Chapter IV: Part 4

But we deem it unnecessary to dwell upon all the symbols of _fire_, _heat_, and _light_, so clearly representative, which may be found interspersed throughout the Old, and the New Testament pages. We will catch up a few others as we pass along, before, in mind, taking our stand with John, the revelator, on the Isle of Patmos. St. Paul tells us,--

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ." And that the "Lord shall consume with the spirit of
His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His
coming."

St. John, says:

"_I indeed baptize you with water, but he that cometh after
me is mightier than I, he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost and_ WITH FIRE."

Thus we see that _spirit_ is denominated _fire_ in the ordinance of _Spiritual Baptism_.

And St. Paul says:

"By one spirit are we all baptized into one body."

* * * * *

Let us now glance at the account of John's spiritual vision while on the Isle of Patmos, as recorded in the Book of Revelation:

"I heard behind me a great voice as the voice of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me, and I saw seven golden candlesticks, and One in the midst of the candlesticks like unto the Son of Man. His head and his hair were white as the snow, and his eyes were as _flames of fire_, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; _and his countenance was as the Sun shining in his strength_."

John saw the door of heaven opened and a voice as of a trumpet said unto him, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must be hereafter." He continues. "And immediately I was in the spirit, and, behold a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne, who, to look upon was like jasper, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald, and around the throne sat four and twenty elders in raiment of white, and out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices, and there were seven lamps of _fire_ burning before the throne, _which are the seven spirits of God_. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, _a woman clothed with the Sun_. And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head and his face was, as it were the _Sun_, and his feet as pillars of _fire_."

"_And the city had no need of the Sun_, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." "And there shall be no night there, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever. The Lord God shall be unto them an everlasting light, and the days of their mourning shall be ended."

"_Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the
Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear let him
hear._" (Matt. xiii. 43.)

* * * * *

We have quoted the foregoing Scriptural passages--to which we might add scores of others of similar import--to show the connection of the element of fire, heat and light--with God himself, and that while it proves the agency; at least in dispensing His blessings to all animated life, and can be so controlled by Him that--even in its intensity--it cannot harm the righteous, either in body or spirit, when He interposes; yet it is the certain agency of destruction, and the torment of the wicked at His will; or without this interposition. Certain it is, that it is the _agency_ by which He has made Himself manifest to man, and this agency still continues in the dispensing of all the manifold blessings we enjoy, day by day, and should cause every heart to turn to Him with reverence and grateful emotions. The mind of the Christian world should acknowledge the omnipresence of the Infinite One; that He pervades all space, and is manifest in all things; while each individual should feel as Elihu did when he uttered the words, "The _Spirit_ of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life;" and exclaim with the Psalmist:

"I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. The eyes of the Lord are ever
upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. O
magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name
together. God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble." "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place
in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

Now we have seen that God--by His Spirit, or influence--is everywhere; that he pervades the universe of His Creation; that his nature is eternal and indestructible, while all else--save man's immortal nature derived from God--is destructible. We are plainly told in the Bible that the _Spirit of God is fire_; that _His Word is fire_; that He is like a _refiner's fire_--even as a purifier of silver. That every man's work shall be tried _by fire_; the righteous saved as by _fire_; that, to his people, He will be as _a wall of fire_; and though they pass through the fire they shall not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon them. And yet our God is a _consuming fire_, before whom the wicked shall not stand. That the _fire_ of His anger, and His _wrath_, shall be kindled against them, when all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be cast into the fire that will never be quenched; whose flames shall ascend up forever and ever. Oh, how plain the revelations of God as to the immortality of the soul, and a future state of existence! The righteous to enter into, and enjoy eternal life; the wicked--who are dead in trespasses and in sins--to enter into eternal death, even the "death that never dies."

How _startling_ the fact of these plain revelations! God is now made manifest to our daily and hourly comprehension. How dare we trifle with Him, and our own soul's immortal interest? We are daily and hourly rushing on to our own eternal destiny. Ere another year, a month, a week or day is past, we may realize that "it is not all of life to live, nor yet of death to die." No one can escape the eternal fiat of Jehovah, "_dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return_." As death leaves the body so judgment finds the soul. "The righteous shall inherit eternal life;" "the wicked shall be driven away from the presence of God, and from the glory of His power," and take up their abode with tormenting devils "in everlasting burnings."

Stop, poor wandering child of sin; yield obedience to the requirements of God's law; "acknowledge Him in all thy ways, and He shall direct thy paths."

