In reading biblical prophecies about the end times—particularly in books like Daniel, Matthew 24, and Revelation—it's clear that major events such as the final judgment, the defeat of Satan, and the creation of a new heaven and new earth are prophesied. But does the Bible actually predict the end of time itself, or is it more accurate to say it describes the end of evil and the restoration of righteousness? Do any Christian traditions interpret these eschatological passages as pointing to a timeless eternity after judgment, or is time understood to continue in a renewed creation? Relevant passages might include Revelation 21–22, 1 Corinthians 15:24–28, and others.

The *glorified body* of Jesus who appeared to the disciples after resurrection is one of the most foundational truths of Christianity, the basis of our hope for our future resurrection of the body as well. **My question**: since in his glorified body Jesus ate and drank with his disciples before his Ascension ([Lk 24:42-43,John 21:12-14,Acts 10:41-43](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lk+24%3A42-43%2Cjohn+21%3A12-14%2CActs+10%3A41-43&version=NLT)) , can we conclude that there is eating and drinking in the new heaven and new earth since we will have similar glorified body that Jesus has, and which was shown to be capable of eating and drinking? Or should we interpret the verses as "accommodation" only, so that Jesus can prove to the disciples that he is REAL and/or that the resurrection is BODILY (not just spirit)? Or maybe we should interpret the eating and drinking not literally, but find the theological message behind them? ### Food for thoughts 1. For an argument that Luke didn't intend the eating and drinking to be read literally, read the 1988 *Gregorianum* journal article [Did Jesus Eat the Fish (Luke 24:42-43)?](https://www.jstor.org/stable/23577821) by Jesuit scholar [Gerald O'Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_O%27Collins) . 2. If there IS eating and drinking in the new creation, how about the final product of our glorified digestive system? Pardon the image, but are there toilets in heaven? How about the [39 trillion microbes that we carry in our human microbiome](https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/human-microbiome/) , are they glorified as well? 3. If there is NO eating and drinking in the new creation, how should we understand the references to the - **Great Banquet** ("eat at the feast" *cf*. Luke 14:18-24, "eat and drink at my table" *cf*. Luke 22:29-30), and the - **Marriage Supper of the Lamb** ("until that day when I drink it anew with you" *cf*. Matt 26:29, "I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" *cf*. Luke 22:16, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" *cf*. Rev 19:6-9)?

If Creation as it was made was good in God's eyes before the Fall, and in the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation restores Creation to what God intended it to be, but marriage is not part of the new Creation, why did God institute it in the first place? I understand that we will have intimacy with God in Heaven, but God Himself was in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were, and yet He still instituted marriage. However Jesus answers the Sadducees about the several-times-married woman stating there is no marriage. Am I misunderstanding something here? Or is Jesus' answer for a different context? I have checked for similar questions, and seen answers relating to Catholicism and Swedborgianism, but not in general to Protestantism.

Why do many Christians believe that heaven is the eternal home of the righteous; but in Matt 5:5 Christ stated that the meek will inherit the earth. And in 2 Peter 3:13, apostle Peter made mention of "a new heaven and a new earth". Now, if all faithful worshippers of God go to heaven, who will be on the new earth?

I realise that Jehovah's Witnesses believe there will be survivors from Armageddon who do not die and who will enter into the earthly kingdom. Then billions of dead people will be resurrected with physical bodies and will get a chance to live forever on this paradise earth. I have been asked what Jehovah's Witnesses believe regarding marriage and reproduction on the paradise earth, and I would hate to misrepresent the official view. Because Jesus said there will not be marriage or reproduction in heaven, my question is focused on humans who will be living on earth. Will marriage and reproduction be restricted only to the Armageddon survivors, those individuals who did not die? And will that privilege also be extended to children born of those survivors by virtue of the fact they were never resurrected? Or will the earth already be filled by the time all the billions of dead people are resurrected. With regard to people who inhabit the paradise earth, will there be marriage and reproduction and what Bible verses support the Jehovah's Witness view?

