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Reviewing Ulicia Unruh's Article on Which Comes
First? Shaking, Sunday Law or Latter Rain? Click to go to our Home PageDear Reader, Surface reading Laodicean Seventh-day Adventists
have it all wrong. "The
state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as
the Laodicean state." E. G. White, Review and Herald Articles,
Vol. 2, 420, 8/19/1890. “The Testimony For The Church—The
Laodicean Church—What greater deception can come upon human minds than a
confidence that they are right when they are ALL WRONG?” Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 253,
254. All wrong! All wrong as to who is
shaken from whom? All wrong as to who does the shaking. All wrong as to who
selects the wheat from the tares. All wrong as to what church the bad are
shaken from and by whom the bad are shaken out of the kingdom of God, Matthew
13:44-48. All wrong as to where the tares are gathered for burning. All wrong
as to who receives the outpouring of the Latter Rain. All wrong in believing
that those in an apostate church and who support such a church can globally
receive the outpouring of the Latter Rain Holy Spirit. All wrong in believing
that the Holy Spirit can be received by a church that is in the omega of
apostasy as depicted in 1SM 204-5. All wrong in believing that the latter
rain can be poured out on a church that is laden with grievous unpardonable
sins for which the faithful are to sigh and cry. Ezekiel 9:6. All wrong in
believing that a church seeped in omega apostasy can receive a spiritual
refreshing as a church structure. Ellen White says that it is impossible
to get back on the Midnight Cry Lighted Pathway to heaven if that path is
strayed from. The church is in gross violation of the Midnight Cry and the
first and second angel’s messages via strictly forbidden ecumenical liaison
with Babylon. A number of true reformer independent ministries realize and
teach that the church has committed unpardonable sins. Even if the church had
not committed unpardonable sins, there is a host of serious sins she would
have to sorely repent of before the Holy Spirit would be poured out on her
members globally. That host of sins constitutes the abominations for which we
are to sigh and cry. In 1893, when Ellen White reproved two men who were
calling the church Babylon, the church was heeding the Laodicean message and
keeping the commandments of God. That is why it was receiving a spiritual
refreshing at that time. That is not the case today. However, there will be a
primitive revival amongst sincere individuals in all fallen churches. But the purpose of my comments
relative to Ulicia’s article herein, is to discern who amongst professing
Seventh-day Adventists receive the outpouring of the latter rain. I am going
to prove from Scripture that it is the 144,000, the church triumphant, who
receive the latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and that it will occur
in a wilderness experience outside the camp of the apostate SDA church, for
the 144,000 bride is not defiled with women--fallen churches, Rev. 14:1-4. The
sincere individuals who experience a spiritual revival within all of the
fallen churches, are thus defiled by “women,” and will be saved only as
faithful martyrs. The following excerpted EGW statement from Ulicia
Unruh’s article (below) on who is shaken from whom and the order of final events,
is most crucial to her study, but she did not discern the significance of it: “God leads his people on step by step. He brings
them up to different points which are calculated to manifest what is in the
heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced
point the heart is tested, and tried a little closer. If the professed people
of God find their hearts opposed to the straight work of God, it should
convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, or be spued out of the
mouth of the Lord. Said the angel, "God will bring his work closer and
closer to test them, and prove every one of his people." Some are
willing to receive one point, but when God brings them to another testing
point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find it strikes
directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in
their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the
truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are
tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols,
and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If they will not be purified
through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride and
evil passions, the angels of God have their charge, "They are joined to
their idols, let them alone," and they pass on to their work, leaving
them with their evil traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those
who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price
what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will be fitted by the latter rain for translation. {2SG 225.1}[Underlined emphasis by Ron] This is a most profound statement. Obviously, only the
144,000, WHO ARE TRANSLATED WITHOUT SEEING DEATH, receive the outpouring of
the latter rain. They are not defiled by women (fallen churches) Revelation
14:1-4. In her above statement, Ellen White speaks of those
who are translated without seeing death. This suggests that only the 144,000
of the end-time SDA church triumphant receive the latter rain. The 144,000
are not defiled with women or fallen churches. They are those described in
Ezekiel 20:30-38. They are true Zion from which the rebels are shaken Ezekiel
20:34-38. The bad are shaken from the kingdom of God (Matt. 13:44-48) by the
144,000 church triumphant, not the SDA church militant. When the bride, the 144,000, makes herself ready,
she receives that latter rain and persecution will begin. She and she alone
is translated without seeing death. Others will be saved, but only by being
faithful martyrs. "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. The 144,000 are perfectly
united and they hear the voice of God which will give the day and hour of
Jesus' coming. Also: "The woman is
a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church
represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to
the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the commandments of God,
Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according
to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.'
Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They
teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the revival of the gifts,
and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot
upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts planted in the
Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was filled with
revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God
designs to fit for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes
war on them. "The true spirit of
the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly
described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden
destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and
deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27. 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 Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an
intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments.--GC 648, 649
(1911). {LDE 268.4} I saw that she was sealed
and would come up at the voice of THERE IS NO TENSION
BETWEEN THIS AND ELLEN WHITE'S CLEAR STATEMENT IN THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THAT THIS SPECIAL COMPANY WERE THOSE
TRANSLATED WITHOUT SEEING DEATH (SEE GC, PP. 648, 649).] I saw we
need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble, and all that
we could mourn for was our loss in being deprived of her company. I saw her
death would result in good.--Letter 10, 1850. {1BIO 173.5} The 144,000 are those
translated without seeing death. This precludes all who are saved being part
of the 144,000, for all who are saved are obviously not translated without
seeing death. The SDA church triumphant
is described in Ezekiel 20:34-38. She is brought out from the people into the
wilderness and is brought into covenant relationship with God. Eze 20:34 And
I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries
wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm,
and with fury poured out. Eze 20:35 And
I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead
with you face to face. Eze 20:36
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. Eze 20:37 And
I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of
the covenant: Eze 20:38 And
I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against
me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they
shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I [am] the
LORD. As in the prefigure of A.D. 27-70, the bad are shaken
into the apostate church, Ezekiel 22:17-31. The good are gathered out and
into the wilderness and brought into covenant relationship with God, Ezekiel
20:34-38. Ulicia and errant SDA leaders teach that the bad are shaken out of
the church militant to leave it the purged and purified church triumphant.
This is a cherished error of professing Seventh-day Adventism, and could not
be further from the truth as the prefigure and Ezekiel 20 and 22 attest. It appears from the lengthy article below my post that
some believe the latter rain and loud cry will not come till the Sunday laws
are passed. Please consider the following: From a study from "operationglobalrain" Which Comes First? Shaking,
Sunday Law or Latter Rain? Is the call of Operation Global Rain of praying for
the latter rain out of "order" as far as prophecy goes? In other
words, are we praying for the outpouring of the spirit when other events,
(such as the shaking, and the Sunday law) need to transpire first? Could it
be possible that we are waiting for a Sunday law, when God is actually
waiting on us to pray and humble ourselves to be prepared for the final
events which will be rapid ones? In this article, we will look at evidence
from the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and our own history that I believe shows
that the shaking is occurring even now, and the Sunday laws are waiting on
us, not the other way around. However, regardless of which comes first, there
is never a bad time to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways and pray
for God's spirit to fall. It is never out of the order events to pray, for we
are to "pray always" (Luke 21:36). This study is not meant to be
dogmatic statement, but rather reflects my own research. Now, there are some important questions to be asked.
First, must we wait on Satan to bring about the Sunday law before we take the
field to pray for the latter rain? Or, are we waiting for God to give Satan
permission to pass the Sunday law, so that He can then pour out the latter
rain and seal Satan's fate? If God has given Satan permission, why is Satan
delaying in the Sunday law issue, especially when Satan knows that this issue
will seal the fate of millions, and potentially destroy the people of God?
