THE ETERNAL STATE

At the consummation of all things, Jesus Christ will come for his bride, the church, and will appear in the blazing fire of His glory to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty casting the unbelievers in the lake of fire (Rev. 19:15)

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him and on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. At that time He will resurrect the righteous and the unrighteous (John 5:29) and will create a new heaven and a new earth.The present earth and heaven will be destroyed by fire and the eternal
home of the righteous will be the new earth and new heaven (2 Peter 3:10-13). (See Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22).

In Revelation 21:1-22:6. we get small glimpse of what the future holds for God's covenant people. Much of this in is apocalyptic language so many of these images point to something greater than themselves:

  • There will be no pain or death (Revelation 21:4)
  • God will dwell together with His covenant people (Revelation 21:3)
  • There will be no marriage (Matthew 22:30)
  • There will no longer be any sea (Revelation 21:1)
  • There will be no night (Revelation 21:23; 22:5)
  • God's glory will bring light (Revelation 21:23)
  • God's throne is in the New Jerusalem (22:4)
  • The curse is removed (Revelation 22:3; cf. Gen. 3)
  • We will have perfect knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:12)
  • We shall be like Christ having an imperishable body just like His (1 John 3:2; 1 Cor 15)
  • We will live forever and exist without pain (Revelation 21:4)
  • We will all be holy (Revelation 21:27)
  • We will reign with Christ for eternity (Revelation 22:5)
  • Christ will rule man (Isaiah 9:7; Revelation 11:15)

At that time, the Heavenly city will become one with the earthly one, which will be the dwelling place of the righteous for all eternity. Those who were cursed in Adam will be perfected as death will have been completely eradicated. May it be so. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

From "Reformation and Theology"