The Home Of The SavedIllustration.The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.1. For what purpose was the earth created?“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain,He formed it to be inhabited.”Isa. 45:18.2. To whom has God given the earth?“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: butthe earth hath He given to the children of men.”Ps. 115:16.3. For what purpose was man made?“Thou madest himto have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.4. How did man lose his dominion?Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it?“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”2 Peter 2:19.Note.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim?[pg 773]“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”Luke 4:5, 6.7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored?“And Thou,O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”Micah 4:8.Note.—The“tower of the flock”is Christ.8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed?“Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth.”Matt. 5:5.Note.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth's good things.9. Who does David say have most now?“For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosperity ofthe wicked.... Their eyes stand out with fatness:they have more than heart could wish.”Ps. 73:3-7.10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed?“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensedin the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”Prov. 11:31.11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked?“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, andHe shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”Ps. 37:34.12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land?“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: forall the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thyseedforever.”Gen. 13:14, 15.13. How much did this promise comprehend?“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”Rom. 4:13.14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime?[pg 774]“And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime?“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faithhe sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:8-10.16. Who is the seed to whom this promise was made?“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Gal. 3:16.17. Who are heirs of the promise?“Andif ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”Verse 29.18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord?“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, andthe elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”2 Peter 3:10.20. What will follow this great conflagration?“Nevertheless we, according to His promise,look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”Verse 13.Note.—As shown in the reading on“The Millennium,”page355, at the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.[pg 775]21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17.22. What was shown the apostle John in vision?“And I sawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”Rev. 21:1.23. What will the saints do in the new earth?“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”Isa. 65:21-23.24. How readily will their wants be supplied?“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Verse 24.25. What peaceful condition will reign throughout the earth then?“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.”Verse 25.26. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, thatfrom one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.”Isa. 66:22, 23.27. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.[pg 776]Illustration.The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.[pg 777]28. How extensive will be the reign of Christ?“He shall have dominion alsofrom sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”Ps. 72:8.29. What does Daniel say of this kingdom?“Andthe kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”Dan. 7:27.Note.—Let imagination picture the home of the saved fair and beautiful as it may, yet remember that it will be more glorious than our brightest imagination can conceive. See 1 Cor. 2:9.O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.[pg 778]The New JerusalemIllustration.The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.1. What was one of Christ's parting promises to His disciples?“In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2.2. What does Paul say God has prepared for His people?“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: forHe hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.3. Where is this city, and what is it called?“ButJerusalem which is aboveis free, which is the mother of us all.”Gal. 4:26.4. For what did Abraham look?“Forhe looked for a citywhich hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:10.5. What assurance has God given to believers?“God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.6. What did John see concerning this city?“AndI John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”Rev. 21:2.[pg 779]Illustration.The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.[pg 780]7. How many foundations has this city?“And the wall of the city hadtwelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”Verse 14.8. What is the measurement of the city?“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: andhe measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”Verse 16.Note.—The measure around it, as the words length and breadth, imply, and as was the early custom of measuring cities, is 12,000 furlongs. This is equal to 1,500 miles, 375 miles on each side, making a perfect square. The area of this city is therefore 140,625 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, or 3,920,400,000,000 square feet. Allowing 100 square feet to each person, or a space ten feet square, the city would hold 39,204,000,000 persons, or twenty-six times the present population of the globe.9. What is the height of the wall?“And he measured the wall thereof,an hundred and forty and four cubits.”Verse 17.Note.—One hundred and forty-four cubits are equal to 216 feet.10. Of what material is the wall constructed?“And the building ofthe wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”Verse 18.11. With what are the twelve foundations adorned?“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation wasjasper; the second,sapphire; the third, achalcedony; the fourth, anemerald; the fifth,sardonyx; the sixth,sardius; the seventh,chrysolite; the eighth,beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, achrysoprasus; the eleventh, ajacinth; the twelfth, anamethyst.”Verses 19, 20. See Ex. 28:15-21; Isa. 54:11, 12.12. Of what are the twelve gates composed?“And the twelve gates weretwelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl.”Rev. 21:21.13. What is written on these gates?“The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”Verse 12.14. Of what are the streets of the city composed?“And the street of the city waspure gold, as it were transparent glass.”Verse 21.15. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon?“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,[pg 781]to shine in it:for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.16. Why are its gates not to be closed?“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:for there shall be no night there.”Rev. 21:25.17. What will be excluded from this city?“And there shall in no wise enter into itanything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”Verse 27.18. Who will be permitted to enter it?“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Rev. 22:14.Note.—The late English and American revisions render this,“Blessed are they that wash their robes,”etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God's commandments.19. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God's people?“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.20. What will flow through the city?“And he showed mea pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”Rev. 22:1.21. What stands on either side of the river?“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was therethe tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”Verse 2.Note.