School of the Hereafter
227
heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope; when, the blight of
sin removed, the whole earth shall appear in “the beauty of the Lord
our God,” what a field will be open to our study! There the student of
science may read the records of creation and discern no reminders of
the law of evil. He may listen to the music of nature’s voices and detect
no note of wailing or undertone of sorrow. In all created things he may
trace one handwriting—in the vast universe behold “God’s name writ
large,” and not in earth or sea or sky one sign of ill remaining.
There the Eden life will be lived, the life in garden and field. “They
shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards,
and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit;
they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the
[304]
days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their
hands.”
Isaiah 65:21, 22
.
There shall be nothing to “hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
saith the Lord.”
Isaiah 65:25
. There man will be restored to his lost
kingship, and the lower order of beings will again recognize his sway;
the fierce will become gentle, and the timid trustful.
There will be open to the student, history of infinite scope and of
wealth inexpressible. Here, from the vantage ground of God’s word,
the student is afforded a view of the vast field of history and may gain
some knowledge of the principles that govern the course of human
events. But his vision is still clouded, and his knowledge incomplete.
Not until he stands in the light of eternity will he see all things clearly.
Then will be opened before him the course of the great conflict
that had its birth before time began, and that ends only when time
shall cease. The history of the inception of sin; of fatal falsehood in
its crooked working; of truth that, swerving not from its own straight
lines, has met and conquered error—all will be made manifest. The
veil that interposes between the visible and the invisible world will be
drawn aside, and wonderful things will be revealed.
Not until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity
shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His
angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of
men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they
have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the
hospitalities of human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted
[305]