utterly　destroyed　them；　He　hath　delivered　them　to　the　slaughter。〃　〃Upon　the
  wicked　He　shall　rain　quick　burning　coals；　fire　and　brimstone　and　an　horrible
  tempest：　this　shall　be　the　portion　of　their　cup。〃　Isaiah　9：5；　34：2；　Psalm
  11：6；　margin。　Fire　comes　down　from　God　out　of　heaven。　The　earth　is　broken
  up。　The　weapons　concealed　in　its　depths　are　drawn　forth。　Devouring　flames
  burst　from　every　yawning　chasm。　The　very　rocks　are　on　fire。　The　day　has　come
  that　shall　burn　as　an　oven。　The　elements　melt　with　fervent　heat；　the　earth
  also；　and　the　works　that　are　therein　are　burned　up。　Malachi　4：1；　2　Peter
  3：10。　The　earth's　surface　seems　one　molten　massa　vast；　seething
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  lake　of　fire。　It　is　the　time　of　the　judgment　and　perdition　of　ungodly
  men〃the　day　of　the　Lord's　vengeance；　and　the　year　of　recompenses　for　the
  controversy　of　Zion。〃　Isaiah　34：8。
  The　wicked　receive　their　recompense　in　the　earth。　Proverbs　11：31。　They
  〃shall　be　stubble：　and　the　day　that　cometh　shall　burn　them　up；　saith　the
  Lord　of　hosts。〃　Malachi　4：1。　Some　are　destroyed　as　in　a　moment；　while　others
  suffer　many　days。　All　are　punished　〃according　to　their　deeds。〃　The　sins　of
  the　righteous　having　been　transferred　to　Satan；　he　is　made　to　suffer　not
  only　for　his　own　rebellion；　but　for　all　the　sins　which　he　has　caused　God's
  people　to　commit。　His　punishment　is　to　be　far　greater　than　that　of　those
  whom　he　has　deceived。　After　all　have　perished　who　fell　by　his　deceptions；　he
  is　still　to　live　and　suffer　on。　In　the　cleansing　flames　the　wicked　are　at
  last　destroyed；　root　and　branchSatan　the　root；　his　followers　the　branches。
  The　full　penalty　of　the　law　has　been　visited；　the　demands　of　justice　have
  been　met；　and　heaven　and　earth；　beholding；　declare　the　righteousness　of
  Jehovah。
  Satan's　work　of　ruin　is　forever　ended。　For　six　thousand　years　he　has　wrought
  his　will；　filling　the　earth　with　woe　and　causing　grief　throughout　the
  universe。　The　whole　creation　has　groaned　and　travailed　together　in　pain。　Now
  God's　creatures　are　forever　delivered　from　his　presence　and　temptations。
  〃The　whole　earth　is　at　rest；　and　is　quiet：　they　＇the　righteous＇　break　forth
  into　singing。〃　Isaiah　14：7。　And　a　shout　of　praise　and　triumph　ascends　from
  the　whole　loyal　universe。　〃The　voice　of　a　great　multitude；〃　〃as　the　voice　of
  many　waters；　and　as　the　voice　of　mighty　thunderings；〃　is　heard；　saying：
  〃Alleluia：　for　the　Lord　God　omnipotent　reigneth。〃　Revelation　19：6。
  While　the　earth　was　wrapped　in　the　fire　of　destruction；　the　righteous　abode
  safely　in　the　Holy　City。　Upon　those　that　had　part　in　the　first　resurrection；
  the　second　death　has　no　power。　While　God　is　to　the　wicked　a　consuming　fire；
  He　is　to　His　people　both　a　sun　and　a　shield。　Revelation　20：6；　Psalm　84：11。
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  〃I　saw　a　new　heaven　and　a　new　earth：　for　the　first　heaven　and　the　first
  earth　were　passed　away。〃　Revelation　21：1。　The　fire　that　consumes　the　wicked
