“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying." Isaiah 65:17-19
These verses are a great, prophetic announcement of what Jesus' work will be when he returns with all his holy saints (the Church) to judge the world. (Matthew 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:2). It will involve the creation of the future Heaven (spiritual government of Jesus and His church over earth) will look like, as well as the new order of the Earth (governments, social order). This new order will be fully established after the resurrection of mankind begins.
Presently, Satan is "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4) and all mankind are "children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1,2). However, when our Lord's prayer is fulfilled, when "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," righteousness and peace will fill the earth (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 26:9).
The Apostle Peter preached that at Jesus' second advent, all that was lost when Father Adam sinned will be restored to mankind. Jesus is that one "whom heaven must receive (or retain) until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time," Acts 3:21 (NASB). When health, peace, communion with God, and righteousness are restored, this new earth will be without suffering, disease and tears.
Our great Father Jehovah is teaching us that this old order is transitory. In the resurrection, mankind will remember how terrible sin and its consequences are. They will then have the opportunity to follow God's righteous will. Jeremiah 31:34 (NIV), "No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
We cannot even imagine how wonderful this new order will be. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him," 1 Corinthians 2:9.
