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The World to Come

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 22, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 10.

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The World to Come.

By J. Dorcas

THOSE who have carefully studied the word of God, dwell upon the revelation of the world to come with delight. But those who have no faith in future things, make the present world their principal care.
The world that now is, is changeable, and is passing away. Change, decay, death, mark everything. Men here do not realize what they fondly anticipate. Disappointment is written upon almost every object of our pursuit. But so it will not be in the world to come. This present world, with its surroundings, needs a change for the better, as all can see; and the psalmist says, “As a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed.” He continues, “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee,” in the new earth. Therein dwelleth righteousness, all will have eternal life. No sickness there. The dwellers there will return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; that is, it will be theirs as a possession.
In the present world, the best social institutions are subject to evils and abuses, owing to the inherent weakness and depravity of human nature. But in the world to come all will be good; all who gain it, being the children of him that is good, being the children of the resurrection. They will be equal unto the angels. Says the living God, “I create her people a joy.” There will be no more curse. Ah! how heavy the curse is becoming in these last days! The people do not seem to live, or enjoy life any better now (if as well) than when not a single pound of steam was employed to perform our daily tasks; and now England and America alone employ steam force equal to 530,000,000 of men.
There, her rulers will be righteousness, and all her subjects sons of peace.
“There everlasting spring abides, And never-withering flowers.”
Oh, delightful land! theme of the prophets, song of the poets of every age! But who may be there? Subjects of saving grace; daily cross-bearers; followers of him who was meek and lowly in heart. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” J. DORCAS.