NO ROOM IN ROME. HEAVENLY JERUSALEM CAN ACCOMMODATE
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Rome cannot handle the pilgrims. The officials simply don’t have the accommodations by which to take care of all the humans crawling over the metropolis. Therefore, people are told to replan. In other words, please don’t make Rome a stop on your travels this week. That’s tonight’s news from Italy.
According to Reuters’ Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer, Guido Bertolaso, head of crowd control for the funeral, said: "The city center cannot take the arrival of any more faithful. Anyone arriving tonight or tomorrow will have no possibility of following the funeral at St. Peter's."
Police Chief for Rome, Achille Serrs, said: "The number of people is staggering and is growing constantly. This is unprecedented."
With that, I thought of crowd control in the New Jerusalem where Pope John Paul II is being welcomed, indeed has already been welcomed by Savior Christ and believers who have preceded him. Likewise, for all disciples of Christ — known and unknown, great and small. They all receive the same greeting: "Welcome into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Concerning that eternal metropolis, The Revelation says of John the Beloved Disciple receiving the Christ vision: "And 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 adored for her husband.
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: For these words are true and faithful."
Yes, they are true and faithful for Christ, The True and Faithful, provides the grace and mercy by which to make it all real — forever.
As mourners gather in crowded Rome so that officials request them not to line up any more, those in sorrow look up to the heavens. There by faith they can see their believing loved ones in the New Jerusalem where there is no crowding, no difficulty in meeting, no prohibitions for embracing and rejoicing. There is room there — eternity.
There are no limitations of time and space. There are no barriers nor barricades. There are no stipulations as to how many can stand in line. There is no one urging the crowd to move more hurriedly.
Instead, there is only the holy and happy environs of the everlasting, within and without the New Jerusalem. And Christ King is the Ruler there.
As the Roman officials ask pilgrims to turn around and return home, I felt sorry for each of them. They want so desperately to be a part of that throng.
Then I thought how each can prepare for the forever throng. It is by living for the Christ Savior, knowing His forgiving mercy and grace, entering into His saving presence.
Pope John Paul II is there because of being a servant of the Lord God. Can you picture him there — surrounded by eternal companions, but most of all, bowing before the Christ Redeemer who entrances him into one splendor after another in the New Jerusalem?
For more: http://conservativeposts.us/ <http://conservativeposts.us/>
Rome cannot handle the pilgrims. The officials simply don’t have the accommodations by which to take care of all the humans crawling over the metropolis. Therefore, people are told to replan. In other words, please don’t make Rome a stop on your travels this week. That’s tonight’s news from Italy.
According to Reuters’ Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer, Guido Bertolaso, head of crowd control for the funeral, said: "The city center cannot take the arrival of any more faithful. Anyone arriving tonight or tomorrow will have no possibility of following the funeral at St. Peter's."
Police Chief for Rome, Achille Serrs, said: "The number of people is staggering and is growing constantly. This is unprecedented."
With that, I thought of crowd control in the New Jerusalem where Pope John Paul II is being welcomed, indeed has already been welcomed by Savior Christ and believers who have preceded him. Likewise, for all disciples of Christ — known and unknown, great and small. They all receive the same greeting: "Welcome into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Concerning that eternal metropolis, The Revelation says of John the Beloved Disciple receiving the Christ vision: "And 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 adored for her husband.
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: For these words are true and faithful."
Yes, they are true and faithful for Christ, The True and Faithful, provides the grace and mercy by which to make it all real — forever.
As mourners gather in crowded Rome so that officials request them not to line up any more, those in sorrow look up to the heavens. There by faith they can see their believing loved ones in the New Jerusalem where there is no crowding, no difficulty in meeting, no prohibitions for embracing and rejoicing. There is room there — eternity.
There are no limitations of time and space. There are no barriers nor barricades. There are no stipulations as to how many can stand in line. There is no one urging the crowd to move more hurriedly.
Instead, there is only the holy and happy environs of the everlasting, within and without the New Jerusalem. And Christ King is the Ruler there.
As the Roman officials ask pilgrims to turn around and return home, I felt sorry for each of them. They want so desperately to be a part of that throng.
Then I thought how each can prepare for the forever throng. It is by living for the Christ Savior, knowing His forgiving mercy and grace, entering into His saving presence.
Pope John Paul II is there because of being a servant of the Lord God. Can you picture him there — surrounded by eternal companions, but most of all, bowing before the Christ Redeemer who entrances him into one splendor after another in the New Jerusalem?
For more: http://conservativeposts.us/ <http://conservativeposts.us/>
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