Bible-teaching pastors often have friendly and productive discussions over certain texts in the Bible. As we teach verse by verse through the Bible, we come to these texts ourselves, which causes us to ask questions. We often bring up these dubious texts with other Bible teachers to gain further understanding.

We should never argue, seek to win a discussion or try to make others look bad or inept. The purpose of Biblical discussions is always for fellowship together and intellectual stimulation into a greater knowledge of who God is.

When people listen to us discuss the Bible in love and to gain understanding, it is a marvelous experience for them as they witness men who love God—describing texts they also would like to understand.

In a verse-by-verse study through the Book of Revelation, recently, as we have finished chapters 21 and 22, the topic of “no more seas” and “no more Sun or Moon” came up.

Almost 40 years ago, I heard Pastor Chuck Smith teach through Revelation for the first time. When He arrived at the text in Chapter 21:1, Chuck recited verse 1, “Also, there was no more sea.” Chuck said: So, too bad surfers!

Revelation 21:1: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.”

Since that time, I have published my own verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Revelation. I noticed in that study as I prepared chapter 21 that the term “no more Seas” does not mean there will be no large bodies of water on the new Earth, but no large Seas that contain salt—which God created on our present earth—to act as a purifier for the pollutants of Earth.

“Ocean salt water plays a crucial role in purifying the Earth by acting as a massive carbon sink, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus helping to regulate the planet’s climate; it also dissolves and dilutes pollutants carried by rivers and streams, contributing to a natural cleansing process, although this capacity is not unlimited and excessive pollution can overwhelm the ocean’s ability to purify itself.”[1]

When God destroys the present universe and creates new heavens and earth, there will be no large seas that are necessary to cleanse the earth. Absent the fall caused by Adam’s sin, the Earth will once again be perfect, and there will be no pollution or degradation of Earth.

Peter describes the destruction of the present Earth as a planned part of God’s work in the lives of human beings and the redemption of those who want to be saved and people who scoff at the idea of a future judgment by God:

2 Peter 3:5-10: “They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. 6 Then, he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. 7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed.

8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

These events that Peter describes will take place after Jesus returns to earth with His church at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. At that time, He will establish His kingdom on earth for one thousand years. This will be the fulfillment of several Old Testament Messianic Prophecies.[2]

There Will Likely Be Great Bodies of Fresh Water All Over The Earth

If these large bodies of water do exist after God creates Earth anew, then the possibility of waves within the shores of these waters would produce sufficient force to allow surfing on the new Earth. I am not an advocate for surfers, but simply one who intently studied the Bible for almost 50 years and seeks to understand the text as God gave it to us. In doing this, I have discovered that waves may be present due to the tidal effects of the Moon on the Earth, as it does today.

Will There Be A Sun And Moon When Jesus Creates A New Heaven And Earth?

In discussing this subject with a dear friend who is also a teaching pastor, his view is that there will be no Sun or Moon on Earth when God creates it anew.

Two texts in Revelation present this possibility. In describing the New Jerusalem that will descend out of Heaven and be placed just over Earth as a Great City, John writes in Revelation chapter 21:

Revelation 21:22-23 The Glory of the New Jerusalem 22: “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

John states that in this New City of Jerusalem that will hover over the earth as a sort of satellite, there will be “no need of the sun or moon…” The light source of this great city will be the Lord, who illuminates it with the brightness of His Glory.

Notice that this text does not say there is no more sun or moon, only that they are not necessary light sources for the New Jerusalem because Jesus will be the light of that city.

A second text is found in Revelation chapter 22:

Revelation 21:22-23  “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

Once again, this text restates what Revelation 21:22-23 states, that the New Jerusalem that is suspended over the Earth “had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb (Jesus) is its light.”

These two texts make it clear that in this New City of Jerusalem, God will bring to the New Earth from Heaven and will need only the light of Jesus’ Glory to illuminate it.

This study of these two texts permits us to learn that neither says there is no longer a sun or moon, only that their light is not needed inside the city of the New Jerusalem because Jesus’ Glory will light the city.

Messianic Prophecy 123: The Sun Will Live As Long As The Son

In 2011-2012, I wrote and published my first book, “The Prophecies of the Messiah.” In this publication, I detail the 400 Old Testament Messianic Prophecies of the Messiah, Jesus, as fulfilled in the pages of the New Testament. Prophecy 123 describes the Messiah as, “Yinnon, His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun.

Old Testament Prediction:

Psalms 72:17a: “His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun.”

New Testament Fulfillment:

John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.”

John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 17:18-20 (Jesus Speaking ): “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word…”

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Ephesians 1:4 “…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”

1 Peter 1:20 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you…”

Application:

In the Jewish Targum, seven things are described as created before the foundation of the world. One of these designates the Messiah, existing forever, as: the Son of God. They call Him by the name “Yinnon.”

