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other。〃 Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers' arms。
Friends long separated by death are united； nevermore to part； and with
songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God。
On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings； and beneath it are living
wheels； and as the chariot rolls upward； the wheels cry； 〃Holy；〃 and the
wings； as they move； cry； 〃Holy；〃 and the retinue of angels cry； 〃Holy；
holy； holy； Lord God Almighty。〃 And the redeemed shout； 〃Alleluia！〃 as the
chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem。
Before entering the City of God； the Saviour bestows upon His followers the
emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state。
The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their
King； whose form rises in majesty high above saint and angel；
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whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love。 Throughout the
unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him； every eye
beholds His glory whose 〃visage was so marred more than any man； and His
form more than the sons of men。〃 Upon the heads of the overcomers； Jesus
with His own right hand places the crown of glory。 For each there is a
crown； bearing his own 〃new name〃 （Revelation 2：17）； and the inscription；
〃Holiness to the Lord。〃 In every hand are placed the victor's palm and the
shining harp。 Then； as the commanding angels strike the note； every hand
sweeps the harp strings with skillful touch； awaking sweet music in rich；
melodious strains。 Rapture unutterable thrills every heart； and each voice
is raised in grateful praise： 〃Unto Him that loved us； and washed us from
our sins in His own blood； and hath made us kings and priests unto God and
His Father； to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever。〃 Revelation 1：5；
6。
Before the ransomed throng is the Holy City。 Jesus opens wide the pearly
gates； and the nations that have kept the truth enter in。 There they behold
the Paradise of God； the home of Adam in his innocency。 Then that voice；
richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear； is heard； saying： 〃Your
conflict is ended。〃 〃Come； ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world。〃
Now is fulfilled the Saviour's prayer for His disciples： 〃I will that they
also； whom Thou hast given Me； be with Me where I am。〃 〃Faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy〃 （Jude 24）； Christ presents to the
Father the purchase of His blood； declaring： 〃Here am I； and the children
whom Thou hast given Me。〃 〃Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept。〃 Oh； the
wonders of redeeming love！ the rapture of that hour when the infinite
Father； looking upon the ransomed； shall behold His image； sin's discord
banished； its blight removed； and the human once more in harmony with the
divine！
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With unutterable love； Jesus welcomes His faithful ones to the joy of their
Lord。 The Saviour's joy is in seeing； in the kingdom of glory； the souls
that have been saved by His agony and humiliation。 And the redeemed will be
sharers in His joy； as they behold； among the blessed； those who have been
won to Christ through their prayers； their labors； and their loving
sacrifice。 As they gather about the great white throne； gladness unspeakable
will fill their hearts； when they behold those whom they have won for
Christ； and see that one has gained others； and these still others； all
brought into the haven of rest； there to lay their crowns at Jesus' feet and
praise Him through the endless cycles of eternity。
As the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God； there rings out upon
the air an exultant cry of adoration。 The two Adams are about to meet。 The
Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our
racethe being whom He created； who sinned against his Maker； and for whose
sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Saviour's form。 As Adam
discerns the prints of the cruel nails； he does not fall upon the bosom of
his Lord； but in humiliation casts himself at His feet； crying： 〃Worthy；
worthy is the Lamb that was slain！〃 Tenderly the Saviour lifts him up and
bids him look once more upon the Eden home from which he has so long been
exiled。
After his expulsion from Eden； Adam's life on earth was filled with sorrow。
Every dying leaf； every victim of sacrifice； every blight upon the fair face
of nature； every stain upon man's purity； was a fresh reminder of his sin。
Terrible was the agony of remorse as he beheld iniquity abounding； and； in
answer to his warnings； met the reproaches cast upon himself as the cause of
sin。 With patient humility he bore； for nearly a thousand years； the penalty
of transgression。 Faithfully did he repent of his sin and trust in the
merits of the promised Saviour； and he died in the hope of a resurrection。
The Son of God redeemed man's failure and fall； and
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now； through the work of the atonement； Adam is reinstated in his first
dominion。
Transported with joy； he beholds the trees that were once his delightthe
very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence
and joy。 He sees the vines that his own hands have trained； the very flowers
that he once loved to care for。 His mind grasps the reality of the scene； he
comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored； more lovely now than when he
was banished from it。 The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks
the glorious fruit and bids him eat。 He looks about him and beholds a
multitude of his family redeemed； standing in the Paradise of God。 Then he
casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and； falling upon His
breast； embraces the Redeemer。 He touches the golden harp； and the vaults of
heaven echo the triumphant song： 〃Worthy； worthy； worthy is the Lamb that
was slain； and lives again！〃 The family of Adam take up the strain and cast
their crowns at the Saviour's feet as they bow before Him in adoration。
This reunion is witnessed by the angels who wept at the fall of Adam and
rejoiced when Jesus； after His resurrection； ascended to heaven； having
opened the grave for all who should believe on His name。 Now they behold the
work of redemption accomplished； and they unite their voices in the song of
praise。
Upon the crystal sea before the throne； that sea of glass as it were mingled
with fire；so resplendent is it with the glory of God；are gathered the
company that have 〃gotten the victory over the beast； and over his image；
and over his mark； and over the number of his name。〃 With the Lamb upon
Mount Zion； 〃having the harps of God；〃 they stand； the hundred and forty and
four thousand that were redeemed from among men； and there is heard； as the
sound of many waters； and as the sound of a great thunder； 〃the voice of
harpers harping with their harps。〃 And they sing 〃a new
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song〃 before the throne； a song which no man can learn save the hundred and
forty and four thousand。 It is the song of Moses and the Lamba song of
deliverance。 None but the hundred and forty…four thousand can learn that
song； for it is the song of their experiencean experience such as no other
company have ever had。 〃These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth。〃 These； having been translated from the earth； from among the
living； are counted as 〃the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb。〃
Revelation 15：2； 3； 14：1…5。 〃These are they which came out of great
tribulation；〃 they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was
since there was a nation； they have endured the anguish of the time of
Jacob's trouble； they have stood without an intercessor through the final
outpouring of God's judgments。 But they have been delivered； for they have
〃washed their robes； and made them white in the blood of the Lamb。〃 〃In
their mouth was found no guile： for they are without fault〃 before God。
〃Therefore are they before the throne of God； and serve Him day and night in
His temple： and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them。〃 They
have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence； the sun having power
to scorch men with great heat； and they themselves have endured suffering；
hunger； and thirst。 But 〃they shall hunger no more； neither thirst any more；
neither shall the sun light on them； nor any heat。 For the Lamb which is in
the midst of the throne shall feed them； and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters： and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes。〃
Revelation 7：14…17。
In all ages the Saviour's chosen have been educated and disciplined in the
school of trial。 They walked in narrow paths on earth； they were purified in
the furnace of affliction。 For Jesus' sake they endured opposition； hatred；
calumny。 They followed Him through conflicts sore； they endured self…denial
and experienced bitter disappointments。 By their
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own painful experience they learned the evil of sin； its power； its guilt；
its woe； and they look upon it with abhorrence。 A sense of the infinite
sacrifice made for its cure humbles them