There is some excitement being generated by a ministry in
South America that is predicting a lot of things and giving credence to the
SDA (German) Reform Movement Church.
http://www.lastcountdown.org/
There are serious errors to The Last Countdown ministry
(hereafter referred to as Last Countdown) that must be pointed out. The
errors involve two statements by Ellen White which are purported by Last
Countdown to be contradictory and which they “uncontradict” by their
erroneous interpretation. The Ellen White statements at issue by Last
Countdown are two different statements concerning Jesus announcing the day
and hour of His coming. One statement is from Early Writings, p. 15, and the
other is from page 34. The emboldened parts concern what is especially at
issue. Here are the two statements. The first statement below is interpreted
by Last Countdown to mean that the saints, the 144,000, hear the voice of God
just before the Loud Cry is given. This is deduced from the statement that
the Holy Ghost is poured upon the saints.
“Soon we
heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of
Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood
the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When
God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began
to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down
from Mount Sinai. {EW 14.1}
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. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush
violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would
stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless
to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God
had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a
holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet. {EW 15.1}
Soon our eyes were
drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large
as a man's hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in
solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter,
glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The
bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were
ten thousand angels,
16
singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man.
His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were
many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a
sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of
fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces
gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then
we all cried out, "Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe
spotless?" Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of
awful silence, when Jesus spoke: "Those who have clean hands and pure
hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you." At this
our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a
note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. {EW
15.2}
Then Jesus' silver
trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He
gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to
heaven, and cried, "Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and
arise." Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the
dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted,
"Alleluia!" as they recognized their friends who had been torn from
them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together
with them to meet the Lord in the air. {EW 16.1}
We all entered the
cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus
brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He
gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the
144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns,
others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had
but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all
17
clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to
their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to
the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the
pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us,
"You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth,
enter in." We all marched in and felt that we had a perfect right in the
city.”{EW 16.2} End quote.
The writer of Last Countdown says: “And just now the wicked
will start to persecute us, still not with the death decree but with
imprisonment (little time of trouble), and in the second part the wicked will
be helpless (time of great trouble and the plagues)”
Ron’s Commentary: There are two death decrees. The first
occurs when the Abomination of Desolation is seated. The Loud Cry really
swells at this time. The Holy Spirit is poured out in its greatest portion.
And there will be many martyrs and folk thrown into prison (Scroll down for
statement). We have no resistance to our enemies at that time. The only time
we stretch forth our hands to restrain the wicked is AFTER the close of
probation. That is the only time we hear the voice of God.
Then the same writer says: “Now this is also the case (two
visions of Ellen White “appear” to contradict one another....”
The same writer continues: “Now this is also the case with the
first and second vision of Ellen White. We are dealing here with two different events. First God
announces day and hour at the outpouring of the Latter Rain to prepare His
people for the Loud Cry and later the second time after the work has been
finished to deliver His covenant to His people and confirm what was promised
before.”
Same writer—next frame: “Indeed there are two different announcements of
the day and the hour and the first one is taking place at the outpouring of
the Latter Rain that we are expecting right in our days.”
Same writer—next frame: “Therefore the Latter Rain is
connected with a message which announces the day and the hour of the second coming of
Jesus. And the voice which proclaims this message comes from Orion.”
Ron’s Commentary: "We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit or for the coming of Christ. . . . Why has not God given us
this knowledge?--Because we would not make a right use of it if He did. A
condition of things would result from this knowledge among our people that
would greatly retard the work of God in preparing a people to stand in the
great day that is to come. We are not to live upon time excitement. . .
." {LDE 33.1}
Ellen White in no way even “appears” to contradict herself.
There are not two different announcements of the day and the hour of Christ’s
coming. Both visions involved deal with the time AFTER the close of
probation. This is clear from the context which is defined by the events
described.
Clearly the context of the first Early Writing’s, pp. 14, 15,
vision is after the close of probation. How do we know this?
·
If the first vision (EW 14 and on) is when the voice of God is
heard, and when the Holy Spirit is poured out so that no one will be able to
touch the 144,000, then how is it that some of them are imprisoned and then
released from imprisonment by the great earthquake that is the final plague?
·
The 144,000 don’t receive the final seal of God and the New
Name until they experience the test of going through the great time of
Jacob’s trouble without an intercessor. This is their final test before they
receive the final seal.
