END
OF TIME SERIES
PART
SIXTEEN
THE ASCENSION AND MILLENNIUM
POST-ASCENSION EVENTS
ON EARTH
In
the previous study, we viewed events at the time of the Second Advent, as
they relate primarily to the redeemed-but also to the wicked. Those are the
pre-ascension events, which occur at the time of Christ's second coming,
before Jesus and the redeemed begin their journey to heaven.
In
the present study, we will view (1) the post-ascension events on earth,
which is the death of the living wicked, and the binding of Satan to this
planet for a thousand years; and (2) the post-ascension events of the
redeemed; which Includes their journey to heaven, their coronation and
entrance into the Holy City, and the sentencing judgment.
-
1 -
ALL THE WICKED HAVE MADE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE GREAT
CONTROVERSY
1
-
Now
the controversy is with man, as well as with angels.
“
'A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a
controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give
them
that are wicked to the sword.' Jeremiah 25:31. For
six
thousand years the great controversy has been In progress;
the Son of God and His
heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of
the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save
the children of men. Now all have made their
decisions;
the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God. The
time has come for God to vindicate the authority at His
downtrodden law. Now the controversy is not alone with
Satan,
but with men.
'The
Lord hath a
controversy with the nations"; He will give them that are wicked to
the sword.' " Great
Controversy,
656:1.
-2 -
THOSE WITH THE SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS GO FORTH
1
-
The work of destruction begins with the spiritual guardians.
"The mark of deliverance has been set upon
those
'that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that
be done.' Now the angel of death
goes
forth,
represented in Ezekiel’s vision by the men
with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is
given: 'Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and
women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My
sanctuary,' Says the prophet: 'They began at the ancient men which were
before the house.' Ezekiel
9:1-6,
The
work
of destruction
begins among those who have professed to be
the
spiritual guardians of the people.
The
false watchmen are the first to fall. There are none to
pity or to spare, Men, women, maidens, and little children perish
together." Great Controversy. 656:2.
Note: Contrary to errors being taught, the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 9
slaughter occurs not at the sealing—but here at the second coming of
Christ.
- 3 -
STRIFE BY MEN AND WRATH FROM GOD WILL SLAY THE WICKED
1
-
All the wicked are slain.
" 'The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants
at the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her
blood, and shall no more cover her slain.' Isaiah 26:21. 'And this shall
be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have
fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall consume away while they stand
upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and
their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass
in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and
they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor.' Zechariah
14:12-13. In the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the
awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath, fall the wicked Inhabitants of
the earth
-priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and
low. 'And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the
earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented,
neither gathered, nor buried.' Jeremiah 25:33.
"At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the
whole earth
consumed
with the spirit of His
mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory." Great
Controversy,
657:1.
2 - Identified with sin, the wicked die with
it.
"To sin, wherever found, 'our God is a consuming fire' (Hebrews
12:29), in all who submit to His
power the
Spirit of God will consume sin.
But if
men
cling to sin, they
become identified with it. Then
the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them." Desire of
Ages, 107:4.
3
- Slain by His glory.
"The
glory
of His
countenance,
which to the
righteous
is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire." Desire of Ages, 600:2.
4
- Their death is an act of mercy.
"Could
those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness,
mingle with the heavenly throng and Join their songs of praise?
Could
they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were
granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have
never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the
language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion
against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and
peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming
fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They
would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him
who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their
own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and
just
and merciful
on the
part of God." Great Controversy, 542:2-543:0.
5 - They are responsible for their own deaths.
"God destroys no one. The sinner destroys
himself by his own impenitence." 5 Testimonies, 120:1. Also
see The Great Controversy, 25-97.
- 4 -
AN
INCREDIBLY IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OCCURS
Several years ago, the present writer
compiled a large number of
quotations dealing with
the terrible storm of
wrath
predicted by the
third angel's message (Revelation 14:9-11). As
wickedness Increased, this wrath would gradually increase. It would
greatly intensify when
human
probation
closed, fall on men again at
the
Second Advent, and, again, in the final
judgment
after
the third advent. At the second
advent,
for example, fire will fall
from heaven and erupt from the earth, destroying the wicked.
