The New Heavens and Earth

The concept of the “new heavens and new earth” in Revelation 21 symbolizes God’s establishment of His new people and kingdom under the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, the circumcised descendants of Jacob, governed by the Mosaic Law, exclusively held the status of God’s chosen people (Exodus 19:5-6). Following Christ’s crucifixion, God extended an invitation to all nations, allowing anyone who believed in Christ Jesus to be included in Israel, while excluding those who rejected Him (Matthew 22:1-14, Romans 9-11). With the creation of the new heavens and new earth, God formally recognized and vindicated believers as His chosen people, establishing them as an eternal kingdom.

I want to thank Shelly Sangrey and Mike Sullivan for their presentation and research on this topic. The material presented here is based on their work.¹

Symbolism of Heaven and Earth in Scripture

In scripture, the apocalyptic imagery of the heavens and earth shaking often symbolizes the collapse of nations or ruling powers. Rather than referring to the literal destruction of the physical universe, this language conveys the upheaval of kingdoms and God’s divine judgment on human authorities.

Isaiah describes the fall of Babylon with vivid cosmic imagery to emphasize God’s judgment on this world power. This passage signifies the end of Babylon’s dominance as a ruling nation.

Isaiah 13:1,10-13,19 (BSB) This is the burden against Babylon... For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shine. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity… Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts in the day of His burning anger… And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Similarly, the prophet Haggai uses the shaking of the heavens and earth as a metaphor for the downfall of nations and the rise of Zerubbabel’s kingdom:

Haggai 2:21-23 (BSB) Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth: I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Scripture is filled with examples of this cosmic imagery. David’s deliverance from Saul is depicted with imagery of the earth quaking and the heavens bowing (Psalm 18:7-10). Similarly, God’s judgment on Judah and neighboring nations is conveyed with sweeping imagery of God removing man, animals, birds, and fish from the earth (Zephaniah 1:2-4). The destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, is described as mountains quaking and the earth trembling in God’s presence (Nahum 1:4-6).

Even covenant nations like Judah and Israel were subject to this type of judgment when they became unfaithful. The destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC is compared to the formless void of Genesis 1:2, where the earth was without light (Jeremiah 4:23-26). Neighboring adversaries, such as Edom and Egypt, were also judged with imagery of stars dissolving and the heavens rolling up like a scroll (Isaiah 34:4-5) or the moon and stars darkening (Ezekiel 32:7-8). Revelation applies this language to Jerusalem’s judgment for rejecting Christ: “The sun became black as sackcloth, the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth” (Revelation 6:12-14 [BSB]). These examples along with many others reveal how the “shaking” of heavens and earth represents God’s intervention in dismantling powerful kingdoms and authorities, paving the way for His purposes (Habakkuk 3:6-10; Micah 1:3-5; Isaiah 19:1-4; 24:19-21; Jeremiah 51:25; Joel 2:9-11).

The Creation of a New People

While the shaking and destruction of the heavens and earth signify divine judgment on nations, the creation of “heavens and earth” sometimes symbolize the rise of a new ruling people under God.

The Establishment of Old Covenant Israel

When God established Old Covenant Israel, He described their unique status as His chosen people using this metaphor. Although the heavens and earth were not literally created when Israel crossed the Red Sea (Isaiah 51:10), their establishment as a covenant nation and world power was symbolically described as the creation of the heavens and earth:

Isaiah 51:16 (BSB) I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’

Afterward, Israel conquered much of the land promised to them, overcoming the nations that opposed their divine mandate.

The Birth of a New Covenant Nation

God later prophesied the creation of a new people to reconstitute unfaithful Israel, symbolized by the creation of a new heavens and earth. This will be explained in greater detail shortly. In the following passage, “My servants” refers to this new people, while “you” addresses the unbelieving Israelites who rejected and killed their Messiah.

Isaiah 65:13-15, 17 (BSB) Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14 My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit. 15 You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name… 17 For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.

The word “for” in verse 17 serves as a bridge, connecting the creation of the new heavens and earth with the establishment of God’s new people, who are given “another name.” In prophetic terms, the “first heavens and earth” referred to Old Covenant Israel, while the “new heavens and new earth” signify New Covenant Israel, now known as “Christianity,” which unites believing Jews and Gentiles under Christ.

A Nation Born in a Day

In Isaiah 66, God also describes the birth of this new nation as the creation of a new heavens and earth:

Isaiah 66:7-14,21-22 (BSB) “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. 8 Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. 9 Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God. 10 Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, 11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance…

21 “And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD. 22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.

