THE WATCHMAN
THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM: THE
FUTURE INHERITANCE
Lesson Four — Second Part
Clarence Santee
O doubt the question has been
raised in your minds, as we
have studied the Scriptures
which speak of the future in-
heritance of the saints as a
tangible, material place, Is
God a real personal being?
Is Christ? Can we inhabit
and inherit real material things unless
we shall be real material beings? For
a few minutes we will pause in follow-
ing this earth's history, and consider
this.
First, then, the statement that ‘the
meek shall inherit the earth’ at once
answers the question. Thev will be able
to inherit land; they will dwell in it.
Says the prophet, “They shall build
houses, and inhabit them; and they shall
plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build, and another inhabit :
they shall not plant, and another eat: for
as the days of a tree [evidently the tree
of life] are the days of my people, and
mine elect shall long enjoy the work of
their hands.” Isa. 65:21, 22.
By referring to the 17th verse you will
see that this condition is placed in the
renewed earth. ‘For, behold, I create
new heavens and a new earth; and the
former shall not be remembered, nor
come into mind.” The same thought is
brought out in Prov. 8:20, 21: “I lead
in the way of righteousness, in the midst
of the paths of judgment: that I may
cause those that love me to inherit sub-
stance.”
The Bible does teach us that God is a
real, personal being, one before whom
we can come, and know that he has a
heart touched with feeling for us. Please
notice the description given in Dan. 7:9:
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down,
and the Ancient of days did sit, whose
garment was white as snow, and the hair
of his head like the pure wool.” Notice,
this was not the Son, but the Father.
Verse 13 says that the Son was brought
before this being called “the Ancient of
days.” Of the Father it is here stated
that he sat down, that he had a garment,
that he had a head, and that there was
hair upon it. His face was not seen.
You will remember also the word found
in Heb. 1: 1-3: God * hath in these last
days spoken unto us by his Son.” He
adds, * Who being the brightness of his
glory, and the express image of his per-
son,” etc. If Christ is the express image
of his person, then his Father must have
a person; hence is a real, personal be-
ing.
If some would desire to know the Re-
vised Version, it reads, instead of ‘ his
person,” “ of his substance.” Our God
1s a real, substantial, personal being. He
sits down, he rises up. It is stated also
that “ God is a spirit; and they that
‘worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth.” John 4:24. Thus you
can see that a spirit being can be a real
being, and they who worship him in spirit
can be real, personal worshipers.
Trusting that we can now better under-
stand the means God will use to make
this earth a fit abode for his people, we
will examine some texts that point to a
change in the condition of this earth.
Read again Isa. 65:17: “ For, behold, I
create new heavens and a new earth; and
the former shall not be remembered, nor
come into mind.” The margin in your
Bibles reads, ‘ Come upon the heart.”
To those who inhabit that new earth, the
precious promise is given that the past
experiences, either of themselves or oth-
ers, will never again weigh down the
heart. To souls this
will be indeed a blessed, long release.
many careworn
Remember, while the Lord will make
“new heavens and a new earth,” he has
promised that this earth over which Abra-
ham looked, and walked (Gen. 13:14-
17), is to be the material used. “And
he that sat upon the throne said, Behold,
I make all things new.” Rev. 21:5.
Not a new creation from nothing, but
he will “ make all things new.” He takes
the old things, and makes them new.
Paul, speaking by the Spirit, illustrates
this: “And thou, Lord, in the beginning
hast laid the foundation of the earth; and
the heavens are the works of thine hands.
They shall perish; but thou remainest;
and they all shall wax old as doth a gar-
ment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold
them up, and they shall be changed.”
Heb. 1: 10-12.
341
Peter tells us what will become of this
earth in its present condition, and the
agency used in its change. After speak-
ing of a change once wrought by the
agency of water (2 Peter 3:5, 6), he
says in verse 7, “ But 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 perdi-
tion of ungodly men.” He continues in
verse 10: “But 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.
-I have been asked, ““ Does not this verse
teach that the earth will be burned up?”
— No; please read it carefully again.
The elements are to melt; the earth also
will be melted. It is “ the works that are
therein ”’ that will be burned up. Again
in verse 12 Peter speaks of the melting
process, then he adds: “ Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwell-
eth righteousness.” Verse 13. Some
translate this “ wherein the righteous
dwell.” Righteousness is defined by
Webster as doing right. Then after the
works of wickedness are burned up, this
earth, having been melted, will again
come from the hand of God “ changed,”
made new, and in this condition, will be
the abode of the meek, Abraham’s seed,
those who are Christ's, the overcomers.
In that world the righteous will dwell,
they will receive their promised inheri-
tance, and long enjoy the work of their
hands.
CN
SABBATH AND SUNDAY NOT
SYNONYMOUS
Arthur L. Manous
RECENTLY a friend extended me the
following invitation: “ When you want
to be in a good Sabbath-school, come
down to any Sunday at 2:30
pr. Mm.” Can any one go to Sabbath-
school on Sunday, the day affer the Sab-
bath? What do the words “ Sabbath ”
and “ Sunday” mean?
‘““ Sabbath, in the Hebrew language,
signifies rest, and is the seventh day of
the week.”— Buck’s Theological Dic-
tionary.
“ Sunday.— Sabbath is
svnonymous with Sunday.
not strictly
Sabbath de-