After this earth has been cleansed by fire at the end of the millennium, the promise given to our spiritual forefathers with reference to the new earth will be fulfilled. Genesis 12:7; 17:7, 8; Exodus 6:5-8; Acts 7:2, 5; Romans 4:13; Hebrews 11:9, 10, 13-16, 39; 13:14. This earth will be redeemed and restored to its original, Edenic condition. All things will be made new. Isaiah 11:1-11; 32:16-18; 35:4-8; 65:17-25; Psalm 37:11, 29; Micah 4:8; Matthew 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:1-5; Daniel 2:35, 44; 7:27 (cf Revelation 11:15).

"The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, 'no, not so much as to set his foot on.' Acts 7:5ò. The gift to Abraham and his seed included not merely the land of Canaan, but the whole earth. So says the apostle, 'The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.' Romans 4:13. And the Bible plainly teaches that the promises made to Abraham are to be fulfilled through Christ. All that are Christ's are 'Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise'--heirs to 'an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away'--the earth freed from the curse of sin. Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 1:4. For 'the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;' and 'the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.' Daniel 7:27; Psalm 37:11."—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 169-170.

"'O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.' Micah 4:8. The time has come to which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the first pair from Eden, the time for 'the redemption of the purchased possession.' Ephesians 1:14. The earth originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption. All that was lost by sin has been restored. 'Thus saith the Lord . . . that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.' Isaiah 45:18. God's original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. 'The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.' Psalm 37:29."—The Great Controversy, p. 647.

On the new earth, which will be the eternal home of the redeemed, there will be no more suffering, "for the former things are passed away." Sin and its author have ceased to exist, and the great controversy is ended. Revelation 21:1-7.

In the New Jerusalem there will be no night because of the presence of God, whose light and glory will cover the city. Revelation 21:25; 22:3-5.

"The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son."—The Great Controversy, p. 676.

From Sabbath to Sabbath, all will meet before God throughout all eternity. Isaiah 66:22, 23. The place that God has prepared for the redeemed is described as follows: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.

"The same fire from God that consumed the wicked purified the whole earth. The broken, ragged mountains melted with fervent heat, the atmosphere also, and all the stubble was consumed. Then our inheritance opened before us, glorious and beautiful, and we inherited the whole earth made new. We all shouted with a loud voice, 'Glory; Alleluia!'"—Early Writings, p. 54.

"Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare mansions for them in the Father's house. Those who accept the teachings of God's word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode."—The Great Controversy, p. 675.

"The work of redemption will be complete. In the place where sin abounded, God's grace much more abounds. The earth itself, the very field that Satan claims as his, is to be not only ransomed but exalted. Our little world, under the curse of sin the one dark blot in His glorious creation, will be honored above all other worlds in the universe of God. Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity; where the King of glory lived and suffered and died,—here, when He shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall be with men, 'and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.' And through endless ages as the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord, they will praise Him for His unspeakable Gift,—Immanuel, 'God with us.'"—The Desire of Ages, p. 26.

"We are still amidst the shadows and turmoil of earthly activities. Let us consider most earnestly the blessed hereafter. Let our faith pierce through every cloud of darkness and behold Him who died for the sins of the world. He has opened the gates of paradise to all who receive and believe on Him. To them He gives power to become the sons and daughters of God. Let the afflictions which pain us so grievously become instructive lessons, teaching us to press forward toward the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ. Let us be encouraged by the thought that the Lord is soon to come. Let this hope gladden our hearts. 'Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.' Hebrews 10:37. Blessed are those servants who, when their Lord comes, shall be found watching.

"We are homeward bound. He who loved us so much as to die for us hath builded for us a city. The New Jerusalem is our place of rest. There will be no sadness in the city of God. No wail of sorrow, no dirge of crushed hopes and buried affections, will evermore be heard. Soon the garments of heaviness will be changed for the wedding garment. Soon we shall witness the coronation of our King. Those whose lives have been hidden with Christ, those who on this earth have fought the good fight of faith, will shine forth with the Redeemer's glory in the kingdom of God."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp. 286-288.

"The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love."—The Great Controversy, p. 678.