Beliefs about the Afterlife (L)

"And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Gen. 3: 17-19 ESV)

"Ground" is from the Hebrew word "'ăḏāmâ". The KJV translates it in the following manner: land(s) (125x), earth (53x), ground (43x), country (1x), husbandman (2x), husbandry (1x).

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, "sin entered the world" (Rom. 5: 12), and God cursed the creation, imputing the sin of man to his physical world and holding the creation responsible vicariously. In other words, there were epochal and disastrous consequences for the earth, sea, sky, animals, vegetation, etc. This curse involved the ground, or earth, so that it became inferior soil for producing vegetation; And, briers and thorns, weeds and thistles, and such like, also now made it a less ideal environment for growing fruit and crops, so as not to yield their fullness. The ground or earth, along with the heavens, have become unholy ground.

The only holy ground on earth is where God's presence has been specially manifested. So, we read God saying to Moses out of the burning bush "take you shoes from off your feet for the ground wherein you stand is holy ground." (Exo. 3: 5) All other places on earth, places where God is absent, withdrawn, or hidden, are unholy and cursed ground. Part of this involved the coming into existence of weeds and thorns, and part in the beginning of rust, rot, and decay. All under the umbrella of "death,""destruction" or "perishing."

I don't believe there was any death, decay, decomposition, rust, corrosion, or any such like, prior to the entrance of sin into the world. These are consequences of the apostasy of the human race through its head and progenitor Adam. Since the time of that transgression and fall the earth is well described by the Lord Jesus Christ when he said: 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matt. 6: 19-20 nkjv)

Not only are weeds, briers, and thorns, and weakened cursed soil, effects of the apostasy of man, but so too is the coming of moths (perhaps gnats and mosquitoes too, as well as other "pests"). Had Adam and Eve never sinned, and had they had children who did not sin, then there would have been no rust, decay, moths, and no death and degeneration in the world. 

James also wrote in his epistle:

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire." (James 5: 1-3 nkjv)

Several words in the above text speak of the kind of decay we are talking about. In that text we have "corrupted," "moth-eaten," "corroded," "corrosion," and "eat" (as in "eat away at"). 

"Corrupted" is from the Greek word "sēpō" and is used only here and Vine says it means "signifies "to make corrupt, to destroy...to become corrupt or rotten, to perish," said of riches, Jam 5:2, of the gold and silver of the luxurious rich who have ground down their laborers. The verb is derived from a root signifying "to rot off, drop to pieces."" 

"Corroded" ("cankered" kjv) is from the Greek word "katioō" and is also only used once in the new testament and means "to become rust" and the word "corrosion" ("rust" kjv) is from the Greek word "ios" and which means "poison" (rust on the metal being viewed as a kind of poison).

Though human flesh does not rust and corrode as metals, it does break down, perish, become corrupted. All degrade, become less pure, and this is what happens to the all physical things as they are in the process of dying. Now let us notice another key text on this state of degradation and decay, one we have previously mentioned.

"18 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. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." (Rom. 8: 18-22 nkjv)

In the words "...the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption..." (Rom. 8: 21) we have another reference to this decay of creation, whether it be metals or dead plants and animals. The Greek word for "corruption" is "phthora." W.E. Vine says the word is "connected with phtheiro" and "signifies "a bringing or being brought into an inferior or worse condition, a destruction or corruption." It is used (a) physically, 

 

(1), of the condition of creation, as under bondage, Rom 8:21; 

(2) of the effect of the withdrawal of life, and so of the condition of the human body in burial, 1Cr 15:42; 

(3) by metonymy, of anything which is liable to "corruption," 1Cr 15:50; 

(4) of the physical effects of merely gratifying the natural desires and ministering to one's own needs or lusts, Gal 6:8, to the flesh in contrast to the Spirit, "corruption" being antithetic to "eternal life;" 

(5) of that which is naturally short-lived and transient, Col 2:22, "perish;" 

(b) of the death and decay of beasts, 2Pe 2:12, RV, "destroyed" (first part of verse; lit., "unto... destruction"); 

 

It was when the creation was cursed in Genesis chapter three (as a consequence of Adam's transgression) that this decay began. In fact, the words "in the day you eat thereof you will die" actually means "you will begin to die that day," and this is when death, decay, degeneration, rust, corrosion, corruption, perishing, etc., began. So Paul says that the physical body is continually, even in life, slowly perishing. (II Cor. 4: 16) To be delivered from this bondage of corruption brings salvation to the whole creation, to the physical world. The effects of the fall on the physical world are reversed or redeemed. 

When God cursed the ground (or earth) because of the sin of man, this cursing of the whole creation involved it in bondage and subjection, and tied its deliverance from that bondage to the deliverance of man. So, when Lord God "subjected to vanity" the whole creation, he at the same time "subjected it in hope" so that "the whole creation groans and labors with birth pains," anxious and longing for that time when "the creation also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption." 

Notice also the apostolic comment about how the whole creation came to be in bondage. Paul says the creation was "subjected to vanity" (or futility, in the passive voice), and how it was brought into bondage. He says "not willingly," that is, not by its own choice. 

So, does that mean that "the whole creation" has a choice or a will? Or, is it a case in literature where an inanimate thing is personified, or given personal attributes? Paul also speaks of the same creation groaning and being in pain, and these descriptions also suggest the creation is a living thing, and one that is able to will, groan, and feel pain and pleasure, not to mention that it is also said to hope for salvation from its bondage. So, is it what is called a "prosopopoeia"? Is it merely a figure of speech or is it in some ways literal? Even if it is all figurative language, or a metaphor, it still points to what is literal. The decay and corruption is literal and so is the riddance of it literal. 

Further, if earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and such like, are some of the ways in which the heavens and earth "groan," and "travail in pain," which I think is highly likely, then it is very literal. Had sin not entered the world along with the curse there would have never been an earthquake of volcanic eruption, nor any meteorites falling to earth and sky, and any of the other effects of its cursing. 

The whole creation was cursed to decay and perish, to be in bondage, as a result of the sin of man, and the same whole creation will be blessed to be renewed and regenerated, to be liberated, as a result of man's final and complete redemption (deliverance). The destiny of man and his dwelling place (heavens and earth) are tied together. The only reason there are to be new heavens and earth is because there are renewed human beings. We have already cited Paul's words about Christians experiencing renewal, regeneration, rebirth, new creation, when they are converted to Christ by faith, for this is when those processes begin. We have cited Paul's words where he used the same language for the sinner's re-creation in Christ and for the creation of the future new heavens and earth. 

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Cor. 5: 17 kjv)

Notice how there is a "passing away" of the old creation (the old self in conversion) and the "passing away" of the first heavens and earth. Both are new creations. The old self passes away when one is joined to Christ by faith, so that Christ now rules the heart, and not the ego, or the self. The old way of seeing and doing things also passes away when one is saved by the gospel. He sees things differently, judges things differently, values things differently, thinks differently, aspires differently, etc. There is no change to the physical body when one is converted (unless they are one of those who happened to be healed and converted at the same time). What is old and what is new is in regard to the spiritual nature of man, to his core being, which would include his rational soul. 

This deliverance of the whole cursed creation from the bondage of corruption is involved with that "unloosing" (or dissolving) of the elements (building blocks) that is to occur when Christ returns and inaugurates "the day of the Lord" (as we saw from II Peter chapter 3). That unloosing brings both destruction and salvation, as we observed. That "unloosing" will involve unloosing of the whole creation from the chains of its bondage so that it is made new, destroying the old creation and its old and wicked occupants. 

Let us notice some texts on show how the heavens and earth, the cosmos or physical world, will rejoice from being delivered from the bondage of corruption at the coming again of Christ the Lord.

"30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. 32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth." (I Chron. 16: 30-33 kjv; See also Psalm 96: 11-13; 98: 7-9)

"Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, He displays His glory in Israel.” (Isa. 44: 23 NIV)

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isa. 55: 12-13 nkjv)

In the song "Joy To The World" there is that line that says "and heaven and nature sings." Yes, the whole creation, or all nature, will sing and rejoice when Christ comes to reign on earth and set up his kingdom. 

