Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Heavenly account (Part 3) Message-ID: Date: 18 Mar 91 16:45:56 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 87 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu The elder again said to me, "Let us gather some of the fruit of these trees and then we will join that company yonder." I replied, "I would be quite glad to do so, for I have eaten nothing since leaving the body," and yet I felt no great sense of need. [...] My guide now said, "What kind of fruit would you prefer? You can have your choice of things here just as you used to in the earth. If you feel faint or weary from your long abstinence from food, this kind (pointing to a pearshaped and beautifully colored fruit) is what you need, for the tree has twelve kinds, as you see, upon it." I said with feelings of deepest praise, "Oh, how wonderfully God has provided for us! Twelve kinds of fruit on each tree, ripening their fruit every month, and the leaves never withering! Wonderful!" "Here," said he, "pluck from the boughs on this side of the tree and eat." I did so, and much refreshing and enlightening grace as they imparted to me, it is beyond the comprehension of mortal man to know; it must be eaten to be understood. The taste of the fruit was delicious indeed. The earth never furnished anything like unto it for taste, not the orange, peach, nor melon. Nor would the fragrance of the rose compare with it. "When anyone eats of these trees," said the elder, "he can never die again, grow older nor feel weary; death hath no more dominion over him. One of these trees grew in the garden of Eden. After our first parents had sinned against God, they thought to eat of the fruit of it also; but God said, "No", for had they eaten of it they would always have lived in that sinful, dying state. So a flaming angel was sent to guard it, and so man never eats of it until he has passed the boundaries of his earthly life." { ... Seneca meets Abraham who speaks to the company of them} Abraham said, "you have just arrived and have much wonder and many questions to ask about this heavenly kingdom of our Lord. While we talk for a few moments let us be refreshed with a drink from this crystal river, for it flows from the great palace up at the throne. Would you like to taste its waters?" "Oh, indeed we would, I have sung hymns, and read in the Holy Scriptures concerning this very river, where the angel pointed it out to John, who in his vision saw it proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb." (Revelation 22:1) He now proceeded to the brink and with a golden goblet he dipped and filled the cup for me, and another for Bohemond [another newly arrived soul whom Seneca had been introduced to earlier and who was now joining him in their journey to the city], and said: "My sons, drink of this river and you shall never thirst again, nor faint, nor weary for its lack, for its waters shall never fail." As I drank from the cup I said, "Oh praise God for such a supply! So sweet the taste! How full of invigorating power! It makes me feel the joy and glow of youth." [...] I said, "Father Abraham, shall we not soon go on to the throne {in the middle of the city}? I have such a desire to see my Lord Jesus, I have loved Him these years, and then I have many loved ones beside that I feel sure are about the throne." "You desires, my son," he replied, "shall be fully met. The patience you have learned on earth is of great service to you here. So I hope you will feel that restful, quiet trust in all God's ways." "Oh yes, my whole soul says, 'Thy will be done.'" "You will soon see the King in His beauty, and probably some of those who knew you best, may come out and meet us on the journey toward the city gates, for they certainly know you are here. Just as soon as our company is full we will be off. Twelve legions make the company, and you see they are gathering from all directions. "Cast your eyes down the stream and you can see another company rapidly filling up. Look across the other side and farther up the stream and you see another. The guides who welcome them soon know to what company and place each belongs. Some have made but little preparation for this glory ere they left the world, and now the light is too great for them; and, as you see, they fall back into the rear and content themselves among the trees, waiting for a further preparation by an application of these wonderful leaves on the trees. But all these companies you see will soon be gathering about the gates of the city." [continued in posting 4] John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM