The Way

New Heavens & New Earth

Draft, under review

Christians across the centuries have confessed together that Jesus will return in the same way He was seen going into heaven (Acts 1:11): bodily, visibly and in glory, to raise the dead, judge the world and make all things new. Faithful, Bible-believing Christians differ on the details of the millennium, the timing of the rapture and how to read Revelation. Here each main view is presented in its strongest form, with its own key texts. These are secondary matters. Hold them with conviction and charity, and do not break fellowship over them.

For everyone · Tell us where you are

  1. What will heaven be like?

    • Rev 21:1–5

      1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. Keep reading

    • Rev 22:1–5

      1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. Keep reading

    • Isa 65:17–19

      17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her.

  2. Will our bodies be raised?

    • 1 Cor 15:35–49

      35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. Keep reading

    • Phil 3:20–21

      20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

    • Rom 8:18–23

      18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope Keep reading

  3. Will there be no more suffering?

    • Rev 21:4

      4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

    • Isa 25:8

      8He will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the Lord has spoken.

    • Rom 8:18

      18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.