Eschatology The Final State Part 2

The Final State of the Redeemed The redeemed of the ages are the inhabitants of the new eternal order. Whether Old Testament saint, the Church, Tribulation saint, or convert of the Millennium, eternity will provide an equality unknown in the present human existence. It is the blood of Christ that cleanses from all sin. (1 John 1:7; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; 3:11-13; Col. 1:14) The blood bought saints of the ages will be together in eternity. (Heb. 12:22-24)

The question is where will the saints of the ages be located in eternity? The answer is on the earth. (Isa. 45:11-18; Eph. 1:4) The existing order, current heavens and earth, are tainted with the effects of sin. Sin cannot dwell with God. (Hab. 1:13) Therefore sin must be forever purged. God will destroy the heavens and earth and create them new. (2 Pet. 3:3-13; Rev. 21:1-7) The expectation of new heavens and earth are not exclusive to the New Testament. (Isa. 65:17; 66:22)

The dimensions, shape, and physical characteristics of the new earth are not revealed in Scripture. We only know that the oceans will not be present. (Rev. 21:1) We also know that there will be a new Jerusalem that descends from heaven to the earth at the time of the new creation of the earth. (Rev. 21:2-27) This is the city for which Abraham looked, a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb. 11:10) The dimensions of the New Jerusalem are staggering. Translating from furlongs to miles, the city was 1500 miles by 1500 miles by 1500 miles. This suggests a city shaped as a cube.

As a point of comparison this would be equivalent to a distance stretching from furthest north Maine to furthest south Florida and west all the way to Kansas City. “This would mean 2,250,000 square miles on each tier of the cube extending 1500 miles upward, like a huge skyscraper with innumerable floors.” “As a perfect cube this would measure 3.375 million cubic miles in volume.” There will be space for an untold myriads of people within the city, plus the land mass of the rest of the earth.

Redeemed man will dwell with Holy God forever here and upon the new earth. (Rev. 21:3) Every possible want will be supplied (Rev. 21:4) and the redeemed with possess everything (Rev. 21:7) There will be no sinners to interrupt the perfect harmony and genuine pleasure of God’s people. (Rev. 21:8, 27) The physical grandeur of the city with multiple foundations of precious stone, huge gates of a single pearl each, a wall of jasper, and the city of the purest gold, (Rev. 21:18) exceeds human ability to visualize.

Worship will be personal and direct without the need of any intermediary person or place. Hence there is not temple (Rev. 21:22). God’s glorious presence is sufficient for continuous light. (Rev. 21:23) There will never be any darkness. (Rev. 21:25) Security will never be any issue because there will be no sinners. The accouterments of the city will be marvelous. (Rev. 22:1-5) The redeemed of the ages will dwell in the New Jerusalem, the new earth, and the new heavens in resurrection bodies with properties like that of the Lord Jesus in His resurrection body. (Phi. 3:20,21)

The Eternal Condition Spiritual – Complete salvation Moral – Complete sanctification Physical – Complete health Emotional – Complete and unending happiness Legal – Complete inheritance

Scripture does not give detailed explanation as to the activities of the redeemed in eternity. There are indications of rest (Heb. 3,4), worship (Rev. 19:1-4) and praise (Rev. 19:5-8). It is certain that all the eternal purposes of God will have been consummated and God will have the undivided attention of the redeemed. (1 Cor. 15:24-28)