WHAT EARTH IS PROMISED TO THE MEEK, AS AN INHERITANCE?

Earth, has a number of significations. (1.) It means the terraqueous globe, as in Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.” (2.) It means the land, as in Genesis 1:10: “And God called the dry land earth.” (3.) It means the inhabitants of the earth, as in Genesis 11:1: “The whole earth was of one language.”DTIS 22.1

I have an opinion that “the earth” in our text means the globe which we inhabit. Man was made to inhabit the globe; and if the devil can prevent this part of God’s purposes from being executed, then so much of the design of the Almighty would be frustrated. But he cannot do it: for Jesus Christ has engaged to redeem the earth from the curse, and fill the world with fruit of the holy seed: “the meek shall inherit the earth.” And already he has given indications of his power to do what he has engaged to perform.DTIS 22.2

First; he has proved his power to forgive and cleanse penitents from sin, on earth. This even his enemies acknowledged he did; for they brought it as an accusation against him. Mark 2:7, 10: “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” Then Christ says, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” This is one great step towards executing this glorious purpose and promise of God.DTIS 22.3

Secondly; he has manifested his power to conquer death, by raising Lazarus and others, and afterwards taking his own life again; showing that he has power to raise up all the meek of the earth. If this could not have been done, then death would have held us in bondage; and how could the meek inherit the earth? For we must have bodies to inherit the body of the earth, and substance to inherit substance. Therefore, two important hindrances to our inheriting the earth are removed by the manifested power of Christ. Another power is also necessary to be used in order to ensure the happiness of the meek. Thirdly; evil spirits must be driven out of the earth, or the meek might be liable to deception and error, which would fill the earth with confusion and despair: but in this Christ has proved his power, by casting out a legion of evil spirits from one man, and many out of others, and driving them into the sea, and doing as he pleased; showing that in due time he would be able to chain Satan and his host, that they come not upon the earth to trouble or deceive the meek.DTIS 23.1

Fourthly; he must cleanse the earth, in order to make the place of their residence glorious. This has been once done by water. And as Peter tells us, (2 Peter 3:6, 7,) “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word (or power) are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men,” at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Some say this burning day is not to be until after a thousand years’ reign of the saints on the earth. I must differ from such; for I can see no object in burning the earth after the meek have inherited it a thousand years, and after the new heavens and new earth are created. I know your objection; for you say, — the new heavens and new earth are not created until after the thousand years’ reign. But that needs proof. And one thing is certain, this thousand years is the great sabbath of rest spoken of by Paul in Hebrews 4:1-9; and Paul tells us that when this day of rest shall come, and when Christ hath entered into his rest, he will cease from his labors, as God did from his; and if Christ has not created the new heavens and new earth, then how can he cease from his labors? For he says, “Behold I create new heavens and a new earth.” Isaiah 65:17-19.DTIS 23.2

Again; Peter says, (2 Epistle 3:13,) “Nevertheless we, according to his promise,” — Whose promise? Christ’s. Where has he promised? Matthew 5:3-12: “Blessed are the meek,” etc. — “look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,” — the meek of the earth. Also the new Jerusalem is on the earth during this thousand years. See Revelation 20:9: “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Will that be burned up? But it is evident that God will cleanse the world by fire, before he reigns with his saints, or the meek, on earth. See Matthew 3:12: “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, (the earth,) and gather his wheat (children of the kingdom) into the garner: (New Jerusalem) but he will burn up the chaff (the wicked) with unquenchable fire.” This is evidently the same burning day that Peter describes as at the coming of Christ. 2 Peter 3:10-12: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, (or men of the earth,) and the works therein, shall be burnt up.” Not the globe; for if Peter had meant the globe, there would have been no propriety in mentioning the works in the globe, after the globe itself was burnt. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” The meek are not yet the inheritors of the earth; for it is the present inhabitants that are commanded to be “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” The elements of the earth are air, fire and water; these will be so overpowered by fire, as to melt with fervent heat. As water once overpowered the earth, and destroyed all living from the face of it, except those who were prepared for it; so will fire overpower the earth, and burn up all living, that have not the “form of the fourth” with them. And after that, the heavens and earth will be new as they were after the flood. And the meek will inherit the earth forever. One more evidence I will bring, that the wicked must be cut off from the earth before the meek shall inherit it. Psalm 37:10, 11: “For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” In this passage we are clearly taught that when the meek inherit the earth, there will be no wicked on the earth. Then this must be after Christ’s coming; for Paul tells us, 2 Thessalonians 2:8: “And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”DTIS 24.1

So it will be impossible to find any time between now and the coming of Christ, but there will be wicked on the earth, and afterwards, you shall diligently search for his place on earth, and it cannot be found. Where then is the temporal millennium? Or where shall we find the unconverted Jew or wicked heathen in this reign of the meek? for thou shall diligently consider his place and it shall not be. Again; Psalm 37:22: “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.” Blessed are the meek, says the dear Savior. Again, verse 34: “Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” What shall we see? We shall see the meek inherit the land, when the wicked are cut off. And when shall that be? Paul says, “Whom the Lord shall destroy by the brightness of his coming.” David says, verse 38: “But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” Christ tells us, Matthew 13:30: “Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”DTIS 26.1

How exactly all the Scriptures harmonize in this view of our subject! And take any other view, and difficulties meet us in every step. I would ask, why are men so loath to look at our subject? And why do the dear servants of Christ put off the examination of this subject until it will be forever too late? I adjure you, as you love my Master, as you love souls, as you love truth, examine these precious promises. If I am correct, you certainly must see that the doctrine of a temporal millennium, or of the Jews’ return, are and will be the cause of sinking thousands to endless ruin. I know you preach immediate repentance, and I thank you; may God bless you in so doing: but you know the human heart is as prone to put off repentance, as it is death, and you are well aware that some of our neighbors and friends reject every motive you can place before them concerning duty, or death. They mean to repent before they die; they expect to die, but not now. Therefore they are not ready to repent or die. Now, say you, preach as Paul did, a judgment to come. Poh! say they; you need not try to alarm us with that stale doctrine: you say that we must have a thousand years yet, before the judgment; or the Jews must return, and build old Jerusalem again; or Christ must come and live on earth a thousand years before he destroys the wicked.DTIS 27.1

These are so many shields to ward off present necessity, and they become to the poor, blind sinner, peace and safety, although you design it not. Yet if it should be false, think, my dear brethren, do think, what awful consequences will actually follow. It can do you no harm to examine; truth is what you want; you want no error, — it will do no good.DTIS 28.1

A certain impenitent man, in a place where I was giving a course of lectures, went to the minister of the place, and enquired of him what he thought of Mr. Miller’s lectures, and especially concerning the thousand years’ millennium before Christ would come. The minister answered him, by saying, “Mr. Miller has taken away my millennium, root and branch.” “Well, do you not suppose the Jews must return and be converted?” “I have also been shaken from that belief,” said the minister. He said the poor man dropped his head, turned pale, and after a moment’s reflection, observed, “then Mr. Miller may be right, and I am gone.” May you, my dear reader, find as honest a minister as the one I have just mentioned; and if you are in a lost condition, may you cry to God, “I am gone,” and find one to help when you shall be in deep trouble. Amen.DTIS 29.1