Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: End Times Preview
Chapter 2: Sheep and Nations
Chapter 3: Loose Threads of Doctrine
Chapter 4: Return of the King
Chapter 5: The Millennial Life
Chapter 6: The New Creation
Chapter 6: The New Creation
So now it’s time to look at the final age of the human experience. The eternal age.
But first, let’s take just a moment to look back at our journey on this broken planet. These are eras, or ages, not “dispensations” (let that word disappear from your End Times vocabulary).
Summary of Earth
Pre-Flood
When the world was made, God put mankind in the Garden of Eden. All of their needs were met and they walked with God in the cool of the day in their beautiful home. They were as innocent and naked as children.
But then they disobeyed the Creator and the vibe was lost. They took fruit from the one tree they were told not to (out of hundreds of others). Luckily, they did not eat from the Tree of Life. That would have sealed their fallen condition forever.
It is through death of the physical body that the spiritual man can live (under the right conditions and provisos). This is why the angels were not ever offered the redemption that we people have been given—no physical body.
But in short order—1656 years, to be exact (the lifespans of just two men: Adam and Methuselah)—mankind had reached a point where enough was enough. God’s patience wore thin and He had to act.
The Flood
In two of my other books, I discuss the Flood in great detail. It was not what you think it was.
For the whole story on this, I recommend reading either This Broken Planet, or The Broken Planet Model. The former is a bit more polemic and surficial, while the latter is deeper in the weeds of science and not as harsh toward the mainstream. Both are available for free on my website: GaryTheGospelGuy.com. Just look for “Books by Gary” in the drop-down menu (or follow the links above online).
The Flood was a year-long event that transformed this world from the comfortable, plentiful, life-sustaining habitat we need, into the harsh, unforgiving, and dangerous place of today.
Before the Flood there were no continents, only a single planet-wide surface, with shallow seas, lakes, and rivers. Forests and jungles and other biomes filled with life stretched for staggering distances the size of our continents today. There were no wastelands, soaring mountains, or plunging canyons. Weather was always mild, from pole to pole, with very little variation in pressure, temperature, or any other factor to create harsh conditions.
It was perfect “birthday suit” weather all the time, all over the world.
The abundance of life would have been mind-blowing to behold for us now.
But the important thing about the Flood was that it was judgment. The first worldwide judgment upon all flesh at the same time. This was a unique situation that has never been repeated (just as promised—with a rainbow).
Literally every condition or phenomenon about geology, hydrology, meteorology, and even some dealing with astronomy (Earth and lunar orbits), are explained by this worldwide event.
Why does the world cant off-axis, giving us seasons? Why are there continents and deep, salty oceans? Why is the magnetosphere degrading? Why are there so many ethnicities and languages? Why are there fossils and fossil fuels? What created tectonic plates from a perfect world? Where is the evidence of this Extinction Level Event? What caused the Ice Age? All of these questions and more are answered with reason, logic, and evidence in both books (The Broken Planet Model is the more scientific of the two).
This new Flood model is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. I guarantee it.
The Current Age
The age we are living in now began when Noah and his family exited the Ark, some 4,300 years ago. It started with the small family growing into a large city in Mesopotamia. They all had one language and one faith.
But that was shattered when they were divided by God. By introducing different languages, He split them up and sent them all around the world—very quickly.
While Shem (Noah’s middle son) was still alive, Abraham grew into an adult who was touched by God. He traveled to the new promised land, where his grandson (Israel) would take up residence with his 12 tribes of offspring through two wives and two surrogates.
Through this family line, the Messiah—Savior of mankind—would be born. Jesus came to teach, to love, and to do what only He could—make amends to the Father for our rebellious hearts. And if we will only believe Him and follow Him (in true repentance) then we will be raised up to His level of perfection in glory when He returns.
But He did not stay. He did what He had to (die on the cross for our sins) and then He went back to the Spirit Realm from which He came. And that is where He has been for about 2,000 years now.
The Millennial Age
But very soon He will return to us. That is what I have been going on about in this little book. However, His return will begin the next age in our human saga—The Millennium. We just covered that in some detail in the previous chapter.
That, as you read, will be a literal one thousand years of great prosperity and loving family life all over the world, as the nations are led and governed by Jesus and His faithful ones. They are transformed due to their faith, not their deeds. We call that “the Gospel”. And since that conversion during His wrath, no one else will be transformed into that condition.
But under them, in the hierarchy of mankind will be the mortals, called the nations. They, unfortunately, did not carry the faith that the saints did. But they are not sent away for their lack of faith, as many today teach. They have a chance at life in God’s kingdom by way of their kindness to others (see the separation of the sheep and goats and the books of life). Whether they stay or go is up to Jesus, the Righteous Judge and His grace and mercy. They are judged according to their deeds.