The Psalmist tells us that "_the Lord God is a Sun_." Saint John tells us that, while in the Spirit, it was revealed to him that the "_burning lamps of fire were spirits of God_." Now remember that we have told you that the vast volume of flame of _ethereal fire outside_ and _around_ the heavenly world, is all that we can see or comprehend as the _Sun_; that flame is the source of all _light_, heat, and animation: hence, considered in connexion with its offices, may we not safely conclude that it is an _attribute of Jehovah_?

The prophet Malachi foretold the coming of the "Sun of righteousness," behold the "star in the east!" Who can doubt this star being a visible manifestation of the _Spirit of God_? Christ, the Son of God, is called "the _Sun_ of righteousness; the bright morning star." His advent into the world was signalized by this sacred emblem--even by the _Spirit of God_ revealed as the _brightness of a star_. How appropriate this representation, when the Son of God came to usher in the light of an eternal day to his people. Transfigured during His stay on earth, "His face did shine as the Sun, and His raiment was white as the light." Now remember, we are assured that the heavenly world and city "hath no need of the _Sun_, for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb (the Son of God) is the light thereof."

Thus we think we have furnished conclusive Scripture evidence that _God's Spirit is manifested by fire_. Fire is the source of all light, and is also an element pervading all things throughout the vast universe of God--in air and earth, seas and floods, rocks and mountains, throughout all heights and depths. Hence, hear again the exclamation of the Psalmist: "Whither shall I go from thy _Spirit_? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" Behold, God, by His Spirit, is everywhere, even throughout the vast extended universe of all His wondrous works.

We have but to consider the source of this element--which is God himself--and we shall then easily comprehend how it can, by the same power, be adapted or made congenial to our mortal or immortal natures. We have said, He has created no element incompatible with, or uncongenial to His own nature, nor any that He cannot adapt to the condition of the spirit-life of His children. Fire is an element destructive of all things else save immortality, and that it is not destructive of this, we have evidence in the fact that the wicked shall be cast into the flames of hell, and suffer its torments for ever and ever. And yet, while it is an element destructive of all else, save immortality, it is one, and the _only one_ we can--even partially--comprehend, that can _never be destroyed_. Mortality shall be destroyed, and naught remain but immortality, purified by fire--_the Spirit of God_.

Now in order that His children _here_, might comprehend His infinite power in controlling, or adapting this element to their happiness, He has manifested this power even with mortality on this earth. Our mortal bodies are susceptible of feeling its painful influences, and of being destroyed by it--save when He intervenes, and changes our nature so that it can have no impression upon us, or makes it a congenial element in which we can enjoy happiness. That He can do, and has done this, we have manifest in the miraculous preservation of the three Hebrew children. For their refusal to forsake the Living God, and worship the idol, or golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, the king commanded that the furnace should be heated seven-fold, and they be bound and cast into it. This was done, and while the heat was so intense as to destroy those who bore them to, and plunged them into the fiery furnace, yet when the king looked into it "he saw four men loose and walking in the midst of the flames; praising God, and blessing the name of the Lord, and the fourth was like unto the Son of God." The king called them to come forth, and when the three who were cast in came forth, "not a hair of their heads was singed, nor even the smell of fire passed on their garments."

Thus we see the power of God manifest in the adaptation at His own will, of this,--to our mortal bodies--painful and consuming element, to our condition of happiness. And, on the other hand, when this saving power is withheld, how certain is destruction, as manifested by its destroying those who approached near enough to the furnace to cast them in. O, the measure of happiness those children of the Most High enjoyed in the midst of the burning flames! shouting and praising God. And when they came out of the fiery furnace, they still continued their triumphant shout; calling upon everything--animate, and inanimate--throughout the vast Universe, to "bless, praise and magnify the name of the Lord forever."

That God can, and does make this element suited to the enjoyment of happiness of His people, we have also seen manifested in the case of Elijah taking his seat, at the command of God, in the "chariot of fire," and with "horses of fire" ascending up into heaven. Thus, "changed," as the apostle expresses it, "in the twinkling of an eye," his mortality ceased, and "clothed upon with immortality," by Divine power, he could ride in triumph with his steeds of fire, sitting in his chariot of _burning flame_.

We scarcely deem it necessary to refer again to the--almost universally conceded--fact of man's immortal nature. By the breath of God, man was made a living soul or spirit. God's spirit is _living fire_; hence this immortal nature of man is _living fire_, an attribute of God himself, and one which can never cease to exist; can never be annihilated, but will live on, and on through all eternity. But when this immortal principle of _spirit-fire_ leaves the body, mortality ceases to live, and must decay and moulder into dust. For, speaking of this mortal body, He hath said, "dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," and "the soul shall return to God who gave it."

_SUN AND HEAVEN._

Now to show the intimate connexion with the _Sun_ and _Heaven_, spoken of in the Scriptures, we will here group together a few of the many passages found written therein.

