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 .
Before the ransomed throng is the Holy City . Jesus opens wide the pearly gates , and the nations that have kept the truth enter in . There they behold the Paradise of God , the home of Adam in his innocency . Then that voice , richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear , is heard , saying : " Your conflict is ended ." " Come , ye blessed of My Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ." Now is fulfilled the Saviour ' s prayer for His disciples : " I will that they also , whom Thou hast given Me , be with Me where I am ." " Faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy " ( Jude 24 ), Christ presents to the Father the purchase of His blood , declaring : " Here am I , and the children whom Thou hast given Me ." " Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept ." Oh , the wonders of redeeming love ! the
450