First of all, we want to thank each one who has contributed articles for use in this monthly periodical, and also for information that has been helpful. We appreciate the many who have sent these to us and we apologize that we cannot reply more personally to each one who has helped us.
“Heaven" is the primary subject this month, so we want the editorial to be of the same subject. Frequently we have written about the seven-year tribulation period that precedes the thousand-year kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely the nearest event is the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church; then will be the tribulation period. The millennium will come next, and so let us think of that time and of how near it is.
For this we think it good to let you read a little from the pen of C. E. Lunden.
The Millennial Heaven
In the book of Revelation an angel calls John the apostle to see the bride, the Lamb's wife. He was shown the city, "the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." Rev. 21:10-17.
Think of a jasper stone, transparent, clear as crystal, radiating in various hues the light of the glories of the Lamb, the Redeemer. Just think, dear brethren, that the grace of God has put the Church in the position of making known the glories of God and the Lamb to the earth below (Eph. 3:21). The bride will dwell in the Father's house in uncreated light, yet she is the city descending from heaven (above the earth) and will have the glory of God. She is not divine; she is the Church, the city, the holy Jerusalem, the heavenly center of government: She is the "mother of all living," as was the type "Eve", so named by Adam in faith (Gen. 3:20).
All who have died in faith down through the ages until Pentecost, also the martyrs of Rev. 20:4, will dwell in the holy city. The babes who will have been raptured will be there with mature, heavenly bodies (Psa. 110:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Matt. 18:11).
Of Abraham it is said, "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10), and of other men of faith, children of Abraham, it is said, "They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." Heb. 11:14. "But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:16. These are the heirs of righteousness by faith, the generation of the children of faith from the Old Testament.
The full overflowing of blessing to the earth from this glorious millennial heaven is symbolized by the pure river of the water of life (Rev. 22:1), clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb—a fixed channel of blessing, through Christ and the Church (Eph. 3:21; Mic. 5:7; Hos. 2:21-23).
The tree of life is Christ in the midst of the plaza and of the river. The heavenly saints, in communion with Him, will enjoy the continuous fruits, food for the heavenly ones, and the leaves are for the healing of the Gentiles on earth (Rev. 22:2). How much needs to be healed in the earth in the hearts of His people. The result will be a millennial paradise, a permanent healing from heaven.
We "shall see His face" suggests personal, intimate communion; it is the "white stone" of Rev. 2:17. We shall carry our Redeemer's name on our foreheads (Rev. 22:4). There will be no night in heaven, no artificial or created light (Rev. 22:5).
The glory of the Gentiles shall be brought to the holy city which will reign over the earth (Rev. 21:24). Only those whose names will be found written in the Lamb's book of life will dwell within the holy city, the new Jerusalem: "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." Rev. 21:22.
After the rapture of the saints to heaven, the kingdom of heaven, in heaven, will be spoken of as the kingdom of the Father (Matt. 13:43). Such will be its character and place for the duration of the heavenly millennium.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Rom. 8:19. The sons of God are the Church (Heb. 12:23).
The manifestation is the Church coming visibly to reign with Christ over the earth.
The kingdom on earth in which Christ reigns will be known then as the kingdom of the Son of man. It will continue for 1000 years, when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isa. 11:9. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached for this period until all men have heard it individually (Isa. 66:19).
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times [the end of the millennium] He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." Eph. 1:10. This will include all believers and elect angels everywhere. All wicked men and angels will be judged at the great white throne and will be cast into the lake of fire. Then will begin the eternal state with God all in all (1 Cor. 15:24,28), and will result in a new universe.
C. Buchanan