[Sunday Sermon] The Gospel(8) - A New Heaven and a New Earth
“8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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 done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Bible tells us that this world will not continue indefinitely but will come to an end. The world began by God’s will, and He will bring it to its conclusion. Scripture describes the end times as the coming of a “new heaven and new earth,” signifying not merely an end but the fulfillment of God’s new creation. In Revelation, the vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven reveals God’s complete reign and restoration.
We live in the tension of the “Already but Not Yet.” The work of salvation that Jesus accomplished on the cross has already begun, and God’s kingdom is experienced through the church in this world. Yet, the fullness of the new heaven and new earth has not yet arrived; it will be completed with Christ’s return. Evil and injustice still exist in the present world, but we must live by faith, looking forward to God’s kingdom.
The essence of the end times is the fulfillment of our relationship with God, where He dwells with His people. Revelation 21 promises that God Himself will be with His people, wiping away every tear and bringing perfect restoration—free from death and suffering. Heaven is not merely material abundance but a perfect community of love and peace in complete union with God.
The Bible emphasizes the end not to instill fear but to teach us how to live today. 2 Peter 3 challenges us: “What kind of people ought you to be?” As we anticipate the end, we must live with eternal hope. Our ultimate hope is not in worldly success or comfort but in the new heaven and new earth that will come when Christ returns. Living between the “Already” and the “Not Yet,” believers must worship, love, seek justice, and fulfill the mission of God’s kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for creating us beautifully, for seeking us like lost sheep, and for calling us Your children. We are grateful for Your promise to return and for the hope of the new heaven and new earth. Help us to place our true hope not in what is temporary but in Your faithfulness, love, and eternal promises. Strengthen our churches, families, and lives so that we may stand firm in faith, eagerly awaiting the day we will gather before You in joy. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)