Heaven -- Christianity; Near-death experiences -- Religious aspects; Private revelations
When we entered, we found the building filled with people eagerly
waiting for what was to follow. We soon were seated and also waiting.
Soft strains of melody floated about us, from an invisible choir, and
before long Martin Luther, in the prime of a vigorous manhood, ascended
the steps and stood before us. It is not my purpose to dwell upon his
appearance, so familiar to us all, except to say that his great
intellect and spiritual strength seemed to have added to his already
powerful physique, and made him a fit leader still, even in heavenly
places.
His discourse would of itself fill a volume, and could not be given
even in outline, in this brief sketch. He held us enthralled by the
power of his will and his eloquence. When he at length retired, John
Wesley took his place, and the saintly beauty of his face, intensified
by the heavenly light upon it, was wonderful. His theme was "God's
love;" and if in the earth-life he dwelt upon it with power, he now
swept our souls with the fire of his exaltation, until we were as wax
in his hands. He showed what that love had done for us, and how an
eternity of thanksgiving and praise could never repay it.
Silence, save for the faint, sweet melody of the unseen choir, rested
upon the vast audience for some time after he left. All seemed lost in
contemplation of the theme so tenderly dwelt upon. Then the heavy
curtains back of the platform parted, and a tall form, about whom all
the glory of heaven seemed to center, emerged from their folds and
advanced toward the middle of the platform. Instantly the vast
concourse of souls arose to their feet, and burst forth as with one
voice into that grand anthem in which we had so often joined on earth:
"All hail the power of Jesus' name,
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown him Lord of all."
Such a grand chorus of voices, such unity, such harmony, such volume,
was never heard on earth. It rose, it swelled, it seemed to fill not
only the great auditorium, but heaven itself. And still, above it all,
we heard the voices of the angel choir, no longer breathing the soft,
sweet melody, but bursting forth into pæans of triumphant praise. A
flood of glory seemed to fill the place, and looking upward we beheld
the great dome ablaze with golden light, and the angelic forms of the
no longer invisible choir in its midst, with their heavenly harps and
viols, and their faces only less radiant than that of Him in whose
praise they sang. And he, before whom all heaven bowed in adoration,
stood with uplifted face and kingly mien, the very God of earth and
heaven. He was the center of all light, and a divine radiance
surrounded him that was beyond compare.
As the hymn of praise and adoration ceased, all sank slowly to their
knees, and every head was bowed and every face covered as the angel
choir chanted again the familiar words:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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