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Midnight Cry
165
Jerusalem, the people who were assembled from all parts of the land
to keep the feast, flocked to the Mount of Olives, and as they joined
the throng that were escorting Jesus, they caught the inspiration of
the hour, and helped to swell the shout, “Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord!” [
Matthew 21:9
.] In like manner did unbe-
lievers who flocked to the Adventist meetings—some from curiosity,
some merely to ridicule—feel the convincing power attending the
message, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!”
At that time there was faith that brought answers to prayer,—
faith that had respect to the recompense of reward. Like showers of
rain upon the thirsty earth, the Spirit of grace descended upon the
earnest seekers. Those who expected soon to stand face to face with
their Redeemer felt a solemn joy that was unutterable. The softening,
subduing power of the Holy Spirit melted the heart, as wave after
wave of the glory of God swept over the faithful, believing ones.
Carefully and solemnly those who received the message came
up to the time when they hoped to meet their Lord. Every morning
they felt that it was their first duty to secure the evidence of their
acceptance with God. Their hearts were closely united, and they
prayed much with and for one another. They often met together in
secluded places to commune with God, and the voice of intercession
ascended to Heaven from the fields and groves. The assurance to
the Saviour’s approval was more necessary to them than their daily
food, and if a cloud darkened their minds, they did not rest until it
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was swept away. As they felt the witness of pardoning grace, they
longed to behold Him whom their souls loved.
But again they were destined to disappointment. The time of ex-
pectation passed, and their Saviour did not appear. With unwavering
confidence they had looked forward to his coming, and now they
felt as did Mary, when, coming to the Saviour’s tomb and finding
it empty, she exclaimed with weeping, “They have taken away my
Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” [
John 20:13
.]
A feeling of awe, a fear that the message might be true, had
for a time served as a restraint upon the unbelieving world. After
the passing of the time, this did not at once disappear; they dared
not triumph over the disappointed ones; but as no tokens of God’s
wrath were seen, they recovered from their fears, and resumed their
reproach and ridicule. A large class who had professed to believe in