The Arrival of God’s Unshakable Kingdom

The author of Hebrews also associates the shaking of the heavens and earth with the arrival of God’s indestructible kingdom. This kingdom, made up of believers in Christ Jesus, stands as the dominant spiritual power, replacing the Old Covenant order:

Hebrews 12:26-28 (BSB) At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” 27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

Daniel prophesied that this kingdom would replace other world powers.

Daniel 2:44 (WEB) In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.

Jesus also linked the destruction of the heavens and the earth with the arrival of God’s kingdom:

Luke 21:31-33 (WEB) Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. 32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

These passages reveal that “heaven and earth” often symbolize ruling nations and authorities. Their shaking represents judgment and destruction, while their re-creation signifies the rise of a new, divinely established people.

Isaac Newton on the Symbolism of Heaven and Earth

Interestingly, even Sir Isaac Newton—best known for his groundbreaking work in science—reached similar conclusions in his study of Bible prophecy. In his book Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John published in 1733, Newton explained that the prophets often used the natural world as symbolic language for political realities. According to him, “heaven” stood for rulers and authorities, while “earth” represented the common people. When the prophets spoke of the heavens and earth being shaken or destroyed, Newton understood it as symbolic of kingdoms being overthrown. Likewise, the creation of a new heavens and earth pointed to the rise of a new people or kingdom under God.

Of the Prophetic Language

FOR understanding the Prophecies, we are, in the first place, to acquaint ourselves with the figurative language of the Prophets. This language is taken from the analogy between the world natural, and an empire or kingdom considered as a world politic.

Accordingly, the whole world natural consisting of heaven and earth, signifies the whole world politic, consisting of thrones and people, or so much of it as is considered in the Prophecy: and the things in that world signify the analogous things in this. For the heavens, and the things therein, signify thrones and dignities, and those who enjoy them; and the earth, with the things thereon, the inferior people; and the lowest parts of the earth, called Hades or Hell, the lowest or most miserable part of them. Whence ascending towards heaven, and descending to the earth, are put for rising and falling in power and honor: rising out of the earth, or waters, and falling into them, for the rising up to any dignity or dominion, out of the inferior state of the people, or falling down from the same into that inferior state; descending into the lower parts of the earth, for descending to a very low and unhappy estate; speaking with a faint voice out of the dust, for being in a weak and low condition; moving from one place to another, for translation from one office, dignity, or dominion, to another; great earthquakes, and the shaking of heaven and earth, for the shaking of kingdoms, so as to distract or overthrow them; the creating a new heaven and earth, and the passing away of an old one, or the beginning and end of the world, for the rise and ruin of the body politic signified thereby.²

A Microcosm of Heaven and Earth

The Jews viewed their temple as a microcosm of heaven and earth—a sacred space where God met with humanity. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus illustrates this perspective in his work, Antiquities of the Jews:

However this proportion of the measures of the Tabernacle proved to be an imitation of the system of the world. For that third part thereof which was within the four pillars, to which the Priests were not admitted, is, as it were, an Heaven, peculiar to God. But the space of the twenty cubits, is, as it were, sea and land, on which men live: and so this part is peculiar to the Priests only.³

This symbolism explains why the destruction of the temple was associated with the symbolic destruction of heaven and earth.

In Isaiah 66, the same chapter that promises the creation of new heavens and a new earth, God foretells the end of the earthly temple. Instead of dwelling in a physical structure, God declares that He will reside in the hearts of those who believe and tremble at His word:

Isaiah 66:1-2 (BSB) This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? 2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

The chapter also foretells the end of the Old Covenant sacrificial system and its temple:

Isaiah 66:3-6 (BSB) Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. 4 So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.” 6 Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!

The destruction of the first-century Jewish temple signified the end of the old heavens and earth, making way for the New Covenant—a spiritual reality where God dwells not in buildings but in the hearts of His people.

Conclusion

What do the new heavens and earth mentioned in Revelation 21 symbolize? They represent God’s new people, Christianity, established under the New Covenant as a ruling kingdom. They are the new temple, the New Jerusalem, and the nation that was brought into existence.

While Christians do not rule through weapons or force, they rule through the blessings, favor, spiritual authority, and protection God gives them wherever they are on the earth.

As Christians—comprising both Jews and Gentiles—every person is invited to join this people by placing their trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Those who do so become part of the new heavens and earth—the avenue where God and man meet.

Footnotes