The Last Dance | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 21, 1876

The Last Dance.

DURING the occupancy of the city of Moscow by the French army, a party of officers and soldiers determined to have a military levee, and for this purpose chose the palace of a nobleman. That night the city was set on fire. As the sun went down they began to assemble. The women who followed the fortunes of the French army were decorated for the occasion. The gayest and noblest of the army were there, and merriment reigned over the crowd.

During the dance the fire rapidly approached them; they saw it coming but felt no fear. At length the building next the one they occupied was on fire. Coming to the windows they gazed upon the billows of fire which swept the city, and then returned to their amusements. Again and again they left their pleasures to watch the progress of the flames. At length the dance ceased and the necessity of leaving the scene of merriment became apparent to all. They were enveloped in a flood of fire, and gazed on with deep and awful solemnity. At last the fire, communicating to their own building, caused them to prepare for flight, when a brave young officer, named Carnot waved his jeweled hand above his head and exclaimed: “One dance more and defiance to the flames!”

All caught the enthusiasm of the moment, and “One dance more and defiance to the flames,” burst from the lips of all. The dance commenced; louder and louder grew the sound of music, and faster and faster fell the pattering footsteps of dancing men and women, when suddenly they heard a cry: “The fire has reached the magazine. Fly—fly for your life!” One moment they stood transfixed with terror; they did not know the magazine was there, and ere they recovered from their stupor the vault exploded; the building was shattered to pieces and the dancers were hurried into a fearful eternity.

Thus it will be in the final day. Men will be as careless as these ill-fated revelers—yea, there are thousands and tens of thousands as careless as they now. We speak to them of death, the grave, Judgment and eternity. They pause a moment in their search for pleasure, but soon dash into the world and forgetfulness as before. God’s hand is laid on them in sickness, but no sooner are they restored than they forget it all and hurry on. Death enters their homes, and the cry is heard, “Prepare to meet thy God!” but soon like Carnot, they say, “One dance more and defiance to the flames,” and hurry on. The Spirit of the living God speaks powerfully home to their hearts, and they shake, tremble, and are amazed; but earth casts its spell around them, and sings to them its songs, and with the cry, “Time enough,” “By and by,” they speed on, stifling the voice, till often, ere days and months have passed, the bolt has sped, the sword has descended, the Judge has come, and the soul is lost forever—lost! LOST! LOST!!!

“Then haste, sinner, haste, there is mercy for thee, And wrath is preparing—flee, lingerer, flee.