HEAVEN ON EARTH

AND

HOW IT WILL COME

BY

“AUNT KATE”

A STORY FOR THE YOUNG

A WORD TO ADULT READERS:

My interest in the study of The Revelation was first awakened by reading the three-volume work of the Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D. of Philadelphia, USA (not the abridged edition published in London of which he disapproved).

If only this story of mine for young folks will create in them the same interest in the last book of the Bible which the above-mentioned work did in me, I shall be abundantly rewarded though their mature conclusions after close study may differ from mine as much as some of mine do from his.

Someone has said that the only certain interpretation of prophecy is its fulfillment.  For this reason, the nearer we get to the time of its fulfillment, the more nearly correct our interpretation should be, other things being equal, of course.  I may hope, therefore, that I have shed some light upon the book by the Spirit’s aid, which earlier writers could not command.

To reduce this book wholly to symbolism seems to me a positive profanation.  Signs and symbols in the book are plainly declared.  However, that fact does not warrant the explaining away of its plain and definite statements.  And to reduce the book to symbols only is as futile as it is mischievous since it makes an interpretation which no one will accept save the one author of each explanation of that sort.

I am not so eager to win all to my interpretation of each particular point as to create an interest in the earnest study of the book.  Also, I desire to convince my readers that the literal interpretation, except where symbols are plainly indicated, is the only useful and legitimate construction that the book will bear.  Above all, I want to create an interest and faith in the Lord’s second coming.