For long centuries the church of God has looked forward with eager, expectant hope to the reign of righteousness and peace. Indeed, this hope has proved an anchor to the soul amid all the trials and tribulations through which the children of the kingdom have been called to pass. Many times, as they have witnessed the reign of sin and the suppression of truth, and have experienced the terrible struggle with the enemy of all righteousness, they have cried out for deliverance. And “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” waiting for the day of restitution. And that blessed day will come. Thank God for this comforting assurance contained in the Word of promise. God’s great and eternal purpose will be realized. Eden lost shall become Eden regained.
God’s Eternal Purpose
In the beginning God designed this earth to be the eternal dwelling place of a pure and holy nation. The heavens he reserved for his own dwelling place, but “the earth hath he given to the children of men.” Ps. 115: 16. To Adam, the father of the human family, he gave “dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth,” with the command, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” Gen. 1: 28. The father of the race failed of fulfilling the divine commission. In an evil hour he and his companion fell from their holy estate, and plunged the human family into hopeless despair. In infinite love the plan of redemption was conceived for man’s recovery. The seed of the woman was made the promised deliverer.
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COMRADES AFTER THE BATTLE—TWO WOUNDED CAPTIVES BEING TAKEN TO SAFETY FROM THE BATTLE FRONT
God’s Purpose Unchanged
God’s purpose concerning man and his eternal inheritance remain unchanged. To Abraham, the father of the faithful, the promise of earth’s inheritance was renewed.
“The Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” Gen. 13: 14-17.
Observe that this promise was given specifically to Abraham and to his seed. Who is the seed embraced in this promise? The word of the apostle Paul affords us the information:—
“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.” Gal. 3: 16.4
In the generous and gracious provisions of his grace, Christ associates every child of faith with him as a joint heir of his inheritance. Rom. 8: 17. Hence the apostle declares regarding the promise to Abraham and his seed, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3: 29.
The Promise to Abraham and His Seed not yet Fulfilled
That the promise of this earth as an eternal inheritance was never fulfilled to the father of the faithful, we need not argue. Of his possession Stephen declared that God “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. Nor did the Seed during his earthly life enter into his possession. To one who sought to join his standard, hoping to receive temporal advantage thereby, the Master declared, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Luke 9: 58. So far as the record goes, the only title which Abraham ever possessed to any of this earth was the cave of Machpelah, which he purchased from the sons of Heth as a burying place for Sarah; and the “Seed to whom the promise was made” was born in a manger and buried in a borrowed tomb.
Abraham Died in Hope of the Promise
The patriarch did not die a disappointed man. So far from expecting a fulfilment of the promise in this life, he looked to the life beyond for the possession of the inheritance. He expected, however, none the less a literal fulfilment of the divine word, for the apostle states: “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11: 10. And the same hope filled the hearts of the children of the promise, the seed of Abraham through faith. Of them it is declared:—
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb. 11: 13-16.
When and How Will the Promise of God be Fulfilled?
Over this we need not speculate, for the Scriptures afford us a definite answer. The second chapter of Daniel presents in outline a prophetic history of the great kingdoms of earth from the days of the prophet down to the end of all earthly dominion. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome are represented in order by the gold, the silver, the brass, and the iron of the metallic image. The kingdom of God was symbolized by the stone which became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. The separate kingdoms into which the Roman Empire was divided, were represented by the admixture of iron and clay in the feet of the image. Says the divine Word:—
“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2: 44.
Again, in the seventh chapter of his prophecy, Daniel makes the same declaration regarding the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of peace. In holy vision he sees the same great powers of earth represented. The lion symbolizes Babylon, the bear Medo-Persia, the leopard Greece, and the great and terrible beast Rome. The division of Rome is represented by the ten horns on the head of this fourth beast. The rise of an ecclesiastical power which should speak great words against the Most High, persecute the saints, and think to change his laws, is foretold. The prophecy declares that after these events have taken place, “the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Dan. 7: 26, 27.
A Literal Fulfilment
Verily God’s promises to give the earth to man will be literally fulfilled. How will this be brought about? The religious-political reformers of today would have us believe that Christ’s kingdom will be set up on this earth by legislative processes, or by the recognition of Christ as king by constitutional enactment. But the reign of Christ will never be ushered in through the gateway of politics.
Some would have us believe that the reign of Christ is spiritual rather than literal, that all the world will be converted, and that there will be a millennium of peace and righteous rule. This theory, however, does violence to the plain statements of Scripture. Preceding chapters have shown conclusively that Christ’s return to the earth will be literal, personal, and visible; that it will be attended by majestic splendor and celestial phenomena of surpassing glory. He came at first as a lowly babe unheralded by worldly pomp or human acclaim. He will come a second time as King of kings, and Lord of lords, with all the glory of the Father, to receive for himself a kingdom.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Matt. 25: 31.
To him at that time will the Father give the heathen for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession. The consuming glory of his coming shall slay earth’s wicked inhabitants. The psalmist says:—
“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. 2: 9.
The Earth Purified by Fire
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
Before the earth becomes the possession of Christ and his children, it will be restored to its Edenic beauty. Upon it the fires of the last days will do their purifying work. The apostle Peter says:—
“The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat! Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3: 7-13.
This Earth Made New
From this conflagration of the last great day will come forth a new earth, purified and glorified, a fitting abode for the sons of God throughout eternity. From the refining crucible of the great Alchemist, the inspired seer turns his eyes to the final fulfilment of God’s promise, and sees come forth “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” In accomplishment of the prophetic word, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Num. 14: 21. Then “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37: 11. And the “city which hath foundations” to which Abraham looked for a possession, will be there as the capital of the kingdom.
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21: 1, 2.
And Christ shall be there as “the chiefest among ten thousand” and “the one altogether lovely.”
“I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21: 3, 4.
“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more.” Zeph. 3: 14, 15.
“The Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” Zech. 14: 9.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isa. 9: 7.
And “the righteous nation which keepeth the truth” shall be there.
“The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35: 10.
No more will the history of earth’s inhabitants be marred with strife and bloodshed. No longer will racial jealousies or social ambitions or religious differences engender discord. There shall be one King over all the earth. The subjects of that kingdom shall constitute one fellowship and one brotherhood. Love and confidence shall reign supreme. Then shall there be realized in its truest and fullest sense the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. And pain and sorrow and death shall be no more—no yawning sepulchres, no funeral trains, no heaving breasts, no tearful eyes, no sorrowing hearts.
No language can tell, no artist can paint, the glory of the eternal state. “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.
This unending glory, this fulness of joy, this peace which will never end, constitute the eternal inheritance of the faithful in Christ Jesus. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
