What is the difference between heaven and the new heavens and new earth?

A few years ago I was asked the following questions: “What is the difference between the current heaven and the new heaven described in Revelation 21? Is current heaven not perfect?” While I shared a brief off-the-cuff answer in the moment, I’ve come up with a more thorough answer after recent study. Here’s what I’ve got. 

First, let’s note a few passages in Scripture that can help give some clarity of what we’re talking about here. We’re going to look at 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5, and Revelation 21. Let’s also define some terms. Current heaven (also called ‘paradise’) refers to the place where God sits enthroned right now, where Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand, and where the souls of fallen Christians rest with God (see Rev 6:9-11 and Luke 23:43). The New Heavens and New Earth (NHNE for short) is what God is working toward, the final world that will be completed when Christ returns. A description of NHNE can be found in Revelation 21-22. 

The first thing I want to point out is the difference between physical reality and spiritual reality. Humans are a strange combination of physical and spiritual; we are dichotomous in nature. We aren’t just spiritual creatures—our bodies are not illusions and the physical world is not inherently evil—and we aren’t just physical—there’s more to our existence than matter and energy. Our being is a complex interrelation of physical and spiritual. 

1 Corinthians 15 can give some helpful insight. Paul explains a lot about resurrection in this passage. Verses 35-50 describe what type of bodies we will have after death. Make sure you read this for yourself. I’m not sure what level of consciousness we will have in heaven, since Paul describes it as “sleep” (1 Cor 15:51). Paul uses the analogy of a seed dying and growing into a full plant to describe the death of our mortal, fallen bodies and the growth of our eternal, spiritual bodies that are free from sin. “Spiritual” in this sense probably does not mean immaterial. Rather, this looks ahead to our new physical bodies in NHNE which are from the Spirit—that is, the Holy Spirit. What’s important to see here is that all Christians must lose their current perishable bodies. We must be rid of sin. 

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 is our next step in understanding what’s going on with paradise and NHNE. This passage is an ontological discussion; Paul goes into more detail regarding our being. When we (believers) die, our physical bodies remain on earth and our souls ascend to heaven. Paul uses the word “naked” to describe a soul without a physical body. The groaning he refers to is humans longing to have a glorified physical body, not to be without a body at all. This is what he means by being unclothed (no physical body) and clothed (physical body). To break this down further, Paul acknowledges three possible states of being. First, humans can exist with a mortal body and an immortal soul. Second, humans can exist as a soul separated from a physical body. Third, humans can exist with an immortal, perfect body and a soul. 

Paul focuses his discussion on the return of Jesus, the judging of the earth, the restoration of all things and the arrival of NHNE. With this in mind, he outlines a three-part priority scale for what kind of existence Christians long for. What is most desirable is to be part of the terminal generation, those who are alive on earth when Christ returns. This generation will never be “naked,” but will instead be immediately changed as 1 Cor 15:51-52 describes. Their physical mortal bodies will be transformed into eternal, perfect physical bodies. The second best option is to be away from the body and at home with the Lord in current heaven. Of course it’s better to be at rest in the presence of God, free from this “body of death” as Paul calls it in Romans 7. Yet, it is strange to be removed from a physical body.  That’s what Paul means when he says the soul goes to glory “naked” and is with the Lord in verse 8. Finally, the third best option is to stay in the mortal body and walk by faith, living out our calling and waiting for death or Christ’s return (verses 6-7). Though we continually sin and suffer persecution while on earth now, we still take heart in having unity with the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies us and guides our work. 

This is why Paul can finish 1 Cor 15 with verse 58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Even in this “third best” option, our lives still have significance and we can still taste in part the joy of fellowship with God. Paul expresses the same sentiment in Philippians 1 as he contemplates his fate while sitting in prison. While he would rather be with the Lord in heaven, for the sake of his churches he is content (even joyful) to remain in his perishable body in order to serve them as an apostle. 

So, the New Heavens and New Earth will be completed at Christ’s return when all things are made new. At that time Christians will be clothed with a physical, immortal body and dwell in the New Jerusalem, the real physical city God is preparing for us (Heb 11:16, Rev 22:10-27). This is not to say current heaven is not perfect. If ‘perfection’ means ‘without sin,’ current heaven is totally perfect. Remember this overwhelmingly promising and encouraging truth: just because something is perfect doesn’t mean it can’t get better. NHNE will not be some stagnant, unchanging, monotonous sinless paradise; there will be growth and work and purpose and progress, all without the curse of sin and the opposition of the devil. God describes NHNE as a city. Cities aren’t boring and still, they’re dynamic. We get to look forward to an eternity of meaningful work and beautiful rest alongside our Creator and Father. Things will only get better and better.

Additional resources: 

Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions 37-38 https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-shorter-catechism/

Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 84-90 https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-larger-catechism/

A great sermon on 1 Cor 15: http://www.bygrace.cc/audio/2016.03.20_1Cor_15_50-58.mp3