The Bible subjects that we
have been considering, the Worlds and Ages will be still plainer if
we comprehend how the apostle uses the terms, Heaven and Earth. In
2 Pet. 3 for instance, each of the three worlds are referred to as three
distinct heavens and earths. There are the "Old World," (2
Pet. 2:5) the Present World, and the New World, embracing respectively
the heavens and earth which "were of old," "the heavens
and earth which are now," and "the new heavens and new
earth." Now what is meant by a Heavens and Earth? It appears
very plain that these terms are used symbolically, in some spiritual
sense, and not in a material; for no change in the material heavens and
earth was affected by the flood. Furthermore Peter tells us in the last
part of this chapter, that Paul, speaking on this subject, utters
"things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrestled, as they do also the other scriptures to their own
destruction." We must have a care then, that we do not
stumble here over the letter, but that we find the true spirit of the
Word. Looking through the Bible we find the terms heaven
and earth used symbolically for Power, Authority, Rule, or
to represent the Class that has the power or authority in their
hands, the ruling class. Thus the word is used with reference to
God; "Sing unto God ye kingdoms of the earth; to Him that rideth
upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his
voice and that a mighty voice;" i.e. to Him who is high above all
other authority, who is supreme; as when we read of Christ, "He
that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things;" i.e. far above all other power and
authority; as again we read of "the exceeding greatness of God's
power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenlies, far above all
principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in the coming one." Again God
says, "The Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool;"
i.e. heaven represents the ruling element, the throne; earth represents
the element ruled over, under subjection, the footstool. As it is
written again of Christ, that "after he had offered one enduring
sacrifice for sins he sat down on the right hand of God [place of
supreme power], from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool," (i.e. put in subjection under him). All this very
clearly indicates the symbolical use of the words heaven and earth; to
the same effect see Dan. 4:11,22,26, and Heb. 7:26; still further on earth
see Mic. 1:2 and Psa. 96, and many other passages, showing that
this term symbolizes the masses of the people ruled over and governed by
the heavens; the ruling class; or the word refers sometimes to the
general condition of affairs pertaining to the masses under any
particular rule, for an example see Isa. 24:1-12; read this passage and
see what a wretched condition the earth (the masses) may get into under
misrule and bad government, an evil heavens. From all the foregoing we
readily gather the meaning of these two terms, heaven and earth; the
former refers to the government, the latter to the governed.
Now with this meaning in
mind we can understand why each World is spoken of as comprising
a heavens and earth. Each Kosmos exhibits some particular form of
rule (the heavens) and the effects of that rule on the masses
(the earth). In the "Old World," before the flood, "the
sons of God" were the ruling class, the heavens of that
Kosmos, and under their sway, "the earth, became corrupt
before God; and the earth was filled with violence; for all flesh had
corrupted his way upon the earth;" (Gen. 6:1-13) the earth
and all flesh mean one and the same thing, the masses; that World
being overflowed with water, perished." In the present World, from
the flood to the second advent, we still have an evil heavens and earth;
Satan is the Prince of this Kosmos;" (John 14:30) under him are the
"wicked spirits in the heavenlies," (Eph. 6:12, margin) i.e.
in the place of authority and power; (see also Eph. 2:2; 1 Pet. 5:8)
under these "rulers of darkness" are the corrupt,
wicked, and godless governments of the world; so oppressive, tyrannical
and cruel that they are represented in the Bible by savage beasts. (Dan.
7:1-7). This is the present heavens. What is the present earth? What
else could it be under such a heavens but just what it is,
a scene of discord, strife, misery, corruption and death? a chaos of
disorder and ruin? "The earth mourneth and fadeth away; the world
languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do
languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof;
because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken
the everlasting covenant; therefore hath the curse devoured the earth,
and they that dwell therein are desolate." (Isa. 24:4-6.). How
fitly does this language express the state of affairs in this
earth! Now notice how Micah describes the present heavens, the
corrupt, godless, tyrannical governments of this world. "Woe is me!
for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape
gleaners of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the
first ripe fruit. The good man is perished out of the earth, and there
is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt
every man his brother with a net; [how true] they do evil with both
hands earnestly; the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward;
and the great man he uttereth his mischievous desire, so they wrap
[hush] it up. The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is
sharper than a thorn hedge. The DAY of thy
watchman and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity."
Does not this language exactly describe the condition of things
in this world? Especially with reference to those in authority, the
"prince," the "judge," and the "great
man" and is it not true that the day of God's watchman
and his visitation cometh? And already the "perplexity"
foretold is racking the brains of thoughtful men, especially of those
who hold the reigns of government. Who cannot see that, looking at
it from a human standpoint, the entire fabric of human society is wrong?
