New Heavens and New Earth

Generational Blessings and Curses

Ken

Are children blessed or cursed because of the conduct of their parents? Every godly parent certainly hopes for blessing upon their children, just as we do not like to think we can inherit curses from previous generations. But, isn’t inheriting a constitutionally sinful nature consistent with the sins of the parents being visited upon the children? No, not actually, because if we can argue before God we are sinners because of our parents, then we could also plead we are righteous because of our parents. And, since neither is true, then we need another basis to evaluate Generational Blessings and Curses. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20 KJV). 

What is a blessing but good will being pronounced upon another, which is considerable, if you are being blessed by God? “And God blessed [male and female humanity], and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Happiness is the blessing of producing successive generations of promised godly children. “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:5). Likewise, what is a curse but ill will being pronounced upon another, of which Satan’s ill will pales in comparison to God’s wrath? “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:5). Sadness and hopelessness are only byproducts for anyone, whom God has cursed. “24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (16:24-26). 

The Original Blessing for Obedience to God’s command was, “And God blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion” (Genesis 1:28), which was contrasted to the Original Curse for Disobedience to the LORD’s command, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (2:16-17). Both blessing and cursing would be passed on to successive generations of obedient and disobedient ones. Remember, this is a Spiritual Passing Down, not necessarily tied to physical proximity associated with interaction between parents and children. Why? Because this is God’s promised blessing or cursing, which of interest, can be countered by a change in obedience to disobedience or the reverse. 

Viewing the genealogies of Genesis, the godly offspring of one parent became increasingly more consequential and less random, when successive generations duplicated the obedience of previous generations and strengthened the probability of godliness in future generations. Is this only chance randomness forced into a Generational Blessing in retrospect? But, the genealogy of Adam to Christ indicates a Generational Blessing, which illustrates the truth of a Spiritual Passing Down from one generation to the next. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:17). Unbroken sinlessness for 42 generations? No, but the Eyes of God followed a pattern of good for 42 generations, where only His opinion really matters, that this proves the truth of Generational Blessings. “4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6). And so, Generational Curses are as real as Generational Blessings.

Q: If under the New Covenant, the legal curse was removed by Christ — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13) — then, how can a Generational Curse still exist? 

A: Because humanity’s sin occasioned the Curse, God will not remove it until He has accomplished all the good it must accomplish for humanity’s benefit, i.e., “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17). A Generational Curse still affects the Body of Christ, while we are in the flesh and until the Curse has been lifted at the New Heavens and New Earth as we proceed into Eternity. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him” (22:3). 

Explaining the Curse

First, a curse is passed on through personal disobedience, i.e, Moral Depravity, which is the act of sinning. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

Second, a curse is precipitated through the transmission of our decaying physical constitution, i.e., Physical Depravity, which is not sin itself, but the occasion for sinning. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). 

Third, Christ’s death on the Cross redeemed us from our Personal Curse of not having kept the Law of Love, cp., Galatians 3:13. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). 

Fourth, redemption from our Personal Curse came through repenting and believing Christ. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). 

Fifth, deliverance from our Generational Curse comes from repenting of the Corporate Sins of our fathers (Daniel 9:5-6), which has nothing to do with our personal acceptance by God, but everything to do with clearing our Adversary’s accusations against us (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5), which hinders our Paraklete’s ability to deliver us (Daniel 10:12-14) in the Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV). “20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so” (1Kings 22:20-22 KJV). 

Sixth, why does the Almighty allow this Supernatural “Wickedness in High Places” (Ephesians 6:12), sometimes even addressing it in conjunction with His Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV), or sometimes addressing it in scenes of the Courts of Heaven (Daniel 7:9-10)? It becomes apparent the Almighty’s vast scale of time, resources, and His own Son, though they are given for His Beloved Israel and His Son’s Bride the Church, His Glory and Faithfulness to Himself must take precedence over everything (Romans 11:36; 1Peter 5:11; 2Peter 3:18; Revelation 1:6). “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Seventh, so long as there is a curse, then we will have our adversary the devil prowling about to devour us (1Peter 5:8), except during the Millennium where he is imprisoned in the Abyss (Revelation 20:3) after which he is released, deceives the nations, defeated, then eternally damned to the Lake of Fire (20:10) — excising the last bit of poison of rebellion against the Most High God. Then, it will be said, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). Thus, the High and Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity will secure the holiness and happiness of His Dwelling Place and those that dwell with Him, forever and ever. 