The prophet Jeremiah, in referring to the great and terrible day of the Lord, says "the light shall be darkened in the heavens;" and in the Gospel according to St. Mark, referring to the same, we read that "the _Sun_ shall be darkened;" and in the Revelation, that "the _Sun_ and the air were darkened." Again, Jehovah, speaking to His people, saith: "I will cover the _heaven_, and make the stars thereof dark;" and, in order that we may more fully comprehend, he added: "I will cover the _Sun_ with a cloud;" and the Psalmist tells us that "He covereth the _heaven_ with a cloud;" and thus saith the Lord through His prophet: "Be not dismayed at the signs of _heaven_; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

Thus we see that the _Sun_ and _heaven_ are often spoken of in connexion with each other in regard to light. The Sun is to us the source of _all light_, and in covering the _heaven_ He covereth the Sun. But we see, as above, that He hath made this matter plain to our comprehension by His own utterance: "_Be not dismayed by the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them._"

Now you will remember that the heathen, in ancient times--and even so with them at the present day--were always dismayed and frightened at the recurrence of an eclipse of the Sun, and imagined the time of the world had come to an end. But the science of astronomy has comprehended the laws of nature, and has revealed the true causes of these seeming phenomena to the enlightenment of the world, and many years previous to their occurrence. Astronomers can foretell the day, the hour, and even the very moment when they will appear, or be visible in any part of the world, as, also, when they will disappear. But we see, however, that God himself has spoken of such eclipses as "signs in the _heaven_," and yet they are eclipses of the _Sun_.

But still more pointed and clear is the evidence of their connexion given by the Saviour, where the Pharisees and Sadducees desired him to show them "_a sign from heaven_." Hear His answer: "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair-weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky, but ye cannot discern the signs of the times." Now we here see that they asked Him for a sign from _heaven_, and the Saviour answered promptly by referring to the apparent phenomena produced by the disappearing and reappearing of the _Sun_. Thus answering by signs which _they_ had marked; _produced by the Sun_, which covereth the heaven from our view.

We have shown what all must acknowledge; that the _Sun_ is the only source of fire, heat, and light which is comprehended in Nature. Revelations of the Past, and predictions as to the Future, assure us that God's _wrath_ is revealed by _fire_. Now from whence cometh this fire when His wrath is thus revealed? God rained down fire and brimstone from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and thus destroyed those cities and their wicked inhabitants. Now, as the _wrath_ of God is revealed by _fire_, St. Paul sets this matter at rest. Hear him: "_The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men._" Thus, His spirit of wrath is manifested by fire; the _source_ of fire is the _Sun_, and He sends _fire from heaven_. Hence, we cannot for a moment doubt the correctness of our hypothesis that the source of fire, as manifested in the Past, and also that which shall be manifested in the Future, is the _Sun_. And wherein it is declared that fire came down from heaven, or out of heaven, it was natural that such expressions were used, because it was held that God resided in heaven, and He sent down fire from thence to execute His judgments.

_A PLURALITY OF HEAVENS._

The idea of a _plurality of heavens_, and their numbers almost infinite, would seem at first thought to startle the mind, and disarrange all our conceptions of the extent and machinery of the universe, and of the employment of God, and all the angels, and other intelligences He has made. Yet its truth only brings home to us the insignificance of our own earth, and still more that of ourselves. We are too prone to think that this earth and its inhabitants are the principal objects of the Creator's care, and that _man_ is of vast importance in the order of His arrangements, and of augmenting His kingdom and glory. While the truth is, our world is insignificant, when compared to His wonderful creations, and each individual as but a single grain of sand among all that may be found upon the shores of oceans and seas. And yet all that He hath made _are_ the objects of His government and care. For "not even a sparrow falleth to the ground" unknown to Him.

That in His omnipotent and infinite power He can, and has created separate systems of planet-worlds, and a central sun and heaven for controlling each, we cannot doubt; neither is there more of incomprehensible mystery in this contemplation than in that of our own system of planets, with its central and controlling _Sun_ and heaven.

Let us turn to revelations made, as recorded in the Bible, and see if there are not declarations which sustain this hypothesis. In the second book of the Kings it is written: "_But will God indeed dwell on earth? behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain him_;" and in the second book of the Chronicles: "_But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain him._" The Psalmist says: "_The heavens; even the heavens are the Lord's_," and "_The heavens declare the glory of God_," and that "_By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth._"

Thus we have conclusive evidence of a _plurality of heavens_, while, possibly, their numbers are _millions_, their surrounding planet-worlds _billions_, with a wide expanse of surrounding "firmament of the heavens" bestrewn with "_glittering gems_," standing out the grand _empyrean_ covering of all.