In some ways, this era or age is a return to the first chapter in the garden. We will be allowed to eat from the Tree of Life and drink the Water of Life for our bodies to be sustained indefinitely. That prohibition is final removed.
And as we saw, there are two such judgments: one at the beginning of the next age and one at the end of it. After that is the New Earth, the final age of mankind.
The Final Age
The last chapter of man’s story will be very much like the last chapter of the millennial age. Only, it will take place on a new stage. A new habitat. A new heavens and a new earth. That is what this final chapter will discuss in some detail.
And while there are many similarities in the Millennium and the New Earth, one big difference is clear—permanence. The temporary condition of hell is replaced with the permanent Lake of Fire. The temporary state of “heaven” is replaced with permanent mortality or immortality. The temporary millennial temple is replaced with the eternal city, New Jerusalem. And while Satan’s imprisonment was temporary in the millennial age, his destruction will be permanent in the final age.
Faith is Obsolete
As we saw in the Millennium, faith remains moot. There is no longer a need for believing in a God we cannot see, feel, or hear, since He will be seen, felt, and heard by all people forevermore. And I am not referring to the saints. I mean that all mortals will know their God and will have a firm connection to Him.
Isaiah 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers! (NLT)
Reading chapter 65 from verse 17 on, we see a world that we have always wanted to live in. I know I have.
But since attainment to sainthood (the highest form of life) comes through faith, there is no longer that offer.
Punishment
On the flip side of the reward/punishment coin is the punishment. In the final age, where all things are permanent, punishment will still exist. It is one way that all things are brought under subjection to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:28). That is a permanent condition. Once He takes direct control of the affairs of men, He never loses that control.
And as already discussed, I see the Lake of Fire (the eternal state of punishment) being present on the planet where all can observe exactly what it is. (See Isaiah 66:24) And this should be expected in a perfect world where there are no surprises.
But before the rebellion or sin of the mortals ever gets to that point, they have had the very Spirit of God leading them into righteous living. They have had the example and counsel of the holy saints in their midst. They have lived in a world where righteousness is not just prevalent and modeled, but it is expected of every single person. It is the normal way of living. And if they do slip up, then they will know what they need to do for reparations or atonement. It will not be imprisonment, it will be rapid justice with immediate consequences and results.
Gone will be the negative influences in their lives, such as hardship (seclusion, famine, starvation, harsh weather). Gone will be their enemies, both seen and unseen: marauders, thieves, demons, warfare ….
Present will be positive influences in their lives: wise counsel, forgiveness, joy, holy governance, perfect, pleasant weather, perfect health, certainty, fellowship….
In short, everyone will know just what is expected of them and they will have all the support they need to live it out.
Relationships
I cannot say if there will be the languages we have today in that new world. I do know that the saints will not need language, since they will be able to communicate without words. (I’m not sure how I know that, I just do.)
However, I fully expect the ethnicities to persist. And I expect there to be a full array of cultures on the New Earth. I think this because of Revelation 21.
Revelation 21:24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. (NLT)
And every nation will look like Isaiah shows us in chapter 65—long family lines of happy, prosperous people.
This makes me expect the New Earth to be a vibrant, thriving world with diversity and harmony that we can only dream of today in this broken world.
And don’t count out the animals either. Pets and other animals will all be peaceful and play nicely with each other and us. Maybe He’ll even bring back the dinosaurs and other extinct creatures. That would be neat.
“Jimmy, go hitch up the wagon to the triceratops. We’re gonna go visit your cousins!”
Have fun with it.
Saints and Nations
Of course, the saints will be around as well. Like wise counsellors and magistrates. Only they will be on another level altogether in their knowledge, abilities, and presence.
I see each saint having an area of jurisdiction over the nations but still maintaining an apartment in the Holy City. And when the nations go there for celebrations and to praise the Lamb Who sits on the throne, they might stay at their saint’s home while in the City.
That would be a good time for all, like family get-togethers at the ancestral vacation spot or timeshare. All get to spend time with others from different parts of the world, enjoying annual fellowship with those they only see at those times. And speaking of the Holy City, let me share a bit of how I view that amazing structure.
The New Jerusalem
Imagine standing at the corner of the great city, looming up out of sight before you into the sky.
Immediately before your eyes would be the bottom layer of the great foundation of the Holy City. It has 12 different layers, bringing a rainbow of color to the landscape.
Remember that it is lighted from within, since that is where the Lamb’s throne is. His glory passes through all matter, unlike the weak light we experience in this physical realm today.
