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burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin。
One reminder alone remains： Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His
crucifixion。 Upon His wounded head； upon His side； His hands and feet； are
the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought。 Says the prophet；
beholding Christ in His glory： 〃He had bright beams coming out of His side：
and there was the hiding of His power。〃 Habakkuk 3：4； margin。 That pierced
side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to Godthere is
the Saviour's glory； there 〃the hiding of His power。〃 〃Mighty to save；〃
through the sacrifice of redemption； He was therefore strong to execute
justice upon them that despised God's mercy。 And the tokens of His
humiliation are His highest honor； through the eternal ages the wounds of
Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power。
〃O Tower of the flock； the stronghold of the daughter of Zion； unto Thee
shall it come； even the first dominion。〃 Micah 4：8。 The time has come to
which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the
first pair from Eden； the time for 〃the redemption of the purchased
possession。〃 Ephesians 1：14。 The earth originally given to man as his
kingdom； betrayed by him into the hands of Satan； and so long held by the
mighty foe； has been brought back by the great plan of redemption。 All that
was lost by sin has been restored。 〃Thus saith the Lord 。 。 。 that formed
the earth and made it； He hath established it； He created it not in vain； He
formed it to be inhabited。〃 Isaiah 45：18。 God's original purpose in the
creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the
redeemed。 〃The righteous shall inherit the land； and dwell therein forever。〃
Psalm 37：29。
A fear of making the future inheritance seem too material
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has led many to spiritualize away the very truths which lead us to look upon
it as our home。 Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare
mansions for them in the Father's house。 Those who accept the teachings of
God's word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode。 And
yet； 〃eye hath not seen； nor ear heard； neither have entered into the heart
of man； the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him。〃 1
Corinthians 2：9。 Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the
righteous。 It will be known only to those who behold it。 No finite mind can
comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God。
In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called 〃a country。〃 Hebrews
11：14…16。 There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living
waters。 The tree of life yields its fruit every month； and the leaves of the
tree are for the service of the nations。 There are ever…flowing streams；
clear as crystal； and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the
paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord。 There the wide…spreading plains
swell into hills of beauty； and the mountains of God rear their lofty
summits。 On those peaceful plains； beside those living streams； God's
people； so long pilgrims and wanderers； shall find a home。
〃My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation； and in sure dwellings； and
in quiet resting places。〃 〃Violence shall no more be heard in thy land；
wasting nor destruction within thy borders； but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation； and thy gates Praise。〃 〃They shall build houses； and inhabit
them； and they shall plant vineyards； and eat the fruit of them。 They shall
not build； and another inhabit； they shall not plant； and another eat： 。 。 。
Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands。〃 Isaiah 32：18； 60：18；
65：21； 22。
There； 〃the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them； and
the desert shall rejoice； and blossom as the rose。〃 〃Instead of the thorn
shall come up the fir tree； and instead of the brier shall come up the
myrtle tree。〃 〃The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb； and the leopard
shall
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lie down with the kid； 。 。 。 and a little child shall lead them。〃 〃They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain；〃 saith the Lord。 Isaiah
35：1； 55：13； 11：6； 9。
Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven。 There will be no more tears；
no funeral trains； no badges of mourning。 〃There shall be no more death；
neither sorrow； nor crying： 。 。 。 for the former things are passed away。〃
〃The inhabitant shall not say； I am sick： the people that dwell therein
shall be forgiven their iniquity。〃 Revelation 21：4； Isaiah 33：24。
There is the New Jerusalem； the metropolis of the glorified new earth； 〃a
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord； and a royal diadem in the hand of
thy God。〃 〃Her light was like unto a stone most precious； even like a jasper
stone； clear as crystal。〃 〃The nations of them which are saved shall walk in
the light of it： and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor
into it。〃 Saith the Lord： 〃I will rejoice in Jerusalem； and joy in My
people。〃 〃The tabernacle of God is with men； and He will dwell with them；
and they shall be His people； and God Himself shall be with them； and be
their God。〃 Isaiah 62：3； Revelation 21：11； 24； Isaiah 65：19； Revelation
21：3。
In the City of God 〃there shall be no night。〃 None will need or desire
repose。 There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering
praise to His name。 We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and
shall ever be far from its close。 〃And they need no candle； neither light of
the sun； for the Lord God giveth them light。〃 Revelation 22：5。 The light of
the sun will be superseded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling；
yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide。 The glory
of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light。 The redeemed
walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day。
〃I saw no temple therein： for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the
temple of it。〃 Revelation 21：22。 The people of God are privileged to hold
open communion with the Father and the Son。 〃Now we see through a glass；
darkly。〃 。PG 677
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1 Corinthians 13：12。 We behold the image of God reflected；
as in a mirror； in the works of nature and in His dealings with men； but
then we shall see Him face to face； without a dimming veil between。 We shall
stand in His presence and behold the glory of His countenance。
There the redeemed shall know； even as also they are known。 The loves and
sympathies which God Himself has planted in the soul shall there find truest
and sweetest exercise。 The pure communion with holy beings； the harmonious
social life with the blessed angels and with the faithful ones of all ages
who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb；
the sacred ties that bind together 〃the whole family in heaven and earth〃
（Ephesians 3：15）these help to constitute the happiness of the redeemed。
There； immortal minds will contemplate with never…failing delight the
wonders of creative power； the mysteries of redeeming love。 There will be no
cruel； deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God。 Every faculty will be
developed； every capacity increased。 The acquirement of knowledge will not
weary the mind or exhaust the energies。 There the grandest enterprises may
be carried forward； the loftiest aspirations reached； the highest ambitions
realized； and still there will arise new heights to surmount； new wonders to
admire； new truths to comprehend； fresh objects to call forth the powers of
mind and soul and body。
All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's
redeemed。 Unfettered by mortality； they wing their tireless flight to worlds
afarworlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and
rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul。 With
unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom
of unfallen beings。 They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding
gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's handiwork。 With
undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory