The Goodly Land

There is a land which stands in a wonderful contrast to this. “WWSJ 14.1

“Oh, how unlike the present world
Will be the one to come!”WWSJ 14.2

There are fields smiling in living green, trees majestic in their wealth of verdure, flowers dazzling with their rainbow hues, and on neither field nor tree nor flower is there the touch of frost or the pale hand of decay. There are no footprints of the curse, no scars of sin. No pestilence walks in darkness, nor destruction wastes at noonday. There are no forms distorted with pain, nor brows furrowed with anxiety and care. I see no mournful shafts, telling where weary forms and sad and broken hearts have in darkness moldered into dust. There are no painful messages passing over that land, telling that a friend, a brother, a fellow-laborer has fallen beneath the cruel stroke of a relentless foe. There is no darkened room where the tide of a precious life is ebbing slowly away. There are no bosoms heaving with anguish, no badges of mourning, no funeral trains, no yawning, insatiate grave. But, on the other hand, there is a glorious company, who bear bright palms of victory over death and the grave.WWSJ 14.3

There every eye is sparkling with the fulness of the joy that reigns within. On every cheek is the bloom of eternal youth and everlasting health. Every limb is lithe and. strong. The lame man leaps as an hart. I see the blind gazing with rapture on the celestial glory. I see the deaf listening enchanted to the heavenly melody. He who was once dumb joins with loud voice in the anthems of praise. The mother clasps to her bosom the children she had lost awhile in the land of the enemy, but now recovered forever. Long-parted friends meet in eternal reunion. There is the river so pure and clear, so charged with every element of refreshment and life that it is called “the river of life.” One overarching tree is so healing in its leaves, so vivifying in its fruits, so potent in its ministry, that it is called “the tree of life.” There is the great white throne, in whose effulgence there is no need of moon or sun to give us light; and from its center a voice is saying to that victorious company, “This is your rest forever, and you shall no more be acquainted with grief; for there shall be no more pain or death, and sorrow and mourning have forever fled away.” And in all the universe there is thenceforth no trace of sin or suffering, but from every world and from every creature rises a joyous anthem, like the sound of many waters, going up to God; and they say, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”WWSJ 14.4