A common phrase used by Jewish scholars is: Before the sun was, His name was Yinnon. This is clearly a reference to this 123rd Prophecy found in Psalms 72:17. His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun.

By the name Yinnon, scholars mean that the Messiah—the Christ—existed before the sun.

Yinnon can also mean that He shall be called “The Son” forever through the sons who will believe in Him for their salvation.

The idea here is the Messiah will have a continuing posterity forever through those who believe in Him as their Savior.

Even in the Old Testament, the Messiah had sons (believers) who looked forward to His appearance. By their faith and trust in His future arrival as the Savior of the world, they wrote of His coming at Jerusalem in these many prophecies and thereby made His name continue forever.

In the New Testament fulfillment of this prophecy from Psalms 72:17, Jesus is described as the one to whom this prophecy was written. Jesus is Yinnon. His origination as the Son of God did not occur at Bethlehem. The Apostle John writes that Jesus has no beginning; He has always existed as God:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

At the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John, immediately thereafter, a voice came from heaven: Matthew 3:17 This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem, and He did not end at the cross. When the Rapture occurs, and He returns to take His church back to heaven, He will continue to be the Son of God, Yinnon, forever.

A significant change occurred for the Son of God at Bethlehem. Being God, the Son, in Spirit—for eternity, He took the body of a human being and then continued to live as God, the Son—in the body of a man, forever.

The implication of this fact is staggering.

Today, sitting on the throne of God in heaven is a man. The plan of God was not simply to prepare a body for the Messiah to offer it for the sins of the world but to prepare a body for Him to dwell in forever. There are no scriptures that declare, at some point, that Jesus will put off His human body and return to Spirit only. The entirety of scripture describes Jesus as our High Priest forever.

Hebrews 6:20, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:24-25 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Ephesians 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,  forever and ever. Amen.

From eternity, the only begotten Son of the Father—was God. He did not cease to be God when He took the body of a human being. The purpose of God in putting on human flesh was to become one of us, so that He could offer His Life as a sacrifice for all of us.

Jesus died for human beings. He did not die for the angels or any other created being. Long after the redemption of man is complete, for all those who want to be saved, Jesus will continue to be the Son of God and the Savior of all those who have believed in Him for their salvation.

The Earth Could Not Exist Without The Sun And Moon

Our Sun’s Age

If our sun was either older or younger, it would be much brighter and make life on Earth impossible. There is an ideal age for a star in which its brightness is perfect for life. We just happen to exist during the perfect age of our sun’s existence.

The Sun’s Mass

If the sun was larger, it would burn its fuel much quicker, making life on Earth impossible. If the sun was smaller, it would drastically alter the earth’s rotation and make life impossible.

The Color Of Our Sun

Our sun is exceptional in that it produces white light as opposed to the light produced by a red or blue star, which would not allow for plant growth or life as we know it on Earth.

The Size And Location Of Our Moon

The Earth has an unusually large moon for the size of our planet orbiting around it.

• The moon did not come from the earth itself.
• It could not have been caused by debris that was captured by the earth’s gravity because the moon is so large.

The best explanation (other than an outright miracle) for the moon’s existence is that a Mars-sized planet crashed into the Earth around 4.25 billion years ago. The probability of two planets colliding in the same solar system is extremely remote. The moon is moving away from the earth (currently at 2 inches per year), as it has been moving since its formation. If we calculate the movement of the moon in reverse from its present course, we discover that it must have formed at about 7,300 miles above the earth’s surface. This is indicative of formation by collision from an outside body that struck the earth.

The Beginning of the Universe: Reconciling 6 Days with 13.7 Billion Years

Why The Moon Is Important To Life On Earth

Scientists have suggested that perhaps the moon was created by a collision of Earth with a Mars-sized planet.[3]⁠ This impact resulted in the ejection of the majority of the earth’s original atmosphere, which was likely toxic.[4] If this collision had not occurred, our planet would have maintained an atmosphere similar to that of Venus, with a surface temperature of more than 800°F and up to 80 times more dense than the earth’s current atmosphere.⁠[5]  By design, our earth was created with a very thin atmosphere that was necessary to maintain our great oceans, contributing immensely to the existence of life.

Size Of The Moon

Scientists believe that the earth originally had a rotational period of eight hours.⁠[6] This greatly increased rotational period would have resulted in surface wind velocities of over 500 miles per hour. The fact that the moon was introduced at some point later in the formation of the earth caused the planet to slow to 1,000 miles per hour, resulting in 24-hour days. This allowed for a perfect balance of light and darkness necessary to promote plant growth—essential for life.

