THESE seven trees denote a time of earthly blessing, such as the world has not seen since man sinned and was cast out of Eden. These trees are all grouped together in one verse in the Old Testament, and they are planted that men may see, and know, and consider that the hand of the Lord hath done this.
Let us now see what they mean. You will J bear in mind that a very sad time of awful judgment is yet to sweep over this guilty earth, and it will be, as the word of God says, when His " judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9).) Judgment is the frequent prelude to blessing.
God will gather the remnant of His ancient people Israel back to their own land, and make Jerusalem the joy and center of the whole earth. Christ Jesus, once rejected and despised by them, they will then own, and exclaim, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord."
It will then be seen, for the first time, what the government of God in full display is on the earth. "A King shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment." Rebellion will not be borne with as now, it will be instantly punished. Then will be the reign of righteousness. We have this prefigured in the early part of Solomon's reign. David, a type of Christ as rejected, allowed his enemies to live. Solomon as a type of Christ in His glory, by one of the first acts of his reign cleared out of his kingdom all that offended and did iniquity.
In the days represented by these seven trees, not only will sin be unsparingly put down, but all sicknesses will have their suited remedies in that wonderful tree we read of in the Book of Revelation, “whose leaves are for the healing of the nations."
Then will be a time of unparalleled blessing. The wilderness shall blossom as the rose; and the lion shall lie down with the lamb, and a little child shall lead them. Israel will sit, everyman under his vine and under his fig tree, none daring to make him afraid. Satan, the world's great foe, will be bound in the pit.
Blessings will abound on every hand. The fruits of the earth will be multiplied, and the increase of the ground; the land that was desolate shall become like the Garden of Eden. “All the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: the Lord have spoken and have done it." (Ezek. 17:2424And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it. (Ezekiel 17:24).)
This is a description of what will yet take place on the earth. What a contrast to the present time! But,
like all earthly scenes, it will have an end. Satan will be loosed out of his prison at the end of the thousand years, and then man will yield to his temptation.
Persons may say if they were placed in circumstances similar to those in which Adam and Eve were found—in the midst of all the happiness and freshness of the morning of creation—they would not disobey God. God is going to give man a similar opportunity. What will be the result?
Turn to the end of Revelation, chapter 20. There we read that Satan, after being loosed from his prison, will succeed in deceiving the nations. This will bring in the end, and then all the dealings of God with the world will be over. One tree more remains for us to speak about. What it is we shall see in our next paper. H. N.