—The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth“from onenew moonto another,”as well as“from one Sabbath to another,”all flesh is to come before God to worship, as stated in Isa. 66:22, 23.22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?“And they shall see His face.”Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.[pg 782]The Conflict EndedIllustration.The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?“Thus the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day GodendedHis work which He had made.”Gen. 2:1, 2.2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”John 19:30.3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,It is done.”Rev. 16:17.4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from God and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me,It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”Rev. 21:5, 6.[pg 783]5. In the new earth, what will be no more?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Verse 4.“And there shall be no morecurse.”Rev. 22:3.6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:6-9.7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?“The whole earth is atrest, and isquiet: they break forth intosinging.”Isa. 14:7.8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”Rev. 5:13.O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.[pg 784]Illustration.Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.[pg 785]Pleasures ForevermoreIllustration.The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.1. What will finally be the privilege of God's children?“And they shallsee His face.”Rev. 22:4.2. How perfect will be their knowledge of God?“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known.”1 Cor. 13:12.3. Whom will they be like?“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.4. From what ills will the saints be forever delivered?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.5. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17. Margin,“Come upon the heart;”i.e. to be desired.[pg 786]6. Who will dwell with the redeemed?“Hewill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, andGod Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”Rev. 21:3.7. What will it mean to dwell in God's presence?“In Thy presence isfulness of joy; at Thy right hand there arepleasures forevermore.”Ps. 16:11.8. What peaceful condition will prevail in the earth made new?“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:9.9. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zionwith songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.10. How enduring will be their pleasures?“For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, andMine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”Isa. 65:22.11. How long will they possess the future kingdom?“But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdomforever, evenforever and ever.”Dan. 7:18.12. How long will they reign?“And they shall reignforever and ever.”Rev. 22:5.I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.[pg 787]
The Home Of The SavedIllustration.The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.1. For what purpose was the earth created?“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain,He formed it to be inhabited.”Isa. 45:18.2. To whom has God given the earth?“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: butthe earth hath He given to the children of men.”Ps. 115:16.3. For what purpose was man made?“Thou madest himto have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.4. How did man lose his dominion?Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it?“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”2 Peter 2:19.Note.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim?[pg 773]“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”Luke 4:5, 6.7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored?“And Thou,O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”Micah 4:8.Note.—The“tower of the flock”is Christ.8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed?“Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth.”Matt. 5:5.Note.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth's good things.9. Who does David say have most now?“For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosperity ofthe wicked.... Their eyes stand out with fatness:they have more than heart could wish.”Ps. 73:3-7.10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed?“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensedin the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”Prov. 11:31.11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked?“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, andHe shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”Ps. 37:34.12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land?“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: forall the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thyseedforever.”Gen. 13:14, 15.13. How much did this promise comprehend?“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”Rom. 4:13.14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime?[pg 774]“And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime?“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faithhe sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:8-10.16. Who is the seed to whom this promise was made?“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Gal. 3:16.17. Who are heirs of the promise?“Andif ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”Verse 29.18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord?“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, andthe elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”2 Peter 3:10.20. What will follow this great conflagration?“Nevertheless we, according to His promise,look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”Verse 13.Note.—As shown in the reading on“The Millennium,”page355, at the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.[pg 775]21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17.22. What was shown the apostle John in vision?“And I sawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”Rev. 21:1.23. What will the saints do in the new earth?“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”Isa. 65:21-23.24. How readily will their wants be supplied?“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Verse 24.25. What peaceful condition will reign throughout the earth then?“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.”Verse 25.26. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, thatfrom one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.”Isa. 66:22, 23.27. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.[pg 776]Illustration.The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.[pg 777]28. How extensive will be the reign of Christ?“He shall have dominion alsofrom sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”Ps. 72:8.29. What does Daniel say of this kingdom?“Andthe kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”Dan. 7:27.Note.—Let imagination picture the home of the saved fair and beautiful as it may, yet remember that it will be more glorious than our brightest imagination can conceive. See 1 Cor. 2:9.O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.[pg 778]The New JerusalemIllustration.The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.1. What was one of Christ's parting promises to His disciples?“In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2.2. What does Paul say God has prepared for His people?“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: forHe hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.3. Where is this city, and what is it called?“ButJerusalem which is aboveis free, which is the mother of us all.”Gal. 4:26.4. For what did Abraham look?“Forhe looked for a citywhich hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:10.5. What assurance has God given to believers?“God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.6. What did John see concerning this city?“AndI John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”Rev. 21:2.[pg 779]Illustration.The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.