14 A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We all cried out
“The City, the Great City, it’s coming, it’s coming down from God out
of heaven;” and it came and settled on the place where we stood. Then
we began to look at the glorious things outside of the City. There I
saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported
by four pillars, set with pearls, most glorious to behold, which were
to be inhabited by the saints, and in them was a golden shelf. I saw
many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns
and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to
do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here;
no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads and they were
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continually shouting and offering praises to God.
And I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked
them, I cried out, They will never fade. Next I saw a field of tall grass,
most glorious to behold; it was living green, and had a reflection of
silver and gold, as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then
we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts—the lion, the lamb, the
leopard and the wolf, altogether in perfect union. We passed through
the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we
entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here, no, no; but
light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees waved to and
fro, and we all cried out, “We will dwell safely in the wilderness and
sleep in the woods.” We passed through the woods, for we were on our
way to Mount Zion. As we were traveling along, we met a company
who were also gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a
border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were
pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He
said they were martyrs that had been slain for him. With them was an
innumerable company of little ones; they had a hem of red on their
garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the Mount was
a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which
grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose,
use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the
never fading flowers.—There were all kinds of trees around the temple
to beautify the place; the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the
pomegranate and the fig tree bowed down with the weight of its timely
figs, that made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to