Seven-Day Journey to the Sea of Glass

After the first resurrection, Jesus will lead the redeemed through the gates into the city of GodVSS 459.3+1. The journey to the heavenly courts involves a period of travel where the saints are caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

The Glorious Journey to Heaven

The transition from the earthly grave to the heavenly kingdom is a certain and triumphant event for those who sleep in Jesus1SM 305.3+1.

• The First Resurrection: At the second advent of Christ, the first resurrection occurs, calling forth the righteous dead to immortal lifeLDE 291.1+1.

• The Meeting in the Air: The living righteous are translated and, together with the resurrected saints, are caught up in the clouds to meet their Lord 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

• Entrance into the City: Following this gathering, the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the redeemed sweep through the gates accompanied by rapturous music from the angelic hostVSS 459.3.

• The Duration of the Voyage: While the specific amount of time spent in transit is described as having "many hours for reflection," the focus is on the soon-coming morning of the resurrection when broken family chains are reunited15MR 265.3.

The Home of the Redeemed

The destination is the kingdom of heaven, prepared from the foundation of the world, where the saints will be clothed in white robes and given crowns of glory Matthew 25:34RH November 20, 1883, par. 9. This new existence is a transformation of nature where the mortal puts on immortality and the corruptible puts on incorruption 1 Corinthians 15:53.

There, the redeemed will serve God in His temple and be led to living fountains of waters, where every tear is wiped away Revelation 7:15-1715MR 265.3. The conditions of the world to come ensure that the children of the resurrection can no longer die, as they are equal unto the angelsMM 101.1. This glorious future is the "eternal weight of glory" to which current light afflictions are not even worthy to be comparedGC 349.2+1.

Ellen White describes this journey as a glorious seven-day ascent through space to the sea of glassHvn 47.2+1. In her first vision, she saw the Advent people traveling toward the Holy City on a straight and narrow path cast up high above the worldGP 82.2+2.

The Path to the Holy City

The journey begins on a symbolic pathway where the people of God must maintain a specific focus to remain safeEW xvi.2.

• The Midnight Cry: A bright light set up at the beginning of the path, identified as the "Midnight Cry," shines all along the way to prevent the travelers from stumbling Matthew 25:6GP 82.2+2.

• Eyes Fixed on Jesus: As long as the travelers keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, who is just before them leading the way, they are perfectly safeGP 82.2+3.

• Consequences of Unbelief: Those who grow weary or deny the light behind them lose sight of Jesus and fall off the path into the dark world belowGP 82.2+3.

The Ascent and the Sea of Glass

After being caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the redeemed company travels together through time and spaceHvn 6.1+1.

• Seven Days of Travel: The redeemed enter a cloud and spend seven days ascending to the sea of glassHvn 47.2+1.

• The Coronation: Upon reaching the sea of glass, Jesus brings the crowns and places them on the heads of the 144,000 with His own right handHvn 47.2+1.

• Tokens of Victory: Each of the redeemed is given a harp of gold and a palm of victory, and all are clothed in a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feetHvn 47.2+1.

• Perfect Satisfaction: The 144,000 stand in a perfect square; though some crowns are brighter or heavier with stars than others, every soul is perfectly satisfied with their rewardHvn 47.2+1.

Entering the Pearl Gates

The climax of the journey occurs at the entrance to the heavenly JerusalemCCh 17.5+1.

• The Golden Hinges: Jesus raises His mighty, glorious arm and lays hold of the pearly gate, swinging it back on its glittering hingesHvn 47.2+2.

• The Welcome: Jesus speaks to the faithful, saying, "You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in"Hvn 47.2+1.

• A Perfect Right: The redeemed march into the city, feeling they have a perfect right to be there, where they finally see the tree of life and the throne of GodHvn 47.2+2.

This vision of the better land was so vivid that everything on earth appeared dreary to Ellen White afterward, leaving her with a deep longing for the "goodly land"ExV 9.4+1. The rest, peace, and glory found at the end of this journey will a thousand times repay every exertion and sacrifice made by the travelerYI May 28, 1884, par. 5. 🌤️✨

Ellen White’s vision of the journey to the Holy City begins with the 144,000 sealed and perfectly united, standing in a holy state that enrages the wickedExV 11.1+1. As the wicked attempt to violence, the saints stretch forth their hands in the name of the Lord, causing their enemies to fall helplessExV 11.1+1. Soon, a small black cloud appears in the East, which is recognized as the Sign of the Son of Man; as it draws nearer, it becomes a great white cloud with the Son of Man sitting upon itExV 11.1+1. Jesus descends wrapped in flames of fire, sounds His silver trumpet, and cries "Awake!" to the sleeping saints, who then arise from their graves clothed with immortalityExV 11.1+1. In that same moment, the living saints are changed and caught up together with the resurrected dead to meet the Lord in the airExV 11.1+1. We all enter the cloud together and are seven days ascending to the sea of glassHvn 47.2+2. Upon reaching the sea of glass, Jesus brings the crowns and with His own right hand places them on our headsHvn 47.2+2. He gives each a harp of gold and a palm of victory, and the 144,000 stand in a perfect squareHvn 47.2+2. Some crowns are very bright and heavy with stars, while others have but few, yet everyone is perfectly satisfied with their crownHvn 47.2+2. All are clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feetHvn 47.2+1. Angels surround the company as we march over the sea of glass to the gate of the cityCET 59.2+1. Jesus raises His mighty, glorious arm, lays hold of the pearly gate, and swings it back on its glittering hingesHvn 47.2+2. He says to the redeemed, "You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth; enter in"Hvn 47.2+2. We march in, feeling a perfect right in the city, where we see the tree of life and the throne of GodHvn 47.2+2.

Redeemed Take Seven Days Traveling to Heaven—We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us ha...— Hvn 47.2 (2003)

..., Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust and arise. Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they recognized their friends who had...— ExV 11.1 (1851)

On the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns.—Early Writings, 16, 17 (1851)— LDE 282.1 (1992)

... My truth, enter in. We all marched in and felt we had a perfect right in the City. Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tr...— RH July 21, 1851, par. 3

What a beautiful and encouraging description of our future home! May these details of the glorious reward strengthen your heart as you look forward to that day.