And if God has not given permission, then why is He delaying it, if He knows
that this will spring us into action to pray for the latter rain? If the Sunday law is the great test to determine
God's true followers from the spurious, won't He give the needed message and
Holy Spirit first to enable people to stand the test? Couldn't Satan ultimately destroy the people of God
if he could cause it to happen before
God could pour out His spirit to empower his people to warn the world? In other words, if Satan has to bring in the Sunday
laws first, why wouldn't Satan have "pushed the button" within the
last 163 years? Is God stalling? Is Satan stalling? Or are we stalling? The Shaking: Future, Present, or Both? Before we look at this issue, there's one statement in
all of the writings of Ellen White which I have found that seems to indicate
that the Sunday law comes before the outpouring of the latter rain. It is
taken from the book Last Day Events published in 1992. "The great issue so near at hand [enforcement
of Sunday laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will
have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain."
-3SM 385 (1886). {LDE 179.2} As you can notice, the quote is taken from 3SM 385,
also a compilation of her writings published in 1980. From this source the
quote actually reads: "The great issue so near at hand will weed out
those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified
ministry prepared for the latter rain. . . . {3SM 385.3} Notice that the part in parenthesis [enforcement of
Sunday laws] is not present. This is because it was added by the editors of
Last Day Events, also a compilation of the writings of Mrs. White. Now we
take a look the original source of this quote, Manuscript Releases volume 12
written in 1886. "The Lord appoints and sends forth ministers
not only to preach, for this is a small part of His work, but to minister, to
educate the people not to be fighters but to be examples of piety. There are
workers in every department appointed to do their work. When Jesus ascended
on high He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers. Some have entered the work with a human commission
rather than the divine. They have educated themselves as debaters, and the
churches under their care show the character of their work. They were not
ready, they were not fitted for the work. Their hearts are not right with
God. In short, they have a theory but not true conversion and sanctification
through the truth. The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom
God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry
prepared for the latter rain. {12MR 327.1} The immediate text does not mention Sunday law at
all. It's talking about weeding out
unconverted ministers from the ministry IN PREPARATION for the latter rain. What will do the "weeding out"? Over and over again, Ellen White tells us that the
issue that brings about the "weeding out", or "the
shaking" elsewhere called, is the straight testimony to the counsel of
the Laodiceans. True, the Sunday law will also bring about a shaking, but our
question is this. Which shaking is it that prepares us for the latter rain?
The straight testimony, or the Sunday law? White tells us in clear terms. Ron’s Commentary: The words “…the straight testimony
to the counsel of the Laodiceans” don’t make sense. The true wording is below: "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 is what will cause a
shaking among God's people. {CET 176.1} As early as 1860, Ellen White wrote concerning the
work of True Witness to Laodicea: "In the spring of 1857, I accompanied my
husband on a tour East. ... The testimony to the Laodicean church was
generally received; but some in the East were making bad use of it. Instead
of applying it to their own hearts, so as to be benefited by it themselves,
they were using the testimony to oppress others…The design of the message to
the Laodiceans was to rid the church of just such fanatical influences; but
the effort of Satan has been to corrupt the message, and destroy its
influence… I have seen that it was not the design of the message to lead
brother to sit in judgment over his brother, to tell him what to do, and just
how far to go; but for each individual to search his own heart, and attend to
his own individual work…I saw that the testimony to the Laodiceans applied to
God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a
greater work, is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given
the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which
have so long shut Jesus out. This fearful message will do its work. When it
was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were
confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed
that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they
failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the
effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work
in a few short months. It was designed to arouse the people of God, to
discover to them their backslidings, and lead to zealous repentance, that
they might be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud
cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart it led to deep
humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare
unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and his
people were acquainted with their position. {2SG 223.2} If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully
heeded, God would have wrought for his people in greater power… Lest his
people should be deceived in regard to themselves, he gives them time for the
excitement to wear off, and he proves them to see if they will obey the
counsel of the True Witness. {2SG 224.1} God leads his people on step by step. He brings them
up to different points which are calculated to manifest what is in the heart.
Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point
the heart is tested, and tried a little closer. If the professed people of
God find their hearts opposed to the straight work of God, it should convince
them that they have a work to do to overcome, or be spued out of the mouth of
the Lord. Said the angel, "God will bring his work closer and closer to
test them, and prove every one of his people." Some are willing to
receive one point, but when God brings them to another testing point, they
shrink from it and stand back, because they find it strikes directly at some
cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts
that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their
hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a
length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols, and heed the
counsel of the True Witness. If they will not be purified through obeying the
truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride and evil passions, the
angels of God have their charge, "They are joined to their idols, let
them alone," and they pass on to their work, leaving them with their evil
traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every
point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have
heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will be fitted by the latter
rain for translation. {2SG 225.1}[Underlined emphasis by Ron] Ron’s Commentary: "Satan has laid every measure
possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke
us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear
the ark of God...They will proclaim the word of the Lord; they will lift up
their voice like a trumpet. The truth will not be diminished or lose its
power in their hands. They will show the people their transgressions, and the
house of Jacob their sins." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 411. "Most startling messages will be borne by men
of God's appointment, messages of a character to WARN the people, to AROUSE
them. And while some will be PROVOKED by the warning, and led to RESIST LIGHT
AND EVIDENCE, we are to see from this that we are giving the TESTING MESSAGE
FOR THIS TIME. Messages will be given OUT OF THE USUAL ORDER."
Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 137. What is the “usual order?” It is the pulpit! The
ministers. Will they ever again show the House of Jacob their sins? Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the
church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath
of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had
stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed
their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles
and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have
changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will
not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people
in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never
again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their
transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would
not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men,
maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White,
Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. This must be painful for Ulicia Unruh as her husband
is an SDA minister here in Canada. This may be the reason that her
interpretations are skewed and spurious. End Ron’s Commentary. Now, what is the "great issue" in the last
days to bring about the shaking and purify the church of God? "We are to raise the banner on which is
inscribed, "The commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Obedience to God's law is the great issue. Let it not be put out of sight. We
must strive to arouse church members, and those who make no profession, to
see and obey the claims of the law of Heaven. We are to magnify this law and
make it honorable. {2SM 403.1} Those who fail to live out "Christ our
righteousness" in relation to the law, those who fail to come up to
every point of truth, who fail to heed the straight testimony which is the
message to our church, we are told will be shaken out, leaving a people ready
for the latter rain. "We are also told as early as 1850 that
"the shaken" had "commenced". "The mighty shaking
has commenced, and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing
to take a hold and unyielding stand for the truth, and sacrifice for God and
his cause. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 8} Contrary to popular view, this shaking is not
necessarily a physical one, but a spiritual one. In other words, people who
are shaken "out" by refusal to heed the straight testimony may
still retain their names on the church books and may still be seated in the
pews! They may still come to church Sabbath after Sabbath, but refusing to
heed the True witness have been "shaken out" though still visibly
"in the church". The crisis of the Sunday law serves only to make
visible that which had already occurred invisible. In other words, The Sunday law does not create
character. It reveals it. The Sunday law shakes out physically, those who had
already been shaken out spiritually by the straight testimony. The wheat and
tare grow "together" until the final event that separates them
physically occurs, that is, the final crisis. A shaking is going on right
now. We need not wait for a physical manifestation before we start to pray
for the Latter Rain. The Sunday law crisis will overcome all who did not
receive the outpouring of the Latter Rain to prepare them for this crisis. Part II Next we will turn to the evidences which I believe
shows that the Latter Rain does indeed occur before the Sunday Law, the final
crisis. B. Evidence From the Spirit of Prophecy: I believe that the writings of Ellen White verify that
revival through the outpouring of the Spirit and the giving of the loud
cry is what brings persecution and the
Sunday law. The chapter entitled The Final Warning in The Great
Controversy bears this out. (I encourage all to read this chapter and the
ones before and after it.) Ellen White lays out in chronological order the
events revolving around the "final warning" which is indeed the
Loud Cry. "The message of the third angel will be
proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the
Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who
consecrate themselves to his service. The laborers will be qualified rather
by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary institutions.
Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal,
declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid
open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil
authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of
the papal power,-- all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people
will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard
words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church,
fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth
sent to her from Heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the
eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy
smooth things, to soothe their fears, and quiet the awakened conscience. But
since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men, and demand
a plain "Thus saith the Lord," the popular ministry, like the
Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will
denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to
revile and persecute those who proclaim it. {GC88 606.2}. Ron’s Commentary: Do SDA leaders become filled with
anger when their authority is questions. In any personal contact I have had
with SDA New Movement leaders, they have always expressed great anger to me
personally. Will omega of apostasy New Movement, SDA “dumb-dog” ministers
prophesy smooth things? Read the following statement and decide for
yourselves: Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the
church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath
of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had
stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed
their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles
and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have
changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will
not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people
in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never
again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their
transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would
not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men,
maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White,
Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. End Ron’s Commentary. (This persecution happens as a result of "the Spirit
of God" coming upon His people from the latter rain. Persecution comes
as a result of this great revival in which the third angels message is
proclaimed with irrefutable and "greatest power.") Continuing... "As the controversy extends into new fields,
and the minds of the people are called to God's down-trodden law, Satan is
astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it.
The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light,
lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they
will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church
appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and
Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold
and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will
be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions
of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their
faith. But their steadfast answer is, "Show us from the Word of God our
error,"--the same plea that was made by Luther under similar
circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong
vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand
to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before
thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths." {GC88 607.1} "The church appeals to the strong arm of civil
power" as a result of the "power attending the message". Not
that they are not already trying to do this, but "the power attending
the message" causes them to put forth "almost superhuman
effort" "by every means at their command", one of those
"means" being the passing of a Sunday law "against
commandments keepers." The passing of the Sunday law is "against"
commandment keepers in the same way that the law to pray to no other god for
30 days was passed "against" Daniel specifically (See Daniel 6:5).
The Sunday law is passed as a result of the mighty preaching under the loud
Cry. But the initial passing of the
Sunday laws, the "mild" version in which bribery, fines and
imprisonment are invoked, will only serve to strengthen the argument given
under the Loud Cry. Hence, Mrs. White's statement, "When the storm
of persecution really breaks upon us, . . . then will the message of the
third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with
the glory of the Lord.) {LDE 208.2} Continuing... "Conscientious obedience to the Word of God
will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise
harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress
will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alienated;
children will be disinherited, and driven from home. The words of Paul will
be literally fulfilled, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution." [2 TIM. 3:12.] As the defenders of truth refuse to
honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some will
be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom, all this now
seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn
from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine
precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel
when God's fear and love are removed. {GC88 607.2} As the storm approaches, a large class who have
professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified
through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of
the opposition." Note what happens here, something happened to make a
group of Adventists very "zealous" and they have gone forth
proclaiming a message. Persecution comes upon the church. The people IN THE
CHURCH who did not partake of the preparation, latter rain, and proclaiming
the message, will be very upset with
the "zealous" Adventists whom they blame for the trouble. Ron’s Commentary: The people in the SDA church who
did not partake of the preparation will be and now are very upset with the
“zealous” reformer true Adventists whom they even now blame for all the
trouble in the SDA church. And Ulicia Unruh is one of those who has become
very upset with true reformers who are giving the straight testimony
concerning the sins of the House of Jacob. She regards them as accusers of
the brethren. End Ron’s Commentary. This is partly because it will appear to them that
"zealous" Adventists have brought this upon the church by preaching
the third angel's message in power. Please note that at this point the latter
rain has been poured out, the Sunday law has been passed, but only now do
those who are in the truth, but not of the truth reveal themselves. The Sunday law shakes out visibly those who did not
receive the latter rain, who had not heeded the straight testimony, and had
been shaken out invisibly (spiritually).
