The Faith I Live By

Living the Life of Eden, December 20

A New Heaven and a New Earth

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1. FLB 360.1

Heaven is a school; its field of study, the universe; its teacher, the Infinite One. A branch of this school was established in Eden; and, the plan of redemption accomplished, education will again be taken up in the Eden school.... FLB 360.2

The prophet of Patmos thus describes the location of the school of the hereafter: FLB 360.3

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.... And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1, 2.... FLB 360.4

The giving of the tree of life in Eden was conditional, and it was finally withdrawn. But the gifts of the future life are absolute and eternal.... FLB 360.5

Restored to His presence, man will again, as at the beginning, be taught of God: “My people shall know my name: ... they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Isaiah 52:6.... FLB 360.6

All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in contemplation of God's handiwork. And the years of eternity, as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations. “Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) will be forever and forever, the impartation of the gifts of God.... FLB 360.7

The life on earth is the beginning of the life in heaven; education on earth is an initiation into the principles of heaven; the lifework here is a training for the lifework there. What we now are, in character and holy service, is the sure foreshadowing of what we shall be.^{43Education, 301, 302, 307.} FLB 360.8