The disciples rested on the Sabbath, sorrowing for the death of
their Lord, while Jesus, the King of glory, lay in the tomb. As
night drew on, soldiers were stationed to guard the Saviour's
resting place, while angels, unseen, hovered above the sacred
spot. The night wore slowly away, and while it was yet dark, the
watching angels knew that the time for the release of God's dear
Son, their loved Commander, had nearly come. As they were waiting
with the deepest emotion the hour of His triumph, a mighty angel
came flying swiftly from heaven. His face was like the lightning,
and his garments white as snow. His light dispersed the darkness
from his track and caused the evil angels, who had triumphantly
claimed the body of Jesus, to flee in terror from his brightness
and glory. One of the angelic host who had witnessed the scene
of Christ's humiliation, and was watching His resting place, joined
the angel from heaven, and together they came down to the sepulcher.
The earth trembled and shook as they approached, and there was
a great earthquake.
Terror seized the Roman guard. Where was now their power to keep
the body of Jesus? They did not think of their duty or of the
disciples' stealing Him away. As the light of the angels shone
around, brighter than the sun, that Roman guard fell as dead men
to the ground. One of the angels laid hold of the great stone
and rolled it away from the door of the sepulcher and seated himself
upon it. The other entered the tomb and unbound the napkin from
the head of Jesus. Then the angel from heaven, with a voice that
caused the earth to quake, cried out, "Thou Son of God, Thy
Father calls Thee! Come forth." Death could hold dominion
over Him no longer. Jesus arose from the dead, a triumphant conqueror.
In solemn awe the angelic host gazed upon the scene. And as Jesus
came forth from the sepulcher, those shining angels prostrated
themselves to the earth in worship, and hailed Him with songs
of victory and triumph.
Satan's angels had been compelled to flee before the bright, penetrating
light of the heavenly angels, and they bitterly complained to
their king that their prey had been violently taken from them,
and that He whom they so much hated had risen from the dead. Satan
and his hosts had exulted that their power over fallen man had
caused the Lord of life to be laid in the grave, but short was
their hellish triumph. For as Jesus walked forth from His prison
house a majestic conqueror, Satan knew that after a season he
must die, and his kingdom pass unto Him whose right it was. He
lamented and raged that notwithstanding all his efforts, Jesus
had not been overcome, but had opened a way of salvation for man,
and whosoever would might walk in it and be saved.
The evil angels and their commander met in council to consider
how they could still work against the government of God. Satan
bade his servants go to the chief priests and elders. Said he,
"We succeeded in deceiving them, blinding their eyes and
hardening their hearts against Jesus. We made them believe that
He was an impostor. That Roman guard will carry the hateful news
that Christ has risen. We led the priests and elders on to hate
Jesus and to murder Him. Now hold it before them that if it becomes
known that Jesus is risen, they will be stoned by the people for
putting to death and innocent man."
As the host of heavenly angels departed from the sepulcher and
the light and glory passed away, the Roman guard ventured to raise
their heads and look about them. They were filled with amazement
as they saw that the great stone had been rolled from the door
of the sepulcher and that the body of Jesus was gone. They hastened
to the city to make known to the priests and elders what they
had seen. As those murderers listened to the marvelous report,
paleness sat upon every face. Horror seized them at the thought
of what they had done. If the report was correct, they were lost.
For a time they sat in silence, looking upon one another's faces,
not knowing what to do or what to say. To accept the report would
be to condemn themselves. They went aside to consult as to what
should be done. They reasoned that if the report brought by the
guard should be circulated among the people, those who put Christ
to death would be slain as His murderers. It was decided to hire
the soldiers to keep the matter secret. The priests and elders
offered them a large sum of money, saying, "Say ye, His disciples
came by night, and stole Him away while we slept." And when
the guard inquired what would be done with them for sleeping at
their post, the Jewish officers promised to persuade the governor
and secure their safety. For the sake of money, the Roman guard
sold their honor, and agreed to follow the counsel of the priests
and elders.
