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272
Early Writings
that bound him, while his wicked master was in confusion and knew
not what to do; for the wicked could not understand the words of the
voice of God.
Soon appeared the great white cloud, upon which sat the Son
of man. When it first appeared in the distance, this cloud looked
very small. The angel said that it was the sign of the Son of man.
As it drew nearer the earth, we could behold the excellent glory and
majesty of Jesus as He rode forth to conquer. A retinue of holy
angels, with bright, glittering crowns upon their heads, escorted Him
on His way. No language can describe the glory of the scene. The
living cloud of majesty and unsurpassed glory came still nearer, and
we could clearly behold the lovely person of Jesus. He did not wear
a crown of thorns, but a crown of glory rested upon His holy brow.
Upon His vesture and thigh was a name written, King of kings, and
Lord of lords. His countenance was as bright as the noonday sun,
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and His feet had the appearance of
fine brass. His voice sounded like many musical instruments. The
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earth trembled before Him, the heavens departed as a scroll when it
is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out
of their places. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and
the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every
bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the
rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall
on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is
come; and who shall be able to stand?” Those who a short time
before would have destroyed God’s faithful children from the earth,
now witnessed the glory of God which rested upon them. And amid
all their terror they heard the voices of the saints in joyful strains,
saying, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will
save us.”
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?” 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