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 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 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
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