BIG IDEA: Jesus’ words teach that the next chapter of our story begins with “the renewal of all things,” by which he means the earth we love in all its beauty, our own selves, and the things that make for a rich life: music, art, food, laughter and all that we hold dear. Everything shall be renewed “when the world is made new.” Palingenesia Heaven: The In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1 Heaven: The Kingdom In “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” —John 1:14 Heaven: The Place What happens when we die? “And now dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope” —1 Thessalonians 4:13 What is the present heaven like? “No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering you have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.” —Hebrews 12:22-24 Will we recognize each other in the present heaven?