Inheriting The Earth

Just as God cleansed Canaan, he will soon cleanse the entire earth and give it to those who will do his will. "The upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth." (Proverbs 2:21, 22) And the psalmist says: "Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more... But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exqisite delight in the abundance of peace." ( Psalm 37:10, 11) Also removed will be Satan, so that "he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended." (Revelation 20:1-3) Yes, "the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever." - John 2:17.

Summing up the grand hope for those who want to live forever on earth, Jesus said: " Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) Likely he was referring to Psalm 37:29, which foretold: " The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." Jesus knew that it was Jehovah's purpose to have righthearted ones live on a paradise earth forever. Jehovah says: "I myself have made the earth, mankind and the beasts that upon the surface of the earth by my great power...., and I have given it to whom it has proved right in my eyes." - Jeremiah 27:5

Next time: A Marvelous New World