I see the foundation as being made up of 12 precious gemstones. One per layer. But when I imagine this, I see a single solid slab of one gemstone per layer. I cannot say what the thickness is—1 mile per stone or 10 miles per stone? Whatever the thickness, the stones are roughly 1,380 miles per side in a perfect square! And these are just the foundation of the great city. What if they were each 10 miles tall, giving a foundation that is 120 miles high, and shining out in a rainbow of color across the sky? Seeing such a sight would cause human words to fail.
And atop that foundation is the city itself, with walls 216 feet (66 meters) thick and made of the purest crystal. Clear rock upon a rainbow of translucent rock.
As to height and length, the city upon this foundation is a perfect cube. Each side is the same length as the foundations (1,380 miles, or about 2,221 kilometers). That’s about the distance from Albuquerque to Chicago. Such height might just be out of sight for mortal eyes. And if you were that tall (1,380 mi.), the international space station in orbit today would hit you below the knees! (See Revelation 21.)
Due to the massive size and weight of this rock city, I expect the New Earth to be several times the size of our little blue planet today. Is it the size of Jupiter, or the Sun? Otherwise, a little planet like ours would likely wobble from the sheer weight of it.
Inside, streets and buildings are made of gold as pure as glass. Not as clear as glass, but as pure as clear glass. Shining, shimmering gold, backlit with the glory of God Himself!
In the middle of the city is His golden throne. From the throne comes the spring of the River of Life. It passes through the city, lined with Trees of Life, bearing fruit in 12 varieties.
The beauty of this glimmering city cannot be captured adequately in the tongues or minds of men.
The New Earth
As just mentioned, the New Earth must, by necessity, be huge. Much, much larger than what we are living on now.
But here’s something that I’ll bet you won’t hear anywhere else. I think I know what the geophysical composition of the new planet might be.
How do I know this? Well, I don’t know for sure, but if it’s like the current Earth when it was first formed (before the Flood), then I can make an informed guess.
This is because the Lord gave me a vision back in 2023 of our current Earth. I discuss this in the two books mentioned earlier on the Great Flood. He showed me the internal layers of it. It was quite the vision.
So, going off of that vision of this Earth before the Flood, I surmise that the New Earth, if the same, will have no deep oceans, just a continuous land mass with some freshwater seas, lakes, and rivers. Beneath that surface will be a layer of water, several miles thick. Beneath that would be the nuclear-powered heater that keeps the surface a lovely constant temperature all over the planet without any harsh weather anywhere, any time at all.
This means, no continents to divide up the nations. No bad weather. Constant temperatures, and slightly humid. I call it perfect “birthday suit” weather.
All of these conditions will come together to provide a very lovely habitat for humanity.
The New Heavens
In the Bible, “heavens” is a funny word. It can mean three different things: the atmosphere; outer space; and the “third heaven”, or the Spirit Realm.
To which of these was John referring in Revelation 21:1? Why not all three?
As just discussed, the atmosphere would be made new again, just like it was in the beginning on this broken planet. So, that would be new.
Will there be a new solar system? I think there will be. In fact, I’m going to go on about this quite a bit in a moment. But for now, let’s just say that since there will be no sun, moon, or stars to give light to the world, it is highly likely that the cosmos will get a make-over.
As to the new “third heaven” that Paul mentioned (2 Corinthians 12:2), it seems that it will no longer be needed. After all, the saints have been glorified by then (1,000 years earlier) and the nations will all be on Earth. Hell is gone and “heaven” is the New Jerusalem. So the spirit realm will likely be unified with the physical realm, just as the saints will be both spirit and physical, in a new form of life. Why not a new form of physical and spiritual realms combined too?
The New “Solar System”
Now we get to some fun stuff. This is not going to be a dogmatic attempt to impress anyone. This is just me sharing what I see when I think about this. Take it or leave it as you wish. Or have fun with it, like me.
What if the Sun were replaced by the New Earth as the center of the new “solar system”? After all, Jesus is in the New Jerusalem, which is absolutely huge, requiring a huge planet to house it. He is shining with glory that outshines the Sun we are orbiting now. Think of it. But His light is easy on the eyes.
Now also consider this: if people are living indefinitely, and still raising families, then the planet will someday become overrun with peeps. I mean, it might take a long time but it seems inevitable, doesn’t it? Even if it’s the size of our Sun now?
So then, what if the population solution is creating a new system of planets based on what we are in now? I mean, let’s have the New Earth where the Sun is (at the center), and other planets orbiting around that New Earth.
The light is seen by all but it doesn’t hurt the eyes to look at it. In fact, on one of those other planets, call them small earths, one could use a telescope and gaze at the beautiful City when it comes into view. And what a sight that would be! A glimmer of shining gold upon a rainbow of color. I’d not want to miss it every time it comes into view.
