For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
God promises to create new heavens and a new earth in which the trials, sufferings and troubles of this life will no longer be remembered or come to mind. The prophet is describing the blessed future life in the new creation to come, not this present mortal life on the old sin-cursed earth. The new heavens and new earth do not appear until after the wicked are raised and destroyed by devouring fire at the end of the 1000 years, when the same fire purifies the earth until no sign of the curse remains and the controversy is forever ended. The new earth is this earth made new, beautiful and perfect and holy, the secure eternal inheritance of the saints where nothing will taint or destroy or cause disease or death. There the effects of the curse will be removed so that the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be as natural as at creation, and beside that exceeding and eternal weight of glory the greatest earthly trials will seem too small to speak of.
Words and Setting
The promise stands in Isaiah 65:17-25, a passage about new heavens and a new earth that includes the lion feeding on straw like the ox and the leopard dwelling with the kid, written by the prophet Isaiah and not by Daniel. It describes the new earth to come when God creates new heavens and a new earth, not this present mortal life on the old earth under the curse of sin. There the beasts will be restored from the effects of the curse, so that the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be as fitting as when they were first created before the fall.
The former things that will not be remembered nor come into mind are the trials and sufferings of earthly life, the troubles and painful trials once borne by the redeemed. In the blessed future life in the new creation these will no longer be remembered and will no longer occupy the thoughts of the redeemed. When surrounded by a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, even the greatest earthly trials will appear so small by comparison that they cannot be spoken out.
The Promised New Creation
The Bible story runs past the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds still farther into the future to open the glories of the city of God and the earth made new. The new heavens and the new earth do not appear until after the wicked dead are raised and destroyed at the end of the 1000 years. When the wicked dead are raised Satan is loosed out of his prison and deceives them into marching with him around the camp of the saints to take the Holy City. Then devouring fire burns them up root and branch until they cease to exist, and only after that final destruction do the new heaven and new earth appear, when the saints build houses and plant vineyards. After Satan as root and his children as branches are consumed in everlasting death with no resurrection, leaving a clean universe, the great controversy is forever ended. The same fire that consumes the wicked burns up rubbish and purifies the earth until not a single sign of the curse remains and its broken and uneven surface becomes a level, extensive plain that is beautiful and holy everywhere.
The new earth is this earth made new, where Jesus at the head of the saints descends from the City onto a great mountain that splits asunder into a mighty plain. The great City with twelve foundations and twelve gates with an angel at each gate, three on each side, comes down from God out of heaven and settles on that plain. The new earth will be beautiful and perfect and matchless in charm and perfect loveliness. There nothing will mar its beauty, nothing will taint or destroy, and nothing will cause disease or death. The beautiful New Earth with all its glory becomes the secure, beautiful and holy eternal inheritance of the saints, where all the redeemed, old and young, great and small, cast their crowns at the feet of their Redeemer and worship Him that lives forever and ever.
Its glory is real and was seen in vision for the first time. Outside the City are most beautiful silver-like houses supported by four pearl-set pillars with a golden shelf inside, prepared to be inhabited by the saints, who lay off their glittering crowns there and go out to work the fields by the houses in a way unlike toil here, with glorious light about their heads while continually offering praises. There the beasts will be restored from the effects of the curse, so the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be no more out of place in the restored earth than when they were first created on it before the fall, showing the prophet is describing the new earth, not this present mortal life on the old sin-cursed earth.
Call to Prepare
Isaiah 65:17 belongs to Isaiah 60-65 that leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions need to study, heed and accept. It brings reproof for disregard of reproofs and for neglected duty to warn the people what is truth, and calls for thorough consecration to God instead of accepting only chosen words. With Isaiah 62-65 it speaks in a most decided manner to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities, whose ways are not accepted, calling them to put away the evil of their works, to come nigh, repent and be converted. When these words are taken and all complaining and every evil work are stopped, Isaiah 60-61 are understood and Isaiah 62-65 speak in a most decided manner. Then the same reformation must go through the congregation and come to the people, and taking this word will lead to manifestation of power in conviction and conversion of souls.
The new earth God creates is the Lord's farm where His people will have a place. A complete education that includes farming and practical work in various trades prepares students not only for useful labor in this life but for a place on that farm in the earth made new. That earth made new is the future home of those who sincerely seek Christlike character, honor God, and do Christ's works.
The beauty of present nature in flowers, fields, trees, hills and valleys points to that renewal in matchless charm and perfect loveliness. There nothing will mar its beauty, nothing will taint or destroy, and nothing will cause disease or death. That prospect lifts the mind from things that are seen to things that are unseen, turning the sick away from themselves and their sufferings to spiritual comfort and hope.
