𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝’𝐬 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

For many people, the question of eternity seems straightforward. Evangelical teaching often declares that believers in Yeshua inherit eternal life, while those who reject Him face judgment. The New Testament says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36). This view suggests a single pathway to eternal life and leaves little room for the enduring relevance of the Mosaic Covenant.

But the Scriptures and rabbinic thought offer a richer perspective. What if the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant both endure forever, each guiding a distinct role in God’s eternal plan? What if the New Earth and the New Heaven represent two destinations where the promises of these covenants are fulfilled?

Rabbi Akiva taught that "the righteous of all nations have a share in the World to Come" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1). The Talmud expands this idea, explaining that those who follow the Noahide laws are righteous and included in God’s eternal plan (Sanhedrin 56a). These insights challenge us to consider how both Jews and Gentiles, under different covenants, fit into God’s design.

My teaching today examines the eternal roles of believers in Yeshua, Torah-observant Jews, and Gentiles who honor God’s laws. It offers a way to see the unity of the Mosaic and New Covenants without diminishing their distinct purposes.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

The Scriptures describe two eternal realms. The New Heaven is where God dwells directly with His people, as Revelation declares, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man" (Revelation 21:3). The New Earth is a renewed creation where Torah observance and righteousness guide life, fulfilling God’s will (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Rabbinic tradition also points to this dual vision. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai taught that the Torah, which existed before creation, will guide the righteous in the World to Come, uniting Heaven and Earth (Zohar, Bereishit 161a). Midrash Tanhuma envisions a time when the Torah will shine in its full brilliance, bringing peace and justice to the world (Midrash Tanhuma, Ki Tisa 16).

Let us explore how these covenants shape the eternal resting places for different groups.

𝟏. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚

Eternal Resting Place: The New Heaven

Believers in Yeshua inherit eternal life through the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16). Yeshua’s resurrection secures their place in God’s presence. He said, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3).

Rabbinic thought reflects a similar hope. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto described the Olam HaBa as the ultimate closeness to God, where the righteous experience joy and understanding in His presence (Derech Hashem, Part 1, Chapter 4).

𝟐. 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡-𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚

Eternal Resting Place: The New Earth

The Mosaic Covenant remains eternal. God commanded Moses, "Teach [these words] to your children and to your children’s children" (Deuteronomy 6:7). Torah observance continues on the New Earth, where "all flesh shall come to worship before Me" (Isaiah 66:23).

Rabbi Yehuda taught that Israel’s role in the World to Come is like the heart of a body, bringing life to all parts by teaching the Torah to the nations (Midrash Tehillim, Psalm 117). This vision affirms the eternal purpose of the Mosaic Covenant.

𝟑. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭

Eternal Resting Place: The New Heaven and the New Earth

Some believers in Yeshua honor both the Mosaic and New Covenants. Yeshua affirmed the Torah’s importance, saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). These individuals may dwell in the New Heaven through their faith in Yeshua while serving on the New Earth as part of Israel’s priestly mission.

Rabbi Tanhuma suggested that the Messiah would reveal the deeper meanings of the Torah, allowing those who follow Him to grasp its full purpose (Midrash Tanhuma, Ki Tisa 16).

𝟒. 𝐒𝐨𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐯 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥

Eternal Resting Place: The New Earth

Gentiles who live among Israel and keep the Torah’s laws share in its blessings. The Torah states, "You shall have the same law for the sojourner and for the native" (Leviticus 24:22). Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explained that including the sojourner reflects God’s justice and compassion, ensuring that all who align with Israel share in its covenant (Hirsch, Commentary on Exodus 12:49).

𝟓. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭

Eternal Resting Place: The New Earth

Gentiles who honor the Torah’s moral and ritual laws, such as keeping the festivals, inherit life on the New Earth. Zechariah says, "Everyone who survives of all the nations... shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths" (Zechariah 14:16).

Rabbi Yitzchak Abravanel commented that the nations will join Israel in observing Torah, recognizing the God of Israel in the Messianic Age (Abravanel, Mashmi’a Yeshuah).

𝟔. 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚

Eternal Resting Place: The New Earth or the New Heaven

The Noahide laws offer a universal standard for righteousness. Gentiles who follow them inherit life on the New Earth (Genesis 9:1-17). Rabbi Tanhuma taught that the righteous of the nations are included in the Olam HaBa (Midrash Tanhuma, Pekudei 3). Those who believe in Yeshua gain the indestructible life and join Him in the New Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

𝟕. 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡

Eternal Resting Place: Judgment and Shame

The Scriptures warn that those who reject both Yeshua and God’s commandments face judgment. Daniel says, "Some will awake to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). Rabbi Eliezer echoed this, teaching that those who reject God’s ways are excluded from the World to Come (Sanhedrin 90a).

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐝

The Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant both endure, revealing the depth of God’s faithfulness. The Mosaic Covenant guides life on the New Earth, where Torah observance continues and Israel leads the nations. The New Covenant offers eternal communion with God in the New Heaven, secured through Yeshua’s resurrection.

These covenants are not in conflict. They complement each other, offering distinct roles for Jews, Gentiles, and believers in Yeshua. Rabbi Akiva said, "God’s ways are not like man’s ways; He has compassion for all who seek Him" (Avot d’Rabbi Natan 12). This vision calls us to honor God’s promises and reflect on our place in His eternal plan. The New Heaven and the New Earth stand as testimonies to His justice and mercy, reminding us that His faithfulness endures forever.

B"H