Heaven by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 15, 1865

Heaven.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Heaven is the place where God dwells, Matt. vi, 9, the place from which Jesus came; John vi, 51; and to which he went when he left the earth; Acts i, 11; the place where angels dwell; Luke ii, 8-15; and the place out of which the devils were cast for disobedience; 2 Pet. ii, 4.

It is not simply an immaterial, imaginary place, as is now commonly taught; but it is a real, material place, probably a globe like our own, only much larger and more refined. Comparing earthly things with heavenly, Paul says "that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance." Heb. x, 34.

Webster defines substance, thus: "Something real; not imaginary; body; matter." This then decides the question that Heaven is a real, material place.

We read also that there are mountains there, Heb. xii, 22, Rev. xiv, 1; and trees, Rev. xxii, 2, with Gen. ii, 8, 9; and water, Rev. xxii, 1. Jesus told his disciples that there were many mansions there, John xiv, 1-3. Paul says that there is a city there, Gal. iv, 26, Heb. xii, 22; and John describes this city as having walls, gates, streets, &c., which are composed of gold, emerald, pearls, and precious stones.

Doubtless this is the great metropolis, the grand center of the whole universe, where the great King of creation has his throne. Astronomy has demonstrated that the planets of this solar system revolve around their common center—the sun; that our sun with the suns of other systems, revolve around their common center; and that this in turn revolves around its center, and so on, gradually approaching the great center of all, which I believe to be the planet Heaven, where God dwells. So thought Dr. Dick, and others.

Now all the minor planets and systems are composed of materials, therefore Heaven also is material, or else it could not attract these. To think of Heaven as a real place composed of mountains and valleys, filled with trees, fruits, and flowers, adorned with beautiful cities and villages, and inhabited by real, living, intelligent beings, gives it a loveliness and a sublimity which it otherwise cannot possess. Education has made it heresy and fanaticism to think of Heaven as such a place; but the Bible and reason declare in its favor. D. M. CANRIGHT.