8 Sermon Illustrations on Eternal Glory

When the Christian's last pit is digged, when he is descended into his grave, and finished his state of sorrows and suffering, then God opens the river of abundance, the rivers of life, and never-ceasing felicities. As much as moments are exceeded by eternity, and the sighing of a man by the joy of an angel; and a salutary frown by the light of God's countenance; a few groans by the infinite and eternal hallelujahs,—so much are the sorrows of the saints to be undervalued, in respect of what is deposited for them in the treasures of eternity. Their sorrows can die, but so cannot their joys. . . . Every chain is a ray of light, and every prison is a palace, and every loss is the purchase of a kingdom, and every affront in the cause of God is an eternal honor, and every day of sorrow is a thousand years of comfort, multiplied with a never-ceasing numeration: days without night; joys without sorrow; sanctity without sin; charity without stain; possession without fear; society without envying; communication of joys without lessening; and they shall dwell in a blessed country, where an enemy never entered, and from whence a friend never went away. Bishop Taylor.

The meek need not envy the lofty who sweep the earth with their gay robes, any more than real royalty is jealous of the kingly hero who struts his hour upon the stage. They shall be princes and rulers long after these actors have laid aside their tinselled crowns.

— Evangelical Magazine

As there is no comparison of one little water-drop with the whole huge sea, or of one small grain of dust to the Mountain Imaus; even the light and short afflictions of this short life are not worthy to be compared with the great and eternal glory of the world to come. Caudray.

Our glory is not yet revealed. We are like warriors fighting for the victory: we share not as yet in the shout of them that triumph. Even up in heaven, they have not their full reward. When a Roman general came home from the wars, he entered Rome by stealth, and slept at night, and tarried by day, perhaps for a week or two, among his friends. He went through the streets; and people whispered, "That is the general, the valiant one;" but he was not publicly acknowledged. But, on a certain set day, the gates were thrown wide open; and the general, victorious from the wars in Africa or Asia, with his snow-white horses bearing the trophies of his many battles, rode through the streets, which were strewn with roses, while the music sounded, and the multitudes, with glad acclaim, accompanied him to the Capitol. That was his triumphant entry. Those in heaven have, as it were, stolen there. They are blessed; but they have not had their public entrance. They are waiting till their Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the trump of the archangel and the voice of God; then shall their bodies rise; then shall the world be judged; then shall the righteous be divided from the wicked; and then, upstreaming in marvellous procession, leading captivity captive for the last time, the Prince at their head, the whole of the blood-washed host, wearing their white robes, and bearing their palms of victory, shall march up to their crowns and to their thrones, to reign for ever and ever!