  purifies　the　earth。　Every　trace　of　the　curse　is　swept　away。　No　eternally
  burning　hell　will　keep　before　the　ransomed　the　fearful　consequences　of　sin。
  One　reminder　alone　remains：　Our　Redeemer　will　ever　bear　the　marks　of　His
  crucifixion。　Upon　His　wounded　head；　upon　His　side；　His　hands　and　feet；　are
  the　only　traces　of　the　cruel　work　that　sin　has　wrought。　Says　the　prophet；
  beholding　Christ　in　His　glory：　〃He　had　bright　beams　coming　out　of　His　side：
  and　there　was　the　hiding　of　His　power。〃　Habakkuk　3：4；　margin。　That　pierced
  side　whence　flowed　the　crimson　stream　that　reconciled　man　to　Godthere　is
  the　Saviour's　glory；　there　〃the　hiding　of　His　power。〃　〃Mighty　to　save；〃
  through　the　sacrifice　of　redemption；　He　was　therefore　strong　to　execute
  justice　upon　them　that　despised　God's　mercy。　And　the　tokens　of　His
  humiliation　are　His　highest　honor；　through　the　eternal　ages　the　wounds　of
  Calvary　will　show　forth　His　praise　and　declare　His　power。
  〃O　Tower　of　the　flock；　the　stronghold　of　the　daughter　of　Zion；　unto　Thee
  shall　it　come；　even　the　first　dominion。〃　Micah　4：8。　The　time　has　come　to
  which　holy　men　have　looked　with　longing　since　the　flaming　sword　barred　the
  first　pair　from　Eden；　the　time　for　〃the　redemption　of　the　purchased
  possession。〃　Ephesians　1：14。　The　earth　originally　given　to　man　as　his
  kingdom；　betrayed　by　him　into　the　hands　of　Satan；　and　so　long　held　by　the
  mighty　foe；　has　been　brought　back　by　the　great　plan　of　redemption。　All　that
  was　lost　by　sin　has　been　restored。　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord　。　。　。　that　formed
  the　earth　and　made　it；　He　hath　established　it；　He　created　it　not　in　vain；　He
  formed　it　to　be　inhabited。〃　Isaiah　45：18。　God's　original　purpose　in　the
  creation　of　the　earth　is　fulfilled　as　it　is　made　the　eternal　abode　of　the
  redeemed。　〃The　righteous　shall　inherit　the　land；　and　dwell　therein　forever。〃
  Psalm　37：29。
  A　fear　of　making　the　future　inheritance　seem　too　material
  675
  has　led　many　to　spiritualize　away　the　very　truths　which　lead　us　to　look　upon
  it　as　our　home。　Christ　assured　His　disciples　that　He　went　to　prepare
  mansions　for　them　in　the　Father's　house。　Those　who　accept　the　teachings　of
  God's　word　will　not　be　wholly　ignorant　concerning　the　heavenly　abode。　And
  yet；　〃eye　hath　not　seen；　nor　ear　heard；　neither　have　entered　into　the　heart
  of　man；　the　things　which　God　hath　prepared　for　them　that　love　Him。〃　1
  Corinthians　2：9。　Human　language　is　inadequate　to　describe　the　reward　of　the
  righteous。　It　will　be　known　only　to　those　who　behold　it。　No　finite　mind　can
  comprehend　the　glory　of　the　Paradise　of　God。
  In　the　Bible　the　inheritance　of　the　saved　is　called　〃a　country。〃　Hebrews
  11：14…16。　There　the　heavenly　Shepherd　leads　His　flock　to　fountains　of　living
  waters。　The　tree　of　life　yields　its　fruit　every　month；　and　the　leaves　of　the
  tree　are　for　the　service　of　the　nations。　There　are　ever…flowing　streams；
  clear　as　crystal；　and　beside　them　waving　trees　cast　their　shadows　upon　the
