Chapter 19—Christ’s Return
The Seventh Plague and the Special Resurrection
There is a mighty earthquake, “such as was not since men were
upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great” (
Revelation
16:17, 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.... 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.... Great hailstones, every one “about the weight of a talent,”
are doing their work of destruction (
verses 19, 21
) ....
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
[272]
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.—
The Great Controversy, 636,
637
(1911).
God Announces the Time of Christ’s Coming
Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The
atmosphere parted and rolled back. Then we could look up through the
open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God.—
Early Writings,
41
(1851).
Soon we heard the voice of God [
The voice of God is heard repeat-
edly during the period immediately preceding Christ’s return. See
The
Great Controversy, 632, 633, 636, 638, 640, 641
.] like many waters,
which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints,
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