[pg 780]7. How many foundations has this city?“And the wall of the city hadtwelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”Verse 14.8. What is the measurement of the city?“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: andhe measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”Verse 16.Note.—The measure around it, as the words length and breadth, imply, and as was the early custom of measuring cities, is 12,000 furlongs. This is equal to 1,500 miles, 375 miles on each side, making a perfect square. The area of this city is therefore 140,625 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, or 3,920,400,000,000 square feet. Allowing 100 square feet to each person, or a space ten feet square, the city would hold 39,204,000,000 persons, or twenty-six times the present population of the globe.9. What is the height of the wall?“And he measured the wall thereof,an hundred and forty and four cubits.”Verse 17.Note.—One hundred and forty-four cubits are equal to 216 feet.10. Of what material is the wall constructed?“And the building ofthe wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”Verse 18.11. With what are the twelve foundations adorned?“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation wasjasper; the second,sapphire; the third, achalcedony; the fourth, anemerald; the fifth,sardonyx; the sixth,sardius; the seventh,chrysolite; the eighth,beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, achrysoprasus; the eleventh, ajacinth; the twelfth, anamethyst.”Verses 19, 20. See Ex. 28:15-21; Isa. 54:11, 12.12. Of what are the twelve gates composed?“And the twelve gates weretwelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl.”Rev. 21:21.13. What is written on these gates?“The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”Verse 12.14. Of what are the streets of the city composed?“And the street of the city waspure gold, as it were transparent glass.”Verse 21.15. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon?“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,[pg 781]to shine in it:for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.16. Why are its gates not to be closed?“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:for there shall be no night there.”Rev. 21:25.17. What will be excluded from this city?“And there shall in no wise enter into itanything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”Verse 27.18. Who will be permitted to enter it?“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Rev. 22:14.Note.—The late English and American revisions render this,“Blessed are they that wash their robes,”etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God's commandments.19. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God's people?“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.20. What will flow through the city?“And he showed mea pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”Rev. 22:1.21. What stands on either side of the river?“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was therethe tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”Verse 2.Note.—The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth“from onenew moonto another,”as well as“from one Sabbath to another,”all flesh is to come before God to worship, as stated in Isa. 66:22, 23.22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?“And they shall see His face.”Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.[pg 782]The Conflict EndedIllustration.The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?“Thus the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day GodendedHis work which He had made.”Gen. 2:1, 2.2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”John 19:30.3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,It is done.”Rev. 16:17.4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from God and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me,It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”Rev. 21:5, 6.[pg 783]5. In the new earth, what will be no more?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Verse 4.“And there shall be no morecurse.”Rev. 22:3.6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:6-9.7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?“The whole earth is atrest, and isquiet: they break forth intosinging.”Isa. 14:7.8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”Rev. 5:13.O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.[pg 784]Illustration.Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.[pg 785]Pleasures ForevermoreIllustration.The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.1. What will finally be the privilege of God's children?“And they shallsee His face.”Rev. 22:4.2. How perfect will be their knowledge of God?“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known.”1 Cor. 13:12.3. Whom will they be like?“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.4. From what ills will the saints be forever delivered?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.5. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17. Margin,“Come upon the heart;”i.e. to be desired.[pg 786]6. Who will dwell with the redeemed?“Hewill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, andGod Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”Rev. 21:3.7. What will it mean to dwell in God's presence?“In Thy presence isfulness of joy; at Thy right hand there arepleasures forevermore.”Ps. 16:11.8. What peaceful condition will prevail in the earth made new?“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:9.9. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zionwith songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.10. How enduring will be their pleasures?“For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, andMine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”Isa. 65:22.11. How long will they possess the future kingdom?“But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdomforever, evenforever and ever.”Dan. 7:18.12. How long will they reign?“And they shall reignforever and ever.”Rev. 22:5.I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.[pg 787]
The Home Of The SavedIllustration.The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.1. For what purpose was the earth created?“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain,He formed it to be inhabited.”Isa. 45:18.2. To whom has God given the earth?“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: butthe earth hath He given to the children of men.”Ps. 115:16.3. For what purpose was man made?“Thou madest himto have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.4. How did man lose his dominion?Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it?“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”2 Peter 2:19.Note.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim?[pg 773]“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”Luke 4:5, 6.7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored?“And Thou,O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”Micah 4:8.Note.—The“tower of the flock”is Christ.8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed?“Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth.”Matt. 5:5.Note.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth's good things.9. Who does David say have most now?“For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosperity ofthe wicked.... Their eyes stand out with fatness:they have more than heart could wish.”Ps. 73:3-7.10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed?“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensedin the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”Prov. 11:31.11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked?“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, andHe shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”Ps. 37:34.12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land?“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: forall the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thyseedforever.”Gen. 13:14, 15.13. How much did this promise comprehend?“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”Rom. 4:13.14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime?[pg 774]“And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime?“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faithhe sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:8-10.16. Who is the seed to whom this promise was made?“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Gal. 3:16.17. Who are heirs of the promise?“Andif ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”Verse 29.18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord?“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, andthe elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”2 Peter 3:10.20. What will follow this great conflagration?“Nevertheless we, according to His promise,look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”Verse 13.Note.—As shown in the reading on“The Millennium,”page355, at the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.[pg 775]21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17.22. What was shown the apostle John in vision?“And I sawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”Rev. 21:1.23. What will the saints do in the new earth?“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”Isa. 65:21-23.24. How readily will their wants be supplied?“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Verse 24.25. What peaceful condition will reign throughout the earth then?“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.”Verse 25.26. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, thatfrom one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.”Isa. 66:22, 23.27. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.[pg 776]Illustration.The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.[pg 777]28. How extensive will be the reign of Christ?“He shall have dominion alsofrom sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”Ps. 72:8.29. What does Daniel say of this kingdom?“Andthe kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”Dan. 7:27.Note.—Let imagination picture the home of the saved fair and beautiful as it may, yet remember that it will be more glorious than our brightest imagination can conceive. See 1 Cor. 2:9.O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.[pg 778]The New JerusalemIllustration.The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.1. What was one of Christ's parting promises to His disciples?“In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2.2. What does Paul say God has prepared for His people?“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: forHe hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.3. Where is this city, and what is it called?“ButJerusalem which is aboveis free, which is the mother of us all.”Gal. 4:26.4. For what did Abraham look?“Forhe looked for a citywhich hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:10.5. What assurance has God given to believers?“God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.6. What did John see concerning this city?“AndI John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”Rev. 21:2.[pg 779]Illustration.The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.[pg 780]7. How many foundations has this city?“And the wall of the city hadtwelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”Verse 14.8. What is the measurement of the city?“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: andhe measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”Verse 16.Note.—The measure around it, as the words length and breadth, imply, and as was the early custom of measuring cities, is 12,000 furlongs. This is equal to 1,500 miles, 375 miles on each side, making a perfect square. The area of this city is therefore 140,625 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, or 3,920,400,000,000 square feet. Allowing 100 square feet to each person, or a space ten feet square, the city would hold 39,204,000,000 persons, or twenty-six times the present population of the globe.9. What is the height of the wall?“And he measured the wall thereof,an hundred and forty and four cubits.”Verse 17.Note.—One hundred and forty-four cubits are equal to 216 feet.10. Of what material is the wall constructed?“And the building ofthe wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”Verse 18.11. With what are the twelve foundations adorned?“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation wasjasper; the second,sapphire; the third, achalcedony; the fourth, anemerald; the fifth,sardonyx; the sixth,sardius; the seventh,chrysolite; the eighth,beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, achrysoprasus; the eleventh, ajacinth; the twelfth, anamethyst.”Verses 19, 20. See Ex. 28:15-21; Isa. 54:11, 12.12. Of what are the twelve gates composed?“And the twelve gates weretwelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl.”Rev. 21:21.13. What is written on these gates?“The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”Verse 12.14. Of what are the streets of the city composed?“And the street of the city waspure gold, as it were transparent glass.”Verse 21.15. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon?“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,[pg 781]to shine in it:for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.16. Why are its gates not to be closed?“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:for there shall be no night there.”Rev. 21:25.17. What will be excluded from this city?“And there shall in no wise enter into itanything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”Verse 27.18. Who will be permitted to enter it?“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Rev. 22:14.Note.—The late English and American revisions render this,“Blessed are they that wash their robes,”etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God's commandments.19. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God's people?“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.20. What will flow through the city?“And he showed mea pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”Rev. 22:1.21. What stands on either side of the river?“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was therethe tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”Verse 2.Note.—The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth“from onenew moonto another,”as well as“from one Sabbath to another,”all flesh is to come before God to worship, as stated in Isa. 66:22, 23.22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?“And they shall see His face.”Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.[pg 782]The Conflict EndedIllustration.The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?“Thus the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day GodendedHis work which He had made.”Gen. 2:1, 2.2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”John 19:30.3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,It is done.”Rev. 16:17.4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from God and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me,It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”Rev. 21:5, 6.[pg 783]5. In the new earth, what will be no more?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Verse 4.“And there shall be no morecurse.”Rev. 22:3.6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:6-9.7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?“The whole earth is atrest, and isquiet: they break forth intosinging.”Isa. 14:7.8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”Rev. 5:13.O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.[pg 784]Illustration.Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.[pg 785]Pleasures ForevermoreIllustration.The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.1. What will finally be the privilege of God's children?“And they shallsee His face.”Rev. 22:4.2. How perfect will be their knowledge of God?“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known.”1 Cor. 13:12.3. Whom will they be like?“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.4. From what ills will the saints be forever delivered?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.5. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17. Margin,“Come upon the heart;”i.e. to be desired.[pg 786]6. Who will dwell with the redeemed?“Hewill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, andGod Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”Rev. 21:3.7. What will it mean to dwell in God's presence?“In Thy presence isfulness of joy; at Thy right hand there arepleasures forevermore.”Ps. 16:11.8. What peaceful condition will prevail in the earth made new?“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:9.9. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zionwith songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.10. How enduring will be their pleasures?“For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, andMine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”Isa. 65:22.11. How long will they possess the future kingdom?“But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdomforever, evenforever and ever.”Dan. 7:18.12. How long will they reign?“And they shall reignforever and ever.”Rev. 22:5.I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.[pg 787]
