Chapter 61 — GOD'S PEOPLE DELIVERED

God chose to deliver His people at midnight. Suddenly the sun appeared, brighter than ever seen in the past. The moon stood still. The wicked peopleSRme 1.1798

who had been laughing at God's people and persecuting them, were terrified. But the righteous people watched the signs of their deliverance with great joy. Signs and wonders began to happen. Everything in nature suddenly changed. The water in the rivers stopped flowing. Dark, heavy clouds appeared and smashed against one another.SRme 1.1799

But there was one place of glorious brightness in the dark, angry sky. From the bright place, God's voice was heard. God's voice sounded the same as the crashing of ocean waves. God's voice shook the heavens and the earth. The earth trembled with a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and Sabbathkeepers who had died with faith in the third angel's message were resurrected. This special resurrection allowed these faithful people to hear God's covenant of peace with His people who obeyed His holy law.SRme 1.1800

In this special resurrection, another group of people also were raised to life. These are the people who crucified Jesus, and laughed at His dying agonies. Also, the people who fought most violently against God's truth and His people were raised to see Jesus in His glory. These wicked people saw the honor given to Jesus' loyal and obedient people.SRme 1.1801

The sky opened and shut, and the glory from God flashed through the darkness. The mountains shook the same as a plant in the wind. Sharp rocks were scattered everywhere. The sea boiled as a pot and threw stones out upon the land.SRme 1.1802

Then the voice of God was heard from heaven. God announced the day and the hour of Jesus' coming, and gave the everlasting covenant to His people. God spoke one sentence, then waited while His words rolled through the earth, sounding the same as thunder. The righteous people stood with their eyes looking upward. The righteous people listened to the words coming from the mouth of God. At the end of each sentence, the righteous people shouted, "Glory! Hallelujah!" The faces of the righteous people were lighted with the glory of God, and shone as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked people could not look at the righteous people because of the glory. A blessing was given to people who had honored God by keeping His Sabbath. God's people gave a mighty shout of victory over the beast and his image.SRme 1.1803

Slaves who loved Jesus were free and happy, but the wicked masters were afraid and confused; they could not understand the words spoken by the voice of God. Then the jubilee began, giving the land a time to rest.SRme 1.1804