The Passing of the Heavens
and the Earth

The New Kosmos

Series: The Passing of the Heavens and the Earth

VideoCast Playlist - The Passing of the Heavens and the Earth

Topic: (1)  The Heaven and the Earth in Jesus' Day – Matthew 5:18-19

When we read in the bible of the passing of the heavens and the earth, we should begin to think, if we already haven’t, that what Jesus and his apostles were speaking of was not the passing of the material heavens and the material earth, but the covenant heavens and the covenant earth. 

Scripture References:

Matthew 24:34-35  Jesus puts a time box on all the things he previously talked about

Genesis 37:9-10  Sun, Moon, Stars represented people

Genesis 22:17  Abram’s offspring would be like the stars of heaven

Isaiah 14:13-15  Nebuchadnezzar says he will ascend above the stars of God

Exodus 29:42  This is where Heaven and Earth met

Genesis 1:14-16  Lights in the firmament, the Holy Place

Leviticus 11:47  The priest’s duty was to distinguish between clean and unclean

Proverbs 6:23  The teaching of the priests was to be a light to the people

Nehemiah 8:7-8, 13-14  The priests were to help the people understand the Law

Psalm 19:1-4  The Firmament Preaching the Gospel

Romans 10:18  Paul confirms the Psalm

1 Kings 7:23  The “sea” represented the Gentile nations

1 Kings 7:21  The earth was supported by two pillars

1 Samuel 2:8  God has set the “world” on pillars

Psalm 75:3  This is the shaking of heaven and earth

Psalm 78:69  His sanctuary was built like the heaven and earth

Exodus 25:22  This is where Heaven and Earth meet

2 Chronicles 6:20-21  Prayer was directed towards the Temple in HEAVEN

Psalm 91:1  A reference to the Most Holy Place

Topic: (2)  The Law and the Prophets were bound to the Heavens and Earth – Matt 5:17-18

God undertook to fulfill every detail (every jot and title) of the promises and prophecies of the Law and the Prophets to the Old Covenant people and they in turn were required to observe every detail (every jot and title) of the obligations of the Old Covenant Law. When God had, therefore, fulfilled the promises and prophecies of the Law and the Prophets, he legally ended that old covenant relationship and legally established a NEW covenant relationship between the heavens and earth.

Scripture References:

Matthew 7:12-13  The Law and the Prophets referred to the entire Old Covenant System

Leviticus 19:18  The Law said to love your neighbor as yourself

Matthew 22:37-40  Sounds like what Deuteronomy and Leviticus teach

Deuteronomy 6:5  Another book of the Law Jesus refers to

Luke 2:22-24  Law of the LORD = Law of Moses

Exodus 13:2  Quoted by Luke above

Leviticus 12:2, 6  Offering for the first born

Deuteronomy 4:2  You cannot deviate from the Covenant by so much as a word

Deuteronomy 27:26  You would be cursed if you failed the Covenant contract

Topic: (3)  The Fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets – Matt 5:17-18

According to Matthew 5:17-18, when all things written in the Law and the Prophets were accomplished and fulfilled, God’s people would be relieved of their obligations to the old Law, and the heavens and earth would pass away. This passing of the old covenant heavens and earth would reveal a new heavens and earth.

Scripture References:

Matthew 1:21-23  Matthew records a number of fulfillments in his gospel (Isaiah 7:14)

Matthew 2:14-15  Another fulfillment example (Hosea 11:1)

Matthew 8:16-17  Another fulfillment example (Isaiah 53:4)

John 19:24  From the Scriptures we also have fulfillment (Psalm 22:18)

Galatians 3:22-26  The Law had passed away for believers

Luke 24:44  After Jesus’ resurrection, He speaks to His disciples

Matthew 11:13  The Law and Prophets prophesied until John, the last O.C. prophet

John 5:39-40, 46  The Scriptures are all about Jesus

Hebrews 9:8-10  Speaking of the Old Covenant Sanctuary 

Topic:  (4)  The Passing of Nebuchadnezzar’s Heavens and Earth – Matthew 24:29-35

Why would the Day of the Lord that came to Jerusalem between 66 and 70 be substantially different from the Day of the Lord that came to Babylon circa 540 BC? Why would the passing of Israel’s heavens and earth be substantially different than the passing of Babylon’s heavens and earth? If the passing of Babylon’s heavens and earth culminated with their kingdom being overrun and destroyed by the Medes and Persians, then why would the passing of Israel’s heavens and earth not be their kingdom being overrun by the rebels and mercenaries, and being destroyed by the Roman armies? If the passing of Babylon’s heavens and earth did not affect the surrounding nations, so that people could flee from Babylon to these nations, then why would the passing of Israel’s heavens and earth similarly not affect the surrounding nations and the rest of the planet?

Scripture References:

Isaiah 13:1, 9-19  This prophecy is concerning Babylon using similar language Jesus used

Isaiah 13:6  The Day of the Lord was NEAR

Matthew 3:1-3, 7-10  John warns the religious leaders of the wrath about to come on them

Luke 19:41-44  Jesus predicts a judgment on Jerusalem

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4  Paul agrees with this understanding of The Day of the Lord

Joel 2:28-31  Joel’s prophecy of the Day of the Lord marked by the outpouring of the Spirit

Acts 2:1-6, 14-21  Peter quotes Joel’s prophecy as being fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost

2 Peter 3:10-14  Remember, it was Peter who quoted Joel 2 as being fulfilled

Topic:  (5)  Peter and the Passing of the Heavens and Earth – 2 Peter 3:3-13

According to the apostle Peter, the heavens and earth were about to pass away in his generation. He said that based on what Jesus had promised in Matthew 10 & 16, and the confirmation of the signs that Jesus had given in Matthew 24.

Scripture References:

Acts 2:16-18  It was Peter who said that the Last Days had come upon them

Acts 2:12-13  People were already “mocking” or “scoffing” the apostles

Matthew 16:27-28  The Son of Man was about to come in His Kingdom

1 Peter 4:7, 17  The end of all things is at hand… it is time for judgment to begin

Revelation 1:1-3  Agrees with Peter that the time was at hand

Matthew 10:23  Jesus is speaking to His disciples about their persecution