A New Heaven and A New Earth – Part 4 of 6

1901

Satan's Power Destroyed

This, however, did not last long, for in the next scene John saw that "the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever" (20:10.) Thus his power was destroyed.

Then John saw in his vision that the judgment was set, and all "the dead, small and great," stood before the throne of God. Two books were opened; "and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works, (20:12.) One was God's Book. The other was "The Lamb's Book." The one was The Book of Creation, the other was The Book of Redemption. In the one, the name of every one that was born was entered; in the other, only the names of those who had been "born again." When the names were written in God's Book, then each one entered into life with all of its opportunities, experiences, and promises. But it was only those who had used these opportunities, experiences, and promises aright whose names were found in "The Lamb's Book of Life." These entered' into the "new heaven" to go no more out forever. All others had their portion with "the devil that deceived them"; "where the beast and the false prophet are" (20:10.)

As this grand panorama now ceased to move forward John's attention was concentrated upon the "new heaven" and the "new earth," into which those whose names were written in "The Lamb's Book of Life" had entered. It must have been an entrancing view. It was not the old heaven and the old earth renewed and improved, "for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea" (21:1.) Nothing like this new condition had ever before been seen. Not only did those who had entered into these "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13) stand in a new relation to God and to each other, but they stood in a new relation to sin. It was a far better condition, therefore, than any in which unfallen Adam had ever stood, for they not only walked in fellowship with their Maker, but now there was no Tempter anywhere to ever assail them. — John R. Whitney.