“The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come” (Isaiah 21:11, 12).

This prophecy of Isaiah against the Edomites has a special application to the end of our world’s history. The glorious appearing of Jesus in the clouds of heaven signals the end of earth’s tragic saga of sin and marks the beginning of eternity. At the return of the Saviour, eternal day will dawn upon all the faithful children of God. This event assures life and victory to the overcomers, and, on the other hand, this will be the end of the wicked - the end of the lovers of this world and of sin.

“With earnest longing, God’s people await the tokens of their coming King. As the watchmen are accosted, ‘What of the night?’ the answer is given unfalteringly, ‘The morning cometh, and also the night’ (Isaiah 21:11, 12). Light is gleaming upon the clouds above the mountaintops. Soon there will be a revealing of His glory. The Sun of Righteousness is about to shine forth. The morning and the night are both at hand - the opening of endless day to the righteous, the settling down of eternal night to the wicked.”1

On that great day the final separation between the righteous and the wicked will occur, and the difference between those that obey God and those that do not obey Him will be clearly seen.

The children of God sleeping in the dust of the earth will resurrect to immortal life, and those that are alive will be transformed. The “trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52, 53).

The children of God will meet the King, but the children of the wicked one will be eternally lost as candidates for everlasting destruction. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

“And when [the angel] had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).

At the end of the sixth seal, Revelation 6:14 says that “the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together.” This will take place at the second coming of Christ. The sixth seal closes its history with the glorious appearing of the Saviour, followed by a silence in heaven for about half an hour (the 7^th seal). Heaven will be emptied at that time. All the angels will compose the retinue of the King.

The half-hour silence has been interpreted by SDA pioneers as follows: one prophetic hour corresponds to 15 days, and a prophetic half hour is seven and a half days. The Bible text says “about the space of half an hour,” which corresponds to seven days. E. G. White describes the trip of the saints to the heavenly kingdom in these words:

“We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory.”2

Traveling to heaven will be an unforgettable experience for all the saints. Accompanied by Christ and the holy angels, the redeemed will cross galaxies and will see stars and worlds. They will contemplate glorious things never seen before by mortal eyes. Eternally saved, they will begin to enjoy eternity.

To welcome the redeemed to the kingdom, Jesus will say, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in” (Isaiah 26:2).

The messenger of the Lord describes this event: “I saw a very great number of angels bring from the [holy]city glorious crowns - a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints. In the same manner the angels brought the harps, and Jesus presented them also to the saints. The commanding angels first struck the note, and then every voice was raised in grateful, happy praise, and every hand skillfully swept over the strings of the harp, sending forth melodious music in rich and perfect strains.

“Then I saw Jesus lead the redeemed company to the gate of the city. He laid hold of the gate and swung it back on its glittering hinges and bade the nations that had kept the truth enter in. Within the city there was everything to feast the eye. Rich glory they beheld everywhere. Then Jesus looked upon His redeemed saints; their countenances were radiant with glory; and as He fixed His loving eyes upon them, He said, with His rich, musical voice, ‘I behold the travail of My soul, and am satisfied. This rich glory is yours to enjoy eternally.’ ”3

From time immemorial human beings have tried to build in this earth a kingdom with equality for all - without misery and without evil. Projects have been elaborated, battles have been fought, but all without success. The dream of humanity to enjoy only good things and to live in a perfect new world order has never materialized. The political science of many generations has never been able to achieve a righteous society, let alone a perfect one. This dream will become a reality only when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. The apostle John affirmed: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1, 2).

Human language is incapable of describing the glories of the celestial kingdom. Things that human eyes have not seen, that ears have not heard, nor they have ever entered into the imagination of men and women are the things that God has prepared for the redeemed:

No more tears, nor weeping. “God shall wipe away all tears . . . ; and there shall be no more . . . crying” (Revelation 21:4).

No more pain.“Neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

No more sickness. “And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity” (Isaiah 33:24).

No persons with physical defects. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5, 6).

No more death and funeral processions. “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4).

The presence of God will be with His children.“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3).

Creation will be in perfect harmony as in the beginning. “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. . . . They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 65:25).

There will be everlasting joy and happiness among the redeemed. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

“And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:18).

“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).

No more temptations and sin. “No tree of knowledge of good and evil will afford opportunity for temptation. No tempter is there, no possibility of wrong.”4

“Affliction shall not rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9).

“[In the new earth], immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There is no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.

“All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar - worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God’s handiwork. With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation - suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the Creator’s name is written, and in all are the riches of His power displayed.

“And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise.”5

The Bible expression “to him that overcometh” identifies those who shall inherit eternal life. All the promises in the Word of God point to the overcomers, and all of us are involved in this battle. We are struggling against ourselves, because our greatest enemy is “self.” It is imperative that we submit to the power of Christ in our battle against selfishness, pride, and other sins. We have to struggle against the giant living within us. Yet, self is not the only enemy we must defeat. We have a second great enemy - the world. This world with all its vanities, pleasures, and sins must be vanquished. Primarily, however, we have the archenemy - Satan. But victory is within our reach. Covered with the righteousness of Christ, everyone will receive sufficient power to be victorious. All those who daily overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil will be ready for heaven.

“If you would be a saint in heaven, you must first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state, that we may be fitted for the mansions above.”6

“Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life and be left in midnight darkness.”7

It is sad to know that in comparison with the world’s population, only a few will enjoy the privileges of being in heaven. Only very few will be rewarded with eternal life. Immersed in the cares of this life, absorbed with worldly pursuits, and seeking the pleasures of the flesh, millions upon millions will close their earthly history like irrational beings, without hope and without salvation!

“A few, yes, only a few, of the vast number who people the earth will be saved unto life eternal, while the masses who have not perfected their souls in obeying the truth will be appointed to the second death.”8

It is also very sad to know that very few young people will find eternal life. Seduced by the world and by the enchantment of sin, the youth of the 21st century are far from God. Most of them are engaged only in finding pleasures for themselves. They overlook eternal values, despising the invitation to find salvation. A gloomy picture!

“How can I endure the thought that most of the youth in this age will come short of everlasting life! Oh, that the sound of instrumental music might cease and they no more while away so much precious time in pleasing their own fancy. Oh, that they would devote less time to dress and vain conversation, and send forth their earnest, agonizing prayers to God for a sound experience. There is great necessity for close self-examination in the light of God’s Word; let each one raise the inquiry: ‘Am I sound, or am I rotten at heart? Am I renewed in Christ, or am I still carnal at heart, with a new dress put on the outside?’ Rein yourself up to the great tribunal, and in the light of God examine to see if there be any secret sin that you are cherishing, any idol that you have not sacrificed. Pray, yes, pray as you have never prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan’s devices. ”9

The door of probation is still open. The privilege to live with Christ and the redeemed throughout eternity is still within our reach. Therefore, let us not run the risk of missing Heaven. Let us rather take advantage of the golden opportunity - to be among the redeemed. There will be no second chance. Now is the acceptable time (2 Corinthians 6:12). Amen!