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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
they rose up and took counsel to rid the earth of us, thinking that then
the evil would be stayed.
In the time of trouble we all fled from the cities and villages, but
were pursued by the wicked, who entered the houses of the saints with
a sword. They raised the sword to kill us, but it broke, and fell as
powerless as a straw. Then we all cried day and night for deliverance,
and the cry came up before God.
The sun came up, and the moon stood still. The streams ceased to
flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up, and clashed against each other. But
there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of
God like many waters, which shook the heavens and the earth. The
sky opened and shut, and was in commotion. The mountains shook
like a reed in the wind, and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea
boiled like a pot, and cast out stones upon the land.
And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming, and
delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sen-
tence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth.
The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the
words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah, and rolled through
the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. And at
the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Alleluia!” Their
countenances were lighted up with the glory of God; and they shone
with the glory, as did the face of Moses when he came down from
Sinai. The wicked could not look on them for the glory. And when the
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never ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God
in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over
the beast and over his image.
Then commenced the jubilee, when the land should rest. I saw the
pious slave rise in triumph and victory, and shake off the chains 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. It looked more lovely than
ever before. On it sat the Son of man. At first we did not see Jesus
on the cloud, but as it drew near the earth we could behold His lovely
person. This cloud, when it first appeared, was the sign of the Son of
man in heaven.