March
29, 2003
HE
IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
"And
behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone
from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning,
and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for
fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered
and said to the woman, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that
you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is
risen, as He said... And go quickly and tell His disciples
that He is risen from the dead" (Matthew 28:2-7, NKJV).
"Clothed
with the panoply of God, this angel left the heavenly courts.
The bright beams of God's glory went before him, and illuminated
his pathway. 'His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow'...
"Now,
priests and rulers, where is the power of your guard? Brave
soldiers that have never been afraid of human power are now
as captives taken without sword or spear. The face they look
upon is not the face of mortal warrior; it is the face of
the mightiest of the Lord's host. This messenger is he who
fills the position from which Satan fell. It is he who on
the hills of Bethlehem proclaimed Christ's birth. The earth
trembles at his approach, the hosts of darkness flee, and
as he rolls away the stone, heaven seems to come down to the
earth. The soldiers see him removing the stone as he would
a pebble, and hear him cry, 'Son of God, come forth; Your
Father calls You.' They see Jesus come forth from the grave,
and hear Him proclaim over the rent sepulcher, 'I am the resurrection,
and the life.' As He comes forth in majesty and glory, the
angel host bow low in adoration before the Redeemer, and welcome
Him with songs of praise.
"An
earthquake marked the hour when Christ laid down His life,
and another earthquake witnessed the moment when He took it
up in triumph. He who had vanquished death and the grave came
forth from the tomb with the tread of a conqueror, amid the
reeling of the earth, the flashing of lightning, and the roaring
of thunder. When He shall come to the earth again, He will
shake 'not the earth only, but also heaven.' 'The earth shall
reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like
a cottage.' 'The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll;'
'the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up.' But 'the
Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the
children of Israel.' (Hebrews 12:26; Isaiah 24:20; 34:4; 2
Peter 3:10; Joel 3:16).-- The Desire of Ages,
pp. 779, 780.
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