Recommended Reading: A New Heaven and a New Earth

The Annual Lubbock Lectureship began in 1998, and for several years they published a book. They ceased this latter practice but resumed it for one year (2021) to produce this lectureship book, A New Heaven and a New Earth. Currently, its 439 pages are only available in paperback. Recently, your congenial editor wrote six articles on this subject; some of that material can be found in this volume.

The subtitle of the book asks the question: "Will Heaven Be on a 'Newly Renovated' Earth?" The opening chapter deals generally with God's Divine Justice, which is followed by one titled, "Recycling the Old Heaven on Earth Error." The doctrine that God will renovate the earth to make it heaven is not a new idea. At one time it was entertained by Alexander Campbell, Moses Lard, David Lipscomb, James Harding, and others (20-22). However, quotes go back even further on the subject—all the way to Irenaeus and Chrysostom (25-28). Later, Augustine and Calvin are cited (29-31). It is certainly helpful to have the historical perspective this material provides.

More information to reflect upon is contained in "The Peaceful Kingdom" and "One hope: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?" What follows these deals with a pertinent question: "If Heaven Will Be on Earth, Are We Singing Error?" After this one comes a charge that the renovated earth theory is "a materialistic doctrine." The opening page claims:

Materialism considers physical, tangible, material things more important than spiritual intangible things. Its core belief is that "substance is everything"—this world is everything (76).

This chapter also quotes from some outside the Lord's church, such as Randy Alcorn and N.T. Wright. Alcorn predicts that the new earth will have large bodies of water where men might be able to dive without wearing masks, holding their breath perhaps for hours (78). Whatever happened to "no more sea" (Rev. 21:1)? N.T. Wright uses an analogy involving beer; one wonders if the "new beer" will be non-alcoholic (78). The chapter contains much more, such as a discussion of typology, including a pertinent quote by Dungan (82) before ending with an emphasis on 1 Peter 1:4, which emphasizes that our inheritance is reserved in heaven (87-88).

A very thought-provoking chapter covers "the world to come." The reader may or may not agree with the thesis of the chapter based on Hebrews 2:5, but he will find it interesting, to say the least. The next topic concerns the meek inheriting the earth, which this writer dealt with previously.

A related topic involves "soul sleeping" and the annihilation of the lost. These teachings do not characterize most of those holding to the renovated earth theory, but some believe them, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists. These two groups also have objections to the Hadean realm—particularly the part of it where the rich man was in torments. "Where Are the Dead Now" offers a Biblical perspective of those matters.

"The City Come Down from Heaven" analyzes what the Biblical text teaches—and what it does not teach. Randy Alcorn and N.T. Wright are again cited as proponents of the renovated earth being our eternal abode. John Mark Hicks, who at one time was regarded as one of "our" professors, became Calvinistic years ago, giving up adherence to the truth—including on this subject of renovation (145).

"Is God Moving to a Consummated Earth?" uses syllogisms to help clarify the issue. The author also cites N.T. Wright and an article he wrote in 2019 for TIME, titled, "The New Testament Doesn't Say What Most People Think It Does About Heaven." Wright claims that God is going to finally bring heaven and earth together in a great act of new creation, completing the original creative purpose by healing the entire cosmos of its ancient ills (161).

The reader may by now be wondering who, if anyone, advocates such a teaching among us? Unfortunately, there are many, and some are named in "Promoters of the Heaven on Earth Doctrine." One is Wes McAdams of the McDermott Road Church of Christ in Plano, Texas. Another is Josh Pappas in LaVergne, Tennessee. These are not individuals that are merely suspected of teaching the doctrine; they have blogs or videos championing their beliefs.

Others include Jacob Rutledge of Dripping Springs, Texas, Clint Brown of Farmersville, Texas, and Matthew Benfield, who prepared an 83-page Master's thesis on the subject (173-75). This view is examined logically, and fallacies in their thinking are demonstrated (175-80). More faulty reasoning is exposed in both Pappas' and McAdams' material (180-84).

"God Forbids Wresting His Scriptures (Galatians 1; 2 Peter 3:16)" seems to be an appropriate follow-up to the preceding chapter. And so is the next one: "The Bible's Teaching about Judgment Day." What else needs to be said? Plenty. Thus far we have examined slightly more than half of its contents.

Scholarship

Two chapters in this book ought not to be minimized or overlooked. The first of these is "What makes the Renovated Earth Doctrine Damnable?" Of course, this is a most pertinent question. When Ralph Gilmore and Danny Chambers had a discussion on this topic a few years ago, both were quick to declare that the difference in perspectives was not a matter of fellowship. Is that true? One answer is to consider how a doctrine becomes popular in our era. Despite the fact that some restorationists taught this doctrine, most brethren have not adhered to it in decades. It has moved to the forefront of thinking and acceptance by virtue of its support from many denominational teachers. Cited are David Jeremiah, N.T. Wright, "and the especially popular Randy Alcorn" (235), who "teaches that animals and sports will be in heaven" (239).