Notice also the promise that the renewed heavens and earth will no longer have "the brier." This is what I stated in previous chapters. Thorns, briers, and poor soil strength, etc., are results of the change in the world as a result of man's rebellion and being cursed with death. Notice what the writer of Hebrews wrote:

"For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned." (Heb. 6: 7-8 nasb)

Cursed ground is unfruitful ground, with very low crop yield, and produces mostly weeds and other chaff. Blessed ground is just the opposite. The ground in the new heavens and earth, in both the Millennium and in the eternal ages following, in the whole creation, will be liberated and made like Eden once again. This is when the earth will be made new, renewed, re-created, regenerated, or reborn. 

I don't see why any bible student would be inclined to not take the prophecy above in Isaiah literally. Why is brier and thorn not literal? Why is myrtle and cypress trees figurative and not literal? Those commentators who rush to say so are to be rejected. Take God's word literally unless the context or common sense dictate otherwise. 

Yes, of course, briers (briars), chaff, and weeds (tares) are emblems of the wicked who are lost. Many scriptures affirm that. The parable of the wheat and tares shows that to be so. But, in the above, the subject is the "ground" and its ability to produce vegetation that is good. While it is true that the wicked will be burned up as chaff in the day of wrath, when Christ is revealed from heaven in flaming fire to take vengeance on his enemies (II Thess. 1: 7-9), and will burn like dried out weeds, nevertheless the texts above are clearly talking about literal earthly weeds and briers. But, why deny that the text is talking about the ground or earth and how it will, in the new heavens and earth, no longer have briers, thistles, thorns, weeds, and such like?

The Regeneration

"So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt. 19: 28 nkjv)

This "regeneration" is not the rebirth of the Spirit, through the soul's conversion to Christ, as it is in Titus 3: 5, the only other place where the Greek word "palingenesia" is used. It denotes a new birth, or reproduction, renewal, and re-creation of the cosmos, of the heavens and earth. It denotes a "new beginning" or "new genesis." 

The debate is whether "in the regeneration" is to be connected with "you which have followed me" (as in the kjv) or with the words "when" and "will also sit...judging." Keep in mind that there are no punctuation marks in the Greek text. The placement of commas, colons, etc., are added by the translator/interpreter. The former cannot be what is meant, for Christ did not experience any regeneration (conversion), and yet that is implied in the words "you who have followed me in the regeneration." (kjv) Christ never was born again because he never was a sinner. 

In "the washing (or bath) of regeneration" (Titus 3: 5) there is no definite article in the Greek text (though the kjv added one). However, in the text above in Matthew, there is a definite article "the" and this also is significant, and is in agreement with the fact that "the regeneration" of Matthew is the thing Paul describes in Romans chapter eight. 

The creation of a "new creation in Christ Jesus" (II Cor. 5: 17) is a stage in the renovation of the heavens and earth and the creation of a new world. The regeneration of the soul of a converted sinner, begun in conversion, is one step towards the creation of new heavens and earth. This is because of the fact (as I have previously shown) that what is often said of "the earth" has reference to the people occupying it. 

"19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send [c]Jesus Christ, who was [d]preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since [e]the world began." (Acts 3: 19-21 nkjv). 

This is no doubt another text that speaks of the coming Millennial age and of the ages that follow, of the new heavens and earth. This text is pregnant with fascinating revelations about the coming ages following the return of Christ.

Trench's Synonyms of the New Testament for "Regeneration" discusses the Greek word palingenesia and its corollary anakainosis which means renewal. In it he said some things worth inserting into this chapter. He wrote (emphasis mine):

"Thus the pre-Christian usage of palingenesia refers to a recovery, a restoration, or a revival, but not to the type of new birth referred to in the New Testament. Palingenesia is not used in the Old Testament and appears only twice in the New Testament (Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5). In each case it has a different meaning. Our Lord's own words evidently refer to the new birth of the whole creation, the apokatastasis panton (the restoration of all things, Acts 3:21), that will occur when the Son of Man comes in his glory. Paul, however, used "the washing of regeneration" to refer to the new birth of human souls, not to the birth of the new creation."

He well says further:

"Is there a common denominator to the two New Testament uses of palingenesia? Certainly, otherwise all the laws of language would be violated. Palingenesia is used in a wider sense by Christ and in a narrower sense by Paul. There are two concentric circles of meaning with a common center. The palingenesia of Scripture begins with the microcosm of single souls but does not end until it has embraced the whole macrocosm of the universe. As seen in the Pauline reference, the primary seat of the palingenesia is man's soul. Having established its center there, the palingenesia extends in ever-widening circles, first embracing man's body, for which the day of resurrection is its palingenesia. Jesus' words in Matthew 19:28 certainly imply (or presuppose) the resurrection, but they involve much more. Beyond the day of resurrection, or contemporaneous with it, will come a day when all nature will put off its soiled, worn garments and clothe itself in holy attire. This will be "the times of restoration of all things" that is referred to in Acts 3:21. In an interesting intimation of this glorious truth, Plutarch refers to the "new arrangement," and frequently the Bible mentions "the new heaven and the new earth." According to Paul, the day of the palingenesia of the whole creation is one day in the labor-pangs of which all creation is groaning and travailing until now (Romans 8:21-23). Man is presently the subject of the palingenesia and the wondrous changes it implies, but in that day the palingenesia will include the whole world."

This is what we have thus far affirmed in relation of II Corinthians 5: 17 to the new heavens and earth or new creation.

Trench continues:

"The uses of palingenesia in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5 may be reconciled as follows. In Titus 3:5 palingenesia refers to the single soul; in Matthew 19:28 it refers to the whole redeemed creation. Each use refers to a different stage of the same event. As Delitzsch so concisely said: "Palingenesia is a brief term expressing rebirth or transfiguration of human bodily existence and of the entire non-human nature."

That seems to me to be clearly the teaching of scripture. The re-creation of the new heavens and earth, either of the Millennial age or of "the ages of the ages," is its regeneration, transformation, renewal, deliverance, redemption, restoration, liberation, revival, and other such words. The above text from Acts chapter three well describes the time and condition of that new creation. That renovation and return to Edenic condition is described as "times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" and "the times of restoration of all things."

Over the past several chapters we have cited several prophecies from the old testament prophets, especially from Isaiah, that foretold such a time of regeneration and re-creation for the cursed earth and sky, of the fruitfulness and prosperity of that new world. The text says such visions of final utopia on earth are just exactly what "God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." The restoration of man to his primordial state in Edenic delight, and the undoing of the work of the serpent, has been the recorded hope of believers since the first family's time in Eden.

Showers Of Blessings

In the Millennial age and the ages of the ages following, in the new heavens and earth, not only will the curse(s) be removed by the Lord, but he will replace blessing with cursing. Notice this word of the prophet Ezekiel:

"And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them." (Eze. 34: 24-27 kjv)

Notice that in regenerated heavens and earth, when God is dwelling on earth with its new occupants and citizens, that the effects are numerous. The Lord says in that world he "will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land." This is in harmony with those prophecies that also speak of the taming of animals, of the domesticating of wild animals, and the riddance of pests, along with briers and thorns in the vegetable world. He also describes this world as a time when one can "dwell safely in the wilderness" and safely "sleep in the woods." (Which shows that some people will still have their own houses, or domiciles, and that they will sleep) It will be a time of great fruitfulness and where bliss is everywhere.

In closing this chapter, let us think of these words of wise king Solomon:

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4: 18)

What is considered the perfect day? Well, some think it simply means "mid day," when the sun's shining or radiance is at its peak, after which it begins to decrease. But, that is the literal truth. Those perfect days are but miniature resemblances of the perfect day that is coming when Christ and his resurrected saints rule in the new heavens and earth, of the Millennial age and of the ceaseless ages after it. 

What is man's idea of the "perfect day"? We have addressed that question in previous chapters. In the present section, we are focusing on what is the perfect day and time, or perfect world (or age), and not on whether it is even a realistic possibility, for we have addressed that question already in this study. It is defining what exactly is "the perfect day" that we will continue to focus upon. We have also focused upon and when it might come into being, and how the old world will end and the new begin.