Grace in Focus Podcast Summary:

Episode: The Nations of the New Earth and Eschatology Wrap Up
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Bob Wilkin
Guest: Philippe Sterling
Duration: 13 minutes

Overview: Main Theme & Purpose

Bob Wilkin and Philippe Sterling conclude their series on eschatology by exploring the structure and dynamics of the new earth as described in Revelation and other biblical texts. The discussion focuses on the different people groups expected to exist on the new earth, their roles, the symbolic and practical importance of their actions, and why a robust understanding of eschatology is vital to Christian motivation, hope, and spiritual health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Three People Groups on the New Earth

• The Church

  • Will be scattered throughout the new earth, tasked with "ruling over all of the nations" ([01:41] Bob).
  • Includes "the overcomers among them, ruling with Christ" ([01:59] Philippe).

• Israel

  • "An ever growing nation during the millennium and possibly ever growing forever on the new earth" ([02:07] Bob).

• The Nations/Gentiles (Goyim/Ethne)

  • The "nations" will also be present and continually growing ([02:17] Bob, [02:50] Philippe).
  • These groups will "bring their glory and honor into…the New Jerusalem" ([03:10] Philippe, referencing Revelation 21:24).

Annual Tribute to Christ

• The kings of the nations themselves, not just ambassadors, will bring tribute—"gifts representing their culture"—to Jesus ([03:10], [03:33] Bob; [03:33] Philippe).

  • This is likened to both the Queen of Sheba bringing riches to Solomon and the wise men bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus ([03:44] Bob; [03:46] Philippe).
  • "They're gonna be bringing tribute to the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Jerusalem. And that will be something that will go on forever." ([04:21] Bob)

• The tribute reflects each nation's cultural distinctives—cheese from Wisconsin, pineapples from Hawaii, or potentially "great mangoes from Haiti" ([04:21]-[06:05], Bob & Philippe).

Life as Glorifying God

• Ultimate purpose of this activity: "Glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ is what we're going to love to do forever in very creative ways, producing all kinds of different things that will bring honor to Him." ([06:05]-[06:46], Bob & Philippe)

Ever-Increasing Kingdom

• Philippe references Isaiah 9: "Of the increase of his government, there shall be no end," suggesting continued growth of nations and possibly habitation beyond earth ([07:56] Philippe).

Motivation and Hope from Eschatology

• Assurance in the promises of God sustains and motivates believers:
  • "Hope involves a certainty, a joyful certainty of the fulfillment of all of the promises of God as a motivating factor for our faithfulness throughout our lives here and now…an anchoring hope…to sustain us through the suffering we experience because of our identification with Christ." ([08:55]-[09:44] Philippe)
• Clarification of "hope" in the New Testament as a certainty with an unknown timing ([09:44]-[10:19] Bob).

Addressing 'License to Sin' Objection

• Some fear that assurance of salvation leads to moral laxity.

  • Bob counters: "If I know for sure I have eternal life, why wouldn't I take a sledgehammer and just break my leg into 12 pieces?...Why not become an immoral person? Because that's bad for me. And not only is it bad for me, but it's bad for everybody around me, right?" ([10:29]-[11:36] Bob)

• Philippe affirms: "Knowing that my eternal destiny is secured...becomes a motivating factor to purity and to looking then to the rewards and to developing a great fullness of experience that’s been reserved for me, but based upon my faithfulness." ([11:36] Philippe)

The Highest Motivation: Approval from Christ

• Drawing on Maslow’s hierarchy, Bob notes: "The highest thing we all strive for is approval...the person most important to believers is the Lord Jesus Christ." ([12:00] Bob)
• Paul's striving for Christ's approval is highlighted as a model ([12:00]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Nature of Eternal Tribute

• "[Jesus] is lighting up the New Jerusalem, and all the nations are sending their kings. Not just an ambassador. The kings themselves come…to give him presents, right?"
  — Bob Wilkin ([03:10])

• "Much like the Queen of Sheba, you know, brought the riches of her realm to Solomon, or the wise men who brought…gold, frankincense and myrrh."
  — Philippe Sterling ([03:33]-[03:46])

Personal Story: The Mango Tree

• "I climbed up the mango tree…I decided to find out which would be the best mango for me to eat was by taking a little bite out of many mangoes…my aunt came out and saw that and she was not happy…"
  — Philippe Sterling ([05:07])

• "You said one of them [trees of life’s fruit] might be mangoes."
  — Bob Wilkin ([05:57])

The Ongoing Joy of Glorifying Jesus

• "Glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ is what we're going to love to do forever in very creative ways, producing all kinds of different things that will bring honor to Him."
  — Bob Wilkin ([06:05]-[06:46])

Eschatology as Anchoring Hope

• "Hope involves a certainty, a joyful certainty of the fulfillment of all of the promises of God…an anchoring hope…to sustain us through the suffering we experience because of our identification with Christ."
  — Philippe Sterling ([08:55]-[09:44])

• "Most of the time, hope in the New Testament refers to…something which we know is certain, but the timing is yet uncertain."
  — Bob Wilkin ([09:44])

Motivation for Christian Living

• "Knowing that my eternal destiny is secured…becomes a motivating factor to purity and to looking then to the rewards and to developing a great fullness of experience…based upon my faithfulness."
  — Philippe Sterling ([11:36])

• "The most important approval are the people most important to us. And the person most important to believers is the Lord Jesus Christ."
  — Bob Wilkin ([12:00])

• "Well done, good and faithful servant."
  — Philippe Sterling ([12:37])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 01:05: Introduction and episode context
• 01:05 – 02:17: Three people groups on the new earth
• 02:17 – 03:33: The nations' role and Revelation 21:24
• 03:33 – 04:21: Cultural tributes to Christ (Queen of Sheba, wise men)
• 05:07 – 05:59: Philippe’s mango tree story and speculation on the fruits of the tree of life
• 06:05 – 06:46: The creative glory brought to Christ
• 07:56 – 08:20: Expansion of Christ's government, ever-increasing new earth
• 08:42 – 09:44: The practical importance and hope of eschatology
• 10:29 – 11:36: Assurance of salvation and motivation for purity
• 12:00 – 12:40: Christ’s approval as believers’ highest goal

Conclusion

Wilkin and Sterling wrap up by encouraging listeners to let eschatology and the certainty of future hope motivate a life of faithfulness, purity, and longing for Christ’s approval. The vision of an ever-growing, multi-national new earth glorifying Christ through diverse, creative offerings both inspires present steadfastness and illuminates the Christian’s true hope.