The Continuation of the Mediatorial Kingdom
In the
final telecast of the old year, Walter Cronkite was assessing the progress of
mankind over the past decade. In the course of his evaluation he made this
startling observation: “Ten years ago we
traveled to the moon and discovered the earth." This was followed
shortly by an observation by Frank Borman, the astronaut who shocked mankind by
reading the opening words of Genesis 1 from space as he encircled the moon, "Nowhere else in the universe is there
any color such as we find in the earth." I venture to say that the
picture of the earth flashed upon the television screens of mankind from the
outer regions of space has not ceased to fascinate men since that day. It
appeared like a gigantic jewel of variegated colors suspended in space.
Since that
day, it has seemed to me that theologians could well take another look into the
Scriptures to find out something of the importance of the earth. If I read them
correctly, it occupies the sole attention of the Lord through all eternity. It
was created as the proper habitation of mankind and is eventually to be the
stage for the perfect revelation of God in His beloved Son. He is the lamp from
which radiates the light for the eternal city, and the entire earth will shine
with His glory. It is here in the earth where God first placed man, and which
He will fashion for his eternal habitation. The vast reaches of space, filled
with billions of stars, suns, moons, and planets, in some way beyond the heaven
to witness in unwavering attention this drama of redemption and revelation as
it unfolds under the direction of the star of the show, the Lord Jesus Christ
(1 Pet. 1:12). As this great theatrical moves into its final scenes, myriads of
angels will join in the antiphonal melodies of praise to the Lamb: “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of
them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying
with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every
creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor,
and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb, for ever and ever" (Rev.. 5:11-13).
At this
point the revelation of God approaches the vanishing point. The material for
examination is limited. And in addition, we approach what is revealed with
human, finite minds, and narrow vision. We need the quickening of the Spirit of
God so that we do not put more emphasis on portions of Scripture than they
deserve, nor fail to see all that is intended in other portions of the Word of
God. At best, we shall come away from this study with something more than we
brought to it, but far less than the Spirit of God meant for us to get. May
this study enlarge our conception sufficiently so that we shall yearn for the
coming of the Lord and the final unfolding of His great plan for mankind.
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