Scripture references are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless stated otherwise. God is working out His Plan for ALL in Seven Biblical Ages through Jesus Christ, who is the Beginning and the End. Jesus began the Ages when He first created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. He will end the Ages with the shout “It is done”, thus bringing to completion God’s Plan for ALL, which reaches its glorious fulfilment in the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Isaiah 65:17-18 17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create." God wants us to be glad and rejoice because He will create the New Heaven and the New Earth. The vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth was given to Apostle John approximately 2000 years ago on the Island of Patmos. Revelation 21:1-6 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End..." What a wonderful and glorious scripture! There will be no more pain and no more death (no more first fleshly death nor second Lake of Fire death), and Father God Himself will come down to this planet earth and live with men. The New Heaven and the New Earth as described in these verses represent the conclusion of God’s Plan For ALL. When Christ will shout the words “IT IS DONE”, He will have fulfilled His complete mission from the beginning to the end of God’s Plan to reconcile all things in heaven and all things on earth to God the Father through the work of the cross. The place in Revelation 21:6 where Jesus Christ shouts, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” should mark the end of the chapter. This is because the remainder of the book of Revelation from the middle of Revelation 21:6 where it says, “I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death…etc.”, refers back to events prior to the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth, before the reconciliation of all things. Please note that there were no verses, paragraphs or chapter breaks in the ancient Hebrew or Greek manuscripts from which the Bible versions are translated. These verses, paragraphs and chapter breaks do not form part of the inspired writing, but were added later and sometimes placed inappropriately as in this case. Apostle Peter understood that the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth will take place after God has first renewed the earth with its heaven (earth's atmosphere) by fire. 2 Peter 3:12-13 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens (Greek ouranos meaning heaven refers to earth’s atmosphere) will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens (singular heaven) and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. In the verses above, please note that the Greek word ouranos has been incorrectly translated by the NKJV translators into the plural form ‘heavens’ instead of the singular form ‘heaven’. In the Bible, the plural form ‘heavens’ refers to the whole universe but the singular form ‘heaven’, depending on the context, refers to the earth’s atmosphere, the sky or God’s current dwelling place located somewhere in the universe. On the Day of Judgement, only the earth with its atmosphere, the sky, will be on fire and not the whole universe. The earth with its heaven will be a ball of fire. Since the elements will melt with fervent heat the earth’s surface will become a Lake of Fire, as molten lava, and the earth’s atmosphere will be full of flames rising up from this Lake of Fire. All of earth’s unbelieving inhabitants who are cast into the Lake of Fire on the Great White Throne Judgement Day will be refined and cleansed in this Lake of Fire in preparation for the New Heaven and the New Earth in which God’s Righteousness dwells. Apostle Paul understood that there is an order in God’s Plan of Salvation and that the End or the fulfillment of God’s Plan will come when Jesus Christ delivers the Eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth to God the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. This is a marvelous scripture that lays down the sequence of events, which will happen before the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth. There are three important points to note. The First Point to note is that each person's salvation is according to his own order, as decided by God. God has an order of when each person will be made alive in Christ, i.e. saved and reconciled to God the Father. Christ has led the way and He is the Beginning, the first born from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Afterwards, all believers who have ever lived along with all believers who are alive at Christ's Second Coming. This group of people is called the First Fruits with Christ. They are God’s Elect both from the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations and they are also referred to as the Bride of Christ. These Elect are promised a special salvation and they will be resurrected in the First Resurrection to join Jesus Christ in the air at His Second Coming. They will then rule and reign with Jesus Christ for the thousand-year Millennial Kingdom on earth. The Second Point to note is that the End which is the fulfillment of God’s Plan will come when Jesus Christ delivers the Kingdom to God the Father. The Kingdom referred to here can only be the Eternal Kingdom of God of the New Heaven and the New Earth as this is when all things are reconciled. The Third Point to note is that there are three important events mentioned in the scripture above that will take place before Jesus Christ delivers the Kingdom to God the Father. Firstly, all in Adam who are not yet made alive in Christ must be saved and reconciled to God the Father. Secondly, all rule, authority and power, which refer to all rebellious angelic powers, will be made subject to Christ. Here, the meaning of the word subjection is a willing obedience because the same scripture says that Christ Himself will be subject to God the Father. Thirdly, death itself, which is called the last enemy, will be destroyed. All of these events will happen during God's refining yet merciful Lake of Fire judgement before the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth. The End or the fulfilment of God’s Plan comes when Jesus Christ delivers the Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth to the Father. This is when He shouts the glorious words, ‘It is done’. This is when there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, and no more pain. This is when Father God Himself will come down onto this refined and renewed earth with its refined and renewed heaven (earth's atmosphere) and He will dwell with men forever and be all in all. It is very important to understand that our Planet Earth is destined to become God’s dwelling place, His throne and the headquarters of the universe. To appreciate this truth, it is necessary to know that there are three distinct meanings of heaven/heavens in the Bible. Heaven in the Bible The three distinct meanings of heaven/heavens in the Bible are as follows: Firstly, heaven means the visible sky, or earth’s atmosphere. Secondly, heavens means the