A reNEWed
EARTH
By Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)
I would like to examine the details of a "new" earth. Lets start by looking at how HaShem destroyed the earth:
Bereshit (Genesis) 6:11-14 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight
and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the
people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going
to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of
them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an
ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
HaShem destroyed the earth, with water, because it was corrupt. HaShem promised that He would never destroy the earth with water again:
Bereshit (Genesis) 9:13-16 I have set my rainbow
in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring
clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my
covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again
will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow
appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant
between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
After the flood, HaShem gave a little demonstration of what he would do in the future:
Daniel 3:19-26 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual And commanded some of the
strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and
throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes,
trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing
furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the
flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, And these three men, firmly tied, fell into the
blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and
asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that
we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O
king." He said, "Look! I see four men walking
around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of
the gods." Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing
furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most
High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out
of the fire.
The gospels begin to predict that God will be destroying the wicked with fire:
Luqas (Luke) 3:15-18 The people were waiting expectantly and
were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Mashiach. John answered them all, "I baptize you
with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals
I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other
words John exhorted the people and preached the good
news to them.
Matityahu (Matthew) 3:11-13 "I baptize
you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful
than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his
hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn
and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Then Yeshua came from
Galilee to the
Matityahu (Matthew)
The gospels are full of this type of imagery. The wicked will be burned up and the righteous will be refined. Lets look at some of them:
Tehillim (Psalms) 66:8-12 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of
his praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet
from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You
brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our
heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of
abundance.
Notice that HaShem alludes to the flood behind us and the fire in front of us. He also indicates that we will be refined like silver.
II Tzefet (Peter) 3:9-13 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come
like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will
be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of
people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives As you look
forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the
destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But
in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new
earth, the home of righteousness.
* * *
This study
was written by Hillel ben David
(Greg
Killian).
Comments
may be submitted to:
Greg
Killian
7104 Inlay
St SE
Lacey, WA
98513
Internet
address: gkilli@aol.com
Web page: http://www.betemunah.org/
(360) 584-9352
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Send comments to Greg Killian at his email address: gkilli@aol.com