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No More Curse

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 52.

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“No More Curse.”

By Wm. Penniman

We read, “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth.” Isa. 24:6. The context shows that the curse came on account of sin. This is what the Lord told Adam after he had sinned: “Cursed is the ground for thy sake. . . . Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.” Gen. 3:17, 18.
But in the earth made new “there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.” Rev. 22:3. All things will blossom as the rose, and the righteous will “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matt. 13:43.
There will be no curse, no destructive insects nor blight upon the products of the field. Hence there will be no struggle for a livelihood.
No war between labor and capital. No more the curse of the money power, with its accompaniment of industrial and national covetousness.
No more tyrannical and inquisitive rulers, who find glory and happiness in the misery or persecution of their unfortunate subjects.
No more the curse of war, with its rivers andlakes of blood, and its terrific guns and war implements. No more Armageddon battles and Gog and Magog armies. Rev. 16:14, 16; 20:8, 9.
No more the curse of intemperance, sending to premature graves hundreds of thousands. No more the curse of the dark dens of moral pollution.
No famines, pestilences, cyclones, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, or “stormy winds,” causing wrecks on the ocean and destruction on the land; “for there was no more sea.” Rev. 21:1.
No more “sorrow” on account of birth (Gen. 3:16), and “no more death” (Rev. 21:4).
No more murders or robberies. No policemen will be needed in the New Jerusalem or in the “highways” to protect the travelers; for a “highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.” Isa. 35:8, 9; 65:25.
There will be no need of prayer; the saints have bidden sweet hour of prayer farewell. Praise will take the place of prayer; for “it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isa. 65:24. Again: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs [of praise] and everlasting joy upon their heads; . . . and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35:10.
In regard to the new heavens and new earth, the reader is requested to study carefully Isa. 65, beginning with verse 17; and also Rev. 21, and 22:1-6. I will quote a few of these texts: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa. 65:17. Corresponding with this is the statement, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” Rev. 21:1.
Notice particularly the beauty and significance of these words: “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.” Verse 3.
Read the following as to the earth restored, when the curse is all taken away:—
The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years, Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in the creation is accomplished. “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Dan. 7:18. “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Ps. 113:3. “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” Zech. 14:9.
Says the Scripture, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever.” Ps. 119:89; 111:7, 8. The sacred statutes which Satan has hated and sought to destroy, will be honored throughout a sinless universe. And “as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Isa. 61:11.—Great Controversy.
Reader, are you a Christian? Would you like to walk the streets of the gold-paved city (Rev. 21:18, 21), “whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10)? Would you like to sing the song of redeeming love? Isa. 35:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3. Would you like to talk and walk with Enoch, who walked with God? Gen. 5:24. Would you like to see all the holy patriarchs, and prophets, and apostles, and, above all, the blessed Saviour, whose precious blood is the price of our redemption, and whose praises will be the theme of our song?
If you would enjoy all these things, then see that you enter in at the strait gate. Luke 13:24. Live so that it can be said unto you, “Well done.” Matt. 25:21. The prospect is glorious, and when once there, we shall be there forever. But what is done must be done quickly; for the end of all things is very near.
“And the Spirit and the bride 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.
Woodburn, Ill. WM. PENNIMAN.