a spirit being.  “The first man is of the earth, earthy.” (1 Corinthians 15:47) God created the earth for man.  “God ... formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:12,18) The Scriptures conclusively prove that God’s original purpose was that man should have an everlasting home on the earth as long as he obeyed the divine law.  Man having disobeyed forfeited his right to live on earth, and Jesus, the perfect man, having by his great sacrifice purchased this right for man, the time must come when man will be restored to that which was lost.

[537]Some noted teachers of the Bible deny the doctrine of restoration.  Let us observe, then, what else must fail if this doctrine fails.  If there is to be no restoration of man to his original state, then it must be admitted that the creation of man was and is a failure.  Not only would the creation of man result in a failure, but the very purpose for which God created the earth must fail.  This would mean, then, that his word has not and will not accomplish what he said.  But God being all-wise, and having unlimited power, his purposes cannot fail.  If we believe the Bible, we will have to believe the doctrine of restoration.  Jehovah has said:  “My word that goeth forth out of my mouth ... shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".—­Isaiah 55:11.

[538]If there is to be no restoration of man to his original state and no opportunity for him to be so restored, then the manifestation of divine justice against Adam amounts to nothing more than God’s destroying the work of his own hands and admitting he was and is unable to people the earth with a perfect race.  If we believe in his omnipotence, we must believe that he will accomplish his design.  Having made the promise at the time of the sentence of man that the great enemy should ultimately perish, we may take this as one truth upon which to hang a hope that something better is to come in the future.

[539]If there is to be no restoration of mankind to original perfection, then God’s promise made to Abraham is meaningless and must fail, because the express purpose of that promise is the blessing of all the families of the earth; and that blessing is life. (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 28:14; Romans 6:23) Not only did Jehovah make this promise to Abraham, but he bound the promise with his oath; and by these two things (his word and his oath, both of which are unchangeable) it is impossible for the promise to fail; but in due time it must be carried out.—­Hebrews 6:17,18.