>“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬ > “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Which translation fits better with the context? It seems that for the groans to stop the inner groans of the Christian should also stop too as in verse 23: > “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

>"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." (Rev 21:1) The New Earth seems to be a physical entity. But does scriptural evidence to the contrary exists? If not, will the old earth be renewed? Or will there be a complete new earth located elsewhere in the universe? Thus, what is an overview of scriptures, and/or thoughts based on certain scriptures, about the nature and location of The New Heaven and the New Earth? The scope is mainly for Biblical references, but scriptures of the church fathers and other extra Biblical sources are welcome.

I was wondering where the glorified Saints go to live after we return with Jesus as described in Revelation 19:11–16: > And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were Heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wineprsee of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do we stay in Israel or do we return to our homes? I am interested in a Pentecostal perspective.

In *Summa Theologica* suppl. q. 91 , where St.Thomas Aquinas speaks of the quality of this world after the Last Judgement, a. 5 arg. 2 objects that plants, animals, and *mineral* bodies will be renewed. In reply to that objection (ad 2), he replies that animals, plants, mineral bodies and all other mixed bodies will not to be renewed and will not remain at the renewed world. > Objection 2. Further, just as the elements served man, so also did animals, plants and mineral bodies. But on account of this service the elements will be glorified. Therefore both animals and plants and mineral bodies will be glorified likewise. > > Reply to Objection 2. Neither animals nor plants nor any other bodies merited anything by their services to man, since they lack free-will. However, certain bodies are said to be rewarded in so far as man merited that those things should be renewed which are adapted to be renewed. But plants and animals are not adapted to the renewal of incorruption, as stated above. Wherefore for this very reason man did not merit that they should be renewed, since no one can merit for another, or even for himself that which another or himself is incapable of receiving. Hence, granted even that dumb animals merited by serving man, **it would not follow that they are to be renewed.** Now, according to the philosophies of St.Thomas, which mainly comes from Aristotle, *mixed bodies* means things that exist or come-to-be by some kind of composition of the *elements*. And St.Thomas clearly says that the only mixed body that will remain in the renewed world is man's body. And he says that only man's body, the elements and the heavenly bodies will remain in the renewed universe. Suppl.q.91, article 5, ans. states, >Since the renewal of the world will be for man's sake it follows that it should be conformed to the renewal of man. Now by being renewed man will pass from the state of corruption to incorruptibility and to a state of everlasting rest, wherefore it is written (1 Corinthians 15:53): "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality"; and consequently the world will be renewed in such a way as to throw off all corruption and remain for ever at rest. Therefore it will be impossible for anything to be the subject of that renewal, unless it be a subject of incorruption. **Now such are the heavenly bodies, the elements, and man.** For the heavenly bodies are by their very nature incorruptible both as to their whole and as to their part: the elements are corruptible as to their parts but incorruptible as a whole: while men are corruptible both in whole and in part, but this is on the part of their matter not on the part of their form, the rational soul to wit, which will remain incorrupt after the corruption of man. on the other hand, dumb animals, plants, and minerals, and all mixed bodies, are corruptible both in their whole and in their parts, both on the part of their matter which loses its form, and on the part of their form which does not remain actually; and thus they are in no way subjects of incorruption. **Hence they will not remain in this renewal, but those things alone which we have mentioned above.** But in Suppl.q.74,article 5 , reply to objection 2, last two sentences, he says that the sea will remain as to containing salt, ie; mixed with salt: >If, however, the sea be taken literally we must reply that by the sea two things are to be understood, namely the substance of the waters, and their disposition, as containing salt and as to the movement of the waves. The sea will remain, not as to this second, but as to the first. Apparently, he is saying that sea will remain as a mixed body, ie; mixed with salt, which is an earthly matter. But, as I noted above, he simultaneously says that the only mixed body that will remain is human body. Moreover, salt itself is a mixed body. He aparently says it will also remain. Isn't this a contradiction? How can it be explained? Exactly, which bodies will remain in the renewed world? If sea remains, then the land, made of soil, which is a diverse mixture of minerals, must also remain, must it not? As I know, the element *fire* in St.Thomas'(and many others') philosophy corresponds to heat, *air* to the gases and *water* to the liquids. Then, some people say, *earth* must correspond to solids. Even if some solids are made of a uniform element such as diamond, which is purely made of the element carbon, the solids as a whole is not all the same thing, but mixtures of different chemical elements such as hydrogen, carbon etc. So, what is this pure *earth* according to medieval philosophers such as St.Thomas and Aristotle? Also, he says all corruptible bodies will not remain and minerals are also corruptible bodies according to him. But, clearly, gold, quartz crystal etc are minerals and are not corruptible/decayable. Why does he say no other mixed body will remain, while we can find minerals(mixed bodies) that clearly don't decay? How can these claims of St.Thomas be seen from the view point of modern science? Sorry for a long question but I hope it is understandable:)

