Podcasts about new heavens

Read OnlineSome Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers…” Mark 12:18–20The Sadducees were a Jewish sect composed mainly of the Temple leaders, including many priests. They held theological and political views that differed significantly from those of the Pharisees. The Sadducees accepted only the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative, whereas the Pharisees recognized the entire Hebrew Scriptures, including the Prophets, historical books, and Wisdom literature, and upheld a highly developed oral tradition based on centuries of rabbinic interpretation. This led to tension and theological disagreements.The Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, and the existence of angels—all of which were central to Pharisaic belief—because they believed those truths were not found in the Torah. They believed that God's blessings were given for this life and that when one died, the soul perished with the body.Despite their theological disputes with the Pharisees, both groups found common ground in opposing Jesus. Today's Gospel illustrates the Sadducees' failed attempt to trap Jesus in a legalistic theological dilemma, using the law of Levirate marriage (cf. Deuteronomy 25:5–10) to challenge the doctrine of the resurrection.The Sadducees took their turn to trap Jesus not only to prove Jesus wrong but also to justify their beliefs before the Pharisees. They pose an extreme hypothetical scenario, in which seven brothers successively marry the same woman, each dying childless and ask: “At the resurrection when they arise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her” (Mark 12:23). Their intent is not to seek truth, but to mock the very idea of life after death.Jesus responds, not with complicated legal reasoning, but with divine wisdom that lifts their minds beyond earthly concerns. He begins by rebuking their limited understanding: “You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mark 12:24). Then, He offers a twofold response (cf. Mark 12:24–27).First, Jesus addresses the question of marriage after the resurrection: “When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.” After the resurrection of the dead, human existence will be radically transformed. Earthly institutions such as marriage—good and holy as they are—belong to this world, not the next. In the life to come, every soul will find its perfect fulfillment in the Beatific Vision. Second, Jesus refutes their denial of the resurrection of the dead using the Torah: “As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead but of the living.”Though the Sadducees had built their entire theology on the Torah, they failed to recognize the implication of God's words to Moses. If God is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” then these patriarchs must still be alive in His presence. God did not say, “I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” but “I AM.” With this statement, Jesus shatters their disbelief and unveils the reality of eternal life. Perhaps even the Pharisees enjoyed His answer. Reflect today on the central truth Jesus revealed to the Sadducees: The soul is immortal, and those who die in God's grace will rise again to live eternally in His presence, in perfect communion with all the angels and saints. This truth must always be our focal point in life. Too often, we live as the Sadducees did—as if this life is an end in itself. By turning our eyes toward eternity, we not only better our lives here and now, but we also live in the hope of Heaven, knowing that all we do now must be for the sake of eternal treasure in the life to come.My eternal Lord, I believe in the promise of Heaven and the coming of the New Heavens and Earth, when all souls will rise and receive their eternal reward or judgment. As I journey through this life, keep my eyes fixed on eternity, and let my hope be firmly rooted in the resurrection to come. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Sermon on the Mount By Guillaume FouaceSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

What does “new heavens and new earth” really mean in Revelation 21:1–5? Is God destroying the world and starting over—or transforming creation into something glorified and renewed? In this episode, Steve Wood explains Revelation 21 using Scripture, the early Church, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, showing that the Bible points to renewal, not annihilation. Drawing from Isaiah, 2 Peter, and the early Church, this episode clarifies God's promise to make all things new. You'll also hear a crucial but often-missed truth: eternity with Christ is not spent away from earth. The New Jerusalem comes down—God will dwell with His people forever. For more biblical prophecy, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

This week we wrapped up our “Big Picture” series by turning to the final two chapters of the Bible — Revelation 21–22. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells one unified story: creation, fall, rescue, redemption, and restoration. Pastor Russ explores how the Bible ends where it began — with God dwelling among His people in a renewed creation. Along the way, we look at the connection between Eden and the New Heavens and New Earth, the symbolism of Revelation, and the hope Christians have in the resurrection and restoration of all things through Jesus. This message reminds us that the story of Scripture is not ultimately about fear or speculation, but about hope: in the end, God wins.

