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?