A farmer purchased an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken down. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's a completely different place. The farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there is plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 Our ancestors came from the Garden of Eden. We are headed toward a New Eden on a New Earth. Meanwhile, we live on a sin-corrupted Earth, caught between Eden and the New Earth. We long for a return to Paradise.-a perfect world without the corruption of sin, where we can talk with God in the cool of the day. Because we a human, we desire something tangible and physical. Something substantial. Weighty, that won’t fade away. We were formed from the dust of the earth, so we have a connection with the Earth. True, Jesus is preparing a new home for us, but one day he will bring that home down to Earth. So if Eternal Heaven will be on a New Earth, the current Earth gives us clues about what Heaven will be like. Paul Marshall: Our destiny is an earthly one: a new earth, an earth redeemed and transfigured. An earth reunited with heaven, but an earth nevertheless. HEAVEN IS DESCRIBED AS A CITY AND A COUNTRY For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 CITIES : have culture, art, businesses, music, athletics, goods and services, events, economies and people engaged in activities, gatherings, conversations and work. COUNTRIES have territories, states, cities, towns, rulers, national interests, national identity, citizens who are both diverse and unified. Why would God call it a New Earth if He did not intend to have similar features as present Earth. New Earth will be similar – atmosphere, trees, animals, mountains, homes, cities, buildings, streets. (No Seas) Rev 21-22  We will have resurrection bodies (1 Cor 15:40-44)  We’ll rest (Rev 14:13)  We will serve Christ (Rev 22:3)  New Jerusalem is made of precious stones-hard substances. Earth will be materially solid.  Abraham looked forward to a city with foundations(Heb 11:10)  They longed for a better country-a heavenly one (Heb 11:16)  As Believers, we are looking for the city to come (Heb 13:14)  We are looking for the New Heaven and Earth – 2 Pet 3:13  Jesus described it as a place (John 14:2-3) Indicates physicality. If we want to imagine what the New Earth is like, we need to look around us. We need to imagine all this natural beauty untainted by corruption and sin. UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGGINNING Gen 1-2 Gen 3-Rev 20 Rev 21-22 Original Mankind Fallen mankind (some believe and are transformed) Resurrected Mankind Original Earth Fallen Earth New (resurrected) Earth God delegates reign to innocent mankind Disputed reign with God, Satan, fallen mankind God delegates reign to righteous mankind Mankind given dominion with stewardship responsibilities Mankind’s dominion thwarted, frustrated and twisted Mankinds dominion fulfilled, redeemed stewardship of the Earth God in Heaven, visiting Earth God in Heaven, separate but active (indwells by the Holy Spirit) God living forever with mankind on the New Earth No Curse (universal perfection and blessing) Sin and the Curse No more curse (greater blessing, deeper perfection, grace unending) Creation & mankind perfect Creation and mankind corrupted by sin Creation and mankind restored to perfection Mankind names, tends rules the garden and animals Animals and mankind hurt each other Animals and mankind live in harmony Ground fertile, vegetation lush Ground cursed, vegetation diseased Ground fertile, vegetation thrives Abundant food and water Hunger and thirst, toil for food and water Abundant food and water Restfulness, satisfaction in labor Restles

A farmer purchased an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken down. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's a completely different place. The farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there is plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 Our ancestors came from the Garden of Eden. We are headed toward a New Eden on a New Earth. Meanwhile, we live on a sin-corrupted Earth, caught between Eden and the New Earth. We long for a return to Paradise.