Following an invitation, I attended a "Memorial of Jesus' Death " service at a Kingdom Hall recently. While there, I heard about the 144,000 who will go to heaven to "be kings and priests and rule over" those who remain in earthly paradise. How/when does this happen?

Revelation:21 talks about the New Earth and New Heavens. It also talks about the holy city New Jerusalem. Various physical aspects of this city is described by St. John. Is this city and the New Earth and New Heavens (new universe) physical places as far as Catholics must understand? (St. John specially emphasises on the dimensions of the city in 'human measurements' which should imply that the city is a very physical place just as this earth) Moreover, in (Isa. 65:21-23) Bible very literally says that the righteous people will even "build houses and plant vineyards" in the New creation. Shouldn't this imply that the New creation and New Jerusalem will be just as physical? Some people also say that many aspects of human work and creativity (such as artists, musicians and other good works directed only for God's purpose) will also continue in the New Earth, because work was a part of God's original creation and it will be part of his coming New Creation also. Is this also true? In (Mic. 4:3) it is said that “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks”. This must imply that there will be work in New Earth too, must it not?(Works without 'thorns and thistles') Will there also be human creations like technology etc.? What does the Church say about it?

In my Catholic catechism classes, I have always heard that a Christian's ultimate aim is to reach heaven with the Lord and that heaven is not a physical place but a state of mind. But in Revelation chapter 21, and also in some places of Old Testament, it is said that God will make a New Earth (or reform this corrupted earth so that, essentially, it's a new earth). Is that where humans are finally destined to be? Is that going to be a physical place just as this earth? What is the Catholic Perspective on these questions?

What does a person experience who is saved, after their death? Are they going to have a bodily resurrection in the New Jerusalem, in the real world, or is it a spiritual existence? If in the real world, will their body have any relation to the body they had, including things like age, conditions like dwarfism or siamese twins etc? Will every day have a good temperature, the sun won't eventually engulf the earth, etc? What sources do we have on what actually happens for all eternity?

In a well-known passage, the Apostle Paul writes: > For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; *and so we will be with the Lord forever.* (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, emphasis added) This suggests that Paul was thinking in terms of an older cosmology, in which angels were believed to live in the sky (the New Testament Greek word for "sky" is the same as the word for "heaven"), and that he is here saying that those who are saved would live forever with the Lord "in the air," like the angels, and therefore *not* on earth. The final two chapters of the Book of Revelation, about the New Jerusalem, begin: > Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:1–2) Here there is mention of a new heaven and a new earth. However, although the New Jerusalem is seen as coming down out of heaven from God, there is no mention of the New Jerusalem actually touching down on the earth. And its description of being just as high as it is wide and long (Revelation 21:15–16 ), suggests a city that is seen high above the earth rather than one built on the surface of the earth as the original Jerusalem was. However, some groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses , believe that many or all of those who are saved will live on earth rather than in heaven after the resurrection. What is the biblical basis for this belief? I am especially interested in any Bible passages stating in an unmistakable way that any resurrected people will live on earth. Failing that, I am interested in Bible-based arguments that some or all people will live forever in their resurrected bodies on earth rather than in heaven.

