There is not a more significant verse in all of Scripture!

At one time Paradise was located on the earth. God himself walked in the garden in the cool of the day. Adam and Eve lived in the midst of abundance, having no needs. They had no conception of the value of their circumstances. People often do not realize the worth of what they possess until it is taken from them.

Adam and Eve rebelled due to the wicked counsel of Satan.

God returned to Heaven. Thorns and thistles sprang from the once-pure earth. Pain, anxiety, sin, rebellion, hatred, covetousness, unbelief, sickness, plagues of all kinds, famine, thirst, despair, futility, frustration, warfare, agony of mind and soul, came to dwell permanently among people. God cursed the earth because of man's disobedience.

As Satan and his angels took possession of the home of mankind, darkness and death filled the world. Earth became the valley of the shadow of death, the environs of Hell, as men and women abused their bodies to fulfill the lusts of demons. Demoniacal laughter rose through the atmosphere in place of praises to the Lord.

The contrast is stark.

Adam and Eve were innocent lambs dwelling in a garden.

But the description of the last days of this age, as given in the Book of Revelation, reveals an inferno of cursing and rage as people, driven mad by the superheated atmosphere, no longer allowed to escape by dying, stagger about in torment, raving and raging, howling in pain, cursing the God who gave his only Son for their redemption.

God knew in advance what would happen if Satan's counsel were followed. He allowed the history of the earth to become a terrible, eternal lesson to angels and men of the folly of disobedience to the Father.

Hopefully we have learned our lesson by now.

The Divine means for preventing a future rebellion consists of the twelve foundations of the wall, and the wall itself, of the new Jerusalem. This is why the twelve foundations are embellished with all manner of precious stones.

The creation of a company of sons will prevent any further disobedience to God. God's sons are His answer to His enemies.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:5)

God's sons will speak with God's enemies as they seek to enter the city of God.

God will lift the curse and return in Person to the earth. He is so assured of the success of His plan to prevent the recurrence of rebellion that He will move His throne from Heaven to the earth.

The curse will be lifted from the peoples of the earth, and from the earth itself, under the direction of the sons of God. They are God's judges, God's kings, God's witnesses, God's priests. To them it is given to exercise both judgment and blessing. Because Christ dwells in them they hold the key of eternal life, the key of Paradise, the key of Hell, and the key of death. These compose the key of David, the keys of the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.