This week marks Ascension Day, May 14![1. Photo by Timo Volz on Unsplash.] So let's rise to that occasion and survey at least seven notions about that place to which Jesus ascended—Heaven. Is it true that Heaven is only “spiritual”? Or that we can't know about Heaven is like, so it's best we not think much about that unchanging, un-earthly or very-earthly dimension where “time shall be no more” and where basically good people go? We'll do our best to bypass modern myth and search the only certain Source. Episode sponsors All that Glows by Lauren Smyth Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo Author Update from Novel Marketing The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder Mission update New at Lorehaven: weekly reviews, recent website upgrades Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Concession stand Concession: Randy Alcorn just released a similar article last week. By intention, I didn't read the article, or my own previous material. There's a chance some of my myths (in no special order) overlap. I do credit Alcorn's Heaven (2004) as a formative influence. Yet here I'll attempt to base my reasons straight on Scripture. In the past I've rankled some folks with strange afterlife ideas. Yet in the last 20 years more people have “discovered” New Earth. 1. Heaven is only a “spiritual” place. This usually comes not from teaching, but memes and impressions. Some of us also recall the phrase “spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:44). Since God is Spirit (John 4:24), isn't this the same kind of spirit? Won't this mean we'll have no body, becoming intangible, ghostly? It's true that God the Father is spirit, without a body. Yet not Jesus. All resurrection ideas are based on His physical/spiritual nature. Yes, Heaven today is for souls separated from bodies (2 Cor. 5). It won't stay that way after the final resurrection Jesus promises. Paul in 1 Cor. 15 defines “spiritual body” as Spirit-powered body. And in 2 Cor. 5 he promises we will be “further clothed,” not naked. 2. It's best not to think about Heaven. This too is not taught in Scripture, except from misquoted verses. 1 Cor. 2:9, “what no eye has seen…” doesn't truly command this. Even if this were about Heaven, it never discourages imagination. But it isn't anyway. It's about “things God has revealed” (verse 10). Scripture's images encourage, not suppress truthful imagination. I'm not sure why else God would inspire such fantastical imagery. With biblical foundation, it's impossible to think “too much” on this. See also: nonsense about “being so heavenly minded…” Bad logic. Being biblically “heavenly minded” helps us love “earthly good.” We avoid that gnostic impulse the slogan was meant to counter. 3. “Time shall be no more” in Heaven. People really do assume this phrase comes from the Bible. It's actually from the hymn “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.” That's a partial quote from Rev. 10:6 (KJV), warning that time is up. But the phrase got loose and reinforces vague, “spiritoid” images. Maybe we could say time runs different in today's Heaven. Revelation describes events in sequence, as Heaven watches. It references waiting martyrs (Rev. 6:11) and “half an hour” (8:1). In either case, Scripture never implies time/matter has gone evil. A possible rule: we need special proof for “X won't be in Heaven.” Unless the Bible says, don't assume that thing won't last forever. 4. Basically good people go to Heaven. We hear this all the time, in pop culture, funerals, our own doubts. A lot of time this myth isn't specifically taught, only caught. But I did hear a Mormon apologist Jacob Hansen teaching this. In his view, basically only Hitler or “sons of perdition” go to Hell. This notion will result in doctrine and fiction with bad views of evil. Villains will become more “misunderstood” in reality and in stories. Scripture never teaches this. Hell is real. Not all go to Heaven. And if pagans saw Heaven correctly, they wouldn't want to anyway. Imagine an eternity of worshiping King Jesus in everything we do. There can by definition be no perfect world apart from His reign. 5. Today's Heaven looks like Earth. Some years ago, we saw many books about “heaven tourism.” One or two got discredited. One or two got made into movies. Sometimes adults wrote the tell-all. But one little boy glimpsed it(?). Whether or not they had visions, they do reinforce some myths. For example, one book spoke of Heaven in many earthly terms. On principle, I disagree—but not because earthliness is bad. Rather, it's premature. Heaven hasn't yet united with Earth (Rev. 21). Similarly, I hear Christians talking about believers now resurrected. But unless they have their bodies back, resurrection is still future! Heaven is fantastic now. Next comes the even better sequel. 6. We can't know what Heaven is like. Even if God never promised New Earth, Heaven would be great. You get past death and suffering. You get to be with Jesus Christ. You get to reunite with believing family, saints, heroes, and angels. And even as you wait (accelerated time?) there are things to do! Angels in Heaven now worship God all the time. What an epic sight. You might get to witness a higher view of events playing on Earth. And I'm sure we begin getting answers to many of our questions. But also, see Revelation 6. Martyrs are still waiting for what's next. In fact, they know about terrible things and want God's vengeance. They get no “memory wipe,” only the start of greater perspective. 7. Heaven could never unite with Earth. Reckless words about Earth and bodies devalues God's creation. See: “that's just her shell” or “she'll never see him on this Earth.” In fact, God promised she'll get back that body and he'll be back. Nothing in Scripture condemns our body or the material world. It doesn't endorse myths like “the Earth gets forever destroyed.” In fact, 2 Peter 3 speaks in terms of fire that refines our planet. Isaiah 60, 65-66 and Rev. 21 promise a Heaven/Earth reunion. The word “new” doesn't negate those nouns’ ordinary meanings. Heaven is where God dwells. Earth is where we would have dwelt. In this future God and Man all dwell together in one world (Rev. 21)! Com station Top question for listeners What do you long for most in Heaven or the future New Heavens? April wrote this for episode 303 about overseas tales: K-dramas may have romantic clichés just like anime or manga, but they handle them better than many Western media. It's a slow build-up, less sexualized, and focuses on emotions, sacrifice, and getting to know the other person, rather than how quickly you can get two attractive people into bed or make them kiss. Western romance is more about lust these days and that's because it has such a bad reputation as a genre, while the old-fashioned romance of classic books is still considered respectable literature. Next on Fantastical Truth This Thursday, some Christians will observe Ascension Day. That's the lesser-known sequel to Easter Sunday, honoring the time when Jesus Christ returned to Heaven. His disciples recorded His famous last words, including His command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” How does this Great Commission affect our fantastical stories?

