THE NEW HEAVENS by W. S. Adams

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1901

THE NEW HEAVENS

By W. S. Adams

W. S. ADAMS

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.” Isa. 65: 17. In the first verse of Genesis we read: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

The creation of the heavens and the creation of the earth are inseparably associated in Holy Writ. Why? — Because one is just as essential to the well being of man as is the other. A new earth with our present heavens, or atmosphere, would be futile. In the first creation God gave to the earth an atmosphere suitable for it, whence came a climate, or weather, that was propitious for every living thing on the earth. The envelope that then surrounded the earth was perfect, as designed by the Creator; and as a result all nature bloomed and flourished in the rich exuberance of the life given of God.

But sin entered, and immediately there was a change: the heavens, which had been so mild and Edenic, suddenly became untoward. Adam at once felt his need of covering, and God gave him a “coat of skins,” to protect his body from the ever-changing weather. From that day to this there has been constant atmospheric retrogression. As sin has increased, so have the heavens become unfavorable. We who live at the present time can not imagine the glory of the first heavens. It is only by studying the Word that we can approach to an appreciation of their beauty and grandeur. The glory of God then surrounded the earth, giving joy and beauty, love and fellowship, to all life. Then there was no winter chill, nor summer drought; all nature was in sympathy complete. Where bloomed the fragrant rose also grew the lichens. The gazelle and the reindeer pastured together. So perfectly blended were the elements of heat and cold that nature knew no change. The whole earth was habitable from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

To-day the curse rests heavily upon the earth, but much more so on the heavens. The earth will nearly everywhere respond to the hand of man if climatic influences are favorable. But because of the desolate condition of the heavens man's labor is often vain: instead of the seventy-fold increase, he may receive barely ten — often not that. In Jer. 2: 12 we read: “Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this [because of sin], and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate.” As is a broken cistern compared with fountains of living waters, so are the present heavens compared with the glorious new heavens. To-day they are not clean in the sight of God. Job 15: 15. The taint of miasm, the foul breath of malaria, is ever abroad. Disease is caused everywhere because of this uncleanness.

Drought and flood, extreme heat and cold, are but the results of this cause. The thorn, the thistle, the degenerate plant, the imperfect fruit and grain of the present earth are just as directly traceable to the unfavorable climate as to the earth's retrogression, each, because of sin, failing to work out the original beneficent purposes of God.

But, praise the Lord, this condition of things is not to last. Christ died to redeem the heavens from the power of the enemy, as well as the earth and man. He is the Saviour. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.” The glorious new heavens are always mentioned first. God would have His people know of them; to be just as full of knowledge, faith, and delight of them as of the new earth. The Sabbath is just as much a memorial of them as it is of the earth and the works therein.

We are given this instruction in 2 Peter 3: 5: “By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth. . . . But 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.” Of the

future creation we read: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Verse 13. And to those who are looking for this glorious consummation the apostle says: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” Verse 14. How can we look for such things except we are conversant with them?

If a consideration of the new earth be edifying, certainly also is a knowledge of this other new creation and its consequences. Verily, God intends that we shall study and rejoice over one as over the other. As our faith and understanding lay hold of the upbuilding promises and purposes of God, so shall we be encouraged and saved; so shall our eyes be made clean to see the home beyond, and we be led to give glory to God.

The day of deliverance draweth nigh, when “the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll,” when they “shall vanish away like smoke,” when Satan for a millennium abides in a heavenless earth amid the wreck and ruin he has wrought. We read, in Eze. 32: 7, 8: “And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark [darkness]; . . . and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon the land, saith the Lord God.” After that come the New Jerusalem, the creation of the new heavens, and of the new earth, the abiding place of God's people evermore. Then shall be the time mentioned in Isa. 49: 13: “Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people.”

Blessed comfort! Then when the restored earth is moved back into her place, “the heavens shall give their dew,” as in the beginning; and “the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.” Zech. 8: 12. “And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel.” Hosea 2: 21, 22. O blessed condition! O full fruition of the hopes of the righteous!

Gladsome day, hasten on, when, under the benign influence of a pure atmosphere and a redeemed earth, man shall flourish “like an herb,” “and grow up as calves of the stall.”