·
The Loud Cry will be in force when the abomination of
desolation is seated. In the little time of Jacob’s trouble, the wicked will
lay hands on some of God’s people and will thrust them into prison. It is
after the great time of Jacob’s trouble that the wicked will fall prostrate
at the feet of the 144,000 and they will be able to hold forth their hands
against the wicked.
·
Ellen White speaks of the weary days that some of God’s people
will spend in prison. And how do we know they include the 144,000? Because it
is at the final great earthquake, after the close of probation, that these
prisoners are released by the action of the earthquake.
·
The last plague is the great earthquake and the wicked think
that the voice of God is the noise from the earthquake rather than the actual
voice of God.
·
The time the faces of the 144,000 light up is the same in both
visions—at the very end of all things.
Now here is the statement from Early Writings, p. 34:
The Sealing
“At the commencement of the
holy Sabbath, January 5, 1849, we engaged in prayer with Brother Belden's
family at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and the Holy Ghost fell upon us. I was
taken off in vision to the most holy place, where I saw Jesus still
interceding for Israel. On the bottom of His garment was a bell and a
pomegranate. Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until
every case was decided either for salvation or destruction, and that the
wrath of God could not come until Jesus had finished His work in the most
holy place, laid off His priestly attire, and clothed Himself with the
garments of vengeance. Then Jesus will step out from between the Father and
man, and God will keep silence no longer, but pour out His wrath on those who
have rejected His truth. I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of
God, and the time to judge the dead were separate and distinct, one following
the other, also that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble,
such as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now getting angry,
but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, He will
stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out. {EW 36.1}
I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was
done in the sanctuary, and then will
come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the
righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon
them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be
stayed. A decree went forth to slay
37
the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was
the time of Jacob's trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of
spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the
glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony.
On their garments was written in large characters, "Thou art weighed in
the balance, and found wanting." I asked who this company were. The
angel said, "These are they who have once kept the Sabbath and have
given it up." I heard them cry with a loud voice, "We have believed
in Thy coming, and taught it with energy." And while they were speaking,
their eyes would fall upon their garments and see the writing, and then they
would wail aloud. I saw that they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled
the residue with their feet--trodden the Sabbath underfoot-- and that was why
they were weighed in the balance and found wanting. {EW 36.2}
Ron’s
Commentary: Compare the words: “Their
faces were lighted up with the glory of God,” in the second Early Writings
quote, with these words in the first Early Writings, p. 15 quote: “When God spoke the time, He poured
upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with
the glory of God...”
If their faces
were already lighted up with the glory of God before the giving of the loud
cry, then why would they “begin” to be lighted up and shine with the glory of
God at the very end—just after their deliverance—after the Jacob’s great time
of trouble? End Ron’s note.
“Then my attending angel directed me to the city again, where I saw four
angels winging their way to the gate of the city. They were just presenting
the golden card to the angel at the gate when I saw another angel flying
swiftly from the direction of the most excellent glory, and crying with a
loud voice to the other angels, and waving something up and down in his hand.
I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that
I could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that
I then saw meant.” {EW 37.1}
A Third Quote to Consider
Chap. 363 - God Remembers His Own
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and
of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he
knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev. 12:12. {CC 369.1}
In all ages God's appointed witnesses
have exposed themselves to reproach and persecution for the truth's sake.
Joseph was maligned and persecuted. . . . David, the chosen messenger of God,
was hunted like a beast of prey by his enemies. . . . Stephen was stoned
because he preached Christ and Him crucified. Paul was imprisoned, beaten
with rods, stoned, and finally put to death. . . . John was banished to the
Isle of Patmos "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus
Christ." {CC 369.2}
These examples of human steadfastness
bear witness to the faithfulness of God's promises--of His abiding presence
and sustaining grace. They testify to the power of faith to withstand the powers
of the world. {CC 369.3}
The season of distress and anguish
before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and
hunger--a faith that will not faint though severely tried. {CC 369.4}
Many
of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and
white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of
God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be
slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome
dungeons. . . . No human hand is ready to lend them help. {CC 369.5}
Will the Lord forget His people in this
trying hour? Did He forget faithful Noah when judgments were visited upon the
antediluvian world? Did He forget Lot when the fire came down from heaven to
consume the cities of the plain? . . . Did He forget Elijah when the oath of
Jezebel threatened him with the fate of the prophets of Baal? Did He forget
Jeremiah in the dark and dismal pit of his prison house? Did He forget the
three worthies in the fiery furnace? or Daniel in the den of lions? . . . {CC
369.6}
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. {CC 369.7}
Isaiah 4:1-4 indicts all formally organized churches and the
SDA German Reform Movement has been formally organized for decades, and its
leadership has been involved in much licentiousness. Go to Vance Ferrell’s
Website and research the SDA (German) Reform Movement. http://www.sdadefend.com/index.htm
If Satan can’t get us into the corrupt SDA new movement
church, he will attempt to get us into the corrupt German Reform SDA
movement. That church has split many ways and has been rife with dissension
and corruption.
