1. For what purpose did God create the earth? “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: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” Isa. 45:18. 2. Since God formed the earth to be inhabited, what is His purpose concerning the people that are to be its permanent dwellers? “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. “The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37:11. 3. What dominion was given to man when he was first created? “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:26. 4. What comment does the psalmist make upon the dominion that was given to man? “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” Ps. 8:4-9. 5. What comment does the apostle make on these verses from the 8th Psalm? “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Heb. 2:8, 9. NOTE.—The verses that precede the ones just quoted from the second chapter of Hebrews are a still further quotation from the 8th Psalm, all of which shows that we have an inspired comment in Hebrews on the statement made by the psalmist. In this inspired comment our attention is called to the fact that we see that while man had the dominion over all things upon the earth in the beginning, yet “we see not yet all things put under him.” In other words, he lost this dominion, and now we “see Jesus,” through whom this dominion is to be restored. 6. What direct promise concerning the dominion is made through Christ by one of the ancient prophets? “And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold 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. 7. In what words does the apostle Peter speak of the promise concerning the new earth? “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness [or, as some have translated it, “wherein the righteous dwell”].” 2 Peter 3:13. 8. What is one of the promises to which Peter evidently refers in the foregoing quotation? “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa. 65:17. 9. What view did the apostle John have of the new earth when this promised dominion through Christ is restored? “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. 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. 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 He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Rev. 21:1-5.