For more Information on this, see our 10 part tract set, The
Terrible Storm, now In section 2 of our Offshoots Tractbook.
The
objective of the
lengthy
study
was to establish from
the
Bible and Spirit
of Prophecy
that
God will slay the
incorrigibly
wicked,
and has at times done so in
the past.
- 5 -
THE EARTH IS LEFT UNINHABITED AND DESOLATE
1
-
The
earth is a desolate wilderness.
"Christ takes His people to the City of God, and
the
earth Is emptied of Its
Inhabitants.
. The whole
earth
appears
like
a desolate wilderness.
The ruins of cities and villages destroyed by the earthquake, uprooted
trees, ragged rocks thrown out by the sea or torn out of the earth itself,
are scattered over its surface, while vast caverns mark the spot where the
mountains have been rent from their foundations." Great
Controversy, 657:1-2.
"The
earth looked like a desolate wilderness.
Cities and villages, shaken down by the earthquake,
lay in heaps. Mountains had been moved
out of their places, leaving large caverns.
Ragged rocks, thrown out by the sea, or torn out of the earth itself,
were scattered all over its surface. Large trees had been uprooted and
were strewn over the land. Here is to be the home of Satan
with his evil angels for
a thousand years.”
Early
Writings, 290:1.
- 6 -
SINS ARE ROLLED BACK ON SATAN
1
-
The
scapegoat transaction occurs.
“Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn
service of the Day of Atonement.
When the ministration in the holy of
holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from
the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat
was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the
congregation the high priest confessed over him 'all the iniquities of the
children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins,
putting them upon the head of the goat.' Leviticus 16:21. In like manner
when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed,
then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the host of the
redeemed the sins of God's
people
will
be placed upon Satan; he
will
be declared
guilty of all the evil which he
has
caused them to commit.
And as the scapegoat
was sent away into
a land not inhabited, so Satan
will be banished to the desolate earth,
an uninhabited
and dreary wilderness." Great
Controversy, 658:1.
2 - Satan bears the final penalty.
"When
Christ, by
virtue of His own blood, removes
the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His
ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of
the judgment,
must
bear the final penalty."
Great
Controversy, 422:2.
3 - Bearing the guilt of the sin.
"Satan,
bearing the guilt of all the sins
which he has caused God's people to commit, will be for a thousand years
confined to the earth, which will then be desolate, without inhabitant,
and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall
destroy all the wicked."
Great
Controversy. 485:9-486:0.
-7 - SATAN
IS RESTRICTED TO PLANET EARTH FOR
1,000
YEARS
1
-
For the first
time since sin
began, Satan
is
limited to this planet.
"The revelator foretells
the
banishment of Satan and the
condition of chaos and desolation
to
which the earth Is to
be reduced,
and he declares that this condition will exist for a
thousand years.
After
presenting the scenes of the
Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked, the prophecy
continues: 'I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the
dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and
set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the
thou sand years should be fulfilled: and after that he
must be
loosed a little season.'
" Great Controversy,
658:2.
2
.
Angels and saints rejoice at his confinement.
"I heard shouts of triumph from the angels
and
from the redeemed saints,
which
sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no
more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the inhabitants of other
worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations." Early
Writings,
290:2.
3 - Satan will not be able to travel to other worlds.
"Here he (Satan) will be confined, to wander up and down over the
broken surface of the earth and see the effects of his rebellion against
God's
law.
For a
thousand years he can enjoy the fruit
of
the curse which he has
caused. Limited alone to the
earth, he will not have the privilege of ranging to other planets, to tempt
and annoy those who have not fallen." Early Writings, 290:1.
Note:
Several passages clarify that, although Satan was cast out of the highest
heaven at the time of that first war (GC 500:1; PP 42:2), and out of the
last sympathies of the angels at the death of Christ (DA 758:1-761:3), he
was able to visit other planets until the beginning of the millennium
(above quotations). So, in a very special sense, he is finally
"bound" to the earth.
