312 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
[ 302 ] voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God.” 459 Says the prophet of Patmos,“ Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” 460
About His coming cluster the glories of that“ restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” 461 Then the long-continued rule of evil shall be broken;“ the kingdoms of this world” will become“ the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” 462“ The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”“ The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” He shall be“ for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people.” 463
It is then that the peaceful and long-desired kingdom of the Messiah shall be established under the whole heaven.“ The Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.”“ The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon.”“ Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called My Delight, and thy land Beulah.”“ As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” 464
The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of His true followers. The Saviour ' s parting promise upon Olivet, that He would come again, lighted up the future for His disciples, filling their hearts with joy and hope that sorrow could not quench nor trials dim. Amid suffering and persecution,“ the appearing
459 1 Thess. 4:16. 460 Rev. 1:7. 461 Acts 3:21. 462 Rev. 11:15. 463 Isa. 40:5; 61:11; 28:5. 464 Isa. 51:3; 35:2; 62:4, 5( margin).