common, it has on the incomparably higher ground than even Paradise of old.
The Tree of Life has healing in it now. Not merely can the innocent eat and live, but there is remedial blessing in it for those on earth. They worse perhaps in some sort than Adam, but far more glory, and blessing dis- played even in glory. The Lamb’s bride answering, as a help-meet to the Lamb’s heart of love, is minister of blessing to them that need. It is now full blessing, and we ministers of it; “for His servants shall serve Him … His name shall be on their foreheads.” Far other is the minister of strict earthly righteousness, the earthly Jerusalem—“the people and nations that will not serve thee shall utterly perish.” Now this heavenly rule, withal, is recognized as the source of power. The kings of the earth bring their glory to it, not to corrupt Babylon, to their disgrace and ruin. None enter this that defile, but those written in the Lamb’s book of life. It is not now merely “the Lord shall reign for ever and ever,” but “they shall reign for ever and ever.”
From the time of the exaltation of Jesus to the right hand of God, and the association of the Church with Him, Christ has been ready to judge. There were many anti-christs, whereby it was known it was the last times, as this same apostle teaches
