ime: and at that
time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written
in the book."(1053)

When the third angel's message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the
guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their
work. They have received "the latter rain," "the refreshing from the
presence of the Lord," and they are prepared for the trying hour before
them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from
the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought
upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine
precepts have received "the seal of the living God." Then Jesus ceases His
intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands, and with a loud
voice says, "It is done;" and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as
He makes the solemn announcement: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust
still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is
righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be
holy still."(1054) Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ
has made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The
number of His subjects is made up; "the kingdom and dominion, and the
greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven," is about to be given to
the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings, and Lord
of lords.

When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the
earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy
God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked
is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God's
long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His
love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of
their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at
last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from
the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into
one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the
fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let
loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that
which came upon Jerusalem of old.

A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians, and filled
the land with mourning. When David offended against God b