Many opposed the praying for the latter rain and going out with power
to proclaim the 3rd angel's message, but remained in the church. The latter
rain falls, but they do not receive, or recognize it. The Sunday law now
moves them visibly out of the church. Of this final scenario, Ellen White
says, "There is to be in the churches a wonderful
manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have
not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by
confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens
the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their
blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and
they will brace themselves to resist it Because the Lord does not work
according to their ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work.
"Why," they say, "should not we know the Spirit of God, when
we have been in the work so many years?" {RH, December 23, 1890 par. 18} Ron’s Commentary: New Movement SDA’s are already
bracing themselves to resist the truth concerning the apostate New Movement
church. True reformers are commonly referred to as being dangerous. End Ron’s
Commentary. The Sunday law simply makes manifest those who do
not have the Spirit of God from those who do, those who were not prepared for
the crisis through the latter rain, from those who were. "God desires His people to prepare for the
soon-coming crisis. Prepared or unprepared, they must all meet it; and those
only who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard,
will stand firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite
with ministers of religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will
be seen who really fear and serve God." AA431 "The time is not far distant, when the test
will come to every soul. . . . In this time, the gold will be separated from
the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from
the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its
brilliancy, will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne
away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.
All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with
Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own
nakedness.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 80,81. The Sunday law, which is the final test will reveal
a people who are prepared for that test because they have been filled with
God's spirit and therefore clothed with "Christ's righteousness".
As with all tests, we must be ready before, and not after it. "By uniting with the world and
partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same
light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy,
popular side. Men of talent and
pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to
deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their
former brethren...In this time of persecution the faith of the Lord's
servants will be tried. They have faithfully given the warning,
looking to God and to his Word alone. God's Spirit, moving upon their hearts,
has constrained them to speak. Stimulated with holy zeal, and with the divine
impulse strong upon them, they entered upon the performance of their duties
without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the
word which the Lord had given them. They
have not consulted their temporal interests, or sought to preserve their
reputation or their lives. Yet when the storm of opposition and
reproach bursts upon them, some, overwhelmed with consternation, will be
ready to exclaim, "Had we foreseen the consequences of our words, we
would have held our peace." (GC 608) Ron’s Commentary: We have learned from Testimonies,
Vol. 5, 211, that the dumb dog watchmen are not the Lord’s servants who
faithfully give the warning. End Ron’s commentary. PLEASE NOTICE HERE THAT THE "STORM OF
OPPOSITION" THAT BURSTS UPON THEM IS A "CONSEQUENCE" OF THEIR
"WORDS" SPOKEN UNDER THE POWER OF THE LATTER RAIN. "They are hedged in with difficulties. Satan
assails them with fierce temptations. The work which they have undertaken
seems far beyond their ability to accomplish. They are threatened with
destruction. The enthusiasm which animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn
back. Then, feeling their utter helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for
strength. They remember that the words which they have spoken were not
theirs, but His who bade them give the warning. God put the truth into
their hearts, and they could not forbear to proclaim it. As the opposition rises to a fiercer height, the
servants of God are again perplexed; for it seems to them that they have
brought the crisis. But conscience and the Word of God assure them that
their course is right; and although the trials continue, they are
strengthened to bear them. GC 608 Ron’s Commentary: The 144,000 feel that they have
brought the crisis by their straight testimony concerning the apostasy of all
formally organized churches symbolized by the seven women of Isaiah 4:1-4.
