In the first three chapters of Genesis we get the picture that there was no separation of heaven and earth; that heaven and earth were one. After the fall of man into sin, however, the earth is portrayed as a separate realm. At times it is even portrayed as a hostile kingdom. The Bible therefore speaks of God dwelling in heaven and man dwelling on earth, and we pray that God’s will would be done “on earth as it is in heaven”. But here, in Revelation 21, we see the two realms becoming one again. The Bible ends where it begins. When Christ returns and the world is finally purged of all evil, heaven and earth will be united again. This is what is being pictured through these symbols in Revelation 21. The final picture we get is not that of people going up to heaven but heaven coming down to earth. And God declares that his “dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them”. Our eternal destiny is not that of a disembodied state in a dreamy spiritual heaven. Certainly, when we die, our souls go to be with Christ to await the resurrection. This is what theologians call the ‘intermediate state’. Our final destiny, however, is to live in resurrected physical bodies on a renewed earth. God is glorified in the beauty of creation and in our enjoyment of all the good things that the earth yields. One day we will inherit a renewed earth and it will be perfect in every way. Now that is something to look forward to!
Reflect on the joy that is to come and give thanks to God.
Read Revelation 21:1-4