The Home Of The SavedIllustration.The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.1. For what purpose was the earth created?“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain,He formed it to be inhabited.”Isa. 45:18.2. To whom has God given the earth?“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: butthe earth hath He given to the children of men.”Ps. 115:16.3. For what purpose was man made?“Thou madest himto have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.4. How did man lose his dominion?Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it?“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”2 Peter 2:19.Note.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim?[pg 773]“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”Luke 4:5, 6.7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored?“And Thou,O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”Micah 4:8.Note.—The“tower of the flock”is Christ.8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed?“Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth.”Matt. 5:5.Note.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth's good things.9. Who does David say have most now?“For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosperity ofthe wicked.... Their eyes stand out with fatness:they have more than heart could wish.”Ps. 73:3-7.10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed?“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensedin the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”Prov. 11:31.11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked?“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, andHe shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”Ps. 37:34.12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land?“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: forall the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thyseedforever.”Gen. 13:14, 15.13. How much did this promise comprehend?“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”Rom. 4:13.14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime?[pg 774]“And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime?“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faithhe sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:8-10.16. Who is the seed to whom this promise was made?“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Gal. 3:16.17. Who are heirs of the promise?“Andif ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”Verse 29.18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord?“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, andthe elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”2 Peter 3:10.20. What will follow this great conflagration?“Nevertheless we, according to His promise,look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”Verse 13.Note.—As shown in the reading on“The Millennium,”page355, at the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.[pg 775]21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17.22. What was shown the apostle John in vision?“And I sawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”Rev. 21:1.23. What will the saints do in the new earth?“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”Isa. 65:21-23.24. How readily will their wants be supplied?“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Verse 24.25. What peaceful condition will reign throughout the earth then?“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.”Verse 25.26. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, thatfrom one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.”Isa. 66:22, 23.27. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.[pg 776]Illustration.The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.[pg 777]28. How extensive will be the reign of Christ?“He shall have dominion alsofrom sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”Ps. 72:8.29. What does Daniel say of this kingdom?“Andthe kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”Dan. 7:27.Note.—Let imagination picture the home of the saved fair and beautiful as it may, yet remember that it will be more glorious than our brightest imagination can conceive. See 1 Cor. 2:9.O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.
Illustration.The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.
The New Earth. "The saints ... shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever." Dan. 7:18.
1. For what purpose was the earth created?
“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain,He formed it to be inhabited.”Isa. 45:18.
2. To whom has God given the earth?
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: butthe earth hath He given to the children of men.”Ps. 115:16.
3. For what purpose was man made?
“Thou madest himto have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.
4. How did man lose his dominion?
Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.
5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it?
“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”2 Peter 2:19.
Note.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.
6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim?
“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”Luke 4:5, 6.
7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored?
“And Thou,O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”Micah 4:8.
Note.—The“tower of the flock”is Christ.
8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed?
“Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth.”Matt. 5:5.
Note.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth's good things.
9. Who does David say have most now?
“For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosperity ofthe wicked.... Their eyes stand out with fatness:they have more than heart could wish.”Ps. 73:3-7.
10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed?
“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensedin the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”Prov. 11:31.
11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked?
“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, andHe shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”Ps. 37:34.
12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land?
“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: forall the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thyseedforever.”Gen. 13:14, 15.
13. How much did this promise comprehend?
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”Rom. 4:13.
14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime?
“And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.
15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime?
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faithhe sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:8-10.
16. Who is the seed to whom this promise was made?
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Gal. 3:16.
17. Who are heirs of the promise?
“Andif ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”Verse 29.
18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise?
“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.
19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord?
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, andthe elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”2 Peter 3:10.
