THE DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITY OF THE CITY—THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL, AND TO SPARE.
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with a reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." Rev. xxi.
Twelve thousand furlongs constitutes, by our measurement, 1,500 miles. Thus we see that the city lieth four-square, and its height is equal to its length or breadth of foundation. The base surface covers a superficial extent of 2,250,000 square miles. The extent of the city will give us over 3,375,000,000 cubic miles. One cubic mile alone will afford measurement of space for over 15,000,000 rooms 20 feet square, and the entire square of the city would afford about 50,625,000,000,000,000 rooms of similar dimensions.
But we are not justifiable in the belief other than that it is a city of vast proportions, and one of grandeur and beauty. We are told that it is a "city of many mansions." Let us therefore contemplate it in this light, and estimate that only one-fiftieth portion of its vast space is occupied by mansions; the balance open space, streets, avenues, and courts. Such mansions would thus afford over 1,000,000,000,000,000 rooms 20 feet square.
We will now compute the number of inhabitants who have lived and died on the earth for 6,000 years past; the number living on it at present, and estimate how long of future time would be required to furnish one soul to occupy each room. It is estimated that there are at present 1,000,000,000, and that this number die during each period of thirty years. Now if all should find a home there, it would require more than thirty millions of years, at the same ratio, to furnish one soul for each room thus computed in those mansions. And if we estimate that only one-hundredth part of the space is occupied by mansions, it would even then require 15,000,000 of years to thus people them.
But we are assured that the wicked shall not enter there. That "wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." We are therefore led to the inevitable conclusion, that by far the larger number of those who have lived and died on this earth, have failed to find their home in that "city of which glorious things are spoken."
Contemplating, as we have, the vast magnitude of that city, we are justifiable in the conclusion that there is ample provision of mansions there, as the dwelling-place for other intelligences beside those from this earth; probably the home and abode of the angels; possibly, for inhabitants of the other planets belonging to the same solar system with our own earth, as all receive light and animation from the same sun, and all are governed and controlled by the load-stone power of attraction of that vast globe.
Again, may it not be that all that has been revealed to us, is simply that which relates to our future habitation, and that the city we have been contemplating is for the abode of the righteous from this earth? May there not be many other cities of equal, or even greater magnitude within that vast empire—even one such allotted to the inhabitants of each separate planet, and that each may have a king and ruler provided by the Creator of all? For all that we can comprehend of our Saviour—who is to be our king and ruler—is, that he came from God the Father to ransom the inhabitants of this earth, and offer life and salvation to all who should believe in Him "with a heart unto righteousness." Remember, he said, "In my Father's house are many mansions." And added, "I go to prepare a place for YOU, that where I am there ye may be also."
The New Testament Scriptures teach the sublime truth that the great interest of our blessed Saviour is the salvation and happiness of those whom He denominates his children from this earth; those for whom He died, and who shall believe in Him "unto everlasting life." Hence, from all his teachings we believe this suggested hypothesis correct. The Psalmist says, "There are set thrones of Judgment," while the Apostles speak of "thrones and dominions; principalities and powers." There is ample room in that "Heaven" for all.