Says Dr. Nichol:

"Mystery, indeed, heavy, almost oppressive, hangs over all the perceptive; but the shapes strown through that bewildering territory have nothing in common with the fantastic creations of a dream. It is the essence of these nebulæ that they are not formless, but, on the contrary, impressed indelibly by system on the grandest scale; clearly as a leaf they have organism; something has seized on their enormous volumes, and moulded them into a wonderful order." Says Child: "Thus every thing bears the mark of order impressed upon it by the Almighty hand. That noble gift of God to man--the telescope--has magnified Him by driving away every semblance of _chance_ from the firmament, and by exhibiting in its place designs and established law. Up there, as down here, the idea of irregularity or chance is but the suggestion of our ignorance."

Thus, from a knowledge gained through that wonderful, and yet most exact of all sciences--Astronomy--we base our conclusions. _That_ science is the grandest, most perfect, and comprehensive of all sciences known to the human mind. It grasps, analyzes, and comprehends the laws and forces which make up and control the universe, and every other science known is intimately connected with, or based upon it. There is no chance-work in Nature; all things are moulded and formed complete by the great Architect, whose Word created them, and all the grand panorama of suns, moons, planets, worlds, and stars, are perfect and in the exact order of His creative wisdom.

Whatever of incomprehensible mystery our hypothesis of those far-distant _suns_ and _heavens_ may involve, we feel satisfied of the correctness of our theory in regard to our own, and our mind is equally impressed with the probability of all the other planets belonging to the Sun's domain, being inhabited by living intelligences, and that, in the order of their Creator's arrangement, they too find their heaven of eternal existence there. We know there is room for all and to spare, within that heavenly empire, and would be if they and our own earth should remain repeopling and passing thither for cycles of ages to come; for, as we have seen from astronomical measurement, it is computed to be more than one million times the size of this earth.

How enrapturing the thought, that there we may not only meet the prophets and seers of old; the apostles and martyrs; "those who went up through great tribulations," "who washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb;" our counselling ministers, who have assisted us in the way; there the loved ones of our hearts, who have already left us and this world of "sin and sorrow," and are now safely at "home;" there other loved ones who are yet on this earth and are striving with us for a home in that "better land;" but also, perhaps, there we shall meet messengers, and children of God from all the other worlds belonging to the Sun, or that heaven's domain; and with the innumerable company of angels, and all the ransomed hosts, dwell forever with our Saviour in the glory-light of the Spirit of God. O, who will not seek and strive for a _home in heaven_?

_A PLACE FOR THE WICKED._

That there are two separate places and conditions--one for the righteous and the other for the wicked--we cannot doubt. In regard to no other fact are the revelations of God and declarations of the Scriptures more clear and explicit. This of itself should startle every inhabitant of Earth; cause due and solemn reflection; and incline every one to search for light, and truth, and for the way of salvation.

In stating the facts contained in this volume, it has not been our design to indulge in a tirade against those who seem careless and indifferent in regard to their own souls' eternal interest. If our picture makes the final doom of the wicked a fearful one, we have only presented the declarations of God through his prophets, and of the Saviour and his apostles. These declarations are startling, when properly considered, and should awaken every mind to the consideration of what must be their final destiny, if they continue to neglect the overtures of mercy. The law of God is fearful in its denunciations against the wicked, and its sentence will be sternly executed. Therefore we would "persuade all to be Christians."

If all the inhabitants of this Earth--all who have lived during the past, or may live and die on it through long ages to come--were saved and should go to dwell in that heavenly world, there would still be room there for more. Yea, even then, untold millions of chambers, ready and beautifully furnished by the Saviour in that vast and glittering "City of God," would still be unoccupied. And to the wicked, who will not turn from their evil ways, is lost forever the privilege of occupying those mansions; of walking the gold paved streets; of "drinking the waters from the fountains of life;" of wandering amidst the "shady groves," and along the banks of the beautiful rivers; of traversing valleys, and ascending the "hills and mountains of the Lord," and of plucking and eating the "ambrosial fruits" that grow on "the trees of life;" of having wealth and honor, and a safe and permanent home with the angels; the Prophets and Apostles of old; with Moses, and David, and Elijah; with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with all the great and good of every age and clime--even with all "the redeemed of the Lord" "who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"--with kindred friends from Earth; with angels and spirits of just ones made perfect, yea, "_with all the ransomed hosts_," and above all, with Christ, the Son of God, who is, and will there be King and ruler forever.

And for what are all these exchanged? Let us see. The Bible is the sure Word of God. It tells us that "the wicked shall be driven away in their wickedness;" that they "shall be cast into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth."

