The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 663

Chap. 42 - The Controversy Ended
At the close of the thousand years, Christ again returns to the earth.
He is accompanied by the host of the redeemed and attended by a retinue
of angels. As He descends in terrific majesty He bids the wicked dead
arise to receive their doom. They come forth, a mighty host, numberless
as the sands of the sea. What a contrast to those who were raised at the
first resurrection! The righteous were clothed with immortal youth and
beauty. The wicked bear the traces of disease and death.
Every eye in that vast multitude is turned to behold the glory of the
Son of God. With one voice the wicked hosts exclaim: “Blessed is He
that cometh in the name of the Lord!” It is not love to Jesus that inspires
this utterance. The force of truth urges the words from unwilling lips.
As the wicked went into their graves, so they come forth with the same
enmity to Christ and the same spirit of rebellion. They are to have no
new probation in which to remedy the defects of their past lives. Nothing
would be gained by this. A lifetime of transgression has not softened
their hearts. A second probation, were it given them, would be occupied
as was the first in evading the requirements of God and exciting rebellion
against Him.
Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after His
resurrection, He ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of
His return. Says the prophet: “The Lord my God

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