Lesson 13 for March 30, 2013

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13) In the New Creation, God will restore everything that sin damaged after the original Creation. 1.Restoration of the environment (new Heaven and new Earth) 2.Restoration of life (resurrection) 3.Restoration of human dominion. 4.Restoration of the creatures (all the living beings) 5.Restoration of relationship with God.

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea… And 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 21:1, 4) Our old Earth is expiring —the ozone depletion, earthquakes, tsunamis, pollution, etc. But it won’t self-destroy nor be destroyed by man. Its Creator will make it disappear because He will make it become “very good” again. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:5)

“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.”” E.G.W. (The Adventist Home, cp. 79, pg. 539)

This is the cycle of man’s creation: Man is created from dust (Genesis 2:7) Man comes back to dust because of sin (Genesis 3:19) Man is created from dust again (Daniel 12:2) The redeemed never come back to dust again (John 10:28) Now you can accept the sacrifice and Jesus and be sure that you will be part of the resurrection to eternal life. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29)

How long will it take to Jesus to create us again from dust? “IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52) “IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52) Fortunately, Jesus won’t need millions of years of evolution to make us resurrect, just as He didn’t need evolution to create Adam and Eve. Just in the twinkling of an eye… The living ones will be transformed and those who slept because of death will wake up to live forever with the Lord. There aren’t words to describe the gratitude that fills our souls because of this promise! Fortunately, Jesus won’t need millions of years of evolution to make us resurrect, just as He didn’t need evolution to create Adam and Eve. Just in the twinkling of an eye… The living ones will be transformed and those who slept because of death will wake up to live forever with the Lord. There aren’t words to describe the gratitude that fills our souls because of this promise!

There is also a cycle for the human dominion over Creation. “Satan, by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience, became “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The dominion that once was Adam’s passed to the usurper. But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin, and thus not only redeem man, but recover the dominion forfeited. It is of this restoration that Micah prophesied when he said, “O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion” (Micah 4:8)” E.G.W. (Lift Him up, January 13) “Satan, by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience, became “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The dominion that once was Adam’s passed to the usurper. But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin, and thus not only redeem man, but recover the dominion forfeited. It is of this restoration that Micah prophesied when he said, “O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion” (Micah 4:8)” E.G.W. (Lift Him up, January 13)

What changed in animals because of sin?  They didn’t live together peaceably anymore.  A new “cycle of life” began; some animals kill and feed on others.  The relationship between animals and men also changed. “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs” (Genesis 9:2-3) “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs” (Genesis 9:2-3)

How will animals behave in the New Earth? “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den” (Isaiah 11:6-8)

“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2) How will man’s relationship with God be in the New Earth? “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5)

“God’s original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” The time has come to which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the first pair from Eden—the time for “the redemption of the purchased possession.” The earth originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption. All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. The prophet says, “O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” And Paul points forward to the “redemption of the purchased possession.” God created the earth to be the abode of holy, happy beings. That purpose will be fulfilled when, renewed by the power of God and freed from sin and sorrow, it shall become the eternal home of the redeemed” E.G.W. (The Adventist Home, cp. 79, pg. 540)

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21)