The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

23017Heralds of the MorningOne of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible isthat of Christ's second coming to complete the great work of redemption. ToGod's pilgrim people, so long left to sojourn in "the region and shadow ofdeath," a precious, joy-inspiring hope is given in the promise of Hisappearing, who is "the resurrection and the life," to "bring home again Hisbanished." The doctrine of the second advent is the very keynote of theSacred Scriptures. From the day when the first pair turned their sorrowingsteps from Eden, the children of faith have waited the coming of thePromised One to break the destroyer's power and bring them again to thelost Paradise. Holy men of old looked forward to the advent of the Messiahin glory, as the consummation of their hope. Enoch, only the seventh indescent from them that dwelt in Eden, he who for three centuries on earthwalked with his God, was permitted to behold from afar the coming of theDeliverer. "Behold," he declared, "the Lord cometh with ten thousands ofHis saints, to execute judgment upon all." Jude 14, 15. The patriarch Job inthe night of his affliction exclaimed with unshaken trust: "I know that myRedeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . .in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyesshall behold, and not another." Job 19:25-27.The coming of Christ to usher in the reign of righteousness has inspired themost sublime and impassioned utterances of the sacred writers. The poetsand prophets of the Bible have dwelt upon it in words glowing with celestialfire. The psalmist sang of the power and majesty of Israel's King: "Out ofZion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, andshall not keep silence. . . . He shall call to the heavens from above, and tothe earth, that He may judge His people." Psalm 50:2-4. "Let the heavensrejoice, and let the earth be glad . . . before the Lord: for He cometh, for Hecometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, andthe people with His truth." Psalm 96:11-13.Said the prophet Isaiah: "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dewis as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." "Thy dead menshall live, together with my dead body shall they arise." "He will swallowup death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all