Part 10: The 1,000 Years and the New Earth

Revelation 20 tells us that these events occur at the end of the 1000 years:

1. All the lost, called “rest of the dead,” are raised to life (vs. 5a).
2. Satan is loosed as a result of this resurrection (vs. 7).
3. There is a final judgment of Satan, his angels, and all his resurrected followers (11-13).
4. The fire of God falls / a lake of fire occurs (verses 9,10,14,15).
5. There is a New Heaven and a New Earth (21:1).

The very last line in Revelation 20 declares, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (20:15). We have previously seen that this fire comes down upon the lost (20:9) who are on the earth (20:8). 2 Peter 3:10 says “…the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” The “works” of this world are its sins, its evil magazines and videos, its pollution and smog, its factories and nuclear missile silos, its bombs, and the remnants of its cities. All that’s not perfect will “be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10).

The very next verse in Revelation after “the lake of fire” says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (21:1). Do you grasp the full meaning of this? Where was the lake of fire? On the earth! When the Bible says, “…the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,” this must include the lake of fire! After God’s fire completely purifies this planet and its atmosphere its time for another miracle. God will make “a new heaven and a new earth.” The fire will disappear, and all that will remain is a wonderful world of truth and love. Peter wrote, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Revelation 21 also says, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful'” (21:4,5).

“Write, for these words are true,” says the Almighty. When this finally happens, the lake of fire, death, sin, sorrow, crying, and pain will “have passed away.” There will be no more terrorists and no more tears over the World Trade Center, nor crying over a million other things like sickness, divorce, child abuse, or grave side services. These will all have “passed away.”

As Noah and his family finally walked out of the ark onto a cleansed world, so will God’s faithful saints finally walk out of the New Jerusalem into a brand new world.

Friend, let’s be there! Now is the time to follow God and the Bible with our whole hearts, fully trusting in the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, who died for us.