New Heavens and New Earth
Biblical Basis: The Promise of Cosmic Renewal
The biblical vision of the future culminates in the creation of a new heavens and a new earth—a theme introduced by the prophet Isaiah and consummated in the Book of Revelation. Isaiah 65:17 declares, “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” This eschatological promise is reaffirmed in Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
This transformation is not merely metaphorical or spiritual, but points to a tangible, recreated reality—one in which sin, death, and decay are permanently abolished. The vision includes a new Jerusalem, the healing of the nations, and the full presence of God dwelling with His redeemed people. This is the fulfilment of divine intention from Genesis to Revelation: creation restored, humanity renewed, and God glorified in every dimension of existence.
Will There Be Time in Eternity?
One of the profound theological questions arising from this vision concerns the nature of time in the eternal state. Revelation 10:6 (KJV) states, “There should be time no longer,” though most modern translations render the phrase more accurately as “There will be no more delay”—referring to the conclusion of redemptive history rather than the cessation of temporal existence.
Scriptural portrayals of the new creation suggest continuity of personal identity, memory, and relational worship (Revelation 7:9–12; Isaiah 66:22–23), implying some form of temporality—albeit radically transformed. Classical theologians such as Augustine and Boethius described eternity not as infinite time but as an eternal present—a mode of existence in which past, present, and future coinhere in divine immediacy. It is plausible that the redeemed experience of time in the new creation will reflect this eternal quality—structured, but no longer bound by entropy, decay, or limitation.
Thermodynamic Perfection and the End of Entropy
In the current universe, the second law of thermodynamics governs the principle of entropy, whereby physical systems tend toward disorder and decay. This law reflects the consequences of the Fall—death, corruption, and futility (Romans 8:20–22).
However, in the eschatological restoration, creation will no longer be subject to bondage. A new order of physical law may emerge—what could be termed thermodynamic perfection. In this state, disorder is abolished, and all systems function in harmony and sustainability, perpetually upheld by the Creator’s sustaining power (Hebrews 1:3). The natural order will be no longer marked by entropy but by divine equilibrium—a reflection of the eternal harmony between God, creation, and humanity.
Spiritual Physics and the Resurrection Body
Paul’s description of the resurrection body in 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 is key to understanding the future of redeemed physicality: “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” The term “spiritual body” does not imply non-physicality, but rather a body animated and sustained by the Holy Spirit rather than by the biological processes of fallen creation.
This transformation likely involves a radical alteration of physical properties. Some theologians and Christian physicists have proposed that the resurrected body may operate in higher-dimensional space or in a redefined physical framework where spirit and matter are fully integrated. This aligns with Christ’s post-resurrection appearances—marked by both physicality (Luke 24:39) and transcendence (John 20:26). The resurrection body is not a return to Eden, but an advancement into a glorified, incorruptible state beyond current comprehension.
Summary: The Future of Creation in Eternal Harmony
The promise of a new heavens and a new earth entails far more than moral purification or spiritual refreshment. It envisions a comprehensive transformation—cosmic, personal, and physical. Time may be transfigured, no longer experienced as linear decay but as fulfilled purpose. The laws of physics may be redeemed, no longer subject to entropy but functioning in divine coherence. Humanity will be raised in glorified bodies, fully equipped to dwell eternally in the presence of God.
This eschatological hope affirms that the Creator has not abandoned His creation. Rather, He intends to renew it completely, fulfilling His covenantal promises and bringing all things into unity in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). The new creation is not the end of the world, but the consummation of the world—restored, perfected, and eternally sustained by the glory of God.