The Answer of the Spirit: Now, let men mark, from this vision, and from the words that I said, of overcoming the world, and of casting out the prince of this world. See in what manner the disciples bear record of my words, from what was shewn them afterwards. Now mark from the apostle : after Satan is bound, he saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first earth was passed away, and the tabernacle of God was with man. Now mark, from these words, what is meant by the first earth being passed away it does not mean the world as it stands, that all shall be passed away and have no form, as it now is: I tell thee no; that is not the meaning; for I created the world as I saw it was good. And so is the foundation of the earth placed, and all of its kind is good; the fruit in its kind; and every herb that groweth is good for man; and every grain of seed is good for man therefore, it is not these things that will pass away, and be made anew, but it is the earthen vessels of men that will pass away from what they now are, and be made entirely anew in ME, that have been so tainted by the powers of darkness, by sin, and by the fall. Therefore, it is man that will be made anew when I come to bring in my kingdom, and destroy the powers of darkness, from working in man. What power has Satan to work in the earthly ground, to make it do evil? But HE hath a power to work in man, that was made of the earth, to make him do evil; therefore, this is the first earth that must pass away, to be created anew, when I bring my tabernacle to dwell with men; to be their God, and they to be my people. Then will I wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death. Now, from these words, the eyes of men's understanding must be opened, to see there is no death in HEAVEN. Then how can man suppose this alludes to things in heaven? There are no tears in heaven to wipe from men's eyes; there is no sorrow in heaven; neither is there crying or pain there; because, they are passed from death unto life, to a world of joy, that can never end. But all these things are in the world, sorrow and sighing, pain and misery; these are the things that shall pass away, and man shall be made anew; and none of these sorrows shall remain, when my KINGDOM is brought down to man. But I tell thee the meaning of my kingdom being brought down; it is MY SPIRIT that MUST BE BROUGHT DOWN UPON MAN. For mark deep the words how they are spoken the seven angels, which had the seven vials, full of the seven last plagues. Now, from these words, you must all discern, what plagues are to come upon the earth, when it cometh to the end. But know, they are the last. Then mark what followeth I will shew thee the bride, the lamb's wife. And mark from the last chapter: the spirit and the bride saith come. Then ye must all discern it is MY SPIRIT coming down to be poured out upon the sons of men. This is the NEW JERUSALEM that is coming down to make the earth as a heaven for man. And now I shall tell thee of the gates: the glory of the light that come from the Lord will be as a precious stone unto man. And clear as the crystal I shall make my words and my ways before mankind. And he that entereth into the gates must enter in by faith. For though it is written, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, as though the children of Israel were the only people that should enter in; but the twelve tribes do not allude particularly to Jews or Gentiles; or to any nation as a people; but the tribes. of Israel are the tribes of FAITH; for know, it E is written, God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Then it must be of faith, like Abraham's, to be called the children of Abraham, and the children of Israel. But what nation could they be alluded to in my Gospel but the Jews? for where was the nation or the people, that had the knowledge of me to walk by faith, as the Jews had? Then, I could not place these things to any other nation that had not walked by faith. But as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with others of the Jews, walked by faith; so, from their faith, they were called the TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD; because they had faith, which no other nation had in their days. But, as it was said in Isaac, all the families of the earth shall be blessed; and he was a child of faith; so, I tell thee, it is by faith men are called the Israel of God; whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, male or female, they are all ONE, in Christ Jesus, as the true Israel of God, that walk by faith, to believe in his word; for he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, but he that is one inwardly, by faith. Here I have shewed thee the true Israel of God is from faith. And now I shall tell thee the meaning of the city being so beautiful as it were of jasper and pure gold, like unto clear glass. The pure gold is the PURE WORD of GOD, that shall be made clear and manifest to all men. And as clear as ye can see through a glass that is clear as the crystal, so clear will ye see all my words verified and fulfilled, with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. The building of the walls, and the beauty of the city, that is said to come down to men below, is the beauty and fulfilment of my words and promises, much greater than it is described by the beauty of the city. But men are not to suppose that the cities will be made of pure gold; and yet, they will be filled with MY PURE WORD-Joys that never entered the hearts nor thought of men. But how could it be described to man the beauty of my buildings, when I build man anew to make him a fit temple for the living God? for then man will serve me in the beauty of holiness, to delight in ME, and I in him. This is the meaning of the beauty of the city, being garnished with precious stones, when I am the sure CORNER STONE for all men. Then they will see the beauty of my works in creation, in preservation, and in redemption; all shining in its brightest lustre; like the garden of Eden at first, will this world become to man. Therefore, it is described in so beautiful a manner how the foundation is to be laid. And know how the foundation was laid at first, as a garden for beauty, with a tree of knowledge, and a tree of LIFE. Now, when the evil is done away, and nothing remains but the knowledge of the good, then they will find the PURE GOLD remaineth to fulfil MY WORD. Therefore, it is written, the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the TEMPLE of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the GLORY of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Now, do men suppose, from these words, there will be no sun to warm the earth, no sun to bring forth the fruits of the earth, no sun to lighten the earth I tell thee all these things will remain as they are; the sun in the firmament, for the fruits of the earth, that every thing may give its increase. But the meaning of the word having no need of the sun, that the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, hath a spiritual meaning, not a temporal one. For now ye have need of teachers, ye have need of instructors, ye have need of guards, invisible, ye have need of men that are visible, to be a L light to mankind; yet, all this is but an imperfect |
