The
Shaking: Who From Whom?
Click to go to our Home Page
The Shaking Who From Whom Chap. 32 - The Shaking November 20, 1857, I was shown the
people of God, and saw them mightily shaken. Some, with strong faith and
agonizing cries, were pleading with God. Their countenances were pale, and
marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their
180 internal struggle. Firmness and
great earnestness were expressed in their countenances, while large drops of
perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light
up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest,
anxious look would settle upon them. ["BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION, SANCTIFY A FAST, CALL A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY: GATHER THE PEOPLE, SANCTIFY THE
CONGREGATION, ASSEMBLE THE ELDERS. . . . LET THE PRIESTS THE MINISTERS OF THE
Lord, WEEP BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR AND LET THEM SAY, SPARE THY PEOPLE,
O Lord, AND GIVE NOT THINE HERITAGE TO REPROACH, THAT THE HEATHEN SHOULD RULE
OVER THEM: WHEREFORE SHOULD THEY SAY AMONG THE PEOPLE, WHERE IS THEIR
God?" JOEL 2:15-17. Ron’s Commentary: Zion,
the bride, the church triumphant, is the Third Angel (faithful men) who
awakens the ten virgins, Isaiah 62 and Christ’s
Object Lessons, pp. 405-406. In the prefigure of
Israel, it was the disciples, the bride of Christ, Zion, (Desire of Ages, 179) who blew the
trumpet. It was they and their followers who wept between the porch and the
altar which was represented by their headquarters in Jerusalem. End note. "SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO
God. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NIGH TO God, AND HE
WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR
HEARTS, YE DOUBLE-MINDED. BE AFFLICTED, AND MOURN, AND WEEP: LET YOUR
LAUGHTER BE TURNED TO MOURNING, AND YOUR JOY TO
HEAVINESS. HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE Lord, AND HE SHALL LIFT YOU
UP." JAMES 4:7-10. "GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER, YEA,
GATHER TOGETHER, O NATION NOT DESIRED; BEFORE THE DECREE BRING FORTH, BEFORE THE DAY PASS AS
THE CHAFF, BEFORE THE
FIERCE ANGER OF THE Lord COME UPON YOU, BEFORE THE DAY OF THE Lord'S ANGER COME UPON YOU. SEEK YE THE Lord, ALL YE MEEK
OF THE EARTH, WHICH HAVE WROUGHT HIS JUDGMENT; SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS, SEEK
MEEKNESS: IT MAY BE YE SHALL BE HID IN THE DAY OF THE Lord'S
ANGER." ZEPHANIAH 2:1-3.] {1T 179.3} Ron’s Commentary: The
disciples and their followers gathered together into home churches before the
day of God’s anger when Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 in the historic
fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 which could not have been fulfilled prior to A.D.
34, because the 490 years of Israel’s probation (Daniel 9) ended on that
date. End note. Evil angels crowded around them,
pressing their darkness upon them, to shut out Jesus from their view, that
their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and they
distrust God and next murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their
eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the
poisonous atmosphere from the evil angels was pressed around these anxious
ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them, to
scatter the thick darkness. {1T 180.1} Some, I saw, did not participate in this
work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They
were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut
181 them in like a thick cloud.
The angels of God left these, and I saw them hastening to the assistance of
those who were struggling with all their energies to resist the evil angels,
and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But the angels left those
who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them. As the praying ones
continued their earnest cries, a ray of light from Jesus would at times come
to them, to encourage their hearts, and light up their countenances. {1T
180.2} I asked the meaning of the shaking I had
seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the
counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of
the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the
straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up
against it, and this will cause a shaking among God's people. {1T 181.1} Ron’s Commentary: The
True Reformers give a straight testimony message TO THE LAODICEANS. This is
the church triumphant, Zion, the bride of Christ, called by God, to awaken
the ten virgins, Isaiah 62, Christ’s
Object Lessons, pp. 405-406 and the following statements: "Characteristics of
True Reformers.--Here are given the characteristics of those who shall be
reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel's message, those who
avow themselves God's commandment-keeping people, and who honor
God, and are earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe, in building
up the old waste places. Who is it that calls them, The repairers of the breach, The
restorers of paths to dwell in? It is God.
Their names are registered [written--Heb. 12:22, 23] in heaven as reformers,
restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations." E. G. White,
SDA
Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1151. “Men will go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way
for the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is their work to make
crooked things straight. Some things
must be torn down, some things must be built up. The old treasures must be reset in a framework of truth. They are to preach God's Word; their
testimony must not be molded by the opinions and
ideas that have been regarded as sound, but by the Word of God, which liveth
and abideth forever.” [1888 Mtl.
p. 169 para. 01] p. 506, Para. 3, [1888MS]. "I then saw the THIRD ANGEL. Said my accompanying angel,
'Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel
that is to select the wheat from the tares, and
seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner."
E.G. White, Early Writings, 118. "The
angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes
a class of faithful men, who obedient to the promptings of God's
Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the
inhabitants of earth. This message WAS NOT to be committed to the religious
leaders of the people." E.. White, The Spirit
of Prophecy, vol. 4, 199, 200. It is of high importance that one see that it is by and from the THIRD
ANGEL, the True Reformers, THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, ZION, PHILADELPHIA, that
the bad are shaken and not from the SDA new movement, new organization omega
of apostasy. End Ron’s note. The testimony of the True Witness has
not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the
church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This
testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it will obey
it and be purified. {1T 181.2} Said the angel: "List ye!" Soon I heard a voice that sounded like many
musical instruments, all in perfect strains, sweet and harmonious. It
surpassed any music I had ever heard. It seemed to be so full of mercy,
compassion, and elevating, holy joy. It thrilled through my whole being. Said
the angel: "Look ye!" My attention was then turned to the company I
had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown
those whom I had before seen weeping and praying with agony of spirit. The company of guardian
angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in
exact order, firmly, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances 182 expressed the severe conflict
which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet
their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light
and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from
them the deepest gratitude, and holy, sacred joy. {1T 181.3} Ron’s Commentary: In the
following Statement, Ellen White sees the 144,000 church triumphant moving in
EXACT ORDER: "While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on
me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I
turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find
them--when a voice said to me, 'Look again, and look a little higher.' At
this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path cast up high above
the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which
was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them
at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry.
