"WE LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH"
The Pastor’s explanation, as we would suppose because of his having a clearer understanding of the Divine Plan of the Ages, and particularly of the nature and character of the great judgment Day, and of the symbolic language employed to describe the ushering in of the same, is clear and harmonious with all Scriptures. On no subject has he written more extensively. We will select a few of his utterances. Concerning the symbolical use of the words "earth," "heaven,” “mountains," “seas," and "fire," all of which are used in the vision, he has said:
"Throughout the Scriptures, earth when used symbolically represents society; mountains represent kingdoms; heavens, the powers of spiritual control; seas, the restless, turbulent, dissatisfied masses of the world. Fire represents the destruction of whatever is burned whether that be tares, dross, earth (social organization), or whatever it may be. And when brimstone is added to fire in the symbol, it intensifies the thought of destruction; for nothing is more deadly to all forms of life than the fumes of Sulfur.
"With this thought in mind, if we turn to Peter's symbolic prophecy of the Day of Wrath, we find it in perfect accord with the testimony of the Prophets. He says:
'The world that was, being overflowed with water, perished. [Not that the literal earth and literal heavens ceased there, but that dispensation or arrangement of things at that time, existing before the flood, passed away.] But the heavens and the earth which are now [the present dispensation] by the same word [of Divine authority] are kept in store, reserved unto fire!
The fact that the water was literal leads some to believe that the fire also must be literal, but this by no means follows. The temple of God once was of literal stones, but that does not set aside the fact that the Church, which is the true temple, is built up a spiritual building, a holy temple, not of earthly material. Noah's ark was literal, too, but it typified Christ and the power in Him which will replenish and reorganize society.
"The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [unobserved], in the which the heavens [the present powers of the air, of which Satan is the chief or prince] shall pass away with a great [hissing] noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth [the present social order] also, and the works that are therein [pride, rank, aristocracy, royalty], shall be burned up. The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens [the new spiritual power-Christ's Kingdom] and a new earth' [earthly society organized on a new basis-on the basis of love and justice, rather than of might and oppression].--2 Pet. 3:6 7, 10-13."--STUDIES, VOL. 1-318, 319.
In referring to the vision under consideration viz., “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” (Rev 20:11-13).” in a special way, we have this explanation:
"Call to mind the definitions of the symbols, earth, heaven, and sea . . . ; you will find them of service here: heaven-spiritual control; earth- organized society; sea--the turbulent masses without religious restraint. From before, or at the presence of, this enthroned Christ, all forms of evil, oppression and injustice must flee-no place is found for them, indicating that they will be driven from one place after another, but can remain nowhere.
"Earth--society--as at present organized is a series of layers or strata, or classes, each holding its position by oppressing those below it. (This class oppression is less in degree, in this land than in any other; yet even here, social caste is easily discernible, rich, poor, have, have-nots.) The lower classes' and 'upper crust' are recognizable in the entire social fabric; both in the nominal Church, - and in the world. The upper classes are usually proud and haughty -the meek are oftenest found in the under strata, among the oppressed. The present system of society will pass away--not be permitted anywhere, when the Throne of justice is established in the earth; and a new earth (system of society) will take its place: viz.: the recognition of merit, not of pride and power. Then, love to God and mankind will be the ruling principle. This change of (earthly) society begins immediately on the commencement of the dominion of Christ's Kingdom [over the world]…
"But, not only does the present ('earth') society pass away, but also the present 'heavens' or spiritual powers of control. Satan is declared to be 'the prince of the power of the air' (heavens) who 'now works [operates or rules] in the children of disobedience! (Eph. 2:2) This one called at present 'the prince of this world' (John 14:30), we have seen is to be bound; consequently his control, or spiritual power, now exercised in favor of evil doing, etc., will cease, or pass away.
The fact that the present 'earth' and 'heaven' are to be succeeded by, or give place to, a new 'earth' (society), and a 'new heaven' (new spiritual power of control, also unseen, good and not evil-of Christ and not of Satan), is not mentioned here, but is afterward." See Rev. 21: 1.--Z March '82-7, 8.
Continued with next post.
