Why will Christians come back to earth after the world ends?
It surprises a lot of people: the Bible says believers will come back to earth and live here forever. Why would God bring us back, and what will it be like?
Because God never gave up on His creation. He made the earth good and gave it to humanity to care for (Genesis 1:28–31). Sin broke it, but Jesus came to redeem everything. Believers return with Jesus when He comes back in glory (Revelation 19:14) and reign with Him on the earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6). Then God renews heaven and earth completely and comes to live with His people here: “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
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The garden, restored
In the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in a garden, and the tree of life stood in the middle of it. Sin drove them out (Genesis 3:22–24). At the very end of the Bible, the tree of life is back, beside the river flowing from God’s throne, and God’s people see His face (Revelation 22:1–4). The story ends where it began, with God and His people together, only better.
The thousand-year reign
After Jesus returns and Satan is bound, Jesus reigns on the earth with His people for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1–6). The prophets describe a world of justice and peace: “They will beat their swords into plowshares… nation will no longer take up the sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4).
The new earth
After the final judgment, God makes a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). Not a cloudy spiritual existence, but a real, physical, renewed world, with no sin, death or pain, where God lives with His people forever.
What we’ll be doing
Reigning with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12), serving Him (Revelation 22:3), enjoying His creation, and living in perfect relationship with God and each other.
What the Bible says
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Reigning a thousand years.
“Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
Revelation 20:4–6 - 03
God dwelling with man.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.””
Revelation 21:1–4 - 04
Swords into plowshares.
“In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.”
Isaiah 2:2–4 - 05
Creation restored.
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Romans 8:19–21 - 06
The garden restored.
“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 22:1–5
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Read Isaiah 65:17–25. Notice what God promises about life on the renewed earth.
Common questions
Is the thousand years literal?
Become teaches a real thousand-year reign of Jesus on the earth after His return (Revelation 20:1–6).
Will the new earth be like this one?
Recognizable, but far better: without sin, decay, death or sorrow.
Where is heaven now?
Heaven is where God is fully present. In the end, heaven and earth are united, as God comes to dwell with His people.
Take your first step with us.
If you prayed today, or you’re close, Become will walk with you: your first days with Jesus, step by step, with people praying for you.