The Glories of the Heavenly World

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for November 20
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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The Glories of the Heavenly World

Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by
the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath
prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isa. 64:4. 


Many have longed to penetrate into the glories of the future world and
to have the secrets of eternal mysteries disclosed to them, but they
knock in vain. That which is revealed is for us and for our children. .
. . The Great Revealer hath opened to our intelligence many things that
are essential in order that we may understand the heavenly attractions
and have respect to the recompense of the reward. . . . 

The unfoldings of Jesus in reference to heavenly things are of a
character that only the spiritual mind can appreciate. The imagination
may summon its utmost powers in order to picture the glories of heaven,
but "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 Cor. 2:9). The heavenly intelligences are all around us. . . . Angels
of light create a heavenly atmosphere about the soul, lifting us toward
the unseen and eternal. We cannot behold their forms with our natural
sight; only by the spiritual vision can we discern heavenly things. Our
human powers would be extinguished by the inexpressible glory of the
angels of light. The spiritual ear alone can distinguish the harmony of
heavenly voices. It is not Christ's plan to excite the emotions by
brilliant descriptions. . . . He has with sufficient distinctness
presented Himself, the way, the truth, and the life, as the only means
whereby salvation is to be obtained. No more than this is really
required. 

He might bring the human soul to the threshold of heaven, and through
the open door show us its inner glory flooding the heavenly sanctuary
and shining out through its portals; but we must behold it by faith, not
with the natural eyes. He does not forget that we are His human agents,
to work the works of God in a world all seared and marred with the
curse. It is in this world, that is clothed with moral darkness like the
pall of death, where darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the
people, that we are to walk in the light of heaven.

>From Maranatha - Page 332