Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the
people." Everyone was to spend the time in solemn preparation to
appear before God. Their bodies and their clothing must be free
from impurity. They were to devote themselves to searching their
hearts for any wrong, fasting, and prayer, that their hearts might be
cleansed from iniquity.
On the morning of the third day, Sinai's summit was covered
with a thick cloud, black and dense, sweeping downward until the
entire mountain was shrouded in darkness and mystery. Then a
sound like a trumpet was heard, calling the people to meet with God.
From the thick darkness lightnings flashed, while peals of thunder
echoed among the surrounding heights. "Now Mount Sinai was
completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire ...
and the whole mountain quaked greatly." All of Israel shook with
fear and fell on their faces before the Lord. Even Moses exclaimed,
"I am exceedingly afraid and trembling" (Hebrews 12:21).
Now the thunder stopped, the trumpet was no longer heard, and
the earth was still. There was a period of solemn silence; then the
voice of God was heard. Speaking out of the thick darkness as He
stood on the mountain, surrounded by angels, the Lord made known
His law.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage." The One who had brought
them out of Egypt, making a way for them through the sea, and
overthrowing Pharaoh and his army--He was the One who now
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