Gleams of the Golden Morning

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for October 7
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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Gleams of the Golden Morning

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the
west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matt. 24:27. 

While all the world is plunged in darkness, there will be light in every
dwelling of the saints. They will catch the first light of His second
appearing. 

Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size
of a man's hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Savior and which
seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know
this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon
it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious,
until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire,
and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty
conqueror. Not now a "man of sorrows," to drink the bitter cup of shame
and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and
the dead. "Faithful and True," "in righteousness he doth judge and make
war." And "the armies which were in heaven" (Revelation 19:11, 14)
follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast,
unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems filled
with radiant forms--"ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands." No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is
adequate to conceive its splendor. "His glory covered the heavens, and
the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light."
Habakkuk 3:3, 4. As the living cloud comes still nearer, every eye
beholds the Prince of life. No crown of thorns now mars that sacred
head; but a diadem of glory rests on His holy brow. His countenance
outshines the dazzling brightness of the noonday sun. "And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of
Lords." Revelation 19:16. 

With uplifted heads, with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness
shining upon them, with rejoicing that their redemption draweth nigh,
they [the living saints], go forth to meet the Bridegroom, saying. "Lo,
this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us."

>From Maranatha - Page 288