utterly destroyed them； He hath delivered them to the slaughter。〃 〃Upon the
wicked He shall rain quick burning coals； fire and brimstone and an horrible
tempest： this shall be the portion of their cup。〃 Isaiah 9：5； 34：2； Psalm
11：6； margin。 Fire comes down from God out of heaven。 The earth is broken
up。 The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth。 Devouring flames
burst from every yawning chasm。 The very rocks are on fire。 The day has come
that shall burn as an oven。 The elements melt with fervent heat； the earth
also； and the works that are therein are burned up。 Malachi 4：1； 2 Peter
3：10。 The earth's surface seems one molten massa vast； seething
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lake of fire。 It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly
men〃the day of the Lord's vengeance； and the year of recompenses for the
controversy of Zion。〃 Isaiah 34：8。
The wicked receive their recompense in the earth。 Proverbs 11：31。 They
〃shall be stubble： and the day that cometh shall burn them up； saith the
Lord of hosts。〃 Malachi 4：1。 Some are destroyed as in a moment； while others
suffer many days。 All are punished 〃according to their deeds。〃 The sins of
the righteous having been transferred to Satan； he is made to suffer not
only for his own rebellion； but for all the sins which he has caused God's
people to commit。 His punishment is to be far greater than that of those
whom he has deceived。 After all have perished who fell by his deceptions； he
is still to live and suffer on。 In the cleansing flames the wicked are at
last destroyed； root and branchSatan the root； his followers the branches。
The full penalty of the law has been visited； the demands of justice have
been met； and heaven and earth； beholding； declare the righteousness of
Jehovah。
Satan's work of ruin is forever ended。 For six thousand years he has wrought
his will； filling the earth with woe and causing grief throughout the
universe。 The whole creation has groaned and travailed together in pain。 Now
God's creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations。
〃The whole earth is at rest； and is quiet： they ＇the righteous＇ break forth
into singing。〃 Isaiah 14：7。 And a shout of praise and triumph ascends from
the whole loyal universe。 〃The voice of a great multitude；〃 〃as the voice of
many waters； and as the voice of mighty thunderings；〃 is heard； saying：
〃Alleluia： for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth。〃 Revelation 19：6。
While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction； the righteous abode
safely in the Holy City。 Upon those that had part in the first resurrection；
the second death has no power。 While God is to the wicked a consuming fire；
He is to His people both a sun and a shield。 Revelation 20：6； Psalm 84：11。
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〃I saw a new heaven and a new earth： for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away。〃 Revelation 21：1。 The fire that consumes the wicked
purifies the earth。 Every trace of the curse is swept away。 No eternally
burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin。
One reminder alone remains： Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His
crucifixion。 Upon His wounded head； upon His side； His hands and feet； are
the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought。 Says the prophet；
beholding Christ in His glory： 〃He had bright beams coming out of His side：
and there was the hiding of His power。〃 Habakkuk 3：4； margin。 That pierced
side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to Godthere is
the Saviour's glory； there 〃the hiding of His power。〃 〃Mighty to save；〃
through the sacrifice of redemption； He was therefore strong to execute
justice upon them that despised God's mercy。 And the tokens of His
humiliation are His highest honor； through the eternal ages the wounds of
Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power。
〃O Tower of the flock； the stronghold of the daughter of Zion； unto Thee
shall it come； even the first dominion。〃 Micah 4：8。 The time has come to
which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the
first pair from Eden； the time for 〃the redemption of the purchased
possession。〃 Ephesians 1：14。 The earth originally given to man as his
kingdom； betrayed by him into the hands of Satan； and so long held by the
mighty foe； has been brought back by the great plan of redemption。 All that
was lost by sin has been restored。 〃Thus saith the Lord 。 。 。 that formed
the earth and made it； He hath established it； He created it not in vain； He
formed it to be inhabited。〃 Isaiah 45：18。 God's original purpose in the
creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the
redeemed。 〃The righteous shall inherit the land； and dwell therein forever。〃
Psalm 37：29。
A fear of making the future inheritance seem too material
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has led many to spiritualize away the very truths which lead us to look upon
it as our home。 Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare
mansions for them in the Father's house。 Those who accept the teachings of
God's word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode。 And
yet； 〃eye hath not seen； nor ear heard； neither have entered into the heart
of man； the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him。〃 1
Corinthians 2：9。 Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the
righteous。 It will be known only to those who behold it。 No finite mind can
comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God。
In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called 〃a country。〃 Hebrews
11：14…16。 There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living
waters。 The tree of life yields its fruit every month； and the leaves of the
tree are for the service of the nations。 There are ever…flowing streams；
clear as crystal； and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the
paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord。 There the wide…spreading plains
swell into hills of beauty； and the mountains of God rear their lofty
summits。 On those peaceful plains； beside those living streams； God's
people； so long pilgrims and wanderers； shall find a home。
〃My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation； and in sure dwellings； and
in quiet resting places。〃 〃Violence shall no more be heard in thy land；
wasting nor destruction within thy borders； but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation； and thy gates Praise。〃 〃They shall build houses； and inhabit
them； and they shall plant vineyards； and eat the fruit of them。 They shall
not build； and another inhabit； they shall not plant； and another eat： 。 。 。
Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands。〃 Isaiah 32：18； 60：18；
65：21； 22。
There； 〃the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them； and
the desert shall rejoice； and blossom as the rose。〃 〃Instead of the thorn
shall come up the fir tree； and instead of the brier shall come up the
myrtle tree。〃 〃The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb； and the leopard
shall
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lie down with the kid； 。 。 。 and a little child shall lead them。〃 〃They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain；〃 saith the Lord。 Isaiah
35：1； 55：13； 11：6； 9。
Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven。 There will be no more tears；
no funeral trains； no badges of mourning。 〃There shall be no more death；
neither sorrow； nor crying： 。 。 。 for the former things are passed away。〃
〃The inhabitant shall not say； I am sick： the people that dwell therein
shall be forgiven their iniquity。〃 Revelation 21：4； Isaiah 33：24。
There is the New Jerusalem； the metropolis of the glorified new earth； 〃a
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord； and a royal diadem in the hand of
thy God。〃 〃Her light was like unto a stone most precious； even like a jasper
stone； clear as crystal。〃 〃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。〃 Saith the Lord： 〃I will rejoice in Jerusalem； and joy in My
people。〃 〃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。〃 Isaiah 62：3； Revelation 21：11； 24； Isaiah 65：19； Revelation
21：3。
In the City of God 〃there shall be no night。〃 None will need or desire
repose。 There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering
praise to His name。 We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and
shall ever be far from its close。 〃And they need no candle； neither light of
the sun； for the Lord God giveth them light。〃 Revelation 22：5。 The light of
the sun will be superseded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling；
yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide。 The glory
of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light。 The redeemed
walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day。
〃I saw no temple therein： for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the
temple of it。〃 Revelation 21：22。 The people of God are privileged to hold
open communion with the Father and the Son。 〃Now we see through a glass；
darkly。〃 。PG 677