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〃Howl ye； for the day of the Lord is at hand； it shall come as a destruction
from the Almighty。〃 Isaiah 13：6。 〃Enter into the rock； and hide thee in the
dust； for fear of the Lord； and for the glory of His majesty。 The lofty
looks of man shall be humbled； and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed
down； and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day。 For the day of the
Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty； and upon
everyone that is lifted up； and he shall be brought low。〃 〃In that day a man
shall cast the idols of his silver； and the idols of his gold； which they
made each one for himself to worship； to the moles and to the bats； to go
into the clefts of the rocks； and into the tops of the ragged rocks； for
fear of the Lord； and for the glory of His majesty； when He ariseth to shake
terribly the earth。〃 Isaiah 2：10…12； 20； 21； margin。
Through a rift in the clouds there beams a star whose brilliancy is
increased fourfold in contrast with the darkness。 It speaks hope and joy to
the faithful； but severity and wrath to the transgressors of God's law。
Those who have sacrificed all for Christ are now secure； hidden as in the
secret of the Lord's pavilion。 They have been tested； and before the world
and the despisers of truth they have evinced their fidelity to Him
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who died for them。 A marvelous change has come over those who have held fast
their integrity in the very face of death。 They have been suddenly delivered
from the dark and terrible tyranny of men transformed to demons。 Their
faces； so lately pale； anxious； and haggard； are now aglow with wonder；
faith； and love。 Their voices rise in triumphant song： 〃God is our refuge
and strength； a very present help in trouble。 Therefore will not we fear；
though the earth be removed； and though the mountains be carried into the
midst of the sea； though the waters thereof roar and be troubled； though the
mountains shake with the swelling thereof。〃 Psalm 46：1…3。
While these words of holy trust ascend to God； the clouds sweep back； and
the starry heavens are seen； unspeakably glorious in contrast with the black
and angry firmament on either side。 The glory of the celestial city streams
from the gates ajar。 Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two
tables of stone folded together。 Says the prophet： 〃The heavens shall
declare His righteousness： for God is judge Himself。〃 Psalm 50：6。 That holy
law； God's righteousness； that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from
Sinai as the guide of life； is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment。
The hand opens the tables； and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue；
traced as with a pen of fire。 The words are so plain that all can read them。
Memory is aroused； the darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from
every mind； and God's ten words； brief； comprehensive； and authoritative；
are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth。
It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have
trampled upon God's holy requirements。 The Lord gave them His law； they
might have compared their characters with it and learned their defects while
there was yet opportunity for repentance and reform； but in order to secure
the favor of the world； they set aside its precepts and taught others to
transgress。 They have endeavored to compel
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God's people to profane His Sabbath。 Now they are condemned by that law
which they have despised。 With awful distinctness they see that they are
without excuse。 They chose whom they would serve and worship。 〃Then shall ye
return； and discern between the righteous and the wicked； between him that
serveth God and him that serveth Him not。〃 Malachi 3：18。
The enemies of God's law； from the ministers down to the least among them；
have a new conception of truth and duty。 Too late they see that the Sabbath
of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God。 Too late they see
the true nature of their spurious sabbath and the sandy foundation upon
which they have been building。 They find that they have been fighting
against God。 Religious teachers have led souls to perdition while professing
to guide them to the gates of Paradise。 Not until the day of final accounts
will it be known how great is the responsibility of men in holy office and
how terrible are the results of their unfaithfulness。 Only in eternity can
we rightly estimate the loss of a single soul。 Fearful will be the doom of
him to whom God shall say： Depart； thou wicked servant。
The voice of God is heard from heaven； declaring the day and hour of Jesus'
coming； and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people。 Like peals of
loudest thunder His words roll through the earth。 The Israel of God stand
listening； with their eyes fixed upward。 Their countenances are lighted up
with His glory； and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from
Sinai。 The wicked cannot look upon them。 And when the blessing is pronounced
on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy； there is a mighty
shout of victory。
Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud； about half the size of a
man's hand。 It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in
the distance to be shrouded in darkness。 The people of God know this to be
the sign of the Son of man。 In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it
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draws nearer the earth； becoming lighter and more glorious； until it is a
great white cloud； its base a glory like consuming fire； and above it the
rainbow of the covenant。 Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror。 Not now a
〃Man of Sorrows；〃 to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe； He comes； victor
in heaven and earth； to judge the living and the dead。 〃Faithful and True；〃
〃in righteousness He doth judge and make war。〃 And 〃the armies which were in
heaven〃 （Revelation 19：11； 14） follow Him。 With anthems of celestial melody
the holy angels； a vast； unnumbered throng； attend Him on His way。 The
firmament seems filled with radiant forms〃ten thousand times ten thousand；
and thousands of thousands。〃 No human pen can portray the scene； no mortal
mind is adequate to conceive its splendor。 〃His glory covered the heavens；
and the earth was full of His praise。 And His brightness was as the light。〃
Habakkuk 3：3；4。 As the living cloud comes still nearer； every eye beholds
the Prince of life。 No crown of thorns now mars that sacred head； but a
diadem of glory rests on His holy brow。 His countenance outshines the
dazzling brightness of the noonday sun。 〃And He hath on His vesture and on
His thigh a name written； King of kings； and Lord of lords。〃 Revelation
19：16。
Before His presence 〃all faces are turned into paleness；〃 upon the rejecters
of God's mercy falls the terror of eternal despair。 〃The heart melteth； and
the knees smite together； 。 。 。 and the faces of them all gather blackness。〃
Jeremiah 30：6； Nahum 2：10。 The righteous cry with trembling： 〃Who shall be
able to stand？〃 The angels' song is hushed； and there is a period of awful
silence。 Then the voice of Jesus is heard； saying： 〃My grace is sufficient
for you。〃 The faces of the righteous are lighted up； and joy fills every
heart。 And the angels strike a note higher and sing again as they draw still
nearer to the earth。
The King of kings descends upon the cloud； wrapped in flaming fire。 The
heavens are rolled together as a scroll； the earth trembles before Him； and
every mountain and island
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is moved out of its place。 〃Our God shall come； and shall not keep silence：
a fire shall devour before Him； and it shall be very tempestuous round about
Him。 He shall call to the heavens from above； and to the earth； that He may
judge His people。〃 Psalm 50：3；4。
〃And the kings of the earth； and the great men； and the rich men； and the
chief captains； and the mighty men； and every bondman； and every freeman；
hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains； and said to
the mountains and rocks； Fall on us； and hide us from the face of Him that
sitteth on the throne； a