Part 2

Some minds may be troubled about the flaming sword being placed at the East of the Garden, or that we could see the Eastern side. This will be better understood by looking at the motion of our Planet. It is said by Astronomers that this Earth in its annual motion, is booming round the sun at the rate of nineteen miles per second; at the same time her diurnal motion from East to West is at the rate of ten miles per minute: consequently all the objects we see in the heavens, comes from the East, and among the rest this glorious constellation of _Orion_, all just as natural as it is for us to see the Sun rise in the East; and in the same direction the world will soon see what the Second Advent believer has long and anxiously been waiting for: viz. the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus ii: 13. Now let us take another view; not through Lord Rosse's, but God's great Telescope, which "declares the end from the beginning." Isa. 46: 10.

BIBLE VIEW.

The patriarch Jacob said to his sons that "God Almighty appeared unto him at Luz, which is Bethel." Gen. 48: 3; 25: 26. Here, while a Pilgrim traveller and stranger, he had laid himself down for the night, he "dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Gen. xxviii: 12. Seventeen hundred and ninety years after this, the Lord says to Nathaniel, "hereafter ye shall see HEAVEN OPEN, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man." This, then, is in the future. Next in order, Ezekiel has a vision, in the thirtieth "year of the Babylonish captivity by the river Chebar." He says, "the Heavens were OPENED, and I saw visions of God." He proceeds to describe his vision; please read Chap. i: 5, 10; 24, 28. He sees as the appearance of a man--describes also the stormy cloud with the brightness round about it; he also hears a _voice_ from the firmament, and says that the Lord God spake to him. Now see Chap. x: 4, 5; 19, 20. Here he says "the Cherubims stood at the door of the _East_ gate (where Moses says they were placed) of the Lord's House, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above." "This is the living creature that I saw _under_ the God of Israel by the river Chebar, and _I knew that they were Cherubims_." Is it not plain that Ezekiel has shown the same place and station of the Cherubims which Moses has, on the East side, keeping the way of the tree of life. Jacob calls them angels, and cries out in terror, "How dreadful is this place, this is none other but the House of God and this is the _gate_ (or opening) of Heaven." 17 v. Isaiah in a vision sees "the throne high and lifted up, and hears the _voice_ of God," as did the others. Let us examine here a few moments to see what Cherubims are, and their use. One writer says, "they appear to be servants of God sent to do his will." Hear God concerning them, "and there will I meet with thee and I will commune with thee from between the two Cherubims which are upon the Ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." Exo. xxv: 16, 22. PROOF--"And Hezekiah (in his distress) prayed before the Lord, and said O Lord God of Israel which dwelleth between the Cherubims," 2 Kings, xix: 15. "And God sent the prophets to tell him that his prayer was heard." v. 20.

"The Lord reigneth let the people tremble; he setteth between the Cherubims, let the earth be moved." Psl. xcix: 1. Then here is where we are to look for the Paradise of God, the Holy City, and where we shall soon hear the voice of God, for he "sitteth above between the Cherubims," as is represented in the old Tabernacle and Temple. "For see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." Heb. viii: 5; ix: 5. St. John also describes them, and tells what their occupations were in heaven. Rev. v: 11, 12.

Now we will proceed with the testimony concerning the opening heavens. John the Baptist bears record, that when he was coming up out of the water from baptising the Saviour, he "saw the heavens OPENED (or cloven or rent) and the spirit like a dove descending upon him, and there came a _voice_ from heaven," &c. Mark i: 10, 11; Luke iii: 20, 22; Matt. iii: 16, 17; John i: 32.

Here is the opening heavens, and the voice of God as before. When Jesus was transfigured on the Mount the Disciples saw the cloud and heard the _voice_ of God.

When the Savior ascended from Mount Olivet, his disciples saw him: the two shining ones said, "Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up _into heaven_? (it must have been _open_ to their view, or they could not have looked _into_ heaven) this same Jesus which is taken up from you _into heaven_ shall come again in like manner as ye have seen him go _into heaven_." Acts i: 11. Then of course, it will be from the same place.

Let us not be deceived about this, he has not come yet.

Again, St. Luke says of Stephen, the martyr, (while he was surrounded by a blood-thirsty mob, gnashing on him with their teeth, because of the burning truths which he uttered,) "Being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly _into heaven_, (at a certain point) and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God: and said, _behold, I see the heavens opened_, and the son of man standing on the right hand of God." Was Stephen mistaken? I think not--it was his dying testimony.

But here is a more singular case still, two miracles on two individuals of different nations to establish and fulfil Daniel's prophecy of the seventieth week upon his people (the Jews). The time had now come and something out of the ordinary way was to mark this epoch of time. Now look yonder in Cesarea, there is a Gentile in a vision, he sees an angel which directs him to send into Judea for a certain Jew named Peter. Where is he? At a place called Joppa. (the sea port of Jerusalem,) lying in a trance, on the top of a house, and made to feel "very hungry," (that he might more readily and willingly follow the teachings of the voice and spirit of God to proclaim salvation to the Gentiles, for he was one of the _stubborn ones_, that held to the _present truth_; and perhaps could not be prevailed upon to yield in any other way.) Just so with his _stubborn_ brethren, who called him to an account for going in to the Gentiles, but after he had rehearsed the whole matter to them, "then they believed and glorified God, for granting repentance to the Gentiles." But what was the miracle? Peter says he "saw _heaven opened_ and a certain vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth. This was done thrice (or three times) and the vessel was received up again _into Heaven_," and the voice of the Lord came to him twice, "saying what God has cleansed call not thou common." Acts x. and xi. ch. Here ends the confirming of the Covenant with many for one week. Danl. ix: 27, Heb. ii: 3.

The Apostle Paul in relating his vision says that he was "caught up to the third Heavens _into Paradise_." 2 Cor. xii: 2, 4. St. John, the "beloved disciple," in his solitary confinement on the Isle of Patmos, not only has the same view of the _opening Heavens_, and hears the same voice, but was called up there in the spirit, and immediately he was there, describing the glories of Heaven. Please read his description of the glorious picture before and around the throne, (from whence the Prophets and Apostles already quoted, have looked through God's _all_ magnifying Telescope, and was burdened with the cry, "This is none other but the House of God and this is the _gate_ of Heaven!" "And lo, the Heavens were _opened_"!! "I see Heaven _open_"!!! At the same time and place God speaks with them). V: 6--here he sees the Lamb. Also vii: 15; viii: 3, 5, and xii: 5. Jesus the Son was caught up there, xx: 11, and xxi: 5. Same thing in the iv: 8 v. he has Isaiah's view of the Seraphims and uses nearly the same language in describing them, and says with Isaiah they rest neither day nor night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come, 8 v., and in the fifth chapter he says "And I beheld and heard the voices of many angels round about the throne, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power," &c. &c. Ezekiel's Cherubims and John's Angels are undoubtedly the same. John's _four_ beasts, Isaiah's Seraphims, and Ezekiel's _four_ wheels are typical of the _four_ grand divisions of the Camp of Israel, around the Tabernacle in the wilderness, all marshalled and arrayed by God's direction with their _four_ different standards, (answering to the _four_ faces or sides to Ezekiel's wheel, and the faces of John's four beasts). Juda with the Lion in the front on the East, (Num. ch. ii.) all ready to move at a moment's warning. Even where the "cloudy pillar by day or of fire by night;" which rested on the Tabernacle, should direct. The Levites, the ministers of God, all moving in perfect harmony, with the Ark containing the Commandments of God; close after which, in the midst of the camp, in solid columns follows the taken down tabernacle. All moving after and watching the direction of this "fiery pillar by night," and the moment it ceased to move the camp halted. The Tabernacle was raised, and the Commandments of God, (the keeping of which will secure an entrance into the Anti-type, the real Heavenly Tabernacle, that is to be "with men," Rev. xxi: 3; xxii: 14.) restored to their proper place _beneath_, and under the guardian care of the Cherubims between which his people were directed to pray unto him. Exo. xxv: 22.

John also has described in the above mentioned texts, much of the furniture particularized in the old Tabernacle, which Paul says are "patterns of the true." Heb. ix: 23, 24. Conclusive evidence that he was in the "_true_ (or real) Tabernacle which God pitched, and not man." Heb. viii: 2. The same _City_, which Abraham "looked for, whose builder and maker is God." The Psalmist also agrees with Paul; and says, "The Lord has _prepared his throne_ in the Heavens." Paul says, that Jesus is there. See Heb. viii: 1, 2; and ix: 24. Jesus says, "he that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my _throne_, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in _his throne_." Rev. iii: 21. Now, is it not evident that God has but one sanctuary, and that his throne is there; and one place for that sanctuary, and that place in the third heavens? Why then, should there be more than one way to approach it, or for it to come from, namely, by "the Cherubims and flaming sword, stationed there, to guard the way?"

The editor of the Day Star asks, "why we stand gazing up into heaven; can you (meaning, I suppose, any one) tell where this same Jesus is coming from?" 2d. "Can you prove God the Father to be in one place, in any greater degree and power, than he is in any and every, and every other place?"

If we have not already offered sufficient evidence, in answer to these two most important questions to the true believer in Christ, we will try a little further; for if we cannot understand, nor in any way comprehend, the teachings of the divine word, in respect to the second coming and kingdom of Jesus Christ, the location of the heavenly _Sanctuary_, the new Jerusalem, God's dwelling place, other than is figuratively discerned, then, I say, we that truly believe in God, "are of all men the most miserable;" and the sooner we hoist the _Shaker's_ flag, and bring too under the lee of their _camp_, the better; for I should despair of ever getting my anchor _down_ "within the vale." In the first place then, we say, Jesus has not yet come the second time, in the manner he promised us. For when speaking of his coming, he says emphatically, "Then shall THEY SEE _the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven_," &c. Now, according to this description, I'll venture the assertion, that there is not a particle of proof in the universe, that one solitary individual has seen him. Hence, I for one, am gazing up into heaven looking, and unwaveringly believing, that this, his precious promise, will soon be realized. But you say, he has come in his saints. Well, I say there is no more proof of this, than there was that he was in his apostle's, eighteen hundred years ago--for they certainly wrought many wonderful miracles, and preached with as much power; and the mighty weapons they used, was the death, resurrection and second coming of Christ. Now did the Apostle's ever teach such a doctrine, that Jesus had come _in them_ the second time? and further, I cannot believe that he will be seen any sooner in Ohio, than in New-England or New-York. Again, we answer to the first and second questions, combined--Rev. iv: 2. Here is a throne, with one seated upon it. Is there any proof to be found that this throne was on the Isle of Patmos, Rome, or any other city, or place in this globe? Will it not be conceded by all Bible students, that the Lord God Almighty, the Father, is seated upon it? Does not the Seraphims which are continually crying, Holy, Holy, Holy, in the eighth verse, say so? Who was found worthy to come and take the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon this throne? Did he take it out of his own hand? No, it does not read so. Who, then? John says, it "was the Lamb." Others said, it "was the Lion of the tribe of Juda." We say, "the Son of the Father." Here, then, where the door was _opened_ into heaven, John saw the Father and the Son together, _at one time and in one place_, transacting business; at the sight of which, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands of angels cried aloud, "worthy is the Lamb," &c.; and every creature under heaven acknowledged it! Verse 11, 13. I am aware that it will be said this is symbolical language. Allow me to quote an extract from a celebrated writer. "Even the symbolic parts of a vision have a mixed character. When real persons, the highest in their kind are mentioned by their proper titles, there is no room for symbols; the objects represent themselves, God and Christ and the good angels; Satan and evil spirits, and redeemed saints on earth or in heaven, are never emblems. Forsake this maxim, and symbolic prophecy becomes a chaos, in which nothing is fixed, and where fancy runs riot in its own excesses."

But you say, God is a spirit. (There is no doubt but what his spirit pervades all space, and every thing in it that has life.) But to the testimony. "Ye have neither heard his voice nor seen his shape." John v: 37. Did Jesus contradict the Patriarchs and Prophets? No, no! He here told his persecutors what they had not seen nor heard; he did not say he had no voice or shape. Who did? 1st. Moses. "And I will cover thee with my _hand_ while I pass by; and I will take away mine _hand_ and thou shalt see my _back parts_, but my _face_ shall not be seen." Exod. xxxiii: 22, 23. 2d. The "_eyes_ of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his _ears_ are open unto their cry. The _face_ of the Lord are against them that do evil: the Lord _heareth_." Psalms xxxiv: 15, 17. Again, the "Ancient of days did _sit_, whose _garment_ was white as snow, and the _hair of his head_ like the pure wool." Does not this prove a shape, features, and voice, ascribed to God, the same as to man. "And God said let us make man in our own image, after our likeness; so God created man in his own image, in the _image of God_ created he him: male and female created he them." Gen. i: 26, 27. Paul says of Jesus, "Who is the _image of God_, (this can't be spiritually so) the first born of every creature; who being in the _form of God_, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Eph. ii: 5, 6. Now to the Hebrews--"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, who being the brightness of his glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of his person." Now turn to the history of Rome for a moment--read how LENTULUS describes the Savior to the Roman Senate. Here he describes his stature, countenance, his eyes, beautiful flowing hair, his wisdom, &c., and finally closes with the following: "A _man_ for his singular beauty far exceeding all the sons of men." Paul says, he is the "_express image_" _of God_. (I understand him to say that he looks just like him.) Oh, says one, this man is a Unitarian! So then was Paul, or I have not quoted him right.

And Daniel, the prophet, teaches the same doctrine. "I saw in the night visions: and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, (described in the ninth verse) and they brought him near before him; and there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, never to be destroyed." Dan. vii: 13, 14. Now we all admit this personage was Jesus Christ; for no being on earth or in heaven, has ever had the promise of an everlasting kingdom but him. And does not the Ancient of days give it to him? Would it not be absurd to say that he gave it to himself? How then can it be said (or proved) as it is by some, that the Son is the Ancient of days;--this passage, and the one in fifth Revelations, distinctly prove God and his Son to be two persons in heaven. Jesus says, "I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." John viii: 42. "I come forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father." (Does he remain in the same place?) "We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord." Paul.

"The Scripture testimony accounts for no other spirits but those seen in the shape of men." One of the three which came to Abraham was the Lord. Gen. xviii. The Angel Gabriel was called the "man Gabriel." Danl. ix. The angel which appeared to Gideon was called the Lord. I think here is sufficient proof from the Scriptures to justify the true believer to be still looking for a personal Saviour, and that God the Father is a person, and looks like Jesus and we like him; and God has a habitation where he dwells, as the Scriptures testify:

"And I John saw the _Holy City new Jerusalem_ coming down from God out of Heaven."

Another writer in the same paper undertakes to prove that this same City has began to appear; has been developing itself since the fall of 1844. Who has seen this City? O, he says, it is evident, that it is the saints. Is it possible that the Saints have been _coming down from Heaven_ this eighteen months! Why, there is not the least particle of proof that the righteous dead have yet been caught up? Thes. iv: 16, 17. I can readily believe that both of these brethren have been fearless advocates for the truth, and I do not doubt their sincerity. They have clearly proved that they are not seeking the applause of the world. I sincerely hope that they will not get so far into the fire on one side of the "highway" as some are in the "slough of despond" on the other. The main business of the Devil is now to make God's people change their course, and it is matter of no moment to him on which side of the "highway" they fall. In either case he will make sure of his prey. God help us to be on our watch. The great error here has arisen in consequence of taking the symbolical meaning and rejecting the true. The author of the Apocalyptic Dictionary, R. C. SHEMEALL, says, "_Holy City, Jerusalem._ Used symbolically of the present visible Church; Literally, that CITY which comes down from God." Let us examine a few texts: "Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem." Jer. ii: 2. "And he carried away all Jerusalem." Kings xxiv: 14. "The cry of Jerusalem is gone up." Jer. xiv: 2. "Jerusalem has sinned they have seen her nakedness, yea she sigheth." Lam. i: 8. "Jerusalem is a menstrous woman." 17 v. "Awake, awake, stand up O Jerusalem." Isa. li: 17. "Arise and set down O Jerusalem." lii: 2. "O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness." Jer. iv: 14. "Cut off thine hair O Jerusalem and cast it away." Jer. vi: 8. Here we see that old Jerusalem is personified. The prophets exhort her to "stand up" and "set down," and "awake from sleep," and "wash her heart," and "be instructed," to "cut off her hair and cast it away." She is also called a "menstrous woman," and said to "cry and sigh," and be "carried away." A "tumultuous city;" a "joyous city;" a "glad city." "Thou art comely, O my love, as Jerusalem." Songs vi: 4. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest," &c. Now this language never could be understood, unless there was 1st: a Jerusalem, people and government; neither could we understand what is said of the new Jerusalem in many places, without associating organization, as the "Zion of God," "the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." Isa. lx: 14. "Like the kingdom of God among the Pharisees." Luke xvii: 21. This old Jerusalem at his second coming would be the place for the capital of his kingdom; his disciples the subjects; he their king. As also in Daniel viii: 13--connecting the "Host (God's people) and sanctuary." Paul to the Galatians says, "Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bondage with _her children_. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the _mother_ of us all." Can this testimony be credited? Did not "Abraham look for a city which had foundations?" Paul also says of the pilgrims and strangers on the earth, that they "were seeking an heavenly country for God _hath_ prepared for them a _City_"! Heb. xi. in the past tense; then it cannot be developing now in his Saints, but they are preparing to enter the CITY.