Preparing for the Judgment
“The cloud that was a wall of darkness to the
Egyptians was to the Hebrews a great flood of light, illuminating the whole
camp, and shedding brightness upon the path before them. So the dealings of
Providence bring to the unbelieving, darkness and despair, while to the
trusting soul they are full of light and peace. The path where God leads the
way may lie through the desert or the sea, but it is a safe path.” {PP
290.3} “God never leads His children otherwise than they
would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and
discern the glory [BEGIN P. 225] of the purpose which they are fulfilling as
co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who
ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the
Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. "Unto you it is given in the
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His
sake." Phil. 1:29. And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men,
fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most
weighty trust and the highest honor.” {DA 224.5} Click to go to our Home Page
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Chapter 32—Preparing for
the Judgment
“He
cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge
over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his
hand.” {CET 185.1}
“And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had
the writer’s inkhorn by his side; and the Lord said unto him, Go through the
midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh
and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the
others He said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both
maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is
the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which
were before the house.” Ezekiel 9:1, 3-6.
{CET 185.2}
Jesus
is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary, to put on garments
of vengeance, and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have not responded to the light God has given them. “Because sentence
against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons
of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11. Instead of
being softened by the patience and long forbearance that the Lord has exercised
toward them, those who fear not God and love not the truth, strengthen their
hearts in their evil course. But there are
limits even to the forbearance of God, and many are exceeding these boundaries. They have overrun the limits of grace, and therefore God
must interfere and vindicate His honor. {CET 185.3}
Of
the Amorites, the Lord said, “In the fourth generation they shall come hither
again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” Although this nation
was conspicuous because of its idolatry and corruption, it had not yet filled
up the cup of its iniquity, and God would not give command for its utter
destruction. The people were to see the divine power manifested in a marked manner, that they might be left without excuse. The compassionate Creator was willing to bear with their
iniquity until the fourth generation. Then, if no change was seen for the
better, His judgments were to fall upon them. {CET 186.1}
With
unerring accuracy, the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations.
While His mercy is tendered, with calls to repentance, this account will remain
open; but
when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the ministry of
His wrath commences. The account is
closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more pleading of mercy in their
behalf.... {CET 186.2}
The
crisis is fast approaching. The time for God’s visitation has about come. Although loth to punish,
nevertheless He will punish, and that speedily.
Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they
are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting
themselves with the belief that God will shelter His people in the day of
visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor
diligently to save others, looking with strong faith to God for help. “The
effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16. {CET 186.3}
The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power.
At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the
light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the
land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church, because its members are doing after the
manner of the world. {CET 186.4}
The
earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes
forth as an avenger, He will also come as a
protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity, and kept
themselves unspotted from the world. It is
at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and
night unto Him, though He bear long with them.
{CET 187.1}
The
day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the
foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.
Those who link in sympathy with the
world are eating and drinking with the drunken, and will surely be destroyed
with the workers of iniquity. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and
His ears are open unto their cry;” but “the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil.” Psalm 34:15, 16. {CET
187.2}
Our
own course of action will determine whether we shall receive the seal of the
living God, or be cut down by the destroying weapons. Already a few drops of
God’s wrath have fallen upon the earth; but when the seven last plagues shall
be poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, then it will be forever too late to repent, and find
shelter. No atoning blood will then wash away the stains of sin. {CET 187.3}
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was
since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel
12:1. When this time of trouble comes,
every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent.
The seal of the living God is upon His people. {CET 187.4}
This small remnant,
unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth
that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense.
The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall
worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May
God help His people now, for what can they then do in
such a fearful conflict without His assistance!
{CET 188.1}
Courage,
fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God’s power to save, do not come in a
moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a
life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the
right, the children of God were sealing their destiny. Beset with temptations
without number, they knew they must resist firmly or be conquered. They felt that they had a great work to do, and at any
hour they might be called to lay off their armor; and
should they come to the close of life with their work undone, it would be an
eternal loss. They eagerly accepted the light from Heaven, as did the
first disciples from the lips of Jesus. When those early Christians were exiled to mountains and
deserts, when left in dungeons to die with hunger, cold, and torture, when
martyrdom seemed the only way out of their distress, they rejoiced that they
were counted worthy to suffer for Christ, who was crucified for them. Their
worthy example will be a comfort and encouragement to the people of God who
will be brought into the time of trouble such as never was. {CET 188.2}
Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to
others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the
light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not
corresponding works. These who were so
familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom, should have
acted their faith. They should have
commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might
present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart. {CET
189.1}
Not
one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot
or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters,
to cleanse the soul-temple of every defilement. Then
the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on
the day of Pentecost. {CET 189.2}
We
are too easily satisfied with our attainments. We feel rich and increased with
goods, and know not that we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked.” Revelation 3:17. Now is the time to heed the admonition of the True
Witness: “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in
the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine
eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Verse 18. {CET 189.3}
In
this life we must meet fiery trials and make costly sacrifices, but the peace
of Christ is the reward. There has been so
little self-denial, so little suffering for Christ’s sake, that the cross is
almost entirely forgotten. We must be partakers with Christ of His sufferings,
if we would sit down in triumph with Him on His throne. So long as we choose the easy path of self-indulgence,
and are frightened at self-denial, our faith will never become firm, and we
cannot know the peace of Jesus, nor the joy that comes through conscious
victory. The
most exalted of the redeemed host that stand before the throne of God and the
Lamb, clad in white, know the conflict of overcoming, for they have come up
through great tribulation. Those who have yielded to circumstances rather than
engage in this conflict, will not know how to stand in that day when anguish
will be upon every soul, when, though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land,
they could save neither son nor daughter, for everyone must deliver his soul by his
own righteousness. {CET 189.4}
Note
by Ron: The most exalted of the redeemed host that stand before the throne of
God, are the bride, the 144,000. It is they who come up through great
tribulation. End note.
No
one need say that his case is hopeless, that he cannot live the life of a
Christian. Ample provision is made by the death of Christ for every soul. Jesus is our
ever-present help in time of need. Only call upon Him in faith, and He has
promised to hear and answer your petitions. {CET 190.1}
Oh, for living, active, faith! We need it;
we must have it, or we shall faint and fail in the day of trial. The darkness that
will then rest upon our path must not discourage us, or drive us to despair. It
is the veil with which God covers His glory when He comes to impart rich blessings.
We should know this by our past experience.
In that day when God has a controversy with His people, this experience will be
a source of comfort and hope. {CET
190.2}
It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children
unspotted from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character
and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It
is now that we must awake, and make determined effort for symmetry of character.
“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7. We are
in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord’s appearing. The
world is in darkness. “But ye, brethren,” says Paul, “are not in darkness, that
that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4. It is ever God’s
purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of
weariness, for the waiting, longing soul. {CET 190.3}
What
are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are
uniting with the world, are receiving the worldly mold,
and preparing for the mark of the beast.
Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and
purifying their souls by obeying the truth,—these are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads.
When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will
remain pure and spotless for eternity. {CET 191.1}
Now
is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead
of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the
ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead
of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal
must be without spot before God,—candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures
for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present
hour.
{CET 191.2}