A. The earth will first be destroyed and then renewed, restored to the situation as before the fall.

2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

Acts 3: 21 He (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Isaiah 51:3 The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

Romans 8: 32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

B. People will not marry anymore, but the church will be married to Christ.

Mt 22:30  At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

Lu 20:35  But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.

Ephesians 5: 28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

C. We will be together with our family and friends on the new earth, provided they followed Christ.

Acts 17: 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

Luke 22:28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 8: 19  Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20  Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21  He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."

D. We will enjoy nature as never before.

Isaiah 11: 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 65: 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

E. We will rest and work on the new earth. We will have cultures, nations, technology and music.

14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

Isaiah 65: 21They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Isaiah 60: 11 Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations—their kings led in triumphal procession.

Isaiah 60: 8 "Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? 9 Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honour of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendour.

Revelation 15:2 They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb

F. We will be ruling in a servant manner and be rewarded for all things done in the body.

Isaiah 60:21  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified (AV).

Revelations 2: 26  To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.

Lu 19:17 ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Revelation 22:5 “And they (the servants) will reign for ever and ever.”

2 Cor 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad".

Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done".

Questions for reflection

1. Why does God want to give us so much blessings on the new earth?
2. What good things can you think of that are here on the current earth and that you don’t expect to see on the new earth?
3. We will regret on the new earth some of the things we have done on our current earth?
4. Can we claim the rewards from God that he promised us?
5. Do you think the promises about future rewards are appropriate? Should we be motivated by rewards for doing good?