The Eternal State
We closed in our last paper with the giving up of the kingdom to God, even the Father, by Christ, the Son. This brings us to the end of time, and, the dissolution of the present condition of the heavens and the earth. For “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up ... . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look, for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:10,1310But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)).
Another allusion is made to the present heaven and earth in Revelation 20:1111And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11). The prophet John sees “a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” Then, and not till then, the dead, that is, all who have died out of Christ, impenitent, unbelieving, throughout the whole course of time, small and great, stand before God (or “the throne,” lit.), and are judged according to their works; a perfectly distinct act of judgment from that of the quick in Matthew 25, as we have seen. Only the wicked dead stand here; the saints have already enjoyed a thousand years of bliss with Christ. Books were opened, probably the records of their works. Another, the book of Life, was opened also, but only to show that their names are not there. None can escape this awful tribunal who have died in their sins: the sea, death, hades, all give up their dead; and they were judged every man according to their works. Death and hades, no longer needed, were first cast into the lake of fire; and then, when time exists no longer, their eternal doom is sealed. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This is the second death.
God is light, as well as love. “The high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy.” cannot lower the claims of His holiness. “He will by no means clear the guilty,” is the declaration of the Old Testament. In the New we have brought out the wondrous truths of redemption and salvation, wrought by the gift of His only-begotten Son, to die, the guiltless for the guilty. The justice of God took its course, and its stroke fell upon the Holy and the just One on the cross at Calvary (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). And God has shown His estimate of the perfect sacrifice, in that He has raised Him from the dead, and now declares His righteousness in proclaiming a free pardon to all, and in justifying every one that believeth (Rom. 3:25-2625Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25‑26)).
All who reject or neglect the wondrous provision of His grace, will surely reap the consequences of their folly in eternal misery in the lake of fire. The strongest language is employed in the Word of God to express the awfulness and eternal duration of the punishment of the wicked. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). The rich man in hell, crying that he is tormented in this flame, finds no relief to his misery, not even a drop of water, but a great gulf fixed between himself and the place of mercy and blessing (Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31)). and no possible means of crossing it. There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 13:42; 22:1342And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)
13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)).
Eternal fire (Jude 77Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7)); their worm that never dies (Mark 9:4444Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:44)); fire not quenched (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)); everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:22And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)); everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)); everlasting destruction (2 Thess. 1:99Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:9)); damned (2 Thess. 2:1212That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:12)); blackness of darkness forever (Jude 1313Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13)); perdition (2 Peter 3:77But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)); swift destruction (2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)); utterly perish (2 Peter 2:1212But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12)); no forgiveness (Matt. 12:31, 3231Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:31‑32)); and such — like terms, are surely enough to convince every honest soul of the eternal and awful character of the judgment of the ungodly. The words “perish” and “destruction” are often distorted from their obvious meaning to support the speculations and theories of rationalists, skeptics, and others, and made to mean “annihilation,” whereas there is no hint of such a thing in the Word of God. These very words are constantly used by us to mean otherwise. If we speak of being “perished” with cold, or of some furniture being “destroyed;” do we mean that either we or the furniture are put out of existence? If death is ceasing to exist, how will men weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth?
God at the first breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. His life came from God, and he must spend an eternal existence in joy with Christ, or utter misery and wretchedness and anguish in hell.
Revelation 14:9-119And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9‑11) speaks of ungodly ones, the smoke of whose torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night. And these same words, “forever and ever,” or “to the age of ages,” are used to denote the eternal existence of the One upon the throne in Revelation 4:99And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, (Revelation 4:9). (See also 1 Tim. 1:1717Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17); Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)).
Satan is sowing the world broadcast with his lie, that punishment is not eternal, and thousands are led away by this deceiver of the whole world. My reader, I warn you against it; it undermines the atonement, makes the Word of God a lie, and gives a license to man’s sins and wickedness. Far wiser is it to bow to and believe His Word; then, as a possessor of “eternal life,” the gift of God; go and tell out the glad tidings of salvation, pointing sinners to Christ and His precious blood, which alone can deliver from this awful doom.
Following upon the judgment of the dead at the great white throne, in Revelation 21:1-9, we get the fullest revelation that God has given us concerning that wonderful condition of things that shall succeed dispensations of time, “the eternal state.”
