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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 3, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 12

SISTER P. A. CORNELL, Kent Co., Mich., writes: I have read “Thoughts on the Revelation.” I found in it my wish for a “Synopsis of Present Truth” gratified. It is truly worthy the careful perusal of every candid reader of the Bible; and were it possible, I would gladly put it into the hands of many of my friends. I would that every lover of truth possessed one.

SISTER H. L. DREW writes from Steuben Co., N. Y.: Many are the excuses and opinions offered by those who wish to climb up to Heaven some other way, instead of walking in the straight and narrow path pointed out in God's word. Opinions without foundation in the Scriptures of divine truth, will soon be like the house built upon the sand, or the chaff of the summer threshing floor. God has declared by one of old, that he would sweep away the refuge of lies; therefore man-made views and theories will do us no good in the burning day of the Lord. Truth is truth, and it is our business to search for it as we would for hid treasures, yea, it is more precious than fine gold. The world will soon pass away, together with the things that are therein, but the word of God abideth forever. There are many yet in the highways and hedges, who, when they hear, will receive and obey the truth, and will identify themselves with the remnant spoken of in Rev. xii. If faithful a little while longer we shall receive a glorious and triumphant victory over the beast and his image, the mark and the number of his name. We shall stand on the sea of glass with harps in our hands. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. xii, 14. A glorious end is this. Dear reader, will you be one of that number?

SISTER S. SISLEY writes from Convis, Mich.; Having no earthly friend near me, I have been indulging in reminiscences of the past, thinking of the dear ones from whom I am separated by the changes of time, and of the beloved precious ones the ruthless hand of death has torn from me. It used to afford me unspeakable consolation to believe them to be even now enjoying all the untold bliss and glory of the heavenly world; and it was not without some severe struggles that my mind has become divested of this erroneous belief; but bless the Lord I can think of them as sweetly sleeping in a “sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection.”

Oh! it makes me long after Heaven; for there I hope to be joyfully re-united with them all again. I long for Heaven too for God is present there in unveiled glory, God, my Father, my Saviour, my everlasting comfort. I long after Heaven, there is no unkindness there.

“Those holy gates forever bar Pollution sin and shame, None can obtain admittance there But followers of the Lamb.”

All its inhabitants are pure and holy. It is “the rest that remaineth for the people of God” and it shall remain to them a rest forever. There pain, trouble and weariness are never felt. There peace and prosperity continually abide. Here we know but in part, and there are many things we cannot comprehend; but oh! I long for Heaven, for there we shall be fully satisfied, there we shall reach the maturity of our being and “know as we are known.” There we shall see Jesus and feel the tenderness of his amazing love and the plenitude of his everlasting friendship. I long after Heaven, it is the house of the Lord, a glorious home of many mansions which Jesus is gone to prepare for those that love him.

“Do I not love thee, dearest Lord? Behold my heart and see, And turn each worthless idol out, That dares to rival thee.”

I tremble when I think how sinful and unfit I am to enter those holy gates; but God is faithful and able to perform that he has promised. I will not doubt but look to him for grace and strength to overcome, and finally through the merits of my Saviour hope to arrive there safe at last, and receive an abundant entrance into his everlasting kingdom.