“There Shall Be No More Curse”
By J. O. Corliss
It is worthy of repetition that a curseless age, when the whole earth shall abide in perpetual freshness, like a well-watered garden, has been the ambition and expectation of many generations. The Noachic Deluge witnessed a heavenly effort to destroy evidences of the original curse, under which every wicked son of man perished, and the face of old earth met a change which forever veiled the iniquity it had sustained, and for a time uprooted the “thorns and thistles” of its former ingatherings. But sin again quickly developed, and Flood descendants repeated in a measure the history of the antediluvians, returning upon themselves the original curse which God had endeavored to cancel. God, however, again sought to establish His government in the earth through the calling of Abraham; but instead of destroying all except Abraham’s family, as in Noah’s case, the chosen one was removed into a favored land, where, by himself, his environments would be quite favorable to success in the work to which he was called. Upon his arrival at the selected spot, the heavenly voice said to the patriarch: “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.” Gen. 13: 14-16. This was a most comprehensive promise, including far more than the limited boundaries of Palestine, or the literal seed of Abraham’s person. It meant infinitely more than that; it was the appointment of Abraham to become the father of all spiritual believers, and to declare him and his ideal offspring heirs of the world. Rom. 4: 11-13. The method by which this result was to be attained, is graphically revealed by this same apostle. He says that Christ was made a curse for us, in order to redeem us from the curse which God’s law put on us on account of our sins, and also to let the blessing of Abraham be inherited by the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. Gal. 3: 13, 14. This conclusion is fully justified by a further unfolding of the point, which immediately follows. Thus he says, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.” He said not, to seeds, as the speaking of many, but as of only one, “thy seed, which is Christ.” The Heirs of That Blessed Condition
This inspired view of the subject constitutes Christ Himself the Seed of the promise to Abraham. It also corroborates the near Pentecostal saying that “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12. It is therefore true that even the natural seed of Abraham could not be saved, or for that matter, receive a single promise, except through the Lord Jesus. Christ evidently had reference to this very fact when He said to the Jews about Him, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8: 56. Thus no heaven-born promise discriminates between Jew and Greek; for all are “one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3: 28, 29. There is no question, then, about the heirship of Christ to the promise of God to Abraham that his seed should inherit the earth. Matt. 5: 5. This being true, every son of Adam having the witness of the Spirit that he is a child of God, becomes an heir of God, and therefore a joint heir with Christ. Rom. 8: 16, 17. Hence there is “no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.” Rom. 10: 12. As surely as Christ is heir of the world, at the proper time the seventh angel will sound (Rev. 11: 15), and the kingdoms of this world will be proclaimed the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever. On that account, all nations will be summoned before Him to receive their final award. As the separation of the righteous from the wicked among these nations assigns the accepted ones to the place of honor, then will be heard the delightful words of grace from the world’s Redeemer, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25: 31-34. New Heavens and a New Earth
This kingdom prepared for God’s people from the foundation of the world, can not possibly be the earth in its present state, defiled as it is by the iniquitous intrigues of Satan and the wiles of cunning men. No, indeed; for when the day of the Lord arrives, the elements composing the earth in its present environments will pass away, and its wicked works will be burned up. 2 Peter 3: 10. “Nevertheless,” adds the inspired watcher, “we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” This is just what every weary, sighing pilgrim longs for. Then for the promise let us look. Here it is, in the very words of Jehovah, as delivered by His prophetic mouthpiece: “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa. 65: 17. Ah, yes! from the dead ashes of the old shall spring living beauties of the new, the glories of which will so entrance beholders as to blot from their minds all thought of the dismal past. And that will be an eternal state (Isa. 66: 22); for nothing shall enter its precincts which can possibly defile, or work an abhorrence. Rev. 21: 27. How true that the things which God has prepared for them that love Him are beyond full realization! 1 Cor. 2: 9. Yet an attempted description of this new order of things, as contrasted with the old, has been recorded for our contemplation as far as we are able. It is probable that the prophet referring to these things had viewed them, as had the apostle Paul, who said he saw and heard in vision things that man could not utter. But he has spoken as nearly as possible to human capacity. After pointing out briefly the eternity of bliss to be enjoyed by the saved, the prophet says: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. . . . Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. . . . 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.” Isaiah 35. What a contrast! Here hearts are laden with sorrow, amid the toils and hardships of an entangled life experience. Blind, deaf, and lame, only the faintest shadow of gladness is known. But in that state, all the elements of discontent and uneasiness from anticipated misfortune have forever vanished. Nothing but peace and joy will then be known. The life-giving water from God’s throne will freely flow for every one. The tree of life, with its monthly rotation of savory fruits, will be in easy reach. All this, too, without a single tinge of the curse of sin; for “there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,” and all will see His face. Rev. 22: 1-4. Unspeakable blessing of grace, thus to be permitted to bask forever in the sunshine of eternal glory! Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly.