Question: Did you state in [an] article many years ago that believers during the new heaven and earth who are not part of the church will be able to have babies to fill the earth in obedience to Christ's command to replenish the earth? | thebereancall.org

TBC Staff

Question: In the July 2007 Q&A, you stated: "Revelation 21 reveals the ‘new heaven and new earth' after the final judgment of the wicked (Revelation:20:10-15).... Jews or Gentiles who believed on Christ, but not until they saw Him at the Second Coming, are not in the church but will dwell on earth eternally: in their natural bodies during the Millennium and in new bodies on the new earth with access to the new Jerusalem but not as its residents (Revelation:21:24). Jews saved at the Second Coming will eternally dwell in the promised land of Israel on the new earth (Genesis:17:8; 1 Chronicles:16:14-18; Ezekiel:32:21-28; 39:27-29; Zechariah:12:10). Jews or Gentiles who believed on Christ before His visible appearing (‘blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed' - John:20:29) are the bride, the church. They inhabit the new Jerusalem, are always with Christ, and have full access through Him to the throne of God in heaven."

Did you state in another article many years ago that believers during the new heaven and earth who are not part of the church will be able to have babies to fill the earth in obedience to Christ's command to replenish the earth? This will either stop when earth is full or populations will be removed to other planets. I don't find any reference of such a thing in the Bible. Further, why won't believers, though not part of the church, have full access to the throne of God and what does full access mean? I thought access would be unlimited and that the throne of the Trinity would be among men, not in the current heaven any more.

Response: No, I never stated that anyone would bear children in the new heaven and new earth. Believers have new bodies like angels and "neither marry, nor are given in marriage"(Mt 22:30; Mk 12:25; Lk 20:35). Nor will humans inhabit other planets, in spite of Billy Graham's hoping to preach the gospel on other planets during the Millennium.

Revelation:21:24-27 tells us of the new Jerusalem in eternity: "The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it...kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it...." These clearly come in and out of it as visitors, not as residents. The glory of God is manifested there, but the only mention of the throne of "God and of the Lamb" locates it in heaven, from whence the new Jerusalem descends to earth (Rv 21:2,5,10; 22:1,3).