said, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must be hereafter. He saw a throne, and One sitting on it who looked like a jasper and sardine stone, and there was a rainbow round about the throne which was like an emerald. Around the throne were elders in white garments with of glass. And the four and twenty elders cast their crowns before the throne, and worshipped him that sat thereon. On the right hand of him who sat on the throne was a book close sealed with seven seals. And a strong angel asked, Who is worthy to open the book and break the seals? And no man in heaven, or on the earth, nor under the earth was able to open the book, nor to look thereon. Then John wept because of this; but one of the elders told him not to weep, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, could open it. And John heard a song sung in praise of the Saviour, saying, Thou art worthy to open the seals of the book, for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. And John saw a great multitude which no man could number standing before the throne, clothed with white robes and having palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And the angels that stood round about the throne fell on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and ever. And one of the angels said to John, Who are these in white robes, and where do they come from? John said, Sir, thou knowest. The angel said, These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun strike on them nor any heat, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Then John was shown what dreadful things would come upon the wicked who would not repent of their sins and believe in Christ. After this John saw a great white throne; and Jesus sat upon it; and he saw the dead rise from their graves and stand before the throne that they might be judged. The books in which their names were written and all that they had done while they lived upon the earth, were opened, and they were judged according to what was written in those books. The Book of Life was also opened. In it were written the names of those who believed in and loved Jesus, and all whose names were not in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire. After the vision of the Judgment Day, John saw a new heaven and a new earth, where everything was beautiful, and in which was no sin. And he saw a beautiful city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. And he heard a voice which said, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them and be their God. A great and high wall was around the city, in which were twelve gates, and at each gate there was an angel. The streets of the city were of pure gold; its walls were of precious stones, and each of its gates was one large pearl. The city needed no sun nor moon to shine upon it, for the Lamb is the light thereof. The people of all nations who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb shall walk in it, and the kings of the earth shall bow down before him. The gates of the city shall not be shut by night, for there shall be no night, and only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall enter therein. In vision John also saw a river, which is the River of the Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. On either side of this river rose the Tree of Life, which bears fruit of twelve different kinds. Those who live in the city have a right to the waters of the river and the fruit of the tree. They behold the face of the Redeemer, and serve him day and night in his temple. "O Heaven of Heavens! how true thy life must be. O Home of God, how excellent thy light! O long, long summer of Eternity Bright noon of angels ever clear and bright." FINIS. INDEX. Aaron directed by God to assist Mo- | Adoram stoned to death by the He- ses, 76 appears with Moses before Pha- appointed by God high priest, 94, makes a golden calf for the Jews to given directions by God, 102 his death, 104 Abana, 218 brews, 202 Agabus foretells a famine, 499 foretells how Paul will be bound at Agag, king of the Amalekites, cap- Age to which men formerly lived, See also Elisha, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Agrippa, Paul before, 523–524 warned by Elijah of a coming Elijah proves to him that Jehovah seeks to obtain vineyard of Naboth, warned by Elijah of his death, 211 he decrees that Vashti shall no his life saved by Mordecai, 270 rewards Mordecai, 276 hangs Haman, 277 delivers over their enemies to the Ahava, Jews encamp by, 264 Ahaziah becomes king of Israel, 212 Ai, the Hebrews defeated by the men destruction of, 120 Amalek fights with Hebrews, 88-89 |