Awaiting the Resurrection
Many Christians believe that they are destined for a bodiless and ethereal eternity praising God with cupid-like angels in the clouds. But according to Scripture, heaven is not the believer’s final destination. Heaven is, rather, a temporary and blessed pit stop as believers await the resurrection of their bodies. Scripture plainly teaches that God will create a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (Isaiah 65:17-19; 2 Peter 3:13). Christ is coming to terminate this present evil age and usher in what he called the “regeneration” of the cosmos (Matthew 19:28). Revelation 21:1 speaks of this: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there [was] no longer any sea.” These verses are sufficient proof that Christian hope moves beyond the temporary intermediate state of heaven to the fulfillment of all of God’s promises when Christ will take his people to be with him in the kingdom of God.
We will have our bodies back, and they will be transformed to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21). We will see Christ with our eyes (Job 19:27), and dwell with God and the Lamb forever (Revelation 21:3). That’s the terminus of Christian hope.
That’s what believers should anticipate. We want and will receive glorified bodies that can behold the glorified Lord and Savior we have loved though not yet seen (1 Peter 1:8).
After Adam sinned by breaking the command of God, the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17). Humanity was subjected to the misery of death and pain of existence. Death was the reality introduced by the first man Adam. But now the second Adam, Jesus Christ, has come and conquered death. He died, and in his death he dealt the definitive death blow to the one who had the power from death— Satan (Hebrews 2:14). The reality introduced by the second Adam is life—abundant life (John 10:10), eternal life (John 3:16). Now that Christ has been raised, God is intent on making everything new in him (Revelation 21:5).
The curse that now ravages the earth will one day be removed by God. Death will not have the final word over
God’s creation, but will be swallowed up (Isaiah 25:8) in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). The earth will be released from its bondage. As Paul says, “…the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:2021). Creation is waiting, and it will not be disappointed! The Christian message is cosmic good news. All that is evil in the world will one day be removed (Revelation 21:27). All that is sinful in the world will be judged (Romans 2:16). All that induces sorrow will be gone (Revelation 21:24). The Christian’s future is secure in Christ.
The question is, are you in Christ? Are you right with the God who is going to recreate the cosmos? Have you repented of your sins and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Salvation can be found in no other name but his (Acts 4:12). God is coming to judge, and that is good news (Psalm 96:13). The question is, are you on board with God's gospel program of bringing his kingdom to earth in Christ? Or are you content with the temporary and fading pleasures of sin?