The Concept of the New Earth and Biblical Cosmology

The New Earth is an expression used in the Book of Isaiah (65:17 & 66:22), 2 Peter (3:13), and the Book of Revelation (21:1) in the Bible to describe the final state of redeemed humanity. It is one of the central doctrines of Christian eschatology and is referred to in the Nicene Creed as the world to come.

Biblical References and the Final State of Perfection

The twenty-first chapter of the Book of Revelation introduces the final state of perfection where, according to one commentator, "cosmic time has been turned into eternity." In symbolic and visual language, God allows John to see the glory and beauty of the inheritance of His people. The first thing the reader notices about this vision is that it includes a "new heavens and a new earth" (21:1). To understand what the Bible teaches about eternity, the reader of the Apocalypse must understand the New Testament doctrine of the "New Heavens and the New Earth."

Regarding the nature of this transformation, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home (2 Peter 3:13). The biblical concept of the New Earth is one of renovation and restoration. This earth, however, will be either cleansed or destroyed by a very hot temperature of heat or a great fire, for the purpose of restoration as expressed in the following passage: "the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10-12 KJV).

Linguistic Interpretation: Neos vs. Kainos

In Koine Greek, there were two words that are translated as "new" in the English Bible: neos and kainos. One Greek resource states: As distinct from néos, "new in time," kainós means "new in nature" (with an implication of "better").

  • Kainós: Means "new in nature" or quality, suggesting renovation rather than a completely different entity.
  • Néos: Means "new in time," indicating something recent.

That kainos should not be taken as something totally new can be seen in a passage like the following: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Here the Apostle Paul uses kainos in the expression "new creation." Paul did not intend to convey the idea that this is a completely different individual; there is continuity between the old person and the new person to such an extent that it remains the same person, but renovated.

The Firmament and Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology

In biblical cosmology, the firmament (Hebrew: רָקִ֫יעַ‎ rāqīaʿ) was the vast solid dome created by God during the Genesis creation narrative to separate the primal sea into upper and lower portions so that the dry land could appear. In English, the word "firmament" is recorded as early as 1250, derived from the Latin firmamentum (a firm object). Rāqīaʿ derives from the root rqʿ, meaning "to beat or spread out thinly."

In ancient near eastern cosmology, the firmament was a celestial barrier that separated the heavenly waters above from the Earth below. The two prominent representations of the firmament were that it was either flat and hovering over the Earth, or that it was a dome and entirely enclosed the Earth's surface. Beyond the firmament is the upper waters, above which further still is the divine abode.

Addressing the "Four Corners" and Flat Earth Theories

The three passages in the Bible most often quoted by Christian proponents of the flat Earth theory are Revelation 7:1, Revelation 20:8, and Isaiah 11:12, which refer to the four heads or four corners of the Earth. However, as scholars point out, "The four corners of the Earth" is an expression which is widely used in different languages, but always with the same meaning: to indicate the farthest points on Earth, not literal corners.

The repetition of the number four creates an obvious connection between the four angels, the four corners of the Earth and the four cardinal points from which the winds are about to blow: North, South, East, and West. Not even a hyper-literal interpretation of the Bible can disregard the symbolism of the book of Revelation. The expression is used in the exact same way in Isaiah, which speaks of bringing the Israelites together from the four corners of the Earth, strengthening the non-literal understanding of the expression.

Summary of Key Biblical Terms

  • Rāqīaʿ: Extended surface or solid expanse; the vault of heaven regarded as solid.
  • Kainos: New in nature; transformed quality (Rev 21:1).
  • New Creation: A state signifying renovation, linked by the Roman Catholic Church to Baptismal grace.
  • Deification: The unconditional predestination of the Universe to be deified via the Second Coming.