The Washington herald., 1917-07-08
The New Earth.

The Apostle John was a prisoner on
Patmos when he was granted the Wis
ions recorded in the Book OF Revela.
ton.
The Roman Empire could imprison
his body. but 1t could not bind his
soul. Some OF the grandest visions
have been gIanted to men in prison
as witness jeremiah and John Bun.
yam.
The closing vision of John is the
most comforting to US, for he saw a
new heaven and a new earth. The
Bible opens with a Paradise and closes
with Paradise. But the Paradise OF
Revelation is far different from the
Paradise OF Genesis. In the first
Paradise we find humanity weak and
untried. ready to fall at the first
temptation.
In the second Paradise We see hu-
manity redeemed and purified, having
washed their robes and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb"
The belief in a golden age Is as old
as the human race. But that golden
age Is always in the past. The pres
ent always seems to be an iron age
The heavens are of brass. and human
ity has always worn sorrows crown
of sorrow.' Youths bright dreams
quickly vanish. and only memory
keeps the torch of Joy burning in the
human heart. This is the Language
OF Nature and not of Grace. But
Grace looks to the future, and sees the
coming day, the new heaven and the
new earth. Man never Is. but always
TO be, blest."
The timeliness OF these visions IS
important. Gods blessings are sent
at Just the right time, never too late
and not q moment too soon.
The young Christian church was in
the greatest danger at this time. Rome
and Jerusalem had Joined hands tC
stamp out Christianity.
The most OF the Apostles were dead
Soon the seige and destruction ot
Jerusalem would remove forever the
Temple, and Sacrifices OF God from
the world. Persecution. war. destruc.
tion of Gods house would make the
Christians believe that God was de-
seTting this earth. Then God spoke
as a voice out of the night: Behold
the Tabernacle of God is with men
and He shall dwell with them, anC
they shall be his people"
The church saw the spiritual nature
of Christ's kingdom. and took up hel
task OF carrying the gospel 10 all the
nations, encouraged and strengthened
by the conviction that God would con
quer all the forces of evil and make
a new heaven and a new earth where
in dwelleth righteousness.
Thus Gods help is always timely
when Peter is sinking beneath this
waves Jesus reaches forth his hanC
and saves him.
The visions of revelation point tc
the triumph OF God over Satan, OF
right over wrong, of righteousness
over sin. The Christian must always
be a healthy optimist, for he knows
that God is omnipotent. and will final
ly overcome all the powers of dark,
ness and sin. The whole aim and
tone Of the Bible is a sure confidence
in the ultimate triumph of righteous
ness. 1t Is first declared in Genesis
where the promise is that the seed oi
the woman shall bruise the serpent's
head" 1t IL the golden thread OF
promise that runs through the Bible
and it is confirmed by the vision ol
a new heaven and a new Garth.
This ought to be a warning TO US
not to compromise with sin. Gods
triumph will be complete and so ought
ours. 1t Is wrong to compromise with
the accursed drink traffic because II
pays an internal revenue. It's in.
fernal revenue, the price OF blood
while our boys are fighting abroad for
freedom let us free our beloved land