NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 3, 1878

NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Dr. Edwards, in his miscalled “Sabbath Manual,” applied the prophecy of the new heavens and new earth to the gospel dispensation, and then argued that, as the former were not to be remembered, the memorial of the old creation should be set aside for the memorial of the new.

The margin of Isa. 65:17 gives a good idea of the original; it shall not be remembered as an object of desire; to “come upon the heart” means this.

Recently I was told by a man who said he “understood Hebrew as well as any man,” that Isa. 66:22 is in past time, and indicates that the new heavens and earth are already made.

This is contradicted by the third chapter of second Peter, which clearly shows that they are future. But this statement is also made by those who do not accept the New Testament. Let us look, then, at this pretended criticism.

The tenses are not always so accurately marked in Hebrew as in other languages; yet there is little difficulty in determining this. Different words are used in Isa. 65:17 and 66:22 for create and make, but the construction is the same. Both are active participles; literally, am creating—am making. In such cases, when we know the action is not taking place—is not in the present—it is most natural to throw it into the future. Our version gives the future in chap. 66:22, and also in 65:17, though not with equal definiteness.

For a like instance see Gen. 6:17. Here the participle is also used. Our version says, “I do bring a flood.” More literally, I am bringing; that is, am about to bring, or will bring. But by no possible construction could it be rendered, “I have brought.”

The assertion that the tense is past in Isa. 66:22 or 65:17 is not correct. Our common version cannot be improved.

J. H. Waggoner.