In my studies of eschatology over the past several years, I’ve sometimes amended my views as I

have gained deeper insight into the Biblical narrative. This has caused me to move from
Preterism to A-Millennialism, and eventually to Chiliasm, which is my current position.
Despite my occasional waffling about, though, I have learned quite a bit that I probably wouldn’t
have learned if I remained in one system the entire time. Looking back, I find that
my tergiversation has been a blessing in many ways, for it has enabled me to view texts and
passages from different angles and through divers paradigms, which, far from frustrating my
understanding, have rather sharpened it..
Last year, I began questioning some of the interpretations of Dispensationalism regarding the
“New Heaven and Earth” of Isaiah 65, 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 21. I came to the conclusion
that these passages form a “threefold cord” that is not quickly broken. They relate not to some
period after the Millennium, but to the renovation of the creative order which will take
place following Christ’s second advent. In other words, the “New Heaven and New Earth“ is
another term for the Millennial economy. When Christ returns the “second time, without sin
unto salvation” (Heb. 9: 28), He will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to
plead with all flesh (Isaiah 66: 15-16). All nations will be gathered before Him in the valley of
Jehoshaphat to receive their sentencing (see Joel 3). Those nations which sheltered and
sustained the church during the time of Great Tribulation will be rewarded by entrance into the
Millennial kingdom; while those nations that rejected Christianity will be cast into age-abiding
punishment (see Matthew 25: 31-46).
It is likely that when our Lord comes the second time, the general resurrection of all men will
ensue, and the books will be opened (see Revelation 20: 12). Multitudes will arise from the dust
of the earth, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:
2). But each will be raised in His own band or company. Christ the firstfruits; afterward, they
that are Christ’s at His parousia (1 Cor. 15: 23). The saints will enjoy a special resurrection
which will render them immune to the second death, or lake of fire (Rev. 2: 11; 20: 6). They
will have attained to that blessed out-resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3: 11), and will shine like
the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13: 43; Daniel 12: 3). The wicked, on the other
hand, are “tares” who do not belong to Christ. These will be cast, body and soul, into Gehenna
(Matt. 10: 28), where all who make pilgrimage to the holy city during the Millennium will see
them burn (Isaiah 66: 23-24).
Speaking of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven at Christ’s
second advent (Rev. 21: 3), it will be the center of admistration for the entire earth, and the seat
of government of Christ and His saints (see Lactantius, Divine Institutions, VII. 24). Christ
promised His twelve apostles that in the regeneration (i.e., the New Heaven and New Earth),
they would sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19: 28; cf. Psalm 122:
5). Hence, Israel will be regathered during the Millennium (Isaiah 11: 11-12), and brought
under the jurisdiction of the New Jerusalem. For the holy city is the mother of all who come
under the New Covenant (Galatians 4: 26); and Israel will be brought under the bonds of the
New Covenant by the time the Millennium commences (see Ezekiel 20: 37-38).
These New Heavens and New Earth will never pass away, but will remain forever (Isaiah 66:
22). While death will remain in partial operation during the Millennium (Isaiah 65: 20), it will
eventually be abolished when the eternal economy commences. The eternal economy will begin
after the casting of Satan into the lake of fire and the sentencing of those who were destroyed at
Christ’s second advent, as well as those who died during the Millennium (see Rev. 20: 10).
Then the restitution of all things will be complete. All men will be fixed and allotted their eternal
destiny, Christ will deliver His perfected kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15: 24), and the
eternal ages will roll from glory to glory, without end.
That is just a brief synopsis of some of things in store for believers who are truly “in Christ;”
that is, those who are justified by His blood and sanctified by the Spirit (1 Peter 1: 2): for it is
the blood and water of the New Covenant that saves us (John 19: 34). In this present age, we
receive the earnest of our future inheritance, the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1: 13-14); which is a
downpayment preparing us for the incorruption which we shall inherit in the resurrection of the
just (see Irenaeus, Against Heresies, V. 8) — when the Lord shall quicken our mortal bodies
(Romans 8: 11), and the whole triune nature of man (body, soul, and spirit) will be redeemed (1
Thess. 5: 23). Is not this something to look forward to?
Those who posit the New Heavens and New Earth as following the Millennium, usually claim
that there will be a restitution of the Levitical order during the 1000 years when Satan is bound.
But this is not a correct view; for the Levitical order has already been absorbed by the
Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7: 17-18). When Christ comes the second
time, He will exercise the offices of priest and king upon His throne (Zech. 6: 13); and believers
who form the bride of Christ – the antitypical Eve – will receive conjoint dominion and
priesthood with Him. This is the true meaning of that passage in Revelation 20: 4, which states
that they who have overcome will be kings and priests. Our authority will be outward then, as it
is inward now. At the present time, all believers who worship acceptably with God, offering the
sacrifices of prayer and praise, are accounted a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2: 9).
In addition, we may remind the reader that placing the New Heavens and Earth after the
Millennium breaks the threefold cord of Isaiah 65: 17, 2 Peter 3: 13, and Revelation 21: 1.
Peter was looking for the New Heavens and New Earth as depicted in the other two passages,
which he must have understood as the Millennium; for the first resurrection will occur following
Christ’s second coming, when the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements
shall melt with a fervent heat (2 Peter 3: 12). Brethren, that is enough for us. When all of these
passages are fairly studied, one will see that the “regeneration” is none other than the Millennial
economy, and that the threefold cord ties them together with a perfection that can only be Divine.