[Full disclosure, I am fully indebted to Randy Alcorn who wrote an article that first gave me this trajectory of possible thought.]
First, what age will we appear in the new heavens and new earth? Well, I think that the fact Jesus was born in space and time is important. Jesus was in his 30’s when he died. Some may argue that is the peak of human life and health (20-30’s?). So, the resurrected Jesus appeared the same way he looked when he went to the cross. His disciples were able to recognize him and there is no observation of him looking significantly younger or older (John 20:16, John 21:12, Luke 24:31)!1
So, I believe this sets the precedent for a principle. If you are a young adult you will appear the age that is reflective of that “peak” humanity. If you are elderly, you will return to that age of “peak humanity” that is true for you (could be 20, 30’s, or 40’s?) but you will not lose any ounce of what made you uniquely you in your earthly elderly life.2
Now notice the language that I used. Young adult versus elderly. I did not say children. Why? I read this idea from Randy Alcorn and It really struck me. We have so many parents that have suffered in great pain over the loss of an infant or young child. Women every year suffer from the heartache of a miscarriages. In just the last year parents (and siblings) have walked through immense heartache. Some mothers gave birth to still born children. Parents who put their children down in the crib at night for sleep, walk to that crib in the morning to find the child is no longer with them. Other parents faced the horror of their children being taken from them through violence, sickness, or accidents (car crashes or house fires, or shootings, cancer, and other illness). Specifically I think about the recent and horrific shooting at Covenant school and the death of 3 innocent children under the age of 9.3 You have the innocent children that never have the opportunity for an earthly life because of the decision of someone else.
What about these children?
First, I believe that children, especially infants and very young children will go to Heaven.
Jesus embraced Children in his earthly life (Luke 18:16), Jesus said angels are at times assigned to children (Matthew 18:10), David said infants will sing the praises of God (Psalm 8:2). I believe God covers the innocence of children with His grace.4 Now, I want to look at a few passages in the Old Testament that are striking to me.
Old Testament Glimpses:
First, Isaiah 11:8-9.5
“An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah 11:8–9, CSB)
This is a passage where Isaiah looks ahead to an eschatological (end time) future. It’s a time where Jesus (the shoot that grows from the stump of Jesse, Isaiah 11:1) will make all wrongs right. A time when sadness will be undone. Shockingly, in this vision of the new heavens and new earth we find a direct reference to infants that will be present!6 The Hebrew word for “infant/yô·nēq” refers to a nursing child. Just take a second and let that sync in. Why would we have infants, in the new heavens and new earth?
Let’s look at another Isaiah passage, explicitly about the new heavens and earth earth (Isaiah 65:17).
“I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days… (Isaiah 65:19–20, CSB)
This is another wild but seriously hopeful image. In the new heavens and the new earth we find a “nursing infant” who will not live only a few days! Why is there a nursing infant in the new heavens and new earth?
Another example we aught to consider is the passage where David mourns the loss of first child he has with Bathsheba. Let’s look at 2 Sam 12:22-23.
“He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”” (2 Samuel 12:22–23, CSB)
In this passage David responds to his servants who are wondering why the sudden change from mourning and weeping and fasting for the dead child to now eating? David’s response is telling. While the child was alive he had hope so he fasted, prayed, and wept as he plead with Yahweh. Now, that the child is dead, David recognizes that he cannot bring this child back, but he will eventually “go to him.” In the ancient Israelite conception of death, David is saying that he will go to “sheol” to be with his child who is waiting for him in the afterlife.7 David's langauge is reminscent of Jacob's who desires to go to "sheol" to be with his son Joseph who he thought was dead (Genesis 37:35).
Now, to connect the dots with Jesus language of children in the New Testament.
New Testament Glimpses:
Jesus spends a lot of time talking about children in the New Testament. He refers to believers as God’s “children” (Matthew 5:45, 13:38). He also uses the image of children in profound and significant ways. In Matthew 18:3-5 Jesus says:
““Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:3–5, CSB)
The idea/concept is to become like children. Some may suggest that this is purely metaphorical. But the next passage is a bit more forcefull. Look at Matthew 19:14-15.
“Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.” (Matthew 19:14–15, CSB)
Here, Jesus explicitly says that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these little children! What could this mean in both an earthly and cosmic sense? We often read a passage like this and interpret it as the innocence and goodness that children represent are the type of people that will be in the Kingdom of God. But what if there was a literal reading behind this. What if as Jesus is saying this is speaking an “already and not yet” reality? What if in that very moment Jesus has a glimpse of paradise where children are playing and enjoying the presence of God as they wait for their earthly family to join them in paradise?8
An Educated Speculation:
This is where I move into some educated speculation. But I think this speculation is very incredibly hopeful! I think (following Randy Alcorn) that this is evidence that God’s kindness extends to children that parents have tragically lost. Here is a thought. What if God saw it fit and good for children to continue their life that was cut short on this side of eternity in the new heavens and earth where they will be reunited with their parents. This would be a joy for the child to grow up in perfection and also redemption for these parents to enjoy raising their children in perfection! This extends beyond parents but also to siblings of these children that never get to grow up and know them. They get to enjoy the very same thing. This is another emphasis of Scripture, a communal reality where we are to love one another in the context of covenant community. I think of close family friends who mourned on earth but celebrate and enjoy this children with their parents. Why wouldn’t a good God allow for children to experience every part of life in the New Edenic city but without any fear of hurt or heart ache!
Another thought, some may have a desire to have children and never get that opportunity for a variety of reasons. And some of those children in the new heavens and new earth may not have had parents who were believers. I love the idea that God would bring together these children with godly people that would raise them and love them in the New Heavens and New Earth.
Just a thought, but one that fills me with so much hope!
It is true that there are instances where they do not recognize him like the two men on the road to Emmaus or the disciples as they were on the fishing boat at Peter’s restoration on the shore. However, in these moments the text is specific that this was a type of supernatural “withholding” of His identity for a purpose.
I will write another article about disability and our new heavens/earth body. But as a point of clarification, I believe that even the earthly disability or limitations we experience that aid in the formation of who we are will not be obliterated or removed. In other words, disabilities and limitations are formative in our human development. I believe at the resurrection we will still bear the marks of these earthly realities (Jesus still had the marks of the cross on His resurrected body) but they will not limit us as they did in our earthly experience. Much more needs to be said about this in the future.
I had this thought how kind it must have been for these children who died at the Covenant School shooting to be with and enter eternity with the very 3 teachers that gave their life at that very school to protect these children.
I still hold to imputed sinfulness as a result of the fall of Genesis 3. However, I also think it is to far a rigid view to conclude that imputed sinfulness leaves no room for the grace, mercy, and compassion of God to provide a path for the rescue and redemption of children who in ignorance are born into a sinful world.
I use the language of “glimpses” intentionally as I am uncertain at this moment that we can develop a full and thorough “Biblical Theology” of the position I am suggesting. Therefore, what I present here is honestly an educated speculation. I hope through further research to move from educated speculation to presenting a possible “Biblical Theology” of this view.
Some may argue exegetically that this passage should be understood symbolically and what I have done is gone to far into a literalist reading. I agree, the natural reading of the text suggests a symbolic/metaphorically reading may be best. However, I would also suggest that taking a literalist view does not negate the symbolism. For instance, each example are of literal animals, or creation, and how they would on earth literally relate to each other which sets the awe for this new way of living and behaving. Further, I would argue that Eden gives us a picture of the presence of animals prior to the fall in the Garden Mountain of God. Why would this not be true for the Garden City of God in the New Jerusalem?
For more on sheol, hades, hell, and the ancient Hebrew conception of the afterlife read this article.
This requires further explanation. Technically, I would suggest children that passed in the OT would have gone to Abraham’s bosom. The place of rest for the righteous dead. On Holy Saturday Jesus takes those who were in Sheol (Abraham’s bosom, more precisely) and leads them to paradise to be with him. In doing so, I can imagine a host of children playing and rejoicing as they march past the fallen sons of God who are in-prisoned in the depths of Hades as they watch the victory of God unfold in human history.
Thank you.
And, that third footnote about The Covenant School children brought me to tears. I believe that my father in law, who died 8 months before my grandson Aven, his great grandson, greeted Aven and escorted him to Jesus. They adored each other.
Thanks for pulling this together Joel.
Briane Pittman Kearns
Hello...I’m desperate for some clarity on the definition of the “age of peak humanity.”