from Genesis 12 to Revelation 21 concerning the earth as a Divine home for some of the redeemed. If God had

revealed nothing else in His Word, this would be wonderful indeed for us to look forward to in faith, and infinitely

better than we deserve. There are some, however, whose conception of future blessing rises no higher than the

earth, yet the Scriptures reveal - a better country, that is an heavenly (Heb. 11:16) and also the heaven of heavens at

the right hand of God (Eph. 2:6). Here we have something infinitely more wonderful than an earthly kingdom, with

riches of grace and glory beyond our dreams. Can our faith rise to this? It is a challenge indeed, and will be our

consideration in the next article.

May what is written be a stimulus to the reader to search the Word of God and discover the inexhaustible

treasures centred in the Lord Jesus Christ and God's revealed plan through HIM for the heavens and the earth.

THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM AND THE MYSTERY

In the last article we considered the earth in relation to the purpose of God. We saw that God had willed there

should be a seed and a land for the seed to inherit. The seed sprang from Abraham and was likened in number to the

dust of the earth (Gen. 13:15-17) and to the stars of heaven (15:4-6). The land was literal and its geographical

boundaries described in Genesis 15:18. The land and the seed are always connected in Scripture and any attempt to

divorce them inevitably leads to a partial and distorted view of the Divine plan as it relates to the earth. The

Scriptures make it quite clear that all this was in the nature of an unconditional promise to Abraham. So that he

could have no part or lot in its framing, God put him into a deep sleep (Gen. 15:12). This promise was secured in

Christ, Who is also described as the seed of Abraham and so the earthly seed is linked indissolubly with Him and

they are looked on as one by God (Heb. 2:11-16). Any stressing of one at the expense of the other will again lead to

an unbalanced view of Truth.

God wills that the nation of Israel, Abraham's seed, shall finally take the knowledge of the Lord to the ends of

the earth, `I have set thee (Israel) to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of

the earth' (Acts 13:47), and so the purpose expressed in Genesis 12:1-3 `in thee (Abraham's seed and Christ) shall

all families of the earth be blessed' - shall at last become a reality. `The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the

LORD, as the waters cover the sea' (Isa. 11:9; see also Hab. 2:14).

The Lord Jesus Christ shall return as King of kings and Lord of lords and have dominion from sea to sea and

from the river unto the ends of the earth (Psa. 72:8,17). The kingdoms of THIS WORLD will then become the

kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever (Rev. 11:15).

All Israel will be saved, for the Deliverer will have returned and turned away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is

God's covenant and promise to them (Rom. 11:25-29). It is their national covenant, the New Covenant of Jeremiah

31:31. God's purpose for the seed and the land will then find fulfilment, and Israel will be a channel whereby its

truth and glory will spread over the whole earth.

As we look round on the state of world affairs today with its ever mounting problems baffling the greatest brains

as they search for some way of solution, the increasing spiritual darkness and apathy to the things of God, how

grateful we are to look beyond man's day with all its failure to the Day of the Lord, when He at last shall take a

direct hand in world affairs, settling its problems and bringing peace and prosperity. If we had not this vision

granted us in the Scripture of Truth, how depressed we should be with all we see around us!

However, while we rejoice in the fact that the prophetic Word is a light shining in a dark place to which we do

well to take heed (2 Pet. 1:19), we are conscious, as we search God's Word that these truths concerning earth and its

government do not exhaust the revealed will of God as expressed therein. When we read Hebrews 11 we cannot fail

to notice that this chapter adds something about Abraham which is not revealed in the book of Genesis. `By faith

Abraham ... sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country ... for he looked for a city which hath

foundations, whose builder and maker is God' (11:8-10). And not only Abraham, but many of his seed who lived

and died in faith emulated his example, and of them it is said `they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: