Event 7. The New Heavens and Earth Created
This is the New Creation not the original creation of Genesis 1:1, nor the reconstituted creation of Genesis 1:2 (our present world); rather it is a world and creation neither marred by sin, nor the "corruption" which hindered the true nature of the creation (Romans 8:21). Paul wrote:
Romans 8:19-23:
19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
So we see a massive deliverance from "vanity," in the natural kingdom and for the saints who have been translated into this Kingdom of God, by the Spirit, through Christ.
We see that corruption is a state of being, a law, if you will. Corruption is not merely an aberration in the order of life and existence, rather it is a condition that interwoven with life as we know it. However this "corruption" offends our deepest instincts, and we are not resigned to the present order. Also, nature itself is hindered in its own right. It was the rebellion of Satan that made it needful that God would subject his creation to the wasting effects of corruption. The fact that man's nature would produce sin later on following the re-recreation of Genesis1:2, also showed that the re-created divine order was different than the original creation of Genesis 1:1. Paul says that God subjected the creature to "vanity" so we ask, Why." We must assume that God knew that the corrupted order of creation would produce a company of souls that were "sons," those that do not walk in sin or the rebellion of the Devil. This final, complete manifestation came first through Christ in spirit, soul, and body, and second, it came in the believer being "born again" (1st Peter 1:23). Though it came through Jesus fully, it has only come in the spirit of the believer (2 Thessalonians 2:13), but it has not come fully to the believer in that the soul and body are not brought to incorruption. This is the reason that Christ said that one must take up the cross daily, in order to be His disciple. We are keenly aware of our capacity to sin, yet we walk in righteousness. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:2-5:
2 Corinthians 5:2-5
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
So we see that we have the "earnest of the Spirit," which is the downpayment which will be followed by the perfecting of our souls and glorification of our body, just as Christ was perfected (Luke 13:32) and glorified (Acts 3:13).
The taking up of the cross insures the believer's obedience to God's word. The cross allows imperfect man to walk in the perfection of the Lord. We are born again in the image of God's Spirit, but not yet complete in that image. Until the resurrection we will always need the cross to exercise our souls to holiness; our body and souls have not yet been "reborn" in the image of Christ. Until the change of 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 comes upon the world, the cross is the specific instrument of death that hinders the corruption that besets our souls. Paul wrote:
Romans 7:24-25
24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The :"...body of this death..." is that principle of corruption that is interwoven with every aspect of creation. When the transformation comes upon the believers, then perfection will have come in all three aspects of human existence, the spirit, soul, and body.
As we have seen in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 that this Physical "translation" will also occur shortly before the Rapture. This will clear the path for the revelation of the Antichrist and is followed by "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21).
The reconstitution of Creation found in Genesis 1:2 was the original creation of Genesis 1:1 recreated, but with corruption interwoven into its fabric. In addition the Curse was placed upon life in additon the corruption that was already present. We can assume this because in Genesis 1:1 it says that God created the heavens and the Earth. However Genesis 1:2 says that it began to be disorganized. Later we find that light was absent so it and other important aspects of existence had to be spoken into existence. This is apparent when we consider the words of Isaiah:
Isaiah 45:18
18For 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.
The creation was whole and intact, it became disorganized (due to Satan's rebellion, Isaiah 14), God re-created the now spoiled creation, then God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Following this they sinned, which precipitated the Curse that has marred life since that time.
Genesis 3: 9-19
9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In 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.
This New Heavens and New Earth will not be subjected to corruption, the constraints that the Curse embodies, will not exist. Animals will not hunt each other for food (Isaiah 11:6), and may be able to speak, also will not have fear of man. The Earth will become "alive" and co-operative with man in his God led efforts, since sin no longer blinds the human heart in the New Heavens and Earth. No force of death will be in place to oppose the force of life.
Event 8. The City of New Jerusalem revealed as the "Lamb's Wife"
The city is described as the Lamb's Wife. This special relationship is typified by the New Jerusalem, which floats down out of Heaven toward earth (Revelation 20 and 21). Even though it seems odd to call a city the 'wife of the Lamb,' 1st Peter 2:4-8 likens Christ and the believer to this very thing.
1st Peter 2:4-8
4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
We see that the building material of the New Jerusalem is is likened to believers. One of the most striking feature is that "... the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass" (Revelation 21:16). The gold used is transparent, being 100% pure, symbolizing the purity of its maker and its residents. This symbolizes the many perfected souls that have no darkness that absorbs or corrupts the light of God which shines throughout. This transparency is available in modern day fellowships of believers, but only in the spirit, however this will change when the soul and body are also redeemed. Paul writes:
2nd Corinthians 5:1-5
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Our conclusion to this series of events must include the truth that the believer now does not belong in the present creation, but is destined to have a home in the New Creation.
These are some of the main events involving Christ's interaction with the earth in His role as administrator of all the kingdoms of the earth. This is important to keep clear, because this framework allows us to attempt to accurately place the appearance of "Joel's Army" in the scheme of prophetic history.
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