- 8 -
UNABLE TO TEMPT SATAN WILL ONLY HAVE TIME TO THINK
1
-
He is limited to the earth.
"Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil
angels for a thousand years.
Limited
to the
earth,
he will not have access to other worlds to
tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It Is
In this sense that he Is bound: there are none remaining. upon
whom he can exercise his power. He is wholly cut off from the work of
deception and ruin which for so many centuries has been
his
sole delight." Great
Controversy,
659:1.
2
-
Even the wicked are beyond his reach.
"Even
the wicked are now placed beyond the
power of Satan,
and alone
with his evil angels
he remains to realize the effect of
the curse which sin has brought." Great Controversy, 660:1.
3 - He fears the future.
"During this time, Satan suffers extremely. Since his fall his evil
traits have been in constant exercise. But he is then to be deprived of
his power, and left to reflect upon the part which he has acted since his
fall, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful
future, when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be
punished for all the sins that he has caused to be committed." Early
Writings, 290:1.
4
.
His
sufferings are intense.
"For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate
earth to behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God, during
this time his sufferings are Intense. Since his fall his life of
unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of his
power and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since first he
rebelled against the government of heaven, and to look forward with
trembling and terror to the dreadful future when he must suffer for all
the evil that he has done and be punished for the sins that he has caused
to be committed." Great Controversy, 660:2.
- 3 -
POST-ASCENSION EVENTS IN HEAVEN
-
1 -
THE JOURNEY TO THE CITY OF GOD
1
-
The
meeting in the sky.
"There stands the risen host. The last thought was of death and its
pangs. The last thoughts they
had
were of the grave and the tomb, but now they proclaim,
'0
death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where
is thy victory?'
. . Here
they
stand and the finishing touch of
immortality is put upon them and they go up to meet their Lord in the air.
, There are the columns of angels on either side; . . then the angelic
choir strike the note of victory and the angels in the two columns take up
the song and the redeemed host join as though they had been singing the
song on the earth, and they have been. Oh, what music! There is not an inharmonious
note. Every voice proclaims, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.' He sees
the travail of His soul, and is satisfied." Sons and Daughters
of God, 359:4.
2 - They ascend to the Holy City.
“Friends long separated by death are united,
nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend
together to the City of God.
"On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and
beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the
wheels cry, 'Holy: and the wings, as they move, cry, 'Holy,' and the
retinue of angels cry, 'Holy, holy, holy, lord God Almighty.' And the
redeemed shout, 'Alleluia" as the chariot moves onward toward the New
Jerusalem.”
Great
Controversy,
645:1-2.
3 - "Homeward Bound!"
"Oh, how glorious it will be to see Him and be welcomed as His
redeemed ones! Long have we waited, but our hope is not to
grow dim. If we can but see the King In His beauty we shall
be forever blessed. I feel as if I must cry aloud, 'Homeward
bound!' " 8 Testimonies, 253:1.
4 - The journey takes seven days.
"We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the
sea of glass."
Early
Writings,
16:2.
Brother G.B. Starr (1854-1944) worked for many years as an evangelist and
church administrator.
He
worked for a time in Australia, and later reported statements which, he
said,
Ellen White made to him.
But some of his statements do not ring right, when compared with her
writings.
For that reason,
we cannot
accept the most
startling of them as
factual.
Perhaps the story
about
the stop-over planet
is true (it would be nice if it were), but we cannot
know this with certainty.
(However,
it is of Interest that, later in this present section, we will quote a
passage which says angels are now preparing crowns for the
saints (5T 96). If they are now preparing
crowns,
they could also be preparing a stopover planet for the seven-day trip to
heaven.)