A colossal blunder? Already tottering to its fall, and destined soon to
come tumbling about the ears of those who in their pride and variety
have reared it; a second Babel with bricks [man made] for stone, and
slime [a rnakeshift substitute] for mortar. (Gen. 11:3). This
"great Babylon" (Dan. 4:30) must fall. The "City of
Confusion" (Isa. 24:10; Babylon means confusion) shall be
"thrown down and shall be found no more at all." (Rev.
18:21.). The trouble with the present heavens and earth is that it is all
wrong. Many vainly think that society can be mended, reformed,
patched up, and so cured; and they have remedies to this effect;
cooperation, communism, international congresses, civil service reform,
anti-monopoly movements, etc. But every remedy will fail.
"For thus saith the Lord, thy bruise is incurable; and thy wound is
grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound
up, thou hast no healing medicines." (Jer. 30:12,13.). If
things were tolerably correct generally, and wrong only in certain
particulars, then there might be some hope of correcting those
particular wrongs: But what will you do when, "They know
not, neither will they understand; they walk on in
darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of
course" "If the foundations be destroyed what can the
righteous do?" (Psa. 82:5; 11:3.). Nothing, but to tear down, and
build again. Hence it is written, "thou [the Son] shalt break them
[the nations] with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a
potter's vessel." If a person is deceased in some particular
member, but has vigor and vitality in other respects, the physician
undertakes his case with a good hope that he can effect a cure.
But what will he do if "the whole head is sick and the whole heart
faint? If from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrifying
sores"? Death in such a case would be a desirable and happy
release, and every one would feel that the sooner the loathsome carcass
was hid away under ground the better. Such is the condition of the
body-politic today; "the heavens and the earth which are now"
are corrupt and wicked, hence they "are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly
men." Therefore the heavens and earth are being shaken. God
is shaking them, as it is written, "Speak to Zerubbabel, [those
"scattered at Babylon"] governor of Judah, saying, I will
shake the heavens and the earth, and I will overthrow the throne of
kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the
heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them,
and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword
of his brother." And this shaking and destruction is
in connection with the coming of "the Desire of all nations."
(Hag. 2. See also Heb. 12:25-29.). God's voice (compare Psa. 29) shall
"yet once more" shake, not the earth only as at Sinai, but
also heaven; "and this word, Yet once more, signifyeth the removing
of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that
those things which cannot be shaken may remain." I beIieve
that we are living in God's great shaking time; I am sure that we are
living in a shaking time, for certainly everything is being
shaken, unsettled, and stirred up in these days as never before; and I
have no doubt but that this is the very time referred to in the above
prophecies; and the result will be "the removing of those
things that are shaken" that only the things that cannot
be shaken may remain. We have seen and are seeing the "signs
in the sun and in the moon and in the stars," and there certainly
is "upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity,
the sea and the waves [the restless masses of the people]
roaring," and moreover "men's hearts are failing them for
fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the
earth;" and "the powers of heaven," the governments, are
being shaken. (Luke 21:25, 26). And what is the remedy for
all this trouble, and the hope of the world in the terrible pass to
which things have come? I answer, nothing short of the advent
of Christ to destroy the present evil heavens and earth, and
to establish the "New heavens and new earth where in dwelleth
righteousness." Let no one deceive himself by supposing that
something else will heal the festering sores of the body-politic. Read
the fifth chapter of the epistle of James, and see the present times
described, and the remedy indicated. Notice the various counts in that
awful indictment against society in these "last days." The
useless hoarding up of gold and silver; "and the RUST
of them shall be a witness against the rich, and shall eat their flesh
as it were." It is not the gold and silver that shall be a witness
against the rich, but the rust of them, i.e. the disuse of them;
hoarding money simply for accumulation and not to use for God's glory
and the good of others. Think of the millions of dollars that are lying
idle in the banks today while millions of human being suffer for the
necessities of life: Another count is the keeping back of "the hire
of the laborers by fraud;" labor troubles are among the most
serious characteristics of these troublous times. Other counts are the
wanton living in pleasure, excess in every direction, injustice and
oppression; and now the apostle comes to the remedy. Thank God there is
a remedy! What is it? "Be patient, therefore brethren unto," What?
