rtf1ansiansicpg1252deff0deflang1033fonttblf0fnilfcharset0 Georgia;f1fnilfprq2fcharset0 Padua; colortbl ;red0green128blue0; viewkind4uc1pardf0fs24 par b The Curse Cancelled, and the Kingdom Begun.b0 par par cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_22:3-5cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24. par par Here we are carried back to the third chapter of Genesisu8212?for here we have the undoing of the evil which the first Adam and the first sin wrought on man and man's earth. Here is blessing and dominion; nearness to God, and deliverance from all evil; the kingdom of light, and the endless reign of His saints. How bright the picture! What a contrast with the scene of the sentence and the expulsion from Paradise! What a contrast with the present evil state of earth, and the present tribulation of the Church! Here is the glory to be revealed in us; the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; the ending of all the woes and wickedness that have been depicted in this book. No more room for Satan and his demons. No more place for Antichrist; or for the beast, and false prophet. No more tolerance for evil and error. No more scope for misrule and disorder; no more conflict, and darkness, and tempest. All is perfectionu8212?the perfection of God and of the Lamb; not simply a perfect and glorious heaven, but a perfect and glorious earth. par par b I. The removal of the curse.b0 Many are the curses that have lighted upon earthu8212?the original curse, with all the many curses that have flowed out of the first sin. It is true that there is no curse pronounced against the man, or the woman, or their race. That would have been inconsistent with the revelation of divine grace. It would have rendered unintelligible the love of God just announced. The curse is on the ground, and on the serpent; and this, though not directly aimed at man, affects man and his whole race. The curse has come in like a pestilence upon earth; and man must breathe the poisoned air. par par All this is now reversed; the sentence is cancelled; the curse is exchanged for blessing. The cursed one is cast out of air and earth, into the bottomless pit. The atmosphere is purged. The sun scorches not by day, nor the moon by night. Thorns and thistles disappear. Fertility is restored to earth. The wolf lies down with the lamb, and the leopard with the lamb; and there is nothing found to hurt nor to destroy in the holy mountain of the Lord. There is the new earth wherein dwells righteousness. par par b II. The eternal throne.b0 Here is the setting up of the throne. In the King's absence all things have fallen into disorder; while the presence of a hostile claimant or usurper has intensified the evil and increased the confusion. But now the usurper has been dethroned, and the true monarch comes in. 'The throne of God and of the Lamb are in it.' The new Jerusalem has come down out of heaven from God. The great kingdom has come. It is not only the kingdom of God, but of the Lamb. He is King forever. He is the center of the universe; head of all things in heaven and earth; the second Adam, who with His redeemed bride the Church is to reign forever and ever. This earth shall be honored in being made the seat of His eternal throne. It is no longer to be said, 'Earth is His footstool;' but the throne is to be in it; and its rulers are to be those who claim kindred with its once cursed soil. O matchless honor conferred on earth and on it sons! O exceeding riches of grace! Where sin has abounded, grace much more abounds! par par b III. The eternal service.b0 'His servants shall serve Him.' They serve him day and night in His temple' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_7:15cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). The words 'shall serve' are here used in reference to religious service, the worship of God (cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_5:10cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Phi_3:3cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Heb_9:14cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). There the throne and the temple are one; those who serve in the kingdom, serve in the temple too. They are kings and priests unto God. It is priestly royal service to which they are called. And as the throne and the temple are one, so are 'God and the Lamb,' whether this means 'the Father and the Son,' or 'He who is both God and the Lamb.' It is not 'their servants shall serve them;' but His servants shall serve Him. It is to this high service that the redeemed are calledu8212?eternal service, in the city and palace and temple of God and the Lamb! par par b IV. The eternal vision.b0 'They shall see His face.' Those who 'saw the king's face' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Est_1:14cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24) were 'the first in the kingdom;' the nobles of the nobility, who stood nearest the king. It was blessedness, it was pre-eminence, it was honor. 'Blessed are the pure in heartu8212?for they shall see God' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_5:8cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). 'I will behold Your face in righteousness' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Psa_17:15cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). Not in a glass darkly, but face to face; not afar off, but near; not with cloud or veil between, but unclouded and unveiledu8212?they shall see the face that is most glorious to behold. 'Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Isa_33:17cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). They shall be employed in that worship and service which is the most honorable of all. They shall occupy the innermost circle of the universe; for they are the redeemed from among men. And then shall that word 'brought near through the blood of Christ' be no figure, but an eternal and glorious reality. 