Middletown transcript., 1916-12-16
LESSON FOR DECEMBER IT
Lesson TEXT-Rev. 21:1-7. ~.
THE HOLY CITY.

AS we dppTOdCu ILe emu Oh 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
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 glOrified Christ who is actually
working through his churches as 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 its work of redemption In
this world.
I. 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 us earth, has been in
vaded and polluted by sin. but both
alike are to be made new. Il Peter 3 10,
II, 13). The true Jerusalem, of which
SOlOmOn's was but type, is of heav-
emily 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 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. O 1t
was a tabernacle Of God with men;
rather he shall tabernacle with men.
He is to pitch his tent among us John
IA Il. V. marg) 1t 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. (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,
personally. az 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.
20 He shall wipe away every tear
from their eyes. There will not be a
single grief or heartache, unsatisfed
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. %
There shall be no mourning, crying or
pain any more. Every sorrow, agony,
remOrse, gloom, disappointment gone
forever; death, tears, mourning all
passed away. 1t is hard for us to COM
prehend the majesty and sweep of this
great and glorious promise. (See l
Cor. 15). But this kingdom of heaven
is to be on the earth. The ideal and
goal of the material world will pro-
duce this new heaven" There was
40 more sea separating, turbulent, hos
tile, a means of separation and de-
of wrecks and hurricanes
that sometimes shut out the stars,
therefore, as a symbol and q type it >
has no place in the renewed earth.
II. The Coming Light and Glory (vv.
22-2O. The intervening verses are n
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
July impress upon us the deity and pre-
aminence of Jesus Christ, the atOning
amb. slain before the foundation of
he world. This city is to be city of
light and glory. 1t will not be an IL
animation by gas nor electricity, for
he glory of the Lord shall tighten it.
The thing our great cities need today
o expose their sin is light, but there
Will be no sins to be exposed when
he light of Gods eternity shines upon
lis blessed holy city. All nations
-, 1cR Of hnk Hnhk
Kings shall bring their glory into it.
EVERYTHING that is regal and bright
md wondrOus will be in that city.
The city stands wide open at all times;
10 need of walls or excluding gates.
There shall be no night there. In God.
he father of light, there Is no va
iation, neither shadow that is cast
" turning (James 1:1S).
Summary. What are the lessons for
,ur day from this vision of the new
leaven and the new earth? First:
That the golden age of the Bible has
Ot yet taken place. There are better
ines to come than anything the world
as yet seen. Second: We have here
he positive assurance of the success
f our leader and the victory of Chris
ianity in its conflict with evil. Third:
he golden ideal of heaven Is the
neans by which we can test our dailx
ives and the whole course of our con-
luct. The question we should con:
tantly ask is, Are we going to this
ideal?" Fourth: The gates
f that city are open; an angel Is at
ach gate, and shall keep out all evil.
God desires that all men everywhere
hOuld repent, and Is not willing that
ny should perish.
When the final asSize shall have
assed, no one will say that God did