The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-12-14
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
THE HOLY CITY.

dwell with them. and they shall be his
people.-Rev. ma
As we approach the end Of the year.
our minds turn from the imperial city,
where last we have any authentic rec
ord of Paul. to the eternal city In
which he has so long resided. In les
son ten we studied Jesus Christ In bis
resurrection glory, the source Of all
power. King Of Kings and Lord of
Lords for the redemption Of the Eu-
man race. In Lesson IL we studied
the giorifed Christ who Is actually
working through his churches is fhe
representatives Of his kingdom upon
earth. The succeeding chapters de-
scribe in symbols and pictures the dis
cipline and training of Gods people
during the long generations that fol-
lowed In the lesson for today, we
have q vision Of the final triumph of
Christianity when II shall have ac-
complished Its work of redemption In
this world
I. The New Heaven and the New Earth
wv. Id. John In vision saw the con-
summation Of the work of Christian
lty. the visible answer to the prayer
which Jesus Christ taught his disciples
to pray. thy kingdom come. thy will
be doae on earth as In heaven"
Heaven, a. well rs earth. has been In
vnded and polluted by sin, but both
alike are To be made new. Il Peter 10.
n. 13). The true Jerusalem. Of wiick
Solo,oaS was but n type. In Of henv-
,.niy and divine origin. IL comes down
cot of heaven from God. We know
nothing Of the Inhabitants Of the uni
verse a which we are q part, but here
we have some scriptural indication Of
that place where Gods children are to
b. with him eternaily. The kingdom
VI God u among you. but Il Is even
tualiy 10 be with God and Jesus In q
peculiar and beautiful way. Johns
announcement came from out Of heav-
eu and out Of the throne. ~ II
was q tabernacle of God with me1 |:
rather he shnll tabernacle with men.
He n - pitch his tent among us (John
TIA r. v. marg) II Is to be done
eventually and permanently. This
dwelling of God among US lies at the
touDdntion Of the blessedness and gio-
nes which are to follow. (2) They
<hali Be his people. Israel had been
his people; all nations are to be his
people In the fullest sense. CD God
hlmseaf shall be with them. not only
his tabernacle but he. himself visibly.
perssnAlly. az He shall be their God.
acknowledged In all his infinite claims,
and he 10 them all that God Is Of love,
power, wisdom, holiness and glory.
(B) lie shall wipe away every tear
from their eyes. There will not be q
angie Erief or heartache. unsatisfied
longing o. tear. for God shall wipe
them away, and they will stay wiped
away. CO.. Death shall be no more.
OF an the enemies. death Ia the last
one which shall be taken from the
sarth Il n sweet to know that this
hast e.smy II to be conquered. CD
There slAail be no mourning. crying or
pain any more. Every sorrow, agony.
remsrua gloom. disappointment gone
npreves; death. tears. mourning all
J passed sway. II II hard for US to COM
prchend he majesty and sweep Of this
great saA glorious promise. (See
Cor. ny.
%. Ths Coming Light and Glory wv.
22D- The Intervening verses are q
vondsrfsl description of the founda'
uoa walls and gates Of the city. There
win BE - temple In that city for II will
not Be- needed. Instead Of the temple
whisA stands for the temple Of earth
theEv = 10 be the presence Of God,
hlmsesf. but the lamb Ii also In the
midst q II Nothing can more force
fully hnpress upon US the deity and pre-
aminOrs Of Jesus Christ. the atonins
lamb, aain before the foundation OF
the world This city II to be city OF
light md glory. II will not be an II.
Iumisatisu BY gas nor electricity. for
the giory Of the Lord shall tighten Il
Summary. What are tie lessons for
our asy from this vision Of the new
heaven and the new earthf First
That tAs golden age Of the Bible has
not yel taken place. There are better
times y come than anything the world
has yet seen. Second: We have here
ths pssaeive assurance Of the success
Of our leader and the victory Of Chris.
tianity - Its conflict with evil. Third
rhs esaden ideal Of heaven Ia the
means b. which we can test our daily
lives snd the whole course Of our con
duct TIE question We should con
stantiy ash Is, -Are we going to this
heavenly ideair Fourth: The gates
Of that sity are open; an angel IL a
each gate. and shall keep out all evil
y God DESIRES that all men everywhere
Jshould repent. and IL not willing that
any should perish
whsn the final assise shall have
pared - one viii say that God did
DOT dive him q chance nor seek to In
splrs hin 70 . place Of eternal JOY a
his tShS hand.
Assia thsre II TO BE- federation Of
he forces Of good Today we too
oftes "a Christian people divided