Guide 15 · Indigenous Podcast
Home at Last
Read, reflect, and take the time you need.
Text size 100%
Sections in this guide
- 1. The Creator’s Country Without Fences
- 2. Where Is Jesus Now?
- 3. What Is the New Earth?
- 4. Will We Recognize One Another?
- 5. Why Call It a Country Without Fences?
- 6. Will There Be Enough Room?
- 7. Will We Still Worship on the Sabbath?
- 8. Will Anyone Be Sick or Disabled?
- 9. What About Marriage and Family?
- 10. Who Will Enter the New Earth?
- 11. Will Heaven Be Earned or Given?
- 12. How Can the Hope of Home Change Your Life Now?
- 13. Think About It
- 14. Try This During the Coming Week
- 15. A Prayer You Can Pray
- 16. Remember This
- 17. Coming Next
The Creator’s Country Without Fences
What does home mean to you?
It may mean a certain place, the people who know your story, or the feeling that you can finally rest without defending who you are.
For many people, home has also been touched by loss. Families have been separated. Communities have been displaced. Land has been taken. People have been made to feel like strangers where they should have belonged.
The Creator understands our need for home.
The Bible does not end with humanity escaping the Earth to live forever as spirits in the clouds. It ends with the Creator restoring the Earth and making His home with humanity.
No one will be displaced. No one will be treated as less valuable because of ancestry, language, appearance, or social position. Nothing will threaten our belonging again.
Is Heaven a Real Place?
Read John 14:1–3.
Jesus told His followers that He was preparing a place for them.
He did not describe heaven as an imaginary feeling or a symbol for inner peace. It is a real place prepared by a real Creator for real people.
Read Hebrews 11:8–10 and Hebrews 11:13–16.
Abraham looked forward to a better country and a city designed and built by God.
The Creator is preparing more than temporary shelter. He is preparing a permanent home.
Where Is Jesus Now?
Read Hebrews 8:1–2.
Jesus is now serving in the heavenly sanctuary. He represents His people before the Father and applies the benefits of His sacrifice to everyone who trusts Him.
Read Acts 1:9–11.
After His resurrection, Jesus physically returned to heaven. The angels promised that He would return in the same visible way.
Heaven exists now. The Father, Jesus, loyal angels, and other created beings live there.
Human beings who have died are not currently living there as conscious spirits. The Bible describes death as a sleep that continues until the resurrection.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17.
When Jesus returns, those who died trusting Him will rise. The faithful who are alive will be changed, and together they will meet Jesus.
What Happens After Jesus Returns?
Read John 14:1–3.
Jesus will take His rescued people to the place He has prepared.
Read Revelation 20:4–6.
They will live and reign with Jesus in heaven for one thousand years. During that time, they will review the Creator’s judgments and understand why every decision was fair.
The Earth will remain empty and broken during those thousand years. Satan will have no human beings left to deceive.
At the end of the thousand years, the Holy City will come down from heaven.
Read Revelation 21:1–3.
The Creator will cleanse and remake this world. The restored Earth will become the permanent home of His people.
Humanity’s story began on Earth, and the Creator will restore what sin damaged here.
What Is the New Earth?
Read Revelation 21:1–5.
John saw a new heaven and a new Earth because the former world had passed away.
“New” does not mean that the Creator abandons His creation as if it never mattered. He removes sin and restores the world to beauty, health, peace, and life.
The Creator says, “Behold, I make all things new.”
The Earth will no longer carry the results of rebellion:
- No death
- No grief
- No crying
- No disease
- No pain
- No violence
- No addiction
- No abuse
- No exploitation
- No fear
- No separation from God
The Creator does not merely help us cope with a broken world forever. He ends the brokenness.
Will We Have Real Bodies?
Read Philippians 3:20–21.
Jesus will transform our bodies to be like His resurrected body.
After His resurrection, Jesus could be seen and touched. He walked, spoke, and ate with His followers.
Read Luke 24:36–43.
The saved will not spend eternity as invisible spirits. They will be whole human beings with immortal bodies.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:42–54.
Bodies now affected by weakness, illness, injury, aging, and death will be raised in strength and immortality.
You will still be you, but you will be completely healed.
Will We Recognize One Another?
