THE GLORIES OF THE COMING KINGDOM.
By F. W. Morse
1. It will be a world of good principles. “We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Pet. 3:13. No wicked deeds will ever come to light there. Now, our hearts are made sad every day, as we read of the cruel, wicked things that are done under the sun. When some dreadful crime, or some mean, wanton, wicked act is done in our own locality, as it sometimes happens, what a fearful state of insecurity almost insensibly takes hold of us! All mean and unjust behavior of our fellow men, with which we may be brought in contact, gives us painful apprehensions for our own safety. But there in that pure world, where the “work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quiet and assurance forever,” no terrifying cloud of iniquity will ever thrust its dark shadow across the pathway of the redeemed. Now, men of dark and cruel purposes sometimes go away into the woods, there to watch for, and seize, their innocent, unsuspecting victim, as a wolf pounces upon the lamb. But there “judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.” Isa. 32:16. We all love to dwell in a good neighborhood. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! But think of the whole vast globe peopled only by the loving and lovely, meek disciples of the Prince of Peace. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. 2. No strife and bloodshed among the animals of the peaceful new-earth kingdom. For “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together.” Isa. 11:6, 7. No ravenous wolf, no cruel bears and lions and tigers to mangle and devour defenseless animals, and even prowl upon the track of man, whose dominion they now rise up to dispute. Nothing to fear in the beautiful forests of the new earth. The tender child may dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in in the woods, for “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” Isa. 11:9. 3. It will be a world of light; for “the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” Isa. 30:26. Everybody loves sunshine. How glorious and bright will be the sunshine of the new earth! Not to dry and scald with painful heat; not to create thirst and lassitude; for “they shall thirst no more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” Rev. 7:16. No aching of the head there from the blazing fierceness of the noontide sun; “neither shall there be any more pain.” Rev. 2:14. 4. The beautiful sun and moon will shine down upon a world free from every seed of rebellion and blessed with every fruitful quality; for “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” There will be no scattering seeds of tares, thorns, or thistles, to grow up and annoy the dwellers in that beautiful paradise. No room for any deserts, or solitary frozen plains there, for “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” Isa. 35:1. 5. No bleak, monotonous scenery there, for “the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon.” Isa. 35:2. And “the fir tree, the pine tree and the box together” shall “beautify the place” of God’s glorious sanctuary. Every picture that nature opens up to the vision will gladden the beholder with its pleasing, heavenly variety. 6. No disappointment there, for “they shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble.” Isa. 65:23. No weary toiling up the mountains of life, to meet blasted hopes and blighted prospects upon the chilly summit. Here “the sparkling waters often fade into mocking sands, as we draw near.” But “Oh! how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee!” And then, an eternity in which to develop it! Flower and fruit, field, mountain and river, earth, air and sky, all beautiful, only delightsome, a joy and satisfaction to all eternity! 7. There will be no sad parting there. The happy family who dwell upon the redeemed earth will very often come together and rejoice in the praises of Him who bought them. “It shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Isa. 66:23. What a sublime retinue! How vast the throng! How the very arches of Heaven must echo with their triumphant song! What a Sabbath scene! The humble gatherings in reverence to that dear old festival of creation’s birth may now be sneered at; but think of them; think of the Sabbath amid the wonders of the new earth. There will be many, very many, in that vast assembly whom we all love to think about. Enoch, Elijah, Job, Noah, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and a vast throng of the dear worthy ones of God’s love in olden times, besides the lovely John, the earnest Peter, the faithful, sacrificing Paul. Mingled with all these there will be loved ones so near to us, and whose companionship was so precious while they were with us in the journeyings of time. Oh! shall we be there to walk hand in hand with them among that victorious company? Shall we hear the mighty chorus of tireless voices, attuned only to melody, ten times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands in number? Shall we listen to that grand volume of song, rising, mounting, up to Heaven? Entrancing melody, infinitely exceeding all music to which we now listen. Shall we be there to join our voices with the dear ones we have loved here, and sing again the Sabbath songs, with no dread that death may come to hush any sweet chord, or intrude any mournful cadence? Oh! may we be there, may we be there.