Re-formed, part 14. Recreation is the destiny of the world. Not destruction. Not abandonment. But Renewal. By Oli Stevens Sunday 26th April 2026 Captured from the Livestream

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Episode 07.2 Peter 3David Miles19/04/2026

This is the thirteenth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the following topics: 00:00 The Shaking of the Earth and Heavens 07:34 Heaven as Enduring and Permanent 14:10 A New Heavens and New Earth and the Heavenizing Movement 25:26 Hebrews 12:28 and Worship as the Central Religious Activity of the Kingdom Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/th... Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/ #heaven #hebrews #reformedtheology #biblestudy

The Bible ends with a promise: A NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH. But what does it mean today? How can I find hope and joy in the message of scripture?

Jeremy, Will and Stephen sit down to discuss what scripture means by a New Heaven and New Earth. Is the church missing something important with this promise? Does Jeremy have a weird view (yes)? Jeremy and Will are blown away by the water cycle and Stephen hangs on as the convo gets wild.

New Heavens and New Earth Part 2

Revelation 21:1-22:5 The post #9 New Heavens and Earth appeared first on Trinity Church Woodcroft.

The New Heavens and New Earth

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The doctrine of hell can be a powerful motivator," writes Allen Tennison. "Many believers initially responded to a salvation message for fear of going to hell. Christians have also dedicated themselves to prayer, evangelism, and global missions over the threat of hell." "Images of hell can also move people in the other direction," Tennison says. "Some reject Christianity because of its teaching on hell. They refuse to believe in a God who would allow people to suffer eternal torment or dismiss what they see as fear-based threats from preachers," "What some view as motivation, others consider manipulation," Tennison concludes. In this episode, I talk to Tennison about the problem of hell based on his article, "What We Believe About the Final Judgment," from the Winter 2026 issue of Influence. Allen Tennison is theological counsel to the General Council of the Assemblies of God and author of the long running What We Believe series in Influence magazine. He will conclude that series in the Spring 2026 issue with an article titled, "What We Believe About the New Heavens and New Earth." Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction 01:28 — What words does the Bible use both to name hell and to describe it? 09:12 — Why is hell a "problem" for believing Christians? 13:03 — Questions about annihilationism/conditional immortality 20:14 — Questions about universalism 26:26 — Questions about eternal conscious torment 35:33 — Advocates of the traditional doctrine of hell utilize use two apologetic strategies: retribution and choice. Does the AG have a position? 45:53 — How do we preach the doctrine of hell in a spiritual formative way? 49:10 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 58:02 — Conclusion

Bryant Seuferer, member of Del Ray Baptist Church.Eschatology (Week 4 of 6): The New Heavens and New EarthTaught March 15, 2026

We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) whose sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02) as we live before the smiling face of God (message #03). Tonight, we'll focus on the essential doctrine for the journey—justification. Introduction: The case that won't close Road Sign (Series Connection Line): Remember the Bible's pilgrim story: God has brought us out of Egypt (sin), he's leading us through the wilderness (this life), and he's bringing us home to the Promised Land—ultimately the New Heavens and Earth (Rev. 21–22). The wilderness can make you feel alone. The road is long. The enemies are real. You start to wonder if you truly belong. As pilgrims on the way, God's provision for you this week when you feel like a spiritual orphan is to remember the Father named you and replaced fear with filial confidence. Thesis: Because the Father adopted you through the Son and sealed you by the Spirit, live as a child who belongs—resting in His welcome and walking in His ways, not as an orphan earning a place. RECEPTION INTO GOD'S FAMILY RECEPTION OF A NEW NAME RECEPTION OF THE SON'S SPIRIT RECEPTION OF AN INHERITANCE GOSPEL BRIDGE: COME HOME TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE SON Conclusion: Live From the Name the Father Has Bestowed

N. T. Wright is perhaps the most influential New Testament scholar of our generation. He is an Anglican bishop, having served as the Bishop of Durham and as a Lord Spiritual in the UK Parliament. He then became a research professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and later a senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford.Bishop Wright is the author of over seventy books, many of which are highly regarded as top academic scholarship. But his influence on regular run-of-the-mill Christians is greatest through his many books written at a more popular level, including the three books Simply Christian, Simply Jesus, and After You Believe, which guide readers in faith and Christian living.And, of course, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. In that groundbreaking book, Tom Wright dismantled the narrative we all assumed was the gospel story: that we are saved in order to go to heaven. He wrote that our hope for the future is our physical resurrection to live with God in the New Heavens and New Earth.This new book, God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal (HarperOne, 2025), almost serves as a sequel to that. He returns to the grand narrative of the Bible and explains that God's promise has always been that he would dwell with humans in a renewed creation. God's home has been, and always will be, with us.Thanks for listening!If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your friends!Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney. For further resources on reintegrating all of life with God's mission, go to re-integrate.org.Support independent booksellers! Please consider purchasing Tom Wright's books from Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. They are eager to serve God's people with great books. Order online through their secure server or call 717-246-3333. Ask for 20% OFF by mentioning that you heard about these books on the Reintegrate Podcast! Get full access to Bob Robinson's Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe

Did you know that the actual dust on the surface of the moon is thousands of times less than expected by those who think the earth is billions of years old?All of us know that if something has a lot of dust on it, it probably hasn't been cleaned in a long time. If something has very little dust on it, it may have been just cleaned—or it might be brand new. Since there is no such thing as a moon cleaner, if our moon doesn't have much dust on it, it must be fairly new.Before American astronauts landed on the moon in 1969, space scientists were worried that a moon landing would be impossible. By that time scientists knew how much dust there was in space, and they knew how fast this dust would accumulate on the moon. Since they figured that the moon was more than 3 billion years old, they reckoned that there could be as much as 150 feet of soft dust on the moon—so deep and so soft that a manned lander might sink into the dust and never be heard from again. For this reason, they designed the lunar lander with large pads to support the machine on the soft dust.But we all know what happened—there wasn't even enough dust to plant the American flag. The flagpole had to be supported with rocks! This is exactly what creation scientists told them they would find, since the moon has been accumulating dust for only a few thousand years and not billions or even trillions of years!Genesis 1:16"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."Prayer: Father, I thank You for the beauty of the sky, especially the moon, which dominates the night sky. Here I see Your power in the many objects You have created. Help them to remind me that this earth is not the only world where I shall live, and as a result, seek Your Word in Scripture that I might be better prepared for the New Heavens and Earth. In Jesus' Name. Amen.Image: Astronaut Aldrin stands looking at the lunar module at Tranquility Base, Neil A. Armstrong, PD, Wikimedia Commons + Project Apollo Archive (boot in moon dust), PD, Wikimedia Commons. Additional reading: Calais, R. Proof the Moon is Young. Creation Moments. https://creationmoments.com/resources/articles/proof-the-moon-is-young/ To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Follow along with Pastor Bob Beckler here.

  GET THE JANET WILLIS'S BOOK: https://amzn.to/3YqWCSs Ezekiel's city and John's city:    • Ezekiel's City DESCRIBED as John's New Jer...   SUPPORT OUR FREE CONTENT: https://www.alankurschner.com/partner/ GET OUR BOOKS: https://amzn.to/43pbG6b GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES: http://eepurl.com/bCU7qT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:    / @bibleprophecyanswers     New Creation Premillennialism: A Fresh Look at the New Jerusalem, New Heavens, and New Earth In this episode, the host introduces what he calls New Creation Premillennialism, a framework for understanding how the new heavens, new earth, and New Jerusalem relate to the millennium. The conversation centers on a newly published book by Janet Willis, titled What on Earth Is Heaven Like? The New Creation and the New Jerusalem?—a work the host calls the best Bible prophecy book written in the past year. He emphasizes his strong endorsement by noting that he personally wrote the foreword to the book and believes it offers a well-researched, biblically grounded contribution to eschatology (end-times theology). What Is “New Creation Premillennialism”? The host explains that “new creationism” is becoming more popular, but it is often expressed in different ways. He contrasts two commonly held positions with his own view. View 1: “No Historical Millennium” New Creationism One perspective he mentions is a form of millennialism that denies a historical millennial period after Christ returns. In this view, when Jesus comes back, the New Jerusalem, new earth, and new heaven are fully realized immediately—without any intervening millennium. The host notes that while this approach affirms new creation realities, it rejects a distinct future era in which Christ rules the nations on earth. View 2: Traditional Premillennial Timing After the Millennium A second view comes from more standard premillennial interpretations. Many premillennialists place the new heavens, new earth, and New Jerusalem after the millennium. In other words, Christ returns, then the millennium occurs, and only afterward do the final new creation realities arrive in full form. The Host's Position: New Creation During the Millennium The host disagrees with both approaches and proposes what he labels New Creation Premillennialism: the belief that the new heavens, new earth, and New Jerusalem are established when Jesus returns and are experienced during the millennium, not before it and not after it. For him, the millennium is not merely a transitional footnote—it is the period when the New Jerusalem descends and the renewed creation is actively integrated into Christ's Davidic reign over the nations. Why the Details Matter: “Where” and “How” We Live With the Lord Drawing from his foreword, the host highlights a pastoral and devotional motivation for studying these themes. He references Paul's teaching that believers will “always be with the Lord” (from 1 Thessalonians), and observes that many Christians are content to stop there. But he argues Scripture invites deeper understanding: Where will believers live with the Lord? How will life function? What will believers be doing? What is the relationship between God's people and the nations? To illustrate the point, he compares this future-focused study to how intensely people research temporary homes—spending hours browsing listings and visiting houses they may live in for only a few decades. If people can be that invested in short-term housing, he suggests, believers should be far more eager to explore what the Bible reveals about an eternal home with Jesus on earth. Janet Willis' Book: Three Major Contributions The host argues that Willis' book doesn't merely recycle familiar prophecy talking points. Instead, he claims it reshapes the discussion by challenging long-held assumptions and weaving biblical data into a coherent narrative of the millennial kingdom. He highlights three specific strengths.

This week, we share a sermon delivered by Rev. Bill Haley back in 2014 on 1 Corinthians 15. Bill seeks to bring clarity to the Biblical vision of where we will be and what we will be up to after Jesus returns and renews all of creation. Along the way, he mentions a few other sermons that pair well with this topic, and you can find links to those in the shownotes.Related Sermons from Bill:“Jesus Our Pioneer King”“The Resurrection Rewards Revolution”Explore the Full Archive of Bill's Sermonsinthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.

As we near the end of our study in the Book of Revelation, we now come to Revelation 21 which speaks of the New Heavens and Earth and the New Jerusalem. This passage has various points of symbolism, but we'll also see that these symbols are clearly rooted in the Old Testament promises. So join us as we start to wind down our year long study in the Key Chapters of the Bible.  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. In 2025, we were awarded #10 on the list of the "Best 100 Bible Podcasts" list from www.millionpodcasts.com. We are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Send us a textCh.21 reveals the New Heavens and the New Earth foretold in the Old Testament.  Now we get a glimpse, in human terms, what it will be like.

Pastor Eric Zellner preaches from Isaiah following our Advent series. "You must fix your hope in God."

12/23/2025 – Philip De Courcy –On living well now in light of the future new heavens and earth

Have you ever had to wait for something? What gets you through the waiting? Join us as we finish our Advent series this morning by building a holy longing for the return of Jesus and the New Heavens and New Earth, a place with no night.

Advent, Jesus, Light of the World, Root of David, Bright Morning Star, Revelation, New Heavens, New Earth, Beatific Vision, Spiritual Thirst, Grace

“We do not celebrate Christmas that way.” “We do not read those kinds of books.” “We ‘do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.'” We know our world is full of rebellion against God's law. But many people overreact to moral license with a strict imposing of out-of-context or made-up laws. Faithful saints call this legalism, and Christian fantasy fans know plenty about this. When that influencer or relative rebukes your fantastical interest, how you can respond with grace and truth? Mission update New at Lorehaven: reviews of Ruthless and Shadowcast Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Quotes and notes What Is Fiction Legalism?, E. Stephen Burnett Even If We Like Fantasy and Sci-Fi, We Can Still Practice Accidental Legalism, Marian A. Jacobs 50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction's Chief End, part 1, Fantastical Truth podcast 1. Legalism denies the word of God itself. We've heard and experienced many stories of judgy legalists. Some are worse than others. Some comments are snide asides. I heard one author's work dismissed as “not in the real world.” And yes, I've had people challenge Lewis, Tolkien, other stories. Others rail more on social media against metal music or pageants. But don't confuse these false teachers with people they deceive. Your family members may be confused and repeating memes. In either case, work to overcome defensiveness or bad feelings. Your firm foundation: legalism is anti-gospel; the Bible rejects it. So study the word of God. Don't let legalists ruin that for you! Get into the gospel with the epistles, Romans, and other epistles. Focus on texts like Romans 14, 1 Cor. 8-10, and all of Galatians. 2. Legalism denies the good of God's gifts. Moving to legalistic teachers, they often escape to fantasy worlds. They like alternative realities where people don't like/need stories. You can (kindly) hit ’em with that little rejoinder, see how it works. In either case, be sure you study up on God's creative purpose. Start in Genesis and take this text seriously: it's history in poetry! Pay special heed to the “cultural mandate” in Gen. 1:27-28. Any ignorance of this call also overthrow God's call to family. So no one gets to do preaching or “ministry” minimization here! From this text, learned theologians discern that God is and loves three virtues in no particular order: beauty, goodness, and truth. God also loves to give good gifts to evil men and His children. We get this truth directly from texts like Matt. 7:11 and James 1:17. Sin ruin gifts? Not for studying, praying believers (1 Tim. 4:1-5). 3. And legalism denies God's real world. It is not Christianity, but gnosticism, to despise God's creation. Get your eschatology right, after all the charts and controversies. It's simply flawed to suggest we're bound for a bodiless world. Scripture constantly hints, then promises, a renewed planet Earth. Heaven will come down here, rather than replacing all of our world. Let's get the end of Revelation right about New Heavens and New Earth, Christ's eternal and holy kingdom that restores paradise! For Stephen, this doctrine was key to debunking fiction legalism. It helps me avoid the responses of depression or deconstruction. On good days I feel sympathy and love for sincere fiction legalists. With this solid foundation we can “swashbuckle” them with smiles. We can affirm the need for truth and holiness, but show how it is in fact made-up laws, not God's actual word, that forbid good gifts. And we can show how these stories help us grow to be like Jesus. Com station Top question for listeners When did you confront a fiction legalist? How did you respond? tallgrant liked ep. 290 on YouTube: Happy to see this covered, and even happier to get the other half in the Abolition of Man at least touched on! The position Lewis takes about a very small ruling class who make decisions about all of morality for everyone who comes after very much aligns with the ultimate revealed mission of the N.I.C.E. Not to mention the issues being raised about where a potential soul can come from. I find his look at the outworking and consequences of post-modern thought and reasoning really intriguing, considering that this was all put to paper before the conclusion of the second world war and the mass dissemination of those ideas outside the academic world. Next on Fantastical Truth “In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the world disappear.” Jesus returned thirty years ago. Or rather, He sort of pre-returned, the warm-up act, if you will. Many faithful Christians believe in this kind of “rapture.” And in December 1995, two authors teamed up and used this idea to create the most successful biblical end-times thriller we've yet seen. Last summer, we looked back on the Left Behind series legacy. Yet now we'll ask how that first Left Behind novel has aged, thirty years after its release.