The Bible gives strong reasons to believe we will.
After Jesus rose, His followers recognized Him. Moses and Elijah were recognizable when they appeared with Jesus.
Read Matthew 17:1–4.
Paul said that one day we will know more fully.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:12.
The resurrection does not erase personality, identity, or relationship. The Creator restores us.
Imagine recognizing someone you lost and knowing that death can never separate you again.
The joy of reunion is part of the promise.
Will Our Cultural Identities Disappear?
Read Revelation 7:9–10.
John saw people from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the Creator.
He could still recognize human diversity.
Read Revelation 21:24–26.
The nations bring their glory and honor into the Holy City.
Everything corrupted by sin will be removed. Everything that reflects truth, beauty, creativity, courage, love, and goodness will exist under the Creator’s perfect rule.
No race will dominate another.
No language will be punished.
No child will be taught to feel ashamed of ancestry.
No culture will be used as a test of human worth.
Everyone will share complete loyalty to the Creator while remaining part of a beautifully diverse human family.
The gospel creates unity without cultural erasure.
Why Call It a Country Without Fences?
Revelation describes the Holy City as having walls and gates. The walls show safety, beauty, and permanence.
But notice what happens to the gates.
Read Revelation 21:25.
The gates are never shut.
Ancient cities closed their gates to keep enemies out. In the new Earth, there will be no invading army, thief, oppressor, or threat.
No border will divide one people from another.
No fence will be used to take freedom away.
No person will be forced from home.
No gate will be closed because someone belongs to the wrong family or nation.
Everyone who belongs to Jesus will be completely safe and completely welcome.
What Is the Holy City Like?
Read Revelation 21:9–27.
The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven with the glory of God.
John describes:
- Walls made with precious stone
- Twelve open gates
- Streets like transparent gold
- Foundations decorated with jewels
- A city filled with light
- No need for darkness
- No temple separating people from God
The city’s beauty is beyond anything humanity has built.
Its greatest feature is not gold or precious stones. Its greatest gift is the presence of the Creator.
Read Revelation 21:22–23.
God and Jesus will live with their people. Nothing will separate us from Him.
Will There Be Enough Room?
Read Revelation 21:15–17.
The city is described as enormous, with length, width, and height all measuring the same.
The picture is one of complete security and abundant room.
Jesus said there are many dwelling places in His Father’s house.
Read John 14:2.
No housing shortage will exist. No one will be homeless. No family will lose a home because it cannot afford the cost.
The Creator has prepared enough space for everyone who accepts His invitation.
What Will We Do There?
Eternity will not be endless boredom.
The Creator designed human beings to learn, create, build, explore, care for creation, develop relationships, and enjoy meaningful work.
Read Isaiah 65:21–23.
Isaiah describes people building homes, planting, and enjoying the work of their hands. His prophecy uses the language of secure and peaceful life to show that no enemy will take what God’s people build.
Read Revelation 22:1–5.
God’s people will serve Him and reign with Him.
Eternity will include:
- Exploring the Creator’s world
- Learning without the limits of sin
- Developing skills
- Creating beautiful things
- Caring for the restored Earth
- Building meaningful relationships
- Listening to stories of the Creator’s faithfulness
- Worshiping with people from every nation
- Speaking directly with Jesus
- Enjoying work without exhaustion or exploitation
The Creator has no shortage of purpose for His people.
Will We Still Worship on the Sabbath?
Read Isaiah 66:22–23.
The Bible says that in the new Earth, all people will come to worship the Creator from one Sabbath to another.
The seventh-day Sabbath began before sin entered the world.
Read Genesis 2:1–3.
It will remain after sin has been removed.
Each Sabbath will remind us that the Creator gave us life, Jesus rescued us, and nothing can separate us from Him again.
People from every nation and language will gather in freedom and joy.
What Will Happen to the Natural World?
Read Isaiah 11:6–9.
Animals that now threaten one another will live peacefully. Nothing will hurt or destroy.
Read Romans 8:19–23.
Creation itself waits to be freed from the damage caused by sin.
The Creator cares about the world He made. Salvation includes the restoration of humanity and the natural world.
Rivers will be clean. The land will no longer be poisoned by greed or carelessness. Animals will no longer suffer because of violence and death.
