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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 law of God。 The seductive temptations which they encouraged
by indulgence in sin； the blessings perverted； the messengers of God
despised； the warnings rejected； the waves of mercy beaten back by the
stubborn； unrepentant heartall appear as if written in letters of fire。
Above the throne is revealed the cross； and like a panoramic view appear the
scenes of Adam's temptation and fall； and the successive steps in the great
plan of redemption。 The Saviour's lowly birth； His early life of simplicity
and obedience； His baptism in Jordan； the fast and temptation in the
wilderness； His public ministry； unfolding to men heaven's most precious
blessings； the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy； the nights of
prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains； the plottings of envy；
hate； and malice which repaid His benefits； the awful； mysterious agony in
Gethsemane beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world； His
betrayal into the hands of the murderous
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mob； the fearful events of that night of horrorthe unresisting prisoner；
forsaken by His best…loved disciples； rudely hurried through the streets of
Jerusalem； the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas； arraigned in
the high priest's palace； in the judgment hall of Pilate； before the
cowardly and cruel Herod； mocked； insulted； tortured； and condemned to
dieall are vividly portrayed。
And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenesthe
patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary； the Prince of heaven hanging
upon the cross； the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding His
expiring agony； the supernatural darkness； the heaving earth； the rent
rocks； the open graves； marking the moment when the world's Redeemer yielded
up His life。
The awful spectacle appears just as it was。 Satan； his angels； and his
subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work。 Each
actor recalls the part which he performed。 Herod； who slew the innocent
children of Bethlehem that he might destroy the King of Israel； the base
Herodias； upon whose guilty soul rests the blood of John the Baptist； the
weak； timeserving Pilate； the mocking soldiers； the priests and rulers and
the maddened throng who cried； 〃His blood be on us； and on our
children！〃all behold the enormity of their guilt。 They vainly seek to hide
from the divine majesty of His countenance； outshining the glory of the sun；
while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet； exclaiming： 〃He
died for me！〃
Amid the ransomed throng are the apostles of Christ； the heroic Paul； the
ardent Peter； the loved and loving John； and their truehearted brethren； and
with them the vast host of martyrs； while outside the walls； with every vile
and abominable thing； are those by whom they were persecuted； imprisoned；
and slain。 There is Nero； that monster of cruelty and vice； beholding the
joy and exaltation of those whom he once tortured； and in whose extremest
anguish he found satanic delight。 His mother is there to witness the result
of
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her own work； to see how the evil stamp of character transmitted to her son；
the passions encouraged and developed by her influence and example； have
borne fruit in crimes that caused the world to shudder。
There are papist priests and prelates； who claimed to be Christ's
ambassadors； yet employed the rack； the dungeon； and the stake to control
the consciences of His people。 There are the proud pontiffs who exalted
themselves above God and presumed to change the law of the Most High。 Those
pretended fathers of the church have an account to render to God from which
they would fain be excused。 Too late they are made to see that the
Omniscient One is jealous of His law and that He will in no wise clear the
guilty。 They learn now that Christ identifies His interest with that of His
suffering people； and they feel the force of His own words： 〃Inasmuch a