What is meant by “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev. 21:1)?

The earth in which we now live and the heaven under which we live witness to the power of our Creator and His sublime care. He has not left us wanting for anything. For the earth with all its laws, resources, and marvels is there to serve us, and the sun, moon, and stars, all

1360 Cf. St. Augustine of Hippo, City of God 20.17 (NPNF I/2:436).

work for our benefit; and yet, this creation cannot compare to the new heaven and the new earth …

• a. On this our present earth, we await that death from which none have escaped. But, in the new earth, we are not subject to time passing or ending. All our life is eternal. We see all things anew, never ebbing, never aging, never ending.

• b. On our earth, we endure the trials that befall humanity so that we can become ready to travel to our heavenly home.

• c. On our earth, we live by faith and thereby taste a token of heaven. However, in the new earth, never shall true joy depart from us, we will take pleasure in seeing the heavenly beings and the saints living the blessed life, and we will consider their glories as our own glory.

• d. We cherish our membership in the Church and experience all the activity of heaven so that we may prepare for the glory which the Lord has prepared for us.

• e. For St. Augustine , the new heaven and the new earth are our souls and bodies. On this earth, the devil wars against us to rob us of our hope of eternal life. But on the Day of the Lord when our souls unite with our bodies newly risen from the dead, the enemy of good will not dare to fight against us, for we shall bear the reflection of the glory of the Lord in our whole being.

• f. On our earth we boast in those of our relatives and acquaintances who live successful lives. But, in the new earth, we cherish the friendship we share with all the inhabitants of heaven and consider them all to be our brothers and sisters, with Christ the Head of us all. We become as one family.