unto the time when education, art and science shall civilize and elevate
the world, and cure these evils? is that what we are to wait for? Not so
speaks the apostle. Does he tell us to be patient unto the time when the
nations shall reform themselves, when the relation between labor and
capital shall be amicably and righteously settled by governments,
legislatures, co-operative societies, or political parties? Does
he tell us to wait until the church wakes up from her sleep of religious
ease and worldly comfort and in the strength of God puts down these
crying evils, and establishes peace on the earth? Thank God! the apostle
tells us to wait for none of these, if he did we should wait forever,
for all of these are but parts of the corrupt whole, and each of them
just as corrupt as any other part. Once more we would ask
(prompted by a desire to warn the "little flock" against the
"lying wonders" of these degenerate times) does the
apostle tell us to be patient unto the time when the world shall learn
that matter is but a modification of mind, that sighs, and tears, and
groans, are not the product of disease, and sin, and crime, but merely
the indications of a distempered mind, a misdirected imagination? when
the much vaunted "mental philosophy" shall impart to every one
the power to will himself an archangel if he please, and
"metaphysical healing shall drive sickness from the planet"?
Have we found at last in the "Mind-Cure" system the
philosopher's stone that is to transform all the dull dross of this sin
stricken world into the pure gold of the kingdom? Alas, alas, this
boastful "science, falsely so called, is but another Babel tower,
built with brick and slime, whereby to climb to heaven without the help
of the ladder that Jacob saw, (Gen. 28:12) which is Jesus Christ
(see John 1:51), and is destined to end like all such human schemes in
confounding and scattering more and more.. "Vain man would be wise,
though he be born like a wild ass's colt." But the wisdom of such
wise ones shall perish, and be brought to nothing. (1 Cor.
1:19). "The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and
taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and
what wisdom is in them." (Jer. 8:9). How pitiful is the
pride-puffed blustering of puny man during his little brief span of
life, with schemes great and mighty wherewith to accomplish, nothing.
Loud is his bruit while he lives, but soon he "lieth down, and
riseth not until the [present] heavens be no more." (Job 14:12).
"Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and
the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning."
(Psa. 49:14). Thank God there is to be a MORNING.
But again we ask, how shall it be ushered in? Surely not by the fitful,
fleeting flashing up of man's rush-light luminaries; but by the
rising of the "Sun of Righteousness." Hear the apostle, "Be
patient therefore, brethren, UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD."
This, THIS is the great event that
constitutes not only "The Blessed Hope" of those who
"look for Him" (Heb. 9:28), but also the only hope of
the groaning creation. Therefore, brethren, "Be ye also
patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be
condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door." God be
praised for this bright promise, streaking the darkness of the eastern
sky, blessed harbinger of the coming "perfect day." My
soul goes out in most earnest longing as I pray, "Come quickly,
Lord Jesus, not only for the deliverance of thine elect, but also, and
more if anything, for the deliverance of the whole creation."
"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall
be made low, [here's leveling by Christian communism] and
the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
places plain, and the GLORY of the Lord
shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for
the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isa.
40:4,5). Let the present heavens and earth go then; the sooner the
better. Let the Heavens (wicked governments) pass away with a great
noise, and the Elements (Gal. 4:9) melt with fervent heat, and the
earth, and the works that are therein be discovered, (2 Pet.
3:10, N.V.*, margin;
compare Luke 12:2) and burned up with the "fierce fire of
God's jealousy: [a cleansing fire for purification] ( Zeph. 1:14-18;
3:8,9) "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness;" and
here is the promise, "Behold I create new heavens and a new
earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind."
(Isa. 65:17). Let us notice some of the things that the Bible reveals
about this new heavens and new earth. First, in regard to the new
Heavens, i.e. the new government of this new world, the new ruling
class. At the head of this government will be Christ, and associated
with him as kings, priests, judges and saviors, are the Saints. Satan
and his wicked crew are bound and shut up in the abyss, "that he
should deceive the nations no more." (Rev. 20:1-3). Hence
"the whole earth is at rest and is quiet; they break forth into
singing." (Isa. 14:7). Under these chief rulers, Christ and the
Saints, will be subordinate rulers of every grade, righteous, just and
incorruptible. Read Isa. 11 and 12, for a description
of that new order of things. Of the King we read that, "the spirit
of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear
of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the
fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness
shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of
the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and
with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked; and Righteousness
shall be the girdle of his loins, and Faithfulness the girdle of
his reins." Both Isaiah and John speak of the new heavens and new
earth and give descriptions, the difference between them being that
Isaiah describes the new earth and John describes the new heaven.
