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the name of the Lord！〃 It is not love to Jesus that inspires this utterance。
The force of truth urges the words from unwilling lips。 As the wicked went
into their graves； so they come forth with the same enmity to Christ and the
same spirit of rebellion。 They are to have no new probation in which to
remedy the defects of their past lives。 Nothing would be gained by this。 A
lifetime of transgression has not softened their hearts。 A second probation；
were it given them； would be occupied as was the first in evading the
requirements of God and exciting rebellion against Him。
Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives； whence； after His resurrection； He
ascended； and where angels repeated the promise of His return。 Says the
prophet： 〃The Lord my God
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shall come； and all the saints with Thee。〃 〃And His feet shall stand in that
day upon the Mount of Olives； which is before Jerusalem on the east； and the
Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof； 。 。 。 and there shall be
a very great valley。〃 〃And the Lord shall be king over all the earth： in
that day shall there be one Lord； and His name one。〃 Zechariah 14：5； 4； 9。
As the New Jerusalem； in its dazzling splendor； comes down out of heaven； it
rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it； and Christ； with
His people and the angels； enters the Holy City。
Now Satan prepares for a last mighty struggle for the supremacy。 While
deprived of his power and cut off from his work of deception； the prince of
evil was miserable and dejected； but as the wicked dead are raised and he
sees the vast multitudes upon his side； his hopes revive； and he determines
not to yield the great controversy。 He will marshal all the armies of the
lost under his banner and through them endeavor to execute his plans。 The
wicked are Satan's captives。 In rejecting Christ they have accepted the rule
of the rebel leader。 They are ready to receive his suggestions and to do his
bidding。 Yet； true to his early cunning； he does not acknowledge himself to
be Satan。 He claims to be the prince who is the rightful owner of the world
and whose inheritance has been unlawfully wrested from him。 He represents
himself to his deluded subjects as a redeemer； assuring them that his power
has brought them forth from their graves and that he is about to rescue them
from the most cruel tyranny。 The presence of Christ having been removed；
Satan works wonders to support his claims。 He makes the weak strong and
inspires all with his own spirit and energy。 He proposes to lead them
against the camp of the saints and to take possession of the City of God。
With fiendish exultation he points to the unnumbered millions who have been
raised from the dead and declares that as their leader he is well able to
overthrow the city and regain his throne and his kingdom。
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In that vast throng are multitudes of the long…lived race that existed
before the Flood； men of lofty stature and giant intellect； who； yielding to
the control of fallen angels； devoted all their skill and knowledge to the
exaltation of themselves； men whose wonderful works of art led the world to
idolize their genius； but whose cruelty and evil inventions； defiling the
earth and defacing the image of God； caused Him to blot them from the face
of His creation。 There are kings and generals who conquered nations； valiant
men who never lost a battle； proud； ambitious warriors whose approach made
kingdoms tremble。 In death these experienced no change。 As they come up from
the grave； they resume the current of their thoughts just where it ceased。
They are actuated by the same desire to conquer that ruled them when they
fell。
Satan consults with his angels； and then with these kings and conquerors and
mighty men。 They look upon the strength and numbers on their side； and
declare that the army within the city is small in comparison with theirs；
and that it can be overcome。 They lay their plans to take possession of the
riches and glory of the New Jerusalem。 All immediately begin to prepare for
battle。 Skillful artisans construct implements of war。 Military leaders；
famed for their success； marshal the throngs of warlike men into companies
and divisions。
At last the order to advance is given； and the countless host moves onan
army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors； such as the combined
forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal。 Satan； the
mightiest of warriors； leads the van； and his angels unite their forces for
this final struggle。 Kings and warriors are in his train； and the multitudes
follow in vast companies； each under its appointed leader。 With military
precision the serried ranks advance over the earth's broken and uneven
surface to the City of God。 By command of Jesus； the gates of the New
Jerusalem are closed； and the armies of Satan surround the city and make
ready for the onset。
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Now Christ again appears to the view of His enemies。 Far above the city；
upon a foundation of burnished gold； is a throne； high and lifted up。 Upon
this throne sits the Son of God； and around Him are the subjects of His
kingdom。 The power and majesty of Christ no language can describe； no pen
portray。 The glory of the Eternal Father is enshrouding His Son。 The
brightness of His presence fills the City of God； and flows out beyond the
gates； flooding the whole earth with its radiance。
Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause of Satan；
but who； plucked as brands from the burning； have followed their Saviour
with deep； intense devotion。 Next are those who perfected Christian
characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity； those who honored the
law of God when the Christian world declared it void； and the millions； of
all ages； who were martyred for their faith。 And beyond is the 〃great
multitude； which no man could number； of all nations； and kindreds； and
people； and tongues； 。 。 。 before the throne； and before the Lamb； clothed
with white robes； and palms in their hands。〃 Revelation 7：9。 Their warfare
is ended； their victory won。 They have run the race and reached the prize。
The palm branch in their hands is a symbol of their triumph； the white robe
an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ which now is theirs。
The redeemed raise a song of praise that echoes and re…echoes through the
vaults of heaven： 〃Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne； and
unto the Lamb。〃 Verse
10。 And angel and seraph unite their voices in adoration。 As
the redeemed have beheld the power and malignity of Satan； they have seen；
as never before； that no power but that of Christ could have made them
conquerors。 In all that shining throng there are none to ascribe salvation
to themselves； as if they had prevailed by their own power and goodness。
Nothing is said of what they have done or suffered； but the burden of every
song； the keynote of every anthem； is： Salvation to our God and unto the
Lamb。
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In the presence of the assembled inhabitants of earth and heaven the final
coronation of the Son of God takes place。 And now； invested with supreme
majesty and power； the King of kings pronounces sentence upon the rebels
against His government and executes justice upon those who have transgressed
His law and oppressed His people。 Says the prophet of God： 〃I saw a great
white throne； and Him that sat on it； from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away； and there was found no place for them。 And I saw the dead；
small and great； stand before God； and the books were opened： and another
book was opened； which is the book of life： and the dead were judged out of
those things which were written in the books； according to their works。〃
Revelation 20：11； 12。
As soon as the books of record are opened； and the eye of Jesus looks upon
the wicked； they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed。
They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and
holiness； just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the
violation of the