All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb . Adam , who stands among the risen throng , is of lofty height and majestic form , in stature but little below the Son of God . He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations ; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race . But all arise with the freshness and vigour of eternal youth . In the beginning , man was created in the likeness of God , not only in character , but in form and feature . Sin defaced and almost obliterated the divine image ; but Christ came to restore that which had been lost . He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorious body . The mortal , corruptible form , devoid of comeliness , once polluted with sin , becomes perfect , beautiful , and immortal . All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave . Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden , the redeemed will " grow up " ( Malachi 4:2 ) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory . The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed , and Christ ' s faithful ones will appear in " the beauty of the Lord our God ," in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord . Oh , wonderful redemption ! long talked of , long hoped for , contemplated with eager anticipation , but never fully understood .
The living righteous are changed " in a moment , in the twinkling of an eye ." At the voice of God they were glorified ; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air . Angels " gather together His elect from the four winds , from one end of heaven to the other ." Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers ' arms . Friends long separated by death are united , nevermore to part , and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God . On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings , and beneath it are living wheels ; and as the chariot rolls upward , the wheels cry , " Holy ," and the wings , as they move , cry , " Holy ," and the retinue of angels cry , " Holy , holy , holy , Lord God Almighty ." And the redeemed shout , " Alleluia !" as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem .
Before entering the City of God , the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state . The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their King , whose form rises in majesty high above saint and angel , whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love . Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him , every eye beholds His glory whose " visage was so marred more than any man , and His form more than the sons of men ." Upon the heads of the overcomers , Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory . For each there is a crown , bearing his own " new name " ( Revelation 2:17 ), and the inscription , " Holiness to the Lord ." In every hand are placed the victor ' s palm and the shining harp . Then , as the commanding angels strike the note , every hand sweeps the harp strings with skillful touch , awaking sweet music in rich , melodious strains . Rapture unutterable thrills every heart , and each voice is raised in grateful praise : " Unto Him that loved us , and washed us from our sins in His own blood , and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father ; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever ." Revelation 1:5 , 6 .
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