When will Christ recreate this earth?

The concept of the recreation of the earth is a central theme in Christian eschatology, focusing on the end times, the millennium, the judgment of the wicked, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. According to biblical prophecy, Christ will recreate the earth after the millennium and the final judgment of the wicked. This event marks the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, where sin and death are eradicated, and a perfect, eternal state is established for the righteous.

The Millennium

1. Description of the Millennium

The millennium is a thousand-year reign of Christ in heaven, characterized by peace and righteousness.

Revelation 20:4-6 (NKJV): “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

The millennium is a period of peace in heaven, where Christ raptures the saints at His second advent and take them to heaven as He promised (John 14:1-3).

2. Satan Bound

During the millennium, Satan is bound and rendered powerless to deceive the nations for all the wicked are destroyed by God’s glory at His second Advent.

Revelation 20:1-3 (NKJV): “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

End of the Millennium

1. Satan Released and Final Rebellion

At the end of the millennium, Satan is released, leading to a final rebellion against God.

Revelation 20:7-10 (NKJV): “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

At the close of the 1,000 years, the holy city, new Jerusalem, will come down from heaven to this earth. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men” (Revelation 21:3). The new Jerusalem will settle where the mount of Olives now stands. The redeemed of all ages (Zechariah 14:5), the angels of heaven (Matthew 25:31), plus God the Father (Revelation 21:2, 3) and God the Son (Matthew 25:31) will come to earth with the holy city for Jesus’ special third coming. The second coming will be for His saints but this third coming will be with His saints.

At the close of the 1,000 years, the wicked will be raised. Satan, loosed from his bonds, will then deceive the wicked. “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth” (Revelation 20:5, 7-8, NKJV). “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9, NKJV).

Satan’s final deception leads to a brief but intense conflict, ending in his ultimate defeat and judgment.

2. The Great White Throne Judgment

Following Satan’s defeat, the great white throne judgment occurs, where the wicked are judged and condemned.

Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV): “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The great white throne judgment marks the final separation of the righteous and the wicked, with the latter facing their final punishment with hell fire.

Recreation of the Earth

1. New Heaven and New Earth

After the final judgment, God creates a new heaven and a new earth, free from sin and death.

Revelation 21:1-4 (NKJV): “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'”

The new creation is a place of perfect harmony, where God dwells with His people, and all forms of suffering are eradicated.

2. God’s Final Word

God declares the completion of His redemptive plan and the renewal of all things.

Revelation 21:5-8 (NKJV): “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'”

God’s proclamation emphasizes the finality of His work and the eternal destiny of the righteous and the wicked.

Theological Implications

1. Hope for Believers

The promise of a new heaven and a new earth provides hope and encouragement for believers, assuring them of God’s ultimate victory and the restoration of all things.

2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV): “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Believers are called to anticipate and prepare for this new creation, living in righteousness and holiness.

2. Judgment of the Wicked

The final judgment underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine justice, motivating believers to live faithfully and share the gospel with others.

Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV): “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This parable of the sheep and the goats highlights the criteria for final judgment and the eternal consequences of one’s actions.

3. Eternal Fellowship with God

The new creation will be marked by eternal fellowship with God, where believers enjoy His presence forever.

Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV): “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

The imagery of the New Jerusalem depicts a place of abundant life, healing, and unbroken communion with God.

Practical Applications

1. Living in Expectation

Believers are encouraged to live in expectation of Christ’s return and the new creation, maintaining a lifestyle of holiness and readiness.

1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV): “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

The hope of Christ’s return motivates believers to pursue purity and righteousness.

2. Spreading the Gospel

The reality of the final judgment should inspire believers to share the gospel, warning others of the coming judgment and offering the hope of salvation.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV): “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

The Great Commission underscores the importance of evangelism in light of the coming judgment and new creation.

3. Enduring Trials

The promise of a new heaven and a new earth provides strength and endurance for believers facing trials and suffering.

Romans 8:18-21 (NKJV): “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Believers can find comfort in knowing that present sufferings are temporary and will be replaced by eternal glory.

Conclusion

The recreation of the earth by Christ will occur at the end of the millennium and the final judgment of the wicked. This event marks the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, resulting in a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Believers can look forward to this future with hope and anticipation, living in holiness, spreading the gospel, and enduring trials with the assurance of eternal fellowship with God. The promises and warnings contained in Scripture serve as a guide and motivation for believers to remain faithful and prepare for the glorious future that awaits.

For the chronological order of the 1000 years of the millennium, check: https://bibleask.org/what-is-the-chronological-order-of-events-for-the-1000-years-millennium/

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In His service,
BibleAsk Team