The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-06-15
The Heavenly Home

OUnef BOOKS, revelation STANDS apart
from the rest of the Bible 1t is sin
gular, difficult, mysterious. 1t has
been called the cross of crosses of
commentators. One instantly loses
himself in the labyrinth OF variant
interpretations. It seems best not to
attempt to make direct verbal appli-
cation of the contents to events past,
current or future. On the whole,
fIOm the mistakes of.the past, it is
emiDently the wise course to declare
the book a prOphetico-poeticc chain of
llegorles-an album of vivid pictures
the whole intent of which is to
create, feed, and shelter hope OF the
ultimate aud practically universal
dominance of the good, in spite of
transitorY reverses and lapses.
Under the material emblem OF a
city, adorned and beautified, the
/ spiritual betterment of humanity
seems to be Swallowed. The plan and
fashion of the city is from heaven.
The ideals of right human living are
Divine. As these ideals are realized,
and in the proportion that they are
realized, God lives with and in men.
In the ratio of righteousness fright
living tears are dried. Wrong living
/ Sim is the sole cause of tears, painful
! death. sorrow, and crying.
! In this apocalytic city John sees no
/ temple. a temple is a reminder of an
absent Deity. Gods presence makes
a material structure in His honor I'M
necessary. Yet this presence need not
/ be external and additional to the
moral and spiritual qualities evolved
/ in the souls of men. To use Tolstoi's
/ phrase, Where love is, there God is. .
In this renewed earth, sun and
| moon will not be quenched: but the
unearthly radiance of right Lying
will outshine them. Whole nations,
with their rulers, will keep walking
| in this light, which never shone on
land or sea. This good life is not
| difficult of access. 1t requires no
/ toilsOme pilgrimage. 1t is at hand.
! 1t is like a four-square city, with
ever-open gates on every side. He
who makes right living hard and la
/ borious is aside from the description
of the revelator.
Some one suggests that the change
of figures is significant. 1t is no long
er mere paradise or garden. Now
! it is q city of God on earth, staUeier
and more glorious, but at the same
time result of human cooperation
with the Divine. Man building after
Gods plans and specifications.
This is the holy dream OF the Jhous-
and happy years, the millennial reign,
/ which has been the solace and inspi-
ration of the saints in all ages-an iu-
definitely long period in which there
shall be substantially universal
righteousness Fright living and its
concomitants, universal peace and
universal joy.
Here, however, is no statical con-
/ dition, no tiXitY. Here is rest; but it
is the rest attendant upon a steady,
unwearied advancement. There is an
! infinite progression. First in appre-
/ hension of the riches. both of the wis
/ dom and acknowledge of God. Then
in goodness, until the fruits of the
Spirit appear and come to perfection.
/ Finally in serviceableness, until the
/ Masters rule of life becomes the dis
ciple's-'Not to be ministered unto,
| but to minister and give"
The Teachers Lantern.
Out on the statical heayenl Eter-
nallY resting on the banks of the
river. 1t would be purgatory to the
sentient, aspiring, capable soul. We
shall think and do and be, but with
out the handicaps of the present.
Current views of the life Of heaven
are far too rigid. Congregations
never breaking up and Sabbaths
neYeriending. 1t seems best to think
OF the heavenly life as like one lived
in this world, when it shall have been
renovated by the advent of the mill
lennial kingdom. We shall just be
and do and live and love in an abso-
lutely natural and human way.
y =
The millennial kingdom comes not
as u cataclYsm. 1t is rather like
Yeast i'll dough: steadily, impercepti-
bly, spreading ont and up, till the
whole mass is lifted.
%
In the ultimate analysis, the New
Jerusalem is, after all, not a city at
all; but people, renewed and adorn-
ed with gifts, grace, and usefulness.
The jeweled walls, golden streets,
river tree, and all, are material en-
blems of the moral and spiritual
qualities of a redeemed humanity.