21. What stands on either side of the river?
"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." Verse 2.
NOTE.-The tree of life which Adam lost through transgression is to be restored by Christ. Access to this is one of the promises to the overcomer. Rev. 2:7. Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, suggests a reason why in the new earth "from one _new moon_ to another," as well as "from one Sabbath to another,"
all flesh is to come before G.o.d to worship, as stated in Isa.
66:22, 23.
22. What will be the privilege of those who enter there?
"_And they shall see His face._" Rev. 22:3, 4. See Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 13:12.
The Conflict Ended
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Rest Remaining. "And G.o.d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
Rev. 21:4.
1. In narrating the work of creation, what statement is made concerning its completion?
"Thus the heavens and the earth were _finished_, and all the host of them.
And on the seventh day G.o.d _ended_ His work which He had made." Gen. 2:1, 2.
2. When expiring on the cross, what did Christ say?
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, _It is finished_: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:30.
3. At the pouring out of the seventh plague, what announcement will be made?
"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, _It is done_." Rev. 16:17.
4. And when the new heavens and the new earth have appeared, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, has descended from G.o.d and become the metropolis of the new creation, what announcement will then be made?
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, _It is done_. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."
Rev. 21:5, 6.
5. In the new earth, what will be no more?
"And G.o.d 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 pa.s.sed away." Verse 4. "And there shall be no more _curse_." Rev. 22:3.
6. What will then be the condition of all the earth?
"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 c.o.c.katrice" den. 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." Isa. 11:6-9.
7. How does the prophet again speak of this time?
"The whole earth is at _rest_, and is _quiet_: they break forth into _singing_." Isa. 14:7.
8. What universal chorus of praise will then be heard?
"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, _Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever_." Rev. 5:13.
O what a mighty change Shall Jesus" followers know, When o"er the happy plains they range, Incapable of woe!
There all our griefs are past; There all our sorrows end; We gain a peaceful rest at last, With Jesus Christ our Friend.
No slightest touch of pain, Nor sorrow"s least alloy, Can violate our rest, or stain Our purity of joy.
In that eternal day, No clouds nor tempest rise; There gushing tears are wiped away Forever from our eyes.
CHARLES WESLEY.
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Paradise Lost To Paradise Restored. "And Thou, O tower of the flock, ...
unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion." Micah 4:8. The Way Of Life.
Pleasures Forevermore
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Eternal Home. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them.... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21, 22.
1. What will finally be the privilege of G.o.d"s children?
"And they shall _see His face_." Rev. 22:4.
2. How perfect will be their knowledge of G.o.d?
"For now we see through a gla.s.s, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but _then shall I know even as also I am known_." 1 Cor. 13:12.
3. Whom will they be like?