The Saints’ Inheritance by MRS. M. E. STEWARD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

The Saints’ Inheritance

By MRS. M. E. STEWARD

MRS. M. E. STEWARD

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9.

The promise to Abraham:—

1. The Lord said unto Abraham: “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger.” Gen. 17:8.

2. “He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him.” Acts 7:5.

3. Since God can not lie, Abraham and his children will yet receive that land. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:16, 29.

The duration of the promise to Abraham:—

1. It is “an everlasting possession.” Gen. 17:8.

2. “Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” 1 Cor. 15:50. Abraham in his mortal state could not have received an “everlasting possession;” he necessarily died without it.

3. “Behold, I show you a mystery; . . . this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Verses 51-53. “We shall all be changed.” Then Abraham and his children will receive the “everlasting possession.”

Events in the future:—

1. At the end of a thousand years after Christ’s second advent, he will come to earth again. At his second coming he will raise his people from their graves. When he comes at the end of the thousand years, they will all come with him. Zech. 14:5. He descends, and stands on the Mount of Olives, which cleaves asunder and makes a “very great valley.” Then the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven (Rev. 21:2) upon this great plain.

2. Christ raises the wicked dead all over the world. Satan goes out to deceive them (Rev. 20:8) with the idea that they can take the holy city. They all gather around it, when fire comes down from God out of heaven, and devours them. Verse 9. This is the time when “the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. The world becomes the lake of fire. The New Jerusalem is preserved on its bosom as Noah’s ark was in the flood. That day will be “the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Verse 7.

3. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise [the promise made to Abraham concerning his inheritance, Rom. 4:13], look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” “Behold,” says God, “I make all things new,” not all new things. Rev. 21:5.

The new earth:—

1. Isaiah saw the new earth in holy vision. He says it “shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” Isaiah 35. Again, “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. . . . They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.” There always comes a time when this can not be said of any mortal being; for man dies and leaves all he possesses. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” Isa. 65:17-25. The Bible makes the saints’ inheritance a very real, material thing.

2. Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:10. This can be none other than the New Jerusalem. The revelator saw this “holy city . . . coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:2. Indescribably beautiful, transcendently glorious, is the city of gold and pearls and precious stones! It is to be the metropolis of the new earth, and the capital of all the universe; for “the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.” Rev. 22:3.

3. “Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her.” Isa. 65:18, 19. This glad world, redeemed from the curse (Rev. 22:3), will eternally testify to the unspeakable love, the marvelous salvation of our God. When our God “creates his people a joy,” no joy of any other creature can compare with theirs, and this will be increased by seeing the joy of the Lord.

Sanitarium, Cal.