The Saints' Inheritance.
By Wm. S. Foote
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. Rev. xxi, 5. If all things are to be made new, then the earth must be included, as that is certainly among the "all things." And how any one who reads the Bible carefully, can harbor the idea, that the earth is to be literally destroyed; or even become, and remain forever a mass of uninhabited chaotic matter, is strange indeed. Before polluted by sin, we have reason to believe that its natural scenery was beautiful, beyond our conception, and that if sin had not entered the world, and death by sin, its pristine beauty would have remained forever. Man had dominion over this beautiful work of the Creator, but through sin and folly lost it. We are sometimes met with this question, by those who believe that the dominion over the earth is irrecoverably lost by man. "Does not the Bible tell us that the earth is to be burned up, or destroyed by fire?" We reply: In Peter ii, 10, we read that "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also (also melt with fervent heat), and the things therein shall be burned up." The earth deformed and polluted by wicked spirits, and sinful men, will have its once beautiful surface cleansed by fire, and the first dominion will be restored. "And then O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion;155the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." According to Dan. vii, 27, "The kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." And according to Zech. ix, 10, "His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river, even to the ends of the earth." In Isa. lv, 17, 18, it is said, "For behold I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered or brought into mind; but be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy." That by Jerusalem, in the last quotation, is meant the New Jerusalem, we believe; as John says in Rev. xxi, "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 will 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." The faith of those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, takes God at his word; but as some require all, and even more evidence to make them believe some of the plainest, or most easily understood doctrines of the Bible, than is necessary, we will go on. We believe with the apostle Paul, that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable," and that "whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The promise made to Abraham, Gen. xvli, 8, was, "I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting posession; and I will be their God." Has the promise been fulfilled? Stephen said in Acts. vii, that "he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on, yet he promised to give it to him, for a possession, and his seed after him." "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. xi, 9, 10. He, with others who died in the faith desired a better country, that is, an heavenly, and that God had prepared for them a city. Who are meant by Abraham and his seed? "Now to Abraham and his seed, were the promises made, he saith not to seeds, as of many but as of one; and to thy seed, which is Christ." Gal. iii, 16. "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. iii, 29. Some feel disposed to figure or spiritualize away most of the Bible. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," or wherein the righteous are to dwell, who according to Isa. lxv, 21, "shall build houses, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them," and not only so, but, "It shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before the Lord." Isa. lxv, 23. In view of what has been said, it is no wonder that David exclaimed, "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God?" By repentance toward God, faith in the atoning blood, and righteousness of Jesus, and obedience to God's commandments, we can be permitted to enter in through the gates into the holy city, at the coming of our Lord. Thus may we be companions of Jesus, our elder brother, and of angels, of Abraham, and all the saints in glory. Immortality! what a glorious prize! Reader, if you are following those who teach for doctrine the commandments of men, let me say that the above remarks are for you; with the hope that you will study your Bible prayerfully, for in it there is a rich mine of truth, and with the blessing of God it will pay you well to explore it thoroughly.
WM. S. FOOTE.
Pendleton, Ohio.