'You set me before Your face forever (cf11ulbf1fs22 Psa_41:12cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). par par b V. The eternal inscription.b0 'His name shall be in their foreheads.' The one name of God and the Lamb shall be engravedu8212?not on their 'vesture or thigh,' not on the palms of their hands, but on the foreheadu8212?visible, conspicuous, glorious, never to be erased; engraved by no earthly Bezalel, upon earthly gold or gemsu8212?but upon foreheads which have been washed in blood, and smoothed from every wrinkle and stain by the hand of Him who redeemed them for Himself. Jehovah's name, written by Himself, on our foreheadsu8212?how great the honor and the blessedness! (cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_3:12cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). par par b VI. The eternal day.b0 This is stated 'negatively'u8212?no night, no need of lamp nor of the sun! (cf11ulbf1fs22 Isa_60:19cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). Here on earth, night alternates with day; here we must either have lamp or sunlight because of the darkness. Not so there. All is dayu8212?day without night; light without darkness. No night! nor any of the things that make night so dreaded and drearyu8212?no pain, nor sickness, nor weariness, nor tossing to and fro, nor danger, nor enemy, nor storm. All these have passed away with the night, out of whose bosom they came. Everlasting day! Everlasting light! Everlasting spring! par par b VII. The eternal Sun.b0 'The Lord God gives them light.' The Lord God is a Sun even here. He is in every sense to be our Sun hereafter, superseding all other suns and lights. 'The Lord shall be their everlasting light.' 'The Lamb is the lamp thereof.' The light of heaven and earth, of all things material, and all things spiritualu8212?is to come from the face of Jehovah Himselfu8212?the one sun of the universe, the one sun of the soul! Then shall we know, as we have never done before, the meaning of the words, 'I am the Light of the world.' 'The day shall break, and the shadows flee away.' All that we have hitherto known of light, outward or inward, material or immaterialu8212?shall be as nothing to the effulgence of that eternal day. par par b VIII. The eternal reign.b0 'They shall reign forever and ever!' It is not merely everlasting life, but an everlasting kingdom, that is in store for us. It is dominion, and glory, and honor, such as that which belongs to Him who has redeemed us by His blood, and made us God's kings and priests. From the lowest depths we are taken to the highest heights; from the degradation of bondage to the liberty of the sons of Godu8212?the inheritance of the saints in light. And of this kingdom there shall be no end. Christ does not deliver up the kingdom in the sense of parting with it, but in the sense of presenting it complete and glorious (cf11ulbf1fs22 1Co_15:24cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Eph_5:27cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Col_1:22cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). Our reign is like Christ'su8212?an eternal reign. par par A bright future is this for everyone who has received the testimony of the Father to His beloved Son; for on our reception of that testimony does our right to that kingdom depend. That future is meant to impact upon our presentu8212?and that in many ways. It is so lovely a prospect that it cannot fail to influence us now. par par b (1.) It purifies usb0 u8212?For all in it is pure and perfect. We gaze into its glorious vista, and take on its perfection and purity. Like light, it transforms each object on which it rests into a brilliance like itself. par par b (2.) It invigoratesb0 u8212?The prospect of an inheritance like this nerves us for conflict, and makes us invincible. It rouses us when called to the great battle of life with Satan and the world. It enlivens mightily. par par b (3.) It cheersb0 u8212?A hope like this lifts us out of depression, and bids us be of good cheer. The light will soon swallow up the darkness. b The time is short. The glory will be enough to make up for all!b0 par par b (4.) It comfortsb0 u8212?We need more than cheering; for sorrow sometimes covers us with so thick a cloud that we cannot see through. It crushes us, and breaks us to pieces. It smites us to the dust. Then we get a glimpse of the glory beyondu8212?and are comforted. After all, ours is 'light affliction,' and 'but for a moment.' It will soon be swallowed up in the eternal joy! par par Our title to all this surpassing and eternal glory is simple the blood of the Lamb. He has bought it for His Church; and it is hers forever. The nightless day, the unsetting sun, the incorruptible life, the undefiled inheritance, the new name, the heavenly city, the everlasting kingdomu8212?all are hers; hers through 'the blood of the everlasting covenant.' She is to walk worthy of it hereu8212?worthy of such a crown, such a heritage, such a city, such a Bridegroom, such a joy. 'Be holy;' 'be perfect;' 'walk worthy of the Lord.' par par The entrance stands ever open, and each one is invited to go in. 