To the Remnant Scattered Abroad
11
up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were
sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so
small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory [
2 Corinthians 4:17
.] that surrounded us, that we could not speak
them out, [
Isaiah 65:17
.] and we all cried out Hallelujah, heaven is
cheap enough, and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven’s
arches ring. And as we were gazing at the glories of the place our eyes
were attracted upwards to something that had the appearance of silver.
I asked Jesus to let me see what was within there. In a moment we
were winging our way upward, and entering in; here we saw good old
father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them. And
I saw a vail with a heavy fringe of silver and gold, as a border on the
bottom; it was very beautiful. I asked Jesus what was within the vail.
He raised it with his own right arm, and bade me take heed. I saw there
a glorious ark, overlaid with pure gold, and it had a glorious border,
resembling Jesus’ crowns; and on it were two bright angels—their
wings were spread over the ark as they sat on each end, with their faces
turned towards each other and looking downward. [
Exodus 25:18,
20
.
Hebrews 9:3-5
.] In the ark, beneath where the angels’ wings were
spread, was a golden pot of Manna, of a yellowish cast; and I saw a
rod, which Jesus said was Aaron’s; I saw it bud, blossom and bear
fruit. [
Numbers 17:8
.] And I saw two long golden rods, on which
hung silver wires, and on the wires most glorious grapes; one cluster
was more than a man here could carry. And I saw Jesus step up and
take of the manna, almonds, grapes and pomegranates, and bear them
down to the city, and place them on the supper table. I stepped up
to see how much was taken away, and there was just as much left;
and we shouted Hallelujah—Amen. We all descended from this place
down into the city, and with Jesus at our head we all descended from
the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which
could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty
plain. [
Zechariah 14:4
.] Then we looked up and saw the great city,
with twelve foundations, twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel
at each gate, and all cried out, “the city, the great city, it’s coming, it’s
coming down from God, out of heaven;” [
Revelation 21:10-13
.] 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,