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This mortal life is sure to perish; its pleasures are bound to fade away and ere long ye shall return unto God, distressed with pangs of remorse...ye shall soon find yourselves in the presence of God and will be asked of your doings.6 (1:18) The Bab defines both paradise and hell-fire as: (1:19) Paradise is attainment of His good pleasure and everlasting hell-fire His judgment through justice.7 (1:20) Heaven and hell are not places but conditions that can exist in both this world and in the next. To be in hellfire is to be remote from God, the Source of all joys and perfections, and to sense a burning desire to attain His Presence. (1:21) The suffering in hell comes not only from being far from God but also from being close to the ungodly: (1:22) Paradise is decked with mystic roses, and hell hath been made to blaze with the fire of the impious.8 Baha'u'llah (1:23) Obviously there is not much joy in hell. What happens when a mass of joyless people get together? What happens when the fire of remoteness spreads from person to person? What happens when instead of saying "I am glad" people keep saying, "I wish...If only...?" In heaven there is an abundance of perfume from "mystic roses," in hell an abundance of burning desire for the joy of nearness to God. What a contrast! (1:24) Pleasing God is the master key to paradise. The following verses declare that heaven is for those who love God and please Him. How can we truly love God and please Him? By loving and obeying the One who speaks for Him. Obeying is the inevitable consequence of loving.
(1:25)
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