"We are not to
know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for
the coming of Christ. . . . Why has not God given us this knowledge?--Because
we would not make a right use of it if He did. A condition of things would
result from this knowledge among our people that would greatly retard the
work of God in preparing a people to stand in the great day that is to come.
We are not to live upon time excitement. . . ." {LDE 33.1}
"The voice of God
is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus' coming, and
delivering the everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest
thunder His words roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening,
with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His
glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The
wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those
who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of
victory." {GC 640.2}
"This was the
document I came upon last Monday in searching over my writings, and here is
another which was written in regard to a man who was setting time in 1884,
and sending broadcast his arguments to prove his theories. The report of what
he was doing was brought to me at the Jackson, Mich., camp-meeting, and I
told the people they need not take heed to this man's theory; for the event
he predicted would not take place. The times and the seasons God has put in
his own power, and why has not God given us this knowledge?--Because we would
not make a right use of it if he did. A condition of things would result from
this knowledge among our people that would greatly retard the work of God in
preparing a people to stand in the great day that is to come. We are not to
live upon time excitement. We are not to be engrossed with speculations in
regard to the times and the seasons which God has not revealed. Jesus has
told his disciples to "watch," but not for definite time. His
followers are to be in the position of those who are listening for the orders
of their Captain; they are to watch, wait, pray, and work, as they approach
the time for the coming of the Lord; but no one will be able to predict just
when that time will come; for "of that day and hour knoweth no
man." You will not be able to say that he will come in one, two, or five
years, neither are you to put off his coming by stating that it may not be
for ten or twenty years." {RH, March 22, 1892 par. 10}
Chap. 3. - "When Shall These Things Be?"
The
Disciples Ask Christ About His Return
Christ's words
[Matt. 24:2] had been spoken in the hearing of a large number of people, but
when He was alone, Peter, John, James, and Andrew came to Him as He sat upon
the Mount of Olives. "Tell us," they said, "when shall these
things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the
world?" {LDE 32.1}
Jesus did not
answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and
the great day of His coming. He mingled the description of these two events.
Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them, they would
have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the description
of the two great crises, leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for
themselves.--DA 628 (1898). {LDE 32.2}
Time
of Christ's Return Not Known
Many who have
called themselves Adventists have been time-setters. Time after time has been
set for
33
Christ to come, but repeated failures have been the result.
The definite time of our Lord's coming is declared to be beyond the ken of
mortals. Even the angels, who minister unto those who shall be heirs of
salvation, know not the day nor the hour. "But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only."--4T
307 (1879). {LDE 32.3}
We are not to know
the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the
coming of Christ. . . . Why has not God given us this knowledge?--Because we
would not make a right use of it if He did. A condition of things would
result from this knowledge among our people that would greatly retard the
work of God in preparing a people to stand in the great day that is to come.
We are not to live upon time excitement. . . . {LDE 33.1}
You will not be
able to say that He will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to
put off His coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years.--RH
March 22, 1892. {LDE 33.2}
We are nearing the
great day of God. The signs are fulfilling. And yet we have no message to
tell us of the day and hour of Christ's appearing. The Lord has wisely
concealed this from us that we may always be in a state of expectancy and
preparation for the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds of
heaven.--Letter 28, 1897. {LDE 33.3}
The exact time of
the second coming of the Son of man is God's mystery.--DA 633 (1898). {LDE
33.4}
Ours
Is Not a Time-setting Message
We are not of that
class who define the exact period of time that shall elapse before the coming
of Jesus the second time with power and great glory. Some have set a time,
and when that has passed, their presumptuous spirits have not accepted
rebuke, but they have set another and another time. But many successive
failures have stamped them as false prophets.--FE 335 (1895). {LDE 34.1}
God gives no man a
message that it will be five years or ten years or twenty years before this
earth's history shall close. He would not give any living being an excuse for
delaying the preparation for His appearing. He would have no one say, as did
the unfaithful servant, "My lord delayeth his coming," for this
leads to reckless neglect of the opportunities and privileges given to
prepare us for that great day.--RH Nov. 27, 1900. {LDE 34.2}
Time-setting Leads to Unbelief
Because the times
repeatedly set have passed, the world is in a more decided state of unbelief
than before in regard to the near advent of Christ. They look upon the
failures of the time-setters with disgust, and because men have been so
deceived, they turn from the truth substantiated by the Word of God that the
end of all things is at hand.--4T 307 (1879). {LDE 34.3}
I understand that
Brother [E. P.] Daniels has, as it were, set time, stating that the Lord will
come
35
within five years. Now I hope the impression will not go
abroad that we are time-setters. Let no such remarks be made. They do no
good. Seek not to obtain a revival upon any such grounds, but let due caution
be used in every word uttered, that fanatical ones will not seize anything
they can get to create an excitement and the Spirit of the Lord be grieved.
