D____ wrote:

Mr. Vinson,
I have a quick question for you. I know that the world has two distinct meanings in scriptures, one being the world as a whole, mankind; two being the church of the LORD’s day, and the modern church now and to come. I was wondering if you could help me to understand what is the earth? I keep thinking the earth also has two meanings 1. the flesh, man, unconverted man, 2, again the modern church that was, and now? Am I even close? Any answers or advice where to look would be helpful in my studies.

Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
Act 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

[ seems to me that there is two differences: those in heaven, and those in earth]

1Co 15:45-49 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth , earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Could the new heaven be new spirit, and new earth new spiritual body?

1Co 15:52-55 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality .
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

GOD bless, D____

Hi D____,
Thank you for your questions. I have written quite a few letters dealing with the meaning of the word earth. The short answer to your question is that the earth, in scripture represents the called but not chosen seed of Abraham. In other words the ‘earth’ is “historical orthodox Christianity.” Here are but two of the many verses which bear out this Truth:

Isa 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [ and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

“Judah and Jerusalem” are here symbolizing God’s people in the form of orthodox Christianity as we see it today. “Historical orthodox Christianity is the “Great Harlot of Rev 17 and 18. Isaiah reveals this to be the case right here in this very chapter:

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isa 1:22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Isa 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

“Historical orthodox Christianity” is in complete opposition to the words of Christ. It would take a spiritually blind man to fail to see that ‘Jerusalem’ in this chapter is the harlot of Revelation and is “that great city where also our Lord was crucified.”

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies [ shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Is Jerusalem ever called Sodom in scripture? Are God’s people ever referred to as Sodom? Is the “historical orthodox Christian church” ever referred to as Sodom? Right here in this same chapter addressed to His own people, God Himself refers to Jerusalem, the city used in scripture to symbolize the people of God, as Sodom:

Isa 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

“Sodom and Gomorrah” had been wiped from the face of the earth many years before Isaiah ever began his prophecy. This chapter is addressed to ‘Jerusalem’, the symbol of God’s people in every age. This chapter is addressed “Hear… O earth.”
Here is one other witness among many, many others that in scripture the ‘earth’ is God’s fallen and rebellious church which despises the doctrine of Jesus Christ and encourages God’s people to get involved in the affairs of this age and physically fight and kill their enemies “thinking that they do God a service.”

Jer 22:1 Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,
Jer 22:2 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:
Jer 22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD

This chapter is addressed to ‘the king of Judah, his servants and the people who enter by these gates.’ It is addressed to God’s people! And it concludes with “O earth, earth, earth.”
God is love. Love is therefore God’s litmus test. It includes loving Christ’s doctrines and it includes loving your enemies:

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Who is our ‘brother?’ Who are we to love? Christ used a Samaritan in the parable of the good Samaritan to make the point that we are to “love your enemies,” just for the fact that Samaritans and Jews hated each other. So I ask again who is our brother and who we are to love?

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Can the multitudes who come every Sunday to hear the parables of Christ really “hear?”

Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Is Christ trying at this time to save the multitudes who come to hear Him teach his parables? Is that really why Christ taught in parables, so the people could better understand His message? Instead of going to your minister with this question, let’s go straight to he Teacher Himself and pose this question:

Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [ the multitudes of Christianity who to this day believe Christ spopke in parables so the multitudes could understand] it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

The multitudes of “historical orthodox Christianity” are to this very day, blind and deaf to the words of Christ and to the voice of the true Shepherd.
I hope this helps you to see what is meant by the word ‘earth’ where ever you see it in the scriptures, David. All the verses you reference about being first “of the earth, earthy,” are a reference to the fact that God’s people have to be carried off into Babylon before they will ever be brought to the point of “coming out of her My people.” The earth is “historical orthodox Christianity”. And God’s people must “come out of her.” They do so because she has no truth in her.

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

They have not one doctrine which is not tainted with heresy!

Joh 8:44 Ye [“Those Jews which believed on Him”- verse 30] are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Yes, indeed, the “new earth” is the new spiritual body. The reason the “four beasts’ are still referred to as ‘beasts,’ and the reason they each have ‘six’ (the number of mankind) wings is a testimony of from whence they came:

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we [ the four beasts and the four and twenty elders] shall reign on the earth

It is only by a sovereign act of God that any of us has been given “eyes to see and ears to hear” and to be brought out of that great harlot.

Mike