The Seven Last Plagues and the Righteous Houses and Lands of No Use PART TWO Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. . . . I saw that if any held on to their property, and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. . . . But if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell.--EW 56, 57 (1851). It is too late now to cling to worldly treasures. Soon unnecessary houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone, for the curse of God will rest more and more heavily upon the earth. The call comes, Sell that ye have, and give alms [Luke 12:33]. This message should be faithfully borne--urged home to the hearts of the people--that Gods own property may be returned to Him in offerings to advance His work in the world.--16MR 348 (1901). Like the Time of Jacobs Trouble A decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, 262 denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment, and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World, and apostate Protestantism in the New, will pursue a similar course toward those who honour all the divine precepts. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacobs trouble.--GC 615, 616 (1911). To human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their blood, as did the martyrs before them. They themselves begin to fear that the Lord has left them to fall by the hand of their enemies. It is a time of fearful agony. Day and night they cry unto God for deliverance. . . . Like Jacob, all are wrestling with God. Their countenances express their internal struggle. Paleness sits upon every face. Yet they cease not their earnest intercession.--GC 630 (1911). Jacobs experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christs second coming. The prophet Jeremiah, in holy vision looking down to this time, said, We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. . . . All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacobs trouble; but he shall be saved out of it (Jer. 30:5-7).--PP 201 (1890). 263 The Righteous Have No Concealed Wrongs to Reveal In the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgement, and have been blotted out; and they cannot bring them to remembrance.--GC 620 (1911). Gods people . . . will have a deep sense of their shortcomings, and as they review their lives their hopes will sink. But remembering the greatness of Gods mercy, and their own sincere repentance, they will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless, repenting sinners. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and the language of their souls will be, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.--PP 202 (1890). The Saints Will Not Lose Their Lives God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation, and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate 264 God, would be gratified. And oh, what a triumph it would be for his satanic majesty, to have power, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long waited to behold Him whom they loved! Those who have mocked at the idea of the saints going up will witness the care of God for His people, and behold their glorious deliverance.--EW 284 (1858). The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation, and suffer for want of food, they will not be left to perish.--GC 629 (1911). If the blood of Christs faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God.--GC 634 (1911). God Will Provide The Lord has shown me repeatedly that it is contrary to the Bible to make any provision for our temporal wants in the time of trouble. I saw that if the saints had food laid up by them or in the field in the time of trouble, when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the land, it would be taken from them by violent hands, and strangers would reap their fields. Then will be the time for us to trust wholly in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water will be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger, for God is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary He would send ravens 265 to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah, or rain manna from heaven, as He did for the Israelites.--EW 56 (1851). I saw that a time of trouble was before us, when stern necessity will compel the people of God to live on bread and water. . . . In the time of trouble none will labour with their hands. Their sufferings will be mental, and God will provide food for them.--Ms 2, 1858. The time of trouble is just before us, and then stern necessity will require the people of God to deny self and to eat merely enough to sustain life, but God will prepare us for that time. In that fearful hour our necessity will be Gods opportunity to impart His strengthening power and to sustain His people.--1T 206 (1859). Bread and water is all that is promised to the remnant in the time of trouble.--SR 129 (1870). In the time of trouble, just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels.--PP 256 (1890). No Intercessor, but Constant Communion With Christ Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up. . . . When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the 266 righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor.--GC 613, 614 (1911). Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour? . . . Though enemies may thrust them into prison, yet dungeon walls cannot cut off the communication between their souls and Christ. One who sees their every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers, and angels will come to them in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace, for the rich in faith dwell there, and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian dungeon.--GC 626, 627 (1911). Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christs patience. With sympathising tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers. They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril. . . . The precious Saviour will send help just when we need it.--GC 630, 633 (1911). It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. . . . 267 In the midst of the time of trouble that is coming--a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation--Gods chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.--9T 16, 17 (1909). Gods People Cherish No Sinful Desires Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me. (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Fathers commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.--GC 623 (1911). The Battle Against Self Continues So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience.--AA 560, 561 (1911). 268 Constant war against the carnal mind must be maintained; and we must be aided by the refining influence of the grace of God, which will attract the mind upward and habituate it to meditate upon pure and holy things.--2T 479 (1870). We may create an unreal world in our own mind or picture an ideal church, where the temptations of Satan no longer prompt to evil; but perfection exists only in our imagination.--RH Aug. 8, 1893. When human beings receive holy flesh, they will not remain on the earth, but will be taken to heaven. While sin is forgiven in this life, its results are not now wholly removed. It is at His coming that Christ is to change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.--2SM 33 (1901). The 144,000 They sing a new song before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb--a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song, for it is the song of their experience--an experience such as no other company have ever had. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb (Rev. 15:2, 3; 14:1-5.) These are they which came out of great tribulation; they have 269 passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacobs trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of Gods judgements.--GC 648, 649 (1911). It is not His will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question.--1SM 174 (1901). Gods People Delivered Satans host and wicked men will surround them and exult over them because there will seem to be no way of escape for them. But in the midst of their revelry and triumph there is heard peal upon peal of the loudest thunder. The heavens have gathered blackness, and are only illuminated by the blazing light and terrible glory from heaven, as God utters His voice from His holy habitation. The foundations of the earth shake, buildings totter and fall with a terrible crash. The sea boils like a pot and the whole earth is in terrible commotion. The captivity of the righteous is turned, and with sweet and solemn whisperings they say to one another: We are delivered. It is the voice of God.--1T 353, 354 (1862). When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honour the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for 270 their destruction. As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. The people of God--some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forests and the mountains--still plead for divine protection, while in every quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing for the work of death. . . . With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. . . . It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. . . . In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying, It is done (Rev. 16:17). That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. . . . The proudest cities of the earth are laid low. The lordly palaces, upon which the worlds great men have lavished their wealth in order to glorify themselves, are crumbling to ruin before their eyes. Prison walls are rent asunder, and Gods people, who have been held in bondage for their faith, are set free.--GC 635-637 (1911). https://facebook/groups/1455897377989176/
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:15:37 +0000
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