They "shall be turned into hell with all the nations that forget God:" "They shall be cast into the lake of fire, and the smoke of their torment shall ascend up forever and ever." "These shall go away into everlasting punishment," "But the righteous into life eternal." The blessed Saviour, who died that they _might_ have eternal life, "shall say unto those on his left hand (the wicked), depart into everlasting fire;" while to those on his right hand (the righteous), "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world;" "enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."

Yes, reader, God has prepared the two places, and it rests with _you_--as a free moral agent--to make your choice, and act accordingly. He will never drag you into heaven by force. You are the rightful inheritor of a precious immortal soul. He has prepared a place of perpetual happiness, and _invites_ you to come to it. There you may find a home, with peace, love and joy. There is for you honor and wealth, and a "crown of glory." There the fountains, and "rivers of life," and an abundance of spiritual food. There neither decrepitude nor old age, nor sickness, sorrow, pain, nor death; but the bloom of eternal youth and beauty may rest on thy brow forever. Make your choice, and make it _now_, for delays are dangerous, and death and the judgment may be near unto you. The _spirit-fire_ of God's love is now kindling in your heart, and I hear you say, "_yes_, I would like to be there." We implore you, quench not that _spirit-fire_ of love, or it will change to a consuming SPIRIT-FIRE OF WRATH, and when your soul is released from the body, that spirit-fire will become an intense burning flame, and will be your torment forever and ever.

The very thought of enduring _forever_--after this short life has past--should startle the mind of every intelligent being, and cause the most serious reflections. None can save but God, and this salvation is through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All must go to Him. Our ministers can only advise and instruct, and to do this properly, they must themselves be holy men of God. Christ Himself assumed the office of the Priesthood. He made the atonement. He is now our _only_ High Priest, and all must go to Him. The wealth of the universe, given to an earthly Pope, Bishop, or Priest, could not save one single soul, nor purchase it from perdition. And yet salvation is freely offered to all who will forsake their wicked ways, and come to God through love, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

All are convinced of the immortality of the soul, and of a future state of existence. The Word of God has set this matter at rest, while it is fully evidenced by the inherent desire in every heart and mind that it should be so; even this "longing after immortality." So, also, does enlightened reason convince all that there will be a separation of the righteous from the wicked in their future conditions. There is no true harmony of mind and spirit between them even in this world; much less could there be when the righteous are made pure and clean by the "blood of the Lamb."

There has always been antagonism between the "spirit of light" and the "spirit of darkness." The first gives "light, life, and liberty." The second, darkness, death, and bondage. The word and revelations of God teach this fact, while the experience and heart admonitions of all confirm it. Even the ungodly condemn wickedness, and yet, strange to say, continue on in sin. There has, from the beginning, been spiritual antagonism between the good and the bad, and a consciousness upon the part of the wicked of their own wrong-doing. This has been the case ever since wicked Cain slew his brother Abel; God then pronounced His curse upon the perpetrator of that wicked deed, and His curse has stood against all wicked doers from that time to the present, and will through all time to come. Bible history is replete with evidences of His judgments against them, and plainly tells us that there are two separate places, one wherein the righteous shall enjoy happiness and eternal life; the other wherein the wicked shall be punished, and endure a living death that never dies, showing us plainly that,

"It is not all of life to live; nor yet of death to die."

* * * * *

Now, the _location_ of that place of torment will claim a few moments of our attention. Of this we think we are _not_ left to conjecture alone. We believe our hypothesis of the location of heaven is correct, and that we have one equally certain of the location of _Hell_, and that each hypothesis strongly corroborates the other.

First, let us take direct testimony; that given by the Son of God himself, who is to be the judge of all--even the "quick" and the "dead." The first are those quickened into life by the spirit, the last are "those who are dead in trespasses and in sin."

You will find this evidence in the 16th chapter of the "Gospel according to Saint Luke." Christ, the Son God, said,

"There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and
fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was
a certain beggar named Lazarus, who laid at they rich man's
gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs
which fell from the rich man's table; moreover, the dogs
came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the
beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom; The rich man also died, and was buried, and in hell
he lifted up his eyes. Being in torments, and seeing Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, that
he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my
parched tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus his evil
things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And
beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulph
fixed; so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot;
neither can they pass to us that would come from thence."

"Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou
wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five
brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come
into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, they have
Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said,
nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the
dead, they will repent. Abraham answered and said unto him,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded though one rose from the dead."

Thus, we see plainly that there are two separate places; one for the righteous, who are saved through obedience and faith, and the other for the wicked who are lost through disobedience and unbelief. Nothing could be more plain, pointed, or conclusive.

