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Second Resurrection
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There were mighty warriors and kings who were well skilled in
battle and who had conquered kingdoms. And there were mighty
giants and valiant men who had never lost a battle. There was the
proud, ambitious Napoleon, whose approach had caused kingdoms
to tremble. There stood men of lofty stature and dignified bearing,
who had fallen in battle while thirsting to conquer. As they come
forth from their graves, they resume the current of their thoughts
where it ceased in death. They possess the same desire to conquer
which ruled when they fell. Satan consults with his angels, and then
with those kings and conquerors and mighty men. Then he looks
over the vast army, and tells them that the company in the city is
small and feeble, and that they can go up and take it, and cast out its
inhabitants, and possess its riches and glory themselves.
Satan succeeds in deceiving them, and all immediately begin
to prepare themselves for battle. There are many skillful men in
that vast army, and they construct all kinds of implements of war.
Then with Satan at their head, the multitude move on. Kings and
warriors follow close after Satan, and the multitude follow after in
companies. Each company has its leader, and order is observed as
they march over the broken surface of the earth to the Holy City.
Jesus closes the gates of the city, and this vast army surround it, and
place themselves in battle array, expecting a fierce conflict. Jesus
and all the angelic host and all the saints, with the glittering crowns
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upon their heads, ascend to the top of the wall of the city. Jesus
speaks with majesty, saying, “Behold, ye sinners, the reward of the
just! And behold, My redeemed, the reward of the wicked!” The
vast multitude behold the glorious company on the walls of the city.
And as they witness the splendor of their glittering crowns and see
their faces radiant with glory, reflecting the image of Jesus, and then
behold the unsurpassed glory and majesty of the King of kings and
Lord of lords, their courage fails. A sense of the treasure and glory
which they have lost rushes upon them, and they realize that the
wages of sin is death. They see the holy, happy company whom they
have despised, clothed with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal
life, while they are outside the city with every mean and abominable
thing.