Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-16
By Rev. H. T. Stevenson.

Many professed Christians fail to be
faithful unto death" in their Chris
tan life. in all probability because of
their misty conception Of the realities
of the future life Their failure to
clearly understand coming events that
God has outlined for His people in the
Scriptures concerning the outcome of
human life mas resulted not only in
their failure to secure the happiness
that every Christian ought to enjoy.
but it has also prevented their obtain
ing the power needed TO make good
in this life and to keep themselves
unspotted from the world. The Chris
ton, who would master Satan, sin and
self, viii be helped by the study of
the view of the eternal state pre-
scented in this weeks lesson.
Followers Of Christ who grasp with
clearness of vision the certainties OF
the future state Immediately become
efficient workers in winning souls for
their Lord and experts in enlistine
recruits in the work of Christs church
and to help make by their civic and
social service the cities of today like
the ideal city presented in the vision
of the Holy City given to John upon
Patmos. The glories of the new crea-
ton will not all open at once any
more than they did to John, for it was
only "bit by bit" that the vision opened
up before his eyes, from the coming
of the Lord Jesus out of the opened
heavens, on and on. until the final view
of all bursts in winsome glory be-
fore his astonished, delighted eyes
following the dark picture of earth s
final tragedy.
In the preceding chapter the mill
lennium, followed by the great conflict
and judgment, are briefly described
These events evidently all precede the
establishment of the kingdom of the
! Son. which results III the new creation
outlined in this weeks lesson.
! TWO Greek V ords are translated in
! the New Testament as new. one
! word. ''neos." means new in appear
ance, the other. "kainos.' means new
| in kind. The word relating to the
| newness in quality is the one used
; throughout this lesson, so that the
| fact that the heavens and the earth
! here spoken of are new" does not i'm
! ply that they are now first brought into
| being They may be the old heavens
| and the old earth, but they have a new
/ aspect, a new character, adapted to a
/ new end" This was what John saw.
| for the former conditions had passed
| away In the new creation. the natural
| love that man has for the old things
| and for the new is satisfied because
| the sacredness of the old is blended
/ with the charms OF the new In the
! chang ed conditions. Science tells of the
1
new, for modern astronomy has seen
worlds in flames in the sky, and pass
| ing by a fiery change into new forms.
| The absence of The sea symbolized
| that the new creation, with its civil
! zation will be free from unrest and
! those earthly troubles that have broll-
| en- I'D homes, destroyed human happi-
ness and divided churches, countries
| and races through enVies suspicious
! and iealousies. In mans darkest hours
| IF m
| with hone through the fultillment of
| Drophecy Many students OF the Scrip
! lures are seeing in the passing events
! nf The present worldWid troubles SOME
| signs that in their Judgment points TO
| the coming of Christ to rule HIS King
| dom. when the failures of men and ma
| tjons shall give way 10 the hopieF CIVIL
| lization founded no longer upon the
sword, but upon the etefilai primer PFC
| of the Prince of Peace. They see TINS
| in the plans of the leading men OF the
| great nations, who are considering now
| TO secure a federation Oh the various
| nations of the world that VIII make
| war irnpossible as we'll as in the posi-
! hiIi+,r IF the Zionists succeeding in
| securing for the Jews the RUE OIL fal-
| 1,ha source of the changed civilization
was due, as John saw, TO COO aWens
| ,no among men. He saw the city OF
| ca descending out of heaven and be-
| coming not only the dwelling place OF
| CA h1,t also of all His redeemed. the
| Ne,v Jerusalem also symboliZed the
| bride. the Lambs wife. or the chorch
! of mis- dispensation. that had been pre-
| nared and helped to prepare the world
| FOR the coming of the Lord 10 assume
{! The ruIership over His kingdom. his
| nrasance resulted in a completely changed
cnnfition of society. because all the
| effacts of sin, moral and physical, had
been removed forever. Jesus, when he
| comes. will personally wipe away all
| tears abolish death. bring an end to
nonurninp. CRYING and pain. His second
| coming will consummate the purposes
I that caused Him to come centuries ago
70 Rethlehem, when He became flesh
| and dwelt among men.
murderer built the nrst city. &C
| cording to the Bible, and In TINS, the
| anal vision of heaven is given IN the
yorn, of a city, so that what one has
aaid was FIRST the ambition and then
the despair of man" remains GODS ideal
Of the climax of civilization and the
comnlete triumph of His program for
man. The picture of the cltys hfe
diners much from that of our modern
| cities. The community, city or country
| without any chapels. churches or cathe-
draIs would stir the missionary spirit
Of any Christian congregation to at
| tempt to supply their need SO as to
check their danger The mission OF
the church is to save the lost by bring
ing to them the message OF the Light.