  paths　prepared　for　the　ransomed　of　the　Lord。　There　the　wide…spreading　plains
  swell　into　hills　of　beauty；　and　the　mountains　of　God　rear　their　lofty
  summits。　On　those　peaceful　plains；　beside　those　living　streams；　God's
  people；　so　long　pilgrims　and　wanderers；　shall　find　a　home。
  〃My　people　shall　dwell　in　a　peaceable　habitation；　and　in　sure　dwellings；　and
  in　quiet　resting　places。〃　〃Violence　shall　no　more　be　heard　in　thy　land；
  wasting　nor　destruction　within　thy　borders；　but　thou　shalt　call　thy　walls
  Salvation；　and　thy　gates　Praise。〃　〃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：　。　。　。
  Mine　elect　shall　long　enjoy　the　work　of　their　hands。〃　Isaiah　32：18；　60：18；
  65：21；　22。
  There；　〃the　wilderness　and　the　solitary　place　shall　be　glad　for　them；　and
  the　desert　shall　rejoice；　and　blossom　as　the　rose。〃　〃Instead　of　the　thorn
  shall　come　up　the　fir　tree；　and　instead　of　the　brier　shall　come　up　the
  myrtle　tree。〃　〃The　wolf　also　shall　dwell　with　the　lamb；　and　the　leopard
  shall
  676
  lie　down　with　the　kid；　。　。　。　and　a　little　child　shall　lead　them。〃　〃They
  shall　not　hurt　nor　destroy　in　all　My　holy　mountain；〃　saith　the　Lord。　Isaiah
  35：1；　55：13；　11：6；　9。
  Pain　cannot　exist　in　the　atmosphere　of　heaven。　There　will　be　no　more　tears；
  no　funeral　trains；　no　badges　of　mourning。　〃There　shall　be　no　more　death；
  neither　sorrow；　nor　crying：　。　。　。　for　the　former　things　are　passed　away。〃
  〃The　inhabitant　shall　not　say；　I　am　sick：　the　people　that　dwell　therein
  shall　be　forgiven　their　iniquity。〃　Revelation　21：4；　Isaiah　33：24。
  There　is　the　New　Jerusalem；　the　metropolis　of　the　glorified　new　earth；　〃a
  crown　of　glory　in　the　hand　of　the　Lord；　and　a　royal　diadem　in　the　hand　of
  thy　God。〃　〃Her　light　was　like　unto　a　stone　most　precious；　even　like　a　jasper
  stone；　clear　as　crystal。〃　〃The　nations　of　them　which　are　saved　shall　walk　in
  the　light　of　it：　and　the　kings　of　the　earth　do　bring　their　glory　and　honor
  into　it。〃　Saith　the　Lord：　〃I　will　rejoice　in　Jerusalem；　and　joy　in　My
  people。〃　〃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。〃　Isaiah　62：3；　Revelation　21：11；　24；　Isaiah　65：19；　Revelation
  21：3。
  In　the　City　of　God　〃there　shall　be　no　night。〃　None　will　need　or　desire
  repose。　There　will　be　no　weariness　in　doing　the　will　of　God　and　offering
  praise　to　His　name。　We　shall　ever　feel　the　freshness　of　the　morning　and
  shall　ever　be　far　from　its　close。　〃And　they　need　no　candle；　neither　light　of
  the　sun；　for　the　Lord　God　giveth　them　light。〃　Revelation　22：5。　The　light　of
  the　sun　will　be　superseded　by　a　radiance　which　is　not　painfully　dazzling；
  yet　which　immeasurably　surpasses　the　brightness　of　our　noontide。　The　glory
  of　God　and　the　Lamb　floods　the　Holy　City　with　unfading　light。　The　redeemed
  walk　in　the　sunless　glory　of　perpetual　day。
  〃I　saw　no　temple　therein：　for　the　Lord　God　Almighty　and　the　Lamb　are　the
  temple　of　it。〃　Revelation　21：22。　The　people　of　God　are　privileged　to　hold
  open　communion　with　the　Father　and　the　Son。　〃Now　we　see　through　a　glass；
  darkly。〃　。PG　677