Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Heavy Duty Question

Here is a question I would like your thoughts on: If the church is raptured to heaven, what will be the purpose of the earth when the Lord makes a new heaven and new earth?

13 comments:

Matthew Celestine said...

The translation of the Church or Rapture (Post-Tribualtional in my view) is not to do with the earth but with the Church, whereby the Church is brought into its heavenly glory, though it will reign on the earth with Christ during the Millennium.

The New Earth is not a completely new earth, for the Bible says that the earth will las forever.

The New Earth is essentially a restored continuation of the old one, freed from the curse of death. It will be populated by the redeemed of the Millennium in natural bodies who will continue to marry and procreate, thus fulfilling God's original purpose for Adam and Eve.

See my Bible Prophecy blog for more on this subject.

Every Blessing in Christ

Matthew

Daniel said...

2 Peter 3:10-12 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"

I am of the opinion that this is quite literal - that is, that the earth will be burned up/dissolved.

I am also of the opinion that the "rapture" of the church is sorely misunderstood - first the angels come to remove all that offends - these are the ones that are taken away when two are at the mill grinding - the wicked person is the one taken away, and not the saint. The end of the age is going to surprize a lot of people, and I have heard it said, and I agree, the first few minutes are going to be pretty quiet as everyone adjusts their theology.

I would be hardpressed to really give an opinion given the confines of the question.

Kc said...

Jim my present understanding is similar to Matthew though I'm pre-trib. I have always perceived the earth being done away with prior to the new earth but the scripture Matthew refers to has made me think. Could the earth be disolved and burned up and still exist as a gas only to be reformed? Where's a good prophet when you need one??!! ;-)

Jim said...

Thanks for your input brothers, I am trying not to steer this question in a particular way.

Daniel,

Do you believe the entire earth will be destroyed or simply the surface of the earth where man and his works are present?

And if so, what would be the purpose of the new earth referenced in Revelation?

God bless,
Jim

Matthew Celestine said...

As we have never seen the heavens being on fire or the elements dissolve, we shoudl not assume that total destruction is being described.

This event is identified clearly in that chapter as beign connected with the Day of the Lord. If you are a Premillennialist and committed to literal interpretation, then the one should identify this as preceding the Millennial reign (though most do not) and hence does not involved total destruction of the earth.

The Day of the Lord or the coming of Christ is compared to the Flood; a cataclysmic even that changed the face of the earth, yet which did not destroy it only the 'world that perished'.

Rev 6:14
'And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountain and island were moved out of their place'.

Here we similar language of what seems like total destruction, but which ought not to be so given a Premillennial view of Revelation. The Pre-Tribber would place this in the Tribulation, the Post-Tribber would place this at the Lord's appearing. Either way, it is preceding the Millennial reign of Christ on earth.

God Bless

Matthew

Kc said...

At present I would place this event at the end of the millenial but I lean toward a pre-trib rapture. I tend to seperate the event in Rev 6:14 from the one in Rev 21:1 but I'm always willing to learn! ;-)

Matthew Celestine said...

Rev 6:14 is parallel to the Seventh Trumpet, the Seventh Seal and the coming of Christ in Matthew 24.

I would argue that the event in 2 Peter 3 also refers to the coming of Christ, not the end of the Millennium. If we take Day of the Lord in its simplest sense, it is a 24-hour day, not an extended period of time.

The event in Rev 6:14 (which the Pre-Tribber places during the Tribulation and the Post-Tribber usually places at the end of the Tribulation) seems no less cataclysmic than the event in 2 Peter 3.

Every Blessing in Christ

Matthew

Joe said...

To discern the purpose of God without being God would be very presumptious.

Whatever the "purpose" of the new heaven and the new earth, you can be sure they will be for His glory.

Jim said...

Joe, no doubt they will be glorious. I don't think however it is presumptious to try and discern things from God's word. I think He has hidden the answers to many of our questions in order that we seek Him with all our hearts.

Is there not any scriptural clues as to the new heaven and earth and what will transpire in those days?

God bless and thanks again for stopping by.

Gordon said...

Jim, I think the purpose of the new earth will be the purpose that was declared by the first Creation. That is, a place for God to dwell with man and fellowship with him (a sinless environment). I believe a comparison of the first two and last two chapters of the Bible will bear this out.

Jim said...

Gordon, I say a big Amen to that.

God bless,
Jim

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jim said...

Secret Rapture,

I deleted your comments because the links you attached were offensive and dishonouring to God.

For your information one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I have already bowed my knee, will you too before it's too late?