The
following quotation
by
the E.G. White
Estate discusses this particular
statement by G.B. Starr:
"The report, based on the memory of one individual [Starr], that
Ellen G. White stated in a dinner-table conversation that the inhabitants
of other worlds are gathering fruit for the Sabbath-day entertainment of
the translated saints en route to heaven, is without support, and
fanciful. The assertion that the words were stenographically reported is
without foundation. Ellen G. White makes only the simple statement in Early
Writings, page 16, that 'We were seven days ascending to the sea of
glass,' No mention is made by Ellen G. White of the Sabbath spent en route."
Apocryphal quotations of E.G. White, statement by E. G. White Estate, E.G.
White Index, Vol. 3, p. 3189.
- 2 -
THE SAINTS' CORONATION ON THE SEA OF GLASS OUTSIDE THE
CITY
1
-
Sequence:
(1) Clothed in glorious white robes, all the saints
are standing on the sea of
glass
outside
the
City. (2) They are standing in a hollow
square,
with
Jesus in the center,
(3)
The angels bring
crowns from
the
city,
and Jesus
personally
places a crown on
the head of each saint. (4)
Each one is satisfied with his crown. (5) The angels bring harps
from
the city, and Jesus personally hands one to each of His redeemed ones. (6)
Then the commanding angel strikes the first note, and
other leading angels with him; and all sweep
the
strings and sing praises to Christ.
"Before entering the City of God,
the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and
invests them with the insignia of their
royal
state. The glittering ranks are drawn
up in
the form of a hollow square about their King, whose form rises
in majesty high above saint and angel, whose countenance beams upon them
full of benignant love, Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed
every glance is fixed upon Him, every eye beholds His glory whose 'visage
was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men,'
Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places
the crown of glory.
For
each there
is a crown, bearing his own 'new name' (Revelation 2: 17), and the
inscription, 'Holiness to the Lord.' In every hand are placed the
victor's palm and the shining harp. Then, as the commanding angels
strike the note, every hand sweeps the harp
strings with skillful
touch, awaking sweet music in rich, melodious strains. Rapture
unutterable thrills every heart, and each voice Is raised In grateful
praise: 'Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to
Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.' Revelation 1:5, 6," Great
Controversy. 645:3-646:0.
“Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed
them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of
victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a
perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright.
Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were
perfectly satisfied with their crowns, And they were all clothed with a
glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their
feet." Early
Writings, 16:2-17:0.
"Then
I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city
glorious
crowns
-a
crown for
every saint, with his name
written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels
presented them
to Him, and with His own right hand, the lovely Jesus placed the crowns
on the heads of the saints. In the same manner the angels brought the harps,
and Jesus presented them also to the saints. The commanding angel
first struck the note, and then every voice was raised in grateful,
happy praise, and every hand skillfully swept over the strings of the
harp, sending forth melodious music in rich and perfect
strains." Early
Writings,
288:1.
Note: According to the above statements, all the redeemed-including the 144,000
-are in the hollow square. This agrees with GC 665:2; in
which several different groups surround Jesus. Thus the 144,000 can
be said to be in the square, and also all the saints can be said to be in
that square.
2
-
The angels welcome them with singing,
"In that day the redeemed
will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels,
touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and His trophies of
victory-those
who have been washed and made white in the blood of the
Lamb, A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ
has conquered. He enters the heavenly courts, accompanied by His redeemed
ones, the witnesses that His mission of suffering and sacrifice has not
been in vain." 9 Testimonies, 285:2-286:0.
3
-
Angels are
now making those crowns. "When the Lord makes up His jewels. the
true, the frank, the honest, will be looked upon with pleasure, Angels
are employed In making crowns for such ones, and upon these star-gemmed
crowns will be reflected, with splendor, the light which radiates from the
throne of God." 5 Testimonies, 96:2,
4
- A crown of glory is waiting for us, individually, in heaven.
“A
crown of glory.
. is laid up for us who wait, and love, and long
for the appearing of the Saviour.
" It is the waiting ones who are to be crowned with
glory, honor, and immortality. You need not talk to me of the honors of
the world, or the praise of its great ones. They are all vanity. Let but
the finger of God touch them, and they would soon go back to dust again. I
want honor that is lasting, honor that is immortal, honor that will
never perish; a crown that is richer than any crown that that ever
decked the brow of a monarch. Maranatha 309:3-4.
