Question 45: New Heaven and Earth

Question: What will the new heaven and new earth be like?

Answer: The new heaven and earth will be a place of unimaginable beauty where God dwells with his people, free from sin and death.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

John receives a stunning vision of what the future holds for God’s people. He sees a new heaven and a new earth, where the Holy City comes down like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Then he hears: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people.” This is the fulfillment of God’s plan—heaven coming to earth. God makes all things new, creating a renewed physical world where he dwells with his people in the most complete way possible. The promise is profound—no more death, mourning, crying or pain. The old order with all its brokenness passes away. This new heaven and new earth will be a place of unimaginable beauty and splendor where God’s glory is fully manifest (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We’re not created for some ethereal existence “up there,” but for abundant human life in God’s creation. We will live active lives, worshipping God, serving him in love and enjoying his creation forever—fully alive as humans were created to live. The differences will be the absence of evil and the full presence of God. All broken lives will be remade. All present pain will be redeemed (Romans 8:18). Instead of floating on clouds, we’ll live permanently marked by joy in God’s presence (Psalm 16:11). This truth should affect how we see people and invest our time today.

TODAY: Thank God for the promise of the new heaven and earth. Ask God to help you live with eternity in mind, making choices that matter for his eternal kingdom. Learn more about what the Bible teaches on eternity in our We Believe document.