The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 70.
Subject: A New Heaven and New Earth
Rev. xxi, IL, 22-27-Golden Text
Rev. x1i.,'7-Memory Verses, 3, 4, 27-
Con,na,tarv m tho Day,s Iesaon

Commentary on tho Days Lesson.
l. "a new heaven" etc. Compare Isa.
Is: l7.ls; 2 Pet. 8: l3., These words ex'
acter of the change that takes place in
both the abode and the state of the re.
deemed. mo more sea-" The absence Of
the sea is understood by some to denote
symbolically the absence of all change,
commotion or trouble of any sort. Others
take the words literally.
presented under figures that represent
perfection-the perfection of purity, beauty
and joy. This new Jerusalem is sym.
boil of the church of God in its new and
perfect state. See chap. 10: 10. "Pre.
pared" Gods people are prepared" in q
twofold sense: !. They have made them.
selves ready" 2. The Lord Himself--the
heavenly Bridegroom hath prepared them.
Read lisa. 81: 10. Adorned" The church
is adorned in the glorious apparel of per-
feet Righteousness.
8. ''Tabernacle-vith men," This is an
expression showing Gods intimate and
perpetual communion" with men: 1t ls a
figure from the conception Of Jehovah as
a resident in the old Jewish tabernacle.
Dwell with them" God in the most es'
pecial manner dwells with His followers,
difusing His light and an Lite eyeryThsre' ere ot
fects of former trouble shall be done away;
they have been often before in tears, By
reason of sin, of aflicticr, Of the calami.
ties of the church; but now all tears shall
be wiped away; no signs, nor remem.
brance of former sorrows shall remain,
any further than to make their present
happiness the greater. mo more death" "
This is ample proof that this W hole de-
scription belongs to eternity and not to
time. But death cannot be destroyed by
there being simply no further death; in
order to its destruction there must be. a
resurrection. Passed away" All the
mournful scenes which were on earth 30
familiar to their eyes have passed away to
return no more.
Gall things new: As the creation Of the
world, at the beginning, was the work OF
write" 'The apostle seems to have
stacy and the voice Of Him that spake.
"True and faithful" Ibis includes all that
had been revealed to John. Truth refers
to the promise of the wonderful changes
that were to be made: faithfulness to the
fulflment of those promises.
6. "He said" Christ is the speaker.
"It is DONE" The great work Of mans
redemption is accomplished. The right.
eous are gathered into the new Jerusalem.
and the wicked cast into the lake of fire,
The apostle is carried forward in vision to
the end of all things, and looks back upon
the prophecies of this book as already &c.
complished. Beginning - end" Christ
here shows that He is the cause and end
of all things. lisa. "A: 8: We often begin
what we can never finish, but Christ is
able to finish what He has undertaken.
"That is athirst." Hunger and thirst are
the strongest of bodily appetites, and are
frequently used to represent the strong de-
sires of the soul after God. The intense
longing after salvation and eternal life is
an evidence of their reality; for God Him
self has wrought within us these desires,
and He stands pledged to satisfy them
Fountain" etc. Representing the relig'
ion of the Bible. The supply is exhaust
less. Here is an unfailing fulness of love,
Joy, peace and spiritual strength "a full
salvation. The water from fountain
springs up and flows over, and so saliva
ton in the soul gushes out in the life
through our words and actions, and flows
over on those around US. Freely" 1t is
for all who thirst; it is without money
and without price" lisa. S.; /; John
4: II.
7. "He that overcometh." he that sue.
cessfully resists the temptations OF the
world, the flesh and the devil, and con.
tinues steadfast in the belief and practice;
things" Here, he had no inheritance;
there, he shall inherit the kingdom Of
heaven and have every possible degree OF
blessedness. Matt. l9: 20; ! Pet. i: A.
en;oyment ioy %atie Of 0I the saints" Eis God.S
The fountain of all blessing; the 9ver OF
every good and perfect gift: His God-to
sustain and strengthen, to deliver in times
of trouble and to bring to heaven at last.
my Son." And if Son then an heir, an
heir of God and joint heir with Christ.
See Rom. S: II. But these exalted priv.
leges are only for those who are overcom'
ers.
p. "And saw" John is carried away
by the Spirit into a great and high noun
tain ". 10y where he is shown the holy
jerusalem. Compare Eek. 40: 2. This
city was a symbol Of the church in glory
1t was solid cube, symbolizing complete;
ness and perfection. Twelve is the symbol
of Gods people, and there were twelve
gates, on which were written the names
of the twelve tribes, showing that all OF
Gods true followers have a share in the
city. Gold and precious stones are used to
represent the beauty, excellence and glory
of this heavenly city-the church of Christ.
VS.. 1921. "No temple therein" The
church in glory needs no temple especially
consecrated to the worship of God,
%. mo need of the sun" For the
presence of God and the Lamb make one
eternal day. Heaven is the inheritance OF
the saints in light. The whole city seemed
to appear to John 'rike a luminous object,
"a. RThe nations" There are inhabit.
ants in heaven from all the nations of the
earth. (Which are saved" No one will
ever enter heaven who was not saved on
earth. "In the light" Now We see through
a glass darkly, but then face to face. The
kings" Some of the kings of the earth
will be saved. Bring their glory" etc.
Everything desirable, excellent and ,glor'
ious, is perpetuated and perfected IN heav'
25. "Shall not be shut" The doors OF
the Christian church on earth are ever
open to receive sinners who are ready to
forsake their wickedness and turn to
Christ; and the gates of the new Jerusa'
lem are never shut, and those that are
sanctifed will ever have an abundant en-
trance.
27. "In no wise enter" etc. Heaven is
a holy place. and only holy people can en-
ter. While the gates are always open they
are guarded. The angels who stand at the
gates not only welcome those who h1ye o
right to enter, but they keep away all IN
truders. Nothing abomnable shall be al
lowed to enter there. (Which are writ
ten" Those enter whose names are WIT
ten in the Lambs book of life: who arr re,
newed, justified, sanctifed and thus lifted
to be glorihed.