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THE NEW EARTH

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 6.

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“THE NEW EARTH.”

By E. S. Stanley

The Bible teaches that EARTH will be “the place of future bliss,” thus giving us something tangible and certain as a basis of faith.
Can God forgive the child of dust Who doubts when taught where faith should trust?
Where is “the place of future bliss”? Gaze not beyond the milky way, Nor where the Pleiades gently sway All worlds and systems, as they roll, To find the elemental soul, Where nights have ceased, and light to bless Beams from the Sun of Righteousness; Earth is the star of future bliss.
Who point us to that “place of bliss”? The leader who on Pisgah stood, He saw “the earth” beyond the flood; So Abram, David, Christ, and Paul, Proclaimed “the land,” or “earth,” for all The good. The whole for God confide, “The earth forever doth abide;” They point us to this place of bliss.
Who reigns in that sweet “place of bliss”? Christ rules the waves and thunder loud, He leads by pillar and by cloud, He bids his gospel system burn The schemes of men who seek to turn Away his light. His arm of might Bows men, like angels, in his sight; He reigns who bought this earth for bliss.
But while this “place of future bliss” Remains as now, Jehovah keeps His humblest child—he never sleeps; For he who now sustaineth all Will make old Abram’s “foot” to fall And rest in everlasting trust Where once the mortal slept in dust. His eyes will see earth full of bliss.
What learn they in this “place of bliss”? Of him to whom wise men from far Came, guided by the glorious star; They learn the earth shall ever be For those who wait in faith to see The King return, of glorious birth, And sing his “reign upon the earth.” They learn this is “the place of bliss.”
When shall we reach “the place of bliss”? When the last trumpet loud shall call, The just shall rise, the ungodly fall, When earth and seas shall roll in fire, And all is “new” and sin retire; When “New Jerusalem” appears, The place of triumph over tears; Then we shall reach the place of bliss.
Though sin eclipse “the place of bliss,” As clouds the seamen, ocean-tossed, We now—when heavenly light is lost, And fears with doubts tempestuous roll Like midnight o’er the driven soul— Trust One who comes, and comes to save; He breaks the cloud, he walks the wave, And brings in sight “the land” of bliss.
In thy bright realms, O “place of bliss”! No tempest’s jar, no sound of war, Nor funeral bell, our peace will mar. Those whom while here, we hold so dear, We’ll meet, no parting hour to fear; In thee shall faith be verified, In thee, God’s love be magnified, Thou “world to come,” thou home of bliss.
Yes, this must be the “place of bliss.” “Prisoner of hope” though now I be, My longing soul pants to be free, Thy presence is a heavenly ray To give me joy and light my way, Till from this melting orb I spring “To meet thee in the air,” and sing, Thy fires prepare the place of bliss. —E. S. Stanley.