God promises to create new heavens and a new earth in which the trials, sufferings and troubles of this life will no longer be remembered or come to mind. The prophet is describing the blessed future life in the new creation to come, not this present mortal life on the old sin-cursed earth. The new heavens and new earth do not appear until after the wicked are raised and destroyed by devouring fire at the end of the 1000 years, when the same fire purifies the earth until no sign of the curse remains and the controversy is forever ended. The new earth is this earth made new, beautiful and perfect and holy, the secure eternal inheritance of the saints where nothing will taint or destroy or cause disease or death. There the effects of the curse will be removed so that the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be as natural as at creation, and beside that exceeding and eternal weight of glory the greatest earthly trials will seem too small to speak of.
Words and Setting
The promise stands in Isaiah 65:17-25, a passage about new heavens and a new earth that includes the lion feeding on straw like the ox and the leopard dwelling with the kid, written by the prophet Isaiah and not by Daniel. It describes the new earth to come when God creates new heavens and a new earth, not this present mortal life on the old earth under the curse of sin. There the beasts will be restored from the effects of the curse, so that the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be as fitting as when they were first created before the fall.
The former things that will not be remembered nor come into mind are the trials and sufferings of earthly life, the troubles and painful trials once borne by the redeemed. In the blessed future life in the new creation these will no longer be remembered and will no longer occupy the thoughts of the redeemed. When surrounded by a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, even the greatest earthly trials will appear so small by comparison that they cannot be spoken out.
The Promised New Creation
The Bible story runs past the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds still farther into the future to open the glories of the city of God and the earth made new. The new heavens and the new earth do not appear until after the wicked dead are raised and destroyed at the end of the 1000 years. When the wicked dead are raised Satan is loosed out of his prison and deceives them into marching with him around the camp of the saints to take the Holy City. Then devouring fire burns them up root and branch until they cease to exist, and only after that final destruction do the new heaven and new earth appear, when the saints build houses and plant vineyards. After Satan as root and his children as branches are consumed in everlasting death with no resurrection, leaving a clean universe, the great controversy is forever ended. The same fire that consumes the wicked burns up rubbish and purifies the earth until not a single sign of the curse remains and its broken and uneven surface becomes a level, extensive plain that is beautiful and holy everywhere.
The new earth is this earth made new, where Jesus at the head of the saints descends from the City onto a great mountain that splits asunder into a mighty plain. The great City with twelve foundations and twelve gates with an angel at each gate, three on each side, comes down from God out of heaven and settles on that plain. The new earth will be beautiful and perfect and matchless in charm and perfect loveliness. There nothing will mar its beauty, nothing will taint or destroy, and nothing will cause disease or death. The beautiful New Earth with all its glory becomes the secure, beautiful and holy eternal inheritance of the saints, where all the redeemed, old and young, great and small, cast their crowns at the feet of their Redeemer and worship Him that lives forever and ever.
Its glory is real and was seen in vision for the first time. Outside the City are most beautiful silver-like houses supported by four pearl-set pillars with a golden shelf inside, prepared to be inhabited by the saints, who lay off their glittering crowns there and go out to work the fields by the houses in a way unlike toil here, with glorious light about their heads while continually offering praises. There the beasts will be restored from the effects of the curse, so the leopard lying down with the kid and the lion eating straw like the ox will be no more out of place in the restored earth than when they were first created on it before the fall, showing the prophet is describing the new earth, not this present mortal life on the old sin-cursed earth.
Call to Prepare
Isaiah 65:17 belongs to Isaiah 60-65 that leaders in the cause and those connected with institutions need to study, heed and accept. It brings reproof for disregard of reproofs and for neglected duty to warn the people what is truth, and calls for thorough consecration to God instead of accepting only chosen words. With Isaiah 62-65 it speaks in a most decided manner to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities, whose ways are not accepted, calling them to put away the evil of their works, to come nigh, repent and be converted. When these words are taken and all complaining and every evil work are stopped, Isaiah 60-61 are understood and Isaiah 62-65 speak in a most decided manner. Then the same reformation must go through the congregation and come to the people, and taking this word will lead to manifestation of power in conviction and conversion of souls.
The new earth God creates is the Lord's farm where His people will have a place. A complete education that includes farming and practical work in various trades prepares students not only for useful labor in this life but for a place on that farm in the earth made new. That earth made new is the future home of those who sincerely seek Christlike character, honor God, and do Christ's works.
The beauty of present nature in flowers, fields, trees, hills and valleys points to that renewal in matchless charm and perfect loveliness. There nothing will mar its beauty, nothing will taint or destroy, and nothing will cause disease or death. That prospect lifts the mind from things that are seen to things that are unseen, turning the sick away from themselves and their sufferings to spiritual comfort and hope.