The reader of this review might say, "Well, so what? Who cares what these denominational people think?" The answer is, surprisingly, that many younger preachers do, and the evidence of this trend is provided. Quoting a small portion from the document would not make the same impact as examining the five pages of the letter that is quoted in the book. Anyone interested in this issue, however, should read the material written by a preacher in which he justifies paying more attention to denominational writers than to brethren! This admission speaks volumes concerning this and other issues. It must be genuine; no fiction writer could invent such a lengthy defense of that position (231-35).

The author of this chapter submits the idea that a doctrine is sinful (fatal) when it contradicts the Lord's teaching. He then cites three pages of Scriptures and principles which the renovated earth doctrine challenges (240-42).

The second chapter dealing with this same theme is: "Scholarship: The Root of the Problem." Among other points made here is this one: "Far too often men seem to be enamored with the learning of those not in Christ's true church" (389). It does make one wonder why it is that men who deny the truth concerning salvation by saying baptism had no part in it, who teach that Jesus is returning to set up a kingdom in Jerusalem to reign there for a thousand years, and who fail to realize that the use of instruments of music in worship lacks Biblical authority should then be sought after to see what they think and teach on various other subjects. Hello! Max Lucado led the way to championing denominational leaders when he spoke the following words more than two decades ago:

I deeply appreciate my heritage [he means his upbringing in the church of Christ, GWS], BUT1 (emphasis added) through the years my faith has been supplemented by people of other groups…. I wasn't long on God's ship before I found encouragement in other staterooms. A Brazilian Pentecostal taught me about prayer. A British Anglican by the name of C.S. Lewis put muscle in my faith. A Southern Baptist helped me understand grace. One Presbyterian, Steve Brown, taught me about God's sovereignty while another, Frederick Buechner, taught me about God's passion. A Catholic, Brennan Manning, convinced me that Jesus is relentlessly tender. I'm a better husband because I read James Dobson and a better preacher because I listened to Chuck Swindoll and Bill Hybels (398-99).

1[As Geoff pointed out recently in Bible class, the word but negates what came before it and stands for Behold, the Underlying Truth concerning what follows.]

It's too bad Lucado didn't have time to see what the Scriptures taught on these subjects. Randy Alcorn is quoted again, and he claims that God will be coming down to live on earth. He will restore Eden! God will give us "the best of meats and the finest of wines" (401). Does anyone get the feeling that he enjoys alcohol? He also suggests that in the new earth sexual relationships can be enjoyed (405).

Other Material

Other chapters include: "Our Resurrected Bodies in Eternity," "The Bible's Teaching About Gehenna," and "The Times of Restitution of All Things," which includes an analysis of Acts 3:21 (288-89). "Why Are So Many Among Us Silent?" explains 2 Peter 3 (305-306) and also considers Isaiah 65 and 66 (310-11). It is followed by a "Contextual Survey of Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; and Revelation 21:1." The reader will find a tremendous amount of excellent material recorded here, especially on pages 326-29.

Once again, in "In My Father's House," the name of Randy Alcorn surfaces, along with that of Wes McAdams and his teachings (335-36). Attention is given to the mansions mentioned in John 14:1 (339-40).

"The Whole Creation Groaneth" seeks to explain Romans 8:18-25. In the six-part series presented previously in Spiritual Perspectives, a different position was taken, but this view is well worth reading and considering.

What is the "Biblical View of the Celestial and the Terrestrial"? Once again, N.T. Wright is cited as one who believes that Jesus' final body was of flesh and bone; therefore, all of us will be raised up with bodies of flesh and bone (368). Yes, but we will not stay that way. Jesus "did not receive His glorified body until He returned to the Father (Jn. 17:5)" (371). Consider also 1 John 3:2 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

The remaining three chapters are: "New Heavens and a New Earth of 2 Peter 3:10-14"; "Are Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-Day Adventists Right?"; "The Bible's Description of the Real Heaven." Points of interest in the book could be multiplied several times over, and it was painful to leave a number of pertinent quotations out, but these few were selected to provoke the reader into wanting to learn more on this subject and procure a copy of the book.

Many people read secular books: mysteries, romances, biographies, etc., and these all have a value, but a book like this one will get a person into the Scriptures. It may be ordered from Johnny Scaggs for $15.00 plus postage. His telephone number is 478-279-0754. He may be reached by email at jjscaggs@sbcglobal.net. It is well worth the time spent reading it.