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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
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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。
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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 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 tim