The Opening Heavens: or a Connected View of the Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles, Concerning the Opening Heavens, Compared With Astronomical Observations, and of the Present and Future Location of the New Jerusalem, the Paradise of GodBates, Joseph
Religion
The Opening Heavens: or a Connected View of the Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles, Concerning the Opening Heavens, Compared With Astronomical Observations, and of the Present and Future Location of the New Jerusalem, the Paradise of God
Bates, Joseph
Bible -- Prophecies; Paradise; Second Advent
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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