The Home of the Saved

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 5, 1915

The Home of the Saved

A Bible Study

God's Purpose in Creating the Earth

1. For what purpose was the earth created? “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.” Isa. 45:18.

2. To whom has God given the earth? “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” Ps. 115:16.

3. For what purpose was man made? “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Ps. 8:6. See Gen. 1:26; Heb. 2:8.

The Lost Dominion

4. How did man lose his dominion? Through sin. Rom. 5:12; 6:23.

5. When man lost his dominion, to whom did he yield it? “For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19. NOTE.—Man was overcome by Satan in the garden of Eden, and there yielded himself and his possessions into the hands of his captor.

6. In tempting Christ, what ownership did Satan claim? “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Luke 4:5, 6.

The Dominion Restored Through Christ

7. Through whom is this first dominion to be restored? “And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8. NOTE.—The “tower of the flock” is Christ.

8. Why did Christ say the meek are blessed? “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. NOTE.—This inheritance cannot be realized in this life; for here the truly meek generally have little of earth’s good things.

9. Who does David say have most now? “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. . . . Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.” Ps. 73:3-7.

10. Where are the righteous to be recompensed? “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Prov. 11:31.

11. What will be the difference between the portion of the righteous and the wicked? “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” Ps. 37:34.

The Promise to Abraham

12. What promise was made to Abraham concerning the land? “And 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.” Gen. 13:14, 15.

13. How much did this promise comprehend? “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Rom. 4:13.

14. How much of the land of Canaan did Abraham own in his lifetime? “And 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, when as yet he had no child.” Acts 7:5. See Heb. 11:13.

15. How much of the promised possession did Abraham expect during his lifetime? “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:8-10.

The Promise Fulfilled to Spiritual Israel

16. Who is the seed to whom this promise is made? “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.

17. Who are heirs of the promise? “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Verse 29.

18. Why did not these ancient worthies receive the promise? “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Heb. 11:39, 40.

The Destruction and Restoration of the Earth

19. What is to become of our earth in the day of the Lord? “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.” 2 Peter 3:10.

20. What will follow this great conflagration? “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Verse 13. NOTE.—At the coming of Christ, the living wicked will die, and the saints will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ a thousand years, or until the wicked of all ages are judged, and the time comes for their destruction and the purification of the earth by the fires of the last day. Following this, the earth will be formed anew, and man, redeemed from sin, will be restored to his original dominion.

21. To what Old Testament promise did Peter evidently refer? “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa. 65:17.

22. What was shown the apostle John in vision? “And 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.” Rev. 21:1.

The New Jerusalem

23. What was one of Christ’s parting promises to his disciples? “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2.

24. What does Paul say God has prepared for his people? “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not

ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb. 11:16.

25. Where is this city, and what is it called? “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal. 4:26.

26. For what did Abraham look? “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:10.

The Descent of the New Jerusalem

27. What did John see concerning this city? “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. 21:2.

28. How many foundations has this city? “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Verse 14.

29. Of what are the streets of the city composed? “And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” Verse 21.

30. Why will this city have no need of the sun or moon? “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.” Verses 23, 24. See Rev. 22:5; Isa. 60:19, 20.

31. Why are its gates not to be closed? “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” Rev. 21:25.

32. What will be excluded from this city? “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.” Verse 27.

33. Who will be permitted to enter it? “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. NOTE.—The late English and American revisions render this, “Blessed are they that wash their robes,” etc. The result is the same, for those who wash their robes cease to sin, and hence do God’s commandments.

The Metropolis of the New Earth

34. When this city becomes the metropolis of the new earth, what will be the condition of God’s people? “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. 21:4. “And there shall be no more curse.” Rev. 22:3.

35. What will be the condition of all the earth? “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. 11:6-9.

36. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth? “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Isa. 66:22, 23.

37. What will the ransomed of the Lord then do? “And 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.

Pleasures Forevermore

38. What will finally be the privilege of God’s children? “And they shall see his face.” Rev. 22:4.

39. How perfect will be their knowledge of God? “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Cor. 13:12.

40. Whom will they be like? “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2.

41. How completely will the pains and sorrows of the former world pass away? “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind [‘come upon the heart’ (margin); that is, be desired].” Isa. 65:17.

42. Who will dwell with the redeemed? “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. 21:3.

43. What will it mean to dwell in God’s presence? “In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11.

THEY SHALL NOT HURT NOR DESTROY IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN

44. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion? “And 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.

45. How enduring will be their pleasures? “For as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isa. 65:22.

46. How long will they possess the future kingdom? “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Dan. 7:18.