Read Revelation 22:1–2.
John saw the river of life flowing from God’s throne and the tree of life growing beside it.
Humanity will once again have access to the life that was lost in Eden.
Will Anyone Be Sick or Disabled?
Read Isaiah 35:5–6.
Eyes will see, ears will hear, and bodies will move with strength.
Read Revelation 21:4.
Pain and death will be gone.
The Creator knows every body that has experienced illness, disability, injury, addiction, exhaustion, or aging.
He does not forget the person whose suffering was invisible to others.
At the resurrection, He will restore every person completely.
Our present bodies may carry pain, but pain will not become our permanent future.
Will We Remember the Pain of This Life?
Read Isaiah 65:17.
The former troubles will no longer control our thoughts or disturb our peace.
This does not mean the Creator must erase our identity or remove every meaningful memory. The story of salvation will never be forgotten.
Read Revelation 5:9–10.
The saved will remember that Jesus rescued them.
Jesus Himself kept the scars in His hands after the resurrection.
Read John 20:24–29.
The evidence of His love remains, but the pain and power of evil will be gone.
The Creator will heal memory so completely that the past can no longer wound us.
What About Marriage and Family?
Read Matthew 22:29–30.
Jesus said marriage will not continue in its present form after the resurrection.
Marriage now meets needs connected with companionship, family, and the continuation of human life. In the restored world, no one will die, and no one will be lonely or unloved.
This does not mean relationships will matter less. Love will become deeper, safer, and more complete.
You will recognize the people you love. Every relationship will be free from jealousy, abandonment, betrayal, manipulation, and death.
No one will feel forgotten or alone in the Creator’s family.
Will There Be Tears?
Read Revelation 21:4.
The Creator Himself will wipe away every tear.
Before sorrow disappears forever, there may be tears as the truth of the conflict becomes fully understood. We may recognize the cost of sin and the choices of people who refused God’s invitation.
The Creator will answer every question.
His people will see that He did everything love could do while respecting human freedom.
Then grief will end.
No new sorrow will ever begin.
Who Will Enter the New Earth?
Read Revelation 21:27.
Those whose names remain in the Book of Life will enter.
Entrance is not based on race, culture, income, education, family name, or membership in a human institution.
Read Revelation 22:14 and John 3:16.
The people who enter are those who have accepted the cleansing Jesus offers and chosen loyalty to the Creator.
They have not earned a place through perfect human performance. They have trusted Jesus, received His righteousness, and allowed the Holy Spirit to change their lives.
The invitation is open now.
Who Will Not Be There?
Read Revelation 21:7–8.
The Bible names attitudes and choices that cannot remain in the Creator’s restored world.
People who continually choose violence, sexual wrongdoing, deception, idolatry, unbelief, and rebellion are choosing a way of life that cannot exist in a world of love.
God does not force people to live with Him.
He respects the final choice of those who refuse His forgiveness and reject His authority.
The Creator wants everyone to be saved, but He will not remove freedom in order to fill the city.
Read 2 Peter 3:9.
His patience shows how deeply He wants people to choose life.
Will Heaven Be Earned or Given?
Read Revelation 21:6 and Revelation 22:17.
The Creator offers the water of life freely.
You cannot purchase eternal life. You cannot earn it by completing these guides, joining an organization, giving money, or performing enough good actions.
Jesus purchased your rescue through His own life.
Read Romans 6:23.
Eternal life is the Creator’s gift through Jesus.
You receive that gift by trusting Him, confessing your sin, and allowing Him to lead your life.
Is It Wrong to Want a Better World?
Some people say we should focus only on present life.
The Bible teaches us to care about this world while looking forward to the world the Creator will restore.
Read Hebrews 11:13–16.
Faithful people desired a better country prepared by God.
Hope does not make us careless about present suffering. It gives us a reason to serve.
Because the Creator values human life, we should value it.
Because He will restore creation, we should care for it now.
Because every people has dignity before Him, we should oppose humiliation and abuse.
Because His future is just, we should practice justice today.
Hope gives us strength to work without pretending that human effort alone can heal everything.
How Can the Hope of Home Change Your Life Now?
It gives suffering a limit
Pain may be part of your present story, but it will not continue forever.
