The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"But, not only does the present ('earth') society pass away, but also the present 'heavens' or
spiritual powers of control. Satan is declared to be 'the prince of the power of the air'
(heavens) who 'now worketh [operates or rules] in the children of disobedience.' (Eph. 2:2.)
This one called at present, 'the prince of this world' (John 14:30), we have seen is to be
bound; consequently his control, or spiritual power, now exercised in favor of evil doing,
etc., will cease, or pass away.
"The fact that the present 'earth' and 'heaven' are to be succeeded by, or give place to, a
'new earth' (society), and a 'new heaven' (new spiritual power of control also unseen, good
and not evil--of Christ and not of Satan), is not here mentioned, but is afterward."--See
Rev. 21:1.
Concerning the "throne" and its occupant, Mr. Barnes says: "The throne here is the same
who is referred to in Matt. 25:31, and called there the 'throne of His glory.'" The occupant
of the throne he understands is "the Lord Jesus Christ, the final Judge of mankind." Some
commentators hold that it is God, the Father. Mr. Russell has thus expressed the matter:
"The Throne or Kingdom of Christ will be a pure--a righteous one, here symbolized by
white, the symbol of peace and purity. . . . The one who sat in the throne represents The
Christ--primarily Jesus, the Head, but also the overcomers who sit with Him or share His
glory and power (Rev. 3:21)--yet all one."
Not a few Old Testament prophecies describe in strong symbolic language this passing
away of the present arrangement or order, social, political, and religious. In Isa. 24:1-3 we
read, "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it
upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof"--and that this does not refer to
the literal earth will be seen from the words that follow:
"And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his
master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with
the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to
him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this
word."
This symbolic statement of the Prophet is in full harmony with the one of St. John; the
turning of the earth upside down evidently referring to the fact that a great revolution in
the present order will take place, in which the proud and haughty will be debased, and the
meek and humble will be lifted up. Another prophecy to the same effect is found in Isa.
40:4, in which is stated that "every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low: and the crooked [perverse] shall be made straight, and the rough places
plain." This strong figurative language is only another way of describing the fact that
society (earth) is to undergo a great change, be reconstructed on a basis in which equality
of classes shall exist, and in which "individual merit will be recognized, blended with
humility and benevolence."