The foregoing considerations discover the purpose of God in the earth-life of man to be the progress and joy of men, kindred Intelligences with God; and with that progress and joy of kindred Intelligences, there must be an ever widening manifestation of the glory of God. "The glory of God is Intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth" (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 93:36); but not "Intelligence" only as it inheres in Himself; but also as it finds expression and development in others.
5. A Union of Spirit and Element Essential to a Fulness of Joy: In this progress of Intelligences there must be movement, action, new environment, estates, experiences through which they pass.—Hence Intelligences are begotten spirits, and spirits are begotten men—the "deathless element"—Intelligence—must be united with earth-element, to learn what earth-life has to teach, and get itself expressed through earth-elements; which also—so far as such elements shall be essential to an added dignity and power to the spirit of man—will be made immortal, become an indissoluble part of the spiritual personage, the spirit and the body thus inseparably united constituting the "soul of man."[A] "Man is spirit."[B] "The elements"—earth elements—"are eternal; and spirit and element, inseparably connected receive a fullness of joy; and when separated man cannot receive a fullness of joy." Hence for man, earth-existence became a necessity to progress, and therefore it was provided.
[Footnote A: "Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead. And the spirit and the body is the soul of man. And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul;" (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88, verses 14, 15, 16).]
[Footnote B: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 93:33, 34.]
LESSON V.
(Scripture Reading Exercise.)
THE WAR IN HEAVEN.
| ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. The War Vaguely Alluded to in Hebrew Scriptures. | Luke x:17, 18 and John viii:44. |
| II. The War More Definitely Described. | Rev. xii:7-12; Jude 6. |
| III. The Causes of the War. | Book of Abraham, Ch. iii:27-28; Book of Moses (Pearl of Great Price), Ch. iv:4.[A] |
[Footnote A: As side reading, I suggest "Milton's Paradise Lost," and Elder Orson F. Whitney's "Elias," Canto III.]
SPECIAL TEXT: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and, his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was there place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Rev. xii.7-9.)