REVELATION 21 by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 7, 1901

REVELATION 21

By Stephen N. Haskell

S. N. H.

The first verse of the twenty-first chapter introduces us to a new heaven and a new earth. It also introduces us to a new heaven and a new earth. The judgments that come upon the great whore and upon the wicked are in the past. The first phase of the judgment was the investigative judgment, which began in 1844 and continued until the cases of the righteous had all been examined; then during the thousand years between the two resurrections, the wicked were judged. The punishment due each one who had trampled underfoot God's law, was there decided, after which comes the execution of that judgment. After this the prophet sees a new heaven and a new earth. The atmosphere, which had been full of miasma and poison, the earth, upon which the curse had so heavily rested for six thousand years, the miasmatic pools, and the turbulent sea, which has warred against Christ and His people, are no more.

He that sat upon the throne had made all things new. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And 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." This is glad news to all who love God; but it is not a matter of rejoicing to those who delight in feeding the mind on commonplace and trivial things. Those who take no pleasure in thinking and talking of God in this life, will not enjoy the life that is to come, where God is ever present, dwelling among His people. But those who love to think of God will be in their element, breathing in the atmosphere of heaven. Those who on earth love the thought of heaven will be happy in its holy associations and pleasures.

The prophet says: "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." "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." See REVIEW AND HERALD of May 13, 1890, first-page article.

All who passed through trials which they could not comprehend, and dark providences which were never unfolded to them in this world, Christ will lead by the river of life, and open to them the design of God in all their experiences. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." The battle is not to the strong nor the race to the swift, but it is to him who makes God his refuge.

Those who are ever fearful of doing right because of the reproach and stigma that may be cast upon them, will have their part with unbelievers, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, in the lake "which burneth with fire and brimstone." Here is the dividing line between the execution of the judgment and the new earth.

Again the seventh angel talked with John, saying, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." So he brought him to a great and high mountain, and he saw the city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. No description of that city can be given better than the one given by the prophet in the remaining portion of this chapter. The precious stones mentioned in Gen. 2:11, 12, of which God designed that Adam and his descendants should build a city around the garden of Eden, Christ has taken, and with them built a city in heaven beyond the taint of sin, and He brings it down to the earth for man. The same varieties of precious stones placed in the breast-plate of the high priest in the earthly sanctuary are now formed into the foundations of the wall of the city. God created nothing in vain.

The city has twelve gates, and at the gates are twelve angels, and on the gates are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. It also has twelve foundations, and in them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The city lieth foursquare, three hundred and seventy-five miles on each side. The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits, about two hundred and sixty feet high. The gates are twelve pearls, and the streets of the city are pure gold; and as the stream reflects the trees upon its bank, so the streets of this city reflect the precious stones of the foundations. There is no dimming veil which shuts away the light in the temple; for God himself and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the sun will shine seven times as bright as it does now, and the moon will be as bright as the sun; but in the city is no need of the sun, neither of the moon; for the glory of God far outshines their brightest rays, and the nations of the saved walk in the light of that glory.

And the redeemed, and the kings of the earth that are saved, bring their glory and honor into it, and lay it at the feet of Him that redeemed them. There is no hurtful place in that land, no danger of robbers entering in through the gates, for there will be no night there, and nothing to hurt or destroy in all the universe of God. No defiling thought nor anything whatever that will work abomination or make a lie, passes into the inheritance reserved for the people of God.

All this is in reserve for those who live for it. The faithful have their thoughts upon heavenly things. The attractions of this world will in no case lead them away. It is the superficial minds and carnal hearts that love the things that are earthly and devilish. Those who love God will have an intelligent knowledge of Him. His image will show forth from the faces of His servants, and they will be openly acknowledged as the sons and daughters of God. How careful we should be as to the record that passes up to heaven concerning our daily life! God is no respecter of persons. He will render to every man according to his works. Man may be deceived, but the Judge of the earth reads the motives and thoughts of the heart. There will not be lack of evidence in the court of heaven; for a faithful record has been kept of every word man has spoken and of the purpose of his heart, and the concealed motives of all will be revealed as they enter the closing punishment. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro over the whole earth. He has offered salvation to sinners. Nothing but the merits of the blood of Christ is sufficient to wash out the stains of guilt from the hearts of men. But the reward is more than a compensation for every trial and every sacrifice in this life. This day of reward is soon to come.