In this world, everything comes to an end, and the great conflict will also end. After all is said and done, the saved will live eternally with Jesus on a new earth that has nothing to do with this deteriorated world. It’s not about improving this planet but about creating a completely new world (Revelation 21:1).
God will destroy this world and make a new one (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:5) because the world Jesus will find when He returns will not be the perfect world He created. God gave us a wonderful world, and we turned it into a huge ecological disaster. He created balanced, loving, perfect people, and we became crazed, pleasure-seeking and selfish. Everything tainted by evil will be destroyed when He returns, so that He can make everything new.
That’s the Earth described by John. In it, “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” (Revelation 21:4).
The book of Genesis begins by describing the creation of a perfect world. Everything was wonderful; there was harmony and balance in nature and in people. Then comes chapter 3, which tells the story of how sin entered this world. Satan disguised himself to induce humanity to doubt God and henceforth lead them into disobedience.
Confronted with the new reality of sin, the plan of salvation was put into action. A lamb was sacrificed to cover man’s nakedness with its skin. Through this act, God was foretelling that one day He would send His own Son, the Lamb of God, to take the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Lord wanted to restore humans to their original state, while the enemy, for his part, tried to finalize their destruction.
The rest of Scripture describes the struggle between God and Satan to conquer human hearts. Satan seduced, deceived, and sometimes forced humanity to reject God and follow his ways. But, despite everything, God always had a people who worshiped Him and obeyed Him out of love.
Revelation tells the conclusion of everything. It describes the final struggle, unmasks the enemy, and exposes his schemes. It also warns humanity about the urgency and dangers of the times in which we live.
The Bible says that on the New Earth that God will create, the redeemed will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build for another to inhabit or plant for another to eat (Isaiah 65:21–23).
Can there be more social justice than this? The struggle between rulers and subjects will come to an end. There will be no more exploitation of people by people, no social classes, and no differences in people’s buying power. Violence will also come to an end (verse 25). This will be the beginning of eternal life.
Are you ready to live in that world with Jesus?
The End of the Age
Humans fell into sin, which brought suffering and pain, distrust, selfishness, the spirit of accusation and criticism, envy, and many other things. Ecological balance was disrupted, thorns appeared, and the earth became unproductive; chaos ensued.
But Revelation assures us that this world will be destroyed in the end, and with it all those who turned a deaf ear to the divine call will disappear. History is coming to an end. Christ will return to claim His faithful ones, and He will take them to heaven for a thousand years. Then, He will bring them back to inhabit a completely renewed and transformed earth.