-a perfect world without the corruption of sin, where we can talk with God in the cool of the day. Because we a human, we desire something tangible and physical. Something substantial. Weighty, that won’t fade away. We were formed from the dust of the earth, so we have a connection with the Earth. True, Jesus is preparing a new home for us, but one day he will bring that home down to Earth. So if Eternal Heaven will be on a New Earth, the current Earth gives us clues about what Heaven will be like. Paul Marshall: Our destiny is an earthly one: a new earth, an earth redeemed and transfigured. An earth reunited with heaven, but an earth nevertheless. HEAVEN IS DESCRIBED AS A CITY AND A COUNTRY For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 CITIES : have culture, art, businesses, music, athletics, goods and services, events, economies and people engaged in activities, gatherings, conversations and work. COUNTRIES have territories, states, cities, towns, rulers, national interests, national identity, citizens who are both diverse and unified. Why would God call it a New Earth if He did not intend to have similar features as present Earth. New Earth will be similar – atmosphere, trees, animals, mountains, homes, cities, buildings, streets. (No Seas) Rev 21-22  We will have resurrection bodies (1 Cor 15:40-44)  We’ll rest (Rev 14:13)  We will serve Christ (Rev 22:3)  New Jerusalem is made of precious stones-hard substances. Earth will be materially solid.  Abraham looked forward to a city with foundations(Heb 11:10)  They longed for a better country-a heavenly one (Heb 11:16)  As Believers, we are looking for the city to come (Heb 13:14)  We are looking for the New Heaven and Earth – 2 Pet 3:13  Jesus described it as a place (John 14:2-3) Indicates physicality. If we want to imagine what the New Earth is like, we need to look around us. We need to imagine all this natural beauty untainted by corruption and sin. UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGGINNING Gen 1-2 Gen 3-Rev 20 Rev 21-22 Original Mankind Fallen mankind (some believe and are transformed) Resurrected Mankind Original Earth Fallen Earth New (resurrected) Earth God delegates reign to innocent mankind Disputed reign with God, Satan, fallen mankind God delegates reign to righteous mankind Mankind given dominion with stewardship responsibilities Mankind’s dominion thwarted, frustrated and twisted Mankinds dominion fulfilled, redeemed stewardship of the Earth God in Heaven, visiting Earth God in Heaven, separate but active (indwells by the Holy Spirit) God living forever with mankind on the New Earth No Curse (universal perfection and blessing) Sin and the Curse No more curse (greater blessing, deeper perfection, grace unending) Creation & mankind perfect Creation and mankind corrupted by sin Creation and mankind restored to perfection Mankind names, tends rules the garden and animals Animals and mankind hurt each other Animals and mankind live in harmony Ground fertile, vegetation lush Ground cursed, vegetation diseased Ground fertile, vegetation thrives Abundant food and water Hunger and thirst, toil for food and water Abundant food and water Restfulness, satisfaction in labor Restles

A farmer purchased an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken down. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's a completely different place. The farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there is plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 Our ancestors came from the Garden of Eden. We are headed toward a New Eden on a New Earth. Meanwhile, we live on a sin-corrupted Earth, caught between Eden and the New Earth. We long for a return to Paradise.-a perfect world without the corruption of sin, where we can talk with God in the cool of the day. Because we a human, we desire something tangible and physical. Something substantial. Weighty, that won’t fade away. We were formed from the dust of the earth, so we have a connection with the Earth. True, Jesus is preparing a new home for us, but one day he will bring that home down to Earth. So if Eternal Heaven will be on a New Earth, the current Earth gives us clues about what Heaven will be like. Paul Marshall: Our destiny is an earthly one: a new earth, an earth redeemed and transfigured. An earth reunited with heaven, but an earth nevertheless. HEAVEN IS DESCRIBED AS A CITY AND A COUNTRY For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 CITIES : have culture, art, businesses, music, athletics, goods and services, events, economies and people engaged in activities, gatherings, conversations and work. COUNTRIES have territories, states, cities, towns, rulers, national interests, national identity, citizens who are both diverse and unified. Why would God call it a New Earth if He did not intend to have similar features as present Earth. New Earth will be similar – atmosphere, trees, animals, mountains, homes, cities, buildings, streets. (No Seas) Rev 21-22  We will have resurrection bodies (1 Cor 15:40-44)  We’ll rest (Rev 14:13)  We will serve Christ (Rev 22:3)  New Jerusalem is made of precious stones-hard substances. Earth will be materially solid.  