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The problem of the New Jerusalem.
Answers to correspondents.
pp. 161 - 165
"There is one thing I did not find anything upon it, and that is `The problem of the
New Jerusalem'. Is Rev. 21: and 22: all in the new creation? If so, and Death is
abolished at the Great White Throne, why the tree of life? I have come to think that the
New Jerusalem in Rev. 21: 9 and onward is on the present earth after the Millennium;
and it reappears in the new earth, and that Rev. 21: 5--`Behold I make all things new'--
is the last point, future, of prophecy, and that the unveiling then goes back to before the
Great White Throne . . . . . if anything has been written in extenso on this, I should be
very glad to have the reference . . . . . I paused here, and referred again to the
`Comprehensive Index' you sent me, for which I thank you very much indeed. In
Volume XV, page 79, first complete paragraph, the very point is brought up."
The above is an extract from an interesting letter received from a much esteemed
reader, and while a few words privately written would probably suffice in this case, we
believe a more extended reply will be of service to the general reader. We have in mind
two things:--
(1)
To deal with the actual problem.
(2)
To draw attention to the Comprehensive Index to Volumes I to XX
of this magazine, and to assist the reader in its use.
In the letter, partly quoted, it will be seen that the writer bethought him of the Index,
whereby he was able to locate the paragraph in question in Volume XV, page 79, which
is as follows:--
"There in that renewed paradise shall be the throne of God and of the Lamb, there His
servants shall serve Him and see His face, bearing His name upon their foreheads.
Basking in the light that the Lord God Himself shall give, they shall reign unto the ages
of the ages. THIS IS THE FARTHEST POINT TO WHICH THE BOOK TAKES US IN
THE OUTWORKING OF THE GREAT PURPOSE OF GOD. One by one the barriers
are broken down. The last to go here is the temple with its priesthood. Paul places the
topstone upon the edifice by revealing that when the reign of Christ has brought
everything into line and order, the goal of the ages will then be reached and God shall be
all in all."
It will be gathered from this extract that we see in Rev. 21: - 22: 5, "the farthest
point to which the book takes us in the outworking of the purpose of the ages", and
moreover that we render Rev. 22: 5, "and they shall reign unto the ages of the ages".
Our suggestion to the interested reader is that he should explore this subject further, and
in order to get what help there is available in The Berean Expositor, he should make
good use of the Comprehensive Index. For example, the translation "unto the ages of the
ages" is suggestive of much. We open the "Index of Subjects", and under the heading
"Ages of ages", are directed to Volume 15: 41, where we read:--