Going to the Father's House.
By F. A. Burrell
“ANOTHER one of our dear brethren has recently gone into one of the mansions in our Father's house.” — Watchman and Reflector. Sept. 1870. If this were so, it must have been a special manifestation of divine power. Was the brother alluded to more favored than the disciples? “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and, as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go ye cannot come, so now I say to you.” John 13: 33. Why so? Because they (according to the great plan) must wait for Christ to come for them. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 2, 3. How many times does Scripture teach that Christ shall come to this earth previous to the descent of the New Jerusalem? “And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb 9: 28. Has any one heard the great shout—the voice of the Archangel, or the sound from the trump of God? “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead [all or one?] in Christ shall rise first.” Surely in such a day as ours, the electric wire which so quickly brings to us tidings of all kinds of events, would flash such an account from nation to nation, and the world would tremble. Ah! no; when that brother shall go to “one of those mansions,” there will be an innumerable company to go with him—those beloved disciples will bear him company. “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life,” &c. John 5: 28, 29. Yes, and “every eye shall see him.” Rev. 1: 7. It will not be a spiritual, mystical, coming; but as He was seen ascending, so shall he be seen descending. So says Scripture. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 10, 11. Did the angels tell the truth? I believe they did. Here are but a few of the many passages that plainly speak of Christ's coming; and as he is the one that takes home the sleeping and living saints, I think that unless there was a special manifestation in the case mentioned, the brother must be sleeping, (I Thess. 4: 13–15,) and must necessarily wait to be taken to the “mansions” when Christ comes. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” 1 Cor. 15: 22, 23. I find no scripture teaching that Christ comes from Heaven (where he is officiating as our high priest, Heb. 8: 1, 2,) to earth, every time a saint dies, to carry his soul to mansions above. But I do find Scripture proof that when Christ's work is finished in the heavenly sanctuary, he will appear “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” and will then “send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt. 24: 30, 31; Mark 13; Luke 21. Ah! this, then, is the time for the sleeping saints to be “gathered home,” to go to “one of those mansions.” No, Christ has not come yet. One sign more to be fulfilled—then, soon shall he be seen “coming in the clouds.” Then shall that brother, if he sleeps in Christ, be awakened out of his sleep; then shall he find a glorious home in one of those “bright mansions.” Then will his glorious King, with all the holy throng of angels, and the redeemed with their Redeemer, with triumphant songs, enter the “beautiful city,” the “mansions fair.” F. A. BURRELL.