Do You Believe There Will Be New Heavens and New Earth?

Ken1 Comment

The entire universe as we know it will pass away is the meaning of “New Heavens and a New Earth” (Revelation 21:1 KJV). When I was a youngster, in the time period shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16-28, 1962), during the Cold War with the USSR (Soviet Russia), nuclear war was a reality. I was living in South Florida, only so many miles away from the nuclear warheads Nikita Kruschev placed in Fidel Castro’s Cuba. The public school systems were practicing “duck and cover” exercises, so my elementary school mind said they were serious. In particular, I remember coming across a sermon booklet by a Southern Baptist evangelist, Hyman Appleman, The Atomic Bomb and the End of the World (1954). I was convinced I’d better be ready for the end of the world. The sun came out the next morning, and I persuaded myself not to get carried away. But, it reminds me that we all can have thoughts about the end of things as we know it. “If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?” (Ezekiel 33:10). 

How do we get to New Heavens and New Earth from here? “And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). Just as it is complicated to process everything from Creation to the Cross, it will be as much of a challenge to understand how we get from here to the end. Spirit of Christ, You alone can instruct us about the future. “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). 

(The following is a longer read, but hopefully, not too long. Scan ahead to preview.)

In Christ’s Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-25:56; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36), He gave an outline for the future that we may use to interpret the prophecy of the Book of Revelation’s New Heaven and New Earth. A good summary of the Olivet Discourse can be found here to make that interpretation. But chiefly, the Rapture of the Church is the next key event in the steps towards the New Heavens and New Earth, and Paul was its chief expounder (1Thessalonians 4:13-18). (1) The dead in Christ will bodily resurrect to return with Christ’s Second Coming, i.e., “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (4:14). (2) Those who are “alive and remain” (4:17) in Christ will be “caught up” (4:17) to meet the Lord “in the air” (4:17), i.e., “we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (4:17). However, “absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2Corinthians 5:8) means earthly events do not impact the Heavenly narrative, because we are immediately in another dimension, in other words, seven earth years can elapse before the Lord completes His Second Coming. 

Prophecy is all about predicted events and necessary consequences. In Daniel’s intercession for Judah and Jerusalem, he confessed his sins and the sins of his people (Daniel 9:20). The angel Gabriel gave him the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (9:24-27), concerning Messiah the Prince (9:25), where the weeks were weeks of years. After 69 weeks or 483 years (9:25) “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself” (9:26), which is the Crucifixion of Christ. “And the people of the prince that shall come [the Romans] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary [70 AD]” (9:26). The gap between Daniel 9:26 and 9:27 is the entire History of the Church, where the Gentile nations would participate in the House of God (1Timothy 3:15). But, the Seventieth Week of Daniel resumes with a covenant made by the “prince that shall come [Antichrist]” (9:26) with Israel, where a Temple will be rebuilt. But, in the midst of the Seventieth Week, “he [Antichrist] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate” (9:27). This is the Abomination of Desolation also spoken of by Jesus in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15). 

The final moments of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 2:22; 7:14) or the Tribulation Week or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) are the climactic Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21) at the Battle of Armageddon (16:16). The Antichrist and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire (19:20), while the Devil is cast into the Bottomless Pit (20:1). Christ reigns over His Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6), then Satan is released (20:7) from the Bottomless Pit (the Abyss), as if to drain the dregs of anymore opposition to the Almighty forever. “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them” (Psalm 75:8). Satan stirs up a revolt and surrounds Jerusalem, but is subdued by fire out of Heaven (Revelation 20:8-9). Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire (20:10). All the wicked dead are judged at God’s White Throne (20:11-15). Next comes the New Heavens and New Earth. 

