We have abundant evidence of this fact. Remember that when the Great Jehovah made His presence manifest on Mount Sinai, although the mountain burned with fire, yet—to mortal vision—all the surroundings were filled with "thick clouds and darkness." Yea, "clouds and darkness were made His pavilion," and, to mortal eyes, "are the habitations of His throne."
The light of the "glory of God" is for spirit alone, and its radiance will make even the light of the Sun darkness to the spirit-eye. It is possible that should He unveil Himself, and throw a flash of His glory-light upon this world, it would in an instant of time destroy the whole race of man, and every living thing, for He hath said, "No one shall see me and live."
We have on record evidences sustaining our views in regard to such effects, should the light and brightness of His face or glory be revealed. See the effects of the light of His glory, even in a veiled form, when the Son of God made himself manifest from heaven (that bright world we have been contemplating, wherein he is enthroned, and where all the righteous shall dwell) to Saul of Tarsus; although He did not unveil himself, yet "a light above the brightness of the Sun at mid-day shone around, and Saul fell to the earth smitten with blindness." Yes, this glory-light is darkness to mortal eyes; and when beheld by spirit, the light of the Sun may even be darkness. See again its effects upon St. John, the revelator, when, catching but a glimpse of the Son of man in the midst of the golden candlesticks, he "fell at his feet as dead." Ah, it is possible that all seeming natural light to us, while in mortality, may become as darkness to our spirit vision; and we are assured by the word of God, that none shall see the light of His glory save those who seek regeneration through LOVE and FAITH, for the wicked shall go into outer darkness, and dwell forever in death, while the righteous shall enter into and enjoy eternal life.
Our hypothesis is a pleasing one for the contemplation of every Christian, and yet cannot interfere in the least with the doctrines of any who believe there is a heaven. And he who believeth not in either God or heaven, has lost the intellectual dignity of man in proper conceptions, and knoweth not even now "what manner of man he is."
We have given something tangible upon which to fix the mind, and which will inspire hope; something of reality that all may contemplate. Remember that we are not forbidden to investigate, nor yet form conclusions founded on reason; neither is it declared that we shall not know the location of our future home.
From all that man can comprehend of nature, reason teaches him to look for and find—if not in life, after death—his future home somewhere in connection with our own planetary system. This system is large and grand enough to justify all our aspirations, and satisfy all our hopes and desires. The extent, grandeur, and glory of the heaven we have contemplated, will fully satisfy the immortal mind of man, even as it does the "angels of God," and its King and Ruler, and we may all consider ourselves fortunate to get there.
We have written our book, and thrown out these suggestions with purest of motives. From the first conception of the idea of heaven being where, in mind, we locate it, we have felt impressed with the correctness of our views; so much so, that it impelled us to make the effort to give them to the world, believing that in doing so we should advance the true theory which would sustain Christianity, and cause it to spread and triumph over all opposition; give "to faith that hope which is an anchor to the soul," and draw the hearts and minds of all to love God, and yet in that love fear to offend Him.
We have refrained from consulting the clergy or ministers of any and every denomination in this matter, desiring simply to give our own views. We now ask of you all a prayerful and thorough examination by the evidences of Divine Revelations and all other lights afforded you; and if you discard our views as to the location of heaven, be careful and explicit in giving us your hypothesis as to the one you are inviting us to, and locate it where the mind of reason can contemplate it, and where hope may span the voyage the soul must make to reach it after the death of the body.