{LDE 34.4}
We want not to move
the people's passions to get up a stir, where feelings are moved and
principle does not control. I feel that we need to be guarded on every side,
because Satan is at work to do his uttermost to insinuate his arts and
devices that shall be a power to do harm. Anything that will make a stir,
create an excitement on a wrong basis, is to be dreaded, for the reaction
will surely come.--Letter 34, 1887. {LDE 35.1}
There will always
be false and fanatical movements made by persons in the church who claim to
be led of God--those who will run before they are sent and will give day and
date for the occurrence of unfulfilled prophecy. The enemy is pleased to have
them do this, for their successive failures and leading into false lines cause
confusion and unbelief.--2SM 84 (1897). {LDE 35.2}
No Time Prophecy Beyond 1844
I plainly stated at
the Jackson camp meeting to these fanatical parties that they were doing the
work of the adversary of souls; they were in darkness. They claimed to have
great light that probation would close in October, 1884. I there stated in
public that the Lord had been pleased to show me that there would be no
36
definite time in the message given of God since 1844.--2SM 73
(1885). {LDE 35.2}
Our position has
been one of waiting and watching, with no time-proclamation to intervene
between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of our Lord's
coming.--10MR 270 (1888). {LDE 36.1}
The people will not
have another message upon definite time. After this period of time [Rev.
10:4-6], reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the
prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.--7BC 971
(1900). {LDE 36.2}
Ellen White Expected
Christ's Return in Her Day
I was shown the
company present at the Conference. Said the angel: "Some food for worms,
some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon
the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus."--1T 131, 132 (1856).
{LDE 36.3}
Because time is
short, we should work with diligence and double energy. Our children may never
enter college.--3T 159 (1872). {LDE 36.4}
It is really not
wise to have children now. Time is short, the perils of the last days are
upon us, and the little children will be largely swept off before
this.--Letter 48, 1876. {LDE 36.5}
In this age of the
world, as the scenes of earth's history are soon to close and we are about to
enter upon the time of trouble such as never was, the fewer the marriages
contracted the better for all, both men and women.--5T 366 (1885). {LDE 37.1}
The hour will come;
it is not far distant, and some of us who now believe will be alive upon the
earth, and shall see the prediction verified, and hear the voice of the
archangel and the trump of God echo from mountain and plain and sea to the
uttermost parts of the earth.--RH July 31, 1888. {LDE 37.2}
The time of test is
just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the
revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer.--1SM
363 (1892). {LDE 37.3}
The Delay Explained
The long night of
gloom is trying, but the morning is deferred in mercy, because if the Master
should come so many would be found unready.--2T 194 (1868). {LDE 37.4}
Had Adventists
after the great disappointment in 1844 held fast their faith and followed on
unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third
angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they
would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily
with their efforts, the work would have been
38
completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His
people to their reward. . . . It was not the will of God that the coming of
Christ should be thus delayed. . . . {LDE 37.5}
For forty years did
unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of
Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the
heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the
unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord's
professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many
years.--Ev 695, 696 (1883). {LDE 38.1}
Had the church of
Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would
before this have been warned and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth
in power and great glory.--DA 633, 634 (1898). {LDE 38.2}
God's Promises Are
Conditional
The angels of God
in their messages to men represent time as very short. [SEE ROMANS 13:11, 12;
1 CORINTHIANS 7:29; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:15, 17; HEBREWS 10:25; JAMES 5:8, 9; 1
PETER 4:7; REVELATION 22:6, 7.] Thus it has always been presented to me. It
is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the early days of
this message. Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we hoped. But has the
Word of the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembered that the promises and
threatenings of God are alike conditional. [SEE JEREMIAH 18:7-10; JONAH
3:4-10.]. . . {LDE 38.3}
We may have to
remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did
the children of Israel, but for Christ's sake His people should not add sin
to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of
action.--Ev 695, 696 (1901). {LDE 39.1}
What Christ Is Waiting For
Christ is waiting
with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the
character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will
come to claim them as His own. {LDE 39.2}
It is the privilege
of every Christian, not only to look for, but to hasten the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory,
how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel.
Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to
gather the precious grain.--COL 69 (1900). {LDE 39.3}
By giving the
gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return. We are
not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God (2 Pet. 3:12,
margin).--DA 633 (1898). {LDE 39.4}
He has put it in
our power, through cooperation with Him, to bring this scene of misery to an
end.--Ed 264 (1903). {LDE 39.5}
A
Limit to God's Forbearance
With unerring
accuracy the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations. While His
mercy is
40
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.--5T 208 (1882). {LDE 39.6}
God keeps a record
with the nations. The figures are swelling against them in the books of
heaven, and when it shall have become a law that the transgression of the
first day of the week shall be met with punishment, then their cup will be
full.--7BC 910 (1886). {LDE 40.1}
God keeps a
reckoning with the nations. . . . When the time fully comes that iniquity
shall have reached the stated boundary of God's mercy, His forbearance will
cease. When the accumulated figures in heaven's record books shall mark the
sum of transgression complete, wrath will come.--5T 524 (1889). {LDE 40.2}
While God's mercy
bears long with the transgressor, there is a limit beyond which men may not
go on in sin. When that limit is reached, then the offers of mercy are
withdrawn, and the ministration of judgment begins.--PP 162, 165 (1890). {LDE
40.3}
The time is coming
when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will
not permit them to pass and they will learn that there is a limit to the
forbearance of Jehovah.--9T 13 (1909). {LDE 40.4}
There is a limit
beyond which the judgments of Jehovah can no longer be delayed.--PK 417 (c.
1914). {LDE 40.5}
Transgression Has Almost Reached Its Limit
Time will last a
little longer until the inhabitants of the earth have filled up the cup of
their iniquity, and then the wrath of God, which has so long slumbered, will
awake, and this land of light will drink the cup of His unmingled wrath.--1T
363 (1863). {LDE 41.1}
The cup of iniquity
is nearly filled, and the retributive justice of God is about to descend upon
the guilty.--4T 489 (1880). {LDE 41.2}
The wickedness of
the inhabitants of the world has almost filled up the measure of their
iniquity. This earth has almost reached the place where God will permit the
destroyer to work his will upon it.--7T 141 (1902). {LDE 41.3}
Transgression has
almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is
soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth
should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an
overwhelming surprise.--8T 28 (1904). {LDE 41.4}
We Should Keep the
Great Day of God Before Our Minds
We must educate
ourselves to be thinking and dwelling upon the great scenes of the judgment
just before us and then, as we keep the scenes of the great day of God before
us when everything will be revealed, it will have an effect upon our
character. One brother said to me, "Sister White, do you think the Lord
will come in ten
42
years?" "What difference does it make to you whether
He shall come in two, four, or ten years?" "Why," said he,
"I think I would do differently in some things than I now do if I knew
the Lord was to come in ten years." {LDE 41.5}
"What would
you do?" said I. {LDE 42.1}
"Why,"
said he, "I would sell my property and begin to search the Word of God
and try to warn the people and get them to prepare for His coming, and I
would plead with God that I might be ready to meet Him." {LDE 42.2}
Then said I,
"If you knew that the Lord was not coming for twenty years, you would
live differently?" {LDE 42.3}
Said he, "I
think I would.". . . {LDE 42.4}
How selfish was the
expression that he would live a different life if he knew his Lord was to
come in ten years! Why, Enoch walked with God 300 years. This is a lesson for
us that we shall walk with God every day, and we are not safe unless we are
waiting and watching.--Ms 10, 1886. {LDE 42.5}
The Shortness of Time
May the Lord give
no rest, day nor night, to those who are now careless and indolent in the
cause and work of God. The end is near. This is that which Jesus would have
us keep ever before us--the shortness of time.--Letter 97, 1886. {LDE 42.6}
When we shall stand
with the redeemed upon the sea of glass with harps of gold and crowns of
glory and before us the unmeasured eternity, we shall then see how short was
the waiting period of probation.--10MR 266 (1886). {LDE 42.7}
—rb
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