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prophecythe darkening of the sun and moon。 What rendered this more
striking was the fact that the time of its fulfillment had been definitely
pointed out。 In the Saviour's conversation with His disciples upon Olivet；
after describing the long period of trial for the church；the 1260 years of
papal persecution； concerning which He had promised that the tribulation
should be shortened；He thus mentioned certain events to precede His
coming； and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed： 〃In
those days； after that tribulation； the sun shall be darkened； and the moon
shall not give her light。〃 Mark 13：24。 The 1260 days； or years； terminated
in 1798。 A quarter of a century earlier； persecution had almost wholly
ceased。 Following this persecution； according to the words of Christ； the
sun was to be darkened。 On the 19th of May； 1780； this prophecy was
fulfilled。
〃Almost； if not altogether alone； as the most mysterious and as yet
unexplained phenomenon of its kind； 。 。 。 stands the dark day of May 19；
1780；a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and
atmosphere in New England。〃R。 M。 Devens； Our First Century； page 89。
An eyewitness living in Massachusetts describes the event as follows： 〃In
the morning the sun rose clear； but was soon overcast。 The clouds became
lowery； and from them； black and ominous； as they soon appeared； lightning
flashed； thunder rolled； and a little rain fell。 Toward nine o'clock； the
clouds became thinner； and assumed a brassy or coppery appearance； and
earth； rocks； trees； buildings； water； and persons were changed by this
strange； unearthly light。 A few minutes later； a heavy black cloud spread
over the entire sky except a narrow rim at the horizon； and it was as dark
as it usually is at nine o'clock on a summer evening。 。 。 。
〃Fear； anxiety； and awe gradually filled the minds of the people。 Women
stood at the door； looking out upon the dark landscape； men returned from
their labor in the fields； the
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carpenter left his tools； the blacksmith his forge； the tradesman his
counter。 Schools were dismissed； and tremblingly the children fled homeward。
Travelers put up at the nearest farmhouse。 'What is coming？' queried every
lip and heart。 It seemed as if a hurricane was about to dash across the
land； or as if it was the day of the consummation of all things。
〃Candles were used； and hearth fires shone as brightly as on a moonless
evening in autumn。 。 。 。 Fowls retired to their roosts and went to sleep；
cattle gathered at the pasture bars and lowed； frogs peeped； birds sang
their evening songs； and bats flew about。 But the human knew that night had
not come。 。 。 。
〃Dr。 Nathanael Whittaker； pastor of the Tabernacle church in Salem； held
religious services in the meeting…house； and preached a sermon in which he
maintained that the darkness was supernatural。 Congregations came together
in many other places。 The texts for the extemporaneous sermons were
invariably those that seemed to indicate that the darkness was consonant
with Scriptural prophecy。 。 。 。 The darkness was most dense shortly after
eleven o'clock。〃The Essex Antiquarian； April； 1899； vol。 3； No。 4； pp。 53；
54。 〃In most parts of the country it was so great in the daytime； that the
people could not tell the hour by either watch or clock； nor dine； nor
manage their domestic business； without the light of candles。 。 。 。
〃The extent of this darkness was extraordinary。 It was observed as far east
as Falmouth。 To the westward it reached to the farthest part of Connecticut；
and to Albany。 To the southward； it was observed along the seacoasts； and to
the north as far as the American settlements extend。〃William Gordon；
History of the Rise； Progress； and Establishment of the Independence of the
U。S。A。； vol。 3； p。 57。
The intense darkness of the day was succeeded； an hour or two before
evening； by a partially clear sky； and the sun appeared； though it was still
obscured by the black； heavy mist。 〃After sundown； the clouds came again
overhead； and
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it grew dark very fast。〃 〃Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon
and terrifying than that of the day； notwithstanding there was almost a full
moon； no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light；
which； when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance；
appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious
to the rays。〃Isaiah Thomas； Massachusetts Spy； or； American Oracle of
Liberty； vol。 10； No。 472 （May 25； 1780）。 Said an eyewitness of the scene：
〃I could not help conceiving at the time； that if every luminous body in the
universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades； or struck out of
existence； the darkness could not have been more complete。〃Letter by Dr。
Samuel Tenney； of Exeter； New Hampshire； December； 1785 （in Massachusetts
Historical Society Collections； 1792； 1st series； vol。 1； p。 97）。 Though at
nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full； 〃it had not the least
effect to dispel the deathlike shadows。〃 After midnight the darkness
disappeared； and the moon； when first visible； had the appearance of blood。
May 19； 1780； stands in history as 〃The Dark Day。〃 Since the time of Moses
no period of darkness of equal density； extent； and duration； has ever been
recorded。 The description of this event； as given by eyewitnesses； is but an
echo of the words of the Lord； recorded by the prophet Joel； twenty…five
hundred years previous to their fulfillment： 〃The sun shall be turned into
darkness； and the moon into blood； before the great and terrible day of the
Lord come。〃 Joel 2：31。
Christ had bidden His people watch for the signs of His advent and rejoice
as they should behold the tokens of their coming King。 〃When these things
begin to come to pass；〃 He said； 〃then look up； and lift up your heads； for
your redemption draweth nigh。〃 He pointed His followers to the budding trees
of spring； and said： 〃When they now shoot forth； ye see and know of your own
selves that summer is now nigh at hand。 So likewise ye； when ye see these
things
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come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 Luke 21：28；
30； 31。
But as the spirit of humility and devotion in the church had given place to
pride and formalism； love for Christ and faith in His coming had grown cold。
Absorbed in worldliness and pleasure seeking； the professed people of God
were blinded to the Saviour's instructions concerning the signs of His
appearing。 The doctrine of the second advent had been neglected； the
scriptures relating to it were obscured by misinterpretation； until it was；
to a great extent； ignored and forgotten。 Especially was this the case in
the churches of America。 The freedom and comfort enjoyed by all classes of
society； the ambitious desire for wealth and luxury； begetting an absorbing
devotion to money…making； the eager rush for popularity and power； which
seemed to be within the reach of all； led men to center their interests and
hopes on the things of this life； and to put far in the future that solemn
day when the present order of things should pass away。
When the Saviour pointed out to His followers the signs of His return； He
foretold the state of backsliding that would exist just prior to His second
advent。 There would be； as in the days of Noah； the activity and stir of
worldly business and pleasure seekingbuying； selling； planting； building；
marrying； and giving in marriagewith forgetfulness of God and the future
life。 For those living at this time； Christ's admonition is： 〃Take heed to
yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and
drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you
unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand
before the Son of man。〃 Luke 21：34； 36。
The condition of the church at this time is pointed out in the Saviour's
words in the Revelation： 〃Thou hast a name
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