The Elbert County tribune., 1916-12-15


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
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 hui
man race. In Lesson IL we studied
the glorifed Christ who is actually
working through his churches cs 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 vision of the final triumph of
Christianity when it shall have ac-
complished its work of redemption in
this world.
|. The New Heaven and the New Earth
wv. 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
vaded and polluted by sin, but both
alike are to be made new. Il Peter 3 10,
IL, 13). The true Jerusalem, of which
Solomon's was but type, is of heav-
enly and divine origin. 1t comes down
out of heaven from God. We know
nothing of the inhabitants of the uni
verse of which we are a 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 1t is even
tually to be with God and Jesus in a
peculiar and beautiful way. Johns
announcement came from out of heav-
en- and out of the throne. ~ 1t
was a tabernacle of God with men;
rather he shall tabernacle with men.
He is to pitch his tent among us (John
l IA Il. V. marg.) 1t is to be done
eventually and permanently. This
dwelling of God among us lies at the
of the blessedness and glo-
ries which are to follow. (2) 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 visibly,
(4) He shall be their God,
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 a
single grief or heartache, unsatisfled
longing or tear, for God shall wipe
them away, and they will stay wiped
away. (6) Death shall be no more.
OF all the enemies, death is the last
one which shall be taken from the
earth. 1t is sweet to know that this
last enemy Is to be conquered. "a
There shall be no mourning, crying or
pain any more. Every sorrow, agony,
remorse, gloom, disappointment gone
passed away. 1t is hard for us to COM
prehend the majesty and sweep of this
great and glorious promise. (See
Cor. 15).
II. The Coming Light and Glory wv.
22-2O. The Intervening verses are
wonderful description of the founda-
ton walls and yates of the city. There
will be no temple in that city for 1t 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 atoning
lamb, slain before the foundation of
the world. This city is to be a city of
light and glory. 1t will not be an IL
Illumination 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
tanity 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 ideal?" Fourth: The gates
of that city are open; an angel is at
each gate, aLd 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
not give him chance nor seek to in
spire him to place of eternal Joy at
his right hand.
Again there is to be federation of
the forces of good. Today we too
often find Christian people divided.