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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
declare the doom of the wicked. The words spoken are not compre-
hended by all; but they are distinctly understood by the false watch-
men. Those who a little before were so reckless, so boastful and
defiant, so exultant in their cruelty to God’s commandment-keeping
people, are now overwhelmed with consternation, and shuddering in
fear. Their wails are heard above the sound of the elements. Demons
acknowledge the divinity of Christ, and tremble before his power,
while men are supplicating for mercy, and groveling in abject terror.
Said the prophets of old as they beheld in holy vision the day of
God: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy
mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of
the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” “And the Lord shall utter his
voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that
executeth his word; for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
and who can abide it?” [
Joel 2:1, 11
.] “Howl ye; for the day of the
Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.”
[
Isaiah 13:6
.] “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear
of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man
shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the
Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and
upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.” [
Isaiah
2:10-12
.] “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his
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idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to
the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into
the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory
of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” [
Isaiah
2:20, 21
.]
Through a rift in the clouds, there beams a star whose brilliancy
is increased fourfold in contrast with the darkness. It speaks hope
and joy to the faithful, but severity and wrath to the transgressors
of God’s law. Those who have sacrificed all for Christ are now
secure, hidden as in the secret of the Lord’s pavilion. They have
been tested, and before the world and the despisers of truth they
have evinced their fidelity to Him who died for them. A marvelous
change has come over those who have held fast their integrity in the
very face of death. They have been suddenly delivered from the dark
and terrible tyranny of men transformed to demons. Their faces, so