CAPITAL CITY OF THE NEW EARTH.
By William Covert
EVERY kingdom must have its seat of government. The earth redeemed from the curse of sin will constitute the territory of Christ's kingdom. The New Jerusalem which is now in heaven is to be the capital city of this kingdom. The building is done in heaven and afterward it is transported to this earth, where it is to remain forever. The plan of this city, and the founding of the kingdom, was begun upon the earth, and a king was here crowned before the reign of sin began. The truthfulness of this proposition will appear by studying Heb. 2:7 with Gen. 1:28; 2:8, 9, 15. The divine arrangement was for Adam to rule over the works of God in this world. Had he been faithful he would have been the king of the whole earth. The Garden of Eden was to have been the home of Adam, and around it, in the country of Eden, the great metropolis of the earth would have been built. In case of continued obedience with all there could have been no such thing as a division or alienation in the family of Adam therefore one seat of government would have been sufficient for all the earth; and that would have continued in Paradise. That holy garden was planned, planted, and made to grow by the divine hand. It contained every variety of trees both for use and ornamentation, even to the tree of life itself. It possessed the finest of gold and the most precious of stones. Its rivers and tributaries were created for its beauty, its glory, and its convenience. See Gen. 2:9-12. It was then that the Creator himself laid the corner stone of this kingdom, and fastened the foundations, and stretched the measuring line upon it. And when it was done the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38:4-7. But through sin the king lost his dominion; yet He who had placed him there never ratified the victory which Satan gained over man. And notwithstanding the fact that the devil claims the dominion over this world because of his conquest over man, yet he never obtained possession of the seat of empire. Though man yielded to Satan the Lord did not.663Satan never captured the crown nor the governmental effects which Heaven granted as ensigns of royalty. Adam was deposed for disloyalty by the Power that coronated him. The cherubim from the throne of God came down and took possession of the gate of Paradise and of the tree of life. Thus in the name of Heaven they possessed the very throne upon which Adam sat. Jesus was then intrusted with that crown which had previously been given to Adam. See Heb. 2:9. The government of earth was thereby preserved as far as the plan had been developed before Adam failed. But all that had been done up to that time was done by the Lord. Therefore sin was not permitted to mar that part which God had subdued for man, and modeled after the eternal plan. For this reason it seems that Paradise was not destroyed, neither were sinners allowed to possess it. It was regarded sacred and holy as heaven itself and was in time removed to heaven. There from its holy precincts the original plan of the earth has been carried forward; and there the holy city, the New Jerusalem, has been built. To learn that Paradise is now in heaven, see 2 Cor. 12:2-4. The tree of life is in the Paradise of God. Rev. 2:7. The tree of life is in the New Jerusalem. Rev. 22:1-3. It was in this city that the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centered. They knew in their day that God was its builder and that sometime it would be possessed by the heirs of promise. Heb. 11:8-10. Paul says this city is the mother of all the children who constitute the promised seed. Gal. 4:26, 31; 3:26-29. She is the bride, the Lamb's wife. Rev. 21:9, 10. Christ by his union with this city in the work of redemption has begotten through faith all the saved of Adam's race. As Christ took the crown and the work where Adam failed, it became necessary not only to do the work that Adam was to have done, but also to redeem man, who was fallen. The prophet in describing his work as a whole said, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6. He is the everlasting Father of all the saved, because he is the Author of everlasting life. Christ is made unto man the way, the truth, and the life, the first and the last. To the redeemed he stands at the head of the race, where Adam would have stood had he been faithful. This position therefore placed him in possession of Paradise, and gave to him the crown of the deposed king of the place. Through this union with Paradise the redeemed are born into eternal life. If for a time he chose to take the capital of earth's kingdom to heaven, and there build it on high, and maintain its laws, and transfer the citizenship of the loyal to heaven, it only shows that he is wonderful in counsel and mighty in working. The powers of darkness can never defeat such a Prince as this. He had a perfect right to do all this, as the earth and the kingdom will only be the gainers by it. Gainers because he is to return all he took away, with the labor of the ages and the riches of heaven added to it. In vision "John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev. 21:2. He said its measure was twelve thousand furlongs. The city is square, and this measure, being the length of the four sides, shows there are to be 140,625 square miles. It has a jasper wall, but clear as crystal, founded upon most precious stones. In this wall are twelve gates, all made of pearl. The Grand Avenue or principal street is in length three hundred and seventy-five miles, and down this King's Highway, through its whole length, runs the River of Life. On either side of this stream grows the tree of life, arching its waters from bank to bank. This street on both sides of the river is paved with gold. Its peaceful walks and avenues are adorned with the many fruits and flowers of Paradise. At the head of this street is the throne of God and the Lamb. It is along this street and by the side of this river that the immortal saints will gather and eat the fruit from the tree of life, and drink of the waters of that crystal stream. No night can ever enter there, for the glory of God, brighter than the noonday sun, but made mellow with love, will lighten the place, and shine far out beyond its open gates, to meet the coming and the going of the twelve tribes of the redeemed. This holy city, center of the holy, glorious kingdom of God, awaits all who will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ died that we might be saved from sin; he lives that we may share his eternal home. All heaven invites us to come. "And the Spirit and the bride [the New Jerusalem] say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.