"Blessed is he that waiteth
By Joseph Clarke
And cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." Dan. xii, 12.
"Blessed is he that waiteth." Why? Because of the light, and truth, and grace then made manifest: because of the unsealing of the books of prophecy, so long hidden to the eye of faith, and the light thus thrown around the sacred text, causing the book to shine forth in divine splendor: because then the course of events would unravel the hidden meaning, until it should shine forth so clearly, that he who runs may read. Blessed, because then in the time of the end, a people should arise to honor God's holy word, by strict conformity to the law of God, and the faith of Jesus: a people fearing God and eschewing evil, holding not only the form but the power of godliness. Oh blessed day! Oh day of awful import! grand and fearful day! The day of the Lord at hand! Almost we hear the rolling of his chariot wheels. Get ready! get ready! get ready! ye guests invited to the marriage supper. You have waited and come to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. You have come to the time of the end. Blessed are ye, thrice blessed if ye have on the wedding garment. Oh listen to the echo from eternity: Get ready!!! Blessed, why? Because of the blessings, the gifts then to be restored to the church, the latter rain. Then shall the church shine forth as the sun, being divorced from earth and earthly things, separate from the world, a pure and holy people. Blessed, because at that period the call would go forth to the people of God to come out of Babylon, from their long captivity and iron bondage to despotic and blasphemous Rome. Then their bondage ends: the time appointed for their captivity wholly expires and they are free: free from the galling yoke of the oppressor. Blessed freedom. Blessed day! No more shall the enemy triumph: no more shall the dying groan of the faithful martyr be heard wafted upon the winds: no more shall Satan wage successful war upon the saints: no more shall they groan long years in damp dungeons and gloomy cells; no more expire upon the rack or in the flames. No, no, victory will now be their cry, even though keen trials may overtake them, and fierce threats may fall from enemies' lips, and dangers may impend; and victory will crown their struggle, for the word of the Lord is sure. "Blessed is he that waiteth:" because no enemy shall triumph over them any more. No, Satan's last effort shall not prosper. Victory, victory over the beast and over his image: this shall be their song. No fears shall move them, no trials overthrow them, for strong is the Lord who has redeemed them. They shall stand upon the sea of glass, having harps in their hands. "Blessed is he that waiteth:" because they shall be alive and remain at the coming of the Lord: they will rise to meet the Lord, be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye: no death, no186worm shall feast upon them, for they shall be as Elijah, as Enoch, translated from the earth. Death, the monster, shall be disappointed of his accustomed prey. Who then will stay in Babylon, the city of confusion, where God's law is ignored, his name blasphemed, where his saints have suffered persecution, and his Sabbath been trampled under foot, where the cry is "Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy law: where the precept of men is put above the word of God? Come out of her ye saints, ye people of God, for Babylon is fallen never to rise again. In vain her painted walls: within is pollution. Come out of her, people of God, lest ye be partakers of her plagues. Flee, flee from the city of confusion.
JOSEPH CLARKE.