You will remark that in Revelation 21:11And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1) the prophet sees a new heaven and a new earth, but nothing is said about their being then created. Now in Isaiah 65:1717For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17) we do find the Lord saying, “Behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth,” etc.; but here it evidently has reference to the millennial period. This is clearly shown by the context, for the same word is used of Jerusalem, “Behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy” (Isa. 65:1818But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. (Isaiah 65:18)), and then follows an ample description of millennial blessing, to the close of the chapter. So entirely different will be the state of things at that day, that God speaks of it as created anew. But in the eternal state there will be a new heavens and a new earth; not a fresh creation, but probably the materials and elements of the old remodeled after dissolution.
Of the present globe we find it recorded in Genesis 1, that darkness was upon the face of the deep, and that God afterward caused the dry land to appear. And we know that even then the greater part of it was left submerged by the ocean to this day; but in the eternal condition there shall be no more sea. The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest (Isa. 57:2020But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20)); and restlessness and wickedness have characterized the whole history of man on the earth; but on the globe, where sea is not, all with be stable, fixed and eternal, and righteousness shall dwell.
The church of the living God is again brought before us in Revelation 21:22And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2). Her thousand years of glory during the reign of Christ will have run out, but still she is seen in her distinctive glory to the age of ages. The holy city, New Jerusalem, is seen by the prophet coming down from God out of heaven, with all the freshness, beauty, and glory of the day of her espousals, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
A great voice out of heaven pronounces her glorious character and destiny in relation to this new and eternal scene. As the tabernacle or dwelling-place of God she is with men, showing a wonderful connection between heaven and earth in that scene of eternal glory and joy, and also that God has destined that men should live on that new globe. We have nothing told us as to who the men are, but as the wicked on the millennial earth are devoured by fire (Rev. 20: 9), and no mention is made of what becomes of the righteous, the probability is that the men here mentioned may he the millennial saints preserved for this wondrous portion by the power of God.
In Eden, when man was in innocence, the Lord God visited him; both His glory, and also the man Christ Jesus, the Son of God, have dwelt among men since; now the Holy Ghost dwells in men, the saints, and in the church, which is the temple of God; in the coming kingdom, the glory will again dwell in the midst of God’s people; but in the eternal state, the church will be the dwelling-place of God Himself, and be with men, and that forever and forever.
“And He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3-43And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, 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. 4And God 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 passed away. (Revelation 21:3‑4)). “And God 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 passed away.” Every trace of sin, and all its terrible effects, will have gone forever. God Himself will comfort all, and bless with an eternal blessing. Righteousness will no longer only reign as in the kingdom of Christ, but dwell throughout the whole scene.
The septic and the infidel may doubt and deny, but God has pledged His immutable Word — “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:22In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)). What He has promised, He is able also to perform; for with Him all things are possible; and “these words are true and faithful.” Wondrous pledge of His love to cheer and encourage the hearts of His own.
And then, before closing this short but marvelous revelation of a glorious eternity, we have three classes of persons brought before us in view thereof.
First, His thoughts go out to the poor thirsty sinner with the precious message, “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Rev. 21:66And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6)). Not now merely the living streams, but let the thirsty sinner be who he may, God is ready to satisfy that soul thirst from the fountain-head of blessing itself, and that freely. No money, no works, no religiousness of man, could purchase that priceless boon, but freely will God give of it to any and every thirsty one.
Secondly, He turns to His own loved ones, tried and tempted, harassed and perplexed, it may be, by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and cheers the drooping heart, the weary spirit, with the soul-stirring words of comfort, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Rev. 21:77He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7)). Faint one, think on this precious promise; shrink not from following your blessed Master. God would have you to be an overcomer; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. Today may be your last here. “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! (2 Cor. 4:1717For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)).
Lastly, in one sad catalog, He classes the ungodly, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)). The eternal judgment of the wicked is as sure as the eternal glory of the church; “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:3535If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (John 10:35)).
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33-3633O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:33‑36)).
Rest of the saints above
Jerusalem of God,
Who in thy palaces of love,
Thy golden streets, have trod?
To me thy joy to tell,
Those courts secure from ill,
Where God Himself vouchsafes to dwell,
And every bosom fill.
Who shall to me that joy
Of saint-thronged courts declare,
Tell of that constant sweet employ
My spirit longs to share?
That rest secure from ill,
No cloud of grief e’er stains,
Unfailing praise each heart doth fill,
And love eternal reigns.
Concluded.