'All things are ready.' You dwellers in the highways and hedgesu8212?go in. There is the marriage hall, and the marriage feast, and the loving welcome of the Masteru8212?go in. par par 'He who believes' enters in. We go in when we credit the divine record concerning the Son of God, and concerning the eternal life that there is in Him, for the dead in sin. It is not working, nor buying, nor waitingu8212?but believingu8212?which secures this eternal kingdom. Believe, and enter! Believe, and be blessed! par par par b The Serving and the Reigning.b0 par par cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_22:3cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_22:5cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24. par par Setting these two passages together, we get these two truths, that the redeemed are b servants,b0 and that they are also b kings!b0 Their eternity is to be an eternity of serviceu8212?and an eternity of dominion. For both of these they have been redeemed. It is not mere deliverance from the wrath to come, but glory, honor, dominion, and power that are their portion. The new Jerusalem is to be specially the place of serviceu8212?and the center of dominion. par par b I. SERVICE.b0 His servants shall serve Him. They are the servants of God, and the servants of the Lamb. Once servants of self, of the world, of Satanu8212?now servants of God. As Christ was the Father's servant, so do we become servants. Let us asku8212? par par b (1.) When this service begins?b0 It begins at conversion. For conversion is (1) a change of service, (2) a change of masters, (3) a change of motive, (4) a change of work. par par b (2.) How it begins?b0 Christ answers thisu8212?'If any man serve me, let him follow me.' It begins by taking His yoke; by taking the cross; by denying self; or, as the apostle expresses it, by 'obeying from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto us.' Yes, we must be made free that we may serve. par par b (3.) How it is carried on?b0 By a life of devotedness to God and His Christ; by doing His will, working His work, carrying out His plans, running His errands, looking after His interest. We are, as it were, His domestic servants, His public servants, His agents and instrumentsu8212?in all things waiting on Him and carrying out His will daily, not our own. par par b (4.) Where it is carried on?b0 First here on earth, and afterwards in the new Jerusalem before the throne. It is carried on everywhere; in the closet, in the family, at the table, round the hearth, in the market, in the shop, in the field, on the highwayu8212?everywhere. We are to be the servants always, less than the servants never; always able to sayu8212?Don't you know that I must be about my Father's business? How it is to be carried on hereafter we know not. In the city and out of it; at the throne and away from it; all over space; from star to star; doing every kind of work, and going on every kind of errandu8212?such shall be the service hereafter. par par b (5.) How long it shall last?b0 Forever. It has beginning, but not an end. It is an eternal service. It is not the service of the hireling, who earnestly desires the end of the day; it is not limited by days and nights; it knows no end. Nor would any one engaged in it wish it to terminate; it is so blessed and so glorious; it wins us so many smiles from the Master; it is rewarded so bountifully; and it is itself so unspeakable joyful! par par Who then would not serve? Who would not engage himself to this heavenly Master? All other services are bondage, this is liberty; all others are drudgery, this is blessedness throughout. Who would not serve now? Who would not serve hereafter? The Master now waits to hire youu8212?will you not be hired? par par b II. The DOMINION.b0 They shall reign forever. This is wholly future. The dominion is not now. The kingdom is not yet set up. We are indeed kings, but the crown and throne are yet in reserve. The name and the title we get just now; the reality we enter on when the Lord returns. Then we shall reign; all things shall be put under our feet as under His. par par b (1.) Who are these reigners?b0 They are menu8212?not angels. They sing, 'You have redeemed us.' They are from this earth of oursu8212?not natives of heaven. par par b (2.) Where did they come from?b0 They came out of sin, out of weakness, and persecution, and tribulation. They once were not what they are to be forever. From the lowest pit they came, and from the miry clay. par par b (3.) How did they become what they are?b0 They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. They sought and found the Lord. They obtained mercy. They were forgiven. They believed and became sons of God. par par b (4.) What raised them to this dignity?b0 Grace! God's free love. It was His love, His sovereign love alone, that made them what they are and shall be. They did not raise themselves, nor obtain it by inheritance, or merit, or purchase. Free love did it allu8212?the free sovereign love of God! par par b (5.) In what way did they reach the throne?b0 They fought their way to it. For the crown and kingdom are to the overcomers. 'To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne.' It was through much toil and warfare that they won the crown. par par b (6.) How extensive is this dominion to be?b0 He who overcomes shall inherit b all things.b0 It is the universe that is to be their dominion. Heaven and earth are theirs. For they are 'heirs of God, and join heirs with Christ.' par par b (7.) How long is it to last?b0 Forever! It is an everlasting dominion, a kingdom that shall not be destroyed. The throne, and crown, and glory are all eternal. par par How great the contrast between the present and the future! The Churchu8212?few, trodden down, afflicted nowu8212?then reigning! Now the lowestu8212?then the uppermost! Now like Joseph in the pitu8212?then upon the throne! par par What a hope! How quickening, purifying, comforting! Let us keep gazing on it. Let nothing of earth come between, nether sorrow nor joy, life nor death. It may soon be realized. Let us live as men who believe it!par par par par b The Vision of God.b0 par par cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_22:4cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24. par par It is the new Jerusalem that John is describingu8212?the city of glory; the home of light; the metropolis of the universe; the palace of Jehovah, where is the throne of God and of the Lamb. No sin there; no curse; no night; no death; no tears; no sorrow. There is the tree of life; the river of the water of life; the never-closed gates; the never-fading beauty; the never-setting sun. But of all the happiness and honor that fill that city of glory, this is the sum, and the center, and the overflowu8212?'They shall see His face.' Let us asku8212? par par b I. Whose face?b0 It is the face of God; and that face is Jesus, the Word made flesh; the brightness of His glory, and express image of His personu8212?for we know that the light of the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ. On the transfiguration 'His face did shine as the sun!' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_17:2cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). And that face is at once the face of the Son of man and the face of the Son of God; fairer than the children of men; the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. It is the face of majesty, yet the face of love; the face of a kingu8212?no, the face of the King of kings! There is no other face like it in earth or heavenu8212?in all the vast universe of Godu8212?so bright, so lovely, so perfect, so glorious, so divine. par par b II. Who shall see it?b0 His servants. 'This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.' 'Blessed are the pure in heartu8212?for they shall see God.' 'Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty.' They of whom it is written, 'If any man serves me, let him follow me;' and 'where I am, there shall also my servant be;' 'if any man serves me, him will my Father honor.' It is only those who are admitted within the resplendent walls of that holy city, who shall see His face. From all who are shut out, that face is forever hidden. They are called 'servants' here, yet are they sons, kings, joint-heirs with Christ! As He is a servant, so are they; servants, yet sons and friends; and the name of servant is one of honor and dignity. par par b III. What is it to see His face?b0 This is explained by cf11ulbf1fs22 Psa_41:12cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, 'You set me before Your face forever;' and by cf11ulbf1fs22 Est_1:14cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, 'The seven princes which saw the king's face, and which sat first in the kingdom;' and by cf11ulbf1fs22 2Ki_25:19cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, 'Five men of them which were in the king's presence,' lit. 'which saw the king's face.' In this, then, there is implied: par par b (1.) Nearnessb0 u8212?These servants form the inner, no the innermost, circle of heaven. They stand nearest to God, 'always beholding the face of their Father in heaven.' There is no nearness like this; even that of angels is distance when compared with it. par par b (2.) Blessednessb0 u8212?The nearest of the disciples was the most blessed, the disciple whom Jesus loved. The nearest to Him in heaven will the most blessed. For nearness is blessedness; and seeing Him face to face is the perfection of joy. par par b (3.) Honorb0 u8212?To see the king's face was the great earthly honor; so is it the greatest heavenly honor. Those who see it nearest and most often are the most honored; they are those whom the King delights to honoru8212?His nobles, His princes, His sons, moreu8212?His bride. Theirs is the place of honor. par par b (4.) Powerb0 u8212?Those who see the King's face are His counselors, His vice-regents, the doers of His will. They are invested with His authority, and go forth to exercise His dominion. 'Power over the nations' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_2:26cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24); 'Dominion over ten cities' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Luk_19:17cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). This power belongs to the redeemed. Christ's throne is theirs; His crown, His scepter, His kingdomu8212?all these universalu8212?for 'he who overcomes shall inherit all things.' par par This seeing of the face of God and His Christ will be: par par b (1.) Eternalb0 u8212?It cannot end. It is an everlasting vision; and therefore an everlasting nearness, blessedness, honor, and power. No lapse of ages can cloud the vision, or dim the eye that sees it. The vision and the joy are alike forever. par par b (2.) Unchangeableb0 u8212?No interruption; no eclipse; no cloud; no darkness; no setting; no dimness of eye; no unbelief; no distance! The glory cannot change. No intervention for the world; no faintness on our part; no veil drawn by Satan; no old age or failing faculties; no distraction from other objects; no discomposure from cares or sorrows; no unsteadiness of sight; none for these can diminish the vision. It is as perpetual as it is perfect and divine. par par Learn from this hope such lessons as these: par par b (1.) Live a joyful lifeb u8212?May not a prospect such as this make a man joyful? Should not the very hope of it make his countenance to shine? par par b (2.) Be strong for toilb0 u8212?Let this hope nerve us for labor, and animate our zeal. Let it rouse us out of sloth, and make us grudge nothing, either of labor or sacrifice. Toil on; fight on; spend and be spent. par par b (3.) Be comforted under trialb0 u8212?The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The vision of the face of God will more than make up for all. par par And it may be soon! He will not tarry. The Lord is at hand. The new Jerusalem is coming. The glory will soon be revealed. The time is short. A few years, perhaps less, and we shall see His faceu8212?and share His glory!