obscured by the black； heavy mist。 〃After sundown； the clouds came again
overhead； and
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it grew dark very fast。〃 〃Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon
and terrifying than that of the day； notwithstanding there was almost a full
moon； no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light；
which； when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance；
appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious
to the rays。〃Isaiah Thomas； Massachusetts Spy； or； American Oracle of
Liberty； vol。 10； No。 472 （May 25； 1780）。 Said an eyewitness of the scene：
〃I could not help conceiving at the time； that if every luminous body in the
universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades； or struck out of
existence； the darkness could not have been more complete。〃Letter by Dr。
Samuel Tenney； of Exeter； New Hampshire； December； 1785 （in Massachusetts
Historical Society Collections； 1792； 1st series； vol。 1； p。 97）。 Though at
nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full； 〃it had not the least
effect to dispel the deathlike shadows。〃 After midnight the darkness
disappeared； and the moon； when first visible； had the appearance of blood。
May 19； 1780； stands in history as 〃The Dark Day。〃 Since the time of Moses
no period of darkness of equal density； extent； and duration； has ever been
recorded。 The description of this event； as given by eyewitnesses； is but an
echo of the words of the Lord； recorded by the prophet Joel； twenty…five
hundred years previous to their fulfillment： 〃The sun shall be turned into
darkness； and the moon into blood； before the great and terrible day of the
Lord come。〃 Joel 2：31。
Christ had bidden His people watch for the signs of His advent and rejoice
as they should behold the tokens of their coming King。 〃When these things
begin to come to pass；〃 He said； 〃then look up； and lift up your heads； for
your redemption draweth nigh。〃 He pointed His followers to the budding trees
of spring； and said： 〃When they now shoot forth； ye see and know of your own
selves that summer is now nigh at hand。 So likewise ye； when ye see these
things
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come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 Luke 21：28；
30； 31。
But as the spirit of humility and devotion in the church had given place to
pride and formalism； love for Christ and faith in His coming had grown cold。
Absorbed in worldliness and pleasure seeking； the professed people of God
were blinded to the Saviour's instructions concerning the signs of His
appearing。 The doctrine of the second advent had been neglected； the
scriptures relating to it were obscured by misinterpretation； until it was；
to a great extent； ignored and forgotten。 Especially was this the case in
the churches of America。 The freedom and comfort enjoyed by all classes of
society； the ambitious desire for wealth and luxury； begetting an absorbing
devotion to money…making； the eager rush for popularity and power； which
seemed to be within the reach of all； led men to center their interests and
hopes on the things of this life； and to put far in the future that solemn
day when the present order of things should pass away。
When the Saviour pointed out to His followers the signs of His return； He
foretold the state of backsliding that would exist just prior to His second
advent。 There would be； as in the days of Noah； the activity and stir of
worldly business and pleasure seekingbuying； selling； planting； building；
marrying； and giving in marriagewith forgetfulness of God and the future
life。 For those living at this time； Christ's admonition is： 〃Take heed to
yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and
drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you
unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand
before the Son of man。〃 Luke 21：34； 36。
The condition of the church at this time is pointed out in the Saviour's
words in the Revelation： 〃Thou hast a name
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that thou livest； and art dead。〃 And to those who refuse to arouse from
their careless security； the solemn warning is addressed： 〃If therefore thou
shalt not watch； I will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know
what hour I will come upon thee。〃 Revelation 3：1； 3。
It was needful that men should be awakened to their danger； that they should
be roused to prepare for the solemn events connected with the close of
probation。 The prophet of God declares： 〃The day of the Lord is great and
very terrible； and who can abide it？〃 Who shall stand when He appeareth who
is 〃of purer eyes than to behold evil；〃 and cannot 〃look on iniquity〃？ Joel
2：11； Habakkuk 1：13。 To them that cry； 〃My God； we know Thee；〃 yet have
transgressed His covenant； and hastened after another god； hiding iniquity
in their hearts； and loving the paths of unrighteousness to these the day
of the Lord is 〃darkness； and not light； even very dark； and no brightness
in it。〃 Hosea 8：2； 1； Psalm 16；4； Amos 5：20。 〃It shall come to pass at that
time；〃 saith the Lord； 〃that I will search Jerusalem with candles； and
punish the men that are settled on their lees： that say in their heart； The
Lord will not do good； neither will He do evil。〃 Zephaniah 1：12。 〃I will
punish the world for their evil； and the wicked for their iniquity； and I
will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease； and will lay low the
haughtiness of the terrible。〃 Isaiah 13：11。 〃Neither their silver nor their
gold shall be able to deliver them；〃 〃their goods shall become a booty； and
their houses a desolation。〃 Zephaniah 1：18； 13。
The prophet Jeremiah； looking forward to this fearful time； exclaimed： 〃I am
pained at my very heart。 。 。 。 I cannot hold my peace； because thou hast
heard； O my soul； the sound of the trumpet； the alarm of war。 Destruction
upon destruction is cried。〃 Jeremiah 4：19； 20。
〃That day is a day of wrath； a day of trouble and distress； a day of
wasteness and desolation； a day of darkness and gloominess； a day of clouds
and thick darkness； a day of the trumpet and alarm。〃 Zephaniah 1：15； 16。
〃Behold； the day
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of the Lord cometh； 。 。 。 to lay the land desolate： and He shall destroy the
sinners thereof out of it。〃 Isaiah 13：9。
In view of that great day the word of God； in the most solemn and impressive
language； calls upon His people to arouse from their spiritual lethargy and
to seek His face with repentance and humiliation： 〃Blow ye the trumpet in
Zion； and sound an alarm in My holy mountain： let all the inhabitants of the
land tremble： for the day of the Lord cometh； for it is nigh at hand。〃
〃Sanctify a fast； call a solemn assembly： gather the people； sanctify the
congregation； assemble the elders； gather the children： 。 。 。 let the
bridegroom go forth of his chamber； and the bride out of her closet。 Let the
priests； the ministers of the Lord； weep between the porch and the altar。〃
〃Turn ye even to Me with all your heart； and with fasting； and with weeping；
and with mourning： and rend your heart； and not your garments； and turn unto
the Lord your God： for He is gracious and merciful； slow to anger； and of
great kindness。〃 Joel 2：1；
15…17； 12； 13。
To prepare a people to stand in the day of God； a great work of reform was
to be accomplished。 God saw that many of His professed people were not
building for eternity； and in His mercy He was about to send a message of
warning to arouse them from their stupor and lead them to make ready for the
coming of the Lord。
This warning is brought to view in Revelation 14。 Here is a threefold
message represented as proclaimed by heavenly beings and immediately
followed by the coming of the Son of man to reap 〃the harvest of the earth。〃
The first of these warnings announces the approaching judgment。 The prophet
beheld an angel flying 〃in the midst of heaven； having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth； and to every nation； and
kindred； and tongue； and people； saying with a loud voice； Fear God； and
give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is come： and worship Him
that made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the fountains of waters。〃
Revelation 14：6； 7。
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This message is declared to be a part of 〃the everlasting gospel。〃 The work
of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels； but has been
entrusted to men。 Holy angels have been employed in directing this work；
they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men； but the
actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ
upon the earth。
Faithful men； who were obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the
teachings of His word； were to proclaim this warning to the world。 They were
those who had taken heed to the 〃sure word of prophecy；〃 the 〃light that
shineth in a dark place； until the day dawn； and the daystar arise。〃
2 Peter 1：19。 They had been seeking the knowledge of God
more than all hid treasures； counting it 〃be