5
- Soon we will receive those crowns.
"Talk
of heavenly things, Talk of Jesus, His loveliness and glory, and of His
undying love for you, and let your heart flow out in love and gratitude
to Him, who died to save you. Oh, get ready to meet your Lord in peace. Those
who are ready will soon receive an unfading crown of life, and
will dwell forever in the kingdom of God,' with Christ, with angels, and
with those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ."
Sons
and Daughters of God, 362:2.
6 - Receiving their crowns, many will thank their
mothers.
“The day of God will reveal how
much the world
owes to godly mothers. . When the judgment shall
sit, and the books shall be opened; when the 'well done' of the great
Judge is pronounced, and the crown of immortal glory is placed upon the
brow of the victor, many will raise their crowns in sight of the
assembled universe, and pointing to their mother say: 'She made me all
am through the grace of God. Her instruction, her prayers, have been
blessed to my eternal salvation." Maranatha, 308:2-3.
7
- Parents will see their children crowned.
"With
joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp,
given to their children. The days of hope and fear are ended. The seed
sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their
harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed."
Maranatha, 308:1.
8 - Christ will rejoice as He beholds the redeemed.
"In
the results
of His work Christ will behold its recompense.
In that great multitude which no man could number, presented
'faultless before
the presence of His glory with
exceeding joy.' He
whose blood
has redeemed and whose life has taught us 'shall see of the
travail of His soul,
and shall
be satisfied.' " Education, 309:3.
- 3 -
JESUS OPENS THE GATES AND LEADS HIS FAITHFUL ONES INTO
THE CITY
1.
Sequence: (1) The entire company march across the sea of glass to the
City. (2) Jesus opens the gates and tells them, "You have washed your
robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth; enter in." (3) Jesus
leads them into the City, and they feel they have a perfect right to be
there. (4) Within the City, they behold Adam's original home-the Garden
of Eden. (5) Then Jesus says, "Your conflict is
ended;
come, ye blessed of My Father. .
"
"Angels
were all about
us as we marched over the sea of glass
to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious
arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges,
and said to us, 'You have washed your
robes
in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter
in.'
We all marched in and felt that we had a perfect right in the city."
Early Writings, 17:0.
"Jesus threw open the gates of the golden city and led us in. Here we were
made welcome,
for we had kept the 'commandments of
God,'
and had a 'right to the tree of life.' “
Early
Writings,
35:1.
“Before
the ransomed throng Is the Holy City. Jesus opens wide the pearly gates, and
the nations that have kept the truth enter in. There they behold the
Paradise of God, the home of Adam in his innocency. Then that voice,
richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, is heard, saying:
'Your conflict is ended.' 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' " Great
Controversy, 646:1.
"A
voice, richer than any music
that ever fell on mortal ear, will be
heard saying, 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, Inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'” Counsels
on Stewardship, 950:2.
Note:
As quoted above, In EW 35 it is called "a gate," but
"gates" In the other (later) passages. This was either an
initial memory lapse (In recounting her first vision) or a typographical
error. But it is also an evidence of how exactly her writings were later
printed and reprinted.
- 4 -
A VIEW OF THE CITY
1 - Jesus enters the city triumphally with His followers. Everything
within the city is beautiful and lovely, and, In thankfulness, the redeemed
cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and sing praises to Him.
"Within
the city
there was everything to feast the eye. Rich glory
they beheld everywhere. Then Jesus looked upon His redeemed saints;
their countenances were radiant with glory; and as He fixed His loving
eyes upon them, He said with His rich, musical voice, ‘I behold the
travail
of My soul, and am satisfied.
This
rich glory is yours
to enjoy eternally. Your sorrows are
ended. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither
shall there be any more
pain.' I saw
the
redeemed host bow and cast their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus,
and then, as
His lovely hand raised them
up. they touched their
golden
harps and
filled all heaven with their rich music and songs
to the Lamb." Early Writings,
288:1-289:0.
