Wednesday, March 19, 2008

How will Jesus make the new homes on the New Earth

This search term led to my website, so I'd like to post an answer (although speculative).

1) Jesus will make new homes for us on the New Earth!

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:2-3

Heaven, which after the end of history will be merged with the New Earth, has houses.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
2) Jesus is very qualified to make the homes

He spent most of his life a home-builder with his father Joseph. He also created the entire universe. While always being God, he took on human form got first hand experience in living day-to-day in houses.

3) Current building project in Heaven

Because Jesus says 1) that he goes to prepare a place for us in John 14, 2) he ascends to Heaven after 40 days after his resurrection and 3) the New Jerusalem comes ready-made out of Heaven down to Earth at the end of history in Revelation 22--Therefore, I infer that Jesus is right now working on a physical (not "spiritual") city 1,400 miles long, wide, and tall in which to dwell with his bride (the church across all time).

And I 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 the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Rev 21:2-3
The language of referring to the city as a bride implies to me that the Bride--people, the church--has already moved in to the city as it comes down from Heaven.

4) Marriage metaphor fulfilled

Jesus's personal attention to the building of houses just for us is consistent with the marriage image we are given throughout the Bible of God relating to his people. "I love you, I want to be with you, I have rescued you, Now come live with me forever, I've personally made a special place for us, I will dwell with you forever."

Question: How will Jesus make the new homes on the new earth? I don't know details, but he was a home-builder on Earth, can create literally anything, has promised to do it, and the Bible shows us a special city descending out of Heaven where "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people".



No comments: