After Jesus returns, God will create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1, ESV). This New Earth is the consummation of the kingdom of God that Jesus brought to earth. This is what we now desire more than anything and the goal toward which God has been guiding his people for the entire history of humanity.
God will flood his people with blessing so that they will fully delight in their God and in his creation, especially his people. We will prosper in a kingdom of people who are fully Christlike and fully able to form mutually edifying friendships. As fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), the Father will direct us to “take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matt. 25:34, NIV). How astonishing to think that God views us as his children and he made a kingdom for us to inherit.
In Revelation 20-22 there is a heavy emphasis on life. There is a book of life (20:12, 15; 21:27); a river/spring of the water of life (21:6; 22:1); and a tree of life (22:2, 14, 19). It might come as a surprise to some that God does not consider “normal” human existence in this age as “life”. Believers have an incomplete life in this age and unbelievers don’t have life at all. What we have now is not full life. Many poets and philosophers would agree that the history of humanity and the condition of the human heart demonstrate our lack of life. The bible profoundly illustrates our deep human emptiness. In the New Eden we will finally experience true life.
He will wipe away all tears (Rev. 21:4) as promised in Isaiah 25:8. Death and pain will be extinct (Rev. 21:4); sorrow and sighing will be a thing of the past (Is. 35:10). Instead, we will be singing with joy and gladness (Is. 35:10). He will fulfill all the deepest desires of our hearts. Our God-given desires for security, belonging, wholeness, peace, joy, freedom, friendship, community, physical pleasure, being known, approval, love, significance, purpose, honor, righteousness, creativity, justification, fruitfulness, leadership, fulfillment, knowledge, wisdom and oneness with God will be fully satisfied. This will produce ultimate happiness, the true life God intended for us.
