PART EIGHTEEN -ATHE ETERNITY BEYOND
This section is filled with "heaven quotes" from the Spirit of Prophecy. It is a project the present writer has wanted to do for many years.
The first part of this present section consists of some of the statements about heaven from the books, Great Controversy and Early Writings. It is given immediately below.
The second part is filled with quotations on this same topic (heaven and the new earth, plus the importance of striving to be there) from those and other published Spirit of Prophecy books. We will introduce the contents of that part when we come to it. Throughout this entire section, we will add no italics to the Spirit of Prophecy statements.
Here are some of the "heaven quotes" from Early Writings and Great Controversy:
1 - QUOTATIONS FROM EARLY WRITINGS AND GREAT CONTROVERSY
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THE EARTH BECOMES THE HOME OF THE REDEEMED
"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." Great Controversy, 674:3.
"God's entire universe was clean, and the great controversy was forever ended. Wherever we looked, every thing upon which the eye rested was beautiful and holy. And all the redeemed host, old and young, great and small, cast their glittering crowns at the feet of their Redeemer, and prostrated themselves in adoration before Him, and worshiped Him that liveth forever and ever, The beautiful new earth, with all its glory, was the eternal in heritance of the saints. The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was then given to the saints of the Most High, who were to possess it forever, even forever and ever." Early Writings, 295:1.
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IT WILL BE INDESCRIBABLY GLORIOUS
" '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." Great Controversy, 675:0.
IT WILL BE A PEACEFUL HOME
"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 everflowing 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.' " Great Controversy, 675:1-2.
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THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN, SORROW, OR DEATH
"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.' " Great Controversy, 676:1.
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A VIEW OF THE NEW JERUSALEM
"With Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city, with twelve foundations and twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We all cried out, 'The city, the great city, it's coming, it's coming down from God out of heaven!' And it came and settled on the place where we stood. Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars set with pearls most glorious to behold. These were to be inhabited by the saints. In each was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here—no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God.
"I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, 'They will never fade" Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green and had a reflection of silver and gold as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts—the lion, the Iamb, the leopard, and the wolf, all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after.
"Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here -no, no; but light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees moved to and fro, and we all cried out, 'We will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.'" Early Writings, 17:9-18:1.
"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." Great Controversy, 676:2-9.
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THE REDEEMED WILL COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
"The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son. 'Now we see through a glass, darkly.' 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." Great Controversy, 676:4-677:0.
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RESTORED TO THE TREE OF LIFE THE REDEEMED WILL GROW UP
"Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will 'grow up' (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of a race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ's faithful ones will appear in 'the beauty of the Lord our God,' in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord. Oh, wonderful redemption! long talked of, long hoped for, contemplated with eager anticipation, but never fully understood:' Great Controversy, 645:0.
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THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS WORKS WILL FOREVER INCREASE
"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." Great Controversy, 677:1-2.
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THE REDEEMED WILL TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE
"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 afar-worlds 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." Great Controversy, 677:3.
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THEIR PRIMARY STUDY WILL BE THE CHARACTER, LOVE, AND SACRIFICE OF GOD
"With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation-suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the Creator's name is written, and in all are the riches of His power displayed." Great Controversy, 677:3-678:0.
THE LONGER THEY LIVE THE MORE THEY WILL KNOW, LOVE, AND PRAISE HIM
"And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of his character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise." Great Controversy, 678:1.
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EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, WILL FOREVER DECLARE THAT GOD IS LOVE
" 'And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.' Revelation 5:13.
"The great controversy ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love." Great Controversy, 678:2-3.
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