When Jesus, as He hung upon the cross, cried out, "It is
finished," the rocks rent, the earth shook, and some of the
graves were opened. When He arose a victor over death and the
grave, while the earth was reeling and the glory of heaven shone
around the sacred spot, many of the righteous dead, obedient to
His call, came forth as witnesses that He had risen. Those favored,
risen saints came forth glorified. They were chosen and holy ones
of every age, from creation down even to the days of Christ. Thus
while the Jewish leaders were seeking to conceal the fact of Christ's
resurrection, God chose to bring up a company from their graves
to testify that Jesus had risen, and to declare His glory.
Those risen ones differed in stature and form, some being more
noble in appearance than others. I was informed that the inhabitants
of earth had been degenerating, losing their strength and comeliness.
Satan has the power of disease and death, and with every age the
effects of the curse have been more visible, and the power of
Satan more plainly seen. Those who lived in the days of Noah and
Abraham resembled the angels in form, comeliness, and strength.
But every succeeding generation have been growing weaker and more
subject to disease, and their life has been of shorter duration.
Satan has been learning how to annoy and enfeeble the race.
Those who came forth after the resurrection of Jesus appeared
to many, telling them that the sacrifice for man was completed,
that Jesus, whom the Jews crucified, had risen from the dead;
and in proof of their words they declared, "We be risen with
Him." They bore testimony that it was by His mighty power
that they had been called forth from their graves. Notwithstanding
the lying reports circulated, the resurrection of Christ could
not be concealed by Satan, his angels, or the chief priests; for
this holy company, brought forth from their graves, spread the
wonderful, joyful news; also Jesus showed Himself to His sorrowing,
heartbroken disciples, dispelling their fears and causing them
joy and gladness.
As the news spread from city to city and from town to town, the
Jews in their turn feared for their lives and concealed the hatred
which they cherished toward the disciples. Their only hope was
to spread their lying report. And those who wished this lie to
be true accepted it. Pilate trembled as he heard that Christ had
risen. He could not doubt the testimony given, and from that hour
peace left him forever. For the sake of worldly honor, for fear
of losing his authority and his life, he had delivered Jesus to
die. He was now fully convinced that it was not merely an innocent
man of whose blood he was guilty, but the Son of God. Miserable
to its close was the life of Pilate. Despair and anguish crushed
every hopeful, joyful feeling. He refused to be comforted and
died a most miserable death.
Herod's heart had grown still harder; and when he heard that Christ
had risen, he was not much troubled. He took the life of James,
and when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also,
intending to put him to death. But God had a work for Peter to
do, and sent his angel to deliver him. Herod was visited with
the judgments of God. While exalting himself in the presence of
a great multitude, he was smitten by the angel of the Lord, and
died a most horrible death.
Early in the morning of the first day of the week, before it was
yet light, holy women came to the sepulcher, bringing sweet spices
to anoint the body of Jesus. They found that the heavy stone had
been rolled away from the door of the sepulcher, and the body
of Jesus was not there. Their hearts sank within them, and they
feared that their enemies had taken away the body. Suddenly they
beheld two angels in white apparel, their faces bright and shining.
These heavenly beings understood the errand of the women and immediately
told them that Jesus was not there; He had risen, but they could
behold the place where He had lain. They bade them go and tell
His disciples that He would go before them into Galilee. With
fear and great joy the women hurried back to the sorrowing disciples
and told them the things which they had seen and heard.
The disciples could not believe that Christ had risen, but, with
the women who had brought the report, ran hastily to the sepulcher.
They found that Jesus was not there; they saw His linen clothes,
but could not believe the good news that He had risen from the
dead. They returned home marveling at what they had seen, also
at the report brought them by the women. But Mary chose to linger
around the sepulcher, thinking of what she had seen, and distressed
with the thought that she might have been deceived. She felt that
new trials awaited her. Her grief was renewed, and she broke forth
in bitter weeping. She stooped down to look again into the sepulcher,
and beheld two angels clothed in white. One was sitting where
the head of Jesus had lain, the other where His feet had been.
They spoke to her tenderly, and asked her why she wept. She replied,
"They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they
have laid Him."
