A New Heaven and a New Earth

Long before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah had a vision of Christ's great unifying work of salvation.  Many years after Jesus died, John, the beloved disciple, had another but similar vision:   He saw a new heaven and a new earth.  All of creation had been transformed, dressed with immortality to be the perfect bride of Christ.  In John's vision the risen Christ speaks from his throne, saying:  "Look, I am making the whole of creation new. ....  Look, here God lives among human beings.  He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them.  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes;  there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain.  The world of the past has gone"  (Revelation 21:5; 21:3-4).

Both Isaiah and John open our eyes to the all-inclusive nature of Christ's saving work.