Sunday
September 19
1. THE PURPOSE OF CREATION
a. For what two reasons did God create the earth and the human being? Isaiah 45:18; 43:7.
“All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made ‘in the image of God,’ and it was the Creator’s design that they should populate the earth.”—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 7.
“It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 1, p. 1082.
b. How did our first parents turn away from the purpose for which they were created, and what was the result? Genesis 3:9–14, 23.
“When Adam sinned, man broke away from the heaven-ordained center. A demon became the central power in the world. Where God’s throne should have been, Satan placed his throne. The world laid its homage, as a willing offering, at the feet of the enemy.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 51.
Monday
September 20
2. RESTORING THE FIRST DOMINION
a. Throughout history, what was constantly promised to our forefathers in the faith? Psalms 25:13; 37:9; Matthew 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13.
“The meek ‘shall inherit the earth’ (Matthew 5:5). It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered into the world, and our first parents lost the dominion over this fair earth, their kingdom. It is through self-abnegation that Christ redeems what was lost. And He says we are to overcome as He did. Revelation 3:21. Through humility and self-surrender we may become heirs with Him when ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ (Psalm 37:11).
“The earth promised to the meek will not be like this, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 17.
b. Besides the restoration of humanity, what else is to be restored by the plan of redemption? Luke 19:10; Micah 4:8; Ephesians 1:14.
“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 for ever’ (Psalm 37:29). 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 the first Adam will be restored by the second. The prophet says, ‘O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion’ (Micah 4:8). And the apostle Paul points forward to the ‘redemption of the purchased possession.’ God created the earth to be the abode of holy, happy beings. That purpose will be fulfilled when, renewed by the power of God and freed from sin and sorrow, it shall become the eternal abode of the redeemed.”—The Adventist Home, p. 540.
Tuesday
September 21
3. OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE
a. How are we assured that our promised inheritance is a real place? John 14:1–4; Hebrews 11:13–16.
“As Christ's earthly ministry drew to a close, and He realized that He must soon leave His disciples to carry on the work without His personal supervision, He sought to encourage them and to prepare them for the future. He did not deceive them with false hopes. As an open book He read what was to be. He knew He was about to be separated from them, to leave them as sheep among wolves. He knew that they would suffer persecution, that they would be cast out of the synagogues, and would be thrown into prison. He knew that for witnessing to Him as the Messiah, some of them would suffer death. And something of this He told them. In speaking of their future, He was plain and definite, that in their coming trial they might remember His words and be strengthened to believe in Him as the Redeemer.”—The Acts of Apostles, p. 21.
b. How can we be sure that our future inheritance is a clean and safe place? Psalm 24:3–5; Isaiah 32:18; 35:8; 2 Peter 3:13.
“[In the New Jerusalem] immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.
“All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's handiwork.”—Ibid., p. 677.
Wednesday
September 22
4. OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE (CONTINUED)
a. What are some glorious words of assurance we can declare about the earth made new? Isaiah 33:24; 35:10; Revelation 21:4; 22:3.
b. Will there be real work for the redeemed to do in eternity? Isaiah 65:17–25. What is written about the regular meetings that will be held there? Isaiah 66:22, 23.
“We cannot suppose that when the final triumph shall come, and we have the mansions prepared for us, idleness will be our portion—that we shall rest in a blissful, do-nothing state.
“In the earth made new, the redeemed will engage in the occupations and pleasures that brought happiness to Adam and Eve in the beginning. The Eden life will be lived, the life in garden and field.”—Maranatha, p. 360.
“[In the school of the hereafter] every power will be developed, every capability increased. The grandest enterprises will be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations will be reached, the highest ambitions realized. And still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of body and mind and soul.
“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. . . .
“ ‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister’ (Matthew 20:28). Christ’s work below is His work above, and our reward for working with Him in this world will be the greater power and wider privilege of working with Him in the world to come.”—Education, pp. 307, 308.
“When there shall be a ‘restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:21), the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph’s tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as ‘from one Sabbath to another’ (Isaiah 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 769, 770.
Thursday
September 23
5. FINAL WORDS
a. When will the redeemed take possession of the new earth? Revelation 20:6 (last part), 7; 21:1–4.
b. Since our language is inadequate, what can we say to describe our future inheritance? 1 Corinthians 2:9. In view of this profound thought, what desire should mold our priorities in life?
“The apostle Paul was taken to the third heaven, and while there was given a view of celestial things. When he returned to a consciousness of earthly things, he found that it was impossible for him to describe the enrapturing scenes that had passed before him. But he kept in his soul the wonderful picture of what he had seen.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, p. 153.
“The overcomer will have a whole heaven of bliss, with no tempting devil, no sorrow, sickness, pain, or death. I desire to know more about heaven, and I am determined by God’s grace to be there. Let us all strive to obtain an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, where we shall be surrounded with beautiful objects surpassing by far anything that we could imagine. . . .
“I want to see the whole heavenly host casting their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and then touching their golden harps, and filling all heaven with rich music and with songs to the Lamb.
“Will you be there? God wants you to be there; Christ wants you to be there; the angels want you to be there.”—Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, pp. 223, 224.
Friday
September 24
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. Why were we created?
b. What was the first dominion, and how was it lost?
c. How is it being restored?
d. Why is it wrong to spiritualize away our future inheritance?
e. How much can we know about what God is preparing for His faithful people?