Story of Hope

Deliverance of The Saints

It was at midnight when God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in its strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked at the scene with amazement, while with solemn joy the saints saw the first indications of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything seemed turned out of its natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, and from it came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came out from their dusty beds glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law. SH 109.2

The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind and scattered ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones on the land. And as God delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, 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. At the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Hallelujah!” Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God, shining with glory like the face of Moses did when he came down from Sinai. The wicked could not look at them because of the glory. And when God pronounced the never- ending blessing on those who had honored Him in keeping His Sabbath holy, they gave a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. SH 110.1

The Second Advent of Christ—Soon appeared the great white cloud, on which sat the Son of man. When it first appeared in the distance, this cloud looked very small. As it drew nearer the earth, everyone could see the excellent glory and majesty of Jesus as He rode onward to conquer. A retinue of holy angels with bright, glittering crowns on their heads escorted Him on His way. SH 110.2

No language can describe the glory of the scene. The living cloud of majesty and unsurpassed glory came still nearer, on which was the lovely person of Jesus, not wearing a crown of thorns, but a crown of glory on His holy brow. On His robe and thigh was a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). His face was as bright as the noonday sun, His eyes were as a flame of fire, and His feet had the appearance of fine brass (Revelation 1:14-16). His voice sounded like many musical instruments. The earth trembled in His presence, 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, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves 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 who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’ ” Revelation 6:15-17. SH 110.3

Those who a short time before would have destroyed God’s faithful children from the earth now witnessed the glory of God resting on them. And amid all their terror they heard the voices of the saints in joyful sounds, saying, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.” Isaiah 25:9. SH 111.1

The First Resurrection—The earth shook mightily as the voice of the Son of God called the sleeping saints from their graves. They responded to the call and came up clothed with glorious immortality, crying, “Victory, victory, over death and the grave! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (See 1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV.) Then the living saints and the risen ones raised their voices in a long, ecstatic shout of victory. Those bodies that had gone down into the grave carrying the marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and vigor. The living saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and caught up with the risen ones, and together they meet their Lord in the air. Oh, what a glorious meeting! Friends whom death had separated were united, never to part again. SH 111.2

On each side of the cloudy chariot were wings, and beneath it were living wheels. And the saints in the cloud cried, “Glory! Alleluia!” And the chariot rolled upward to the Holy City. Before entering the city, the saints were arranged in a perfect square, with Jesus in the midst. He stood head and shoulders above the saints and above the angels. All in the square could see His majestic form and lovely face. SH 111.3