20. What will follow this great conflagration?
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise,look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”Verse 13.
Note.—As shown in the reading on“The Millennium,”page355, at the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.
21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer?
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17.
22. What was shown the apostle John in vision?
“And I sawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”Rev. 21:1.
23. What will the saints do in the new earth?
“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”Isa. 65:21-23.
24. How readily will their wants be supplied?
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Verse 24.
25. What peaceful condition will reign throughout the earth then?
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.”Verse 25.
26. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, thatfrom one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.”Isa. 66:22, 23.
27. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do?
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.
Illustration.The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.
The Land Of Peace. "A little child shall lead them.... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain." Isa. 11:6-9.
28. How extensive will be the reign of Christ?
“He shall have dominion alsofrom sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”Ps. 72:8.
29. What does Daniel say of this kingdom?
“Andthe kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”Dan. 7:27.
Note.—Let imagination picture the home of the saved fair and beautiful as it may, yet remember that it will be more glorious than our brightest imagination can conceive. See 1 Cor. 2:9.
O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.
O, sweetly through the gloomy yearsThat roll their dimming veil between,The promised goodly land appears,Arrayed in never-fading green!And from that peaceful, happy clime,Transporting bursts of song arise,And, rolling through the mists of time,Tell us of joy that never dies.
O, sweetly through the gloomy years
That roll their dimming veil between,
The promised goodly land appears,
Arrayed in never-fading green!
And from that peaceful, happy clime,
Transporting bursts of song arise,
And, rolling through the mists of time,
Tell us of joy that never dies.
As voyagers on the stormy deepLook for some bright and sunny bayWhere winds and waves are hushed in sleep,And joy lights up the happy day,So o'er the tossing sea of yearsWe glance the eye and stretch the handWhere, robed in fadeless light, appearsThe border of the shining land.
As voyagers on the stormy deep
Look for some bright and sunny bay
Where winds and waves are hushed in sleep,
And joy lights up the happy day,
So o'er the tossing sea of years
We glance the eye and stretch the hand
Where, robed in fadeless light, appears
The border of the shining land.
There angel hosts of glorious ones,With sinless hearts and stainless hands,Call us in glad and loving tones,And bid us welcome to their bands.Hark! how their harps and voices tellThe glories of that radiant strand,And bid us breast the waves that swellBetween us and the shining land.
There angel hosts of glorious ones,
With sinless hearts and stainless hands,
Call us in glad and loving tones,
And bid us welcome to their bands.
Hark! how their harps and voices tell
The glories of that radiant strand,
And bid us breast the waves that swell
Between us and the shining land.
Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,The glories of that home of song;Though stormy billows roll between,I go to join the angel throng.But of the joys beyond the tide,The welcomes on that golden strand,The best shall be from Him who diedTo bring us to the shining land.H. L. Hastings.
Ear hath not heard, eye hath not seen,
The glories of that home of song;
Though stormy billows roll between,
I go to join the angel throng.
But of the joys beyond the tide,
The welcomes on that golden strand,
The best shall be from Him who died
To bring us to the shining land.
H. L. Hastings.
The New JerusalemIllustration.The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.1. What was one of Christ's parting promises to His disciples?“In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2.2. What does Paul say God has prepared for His people?“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: forHe hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.3. Where is this city, and what is it called?“ButJerusalem which is aboveis free, which is the mother of us all.”Gal. 4:26.4. For what did Abraham look?“Forhe looked for a citywhich hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:10.5. What assurance has God given to believers?“God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.6. What did John see concerning this city?“AndI John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”Rev. 21:2.[pg 779]Illustration.The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.[pg 780]7. How many foundations has this city?“And the wall of the city hadtwelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”Verse 14.8. What is the measurement of the city?“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: andhe measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”Verse 16.Note.—The measure around it, as the words length and breadth, imply, and as was the early custom of measuring cities, is 12,000 furlongs. This is equal to 1,500 miles, 375 miles on each side, making a perfect square. The area of this city is therefore 140,625 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, or 3,920,400,000,000 square feet. Allowing 100 square feet to each person, or a space ten feet square, the city would hold 39,204,000,000 persons, or twenty-six times the present population of the globe.9. What is the height of the wall?“And he measured the wall thereof,an hundred and forty and four cubits.”Verse 17.Note.—One hundred and forty-four cubits are equal to 216 feet.10. Of what material is the wall constructed?“And the building ofthe wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”Verse 18.11. With what are the twelve foundations adorned?“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation wasjasper; the second,sapphire; the third, achalcedony; the fourth, anemerald; the fifth,sardonyx; the sixth,sardius; the seventh,chrysolite; the eighth,beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, achrysoprasus; the eleventh, ajacinth; the twelfth, anamethyst.”Verses 19, 20. See Ex. 28:15-21; Isa. 54:11, 12.12. Of what are the twelve gates composed?“And the twelve gates weretwelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl.”Rev. 21:21.13. What is written on these gates?“The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”Verse 12.14. Of what are the streets of the city composed?“And the street of the city waspure gold, as it were transparent glass.”Verse 21.15. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon?“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,[pg 781]to shine in it:for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.16. Why are its gates not to be closed?“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:for there shall be no night there.”Rev. 21:25.17. What will be excluded from this city?“And there shall in no wise enter into itanything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”Verse 27.18. Who will be permitted to enter it?“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Rev. 22:14.Note.—The late English and American revisions render this,“Blessed are they that wash their robes,”etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God's commandments.19. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God's people?“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.20. What will flow through the city?“And he showed mea pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”Rev. 22:1.21. What stands on either side of the river?“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was therethe tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”Verse 2.Note.—The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth“from onenew moonto another,”as well as“from one Sabbath to another,”all flesh is to come before God to worship, as stated in Isa. 66:22, 23.22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?“And they shall see His face.”Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.