Now let us recall to your mind that which we have related in preceding pages; wherein we have told you that most Astronomers have agreed upon the fact, or hypothesis, of two atmospheres around the vast globe we have denominated heaven. The one next to it appears to be _non-luminous_; while the outer one--around this--is _luminous_, which they denominate _photosphere_, to which we have added _ethereal_, or "_spirit-fire_." This is what we see in looking at the Sun, and is the vast volume of fire, or _ethereal flame_, that sends out heat and light to this and other surrounding worlds. This light and heat extend over a region of the illimitable space, not less than _six thousand millions of miles in extent_. We have endeavored to approximate to the mind the intense heat of the Sun at its source, but it far exceeds finite comprehension.

We have also given you the views and suppositions of able investigators that the extent of that photosphere, or volume of flame, is vast indeed. It is said that 'flame-like masses--some computed to be one hundred and fifty thousand miles in length--are piled upon and overlap each other, and sweep onward in constant agitation like mountain billows of living fire.' This, as we have told you, is the source of all fire, or heat known to us on this Earth, and to all the other planets of our solar system.

The precise nature and elements of fire, we have said, we cannot fully comprehend; neither its original source, save that it emanated from the Great First Cause. The Sun is its direct source to us, and we realize it always the same; never augmenting nor diminishing. We know that it is the source of light to a vast region around, and, from the offices it performs, we cannot think less than that it is--as we have before said--an attribute of the Great Jehovah; and especially this when we consider God's own revelations as found recorded in the Bible.

In describing the dimensions of the _Sun_, we have said it is 2,655,000 miles round it, or to bring this vast extent nearer our comprehension, we may state that it would require 321 Earths, the size of this, set side by side to reach around it, and vast numbers more to cover its surface, and when thus covered with worlds like this, the stratum would only be about 8,000 miles deep, while it is reasonable to estimate that _photospheric flame to be 100,000 miles in depth_.

We have mentioned the "_inner globe_," estimated to be more than a million times the size of this Earth, and we have denominated it _heaven_, and this outside surrounding volume of ethereal fire we shall denominate _hell_, as we believe no other true hypothesis can be advanced. And, in assuming this, we believe ourselves sustained by the revelations of God, as well as by all we can comprehend of Nature.

In order to incite our minds to know and comprehend more of Him, and become obedient to His requirements, God has shown us, by manifestations, His instrument of destruction and punishment. His prophets have also announced His threatenings against the wicked, and have told us that _fire_--the element of heat--is the instrument with which He will fulfil His threatened vengeance, and we have seen this manifested by the destruction of the "cities of the plains"--even "Sodom and Gomorrah," as also the destruction of those who offered incense upon strange altars.

Now as this volume of flame, denominated the _Sun_, is the _only_ source of fire; and as fire seems to us one of the controlling elements of nature, and pervades all things, and God rained down fire and destroyed those cities, and also sent down fire and destroyed those who offered incense on a strange altar, we plainly see where the fire is that is to be the punishment of the wicked. That it is said "fire came down from heaven," or "out of heaven," does not vitiate, but rather confirms our hypothesis. For God is omnipresent, and dwells in _all_ heavens, and, from that region, _that permanent source of fire_, He commanded--doubtless--the concentration of the rays of the Sun, and it thus came at His command from heaven, and fell as flame of fire. But to prove that our hypothesis as to the location of hell is correct, we direct your mind again to the narrative of the Saviour, of the rich man in _hell_, and Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. That Abraham was in heaven no one can doubt, while we are plainly told that the rich man was "_in hell_," and, although "afar off," yet within speaking distance.

How far distant the voice of _spirit_ can be heard, no one in mortality can know. We know that on this earth sound is limited because of the density of the atmosphere, and we realize even here that when the atmosphere is the more rarified, the greater the distance of sound. It is computed that the condensed, or earth-atmosphere, extends outward from the earth about forty miles. When we have passed this stratum, and have gained space in the _ethereal atmosphere_, it may be possible that the same volume of voice we are accustomed to here, might be heard thousands, or even millions of miles distant from us. Heat rarifies atmosphere as we here realize by the influence of the sun. If the addition of a few rays of the sun will dissipate the dense clouds, and so materially rarify our atmosphere at the distance of ninety-five millions of miles, what may we suppose the condition of the atmosphere ninety millions of miles nearer its source? Therefore, we may readily believe that although Dives, and Abraham, were far apart--possibly thousands of miles--yet they could see and converse with each other.