Understanding that Jesus created the universe, the Sun, Moon, and Earth, He knew that human life could not exist without these two being exactly where they are. It was the Lord who determined these things and not happenstance or an evolutionary process. God made these two lights in perfect balance so that Earth could exist. From the details above, we learn that the Lord knew the precise size, distance from earth, and distance from each other that were required. Without the sun and moon, there would be no human life on earth. Knowing that both the sun and moon are essential for Earth, it is certain that when the Lord destroys the present heavens and Earth and makes them new, He will also create a new sun and moon that will permit His redeemed creation to live on Earth forever.

From these biblical texts, we can accurately conclude that the Sun and Moon will exist when Jesus creates a new Heaven and Earth. With the moon, tides and waves will also continue. Whether there will be large bodies of water that provide waves large enough to surf upon is not clear.

NOTES:

[1] Various sources for the science of Earth’s oceans define the salinity of our oceans as a method for cleansing the impurities of the planet, as well as regulating climate and absorbing carbon dioxide. https://www.google.com/search?q=ocean+salt+water+role+in+purifying+the+earth&sca_esv=b3c9789040718163&ei=hiANZ–jFcrZkPIPxIn96AY&ved=0ahUKEwjv_qfsgI6JAxXKLEQIHcREH20Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=ocean+salt+water+role+in+purifying+the+earth&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLG9jZWFuIHNhbHQgd2F0ZXIgcm9sZSBpbiBwdXJpZnlpbmcgdGhlIGVhcnRoMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGKIEGIkFMggQABiABBiiBEiOKVCFBli3E3ABeAGQAQCYAWqgAZ0EqgEDNS4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIHoAKxBMICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAgoQIRigARjDBBgKmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDNi4xoAecFw&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
[2] 1. Isaiah 9:7b: “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
2. 2 Samuel 7:1-13: “Now it came to pass when David was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: … “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom..” ’
3. Revelation Chapter 20 describes those who come out of the seven-year Tribulation and are permitted to enter Jesus’ kingdom on earth for one thousand years based on their obedience to His authority. These individuals will enjoy a perfect life—free of sickness, disease, and death (Isaiah 65:20).
4. When Jesus returns to earth the second time, Elijah will arrive before Him during the seven-year Tribulation as one of the two witnesses, and prepare the Jews for their Messiah. This appearance of Elijah during the seven-year Tribulation will be successful, as all of Israel will receive Jesus as the Messiah and enter into the kingdom promised to David for one thousand years: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3) “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:25-26).
5. Revelation Chapter 20 describes those who come out of the seven-year Tribulation and are permitted to enter Jesus’ kingdom on earth for one thousand years based on their obedience to His authority. These individuals will enjoy a perfect life—free of sickness, disease, and death (Isaiah 65:20).
6. When Jesus returns with His church at the end of the seven-year Tribulation, He will immediately set up His kingdom. The nations of the world will be divided into two categories: those who treated God’s people kindly during the previous seven years, designated as sheep, and those who were cruel and persecuted God’s people, classified as goats. The sheep will be permitted to enter the kingdom age; the goats will be cast into hell. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:31-33). “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Upon the completion of this judgment, the Lord will begin the promised kingdom of David’s Son, the Messiah, who will reign over the earth for one thousand years.
[3] Taylor, G. Jeffrey (31 December 1998). “Origin of the Earth and Moon”. Planetary Science Research Discoveries. Web Site: http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Dec98/OriginEarthMoon.htm
[4]  Zahnle, K.; Schaefer, L.; Fegley, B. (2010). “Earth’s Earliest Atmospheres”. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology 2 (10): a004895.
[5] Zahnle, K.; Schaefer, L.; Fegley, B. (2010). “Earth’s Earliest Atmospheres”. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology 2 (10): a004895.
[6} Poropudas, Hannu K. J. (1991-12-16). “Using Coral as a Clock”. Skeptic Tank. Web Site: http://www.skepticfiles.org/origins/coralclo.htm

Categories: A New Heavens and Earth, Age of the Earth, Empirical Evidence for God, Evolution, Forgiveness of Sin, Global Warming, God is Eternal, God is perfect, How Salvation Occurs, New Testament Apologetics, New Testament Apologetics, Origin of the Universe, Physical Constants, Religion vs. Relationship, Robert Clifton Robinson, Salvation is a free gift, Salvation through Jesus, Science and the Bible, Scientists Who Believe in God, The age of the Universe, Understanding Eternity, We must repent, We must see our need, What is required for Heaven?

Tags: Destruction of the Universe, Eschatology: The Last Days New Heaven And Earth, Evidence for God from the universe, How old is the Universe?, No More Seas