As she turned from the sepulcher, she saw Jesus standing near,
but knew Him not. He spoke to her tenderly, inquiring the cause
of her sorrow and asking whom she was seeking. Supposing that
He was the gardener, she begged Him, if He had borne away her
Lord, to tell her where he had laid Him, that she might take Him
away. Jesus spoke to her with His own heavenly voice, saying,
"Mary!" She was acquainted with the tones of that dear
voice, and quickly answered, "Master!" and in her joy
was about to embrace Him; but Jesus said, "Touch Me not;
for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren,
and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and
to My God, and your God." Joyfully she hastened to the disciples
with the good news. Jesus quickly ascended to His Father to hear
from His lips that He accepted the sacrifice, and to receive all
power in heaven and upon earth.
Angels like a cloud surrounded the Son of God and bade the everlasting
gates be lifted up, that the King of glory might come in. I saw
that while Jesus was with that bright heavenly host, in the presence
of God, and surrounded by His glory, He did not forget His disciples
upon the earth, but received power from His Father, that He might
return and impart power to them. The same day He returned and
showed Himself to His disciples. He suffered them then to touch
Him; for He had ascended to His Father and had received power.
At this time Thomas was not present. He would not humbly receive
the report of the disciples, but firmly and self-confidently affirmed
that he would not believe unless he should put his fingers in
the prints of the nails and his hand in the side where the cruel
spear was thrust. In this he showed a lack of confidence in his
brethren. If all should require the same evidence, none would
now receive Jesus and believe in His resurrection. But it was
the will of God that the report of the disciples should be received
by those who could not themselves see and hear the risen Saviour.
God was not pleased with the unbelief of Thomas. When Jesus again
met with His disciples, Thomas was with them; and when he beheld
Jesus, he believed. But he had declared that he would not be satisfied
without the evidence of feeling added to sight, and Jesus gave
him the evidence which he had desired. Thomas cried out, "My
Lord and my God!" But Jesus reproved him for his unbelief,
saying, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed:
blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
In like manner those who have had no experience in the first and
second angels' messages must receive them from others who had
an experience and followed down through the messages. As Jesus
was rejected, so I saw that these messages have been rejected.
And as the disciples declared that there is salvation in no other
name under heaven, given among men, so also should the servants
of God faithfully and fearlessly warn those who embrace but a
part of the truths connected with the third message, that they
must gladly receive all the messages as God has given them, or
have no part in the matter.
While the holy women were carrying the report that Jesus had risen,
the Roman guard were circulating the lie that had been put into
their mouths by the chief priests and elders, that the disciples
came by night, while they slept, and stole the body of Jesus.
Satan had put this lie into the hearts and mouths of the chief
priests, and the people stood ready to receive their word. But
God had made this matter sure, and placed this important event,
upon which our salvation depends, beyond all doubt; and it was
impossible for priests and elders to cover it up. Witnesses were
raised from the dead to testify to Christ's resurrection.
Jesus remained with His disciples forty days, causing them joy
and gladness of heart as He opened to them more fully the realities
of the kingdom of God. He commissioned them to bear testimony
to the things which they had seen and heard concerning His sufferings,
death, and resurrection, that He had made a sacrifice for sin,
and that all who would might come unto Him and find life. With
faithful tenderness He told them that they would be persecuted
and distressed; but they would find relief in recalling their
experience and remembering the words which He had spoken to them.
He told them that He had overcome the temptations of Satan and
obtained the victory through trials and suffering. Satan could
have no more power over Him, but would bring his temptations to
bear more directly upon them and upon all who should believe in
His name. But they could overcome as He had overcome. Jesus endowed
His disciples with power to work miracles, and told them that
although they should be persecuted by wicked men, He would from
time to time send His angels to deliver them; their lives could
not be taken until their mission should be accomplished; then
they might be required to seal with their blood the testimonies
which they had borne.
His anxious followers gladly listened to His teachings, eagerly
feasting upon every word which fell from His holy lips. Now they
certainly knew that He was the Saviour of the world. His words
sank deep into their hearts, and they sorrowed that they must
soon be parted from their heavenly Teacher and no longer hear
comforting, gracious words from His lips. But again their hearts
were warmed with love and exceeding joy, as Jesus told them that
He would go and prepare mansions for them and come again and receive
them, that they might be ever with Him. He promised also to send
the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide them into all truth.
"And He lifted up His hands, and blessed them." -