Dear Brother Bates
Topsham, Me.,
April 7, 1847
Dear Brother Bates,
Last Sabbath we met with the dear brethren and sisters here, who
meet at Bro. Howland’s.
We felt an unusual spirit of prayer. And as we prayed, the Holy
Ghost fell upon us. We were very happy. Soon I was lost to earthly
things, and was wrapped up in a vision of God’s glory. I saw an angel
swiftly flying to me. He quickly carried me from the earth to the Holy
City. In the city I saw a temple, which I entered. I passed through a
door before I came to the first vail. This vail was raised, and I passed
into the Holy Place. Here I saw the altar of Incense, the candlestick
with seven lamps, and the table on which was the showbread, etc.
After viewing the glory of the Holy, Jesus raised the second veil, and I
passed into the Holy of Holies. [
Hebrews 9:1-24
.]
In the Holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest
gold. On each end of the ark was a lovely Cherub, with their wings
spread out over it. Their faces were turned towards each other, and
they looked downwards. [
Exodus 25:18-22
.] Between the angels was
a golden censor. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an
exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt.
[
Exodus 25:20-22
.] Jesus stood by the ark. And as the saints’ prayers
came up to Jesus, the incense in the censor would smoke, and He
offered up the prayers of the saints with the smoke of the incense
to His Father. [
Revelation 8:3, 4
.] In the ark, was the golden pot of
manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone which folded
together like a book. [
Hebrews 9:4
.] Jesus opened them, and I saw the
ten commandments written on them with the finger of God. [
Exodus
31:18
.] On one table was four, and on the other six. The four on the
first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth (the Sabbath
commandment,) shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart
to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. [
Isaiah 58:13, 14
.] The holy
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