As I present this essay I am aware that it contains some concepts that may be new to the reader. Perhaps an introductory thought may be in order.

When we think of Heaven, of the afterlife, of the spirit realm, parks and mansions come to mind. We picture nature at its best, the inhabitants being free from all dread and concern. In fact, what we are imagining is the Garden of Eden, which at one time was located in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf. Paradise was on the earth at that time.

There are several accounts of the afterlife that have been brought to us by people who have been privileged to see beyond the veil. I read these avidly and find comfort in them. Some of these are as follows:

Visions of Sundar Singh of India (available from Osterhus Publishing House, Minneapolis).

Seeing the Invisible (Anne Sandberg, Logos International, New Jersey).

Visions Beyond the Veil (H. A. Baker, Osterhus Publishing House, Minneapolis). This is a "must read." It is a true story of Chinese orphan children.

Scenes Beyond the Grave (Marietta David, Christ for the Nations, Dallas).

Intra Muros (Rebecca Ruter Springer, Engeltal Press, Jasper, Ark.).

Return From Tomorrow (George G. Ritchie, M.D., Chosen Books, Waco, Texas).

As I mentioned, I believe these to be true experiences and I take comfort from them. It may be true, however, as Mrs Springer mentioned, that she did not see what actually is or shall be, but a series of audio-visual lessons:

"Looking back upon it after nearly four years have passed, it seems to me to be more a series of instructions such as we give little children here in a kindergarten. It does not purport to be a revelation of what has been or what will be, in the strict sense of the word . . . ."

I do not believe this is always the case, however. I think some who have had "out of the body" experiences have seen what actually is. Dr. Ritchie's "after death" experience strikes me as being a view of what actually is true in the afterlife.

Since I believe in Paradise, in a place where departed Christians go after death, how can I reconcile this with the view of war and redemption that I am about to set forth?

You may have noticed that during times of war, such as the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, life in the United States did not change dramatically. The American people went about their business of working, playing, eating, drinking, reproducing, buying, selling, planting, reaping. Yet at the same time, in Korea and Vietnam, American soldiers, were experiencing savage conflict, leaving many of them without arms or legs. Quite a contrast, wasn't it.

I read somewhere that at one point during the Civil War, when the fighting was taking place near a city, the ladies of the city would go out and sit in chairs and watch the men shooting each other.

To be continued.