Part 10 (1/2)

Those gates are now thrown wide open, never to be shut again, for it is the ”city of habitation” for the redeemed from Earth, and hundreds are arriving from our world every minute of time. See! ”its walls are of pure gold--even as jasper,” while ”its streets are paved with gold transparent as gla.s.s.” See its vast arches, minarets and towers, and its palatial mansions. Remember the blessed Saviour said, when about to leave our Earth, ”_In my Father's house are many mansions_;” and added, ”_I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also_.” Some of our friends have homes in those beautiful mansions. * * * * * It is enough. Our vision of these enchanting scenes is ended, and we are left to contemplate them in mind until our ”appointed time” shall come, and then if we are ready when our ”Lord and master calls,” we, too, shall find a permanent home with the ”redeemed of the Lord” in that ”_heavenly world_,” and then with St.

Paul, we may see ”the glory which shall be revealed.”

_THE DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITY OF THE CITY--THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL, AND TO SPARE._

”_And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with a reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal._”

Rev. xxi.

Twelve thousand furlongs const.i.tutes, by our measurement, 1,500 miles.

Thus we see that the city lieth four-square, and its height is equal to its length or breadth of foundation. The base surface covers a superficial extent of 2,250,000 square miles. The extent of the city will give us over 3,375,000,000 cubic miles. One cubic mile alone will afford measurement of s.p.a.ce for over 15,000,000 rooms 20 feet square, and the entire square of the city would afford about 50,625,000,000,000,000 rooms of similar dimensions.

But we are not justifiable in the belief other than that it is a city of vast proportions, and one of grandeur and beauty. We are told that it is a ”city of many mansions.” Let us therefore contemplate it in this light, and estimate that only _one-fiftieth_ portion of its vast s.p.a.ce is occupied by mansions; the balance open s.p.a.ce, streets, avenues, and courts. Such mansions would thus afford over 1,000,000,000,000,000 rooms 20 feet square.

We will now compute the number of inhabitants who have lived and died on the earth for 6,000 years past; the number living on it at present, and estimate how long of future time would be required to furnish one soul to occupy each room. It is estimated that there are at present 1,000,000,000, and that this number die during each period of thirty years. Now if all should find a home there, it would require more than _thirty millions of years_, at the same ratio, to furnish one soul for each room thus computed in those mansions. And if we estimate that only _one-hundredth_ part of the s.p.a.ce is occupied by mansions, it would even then require 15,000,000 of years to thus people them.

But we are a.s.sured that the wicked shall not enter there. That ”wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” We are therefore led to the inevitable conclusion, that by far the larger number of those who have lived and died on this earth, have failed to find their home in that ”city of which glorious things are spoken.”

Contemplating, as we have, the vast magnitude of that city, we are justifiable in the conclusion that there is ample provision of mansions there, as the dwelling-place for other intelligences beside those from this earth; probably the home and abode of the angels; possibly, for inhabitants of the other planets belonging to the same solar system with our own earth, as all receive light and animation from the same sun, and all are governed and controlled by the load-stone power of attraction of that vast globe.

Again, may it not be that all that has been revealed to us, is simply that which relates to _our_ future habitation, and that the city we have been contemplating is for the abode of the righteous from this earth? May there not be many other cities of equal, or even greater magnitude within that vast empire--even one such allotted to the inhabitants of _each separate planet_, and that each may have a king and ruler provided by the Creator of all? For all that we can comprehend of _our_ Saviour--who is to be our king and ruler--is, that he came from G.o.d the Father to ransom the inhabitants of this earth, and offer life and salvation to all who should believe in Him ”with a heart unto righteousness.” Remember, he said, ”_In my Father's house are many mansions._” And added, ”_I go to prepare a place for_ YOU, _that where I am there ye may be also._”

The New Testament Scriptures teach the sublime truth that the great interest of our blessed Saviour is the salvation and happiness of those whom He denominates his children from this earth; those for whom He died, and who shall believe in Him ”unto everlasting life.”

Hence, from all his teachings we believe this suggested hypothesis correct. The Psalmist says, ”_There are set thrones of Judgment_,”

while the Apostles speak of ”_thrones and dominions; princ.i.p.alities and powers_.” There is ample room in that ”Heaven” for all.

_THE NATIVE POPULATION OF THAT HEAVENLY WORLD._

”The Angels of G.o.d.”--Heb. 1. 6.

So far as revealed to us by record of the Bible, the original or native inhabitants of Heaven are called ”Angels.” These are also called ”messengers of G.o.d,” and from all the lights we have, it would seem that their princ.i.p.al occupation and employment is to act as messengers; execute the commands of Jehovah, and to wors.h.i.+p, and magnify the name of their Creator. Their perpetual residence, it seems, is in Heaven, yet from the manifestations of repeated visits to our earth, we can but suppose they are G.o.d's messengers, oft sent to _other_ worlds to do His pleasure.

It would seem that they are possessed of intellectuality next to Jehovah himself, yet all knowledge is not given unto them. It also appears that there is a vast difference in their grades and positions.

We read of Archangels, of Michael, and Gabriel, of the Sons of G.o.d.

They are sometimes called ”Stars.” Thus, we read of ”the morning stars which sang together.” We also read of Cherubim and Seraphim. And it may be that some of the most exalted among them occupy thrones, and have control of ”dominions,” ”princ.i.p.alities,” and ”powers.” We are told that ”Michael and _his_ angels” fought the ”Great Dragon and his angels.” Thus we see that they were the leaders, or had command over many angels.

We are also justified in the belief that they are princes and peers, and belong to the Court; possibly form the ministerial cabinet, and are attendants in the council chambers of heaven.

We have seen, through revelations, how oft--under the earlier dispensation--they visited our earth, to bear messages from G.o.d to the prophets, and to His people; to warn or announce His threatenings, or execute His commands in judgments upon the wicked. As angels they are ”_Spirits_,” and as commissioned ”ministers” oft appeared as ”_flames of fire_.”