310
Counsels for the Church
United With the church Above
The church of God below is one with the church of God above.
Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen
constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the
assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God. In the
inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of the witnesses for
Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and thanksgiving from
the worshipers below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise
and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has
[241]
not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam. While angels drink from
the fountainhead, the saints on earth drink of the pure streams flowing
from the throne, the streams that make glad the city of our God.
Oh, that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth! When
the earthborn children know it not, they have angels of light as their
companions. A silent witness guards every soul that lives, seeking
to draw that soul to Christ. As long as there is hope, until men resist
the Holy Spirit to their eternal ruin, they are guarded by heavenly
intelligences. Let us all bear in mind that in every assembly of the
saints below are angels of God, listening to the testimonies, songs, and
prayers. Let us remember that our praises are supplemented by the
choirs of the angelic host above.
Then as you meet from Sabbath to Sabbath, sing praises to Him
who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. “Unto
Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” let
the heart’s adoration be given. Let the love of Christ be the burden
of the speaker’s utterance. Let it be expressed in simple language in
every song of praise. Let the inspiration of the Spirit of God dictate
your prayers. As the word of life is spoken, let your heartfelt response
testify that you receive the message as from heaven.
God teaches that we should assemble in His house to cultivate the
attributes of perfect love. This will fit the dwellers of earth for the
mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for all who love Him. There
they will assemble in the sanctuary from Sabbath to Sabbath, from
one new moon to another, to unite in loftiest strains of song, in praise
and thanksgiving to Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb
for ever and ever
430
Testimonies for the Church 6:366-368