The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-17

The City Gates (Rev. 21: IL, 13, 25).
In the vision there were twelve gates
to the city, four on each side, and
these gates were always open. The
gates are open with welcome from
every direction. All people, Of all
kinds, of all races, of all ages, are
welcome. More than this, they are
open for all ideas, all good things, all
true qualities of character, all art, all
truths, learning, riches, culture, secu-
lar things all that delights, helps,
builds up man.
The Garden City (Rev. %: /, p.
The story Of man begins with a gar
den and ends with a city, "the
final stage of culture" The
city stands for convenience, cul-
ture. power, stimulus, fellow
ship, enjoyment, interest in human
life, all the advantages which come
from the close union of many. But in
the Paradise Regained, flows w. u "a
pure river OF water Of life, clear as
crystal. -. ". p in the midst of the
street Of It," This river symbolizes all
that is refreshing, life-glving, thirst
quenching, cleansing, beautiful, flow
ing close by all that the city stands
for "On either side of the river"
made fiourishing by 1t, was there the
tree Of life" yielding beauty, and com
fort, but most of all bearing twelve
manner of fruits" for feeding the
soul; great variety in order to sat
isfy every hunger, every longing and
desire, for sustaining and giving
growth to every faculty, the whole
being THE leaves of the tree were
for the healing Of the nations The
trees are not to be isolated, but to be
brought into contact with the people,
even the leaves, the means by which
fruit is borne are a healing power to
the nations.
The Things Excluded Tvs. 3, 81. 3.
There shall be no more curse" Moth
ing that brings evil. nothing that In
jures soul or body, no barrier between
the soul and God.
5. "And there shall be no night
there" no ignorance. no prejudice or
sin that shuts out the light. no deeds
Of darkness, no love OF evil, no mere
cropping for truth and right. Nothing
shall be there that is described in
Rev. 81: s. 27, for these evils and sins
are contrary to the very nature OF the
Kingdom OF God. They can no more
exist there than darkness can remain
in the light of the sun.
There shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying. =. nor
pain" (Rev 81: a.. These cannot ex.
ist because sin. their cause, no longer
exists So long as sin exists in the
soul. or disease in the body, there
must also exist pain, as the danger
signal, as the impulse to righteous liv-
ing.
Sixth: Things Included Within the
City Tvs. $50. % THE Throne OF
God and OF the Lamb" " 81. Their
presence. guiding proyidence (2)
They shall see his face" ". A., which
only the pure in heart can see. The
power and joy Of intimate personal
communion with God and Christ go
His name" representing all that God
is In character. shall be In (on) their
forehNads" w. A.. marking them as
HIS children, and showing in their very
appearance the heavenly character.
(4) The Lord God giveth them light"
". 81. Direct inspiration, the illuml-
nation of the Spirit. The light is for
all without distinction, doing for us
spiritually all that light does for us in
nature. (5) The water OF life freely.
(6) The fruits Of the tree of life (7)
The kings Of the earth shall bring
their glory into 1t: all that is good
and desirable in this world shall be
long to the perfect state. Nothing
good shall be excluded. nothing BAN
ned. HE shall inherit all things (S)
And they shall reign for ever and
ever" He shall reign over himself.
no longer "a heritage Of woe" but
crowned and mitred DER thysef reign
thou He shall reign over all things
SO that everything on earth and in
heaven shall minister to his service in
the kingdom OF heaven.
III. When These Visions Shall be
Fulflled.-Vs. ELL 6. "Shew unto
his servants the things which must
shortly be done" as stated also In the
first chapter, "the time is at hand"
". 10; Rev. L. 81. The visions we're
plainly meant TO comfort and help the
Christians in the apostles time. Jesus
himself is four times reported as say
ing that he would come again in his
glory during the lifetime OF some who
heard him speak Matt 16: 2S: "a:
"a; Mark 10: 80; Luke 81: 32). The
early Christians certainly expected
soon the second coming Of Jesus in
his kingdom.
Were they mistaken? Some say
they we're. and that they expected all
these things completely fulfilled, and
they were not But the truth u that,
with a common sense understanding
OF the facts. they were not mistaken,
for the things spoken OF were at hand.
According to most scholars, John
was bringing his message to Christ
ians only a short time before the des-