Here
is another view of the city; this one 2,000 years earlier, when Christ
previously entered it triumphally just after His ascension:
"Then
the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng
sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.
"There
is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim
and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the
representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly
council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son.. the
representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to
establish his dominion,
-all
are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His
triumph
and to glorify their King." Desire
of
Ages,
833:
11-834:1.
- 5 -
THE TWO ADAMS MEET
1
- Adam falls at the feet of Christ.
"As
the ransomed ones are welcomed to the
City
of God, there rings out upon the air an exultant cry
of adoration. The two Adams are about to meet.
The Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to
receive the father of our race
-the being whom He created, who sinned against his Maker, and for whose
sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Saviour's form. As
Adam discerns the prints of the cruel
nails, he does not fall upon the
bosom of his Lord, but in humiliation casts himself at His feet,
crying: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!'
Tenderly
the Saviour lifts him up and bids him look once more upon the Eden home
from which he has so long been exiled." Great Controversy, 647:2.
- 6 -
ADAM VIEWS THE GARDEN OF EDEN
1
-
In
Eden, Adam and his family worship and praise Christ.
"Transported
with joy, he [Adam} beholds the trees that were once his
delight—the
very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the
days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have
trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps
the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden
restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The
Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit
and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of
his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he
casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling
upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and
the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: "Worthy, worthy,
worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!" The family of
Adam take up the strain and cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet
as they bow before Him in adoration." Great Controversy, 648:1.
-7-
THE REDEEMED SEE THE TREE AND THE THRONE
1
-
A
view of the tree of life.
"Here
we
saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came
a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of
life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the
other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I
thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at
the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the
river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the
fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver." Early
Writings, 17:1.
2
- Partaking of the tree, and viewing the throne.
"I
then
saw Jesus leading His people to the tree of
life, and again we heard His lovely voice, richer than any music that
ever fell on mortal ear, saying, . The leaves of this tree are for the
healing of the nations. Eat ye all of it.' Upon the tree of life was
most beautiful fruit, of which the saints could partake freely. In
the city was a most glorious throne, from which proceeded a pure river of
water of life, clear as crystal. On each side of this river was the tree
of life, and on the banks of the river were other beautiful trees bearing
fruit which was good for food.
"Language
is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven. As the scene
rises before me, I am lost in amazement. Carried away with the surpassing
splendor and excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, 'Oh, what
love! what wondrous love!' The most exalted language fails to describe the
glory of heaven or the matchless depths
of a
Saviour's love." Early Writings, 289: 1-2,
- 8 -
THE 144,000 SING A NEW SONG ON THE CRYSTAL SEA
BEFORE THE THRONE
1
-
The
144,000 are frequently mentioned in
Early
Writings,
and less often in Great Controversy. But in one
paragraph we are given several
identifying features of this group: (1) They had gotten the victory over
the beast, his image, and his name (2) They were translated from among
the living at the second advent, and therefore are first fruits. (3) They
came out of great tribulation, for they passed through the time of
trouble. (4) They went through Jacob's trouble. (5) They stood without an
intercessor after the close of probation. (6) They were without fault
before God.
"Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it
were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the
company
that have
'gotten the victory over the beast, and over his Image, and over his mark,
and over the number of his name.' With the Lamb upon
Mount Zion, 'having the harps of God,' they stand, the hundred and
forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there
is
heard, as the sound of many waters,
and as the sound of a great thunder, 'the voice of harpers harping with
their harps.' And they sing 'a new song' before the throne,
a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four
thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb-a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four
thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience an
experience such as no other company have ever had. 'These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.' These, having been translated
from the earth, from among the living, are counted as 'the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb.' Revelation 15:2,3; 14:1-5. 'These are
they which came out of great tribulation;' they have
passed
through the time of trouble
such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured
the anguish of the
time
of Jacob's trouble;
they have stood without an Intercessor through the final outpouring of
God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have 'washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' 'In their
mouth
was found no guile: for they are
without
fault'
before God." Great Controversy, 648:3-649:0.
- 9 -
THE REDEEMED
MEET THEIR GUARDIAN ANGELS
1
-
Each
person's
guardian
angel will meet him in the resurrection, and will later tell him about
God's guidance and care in his life.
"Not until the providences of God are seen in the light
of
eternity
shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His
angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men.
They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come
as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the hospitalities of
human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have
thwarted the spoiler's purpose, and turned aside the stroke of the
destroyer. .
"Every redeemed one will understand the ministry of angels in his
own life. The angel who was his guardian from his earliest moment; the
angel who watched his steps, and covered his head in the day of peril; the
angel who was with him in the valley of the shadow of death, who marked
his resting place, who was the first to greet him in the resurrection
morning,
-what will it
be to hold converse with him, and to
learn
the history of divine interposition in the individual
life, of heavenly cooperation in every work for humanity!" Education
304:4-305:2.
- 10 -
THE DAYS OF PAIN AND WEEPING ARE FOREVER ENDED
1
-
Every
cause of grief has been removed.
“Henceforth they are to be ever with the Lord.
They stand before the throne clad in richer robes than
the most honored of the earth have ever worn. They are crowned with
diadems more glorious than were ever placed upon the brow of earthly
monarchs. The days of pain and weeping are forever ended. The King
of glory has wiped the tears from all faces; every cause of
grief has been removed. Amid the waving of palm branches they
pour forth a song of praise, clear, sweet, and harmonious; every voice
takes up the strain, until the anthem swells through the vaults of heaven:
'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.'
And
all the inhabitants of heaven respond in the
ascription: 'Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.'
Revelation
7:10, 12." Great Controversy, 650:1-651:0.
- 11 -
THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION WILL
ENLARGE FOREVER
1
-
Throughout
eternal ages the redeemed
will ever be learning more about what
it cost
to save them.
"In
this life we
can only begin to understand
the wonderful theme of redemption.
With
our
finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the shame and the
glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in the
cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp
its full significance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the
height, of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended. The plan of
redemption will not be fully understood, even when the ransomed see as
they are seen and know as they are known: but through
the eternal
ages
new truth will continually
unfold
to
the wondering and delighted mind. Though the griefs and pains and
temptations of earth are ended and the cause removed, the people of
God will ever have
a
distinct, intelligent knowledge of what their salvation has cost.
"The cross of Christ will
be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In
Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified. Never will it be
forgotten that He whose power created and upheld the unnumbered worlds
through the vast realms of space, the Beloved of God, the Majesty of
heaven, He whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adore
-humbled Himself to
uplift
fallen man; that He bore the guilt and shame of sin, and the hiding of
His Father's face,
till the woes
of
a lost world broke His heart and crushed out His
life on Calvary's cross.
That
the
Maker of all worlds, the Arbiter of
all destinies, should lay aside His glory and humiliate Himself from
love
to man will ever excite the wonder and
adoration of the universe. As the nations of the saved look upon their
Redeemer and behold the eternal glory of the Father shining in His countenance;
as they behold His throne, which is from everlasting to everlasting, and
know that His kingdom is to have no end, they break forth in rapturous
song: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to
God by His own most precious blood!'
"The
mystery of the cross explains all other
mysteries. In the light that streams from Calvary the
attributes of God which had filled us with fear and awe appear beautiful
and attractive.
Mercy, tenderness, and
parental love are seen to blend with holiness, justice, and power. While
we behold the majesty of His throne, high and lifted up, we see His
character in its gracious manifestations, and comprehend, as never before,
the significance of that endearing title, 'Our Father,'
"It will be seen that He who is infinite in wisdom could devise no
plan for our salvation except the sacrifice of His Son.
The compensation
for this sacrifice Is the joy of peopling the earth
with
ransomed beings, holy, happy, and immortal.
The result of the Saviour's conflict with
the powers of darkness is joy to the redeemed, redo |