This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they
might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just
before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew
weary, and they said the City was a great way of, and they expected to have
entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious
right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent
band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light [MIDNIGHT
CRY VIOLATED BY ECUMENICAL LIAISONS WITH BABYLON] behind them, and said that
it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out
leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes
off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark
and wicked world below. It was just as impossible
for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all
the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along
the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters,
which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming.... By this time the 144,000 were all sealed
and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New
Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new name." E.G. White, Word to the Little Flock, p. 14. [cf. “New Jerusalem,” Message to
Philadelphia, Rev. 3:10-12.] The numbers of this company [THOSE WHO
HAD GOTTEN THE VICTORY] had lessened. Some had been shaken out [FROM THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT—THE COMPANY
WHO MOVED IN EXACT ORDER], and left by the way. ["I KNOW THY WORKS, THAT THOU ART
NEITHER COLD NOR HOT: I WOULD THOU WERT COLD OR HOT. SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART
LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPEW THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH. BECAUSE
THOU SAYEST, I AM RICH, AND INCREASED WITH GOODS, AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING;
AND KNOWEST NOT THAT THOU ART WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND,
AND NAKED." REVELATION 3:15-17.] The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation
enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left
behind in darkness, but their numbers were immediately made up by others
taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Still the evil angels
pressed around them, but they could have no power over them. ["FOR WE
WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST
POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL
WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. [OR, "WICKED SPIRITS IN HEAVENLY
PLACES," AS IN THE MARGIN.] WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF God, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND
HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND. STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH
TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD
WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF
FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE
WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH
IS THE WORD OF God: PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE
SPIRIT, AND WATCHING THEREUNTO WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL
SAINTS." EPHESIANS 6:12-18.] {1T 182.1} I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth in
great power. It had effect. I saw those who had been bound; some wives had
been bound by their husbands, and some children had been bound by their
parents. The honest
183 who had been held or
prevented from hearing the truth, now eagerly laid hold of it. All fear of
their relatives was gone. The truth alone was exalted to them. It was dearer
and more precious than life. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth.
I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered: "It is the
latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of
the third angel." {1T 182.2} Great power was with these chosen ones.
Said the angel: "Look ye!" My attention was turned to the wicked,
or unbelievers. They were all astir. The zeal and power with the people of God
had aroused and enraged them. Confusion, confusion was on every side. I saw
measures taken against this company, who had the power and light of God.
Darkness thickened around them, yet there they stood, approved of God, and
trusting in Him. I saw them perplexed. Next I heard them crying unto God
earnestly. Through the day and night their cry ceased not. ["AND SHALL
NOT God AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, WHICH CRY DAY AND NIGHT UNTO HIM, THOUGH HE
BEAR LONG WITH THEM? I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY. NEVERTHELESS
WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?" LUKE
18:7, 8. SEE ALSO REVELATION 14:14, 15.] I heard these words: "Thy will,
O God, be done! If it can glorify Thy name, make a way of escape for Thy
people! Deliver us from the heathen round about us! They have appointed us
unto death; but Thine arm can bring
salvation." These are all the words that I can bring to mind. All seemed
to have a deep sense of their unworthiness, and manifested entire submission
to the will of God. Yet like Jacob, every one, without an exception, was
earnestly pleading and wrestling for deliverance. {1T 183.1} Soon after they had commenced their
earnest cry, the angels, in sympathy, would have gone to their deliverance.
But a tall, commanding angel suffered them not. Said he: "The will of
God is not yet fulfilled. They must drink of the cup. They must be baptized
with the baptism."
184 {1T 183.2} Soon I heard the voice of God which
shook the heavens and the earth. ["THE LORD ALSO SHALL ROAR OUT OF ZION,
AND UTTER HIS VOICE FROM JERUSALEM; AND THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH SHALL
SHAKE: BUT THE LORD WILL BE THE HOPE OF HIS PEOPLE, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL." JOEL 3:16. SEE ALSO HebrewS
12:26; REVELATION 16:17.] There was a mighty earthquake. Buildings were
shaken down, and fell on every side. I then heard a triumphant shout of
victory, loud, musical, and clear. I looked upon this company, who, a short time before, were in such
distress and bondage. Their captivity was turned [THE CHURCH THAT APPEARED AS ABOUT TO FALL—GC, 616 WHEN SURROUNDED BY
THE ENEMY]. A glorious light shone
upon them. How beautiful they then looked! All weariness and marks of care
were gone; health and beauty were seen in every countenance. Their enemies, the
heathen around them, fell like dead men. They could not endure the light that shone upon the delivered, holy
ones. This light
and glory remained upon them until Jesus was seen in the clouds of heaven,
and the faithful, tried company were changed in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, from glory to glory. The graves were
opened and the saints came forth, clothed with immortality, crying:
"Victory over death and the grave!" and together with the living
saints they were caught up to meet their Lord in the air, while rich, musical
shouts of glory and victory proceeded from every immortal tongue. {1T 184.1} |