Peter described the New Heavens and New Earth, but Isaiah already prophesied of them (Isaiah 65:17; 66:12). “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Peter 3:13). When John describes the scene, he notes “there was no more sea” (Revelation 20:1); in other words, this is the eternal state, where all land will be habitable and the necessity for water to flourish life will be satisfied supernaturally by the Alpha and Omega (21:6) and the River of Life (22:1). But, most prominent will be the New Jerusalem ascending from God out of Heaven (21:10). John calls this New Jerusalem, “the Lamb’s wife” (21:9), probably because it would be the dwelling quarters Jesus once described, “In My Father’s house are many mansions [Greek, monē, dwelling places]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The city is a cube of 1,400 miles long by 1,400 miles wide by 1,400 miles high (Revelation 21:14 NET), and 1,400 miles is more than half the distance from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC. If a “mansion” or dwelling unit was 1 cubic mile, how many mansions or dwelling places could you fit into New Jerusalem? 2.744 trillion mansions.

A further description of New Jerusalem: (1) Glory of God like a crystal clear, precious jewel jasper (Revelation 21:11), (2) Walls of jasper (21:18) about 216 feet high (21:17), (3) Twelve gates with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel on each gate (21:12), (4) Twelve foundations with the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb (21:14), (5) City is pure gold like transparent glass (21:18), (6) Walls are decorated with twelve kinds of precious stones (21:19-20), (7) Twelve gates of twelve whole pearls (21:21), (8) Main Street is pure gold (21:21), (9) No Temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple (21:22), (10) No sun or moon, because God and the Lamb are the light (21:23), (11) Earthly kings bring their grandeur into the city (21:24), (12) No night and the gates never close (21:25), (13) The grandeur of the wealth of nations may enter but nothing detestable (21:26-27), (14) The River of the Water of Life flows from the Throne of God and the Lamb (22:1), (15) Tree of Life on each side of the River producing Twelve Kinds of Fruit, and its leaves are for the health of nations (22:2), (16) No more curse! (22:3), (17) Throne of God will be in the city (22:3), (18) His servants shall worship Him (22:3), (19) They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads (22:4), (20) No need for light for the Lord God will shine on them (22:5), and (21) They will reign forever and ever (22:5). 

For more background for those who believe in New Heavens and New Earth, see our article, Is New Always Better?

Thy God, Thy Glory

Ken

Worship of heart to God, more important than the substance of the world or exhilaration of miracles, is as should be. Thy God, thy glory. The prophet foresaw new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Old things were passed away. Our embrace of the Invisible God relaxes our grip on the world, which is the fine balance between the necessities of life and the eternal. “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory” (Isaiah 60:19 KJV).

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 1)

Ken

The Rapture is only one aspect of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which must take place prior to the New Heavens and New Earth, which was also promised to Israel and the Church. Everyone will have to deal with the miraculous, supernatural Rapture. Jesus will return, as the angels promised, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 KJV). His Second Coming will happen for the entire world to witness. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV). His Second Coming requires a catching up of living saints to accompany the resurrected saints, who will then both accompany the returning Christ. “15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, to snatch out or away] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:15-17). LORD, thank You for sharing future events with us. Though we know not when, return quickly, Lord Jesus, and deliver us. Amen. 

Why New Heavens and New Earth?

