It may be said, They there rest from their
labors. True, but not from their delights. All things then that once
were burdensome, whether in suffering or service, shall be done
away, and that which is delightful and pleasurable shall remain.
Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in
after them, and behold, the city shone like the sun; the streets
also were paved with gold, and in them walked many men with crowns
on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing
praises withal. There were also of them that had wings; and they
answered one another without intermission, saying, "Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord." And after that they shut up the gates; which when I
had seen, I wished myself among them.
"Strive to enter in." "Enter in"--into heaven, that is the meaning,
where the saved are and shall be--into heaven, that place, that
glorious place where God and Christ and angels are, and the souls of
just men made perfect. "Enter in:" that thing included though not
expressed in the words, is called in another place the "mount Zion,
the heavenly Jerusalem, the general assembly and church of the
first-born which are written in heaven." And therefore the words
signify unto us that there is a state most glorious, and that when
this world is ended; and that this place and state is likewise to be
enjoyed by a generation of men forever.
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