SAINTS' INHERITANCE by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1859

SAINTS' INHERITANCE.

By John Norton Loughborough

BY J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. v, 5.

(Concluded.)

We wish now to look at a testimony in Isaiah xi. By reading from the 1st to the 5th verse, you will see that this testimony concerning the "Rod out of the stem of Jesse," cannot refer to any earthly monarch; for they have no way of judging, but "after the sight of the eyes," nor to reprove but "after the hearing of the ears." We also learn that this personage is the one who is to slay the wicked with his breath, and also, that what follows from the 6th to the 9th verse, is after he has thus slain the wicked. This, then, refers to Christ's kingdom. Let us read a description of it: "The wolf also 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; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's, (margin adder's) den." Here again we have a description of a state, when the evil dispositions of the beasts are taken away, and when the manner of their living even is changed. And the 9th verse shows that "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."— This we have already shown cannot be, till after Christ comes and subdues all his foes.

"Then, bears and wolves no longer wild, Obey the leading of a child; The lions with the oxen eat, And dust shall be the serpent's meat."

Those who deny the application of the above text, and Isaiah lxv, to a future state, claim that it is fulfilled here. Their claim is, that "this testimony is mystical, and has a hidden meaning. That these beasts, the wolf, lion, kid, and lamb, are used to represent men with different dispositions, whose hearts are softened and subdued by the ameliorating influence of the gospel." "The text," they say, "is fulfilled, when a man with a wolfish or lion-like disposition, is converted and brought into the fold of Christ, and with the lambs (christians) feeds on the heavenly manna." We object to this application for two reasons: First, when a man with a wolfish or lion-like disposition is converted, he is no longer a wolf or lion, but a lamb; and so in the sequel, those who make the above application of the text, will simply have two lambs feeding together, instead of a lion and a lamb. So to make the text bear the above application which they desire, it will be necessary for them to claim that men with unchanged hearts, and lives, are brought into the church, and feed on the heavenly manna.

Our second objection is, it is positively stated, (Isaiah lxv, 17-25.) that there shall be such a state of things in the new earth.

Thus we see, allowing these testimonies a literal application, a glorious scene is portrayed to our mind when the curse is removed, and the "fear of man" (Gen. ix, 2.) is so far taken away that the beasts are again in perfect subjection to him, as in the beginning, (Gen. i, 26.) even to that extent that "the little child shall lead" the fierce lion, "the king of the forest."

Again, Isaiah describes the saints' inheritance in chapter xxxv, 1-7: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." On the Sahara, and great desert of Arabia, the weary traveler now plods his way, scorched with the burning rays of the sun, finding no cooling shade beneath which to rest his aching limbs, but, faint with thirst, he lays himself down to die. No merry songsters beguile his sufferings and as his voice grows husky and still, nothing meets his vision but a vast plain of burning sand: not one beautiful flower to change the sad monotony of the desert; and in the distance, the driving Simoon threatening to bury him in its columns of sand. How changed the scene when the "restitution" work shall have been accomplished. "The desert shall blossom as the rose." Yes, and it shall "rejoice even with joy and singing." When it is clothed with green foliage and decked with blossoms abundant, the merry songsters will chirp from bough to bough, and warble forth their songs of praise to the Most High.

Verse 2. "It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon, (the forest of Lebanon is described as the most beautiful in appearance of any in the eastern world) shall be given to it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon." The valley of Sharon was anciently decorated with the most beautiful flowers of every description. In view of this glorious clothing which is to be given to the desert, the prophet says, [verses 3, 4.] "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you."

Who would not feel strengthened with a hope of such a glorious inheritance as this, constantly before him? These promises have been given, not only that we might know what is coming, but to impart strength to us who are heirs of promise.— Reader, are you a believer in these glorious promises? We would say to you, when your heart gets fearful amid the trials and conflicts of the way, look at these hope-inspiring records respecting the future, and "be strong;" for in Jesus' name, we are able to go up and possess the goodly land. Thus Paul could say: Our "light affliction." "While we look not at the things which are seen, (the affliction) but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal." 2 Cor. iv, 17, 18.

