Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, December 31, 2022.

Main Theme: One day our hope of eternal life on the new earth will become reality.

Read in Class: Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 66:22, 23; 2 Peter 3:13; and Revelation 21:1-5. What is the common thread of these passages?

Study: What is the ultimate message of these passages?

Apply: Many secular writers, without the hope of eternity as presented in Scripture, have lamented the meaninglessness of human existence. Though they are wrong about the future, why is it hard to argue with their point about the meaninglessness of life without a future hope?

Share: You friend asks, what we will be doing in heaven all eternity? Won’t it get boring? What things will be similar to our lives now? What will be different? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class:  Revelation 7:9-15 with Revelation 21:3, 22. What is the common thread of these passages?

Study: How can we harmonize the description of the great multitude of the redeemed serving God “day and night in His temple” (Rev. 7:15, NKJV) with the statement that John “saw no temple” in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22, NKJV)?

Apply: Revelation 21:3 reads: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (NKJV). These verses reflect numerous other passages (Jer. 32:38, Ezek. 37:27, Zech. 8:8, Heb. 8:10). What does it mean for us now, still here on earth, that God will be our God, and we will be His people? How do we live out this amazing truth now?

Share: Your friend asks, Isn’t God already with us now? In what ways is God already with us? How will it be different in the new earth? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class:  Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2, 3; and Revelation 22:3, 4. What is the common thread of these passages?

Study: What do these passages tell us about the supreme privilege of seeing God?

Apply: Read 1 Peter 1:22. How does this text reveal to us the link between obedience and purification? What is it about obedience that purifies us? How, specifically, does Peter say our obedience will be made manifest?

Share: Your friend’s child asks you, if God is real why can’t we see Him? What do you tell your friend’s child?

Read in Class:  Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17, and Revelation 21:4. What is the common thread in these passages?

Study: What comfort and hope can these passages bring us amid the trials and suffering of this present world?

Apply: Who hasn’t felt the unfair ravages of human existence here? Especially in those bad times, how can we learn to trust, and to the degree possible, rejoice in God’s goodness and love?

Share: Can you think of someone who would be encouraged by some things found in this week’s lesson. How can you plan to share it with them this week?