Chapter 27—The Two Crowns
In a vision given me at Battle Creek, Michigan, October 25, 1861,
I was shown this earth, dark and gloomy. Said the angel, “Look
carefully!” Then I was shown the people upon the earth. Some were
surrounded by angels of God, others were in total darkness, surrounded
by evil angels. I saw an arm reached down from heaven, holding a
golden scepter. On the top of the scepter was a crown, studded with
diamonds. Every diamond emitted light, bright, clear, and beautiful.
Inscribed upon the crown were these words: “All who win me are
happy, and shall have everlasting life.”
Below this crown was another scepter, and upon this also was
placed a crown, in the center of which were jewels, gold, and silver,
reflecting some light. The inscription upon the crown was: “Earthly
treasure. Riches is power. All who win me have honor and fame.” I
saw a vast multitude rushing forward to obtain this crown. They were
clamorous. Some in their eagerness seemed bereft of reason. They
would thrust one another, crowding back those who were weaker than
they, and trampling upon those who in their haste fell. Many eagerly
seized hold of the treasures within the crown, and held them fast. The
heads of some were as white as silver, and their faces were furrowed
with care and anxiety. Their own relatives, bone of their bone, and
flesh of their flesh, they regarded not; but, as appealing looks were
turned to them, they held their treasures more firmly, as though fearful
that in an unguarded moment they should lose a little, or be induced to
divide with them. Their eager eyes would often fasten upon the earthly
crown, and count and recount its treasures.
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Images of want and wretchedness appeared in that multitude, and
looked wishfully at the treasures there, and turned hopelessly away as
the stronger overpowered and drove back the weaker. Yet they could
not give it up thus, but with a multitude of deformed, sickly, and aged,
they sought to press their way to the earthly crown. Some died in
seeking to reach it. Others fell just in the act of taking hold of it. Many
had but just laid hold of it when they fell. Dead bodies strewed the
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