End Ron’s Commentary. This last section points out that the servants of
God feel as though "they have brought the crisis". Why? If the Sunday laws had already passed prior to the
loud cry would they feel they brought that crisis? But since the Sunday laws come BECAUSE of their
message it's easy to understand. Because as they preached under the power of the
latter rain, it had such a tremendous affect that it aroused the persecution
of its opponents, invoking the Sunday law "against commandment
keepers." One last quote taken from an earlier chapter in the
Great Controversy: "There is another and more important question
that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul
declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution." [2 TIM. 3:12.] Why
is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber?--The only
reason is, that the church has conformed to the world's standard, and
therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our
day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in
the days of Christ and his apostles. It is only because of the spirit of
compromise with sin, because the
great truths of the Word of God are so indifferently regarded,
because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity
is apparently so popular with the world. Let
there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit
of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be
rekindled. {GC88 48.2} Now listen as Mrs. White speaks plainly: "There are many who are at ease, who are, as it
were, asleep. They say, "If prophecy has foretold the enforcement of
Sunday observance, the law will surely be enacted;" and having come to
this conclusion, they sit down in calm expectation of the event, comforting
themselves with the thought that God will protect his people in the day of
trouble. But God will not save us if we make no effort to do the work he has
committed to our charge. We must be found faithfully guarding the outposts,
watching as vigilant soldiers, lest Satan shall gain an advantage which it is
our duty to prevent. We should diligently study the word of God, and pray in
faith that God will restrain the powers of darkness; for as yet the message
has gone to comparatively few, and the world is to be lightened with its
glory. The present truth--the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus--has
not yet been sounded as it must be. {RH, December 24, 1889 par. 3} Here she
says, we must pray for God to hold back the powers that be, pray that Sunday
law not be enacted until we can preach the message with power first. Could it
be that we have been sitting in calm expectation? Could our calm expectation
actually be buying Satan more time to cause havoc and plummet souls into
eternal ruin? Are we giving Satan "the advantage" by letting him do
his work, while we continue to do ours without the power of the Latter Rain? Finally from 5T 450: "The decree which is to go forth against the
people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the
Jews in the time of Esther. The Persian edict sprang from the malice of Haman
toward Mordecai. Not that Mordecai had done him harm, but he had refused to
show him reverence which belongs only to God. The king's decision against the
Jews was secured under false pretenses through misrepresentation of that
peculiar people. Satan instigated the scheme in order to rid the earth of
those who preserved the knowledge of the true God. But his plots were
defeated by a counter-power that reigns among the children of men. Angels
that excel in strength were commissioned to protect the people of God, and
the plots of their adversaries returned upon their own heads. The Protestant
world today see in the little company keeping the Sabbath a Mordecai in the
gate. His character and conduct, expressing reverence for the law of God, are
a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling
upon His Sabbath; the unwelcome intruder must by some means be put out of the
way. {5T 450.1} "The same masterful mind that plotted against
the faithful in ages past is still seeking to rid the earth of those who fear
God and obey His law. Satan will excite indignation against the humble
minority who conscientiously refuse to accept popular customs and traditions.
Men of position and reputation will join with the lawless and the vile to
take counsel against the people of God . Wealth, genius, education, will
combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and
church members will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts,
threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith. By false representations and angry
appeals they will stir up the passions of the people. Not having a
"Thus saith the Scriptures" to bring against the advocates of the
Bible Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply the lack. To secure popularity and patronage,
legislators will yield to the demand for a Sunday law. Those who fear God
cannot accept an institution that violates a precept of the Decalogue. On
this battlefield comes the last great conflict of the controversy between
truth and error. And we are not left in doubt as to the issue. Now, as in the
days of Mordecai, the Lord will vindicate His truth and His people. {5T 450.2} By the decree enforcing the institution of the
papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself
fully from righteousness. As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to
the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy
be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the
measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is
about to take her flight, never to return. The people of God will then be
plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have
described as the time of Jacob's trouble. {5T 451.2} If we wait for the Sunday law it may well be too
late. When is it that the people are stirred up against
the commandment keepers to enact a Sunday law because they do not have a
"thus saith the Lord"? After the Loud Cry has already done a
powerful work! What is the sequence of events?
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