenly” heavens and earth.

The “NEW” heavens and the “NEW” earth REPLACED the “FIRST” heavens and the “FIRST” earth.  (THE SPIRITUAL REPLACED THE NATURAL).

Revelation 21:1 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.

The Creation of the “New” Heaven and the “New” Earth

The new heavens and the new earth replaced the first heavens and the first earth… or the old earth.

God created the first heavens and the first earth in six days. Six – the number of man which is incomplete. Seven – the number of God which is completeness. That’s why on the seventh day God rested. It means he completed his creation.

Table of Comparison

	First Heaven and Earth	The New Heaven and Earth
DAY 1	Light	Christ the light on the first day of the new creation. John 1: 4-5,9 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Christ’s incarnation. His first coming on earth as the Only Begotten Son of God, as a human being, born of a woman. Jesus Christ when he was made flesh was the light that shines in the darkness.
DAY 2	Firmament/Sky	God’s rule and government in Christ. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Heaven on earth through Christ’s dwelling in the flesh among men. Revelation 21:3 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.
DAY 3	Dry Land, Seas, Plants	The redemption through the death and resurrection of Christ. The new earth without the sea around it. Dry land.  No more sea (Gentile) and land (Jew) division and distinction in Christ. Ephesians 2: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Colossians 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Revelation 21:1 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. The dry land appeared from under the waters (death).  Christ rose again from the dead, from the heart of the earth. Death was abolished. Life and immortality came to light through the gospel of Christ.  The Body of Christ church was born. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3 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.  4 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.
DAY 4	Sun, Moon and Stars	The glory of God is the light of the new heaven and earth. All day. No night. Revelation 21: 3 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
DAY 5	Birds and Fish	The apostolic evangelization within a generation (40 years) Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
DAY 6	Land Animals and Man and Woman	Christ, the head  and the Church, the body of Christ Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
DAY 7	Sabbath/Rest/ Finished creating/ Completed creation	Complete Revelation of God Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Complete in Christ Colossians 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Complete Redemption Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Thus the New heavens and the new earth were past accomplishments of Christ.

Christ is the Creator of the New Heavens and Earth

John 1:1-4  In the beginning [of the New creation] was the Word [Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things [in the new creation] were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 1:16 -17 For by him were all things created, [in the new creation] that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things [in the new creation] were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Jesus Christ began his new creation in his incarnation. When he was manifested in the flesh “the tabernacle of God was with men”. The Word was made flesh and dwelt [tented/pitched his tabernacle] among us.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it is written: “Old things ARE passed away”.

In Revelation 21:1 it is written: “The first heaven and the first earth WERE passed away”.

It means that during the Acts period when the letter to the Corinthians was written, God was in the process of continuous creating of the new heavens and earth. But during the time after Christ arrived, the creating of the new heavens and earth was already done. A past thing. God finished his creation which began in Christ’s first coming.  The new heavens and the new earth were being formed until the consummation in 70 A.D.

When Christ arrived the second time, after a generation [40 years] according to his very words (Matthew 24:34-35), he finished the creation of the new heavens and the new earth.

Even before 70 A.D. there were already the new heavens and the new earth being created or in the process of formation since “the beginning” (John 1:1; 1 John 1:1; Luke 1:2).  That’s the beginning of “the world” [kosmos and not aion] (John 1:9,10; 3:16) of the first century people of God.

Since Christ’s first coming “old things/the first heaven and the first earth were “passing away” little by little until his second time coming.  He made “ALL THINGS NEW” which “ALL OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY”. When Christ came the first time “Grace and truth came” (John 1:17) but the “law” was still there, until “ALL BE FULFILLED” (Matthew 5:18).

When Christ arrived the second time from heaven to earth “ALL WAS FULFILLED” – the law passed away!