This question mainly deals with Revelation 21:24–27, but it is probably helpful to read from Rev 20 to the end also. Revelation 21 (KJV) > 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of > it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into > it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there > shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour > of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it > any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or > maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. I understand that these nations of the new earth are not procreating, however, there are supposedly people who are evil that are being kept out of the holy city at this time. Where are they coming from if no one is having babies? You would think, that at this time all the people that are found in the Lamb's book of Life have eternal bodies, and the others are in the lake of fire. Somehow these evil people in question should be in the lake of fire instead of being kept out of the gates of the holy city of the new earth, one would think. The mere problem that sin is still with us in the new earth seems, well, weird. A good answer will be from the premillennial perspective, pre- or post-tribulation shouldn't matter.

I don't understand, how Jesus comes down in the clouds and rules on the mount of olives, how can the people in other countries see him? I know the clouds all will see him, but once he actually steps on earth, how will I see him or be with him? Do we all go to Jerusalem?

[Revelation 22:5](https://net.bible.org/#!bible/Revelation+22) states: > Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or > the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and > they will reign forever and ever. (NET) Reigning without subjects (*animate* subjects, not just planet earth) seems nonsensical. According to reformed theology, who or what will the saints reign over in eternity?

I recently read _Every Good Endeavor_ by Tim Keller and also _Surprised by Hope_ by N.T. Wright. Both are amazing books, focused on the resurrection theology that God will raise up a new heaven and a new earth, and we will dwell in the presence of God, not just sitting around, but living life with new redeemed bodies and doing redeemed work that isn't corrupted by sin. The ideas of heaven are very exciting: that we won't be just sitting around playing harps, but will live much like we do currently, although without the corruption of sin and in the presence of God. Another exciting theme in these books is that the work we do here matters towards the new heaven and new earth, and will be redeemed and made full when God comes. While this is exciting to me, it is also very confusing. Can anybody shed some light into how the work we do here transfers to Gods kingdom, according to Keller and/or Wright, even if it is "secular" in nature?

In Isaiah 65, God talks about the new heavens and the new earth. I was wondering how people with different eschatological views interpret this. After thinking about this for a while, I have thought of a few different possible interpretations. 1. From a premillennial perspective, it could to refer to the literal new earth, where God's people will live after the final judgement. This is supported by the use of the words "new heavens and new earth", and the fact that there will be no weeping or crying (v.19) and that lambs and wolves will eat together (v.25). But the text also says that death and sin will still exist (v.20) which contradicts this view. 2. It could also refer to the millennial reign of Christ, where death and sin still exist. But from a premillennial perspective, this period of time is never referred to as the "new heavens and new earth", is it? 3. From a preterist perspective, it could refer to the current time we are living in, where death and sin exist. But then, most of the passage must be viewed as extremely figurative. For example the verse about the lamb and the wolf, or verse 17 which says that the former thing shall not be remembered. 4. Finally, from a postmillennial point of view, it could refer to the time of Christ's reign, the age that began in the first century and will continue until his final coming. During this period of time, the earth will undergo a gradual change while his kingdom is expanding throughout the world. The text might then refer to the last days of this age, still several years from now. But is then verse 17 true, will really all former things be forgotten? And what about the lamb and the wolf, will the expansion of the kingdom also affect the behaviour of all animals? Have I rightly described each of these views? What other views are there? -- This is my first post in this forum, please tell me if there is something wrong with my question and what I should remember in future posts!

I know that in Christ there is complete redemption for both Jew and Gentile but it seems as though God has made specific promises to the house of Israel and that God throughout the bible shows special affinity toward Israel. The promise of Israel was that they would rule all the nations from Jerusalem and that all the material blessings of God will flow from Israel to the other nations. God also refers to Israel as his firstborn among the nations and according to the royal pattern God has set, the first born always receives the largest inheritance among his siblings. So in patristic perspective, do the Jews in Christ receive a particular inheritance while Gentiles also receive a great yet definitively different inheritance? The Jews in Christ will inherit the land of Israel. Will Gentiles rule in Israel with Jews or will Gentiles inhabit / rule their own respective nations in Christ, i.e Russia, China, Central African Republic, Japan, Germany, India, etc.? What is the protestant view on this?