WHAT WILL BE THE EMPLOYMENT OF SAINTS IN GLORY?

Isaac N. Vanmeter

Signs of the Times- Feb. 7,1878.

ELDER G. BEEBE & SON - DEAR BRETHREN:- In looking over the index of the last volume of the SIGNS, I was surprised to see how often I had written during the year, and felt that I owed you and you readers an apology for having occupied so much space in our medium of correspondence; yet I discovered that I had written no article only by request of some brother, sister, or friend, and that I had generally been brief. I am again about to write something for your disposal, by request of brother T. E. W. Hillman, of Indiana, who some months ago, requested me, by letter, to give my views through the SIGNS on the question, What will be the employment of the saints in glory?

As to brother Hillman's query, as to the employment of the saints in glory, I feel so utterly stupid and blind in reference to the unseen world, and the unrevealed mysteries of a state of immortality, that it is with extreme diffidence I attempt to say anything on the subject for the perusal of brother H. or any of the readers of the SIGNS. True, as brother H. remarked in his letter to me, the subject is a pleasing and sublime one to think, speak or write about, to those who hope and look for that country, and desire to depart from this state of sin and sorrow. Yes, it is a pleasing theme to contemplate, and because it is so profoundly sublime and glorious, and I am so weak, in my conception, and so slow of speech, I almost faint before I begin. I am so finite, so clogged with mortality, so earthly in my fallen nature, my soul and mind are so fettered and beclouded by a body of death, that I believe what I cannot comprehend, and anticipate the enjoyment of an eternal weight of glory which I cannot describe.

I understand that the glorified and exalted Savior is and will be the chief and supreme object of praise, adoration and delight in heaven; for "God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." - See Phil. ii. 9-11, Rev. v. 9-14. I believe that the heaven of ultimate glory, where the redeemed of the Lord shall finally meet, is a place as well as a state of being, where God, in the glorified person of his Son, is and forever will be seen and adored on a dazzling throne of glory. - See Dan. vii 9, & Rev. iv. 2, 3.

I believe that the saints in their resurrected and glorified state will have spiritual bodies, and will have eyes to see, ears to hear, and tongue to speak the praises of God forever; but I shall not attempt, brother H., to describe the nature of a spiritual body, nor how the faculties of seeing, hearing, feeling, &c., can be exercised or brought into use, as some vain persons have inquired. But the word of God abundantly teaches that the redeemed, in their glorified state, will be intelligent beings, possessed of celestial and heavenly powers and knowledge infinitely beyond what they know while in a body of flesh. "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." - I. Cor. xiii 12.

"Then shall we see, and hear, and know, All we desired or wished below-, And every power find sweet employ, In that eternal world of joy."

The employment of the saints in glory will consist, at least in part, in beholding the glory of God as set forth by the pen of inspiration, the eternal weight of glory, whatever that is, that awaits the purchase of his blood; in seeing, adoring and eternally loving the exalted Savior, who lived, and died, and rose, and ascended the throne of his glory for them; in praising his name on the harps of God, and casting their crowns at his feet, and crying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; in listening to the mingled notes of angels, seraphs and redeemed sinners, whose tongues of flame shall forever chant the anthems of eternal love, in which they shall be swallowed up.

Not only do the scriptures teach, as I understand them, that the saints in glory will sing forever the inimitable praises of their adorable Redeemer and God, but I believe their songs will be forever new, or the same as new, and the theme, the song, the notes of praise, will never cloy, nor the flame of love ever grow less melting and soul-ravishing. They will ever survey the wonderful works of the omnipotent hand, and with wonder and awe exclaim, "Great and marvelous are they works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." -Rev. xv. 3. The things of the celestial world have not been seen or heard by mortals, and although God has revealed them to us in measure, by his Spirit, yet we now only know in part, in a very small part, what he has prepared for them that love him.

But, brother H., our joys will consist partly in being not employed in conflicts, and trials, and sorrows, and afflictions; having no wrestlings, nor fightings, nor fears to annoy us; for there the weary will forever rest, and there the way-worn soldier will enjoy eternal peace. In that blest abode of eternal rest the saints no more shall sigh nor shed a tear, for "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." - Rev xxi 4. There shall be no night there, no darkness, nor clouds to obscure the vision; no veil to cover the smiling face of him who died for us and rose again. There the saints shall be able to measure the length, and breadth, and depth, and height, and to know the love of God, and forever to feel its thrilling and melting power. Then and there we shall sing in triumph, "Death is swallowed up in victory." There shall be no sick-beds, nor dying couches; no anxious vigils kept over departing friends; no heart-rendings over the fierce grapplings of loved ones with the king of terrors, and over the dreary, silent tomb. There the saints shall never be called upon, by their several duties, to give the parting hand; there they will never mourn an absent God, or the hidings of his face, for they shall ever be with the Lord, and shall go no more out.

"In hope of that immortal crown, I now the cross sustain; And gladly wander up and down. And smile at toil and pain.'

Since I began this article I have walked several miles through a dreary and pelting snow storm, and was almost exhausted and ready to faint, and I was made to think of, and to long for a better country, that is a heavenly.

"But hush, my soul, nor dare repine; The time my God appoints is best; While here, to do his will be mine, And his to fix my time of rest."

In that clime where there is eternal day, and the Lord God and the Lamb are the light of it, there will be no more storms of snow, nor destructive tempests.

"No chilling wind, nor poisonous breath, Can reach that healthful shore; Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, Are felt and feared no more."

Only when God reveals to us by his Spirit an earnest of the inheritance, and fills our hearts with a rill of the ocean of his love, and we are enabled by faith to behold and lay hold of the things of that invisible world, can we conceive of the mysteries of the future state, and even then but in a small measure.

"As through a glass I dimly see The wonders of thy love; How little do I know of thee, Or of the joys above."

Paul says it is not lawful to utter the words he, in his vision, heard in the paradise of God, and I feel satisfied that we, while in the body, can have but very faint conceptions of the glory that awaits all the redeemed; and I, especially, feel to know nothing yet as I ought to know, and am often made to inquire seriously whether I am a joint heir with Christ to so rich an inheritance. With a trembling hope of that world, through grace, I remain your brother, I. N. VANMETER.

247. Heaven 10s.

'Twas far above the earth I fixed mine eyes, And lo! I saw a region 'bove the skies, Arrayed in peerless light and glory, far Exceeding sun, and moon, and morning star.

A city, grand and lofty, paved with gold, Filled with seraphic joys which can't be told; Salvation's walls encompass it around, And naught but glorious forms is in it found.

There stands the Tree of Life, divinely fair, Spreading its boughs in the ambrosial air; And from its base an ancient river flows, To water all this region of repose.

There sits, enthroned, amid this bright abode, A conquering King, the exalted Lamb of God; Around whose feet a bright, angelic throng, And men redeemed, join in an endless song.

Refulgent beams through all this region spread Eternal day round the Redeemer's head; He calls his spouse, for whom he bled and died To enter in, and seats her by his side.

While thus beholding heaven's celestial plains, My ears saluted with immortal strains, longed to leave these earthly shores, and fly, To realize the glories of the sky!

Please direct your comments to Mike Krall.

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