You will remember that astronomers inform us that there seems a volume of non-luminous atmosphere, or void, between the outer phostosphere of fire and the body of that _inner globe_ (which globe we believe is heaven). Now remember the words of Father Abraham, "Beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulph fixed; so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence." Is not here conclusive evidence that the two places--heaven and hell--are not in far distant regions from each other?

_Remember._ It is said of the wicked "These shall go away into outer darkness, there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth." When death and hell shall give up their dead (for the souls of the wicked--who are dead in trespasses and in sin--are still enduring that death that never dies), and all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, where "every one shall receive according to the deeds done in the body," and the wicked are "driven from God, and from the glory of His power," to reach again their eternal destiny, they will doubtless pass through that dark void, even that "great gulph fixed between," and there _will_ be weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

* * * * *

Although we believe the evidence furnished is conclusive beyond cavil or doubt to every intelligent mind, yet we will still add more affirmative arguments which we desire that all should consider.

First, Let us refer again to the declarations--we have several times repeated--of the Prophets and Apostles. That heaven, and the Holy City in it, hath no need of the light of the _Sun_. That the "glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." That there is no night there, but one eternal day.

Now let us call to your mind the _extent_ of that empire wherein _the Sun does not shine_. From astronomical measurement, we may form in our minds an approximation of its dimensions. To fix for it a low estimate, we may safely conclude that the domain proper, is at least _five hundred thousand miles_ in diameter, and _one million five hundred thousand miles around it_. The empire is vast indeed, so great that, by comparison, we can form no correct idea of it. We can only approximate by saying that it would require about _one million of earths_, the size of this, to make a globe of equal magnitude.

In order to bring all home to your own reason and comprehension, let us ask, Where else is it feasible for so large a place to _be_ whereon, or into which the _Sun_, or _suns_, do not or _cannot shine_? We have shown you that suns (the surrounding volumes of photospheric ethereal fire) are--so far as we can comprehend--the natural sources of light throughout the Universe of Jehovah's empire. They seem as God's own _eternal lamps_, scattered and placed at His will in different regions of illimitable space, to illumine the universe without, and give _light everywhere_, as also life and animation to all their surrounding worlds. Each perhaps to its own, even as our Sun does to its own planet-worlds. Now when we consider that the fact is well established by all leading Astronomers that this outside flame or volume of fire is _far out_ from that INNER GLOBE, or world, and that between them _there is a void_, possibly thousands of miles in depth; that the fires and light of the _Sun_ have no perceptible effect upon this non-luminous void--and, indeed, the void shields the globe within from the light and heat of the Sun--we can readily imagine the wise arrangement of the Great Architect, and also comprehend the truth of His own declarations, that heaven is a place where neither the Sun nor its heat shall light upon its inhabitants.

Now the nature of the _element_ of this intervening void or space, whether _it_ is _ethereal_ or not, we cannot now comprehend. That it is a safe covering or shield to the world within, we can readily suppose. For Sir John Herschel says that it seems as "an awning or screen, protecting the body," or world within, from the Sun's heat.

But we are not left to conjecture alone, without philosophical reason in this matter. We know the laws of gravitation and attraction are fixed and sure, and upon these universal laws we can base correct conclusions.

The tendency of fire or heat is _outward_ and _upward_. The sense in which we use the term "upward" is that of space far out from the earth, or like solid bodies. We have shown, in our explanation of the law of gravitation, that _upward_ is simply away from the earth. Thus, we ignite material with fire and produce combustion here, and we see the flame _rise_, and feel and know the heat ascends _upward_. So also may the Chinaman do the same, at the same moment, on the opposite side of the globe--while his position is directly under us, as we construe downward--and yet the flame and heat of his fire ascends _upward_ from the earth where he stands, which is in a directly opposite direction from the course ours pursues. Thus, to us, outward from the earth is _upward_, no matter where our position on it.

This tendency of heat upward, or away from the base of the fire, is plainly evident by the fact that heat will not penetrate to any considerable depth _downward_, neither when on the earth, or on a solid non-combustible foundation; nor yet when on an elevated platform, for its tendency, as we have shown, is always outward or upward. So also with the fires of the _Sun_; whatever the base of its fires may be, we see by the fixed laws of Nature that the tendency of its heat is _outward_, no matter from what portion of that base it may emanate. We cannot now comprehend the _nature_ of the base of the Sun's fires, but we know that the great Jehovah has provided it, and that it is founded in His wisdom, and is fixed and sure, and we have reasoned conclusively that it cannot be of combustible material. Hence, the only rational conclusion we can arrive at--from a thorough investigation of Divine revelations; from all the lights afforded by the science of astronomy; from the true philosophy of Nature, as well as from all that is visible and perceptible--is, that far within the circling photosphere of ethereal fire which we see and realize as the _Sun_, there is a solid body, a globe, a VAST WORLD, and that world is the heaven for all the righteous from this earth; that it is the Saviour's allotted empire, and that He is there the ruler of His people.