Isaiah continues in verses 5, 6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." As an aid to an understanding of the rejoicing of those who in that glorious state have been made free from all their infirmities, our mind turns to a case of healing, that was performed in the days of the Apostles, as recorded in Acts iii. A man who had been lame from his birth, who was daily laid at the beautiful gate of the temple, to ask alms, saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, and asked an alms.— He expected no relief from his infirmity, but asked a little pittance to enable him to protract his miserable existence here. When Peter said to him

"Look on us," his expectation was raised that they would give him a portion of money; but when

Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none," his hopes in that direction were blasted, and how unexpected must the next sentence have fallen on his ears:— "Such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankle-bones received strength." What a thrill of joy must have filled his heart at this unexpected healing of his infirmities. He "entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God." If this temporary relief would cause the poor cripple to leap for joy, what must be the feelings of those in the resurrection morn, who, all their lives have been bowed down with lameness and the infirmities of the flesh, when they find not only their feet and ankle-bones made straight, but their whole being glowing with the vigor and energy of eternal youth! "Then shall the lame man leap as an hart." They will go like the deer bounding through the forest, as they shout forth their praises to the Most High. Like David of old, they will dance "before the Lord with all their might."

Isaiah speaks again of this glorious state, chap. li, 3. "For the Lord shall comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord." In the garden of the Lord, planted eastward, in Eden, there was "every tree that was pleasant to the sight, and good for food." In the restitution, this will be the condition of the whole earth. As is stated in Isa. lv, 13, "Instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar, shall come up the myrtle tree." Thorns are a part of the curse that was put upon the earth.— Gen. iii, 18. But these are to be removed. In that glorious state God's people can "dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. . . . And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beasts of the land devour them: but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid." Ezek. xxxiv, 25, 27, 28. And this is to be (verse 23,) when there is "set up one shepherd over them," and when Christ, who is here called by the Lord, "my servant David" "shall be their shepherd," and "shall be a prince among them."

We shall now examine John's testimony in Rev. xxi, xxii, concerning the new-earth state: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away." We do not understand from this, that there is to be a passing away of the matter of which the first heaven and earth are composed. Peter has shown, as we have already examined in the former part of this book, that the new heavens and new earth is to be brought in by the melting of the elements of the present heavens and earth, and the burning up of the works in the earth.

"And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Not only will these not exist, but, as we have already seen, the opposite will exist: life, joy, rejoicing, and eternal pleasures. What a contrast with the present state of affliction, weeping and death. No raging epidemic there, sweeping its thousands into an untimely grave, and in a moment filling joyous hearts with the keenest anguish; no miasma or destructive thunderbolts; no funeral knell; no pall; no bier; no death-dirge will there be sung; no grave-yards ever greet our sight, and sadden our hearts with the thoughts of mortality; the grave-digger's spade will find no labor there; no soothing cordial will be needed to still the aching limbs and weary head; but immor-

tality and the tree of life will forever accomplish the work, and free the saints from all liabilities to pain or suffering. Yes, "And the inhabitants will not say, I am sick." Isa. xxxiii, 24.

"Death will be banished, his scepter be gone."

Says JOHN WESLEY: "We may more easily conceive the changes which will be wrought in the lower heaven, in the region of the air. It will be no more torn by hurricanes, or agitated by furious storms, or destructive tempests. Pernicious or terrifying meteors will have no place therein. We shall have no more occasion to say,

'There like a trumpet, loud and strong, Thy thunder shakes our coast; While the red lightnings wave along, The banners of the host!'

"No! all will then be light, fair and serene; a lively picture of eternal day.

"And what will the general produce of the earth be? Not thorns, briers and thistles; not any useless or fetid weed; not any poisonous, hurtful or unpleasant plant; but every one that can be conducive, in any wise, either to our use or pleasure. We shall no more regret the loss of the terrestrial paradise, or sigh at the well-devised description of our great poet:

'Then shall this mount Of paradise by might of waves be moved Out of its place, rushed by the horned flood, With all its verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, Down the great river to the opening gulf, And there take root an island salt and bare.'

"For all the earth shall be a more beautiful paradise than Adam ever saw."

Verses 9-16. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God: having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone, most precious, even like a jasper stone clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; on the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."

We understand that this measure of the city is its entire circumference; for the announcement is made as soon as this measure is taken, that all sides are alike; length, breadth and height. The ancient custom of measuring cities was to begin at the corner and go entirely around, and not simply to measure one side. The measure of the city was twelve thousand furlongs. At eight furlongs to the mile, it would be fifteen hundred miles. This being the entire circumference of the city, one fourth of it would give us the length of either side: three hundred and seventy-five miles. Truly this is a great city. This is indeed the city that Abraham looked for, "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. xi. This is the Jerusalem which Paul says "is above," and "is free, which is the mother of us all." It is the Father's house, in which Christ said "there are many mansions." It is the place he was going to prepare for his saints prior to his coming again to receive them to himself. John xiv, 1-3.

