p. 198 | The New Heavens and the New Earth

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 27, 1853

The New Heavens and the New Earth.

By Toronto Christian Obs.

WHEN God created the heavens and the earth, he saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. No blot, no defect could be seen upon the face of the whole creation. The earth brought forth without toil, in teeming plenty, for the sustenance of man and beast; the inferior creatures were all perfect after their kind, and adapted to answer the purpose of the great Creator's wisdom and goodness; while man, as the chief of the works of God, stood in the image and likeness of his great Creator, and was qualified for communion and intercourse with him. In this happy state, abundance, peace and happiness, were the order of the day; and want, pain, toil, sorrow and death, were altogether unknown. The earthly state then resembled the heavenly state; the creatures were happy; and the beneficent Creator could rejoice in the works of his hands.

But this fair scene was soon marred. Man sinned against his God, and became the subject of the Divine displeasure. The fearful consequences of this awful catastrophe are, the earth is cursed with sterility and barrenness, and only yields to its inhabitants a scanty pittance in consequence of toil, and sweat, and skill; the inferior creatures are subjected to suffer pain, and death: and man the transgressor is doomed, after a short life of toil and sorrow, to return to the dust of the earth, from which he was taken at first. Thus we see the whole creation travailing in pain, and reduced from a state of pure, uninterrupted happiness, to a state of suffering and of death.

But this sad state is not to last always; creation is not to lie in ruins forever; the Creator is not always to be dishonored by the destruction of the works of his hands. A remedial measure is provided for rational creatures, who neglect not the great salvation, by the atonement of the crucified Redeemer; that measure, though now applied chiefly to those whom God is now taking out from among the Gentiles who are to reign with his Son in the heavenly kingdom, is rich in its benefits, and these will be applied in all their abundance, when he that sits upon the throne, shall make all things new.

This "resurrection of all things" to their first condition, is the grand event for which creation is described as waiting. To this we find numerous prophecies in the Old Testament, referring; and, in the prospect of this regeneration, the earth, woods and sea, are called upon to rejoice; while the animate creation is represented as looking with outstretched neck, for the great deliverance. And it shall not be disappointed; its Maker's word is passed for the security of its hope; and that gracious word is, "The creature itself shall be also delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God." With sinful man the creation has sunk into a state of suffering; and with redeemed man it is destined to rise into a state of felicity and glory.

The application of this remedial measure, will probably involve germinating qualities. At the coming of the Saviour it seems clear to the writer, that one renewing change will take place in the earth, and in the inferior creatures. Then the earth will yield her increase, and the trees their meat, and the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb. Isa. lxv, 17-25. But it is after that all rule and authority, and power, except God's, are put down and the Son delivers up the kingdom to the Father, that the work is completed. The mission of the Son is to destroy the works of the devil, which can only be done by restoring the creation to its first condition. But this is not the whole. Reward as well as restoration, is included in the glorious liberty of the sons of God: and when the Father comes, and dwells, as God, with men, he will

communicate such an additional amount of bliss and glory to the restored creation as shall abundantly reward the creatures for the sufferings of the gloomy past. Then the character and conduct of God in the permission of temporary evil will be vindicated. The riches of his glory and goodness will be revealed.—Felicity and glory will be brought out of suffering and humiliation. And in one eternal burst of gratitude and joy, every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, will be heard saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." The Lord will then rejoice in the works of his hands; and the glory of the Lord shall endure for ever.—Toronto Christian Obs.