_THE NATURE OF THE LIGHT OF THE HEAVENLY WORLD._

"_The glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof._"

We have given the above Scripture quotation repeatedly in these pages, in order to forcibly impress the minds of all with the fact that the light of the heavenly world is _different_ from the light of the Sun; that it far transcends it in _brightness_. For we are told that it "is far above the brightness of the Sun shining in its strength," even "_seven-fold brighter than the Sun_."

Let us contemplate what has been revealed of this "glory light."

First. No _mortal_ ever has beheld the full radiance of the face, or glory of God. For He hath said that no one should see His face and live. In evidence of this, when Moses, who was so near Him, and desired so much to behold His face unveiled, prayed to Him saying: "I _beseech thee_, show me thy glory." There came an answer unto him. "_Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live._" And in order to preserve the life of Moses, God placed him in the "cleft of a rock" and covered him with His hand while His glory was passing by.

Others have desired to see God, and the brightness of His glory, yet such desire, while in mortality, is wrong, for none could behold it and live.

It is recorded of Trajan, the Emperor of Rome, that he accosted Rabbi Joshua, saying: "You teach that your God is everywhere, now I should like to see Him." Joshua replied, "He cannot be seen, no mortal eye can behold His glory." The Emperor, however, persisted, contending that if He was everywhere, He could surely be seen, and thus derided the doctrine taught by Joshua. "Well," said the Rabbi, "let us try first to look at one of His ambassadors." To this Trajan consented. Joshua then led him forth into the open air at noon-day, and bade him "look at the _Sun_." The Emperor replied: "I cannot, for its light dazzles, and will _blind me_." Then replied Joshua, "If thou art unable to endure the light of one of His creatures, how canst thou expect to be able to behold the resplendent glory of the Creator? _The sight would annihilate thee._"

Thus we find that in every representation of the "glory of God," its light is beyond our comprehension, and so overpowering that no mortal could behold it and live.

We have, however, a feeble representation of this glory manifested by His Son. When Saul, of Tarsus, was on his way to Damascus, to persecute the disciples and followers of Christ, behold, at mid-day, a light, _above the brightness of the Sun_, shone around him and his band, and they all fell to the earth, and their leader was smitten with blindness, which continued for three days, and was only then relieved by the agencies which the Saviour appointed. When first smitten, hearing a voice that was not of Earth, he exclaimed, "Lord, who art thou?" The answer was, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest."

When the beloved disciple John beheld the Son of Man, walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks, the light and influence was so overpowering, that he "_fell at His feet as dead_." Thus we have a faint prelude of the light of the glory of God. Yet no one in mortality can behold it, even in a veiled form. But the strength of the _spirit-eye_ will enable us to behold the King in all His glory, "for we shall see Him as He is."

_THAT HEAVENLY WORLD._

We need not stand on Pisgah's height, nor climb to the summit of the Andes, to catch a glimpse of that "HEAVENLY WORLD." But, grasping the telescope of _Faith_, and looking through _Revelations_, the humblest Christian, "low down in the valley," may see through the storm-clouds and tempests of life--yea, even through the "shadow of death"--and gaze with rapture upon the enchanting scene. The light of the _Sun_ pales without, as the flood-light of that _inner world_ breaks upon the eye. There is the resplendent "glory of God," shining with unequalled radiance and beauty. To the spirit-eye it is not blinding, neither will it even dim the sight. Fear not, ye feeble followers of the blessed Redeemer, to approach--even now--by faith and contemplation, the confines of that bright world; even though it is within that encircling photosphere of _ethereal fire_. There is no danger, for by-and-by that bright world will be your place of habitation. When the winged messenger comes and escorts you away from your earthly "prison-house," he will conduct you to that bright world, where "an abundant entrance shall be administered unto you" by your blessed Saviour. Remember it is written in the "Sacred Volume": "_The voice of God divideth the flame;_" and He hath said: "_I will be as a wall of fire._" "_When thou goest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon thee._" "_Enter thou into the joys of thy Lord._" No such flames within. "_The Sun shall not light on thee; nor any heat;_" and yet there is a resplendent light, even the "glory of God," which illumines the Great City and all the vast realm. "_There is no night there_," but one eternal day; and when thou hast entered, "_The days of thy mourning shall be ended._"

But hold heavenward the telescope of _faith_; let us, through the lights of revelation, endeavor to get a slight panoramic view. The inspired poet caught a glimpse before us. Hear him exclaim:

"There, on those wide extended plains,
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away."