Verse 17. "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." This we suppose to refer to the height of the wall, for he has already given us the length and the breadth. Eighteen inches to the cubit would give the height of the wall at two hundred and sixteen feet.

Verse 18. "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold like unto clear glass." JASPER: "A precious stone of various colors, as purple, cerulean, green, &c." Greenfield. "Mostly green." Robinson. "Of a beautiful bright green color, sometimes clouded with white, and spotted with red or yellow." Clarke.

Verses 19, 20. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. These twelve stones are the foundation of the wall, but the wall is of jasper, which we have already described.

SAPPHIRE. "A precious stone of a blue color in various shades." Greenfield, Robinson. "A bright gem, properly of pure blue." Cobbin. "Perfectly transparent." Clarke. "Of a beautiful azure or sky-blue color, almost as transparent and glittering as a diamond." Stuart.

CHALCEDONY. "The name of a gem generally of a whitish, bluish, or smoky-green color, susceptible of a high and beautiful polish." Greenfield. Some Greek MSS. read carbuncle, instead of chalcedony. Carbuncle "is a very elegant gem of a deep red color, with an admixture of scarlet. From its bright, lively color, it had the name, carbunculus, which signifies a little coal; because when held before the sun it appears like a bright burning charcoal." Clarke.

EMERALD, "is one of the most beautiful of all the gems, and is a bright green color, without any other mixture." Clarke.

SARDONYX. "A precious stone exhibiting a milk-white variety of the chalcedony, intermingled with shades or stripes of sardian or carnelian" (flesh color). Robinson.

SARDIUS. "A precious stone of blood-red, and sometimes flesh color." Greenfield.

"CHRYSOLITE is of a beautiful yellow color, and is so called by the ancients from its looking like a golden stone." Cobbin.

BERYL, "is of a blueish green, and very brilliant." Cobbin.

"TOPAZ of the present day seems to be reckoned as yellow, but that of the ancients appears to have been green." Stuart.

CHRYSOPRASUS. "Its color is commonly apple-green, and often extremely beautiful." Cleveland.

JACINTH. "A precious stone of a dead red, with a mixture of yellow. It is the same as the hyacinth, or cinnamon stone." Clarke.

AMETHYST, "is a pure rock-crystal, of a purplish-violet color, and of great brilliancy." Chambers.

Stuart says of these precious stones: "There is classification therefore in the arrangement; a mixture not dissimilar to the rainbow, with the exception that it is more complex." And this forms the foundation of the wall of the city. That wall is itself bright green, spotted with red and yellow. In addition to this, it is transparent, so it will admit the rays of different colors to pass through it which emanate from the stones that form its foundation, (for many of these stones emit light of themselves.) Here is a scene of beauty, indeed; but when we contemplate still further, in addition to this, that the glory of God, which far outshines the sun, will cause those precious stones to sparkle and glisten, we have a wall of such splendor as is far beyond the conception of mortals.

Verse 21. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." Here is gold that is worth striving for. It is imperishable. One ounce of it would be worth more to you, dear reader, than all the gold of California. I would give more for a surety of enough of that gold to set my feet upon, than for all the treasures of earth. He that secures a standing-place on those streets will be safe.

Verse 23. "The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." The glory of God will so far outshine the sun, that its rays will give no light in the city. This is

not simply the sun as it now shines, but it is when as the Prophet says, "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven fold." Isa. xxx, 26. Again, speaking of this same time [chap. xxiv, 23] he says: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." This refulgent light, shining on those most precious stones, will cause them to sparkle and glow, and shine forth such as by human sight hath never yet been seen.

Verse 24. "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it." This it seems is to be the great metropolis, or capital of the new earth kingdom, into which all the nations of them that are saved shall come to offer their tribute of praise.

In chap. xxii, we have a description of the river of life "clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Every month the tree will yield a fruit, and as God's saints, "from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another come to worship before" the Lord, [Isa. lxvi, 23.] they may obtain of the fruits of the tree of life. Those who obey God's commandments, as we learn in chap. xxii, 14, are to have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city, and participate in this glorious rest.

Thus we have briefly investigated some of the many testimonies which speak of the glorious inheritance of the saints. The meek shall inherit the earth, as Christ has promised; but not till sin and the curse are removed. But says the objector, Christ said, "Great is your reward in heaven." True, there is a rich reward reserved for us. We are to reign with Christ in heaven 1000 years, but that city with all its dazzling glory, as we have just seen from Rev. xxi, is to come down and be the capital of the earth restored. But, it is still urged, Paul said "we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens." True, the building is eternal; but he does not say it will eternally remain there. God's word shows that it will come down and be the tabernacle of God, when he dwells with men.