That is, John describes the ruling element of the new order of
things, while Isaiah describes the condition of the people under
that rule.
In the last two chapters of
the Revelation, John describes the new heavens under the symbol of
a magnificent city, the New Jerusalem; this wonderful city we are told
is "The Bride, the Lamb's Wife," (Rev. 21:2,9-11) and the
description that follows, sets forth to the utmost extent of human
language the grandeur and beauty of the glorified Bride, represented by
this great city. The Bride is made up of the Overcomers, who are also
the kings and priests with Christ, the King of kings, and Great High
Priest. (Heb. 8:1). The glowing description of this city indicates the
excellency and perfection of that new heavens. Its jasper walls, and
pearly gates, its foundations of precious stones, and golden streets are
only representations faintly symbolizing the transcendent majesty of
that new and perfect government. Every blessing for mankind is
represented as flowing out of this grand city. The Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are the Temple and the Light of it; "and the nations of
them that are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the
earth do bring their glory and honor into it; and the gates of it shall
not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there." This
is no selfish orthodox heaven, with narrow gates all fast upon a handful
of saved, and myriads of the lost eternally wailing round its outer
walls; this is a great city with twelve gates, each one wide enough for
a regiment to march in abreast, and never shut, thank God! The River of
the Water of Life has its source in this city and flows through it, and out
of it to give health and life wherever it flows,
(compare Ezek. 47:1-12) and on either side of the River was there the
Tree of Life, with its monthly fruitage for meat, and its
abundant leafage for the "healing" of the "bruises and
sores" of the nations. (Ezek. 47:12, margin.).
All this describes the
goodness and benevolence of the new heavens, the government of the new
Kosmos; and now what will be the condition of the people, the new earth
under such a government? What else could it be but blessed and glorious?
Just so sure as the present evil heavens produces a
sin-and-sorrow-cursed earth, so that future righteous heavens
shall produce an earth filled with the "peaceable fruit of
righteousness." (Heb. 12:11)
Isaiah describes this new
earth [the people], (65:17-25) when there shall be no more sorrow,
wrong, or injustice, but "all shall know the Lord," and
"all shall be righteous." (Isa. 60:21). "The
knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the
sea;" war shall be no more; crime shall cease; "They shall not
hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain (kingdom)." Joy and
beauty shall bud and blossom on every hand; "the wilderness and the
solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and
blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with
joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the
excellency of Carrnel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord,
and the excellency of our God." "Instead of the thorn, shall
come up the fir tree; and instead of the brier, shall come up the myrtle
tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign
that shall not be cut off." 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." Everything animate and inanimate is represented as being in
harmony and rejoicing in this state of things. The Psalmist
exclaims "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; fear before
him all the earth. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth.; the
world [the new Kosmos] shall be established that it shall not be
moved; he shall judge the people righteously. Let the Heavens rejoice,
and let the Earth be glad; let the sea roar and the fulness thereof; let
the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together. Let
the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees
of the wood rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh he cometh to judge
the earth; "He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the
people with his truth." If you wish to read other descriptions of
this new order of things see Psalms 67, 72, 97, 98, and many other
passages. I do not mean to be understood as saying that this
perfect condition of the earth will be effected instantaneously, but
this will be the ultimate result under the sway of that godlike heavens, Christ
and his Saints. God speed the joyful day when "this present evil
world" (Gal. 1:5) shall pass away, with all its sin, misery,
corruption and death, and give place to that bright era of glory and
blessedness; when, "Mercy and Truth shall meet together, and
righteousness and peace shall kiss each other;" when "Truth
shall spring out of the Earth and righteousness shall look down from
Heaven, and the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall
yield her increase, and Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set
us in the way of His steps." (Psa. 85:9-13).
I have thus endeavored to
set forth the meaning of these terms Heaven and earth; I think I have
given the Bible teachings on this subject, and with the foregoing
explanation in mind we can readily understand the apostle when he speaks
of "the heavens and the earth which are now," and the
"new heavens and new earth." With the previous articles on Age
and World in mind, we shall have the whole subject in hand. We can
understand that a World (kosmos) is a system, arrangement, or order of
things, embracing a distinct heavens and earth; i.e., having a
particular form of rule, or government, and exhibiting a certain condition
of the people under that rule. We can also understand how that each
world includes several Ages, during which that particular heavens and
earth holds sway, and God's plan as it pertains to his people, is being
developed.. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such
things, let us be diligent that we may be found of him in peace, without
spot, and blameless."
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*i.e. New Version; refers
to The English Revised Version of 1881-1885 (RSV)