The Carlisle independent., 1916-12-14
INTERNATIONAL, SUNGYSQIO()L,
 LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER IT
THE HOLY CITY.

LESSON TEXT-Rev 2i:1-7. 22-27.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Behold, the taber- nacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people.-Rev. 21:3.
 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 his resurrection glory, the source of all power, King of Kings and Lord of Lords for the redemption of the hu- man race. In Lesson Il we studied the gloritied Christ who is actually working through his churches Gs the 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 a vision of the final triumph of Christianity when it shall have ac- complished it's work of redemption in this world.
 l. The New Heaven and the New Earth (vv. ID. John in vision saw the con- summation of the work of Christian ity. the visible answer to the prayer which Jesus Christ taught his disciples to pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven" Heaven, as well as earth, has been in- yaded and polluted by sin, but both alike are to be made new. q Peter 3 10, Il, 13). The true Jerusalem, of which Solomon's was but a type, is Of heav- enly and divine origin. It comes down out of heaven from God. We know nothing of the inhabitants of the uni- verse of which we are part, but here we have some scriptural indication of that place where Gods children are to be with him eternally. The kingdom of God is among you, but it is even- tually to be with God and Jesus in peculiar and beautiful way. Johns announcement came from out of heav- en and out of the throne. CD It was a tabernacle of God with men; rather he shall tabernacle with men. He is to pitch his tent among us (John 1 :14 k. V. marg.) It is to be done eventually and permanently. This dwelling of God among us lies at the foundation of the blessedness and glo- ries which are to follow. CD They shall be his people. Israel had been his people; all nations are to be his people in the fullest sense. (3) God himself shall be with them, not only his tabernacle but he. himself yisibly, personally. (4) He shall be their God acknowledged in all his infinite claims, and he to them all that God is of love, power, wisdom, holiness and glory. (5) He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will not be longing or tear, for God shall wipe them away, and they will stay wiped away. co Death shall be no more. Of all the enemies, death is the last one which shall be taken from the earth. It is sweet to know that this last enemy is to be conquered. CD There shall be no mourning, crying or
 
 reraorse, gloom, disappointment gone forever; death, tears, mourning all passed away. It is hard for us to com prehend the majesty and sweep of this great and glorious promise. (See 1 Cor. 15).
 II. The Coming Light and Glory (vy. 22-27). The intervening verses are a wonderful description of the founda- ton walls and gates of the city. There will be no temple in that city for it will not be needed. Instead of the temple which stands for the temple of earth there is to be the presence of God, himself, but the lamb is also in the midst of it. Nothing can more force fully impress upon us the deity and pre- eminence of Jesus Christ, the atcning lamb, slain before the foundation of the world. This city is to be city of light and glory. It will not be an il- lunlination by gas nor electricity, for the glory of the Lord shall tighten it.
 Summary. What are the lessons for our day from this vision of the new heaven and the new earth? First: That the golden age of the Bible has not yet taken place. There are better times to come than anything the world has yet seen. Second: We have here the positive assurance of the success of our leader and the victory of Chris tianity in its conflict with evil. Third: The golden ideal of heaven is the means by which we can test our daily lives and the whole course of our con- duct. The question we should con- stantly ask is, Are we going to this heavenly idealY Fourth: The gates of that city are open; an angel is at each gate, and shall keep out all evil.
 God desires that all men everywhere should repent, and is not willing that any should perish.
 When the final assize shall have passed, no one will say that God did