What will our world look like in the end? (Two Models)

First I will briefly compare characteristics of the Spiritual Vision Model and New Creation Model in a table.

Characteristics of Spiritual Vision Model	New Creation Model
More emphasize on Spiritual salvation aspect	Both spiritual and physical (holistic)
Eternal destination is other-worldly	Eternal destination is new, renovated earth
Physical things are more or less evil	There is also “good” aspect in physical things
Next life: radical discontinuity between the present and the future state of life	Continuity between the present and the future life except sin, curse and death.
The nature of next life: just mental activities such as contemplating God	Physical activities such as eating, drinking, celebrating: always active for the glory of God
Eternal life: no political, social and cultural matters	New Earth: there will be political, social and cultural realities.
The Earth: basically evil and beyond restoration.	The Earth: the result of God’s good creation: still hope for future glorious restoration.

The two different characteristics of models will definitely shape one’s world view, especially our Christian world view. More importantly, we must have a right model that is grounded on sound Biblical teaching so that we may understand God’s purposes in the world more fully and properly. When we examine these two models, we find out that Spiritual Vision Model is mixed with part of truth from the Bible and mainly with Greek philosophy especially that of Plato. Thus it is often labeled as “Christoplatonism.” Basically this model draws foundational belief from Greek philosophical teaching that matter is evil and spirit is good. Spirit is identified with mind and intellect. With this foundational mindset, this model teaches this earth is basically evil and beyond restoration, so our eternal or final state is somewhere outside the world- strange spiritual realm, where there will just be spiritual contemplation and inactivity. As a result, this model presents a very detached view of eternal state from this world. And that eternal state is also very boring and unearthly existence.

Moreover, the spiritual model eventually leads someone to reject Biblically sound doctrine of “premillennialism.” One will reject Biblical teaching of future earthly kingdom of the Messiah. The presentation of earthly kingdom in Revelation 20:1-10 is viewed spiritually that it is fulfilled spiritually through the institutional church of the present age. In reality, the Biblical teachings clearly support the characteristics of New Creation Model, which emphasizes both future spiritual and physical aspect of this world.

Genesis 1:10; 31 clearly states that the creation of the earth is “good” and “very good.” Genesis 1:26-30 tells us that God intended for mankind to subdue and rule over the earth. And the blessings of God directly given to Abraham are affected toward the whole earth (Gen. 12:1-3). When God gave blessings to the people of Israel, the blessings are both spiritual and physical. There is no dichotomy between spiritual and material (Deut. 30:1-10). Psalm 72:19: “may the whole earth be filled with His glory.” And Isaiah 11 also depicts the unusual future peace on this earth. Isaiah 11: 6-7: peace between wild bests and human and wild beast. This is reversal of the curse! This is the Messianic eschatological fulfillment on this earth. And Ezekiel 47:1-9 portrays the future earthly kingdom on this earth.

Isaiah 65:17-25 states, “For look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth! The former ones will not be remembered; no one will think about them anymore. But be happy and rejoice forevermore over what I am about to create! For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem to be a source of joy, and her people to be a source of happiness…. They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, for my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced…^. A wolf and a lamb will graze together; a lion, like an ox, will eat straw, and a snake’s food will be dirt. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain.” The prophet Isaiah tells us that future new earth will be with house, agricultural and work. It is not just a state of spirit.

Matthew 5:5 says “Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 6:10 also says “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 19:28: Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed…” Acts 3:19-21 reads “This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets.” And according to Romans 8:18-25 the earthly nature will be freed from the curse. Colossians 1:15-20 states, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him…. and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” And finally Revelation 21-22 tells us new heaven and new earth with the presence of physical nations.

All things considered, wrestling with the characteristics of the two models is not just religious gibberish that only scholars care about. It is important philosophical foundation that governs our Christian world view. Thus, it is necessary to hold the right model, for that, I am personally convinced that the New Creation Model is the most Biblically and theological sound model to hold.