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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their fore-
heads was written, “God, New Jerusalem,” and a glorious star con-
taining Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were
enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us
into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the
Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that
the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash
one another’s feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they
worshiped at our feet.
Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had
appeared, about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was
the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the
cloud as it drew nearer, and became lighter, glorious, and still more
glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like
fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand
angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man.
His hair was white and curly, and lay on His shoulders; and upon
His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in
His right hand was a sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His
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eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and
through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had
rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out: “Who shall be able
to stand? Is my robe spotless?” Then the angels ceased to sing, and
there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who
have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is
sufficient for you.” At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every
heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sang again, while the
cloud drew still nearer the earth.
Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud,
wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping
saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, “Awake!
awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a
mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed
with immortality. The 144,000 shouted “Alleluia!” as they recognized
their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same
moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet
the Lord in the air.