And are those little earths like the nations of today? Each with its own culture and ethnicity? Is each of them ruled by a saint or group of saints? Do the saints travel by teleportation between the planets? Do the nations take a ride on a spaceship to visit the Holy City? This could be like Gene Roddenbery’s vision (Star Trek), but without other races (except angels) or any evil presence anywhere in the cosmos. I think that would be worth living in, don’t you?
Lots of little earths orbiting the big earth. Interplanetary travel. Vacations on other worlds….How fun!
“What heats those planets?” you scientists may ask (since His glory does not give off heat like the Sun).
“The composition of the planets already described.” I’d reply. Each one is heated by a fusion core with a water layer between the heater and the surface for efficient and even distribution of the heat to the surface.
Do the spacecraft enter the Holy City through the top (which might be above the atmosphere)? Is the new cosmos as vast as the one we are in now?
Are you beginning to see how our idea of “heaven” might be a tad short of the reality of it all? Can you see how it might not be the boring, ethereal, and vague construct we’ve been spoon-fed for millennia now?
Open your mind to the possibilities that exist within the teaching and revelation of scripture. This idea is not antichrist or antibiblical. It’s just supposing, based on what we already know.
Creations?
Here’s another thought, just for fun. All of that which I just described would be in THIS creation (made new). But what if God has other creations, besides this one? Is there anything in the Bible to say that there aren’t? I haven’t found it.
Is Jesus our Creator and Savior? 100%. Yes! Is He our Lord of lords and King of kings? Absolutely! Is He God in human flesh? You bet He is!
Are there other creations in existence, outside of this creation? … [crickets] … Why not?
Is there only One God? YES! If other creations were made by Him, is He the God of those as well? He’d have to be. There is no God besides our God.
Could any of those other creations have God’s presence in them like ours does? I’d imagine so. Are they superior to us in some ways? Could be. Are they inferior to us in some way? Maybe (less likely though, if you ask me).
Are there other inhabited planets in our current cosmos? I don’t believe so. But I DO say that there may be other creations outside this cosmos with their own physical and spirit realms.
This is not New Age gobbledygook. It’s just me supposing, while giving God His due supremacy.
Creatures
What if these other creations exist in the millions? And each of them has its own kind of creatures? Are they all like us? Human? I think they might be. Are any of them far superior to us in spiritual righteousness? I could see that being a thing. What if some creations have only benevolent creatures? What if they are so holy and good it would be like meeting Jesus, Himself? What if they are ancient beyond our ability to imagine?
If these creatures are out there. And who can say they aren’t? Then maybe, just maybe, the saints will have the opportunity to meet some of them when we are mature enough for the meeting. I’d be nervous but it could be fun. Maybe my best friend is out there in one of those creations.
I don’t know about you, but this all boggles the mind in my head.
If you’re an author or film maker, why not explore this as a new genre of benevolent creations and a new solar system here in our own new cosmos? I’ll buy the book and see the movie. And don’t be afraid to explore the next age—the Millennium on this planet. Let’s not have our shirts stuffed so tight that we can’t think outside the mainstream box, while staying true to the Bible. Let’s all loosen up a little bit and have some fun. Just don’t go off the rails when the Bible does tell us something. Be true to what we do know and gracious about what we do not.
Conclusion
I have given you a few things to think about here in this small book. I’ve shown how not everything we get from the Church is solid and biblical. But this is not to invite criticism of anyone, just to help to stretch our own minds a tad.
Look into the things I have put forth here and see if they contradict a clear, clean teaching of truth in the Bible.
Use the best logic you can muster and use all the tools at your disposal for deep Bible study (interlinear translations, concordances, and the like). Pray about everything I have given you to contemplate here. Especially before coming after me with pitchforks and torches.
Take everything you read or hear (present work included) with a grain of salt (or a salt block). Be a Berean and search the scriptures daily for insights into “new” doctrines. Did I mention to pray? I did, well, pray some more. Don’t stop seeking the Lord and His righteousness. Get into your Bible on a regular schedule (daily, works).
And for the love of God, get out there and share the love of God with everyone you can. What else is there to do that matters eternally? Once you get used to it, it becomes second nature and is very rewarding—eternally so.
Be blessed. ~ Gary
Chapter 6 Discussion and Reflection
Questions:
- Will there be a new earth and a new heavens?
- What are the heavens?
- Is the New Jerusalem too big for our Earth here?
Answers:
- Yes. (See Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65)
- Atmosphere
Outer space
The Third Heaven - I think so. It would make this planet wobble.
Reflection: What’s your view of “heaven”? Is it exciting, boring, fun, no fun? What does it look like? Where is it—on a physical planet or in the ether?
