The novel Flatland provokes many new and interesting thoughts. The way the universe is portrayed throughout the book gives us a view of many dimensions that may exist. Flatland shows us the opportunities for the existence of different worlds and causes the reader to consider that Heaven and Hell could in fact be two different worlds that may be expanded or retracted in dimensions. A preacher may use Flatland in a sermon in a variety ways, including how Heaven may be a new and inspiring dimension with a contrastive way of sight and sound that is only achievable upon reaching Heaven. Hell may be an unspoken horror of dimension that none of us on Earth have ever experienced. One way in which a preacher may use this incredible novel in a sermon is to give the congregation an awareness of how the universe is ever-changing. Heaven may indeed belong to another dimension with a different way of sight, sound, and emotion. Our God may experience many emotions at once. For example, He may be angry and forlorn, jovial, and troubled all at the same time. The variety of ways in which we attain sight, sound, and emotion causes a separation between us and God that can never be fulfilled until we reach our final destination. Sin is also a significant topic that may be discussed in a sermon relating to Flatland. While sin is existent in our dimension and is quite prevalent amongst those who belong to the realm of Earth, the dimension of Heaven has no sin. Heaven may be similar to our
Johnathan Edwards is trying to scare his churchgoers into believing what he has to say, by saying things like “There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints.” No one is safe that means! The title of this sermon is Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. This first part of the sermon is him telling us what will happen to sinners in the hands of an angry God.
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright is a must read for any Christian looking to expand their understanding of faith. Surprised by Hope gives us a full understanding of salvation as it is revealed in the Bible. This book also tells us how we should act in our lives and in this world as God’s redeemed people. It reveals incredible insight that is important to us because it explains just how crucial our role in this world is. Wright talks about the way things currently are and how they will be with the resurrection and our salvation. The book expands on the Christian mission and what it means to live with hope and faith and attempts to answer the very famous question: What is heaven?
In the sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Jonathon Edwards utilizes rhetorical devices such as, personification, similes, and metaphors to persuade his audience into obeying God.
In “A Divine and Supernatural Light,” Edwards incorporates biblical references to craft a great picture of the glory of God. According to Edwards, the light of God is “obtained wholly natural or of no superior kind” through the daily actions of man (Miller). Edwards brings forth a critical point, throughout the sermon emphasizing that every aspect of nature influences the spirit of God. Additionally, the Holy Spirit functions in the minds of humans and inanimate objects by exerting its nature and living within its natural host (Miller). Throughout the piece, Edwards assures the reader that the divine light can only be obtained from God and not by another natural means. Edwards’ marvelous piece of literature allows the reader to realize that there is no deeper reality and value than the glory of God through his only son Christ. To truly find the salvation of God, man must be able to let go of the unearthly sin that is consistently brought up by Satan himself. By removing society's prejudices, Edwards’ states, that “ the human mind becomes susceptive of the due force of rational judgments for their truth” (Miller 360). The ultimate goal of man is to see and savor the triumphant glory of God to obtain complete salvation. Through the extensive use of imagery, Edwards provides the reader with the opportunity to visually comprehend that spiritual knowledge is acquired in the heart as a feeling of human delight (Trang). Furthermore, in the sermon, Edwards personifies God as the sun because God strives to illuminate objects so that man can be able to perceive the extraordinary miracles and graces of Christ. Edwards also points out that the spiritual light of God is not designed to instill new ideas or doctrines, rather the Holy Spirit is meant to aid man in conveying eternal truths (Miller). Furthermore, through the use of comparison and contrast, Edwards once again assists the reader in understanding that God’s spiritual light is not acquired from heresy and rational understanding; rather, it can develop as a delightful pleasure within our hearts. To achieve a sense of spiritual excellence, man must possess a conviction of truth and reality for the spirit of God to have a dominant presence in the human soul
Through the use of hopeful repetition, Jonathon Edwards conveys to the readers optimistic thoughts the shows us how God upkeeps. . Edwards stresses the fact that God wants us to be on the right path of life “restrains” (3) from sending us into hell as in giving us a second chance. Edwards uses the word “restraint” to show how God is on our side and he expects great thing out of us, the loving side of God. Furthermore, Edwards uses the word “promise” (5) multiple times to show the readers that God is not just making a promise to let everyone into heaven. Trying to convey the theme of devoting oneself to Christ, Edwards uses the phrase “God made no promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment” (5) as a reference that only true Christians will get into Heaven. This pressures the unconverted because it makes them think, “Should I convert so I can get into Heaven?” With this thought process in mind, Edwards also exclaims that God’s wrath is “eternal and everlasting” (10). This means that people cannot just call themselves Christians and get into Heaven. They have to show God that they
In the third stanza, the diction of “heaven” and “noble” allows the speaker to craft an image of an almost godlike juggler. This view of the juggler creates the tone of amazement and ardent which breaks through the previous gloomy description of the earth in the first stanza which “falls/ So in our hearts from brilliance” (lines 3-4). This reveals that the world the juggler has made, unlike the earth which the speaker doesn’t appear to have fond feelings of, is a joyful and light-hearted place that the speaker is easily captivated by. As the juggler “reels that heaven in” (line 16), creates an atmosphere of an almost unearthly experience. This description of the juggler as a master of spiritual elements allows readers to view how the speaker's attitude is uplifted and enlightened.