It weakens the fear of death
Jesus has promised resurrection and eternal life.
It changes what success means
Money, attention, and possessions are temporary. Character and relationships with the Creator and people have lasting value.
It gives you a reason to remain faithful
Nothing given to Jesus is wasted, even when no one else notices.
It creates courage
This world’s systems do not control your final future.
It creates belonging
You may feel caught between cultures, disconnected from family, or unsure where you fit. The Creator knows your name and is preparing a permanent place for you.
Where Is Your Real Home?
Read Philippians 3:20–21.
Those who belong to Jesus are citizens of His kingdom.
This does not erase your present responsibilities or identity. It places them under a greater loyalty.
Your deepest security does not depend on a government, institution, career, relationship, or bank account.
Your future is being prepared by the Creator.
Jesus is not inviting you to abandon who you are. He is inviting you to become part of a restored human family where sin can never threaten identity, dignity, land, relationship, or life again.
Think About It
Write your answers in your own words.
- What makes a place feel like home to you?
- How is the biblical picture of eternity different from people floating in clouds?
- What happens when Jesus returns?
- Where will God’s people live during the thousand years?
- Where will they live after the Holy City comes down?
- What does Revelation 7 show about culture and identity?
- Which condition of the new Earth gives you the most hope?
- Is there someone you hope to recognize at the resurrection?
- What meaningful activity would you enjoy doing in a restored world?
- How can hope for the new Earth change one choice you make today?
- What might prevent someone from accepting the Creator’s invitation?
- Do you believe Jesus is preparing a place for you? Why or why not?
Try This During the Coming Week
Set aside fifteen quiet minutes each day.
Read one passage:
- Day 1: John 14:1–3
- Day 2: 1 Corinthians 15:42–54
- Day 3: Revelation 7:9–17
- Day 4: Revelation 21:1–8
- Day 5: Revelation 21:9–27
- Day 6: Revelation 22:1–5
- Day 7: Isaiah 65:17–25 and Isaiah 66:22–23
After each reading, write down:
- What does this passage reveal about our future home?
- What will the Creator remove?
- What will He restore?
- What part of the promise feels personal to me?
- How can this hope shape my life today?
Choose one corner of your home or room to make more peaceful this week. As you clean or arrange it, remember that Jesus is preparing a permanent home for you.
A Prayer You Can Pray
Creator God, thank You for preparing a real home for Your people. I long for a world without death, grief, sickness, violence, displacement, or fear. Thank You that the restored Earth will include people from every nation, tribe, and language. Help me trust that following Jesus will not erase who You created me to be. Prepare my heart for Your kingdom. Give me strength while I wait, compassion for people who suffer, and courage to live by the values of Your coming world. I want my name to remain in the Book of Life. Keep me close to Jesus until I am home with You. Amen.
Remember This
Heaven is a real place prepared by Jesus.
Those who have died remain asleep until the resurrection.
When Jesus returns, He will raise His faithful people and take them to heaven.
The saved will live and reign with Jesus for one thousand years.
After the thousand years, the Holy City will descend to Earth.
The Creator will remove sin and make the Earth new.
God’s people will have real, immortal bodies.
People from every nation, tribe, language, and community will retain their identity.
The Creator will end death, pain, illness, violence, exploitation, and fear.
The gates of the Holy City will never close.
The seventh-day Sabbath will continue as a time of worship in the new Earth.
Eternal life is the Creator’s gift through Jesus.
Coming Next
Lesson 16: What Happens When We Die?
Are the dead watching us? Can they speak to the living? The next lesson examines what the Bible teaches about death, the soul, consciousness, and the hope of resurrection.
You have reached the end of this guide.
Come back whenever you want to reflect or read again.
Next: Guide 16 · What Happens When We Die?My notes · optional
Notes stay in this browser on this device. They are not sent to us or synced to other devices. Clearing browser data removes them; anyone using this browser may be able to read them.
Write freely. You do not need to answer anything to continue.
Reading help
Bible links open the New King James Version (NKJV) on BibleGateway in a new tab. You can choose another translation there. Return to this tab to continue the guide.
A reference such as John 3:16 means the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.
Use A− and A+ to change the reading text. Contents lets you move to another section. Your place is remembered in this browser when saving is available.