We are well aware that the new heaven and earth comes after the

Millennium, but it is so important to see this great epoch not only in its

own light, but in the relation that it holds with Israel, Jerusalem and

Prophecy generally, that we will not allow a mere academic objection to

prevent its inclusion in this series.

It is natural with the way in which the correspondences of Scripture

are arranged, for the creation of Genesis 1:1 to be placed over against the

creation of Revelation 21:1 as follows:

Gen. 1:3

to

Rev. 20:15

Present Adamic World

First Death

Second Death

Gen. 1:1

Rev. 21:1

If, however, the new heaven and the new earth represent 'the last

syllable of recorded time' then they will constitute that perfect kingdom

which the Son shall deliver up to God, even the Father, 'that God may be all

in all', and once again, there will be many students of Scripture who will

believe that such is the case.  We should expect if this be so, seeing that

the apostle Paul had a ministry that went beyond the limits of the kingdom of

Israel and the New Jerusalem, we should find him referring again and again to

this great goal of the ages.  As a matter of fact, the only New Testament

writers who speak of the new heaven and new earth, are Peter in his second

epistle 3:10 -13 and John in the book of the Revelation.

True, Paul affirms that if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new

creature (2 Cor. 5:17) and approaches the language of Revelation 21:4 when he

says, 'old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new' (2 Cor.

5:17).  In 2 Corinthians 12:2 he tells us he was 'caught away (not "up") to

the third heaven', which in verse 4 he refers to as 'Paradise', and this may

refer to the new heavens of Revelation 21 and to the Paradise of Revelation

22.  Again in Romans 8:19 -22 he looks to a day when creation's groan shall

cease, but it remains true nevertheless, that only Peter and John actually

use the term, 'new heavens and new earth'.

All this time, of course, we have been speaking with the book shut.

The moment we 'open the book' at Revelation 21:1 we are confronted with

features and facts that give us pause.  The new heaven and new earth take the

place of 'the first' heaven and earth.  The Companion Bible's comment here is

'first, or former, as verse 4'.  'Former' is the translation given in the

Twentieth Century New Testament.  This is the translation of the Greek word

protos, by the Authorized Version itself in Revelation 21:4, 'the former

things are passed away'.  When Luke wrote in Acts 1:1 of the Gospel he had

already written, he said, 'the former treatise have I made' not 'the first'.

So also, the 'first' covenant and the 'first' tabernacle of Hebrews 8:13 and

9:8 speak of the 'former' of the two covenants or tabernacles under review.

The tabernacle in the wilderness was not the 'first' that ever was, for

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dwelt in 'tabernacles' long before Moses was born.

The 'first' covenant of Hebrews 8:13 was not the first that ever was, but the

'former' of two, the 'second' covenant being more often called 'new', just as