Join Michael this week as he is joined by Bradley Smith, as they sit down to discuss the issue and teaching of "New Heavens and New Earth." Visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/scatteredabroadnetwork Visit our website, www.scatteredabroad.org, and subscribe to our email list. "Like" and "share" our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/sapodcastnetwork Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ the_scattered_abroad_network/ Subscribe to our Substack: https://scatteredabroad.substack.com/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Scattered Abroad Network Contact us through email at san@msop.org. If you would like to consider supporting us in any way, don't hesitate to contact us through this email.

Join Michael this week as he is joined by Bradley Smith, as they sit down to discuss the issue and teaching of "New Heavens and New Earth." Visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/scatteredabroadnetwork Visit our website, www.scatteredabroad.org, and subscribe to our email list. "Like" and "share" our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/sapodcastnetwork Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ the_scattered_abroad_network/ Subscribe to our Substack: https://scatteredabroad.substack.com/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Scattered Abroad Network Contact us through email at san@msop.org. If you would like to consider supporting us in any way, don't hesitate to contact us through this email.

…believers have kept a vigilant eye on the distant horizon.Thursday • 12/4/2025 •Thursday of the First Week of Advent This morning's Scriptures are: Psalm 18; Amos 4:6–13; 2 Peter 3:11–18; Matthew 21:33–46 This morning's Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 8 (“The Song of Moses,” Exodus 15, BCP, p. 85); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94)

Eugene Peterson says, "For Isaiah words are watercolors and melodies and chisels to make truth, and beauty and goodness.  Or as the case may be hammers and swords and scalpels to unmake sin, guilt and rebellion.  He creates visions, delivers revelation, arouses belief.  Isaiah is the supreme poet prophet to come out of the Hebrew people."  The characteristic name for God in Isaiah is "The Holy."  For Isaiah, Holiness is a furnace that transforms the men and women who enter it. Come join us as we take in the "Salvation Symphony" of Judgment (chapters 1-39), Comfort (chapters 40-55) and Hope (chapters 56-66).

Read OnlineJesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Luke 10:23–24 We rejoice over many things in life. We might rejoice if we win a game, do well on a test, complete some task at home or work, or attend a celebration or party. Though rejoicing is an emotion tied to our human nature, true joy is spiritual in nature, a gift that overflows into human emotion.Try to imagine Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. Jesus' joy was perfect. As God, His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit was beyond anything we can imagine. Therefore, when He experienced the perfection of spiritual joy, that joy overflowed into His perfect human nature, resulting in an emotional response that was more powerful than any of us will experience until the day we stand with our resurrected bodies before the Beatific Vision in the New Heavens and new Earth.When Jesus prayed, “I give you praise, Father…,” He was not only engaging in an intellectual exercise. He did not just make a public statement so that it would be written in Scripture or because it was the right thing to do. Rather, Jesus spoke His praises to the Father because His lived human experience, in that moment, was a human rejoicing with divine power. Jesus' all-consuming joy was perfectly ordered, deeply fulfilling, an appropriate response to His Father and the Holy Spirit, and contagious to those around Him. True spiritual joy is never contained; it overflows and touches the lives of others.By experiencing such joy in His human nature, Jesus further elevated human nature itself, making it possible for us to rejoice in the Holy Spirit with Him within our human souls, provided we humble ourselves before Him. Jesus praised the Father for revealing Himself to the childlike, those who are humble of heart. Seeing that was the cause of His joy. To be childlike in the eyes of God means to trust Him completely, to approach Him with openness and wonder, and to depend on Him for all things. It is the opposite of relying on our own understanding and wisdom, which often leads to pride and distance from God.True humility is nothing other than honesty with oneself before God. Humility makes us childlike because it opens our eyes to the truth that we are little spiritual children in need of God's fatherhood. If we pretend to be “wise and learned” before God, we only reveal our foolishness, the absence of divine wisdom. Reflect today on the perfection of spiritual joy in Jesus' divinity and its emotional effect upon His humanity. No one has ever rejoiced with the same joy as the Son of God. However, we are all called to live within that spiritual joy. This joy strengthens us in trials, deepens our love for others, and helps us live our faith with greater conviction and authenticity. Humble yourself before God today, begging for greater humility so that you will become a greater partaker of Jesus' joy, the joy He came to bestow upon the world. My humble Lord, You rejoiced as You saw Your Father reveal hidden and divine mysteries to those who were humble of heart and childlike. Please bestow Your grace upon me so that I will also grow in divine wisdom, remaining humble and childlike, to fill Your human soul with the deepest joy. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Sancta Trinitas by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In this 'EPISODE 441 WHAT IS OUR GRAND FUTURE AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST? WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOON? A WORLD FILLED WITH GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, A NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH: OUR TRUE HOPE' author and host Elbert Hardy examines our soon coming future. He will explain  from Second Peter 3, Revelation and the prophetic words of Jeremiah and Isaiah to bring our True Hope into focus for us today: a new day IS on its way!Go to itellwhy.com to read Elbert's books free of charge, no Ads and no requests for money or Email addresses. You can watch faith building YouTube Links to Videos and the listen to Elbert's Life of Christ Audio Book in 30 minute Episodes arranged and read by the author straight from the Bible, but rearranged in logical harmony of the Gospels, Revelation and other scriptures. All FREE of charge in the public interest.

Read Online“Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Luke 21:32–33As we approach the final days of this liturgical year, we continue to read about the end of the world. Today we read that both Heaven and earth, as they currently are, will pass away. This is worth pondering.We know that life is full of change. It has been said that the one thing that never changes is change itself. Everything else changes. But when it comes to earth, it is hard to believe that it will one day “pass away.” Some scientists believe that the earth has existed for over four and a half billion years. That's a long time! Now consider the fact that Jesus prophesied the end of this earth as we know it today. When will it happen? Only God knows.Heaven, as it exists today, is also prophesied by our Lord to pass away. Heaven, as it is right now, is a pure spiritual reality in which the only corporeal bodies present are those of Jesus and our Blessed Mother. The rest of Heaven consists of the Divine Essence, the souls of those who have been redeemed and the angels of God. But if Heaven even passes away, what awaits?First of all, the only reason that these two realities, Heaven and earth, will pass away in their current form is because, at the Final Judgment, there will be a “New Heavens and a New Earth,” as spoken of in the Book of Revelation. At that time, Heaven and earth will be united as one, and this new creation will exist for eternity.But is there anything that is currently eternal? Anything that will never experience change? We humans will be changed at the resurrection of the dead, the angels will encounter a new home, so to speak, and God will establish a new and permanent Kingship. But, according to Jesus' teaching today, the one thing that will remain are His words: “...my words will not pass away.” Again, this is worth pondering.In a world filled with change and uncertainty, we need some form of stability. And that stability is the Truth found in the Word of God. The Word of God, as revealed to us through the Scriptures, must become our rock foundation upon which our whole lives are built and exist. Pondering, praying with, meditating on, and believing the Word of God enables us to stand on firm and unchanging spiritual ground as we go through the change of this life and even the changes that will come at the end of time. Though this may seem somewhat mysterious in nature, it is a helpful truth to understand and believe. Everything will pass away except Jesus' words. Thus, the most secure thing we can do in life is to cling to His words and never let go. Reflect, today, upon the importance of truly immersing yourself in the Word of God. How much time do you spend each week reading it, praying with it and allowing it to become your daily food? The Word of God is not simply a book of teachings meant to inspire you or guide you. The Word of God is a Living Word. It is God in His unchangeable form. God, in His essence, will never change, and engaging Him through the revelation of His written Word is one essential way by which you will be able to experience true stability in life and prepare for each and every change to come until the final order of life is permanently established. My Eternal Word, You are unchanging and eternal. You are the rock foundation upon which I must always rely. As I continue to experience the many changes encountered in this life, please enter my soul through Your written Word, so that I will find the stability I need. As I stand firm in You, I look forward with joy to the New Heavens and New Earth that await. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Pixabay.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

By Nathan Ekama - Finishing off our study of the Millennium and beyond. Looking at the 8th day and after into the time of New Jerusalem and New Heavens and New Earth

Today we explore Isaiah 65:17-25, a prophecy of justice and security.© Kate Heichler, 2025. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. 

1. The new heavens and the new earth will be a restored and renewed old heaven and old earth (v. 1-2).2. The new heavens and the new earth will be where God dwells (v. 3-4).3. The new heavens and the new earth can be yours (v. 5-8).

