Isaiah's "New Heavens and a New Earth"

The expression “new heavens and a new earth,” or something similar, occurs in four passages in the Bible, two in the Old Testament (Isa. 65:17; 66:22), and two in the New Testament (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:11). As with all other Biblical topics, when the total teaching of the Bible is not allowed to define the meaning, confusion results. When the total teaching of the Bible is considered, the “new heavens and a new earth” in Isaiah refer to the Messianic kingdom, while the expression in the New Testament refers to heaven.

Background

In Isaiah 65:1-16, the prophet gives a contrast between the Jews, God’s chosen people who rejected Him, and the Gentiles, who did not initially seek God but yet found Him. The chapter opens, “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name” (Isa. 65:1 cf. Rom. 10:17-21). God’s chosen people are described as “a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good...A people that provoketh me to anger” (Isa. 65:2-3). The main reason Isaiah gives as to why God’s chosen people made Him angry was because of their idolatrous ways (Isa. 65:3-4). Their deceived attitude toward others was, “Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou” (Isa. 65:5). God’s justice and loyalty to the covenant could not allow the rebellious people to continue. God promises them, “Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not” (Isa. 65:12).

A New Dwelling Place Needed

After pronouncing judgment on the rebellious people, God, through Isaiah, says of the faithful remnant, “Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye [rebellious ones] shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye [rebellious ones] shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye [rebellious ones] shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye [rebellious ones] shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye [rebellious ones] shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name” (Isa. 65:13-15). Because a new relationship will exist between God and His people, there must be a new dwelling place. Thus, the Lord says, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isa. 65:17). In the Old Testament, future spiritual blessings are often either preceded by the promise of physical blessings (cf. Joel 2:18-32), or they are spoken of in physical terms (Ps. 37:3, 9, 11, 22, 29, 34). Since the new relationship under consideration is spiritual, the new dwelling place must also be spiritual. “Create” is something that only God can do (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 51:10). The “former state” (i.e., old heavens and old earth) being no more remembered indicates a total change of state than anything that was formerly known.

In place of the sorrow and shame associated with the former condition (Isa. 65:1-6), God’s new people will be a joy and a reason for rejoicing. “But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (Isa. 65:18-19). “Jerusalem” and “my people” are used synonymously in these verses. Note also the frequency of “glad,” “rejoice,” and “joy.” God rejoices in the success and well being of His people (cf. Deut. 30:9; Isa. 62:5; Zeph. 3:17). “Jerusalem” will be made a place of joy (cf. Isa. 51:3; 60:15; 61:7); thus, weeping and crying will be past (cf. Isa. 25:9).

God's People Will Be Blessed

God will bless His new people, and they will enjoy the fruit of their labors. First, they shall live a full life (as opposed to being cut down like the rebellious, Isa. 65:17). “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isa. 65:20). “No more infant of days” suggests no untimely deaths. A child dying at one hundred shows fullness of age. Even if one dies seemingly untimely, it will not be truly untimely because he will have fulfilled God’s purpose (cf. Stephen, Acts 7:54-60).

Second, God’s faithful remnant’s labor will be rewarding. “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isa. 65:21-22). One of the curses for breaking the covenant was that the covenant breakers would not enjoy the fruit of their labors (Lev. 26:26; Deut. 28:15-46). Covenant obedience, however, would result in the enjoyment of their labors (Deut. 28:1-14). “As the days of a tree” is symbolic of longevity, permanence, and fruitfulness (cf. Isa. 61:3; Jer. 17:8).

Third, God’s faithful remnant’s labor will not be in vain. “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them” (Isa. 65:23). All futility will be cancelled. In the past, they labored for that which did not satisfy (Isa. 55:2), and they wearied themselves in following their own way (Isa. 57:10), but now it will be different. The reason why futility is cancelled is because “they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58)!

Conclusion

The background of Isaiah’s detailing the new spiritual relationship and the blessings promised indicates that the “new heavens and a new earth” is ultimately fulfilled in the Messianic kingdom (cf. Rom. 10:17-21). We can be a part of that kingdom now through obedience to the Gospel (Mk. 9:1; Lk. 24:49; Acts 2:41-47 cf. Col. 1:13; 1 Thes. 2:12), so that when this world is no more, we can dwell with God forever!