Illustration.The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.
The Holy City. "He looked for a city which hath foundations." Heb. 11:10.
1. What was one of Christ's parting promises to His disciples?
“In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2.
2. What does Paul say God has prepared for His people?
“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: forHe hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.
3. Where is this city, and what is it called?
“ButJerusalem which is aboveis free, which is the mother of us all.”Gal. 4:26.
4. For what did Abraham look?
“Forhe looked for a citywhich hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”Heb. 11:10.
5. What assurance has God given to believers?
“God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”Heb. 11:16.
6. What did John see concerning this city?
“AndI John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”Rev. 21:2.
Illustration.The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.
The Descent Of The New Jerusalem. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21:2.
7. How many foundations has this city?
“And the wall of the city hadtwelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”Verse 14.
8. What is the measurement of the city?
“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: andhe measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”Verse 16.
Note.—The measure around it, as the words length and breadth, imply, and as was the early custom of measuring cities, is 12,000 furlongs. This is equal to 1,500 miles, 375 miles on each side, making a perfect square. The area of this city is therefore 140,625 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, or 3,920,400,000,000 square feet. Allowing 100 square feet to each person, or a space ten feet square, the city would hold 39,204,000,000 persons, or twenty-six times the present population of the globe.
9. What is the height of the wall?
“And he measured the wall thereof,an hundred and forty and four cubits.”Verse 17.
Note.—One hundred and forty-four cubits are equal to 216 feet.
10. Of what material is the wall constructed?
“And the building ofthe wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”Verse 18.
11. With what are the twelve foundations adorned?
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation wasjasper; the second,sapphire; the third, achalcedony; the fourth, anemerald; the fifth,sardonyx; the sixth,sardius; the seventh,chrysolite; the eighth,beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, achrysoprasus; the eleventh, ajacinth; the twelfth, anamethyst.”Verses 19, 20. See Ex. 28:15-21; Isa. 54:11, 12.
12. Of what are the twelve gates composed?
“And the twelve gates weretwelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl.”Rev. 21:21.
13. What is written on these gates?
“The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”Verse 12.
14. Of what are the streets of the city composed?
“And the street of the city waspure gold, as it were transparent glass.”Verse 21.
15. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon?
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,[pg 781]to shine in it:for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.
16. Why are its gates not to be closed?
“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:for there shall be no night there.”Rev. 21:25.
17. What will be excluded from this city?
“And there shall in no wise enter into itanything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”Verse 27.
18. Who will be permitted to enter it?
“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Rev. 22:14.
Note.—The late English and American revisions render this,“Blessed are they that wash their robes,”etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God's commandments.
19. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God's people?
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.
20. What will flow through the city?
“And he showed mea pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”Rev. 22:1.
21. What stands on either side of the river?
“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was therethe tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”Verse 2.
Note.—The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth“from onenew moonto another,”as well as“from one Sabbath to another,”all flesh is to come before God to worship, as stated in Isa. 66:22, 23.
22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?
“And they shall see His face.”Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.
The Conflict EndedIllustration.The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?“Thus the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day GodendedHis work which He had made.”Gen. 2:1, 2.2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”John 19:30.3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,It is done.”Rev. 16:17.4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from God and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me,It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”Rev. 21:5, 6.[pg 783]5. In the new earth, what will be no more?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Verse 4.“And there shall be no morecurse.”Rev. 22:3.6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:6-9.7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?“The whole earth is atrest, and isquiet: they break forth intosinging.”Isa. 14:7.8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”Rev. 5:13.O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.[pg 784]Illustration.Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.