November brings us to the end of another church year, which focuses our attention on the last things, on death and resurrection, on heaven and hell. We confess in the creeds, “I believe in … the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting”; “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” It is remarkable that these creedal truths were already as good as accomplished thousands of years ago, with prophecies inspired by the Holy Spirit and written down by men such as Job (19:25–27), Daniel (12:2–3) and Isaiah (26:19). Some Christians take Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and other prophetic books of the Bible to be “guidebooks to the end times.” However, careful study of both the Old and New Testaments shows that their focus is on comforting the church on earth with knowledge of the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death and the devil and His promise to take us to Himself for eternity. As we open the Old Testament and see our present and future revealed there, we will need to keep in mind the “prophetic perspective” that could be observed in Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Joel 2:28–32, in which some predictions have been fulfilled in the messianic age but others must wait until the end of time. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the November 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The New Heavens and New Earth” on Isaiah 65-66. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

November brings us to the end of another church year, which focuses our attention on the last things, on death and resurrection, on heaven and hell. We confess in the creeds, “I believe in … the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting”; “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” It is remarkable that these creedal truths were already as good as accomplished thousands of years ago, with prophecies inspired by the Holy Spirit and written down by men such as Job (19:25–27), Daniel (12:2–3) and Isaiah (26:19). Some Christians take Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and other prophetic books of the Bible to be “guidebooks to the end times.” However, careful study of both the Old and New Testaments shows that their focus is on comforting the church on earth with knowledge of the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death and the devil and His promise to take us to Himself for eternity. As we open the Old Testament and see our present and future revealed there, we will need to keep in mind the “prophetic perspective” that could be observed in Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Joel 2:28–32, in which some predictions have been fulfilled in the messianic age but others must wait until the end of time. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the November 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The New Heavens and New Earth” on Isaiah 65-66. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

This conversation is based on the sermon, "The New Beginning," from Rev. 21:1-5,21-22:5.

Su Crawford 10.19.2025

The post New Heavens and New Earth appeared first on Grace Fellowship Church.

Send us a textChapter 4 begins with the words "after this" and begins a new component of this vision from God.  John will see the events of the great tribulation all the way to the end where God establishes the New Heavens and the New Earth.  

[Matt 5:1-3] Blessesd are those who mourn - see Isaiah 61, which Jesus takes up and applies to himself for the entirety of humanity in the sermon on the Mount, not just Israel. This hope manifested is finally fulfilled in the New Heavens and New Earth depicted in Revelation 21.

Sunday, August 24, 2025 – This sermon serves as a fitting conclusion to our exploration of the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God. We will examine one of the most inspiring promises in Scripture: “The New Heavens and New Earth.” Together, we will consider God’s ultimate victory—when all sin and corruption are eradicated, and believers are given eternal, glorified bodies. A holy city. A completely new creation. And God's everlasting presence dwelling with His perfected saints. John’s Revelation offers us glimpses of this magnificent future, though even our most vivid imaginations cannot fully grasp the splendor of what God has prepared for those who love Him. Join us as we worship, study, and look forward to the glory to come—living faithfully and sharing the Gospel while awaiting His return.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! On this first day of August, host Hunter invites us to journey together through day 214 of the Scriptures. In today's episode, we dive into the final chapters of Isaiah (65 and 66), explore Psalm 62, and reflect on the powerful truths in John chapter 3. Hunter guides us through themes of God's faithfulness, the promise of new creation, and the transforming love of Christ who knows our hearts fully and loves us still. We'll pause for prayer, receive words of encouragement, and hear community updates—including a special shoutout to the generous partners of the podcast. So grab your Bible and let's step into God's Word, remembering—no matter where you are, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He already knows your heart—and he loves you still. That can be a surprising, even frightening thought: that the deepest recesses of our hearts, the places we hide from others and sometimes even from ourselves, are fully exposed to Jesus. Our selfishness, our pride, even the feelings of humiliation—he sees it all. Yet, with Jesus, this knowledge does not bring condemnation or shame. Instead, it's profoundly freeing. John would learn this about Jesus: he knew what was in each person's heart. Nothing could surprise him, nothing hidden from his gaze. And rather than being undone or destroyed by this exposure, something entirely different happens. With Jesus, when we come to understand that he knows us fully and still loves us, it's the start of something brand new—a heart made new, a life transformed. This is the beginning of God's work in us: to create something beautiful, to renovate our hearts into something truly amazing. When we realize his love for us exactly as we are, that realization is what sets us free from shame and fear. It's what enables us to live in the light, to trust him with our vulnerabilities, and to allow his Spirit to do the work of making us new. May God convince us more and more that he sees us, he knows us, and he deeply loves us. Let that reality begin something altogether new in you today. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. It's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And it's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Gracious and everlasting God, you have brought us through the shadow of night into the promise of a new day. You go before us with your mercy. Sustain us by your grace and keep us from wandering paths of fear or pride. Let every word we speak and every step we take be formed by the goodness of Christ. O Lord, gather your people far and near. May every tribe and tongue come to know your peace. Let justice roll like a river and healing flow where there has been division. Pour out your spirit upon all flesh and bring us closer to the day when your kingdom comes in fullness through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

It’s the ultimate destination—a complete restoration in the New Heavens and New Earth. Imagine living forever with God, free from death, mourning, crying, pain, and sin. This isn’t just a crazy idea. It’s a reality worth looking forward to.

It’s the ultimate destination—a complete restoration in the New Heavens and New Earth. Imagine living forever with God, free from death, mourning, crying, pain, and sin. This isn’t just a crazy idea. It’s a reality worth looking forward to.