Universe. Thirdly, heaven means the dwelling place of God, where God’s throne is presently located somewhere in the Universe. ‘Heaven’ and ‘heavens’ are translations of the Hebrew word shamayim and the Greek word ouranos. Both of these Hebrew and Greek words can be translated into the singular form ‘heaven’ or the plural form ‘heavens’ depending on the context in Scripture. In some verses, Bible translators of the NKJV and many other versions of the Bible have confused the plural form with the singular form and vice versa, as in the case of 2 Peter 3:12-13 discussed previously. When the context of a verse refers to the earth’s atmosphere, the sky or the current dwelling place of God, then the singular form ‘heaven’ is correct. However, when the context of a verse refers to the universe, then the plural form heavens is correct. The following are examples of scripture verses which demonstrate the three meanings of heaven/heavens: 1 Kings 18:45 (KJV) And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven (the sky, the earth’s atmosphere) was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens (the universe) and the earth. 2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven (God’s dwelling place). Most Christians do not understand that when a believer dies, he or she does not go to heaven to the dwelling place where God resides, which is at present located somewhere in the universe. The Bible plainly says that no man has ascended to heaven except Jesus Christ. (John 3:13, Acts 2:29, 34) The truth of the Bible is that there is no heaven or hell as understood or misunderstood by traditional Christianity. When a believer dies, he remains in a state of ‘sleep’ until his resurrection in the First Resurrection when he enters God’s Millennial Kingdom on this earth, in his immortal saved body. When an unbeliever dies, he also remains in a state of ‘sleep’ until his resurrection in the Second Resurrection when he is judged in the Lake of Fire, in his immortal yet unsaved body. Ultimately, all resurrected unbelievers will be saved and they will enter God’s Eternal Kingdom on this earth, but only after God’s refining yet merciful Lake of Fire judgement. The Earth is the focus of God’s creation. Planet Earth is destined to become God’s headquarters where God the Father Himself will come down from his current dwelling place in heaven to dwell with men on earth as we read in Revelation 21:1-6. Many verses in the Bible show that God has put a special emphasis on this planet earth. In the very first verse of the Bible, God singles out the creation of the earth from the rest of the universe by saying, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth”. (Genesis 1:1) God will first establish His Millennial Kingdom and then His Eternal Kingdom on this earth. The Kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 11:15) Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:11, 22) The Bride of Christ shall reign on this earth with Jesus Christ. (Revelation 5:10) Jesus Christ has gone to heaven to prepare a future place, which will be on this earth for all true believers, His Bride, who will be resurrected in the First Resurrection to join Him at His Second Coming. John 14:1-3 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. This scripture has been misunderstood by traditional Christianity to mean that immediately after death a believer goes to a place in heaven prepared by Jesus Christ. Notice that the scripture says that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth to receive His believers, His Bride, so that they may be with Him in the same place where He is. When Jesus Christ returns, He will remain on this earth and complete His mission to deliver the Eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth to God the Father, who will then come down onto this earth to dwell with men forever. Heaven, God's dwelling place, will be on earth. We have already seen that Father God will transfer His ‘House’ from heaven (His current dwelling place) to this earth at the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth. There are many mansions in the Father’s House and the Bride of Christ is promised these as a special reward, which She will receive in the Eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Jesus Christ instructed His followers to pray for the Kingdom of God to come and be established on earth and for God’s will to be done on earth. Matthew 6:9-10 9 ...Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. The only place in the universe where God’s will is not yet being fully done is on this earth, where Satan remains the god of this world. However, the time will come when the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of God, and then this believers’ prayer known as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ will be fully answered. The Kingdom of God will come on earth in two phases. Phase One will be the Millennial Kingdom and Phase Two will be the Eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth. We have covered the subject of the Millennial Kingdom of God in detail in Chapter 11. Like Apostle John, Apostle Paul was also given a vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Apostle Paul was caught up to the ‘third heaven’. The third heaven here refers to a vision of the future dwelling place of God. Paul was undoubtedly given the vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth, the future dwelling place of God with men. The vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth was so wonderful and beautiful that Paul describes it as a Paradise. However, Paul was not permitted to give any more details of the words he heard or the things he saw. The Bible has very little to say about God’s purpose and plan beyond the Ages, after the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth. However, there are a few things, which we can be sure of. The New Earth with its New Heaven will be the headquarters of the universe as God the Father Himself will live here with men. Everything in the universe will be reconciled and at peace with God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All People are created in the image of God and we are called His Family. (Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 3:15) Our future in the Kingdom of God will be glorious beyond description. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." We can be sure that Father God has a wonderful, glorious and exciting future beyond our dreams and imaginations for His Whole Family, Adam and Eve and all of their descendants along with all of God's angels. We are sure that God inspired us to write God’s Plan for All, and we ourselves are amazed to read its contents. There are many wonderful, powerful and eye-opening truths revealed in this book. Truths, clearly explained with plain biblical texts. There has been no such book written in the history of Christianity. Click here to order your free paperback hard copy of God’s Plan for All. Please contact us if you have any comments to make or any questions to ask.       Copyright © 2005 All rights reserved GOD'S PLAN FOR ALL