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.

Dr. Tucker Continues Teachings on Book of Revelation at Church

New York, 1925

Last evening, Dr. Tucker continued his teachings on the book of Revelation at the First Evangelical church, taking for his lesson the eight chapter.

"The first angel blew his trumpet," said Dr. Tucker, "and with the blowing of the first trumpet, judgment is brought upon things agricultural. Judgment falls upon the fields, horticultural and agricultural, and reduces the yield about one-third. See how very near famine you are. My God knows how to send a famine when He is ready.

"The next angel now sounds the trumpet, and this time judgment falls upon the aquatic, and the sea is touched by this judgment. A great meteor falls into the sea and turns its waters into blood. One-third of the fish die. With one-third of the fish dead and the sea itself a stinking mass, the ships are imperiled. One-third of the ships went down the bottom of the sea.

"The third angel sounds. Judgment falls upon things astronomic. The sun is reduced one-third its heat; the moon is reduced one-third. I tell you this old earth is greatly controlled by those heavenly bodies, and when God reduces them one-third look at the condition that exists.

"Another angel sounds. There is heard screams of an eagle. He cries, 'Woe, Woe, Woe!' three times. How could an eagle's scream be heard over the whole earth? If you had asked me ten or twelve years ago, I could not have answered you. I can now. The whole world is joined together by ether air waves. if man's voice can be carried by means of ether air waves, then an eagle's voice can.

"The fifth angel sounds. There was a great cloud of smoke, and out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth. They had tails like unto scorpions and there were stings in their tails, and their power was to hurt men five months, when nobody can die. I am telling the truth, for this book says, 'In those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it.

"Someone says, 'I want a God of love.' You have had Him. Look to Calvary. 'God so loved the world.' This world is dying because it has rejected love. A greater love hath no man than to give his life.

Sunday will be the last day Dr. Tucker and his party will be in Olean, and it is expected that the church will be crowded at all services.

Sunday morning at 10:30 o'clock Dr. Tucker will hold children's service. Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Dr. Tucker will continue his lecture of last Sunday afternoon on the "World Map." Sunday evening the service will start at 7 o'clock instead of 7:30, as usual. The subject will be "The Greatest Question Ever Asked and Answered in This World."

—Olean Times, Olean, NY, April 4, 1925, p. 9.