Abraham looked forward to a city with foundations(Heb 11:10)  They longed for a better country-a heavenly one (Heb 11:16)  As Believers, we are looking for the city to come (Heb 13:14)  We are looking for the New Heaven and Earth – 2 Pet 3:13  Jesus described it as a place (John 14:2-3) Indicates physicality. If we want to imagine what the New Earth is like, we need to look around us. We need to imagine all this natural beauty untainted by corruption and sin. UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGGINNING Gen 1-2 Gen 3-Rev 20 Rev 21-22 Original Mankind Fallen mankind (some believe and are transformed) Resurrected Mankind Original Earth Fallen Earth New (resurrected) Earth God delegates reign to innocent mankind Disputed reign with God, Satan, fallen mankind God delegates reign to righteous mankind Mankind given dominion with stewardship responsibilities Mankind’s dominion thwarted, frustrated and twisted Mankinds dominion fulfilled, redeemed stewardship of the Earth God in Heaven, visiting Earth God in Heaven, separate but active (indwells by the Holy Spirit) God living forever with mankind on the New Earth No Curse (universal perfection and blessing) Sin and the Curse No more curse (greater blessing, deeper perfection, grace unending) Creation & mankind perfect Creation and mankind corrupted by sin Creation and mankind restored to perfection Mankind names, tends rules the garden and animals Animals and mankind hurt each other Animals and mankind live in harmony Ground fertile, vegetation lush Ground cursed, vegetation diseased Ground fertile, vegetation thrives Abundant food and water Hunger and thirst, toil for food and water Abundant food and water Restfulness, satisfaction in labor Restles

A farmer purchased an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken down. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's a completely different place. The farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there is plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 Our ancestors came from the Garden of Eden. We are headed toward a New Eden on a New Earth. Meanwhile, we live on a sin-corrupted Earth, caught between Eden and the New Earth. We long for a return to Paradise.-a perfect world without the corruption of sin, where we can talk with God in the cool of the day. Because we a human, we desire something tangible and physical. Something substantial. Weighty, that won’t fade away. We were formed from the dust of the earth, so we have a connection with the Earth. True, Jesus is preparing a new home for us, but one day he will bring that home down to Earth. So if Eternal Heaven will be on a New Earth, the current Earth gives us clues about what Heaven will be like. Paul Marshall: Our destiny is an earthly one: a new earth, an earth redeemed and transfigured. An earth reunited with heaven, but an earth nevertheless. HEAVEN IS DESCRIBED AS A CITY AND A COUNTRY For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 CITIES : have culture, art, businesses, music, athletics, goods and services, events, economies and people engaged in activities, gatherings, conversations and work. COUNTRIES have territories, states, cities, towns, rulers, national interests, national identity, citizens who are both diverse and unified. Why would God call it a New Earth if He did not intend to have similar features as present Earth. New Earth will be similar – atmosphere, trees, animals, mountains, homes, cities, buildings, streets. (No Seas) Rev 21-22  We will have resurrection bodies (1 Cor 15:40-44)  We’ll rest (Rev 14:13)  We will serve Christ (Rev 22:3)  New Jerusalem is made of precious stones-hard substances. Earth will be materially solid.  Abraham looked forward to a city with foundations(Heb 11:10)  They longed for a better country-a heavenly one (Heb 11:16)  As Believers, we are looking for the city to come (Heb 13:14)  We are looking for the New Heaven and Earth – 2 Pet 3:13  Jesus described it as a place (John 14:2-3) Indicates physicality. If we want to imagine what the New Earth is like, we need to look around us. We need to imagine all this natural beauty untainted by corruption and sin. UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGGINNING Gen 1-2 Gen 3-Rev 20 Rev 21-22 Original Mankind Fallen mankind (some believe and are transformed) Resurrected Mankind Original Earth Fallen Earth New (resurrected) Earth God delegates reign to innocent mankind Disputed reign with God, Satan, fallen mankind God delegates reign to righteous mankind Mankind given dominion with stewardship responsibilities Mankind’s dominion thwarted, frustrated and twisted Mankinds dominion fulfilled, redeemed stewardship of the Earth God in Heaven, visiting Earth God in Heaven, separate but active (indwells by the Holy Spirit) God living forever with mankind on the New Earth No Curse (universal perfection and blessing) Sin and the Curse No more curse (greater blessing, deeper perfection, grace unending) Creation & mankind perfect Creation and mankind corrupted by sin Creation and mankind restored to perfection Mankind names, tends rules the garden and animals Animals and mankind hurt each other Animals and mankind live in harmony Ground fertile, vegetation lush Ground cursed, vegetation diseased Ground fertile, vegetation thrives Abundant food and water Hunger and thirst, toil for food and water Abundant food and water Restfulness, satisfaction in labor Restles