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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. III for instance, each of the three worlds
are referred to as three distinct heavens and earths. There are the "Old
World," (2 Pet. II. 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. IV. 11, 22, 26, and Heb. VII.
26; still further on earth see Mic. I. 2 and Psa. XCVI, 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. XXIV. 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. VI. 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 XIV. 30) under him are the "wicked
spirits in the heavenlies," (Eph. VI. 12, margin) i.e. in the place of authority
and power; (see also Eph. II. 2; 1 Pet. V. 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. VII. 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. XXIV. 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 make shift
substitute] for mortar. (Gen. XI. 3). This "great Babylon" (Dan. IV. 30)
must fall. The "City of Confusion" (Isa. XXIV. 10; Babylon means
confusion) shall be "thrown down and shall be found no more at all." (Rev.
XVIII. 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. XXX. 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. LXXXII. 5; XI. 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 putrefying 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. II. See also Heb.
XII. 25-29). God's voice (compare Psa. XXIX) 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
believe 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. (Luk. XXI. 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. XXVIII. I2) which is Jesus Christ
(see John I. 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. I. I9). "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. VIII. 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 XIV. 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. XLIX. I4). 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 [OR APPEARING IN THE
LIFE OF THE CHILD OF GOD]
OF THE LORD." This-- this is the great event that constitutes not only
"The Blessed Hope" of those who "look for Him" (Heb. IX. 28), but also
the only hope of the groaning creation. Therefore, brethren, "Be
ye also patient; establish your hearts; for the coming [or the appearing]
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. XL. 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. iv. 9) melt with fervent heat, and the earth,
and the works that are therein be discovered, (2 Pet. III. 10, N. V., margin;
compare Luk. XII. 2) and burned up with the "fierce fire of God's jealousy:
[a cleansing fire for purification] ( Zeph. I. 14-18; III. 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. LXV. 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. XX. 1-3). Hence "the whole earth is at
rest and is quiet; they break forth into singing." (Isa. XIV. 7). Under
these chief rulers, Christ and the Saints, will be subordinate rulers of
every grade, righteous, just and incorruptible. Read Isa. XI
and XII, 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. XXI. 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. VIII. 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. XLVII. 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. XLVII.
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 [ruling class-governments] produces a sin-and-sorrow-cursed earth,
so that future righteous heavens shall produce an earth filled with the
"peaceable fruit of righteousness." (Heb. XII. 11).
Isaiah describes this new earth [the people], (LXV. 17-25) when there shall
be no more sorrow, wrong, or injustice, but "all shall know the Lord,"
and "all shall be righteous." (Isa. LX. 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
fullness 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" [people]; "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. I. 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. LXXXV. 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 purpose,
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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