IDIS 150-41
DCM: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth
Interim 2008
Calvin College
Nathan Bierma

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Course Description
Few people live with a clear idea of what eternal heaven will be like, and few Christians live with eager hope in their daily lives for the coming of eternity. This course explores the biblical vision of the eternal restoration of creation and culture, and the hope that flows from God's promise of the coming new heavens and new earth. Students will critique the shortcomings of superficial portrayals of heavenly existence that are overly vague and overly spiritual. Looking instead at the biblical prophecies of the New Jerusalem in Isaiah 60 and Revelation 21, which portray eternal heaven as terrestrial and urban, and using the books When the Kings Come Marching In by Richard Mouw and Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Nathan Bierma, students will form a framework for reading the biblical narrative as a story that culminates in God's eventual perfection of creation, culture, and fellowship. Students will also learn the importance of conceptualizing the Reformed worldview with a fourth crucial component: creation-fall-redemption-new creation, and examine how that worldview frames questions related to vocation, citizenship, community life, family life, recreation, and worship. Students will write one paper on “New Creation and Vocation” that integrates the theology of vocation with the Reformed worldview, biblical eschatology, and hope for God's eternal restoration. N. Bierma. 8:30 a.m. to noon.

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