“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13.
18. When and by what means will the effects of sin be removed?
“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, and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
19. How will the curse of the confusion of tongues be brought to an end?
“For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they [pg 056] may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.” Zeph. 3:9.
20. How thoroughly will the effects of sin be removed?
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4. “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [the holy city]; and His servants shall serve Him.” Rev. 22:3.
21. Will sin and its evil results ever appear again?
“What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9. “There shall be no more death.” “And there shall be no more curse.” Rev. 21:4; 22:3.
Note.—That sin exists none can deny. Why it was permitted has perplexed many minds. But He who can bring light out of darkness (2 Cor. 4:6), make the wrath of man to praise Him (Ps. 76:10), and turn a curse into a blessing (Deut. 23:5), can bring good out of evil, and turn mistakes and downfalls into stepping-stones to higher ground. Heaven will be happier for the sorrows of earth. “Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy,” says Robert Pollock, in “The Course of Time,” page 29. In the final outcome it will be seen that all things have worked together for good to them that love God. Rom. 8:28. Cowper, despondent and about to drown himself, was carried the wrong way by his driver, and went home to write the inspiring hymn below.