Basic HTML Version
Deliverance of the Saints
319
The First Resurrection
The earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called
forth the sleeping saints. They responded to the call and came forth
clothed with glorious immortality, crying, “Victory, victory, over
death and the grave! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?” (See
1 Corinthians 15:55
.) Then the living saints
and the risen ones raised their voices in a long transporting shout of
victory. Those bodies that had gone down into the grave bearing the
marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and vigor.
The living saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an
[412]
eye, and caught up with the risen ones, and together they meet their
Lord in the air. Oh, what a glorious meeting! Friends whom death
had separated were united, never more to part.
On each side of the cloudy chariot were wings, and beneath it
were living wheels; and as the chariot rolled upward, the wheels
cried, “Holy,” and the wings, as they moved, cried, “Holy,” and the
retinue of holy angels around the cloud cried, “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty!” And the saints in the cloud cried, “Glory!
Alleluia!” And the chariot rolled upward to the Holy City. Before
entering the city, the saints were arranged in a perfect square, with
Jesus in the midst. He stood head and shoulders above the saints and
above the angels. His majestic form and lovely countenance could
be seen by all in the square. 413
[413]