Ken

New Heavens and New Earth mean creating a brand new existence for everything by the word of the Almighty. “And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5 KJV). Isaiah twice prophesied of New Heavens and New Earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). This is not refurbishing or remodeling the old earth and heavens. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (21:1). Why is “new” so significant? In the Unseen Realm of the spiritual, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17). Only the Almighty can fashion a fresh, new physical world to match our new spiritual nature without the scar tissue and sin provoking tendencies of the past. In addition, the memory of His past mercy, love, and grace will still dwell in the consciousness of angels and saints to fortify against the possibility of any future rebellion in the heavenlies. “Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). LORD, we long for “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Peter 3:13). We pray the time will come, and You will be glorified forever. We eagerly listen for You to say, I make all things new. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Why We Live

Ken

Christ is the reason we live. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 KJV). Anything else is robbing God. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). Our purpose for existing cannot merely be the keeping of commandments, but glorifying God from a pure heart. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1Peter 1:22). How better to self-test our love of God, if Christ is indeed the reason we live, but do we love our neighbor as ourselves (1John 4:20)? Do we  love one another, especially the household of faith (John 13:35)? If we are like the rest of creation groaning, awaiting the future redemption of our physical bodies (Romans 8:23; 1John 3:2) in New Heavens and a New Earth, then we should be praying our understanding and cooperation with the indwelling Christ would grow, so He would hasten to physically and corporally return (Acts 1:11; Revelation 22:20). “Looking for and hasting [literally, hastening] unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2Peter 3:12). LORD, help us to see the daily fulfillment of our purpose for living is intimately connected with Your future plans for returning that “God may be all in all” (1Corinthians 15:28). That You would dwell with us forever (Revelation 21:3). Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Hail and Fire Mingled With Blood (Revelation 8:7)

Ken

Hail, fire, and blood is the First Trumpet Judgment. “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up” (Revelation 8:7 KJV). LORD, You are the Almighty among the gods doing wonders in the earth (Exodus 15:11). How can You practically fix the planet, if You only figuratively deal with the judgments of the Book of Revelation in generalities? “Hail and fire” (Revelation 8:7) were used by Moses to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 9:23-24). “Fire ran along the ground” (9:23), evidently from the friction of the hail creating ignition on the ground and burning the combustibles. Blood most likely results from the torrential fire, smoke, and hail, but this is miraculous, so God can do whatever He likes. When only a “third,” but not all of the trees are burnt, God is making a statement, ‘Repent now, for I could have already burnt everything,’ along with all “green grass,” the environmental devastation is far beyond any meager debate about the cataclysm of greenhouse gases or global warming. Anyone who advocates for the environment needs to cultivate the best of relations with the God who can say, “I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Resistance is futile. LORD, You are God over all. May we seek our peace with You, while we can. In Jesus’ name and for His sake, we pray. Amen. 

Judge Righteous Judgment (Part 4)

Ken

Since Christians will “judge angels” (1Corinthians 6:3 KJV cp. Matthew 8:29), they must first stand before the Bema Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10) after they had been caught up or raptured (1Thessalonians 4:17) into the presence of Christ at His Second Coming (Titus 2:13). Bible prophecy chronology teaches us: (1) Christ’s Second Coming will occur (Revelation 1:7), (2) the Judgment of the Nations will occur (Joel 3:1-2; Matthew 25:32, 34), (3) the Millennium will follow (Revelation 20:1-6), (4) the final rebellion of Satan and his angels will occur, it will fail, and they will be judged (Revelation 20:7-10), (5) the White Throne Judgment will occur (Revelation 20:11–5), (6) the New Heavens and New Earth will occur (Revelation 21), and (7) Eternity will follow (Revelation 22). Judging angels is truly a function of God’s Divine Council, of which we shall be a part (1Corinthians 6:3). LORD, help us that our conduct will be in keeping with the dignity of Your court. Amen and amen. 

Looking for the Promise

Ken

A promise from God guarantees its outcome. In Scripture, we are always looking for God’s promised outcome. For example, with the end of this age, we are “looking for and hastening [we are making come quicker] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:12-13 NASB). 

Choicest Fruit of Wisdom

Ken

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV). Pilots are required to stay current with their flying because piloting an aircraft is a perishable skill. Old age destroys the connections of our memory. Wisdom is ingrained in our understanding. Unlike even the muscle memory of repetitive actions, wisdom is more deeply encoded in our understanding of reality. “If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy” (Psalm 137:6 KJV). May our understanding of the Almighty be our wisdom.