Category Archives: New Creation

THE NEW CREATION IN REVELATION

New Creation August 13, 2019 Comments: 9

PMW 2019-065 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

New CreationIn Revelation 21 we read of the glorious new creation:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:1–2).

Revelation presents God’s divorce of his old covenant wife Israel in AD 70 (Rev 5 presents the divorce decree). In Rev 6-19 (with interludes and asides) we witness his adulterous wife’s capital punishment. Now in the two closing chapters, we are witnesses to his marriage to his new bride, the new covenant church of Jesus Christ. The new creation is an image of the new covenant. This new Jerusalem-bride is the “Jerusalem above” (Gal 4:26), the “heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb 12:22) to which all believers in Christ belong. Continue reading →

THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION

Christ, New Creation, Resurrection June 7, 2019 Leave a comment

PMW 2019-046 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

The Scripture teaches that Christ arises from the dead in the same body in which he dies, though with certain super-added spiritual powers.1 His resurrection does not merely revivify a lifeless cadaver; but neither is it the creation of a new body. Just as he prophesies, the very body which dies also comes forth from the tomb (Jn 2:19, 22). As such, it miraculously attests the truth of his divine mission on earth (Jn 2:18–21; cp. Mt 12:39–41; 16:1–4; Lk 11:29.

This is why the tomb and burial clothing are empty: his physical body departs from them (Mt 28:6; Jn 20:4–11, 15). After the resurrection the Gospels show Christ in a material body that people can touch and handle (Lk 24:39), and which still has the wounds of the cross (Jn 20:27; cf. Rev 5:6). On other occasions he bids Mary Magdalene to quit clinging (haptomai) to him (Jn 20:17). Continue reading →

2 PETER 3 AND THE CONSUMMATION (2)

New Creation January 1, 2019 Comments: 18

PMW 2019-001 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

If your watch is set correctly, you will notice that we are in a new year. Thus, I thought it appropriate to offer a study of the new creation as we close out the old year and begin a new one. This is the second in a series on the new creation in 2 Peter 3. In my previous article I began a consideration of 2 Peter 3 and Peter’s reference to the new heavens and new earth. I will conclude the study in this article. I recommend your reading the earlier article first. Continue reading →

2 PETER 3 AND THE CONSUMMATION (1)

New Creation December 28, 2018 Comments: 6

PMW 2018-104 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

As we ring out the old year and ring in the new, it might be encouraging for us to consider the biblical concept of the new creation. The key passage presenting the consummate new heavens and new earth is found in 2 Peter 3. Unfortunately, this passage creates much confusion among interpreters. Continue reading →

LINKING REV 20 AND REV 21

New Creation, Revelation April 17, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-030 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

The Problem before Us

Many Revelation commentators argue that the new creation of Rev. 21–22 follows after the final judgment of Rev. 20:11–15. And it certainly is not unreasonable to hold that John’s statement that “the first heaven and the first earth passed away” (21:1) chronologically “follows on the heels of 20:11, where it is said that ‘heaven and earth fled away from the presence [of God], and no place was found for them’” (Beale 1039). This would suggest that ch 21 follows after the final judgment in 20:11–15. Continue reading →

TABERNACLE, CREATION, NEW CREATION

Creation, New Creation March 23, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-024 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Perhaps one more study from Exodus might be helpful in encouraging our reaching out to all creation with God’s salvation. Let us consider the tabernacle and its reflection of creation. Worship and creation belong together, because created the world to bring him glory.

God’s people in God’s world
We must understand that Israel is the continuation of the redemptive seed line begun in Genesis (Gen. 4:26) with Seth and who as a people dominate the Old Testament revelatory record. That seed line continues from Seth through Noah (Gen. 5:4–32) to Shem (Gen. 10:26), then is narrowed to Abraham (Gen. 11:10–12:3). Abraham’s family will carry the redemptive seed through the Old Testament all the way to the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:36–38), the Savior (Matt. 1:21) who is “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Continue reading →

THE HOUSE OF GOD

Creation, New Creation, salvation January 5, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-002 by L. Michael Morales (Tabletalk)

Gentry note:
God created man in his image and then came and dwelled with him in Eden. Due to man’s sin, God expelled him from Eden. But God lovingly and mercifully returns to dwell with man in the tabernacle, based on sacrifice and forgiveness. After Jesus’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the tabernacle/temple reality begins gradually unfolding in the world through the process of new creation in Christ. Postmillennialists expect the gospel-based new creation to expand and envelope the whole world. This article from Tabletalk magazine provides remarkable insights into the relationship between the original creation and the tabernacle, then the new creation. It is insightful and may easily be adapted to the postmillennial hope, especially when we realize the new creation exists now (2 Cor. 5:17).

Continue reading →