“It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery to the heaven of freedom.”This quote explains that the existing hope of being free if it is accomplished can be the difference between heaven and hell, the next quote can relate as he is in a dark moment in his life. “I was now left to my fate. I was all alone, and within the walls of prison. But a few days before, I was full of hope.”This quotes shows the darkness he feels as he is beginning to lose the hope he once had before, he felt as if he’d never be a free man.
Heaven is a conceptual place where the human race will end up after their life on earth. It is a place where no sin is found causing everyone to live in complete peace. But what if living a life without sin is unimaginably difficult? And what if being confronted about your sins made you want to turn away from a life of perfection? C.S. Lewis makes a claim about this concern in his book, The Great Divorce. He analyzes the behavior of humans in accordance with their sinful habits. The Great Divorce focuses on the point of view of the Narrator who lives in a gloomy and dismal Hell when an otherworldly bus stops by and takes the passengers to Heaven. Everyone is eager to get on the bus when promised an oasis from the gloomy setting of Hell. Once
In the life changing sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edward Taylor uses many persuasive techniques to grab the attention of his congregation. By amplifying specific rhetorical devices Edwards intends to instill enough fear into his congregation for them to turn from their sinful ways and repent; He achieves this by repetition, imagery, and his use of hyperbole. An effective rhetorical device Edward Taylor uses is repetition; this allows him to deepen the personal effect his sermon has on his congregation. In his piece Edwards continually restates many phrases to keep the overall tone very clear and distinct.
Currently, the future of his congregation members’ lives is very grim: death in eternal flames, powerless to escape, all due to the wrath and whim of God. However, he informs his audience that all across the colonies Christ is accepting all repentant applicants into Heaven. Once they convert, he promises that his pitiful audience will rejoice, sing, and revel in God’s glory, shed of the burden of eternal damnation.
In the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards he demonstrates imagery, personification, and repetition. Also, Edward persuades his audience by using a powerful tone to affect their perspective.
For example, “that lake of burning brimstone is extended abroad under you.” This shows that Hell is a burning fire underneath them. Mr. Edwards tells them that their guilt and wrath are treasuring up each day. For instance, “If god should only withdraw his hand from the flood gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of fierceness and wrath of God, would rush with unconceivable fury.” Showing them how God is extremely angry with them because of their wrongdoings and how his wrath will instantly overcome them.
Finally, in his later years, he comes to understand that Heaven brings the process to an
Lastly, the author uses religious words to contrast heaven from hell. For example, the author says, “O, great Christ.” This works because it shows the religious side of the story. This shows how the African American people feel like they are walking in hell on earth and don’t feel they are being treated fairly.
Our narrator Susie Salmon is already in heaven. Murdered by a neighbor when she was only fourteen years old, Susie tells us what it is like to be in her new place. "When I first entered heaven I thought everyone saw what I saw. That in everyone's heaven there were soccer goalposts in the distance and lumbering women throwing shot put and javelin. That all the buildings were like suburban northeast high schools built in the 1960s." Later she learns that heaven is whatever you truly want it to be and, sometimes, other people's version of heaven intercepts with your own.