26
Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
their various ways, derided and ridiculed those who were entering the
temple, and told them that this plan of safety was a cunning deception,
that in fact there was no danger whatever to avoid. They even laid hold
of some to prevent them from hastening within the walls.
Fearful of being ridiculed, I thought best to wait until the multitude
dispersed, or until I could enter unobserved by them. But the numbers
increased instead of diminishing, and fearful of being too late, I hastily
left my home and pressed through the crowd. In my anxiety to reach
the temple I did not notice or care for the throng that surrounded me.
On entering the building, I saw that the vast temple was supported
by one immense pillar, and to this was tied a lamb all mangled and
bleeding. We who were present seemed to know that this lamb had
been torn and bruised on our account. All who entered the temple
must come before it and confess their sins. Just before the lamb were
elevated seats, upon which sat a company looking very happy. The
light of heaven seemed to shine upon their faces, and they praised God
and sang songs of glad thanksgiving that seemed like the music of the
angels. These were they who had come before the lamb, confessed
their sins, received pardon, and were now waiting in glad expectation
of some joyful event.
[34]
Even after I had entered the building, a fear came over me, and a
sense of shame that I must humble myself before these people; but I
seemed compelled to move forward, and was slowly making my way
around the pillar in order to face the lamb, when a trumpet sounded,
the temple shook, shouts of triumph arose from the assembled saints,
an awful brightness illuminated the building, then all was intense
darkness. The happy people had all disappeared with the brightness,
and I was left alone in the silent horror of night.
I awoke in agony of mind, and could hardly convince myself that I
had been dreaming. It seemed to me that my doom was fixed; that the
Spirit of the Lord had left me, never to return.
Dream of Seeing Jesus
Soon after this I had another dream. I seemed to be sitting in abject
despair, with my face in my hands, reflecting like this: If Jesus were
upon earth, I would go to Him, throw myself at His feet, and tell Him