B15.02.89.htm

JEHOVAH IS "CREATING NEW HEAVENS
AND A NEW EARTH". (Isaiah 65:17).

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. Former things shall no more be remembered nor shall they be called to mind. Rejoice and be filled with delight, you boundless realms which I create; for I create Jerusalem to be a delight and her people a joy." (65:17,18 NEB).

"I CALLED, BUT YOU DID NOT ANSWER;
I SPOKE, BUT YOU DID NOT LISTEN". (From 65:12).
To open one's mind to see clearly and to spiritually grow in one's understanding of Spirit communications from God, one must learn the language of God that for the most part is expressed symbolically. To do this, one must learn how to "listen". Let us begin by discovering what God means in using the word "listen" in verse 12 of Isaiah chapter 65, which says: "I spoke and you did not listen; and you did what was wrong in My eyes and you chose what was against My Will." (NEB). The result of not listening is the entrenched wickedness we see in the world today. The following verses describe the rewards for those obedient to the Will of God, and for those who did not listen, the punishments.

Listening does not simply mean to hear, but means to acquire in one's spirit a true understanding of His Holy Will for us, carrying out His Will in our lives as we come to know it. It is then that God takes us in as "sons and daughters" and we begin to understand the "deep things of God". (2 Cor 6:17,18. 1 Cor 2:10).

The "new heavens" of Isaiah chapter 65:17 are spirit heavens. The "new earth" is the spiritual life we each must live while in the flesh; being created in spirit toward an inheritance of everlasting life in a new spirit body. (1 Cor 15:35-44). The training of one's spirit takes place while we live in the flesh. It is the progressive creation of the spirits of mankind by the Spirit of God that forms the "new earth". We become part of heavenly "Jerusalem", living in the "boundless realms" of God. (65:18 NEB). Our Lord says that when "wickedness has spread over the whole earth" and is so common that "there is no room for further deeds of violence", He will bring to an end this system of things (the "Esau" age) and begin the new "Jacob" age. (See 2 Esdras 15:5-9 & 6:9 NEB).

It will mean that instead of being led by the ambitions of Godless men and women and being conscious of worldly and material things, the spirits of mankind will become conscious of their spiritual need. (Matt 5:3,6).

This will begin when the outpouring of the seven "bowls" of the anger of God has come to a finish. Almighty God will soon express His anger "upon the air". (Rev 16:17). We are therefore on the threshold of the "new earth". The "great earthquake" that took place in 1985 in fulfilment of Revelation 11:13, in which a tenth of those called to the heavenly City of God were removed for their unfaithfulness, was signalled by the earthquake in Mexico City. Seven thousand men were killed and "the rest became frightened* and gave glory to the God of heaven." Those now to be gathered as His servants will give glory to God as a result of "fearful sights" on earth. (Luke 21:11).

(* "in-fear". Greek T. "in terror". NEB.)

15/2/89.