Illustration.The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.
The Rest Remaining. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 21:4.
1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?
“Thus the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day GodendedHis work which He had made.”Gen. 2:1, 2.
2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”John 19:30.
3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,It is done.”Rev. 16:17.
4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from God and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?
“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me,It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”Rev. 21:5, 6.
5. In the new earth, what will be no more?
“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Verse 4.“And there shall be no morecurse.”Rev. 22:3.
6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:6-9.
7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?
“The whole earth is atrest, and isquiet: they break forth intosinging.”Isa. 14:7.
8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”Rev. 5:13.
O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.
O what a mighty changeShall Jesus' followers know,When o'er the happy plains they range,Incapable of woe!
O what a mighty change
Shall Jesus' followers know,
When o'er the happy plains they range,
Incapable of woe!
There all our griefs are past;There all our sorrows end;We gain a peaceful rest at last,With Jesus Christ our Friend.
There all our griefs are past;
There all our sorrows end;
We gain a peaceful rest at last,
With Jesus Christ our Friend.
No slightest touch of pain,Nor sorrow's least alloy,Can violate our rest, or stainOur purity of joy.
No slightest touch of pain,
Nor sorrow's least alloy,
Can violate our rest, or stain
Our purity of joy.
In that eternal day,No clouds nor tempest rise;There gushing tears are wiped awayForever from our eyes.Charles Wesley.
In that eternal day,
No clouds nor tempest rise;
There gushing tears are wiped away
Forever from our eyes.
Charles Wesley.
Illustration.Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.
Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ... unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.
Pleasures ForevermoreIllustration.The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.1. What will finally be the privilege of God's children?“And they shallsee His face.”Rev. 22:4.2. How perfect will be their knowledge of God?“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known.”1 Cor. 13:12.3. Whom will they be like?“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.4. From what ills will the saints be forever delivered?“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.5. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away?“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17. Margin,“Come upon the heart;”i.e. to be desired.[pg 786]6. Who will dwell with the redeemed?“Hewill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, andGod Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”Rev. 21:3.7. What will it mean to dwell in God's presence?“In Thy presence isfulness of joy; at Thy right hand there arepleasures forevermore.”Ps. 16:11.8. What peaceful condition will prevail in the earth made new?“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:9.9. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion?“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zionwith songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.10. How enduring will be their pleasures?“For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, andMine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”Isa. 65:22.11. How long will they possess the future kingdom?“But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdomforever, evenforever and ever.”Dan. 7:18.12. How long will they reign?“And they shall reignforever and ever.”Rev. 22:5.I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.
Illustration.The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.
The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.
1. What will finally be the privilege of God's children?
“And they shallsee His face.”Rev. 22:4.
2. How perfect will be their knowledge of God?
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known.”1 Cor. 13:12.
3. Whom will they be like?
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.
4. From what ills will the saints be forever delivered?
“And God shall wipe away alltearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neithersorrow, norcrying, neither shall there be any morepain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4.
5. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away?
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”Isa. 65:17. Margin,“Come upon the heart;”i.e. to be desired.
6. Who will dwell with the redeemed?
“Hewill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, andGod Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”Rev. 21:3.
7. What will it mean to dwell in God's presence?
“In Thy presence isfulness of joy; at Thy right hand there arepleasures forevermore.”Ps. 16:11.
8. What peaceful condition will prevail in the earth made new?
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”Isa. 11:9.
9. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion?
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zionwith songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”Isa. 35:10.
10. How enduring will be their pleasures?
“For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, andMine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”Isa. 65:22.
11. How long will they possess the future kingdom?
“But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdomforever, evenforever and ever.”Dan. 7:18.
12. How long will they reign?
“And they shall reignforever and ever.”Rev. 22:5.
I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.
I am longing for the home land,And its rest from sin and strife;I am yearning for the welcome,With its warmth of light and life;And the days seem long and weary,Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,While I wait for my RedeemerTo come in clouds for me.
I am longing for the home land,
And its rest from sin and strife;
I am yearning for the welcome,
With its warmth of light and life;
And the days seem long and weary,
Mid earth scenes so dark and dreary,
While I wait for my Redeemer
To come in clouds for me.
O the home land, blessed home land,With its bliss beyond compare!How our ardent souls are yearningFor the joys that wait us there!And we haste to barge our treasureOn the river of Thy pleasure,In the home where life eternalAwaits the ransomed throng.Worthie Harris Holden.
O the home land, blessed home land,
With its bliss beyond compare!
How our ardent souls are yearning
For the joys that wait us there!
And we haste to barge our treasure
On the river of Thy pleasure,
In the home where life eternal
Awaits the ransomed throng.
Worthie Harris Holden.