按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee； which have said
634
to thy soul； Bow down； that we may go over： and thou hast laid thy body as
the ground； and as the street； to them that went over。〃 Verses 21…23。
The eye of God； looking down the ages； was fixed upon the crisis which His
people are to meet； when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them。 Like
the captive exile； they will be in fear of death by starvation or by
violence。 But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel； will
manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity。 〃They shall be Mine；
saith the Lord of hosts； in that day when I make up My jewels； and I will
spare them； as a man spareth his own son that serveth him。〃 Malachi 3：17。 If
the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time； it would
not； like the blood of the martyrs； be as seed sown to yield a harvest for
God。 Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the
truth； for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they
return no more。 If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their
enemies； it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness。 Says the
psalmist： 〃In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion： in the
secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me。〃 Psalm 27：5。 Christ has spoken：
〃Come； My people； enter thou into thy chambers； and shut thy doors about
thee： hide thyself as it were for a little moment； until the indignation be
overpast。 For； behold； the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the
inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity。〃 Isaiah 26：20； 21。 Glorious
will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming
and whose names are written in the book of life。
（635）
Chapter 40
God's People Delivered
When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor
the law of God； there will be； in different lands； a simultaneous movement
for their destruction。 As the time appointed in the decree draws near； the
people will conspire to root out the hated sect。 It will be determined to
strike in one night a decisive blow； which shall utterly silence the voice
of dissent and reproof。
The people of Godsome in prison cells； some hidden in solitary retreats in
the forests and the mountainsstill plead for divine protection； while in
every quarter companies of armed men； urged on by hosts of evil angels； are
preparing for the work of death。 It is now； in the hour of utmost extremity；
that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His chosen。
Saith the Lord； 〃Ye shall have a song； as in the night when a holy solemnity
is kept； and gladness of heart； as when one goeth 。 。 。 to come into the
mountain of the Lord； to the Mighty One of Israel。 And the Lord shall cause
His glorious voice to be heard； and shall show the lighting down of His arm；
with the indignation of His anger； and with the flame of a devouring fire；
with scattering； and tempest； and hailstones。〃 Isaiah 30：29； 30。
With shouts of triumph； jeering； and imprecation； throngs of evil men are
about to rush upon their prey； when； lo； a
636
dense blackness； deeper than the darkness of the night； falls upon the
earth。 Then a rainbow； shining with the glory from the throne of God； spans
the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company。 The angry multitudes
are suddenly arrested。 Their mocking cries die away。 The objects of their
murderous rage are forgotten。 With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the
symbol of God's covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering
brightness。
By the people of God a voice； clear and melodious； is heard； saying； 〃Look
up；〃 and lifting their eyes to the heavens； they behold the bow of promise。
The black； angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted； and like
Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven and see the glory of God and
the Son of man seated upon His throne。 In His divine form they discern the
marks of His humiliation； and from His lips they hear the request presented
before His Father and the holy angels： 〃I will that they also； whom Thou
hast given Me； be with Me where I am。〃 John 17：24。 Again a voice； musical
and triumphant； is heard； saying： 〃They come！ they come！ holy； harmless； and
undefiled。 They have kept the word of My patience； they shall walk among the
angels；〃 and the pale； quivering lips of those who have held fast their
faith utter a shout of victory。
It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His
people。 The sun appears； shining in its strength。 Signs and wonders follow
in quick succession。 The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the
scene； while the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their
deliverance。 Everything in nature seems turned out of its course。 The
streams cease to flow。 Dark； heavy clouds come up and clash against each
other。 In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable
glory； whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters； saying：
〃It is done。〃 Revelation 16：17。
That voice shakes the heavens and the earth。 There is a
637
mighty earthquake； 〃such as was not since men were upon the earth； so mighty
an earthquake； and so great。〃 Verses 17；
18。 The firmament appears to open and shut。 The glory
from the throne of God seems flashing through。 The mountains shake like a
reed in the wind； and ragged rocks are scattered on every side。 There is a
roar as of a coming tempest。 The sea is lashed into fury。 There is heard the
shriek of a hurricane like the voice of demons upon a mission of
destruction。 The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea。
Its surface is breaking up。 Its very foundations seem to be giving way。
Mountain chains are sinking。 Inhabited islands disappear。 The seaports that
have become like Sodom for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters。
Babylon the great has come in remembrance before God； 〃to give unto her the
cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath。〃 Great hailstones； every one
〃about the weight of a talent；〃 are doing their work of destruction。 Verses
19； 21。 The proudest cities of the earth are laid low。 The lordly palaces；
upon which the world's great men have lavished their wealth in order to
glorify themselves； are crumbling to ruin before their eyes。 Prison walls
are rent asunder； and God's people； who have been held in bondage for their
faith； are set free。
Graves are opened； and 〃many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth。 。
。 awake； some to everlasting life； and some to shame and everlasting
contempt。〃 Daniel 12：2。 All who have died in the faith of the third angel's
message come forth from the tomb glorified； to hear God's covenant of peace
with those who have kept His law。 〃They also which pierced Him〃 （Revelation
1：7）； those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies； and the most
violent opposers of His truth and His people； are raised to behold Him in
His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient。
Thick clouds still cover the sky； yet the sun now and then breaks through；
appearing like the avenging eye of Jehovah。
638
Fierce lightnings leap from the heavens； enveloping the earth in a sheet of
flame。 Above the terrific roar of thunder； voices； mysterious and awful；
declare the doom of the wicked。 The words spoken are not comprehended by
all； but they are distinctly understood by the false teachers。 Those who a
little before were so reckless； so boastful and defiant； so exultant in
their cruelty to God's commandment…keeping people； are now overwhelmed with
consternation and shuddering in fear。 Their wails are heard above the sound
of the elements。 Demons acknowledge the deity of Christ and tremble before
His power； while men are supplicating for mercy and groveling in abject
terror。
Said the prophets of old； as they beheld in holy vision the day of God：
〃Howl ye； for the day of the Lord is at hand； it shall come as