The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1916-12-14


. dwell with them, and they shall be his
v 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 hui
man race. In Lesson II we studied
the glorined Christ who is actually
working through his churches is 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.
|. The New Heaven and the New Earth
wv. I'D. 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. QPeter $40,
II, 13). The true Jerusalem, of which
SOlOmOn's was but type, is of heav-
emily 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 1t !
was a tabernacle of God with me1;
rather he shall tabernacle with men.
He is to pitch his tent among us John
IA r. 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. 90 God
himself shall be with them, not only
his tabernacle but he, himself visibly,
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.
90 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. co. 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. CD i
There shall be no mourning, crying or
pain any more. Every sorrow, agony, -
'emorse, gloom, disappointment gone ii
forever; death, tears, mourning all
passed away. 1t is hard for us to COM
1rehend the majesty and sweep Of this b
great and glorious promise. (See 1
Jor. 15).
II. The Coming Light and Glory wv.
.2-27). The intervening verses are a {
wonderful description of the founda-
ion walls and gates of the city. There
will be no temple in that city for it will
lot be needed. Instead of the temple O
which stands for the temple of earth s.
here is to be the presence of God, k
limself, but the lamb is also in the al
1idst of 1t. Nothing can more force b
ulIy impress upon us the deity and pre- al
of Jesus Christ, the atOning
amb, slain before the foundation of A
he world. This city is to be city of b
ght and glory. 1t will not be an IL
animation by gas nor electricity, for
ne glory of the Lord shall tighten it. 10
Summary. What are the lessons for
ur day from this vision of the new
eaven and the new earth? First: TO- 70,
hat the golden age of the Bible has 30
DIT yet taken place. There are better 30 30
mes to come than anything the world yei
as vet seen. Second: We have here AZ
lie positive assurance of the success
our leader and the victory of Chris to
anity in its conflict with evil. Third: -
he golden ideal of heaven is the
cans by which we can test oar daily
res and the whole course of our con- 4
let. The question we should con- 10
antly ask is, Are we going to this Ia
.avenly idealT" Fourth: The gates II
that CITY are omen: an angel is at "