Ulicia, in the SDA
internet forum on prophecy gave this counsel [email received Monday 4/11/2005
BUT WHAT IS THE MAIN EMPHASES IN THIS TIME OF TROUBLE?
Is it astroids and nuclear bombs?
I don't think so.
Here is the context--
GC.618.002
As Satan
influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will stir up the wicked to
destroy God's people in the time of trouble. And as he accused Jacob, he
will urge his accusations against the people of God. He numbers the world as
his subjects; but the little company who keep the commandments of God are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from the
earth, his triumph would be complete. He sees that holy angels are guarding
them, and he infers that their sins have been pardoned; but he does not know
that their cases have been decided in the sanctuary above. He has an accurate
knowledge of the sins which he has tempted them to commit, and he presents
these before God in the most exaggerated light, representing this people to be
just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. He declares
that the Lord cannot in justice forgive their sins and yet destroy him and his
angels. He claims them as his prey and demands that they be given into his hands
to destroy.
GC.618.003
As
Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins, the Lord permits him
to try them to the uttermost. Their confidence in God, their faith and
firmness, will be severely tested. As they review the past, their hopes
sink; for in their whole lives they can see little good.
They are fully conscious of their weakness and unworthiness. Satan endeavors
to terrify them with the thought that their cases are hopeless, that the
stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy
their faith that they will yield to his temptations and turn from their
allegiance to God.
GC.619.001
Though God's
people will be surrounded by enemies who are bent upon their destruction,
yet the anguish which they suffer is not a dread of persecution for the truth's
sake; they fear that every sin has not been repented of, and that
through some fault in themselves they will fail to realize the fulfillment of
the Saviour's promise: I "will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world." Revelation
3:10. If they could have the assurance of pardon they would not shrink from
torture or death; but should they prove unworthy, and lose their lives because
of their own defects of character, then God's holy name would be reproached.
GC.619.002
On every
hand they hear the plottings of treason and
see the active working of rebellion; and there is aroused within them an
intense desire, an earnest yearning of soul, that this great apostasy may be
terminated and the wickedness of the wicked may come to an end. But while they
plead with God to stay the work of rebellion, it is with a keen sense of
self-reproach that they themselves have no more power to resist and urge back
the mighty tide of evil. They feel that had they always employed all their
ability in the service of Christ, going forward from strength to strength,
Satan's forces would have less power to prevail against them.
GC.619.003
They
afflict their souls before God, pointing to their past repentance of their many
sins, and pleading the Saviour's promise: "Let
him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace
with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Isaiah 27:5. Their faith does
not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering
the keenest anxiety, terror, and distress, they do not cease their
intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God as Jacob laid hold of the
Angel; and the language of their souls is: "I will not let Thee go, except
Thou bless me."
GC.620.001
Had not
Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God
would not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life.
So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed
sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be
overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have
confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense
of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have
gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring
them to remembrance.
GC.620.002
Satan
leads many to believe that God will overlook their unfaithfulness in the minor
affairs of life; but the Lord shows in His dealings with Jacob that He will in
no wise sanction or tolerate evil. All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their
sins, and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, unconfessed
and unforgiven, will be overcome by Satan. The more
exalted their profession and the more honorable the position which they hold,
the more grievous is their course in the sight of God and the more sure the
triumph of their great adversary. Those who delay a preparation for the day
of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble or at any subsequent time. The
case of all such is hopeless.
GC.620.003
Those
professed Christians who come up to that last fearful conflict unprepared will,
in their despair, confess their sins in words of burning anguish, while the
wicked exult over their distress. These confessions are of the same character
as was that of Esau or of Judas. Those who make them, lament the result
of transgression, but not its guilt. They feel no true contrition, no
abhorrence of evil. They acknowledge their sin, through fear of punishment;
but, like Pharaoh of old, they would return to their defiance of Heaven should
the judgments be removed.
GC.621.001
Jacob's
history is also an assurance that God will not cast off those who have been
deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin, but who have returned unto Him with
true repentance. While Satan seeks to destroy this class, God will send His
angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril. The assaults of Satan
are fierce and determined, his delusions are terrible; but the Lord's eye is
upon His people, and His ear listens to their cries. Their affliction is great,
the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them; but the Refiner will
bring them forth as gold tried in the fire. God's love for His children during
the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of
their sunniest prosperity; but it is needful for them to be placed in the
furnace of fire; their earthliness must be consumed, that the image of Christ
may be perfectly reflected.
GC.621.002
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. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time.
Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an
evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God's
promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed
as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God,
to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with
God--how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after
God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the
suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God.
622
GC.622.001
Those who
exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the
power of satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience. And even if
they endure the test they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in
the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God.
The lessons of faith which they have neglected they will be forced to learn
under a terrible pressure of discouragement.
GC.622.002
We should
now acquaint ourselves with God by proving His promises. Angels record every
prayer that is earnest and sincere. We should rather dispense with selfish
gratifications than neglect communion with God. The deepest poverty, the
greatest self-denial, with His approval, is better than riches, honors, ease,
and friendship without it. We must take time to pray. If we allow our minds to
be absorbed by worldly interests, the Lord may give us time by removing from us
our idols of gold, of houses, or of fertile lands.
GC.622.003
The young
would not be seduced into sin if they would refuse to enter any path save that
upon which they could ask God's blessing. If the messengers who bear the last
solemn warning to the world would pray for the blessing of God, not in a cold,
listless, lazy manner, but fervently and in faith, as did Jacob, they would
find many places where they could say: "I have seen God face to face, and
my life is preserved." Genesis 32:30. They would be accounted of heaven as
princes, having power to prevail with God and with men.
GC.622.004
The
"time of trouble, such as never was," is soon to open upon us; and we
shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too
indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in
anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The
most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time
of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. "Though Noah,
Daniel, and Job" were in the land, "as I live, saith
the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but
deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Ezekiel 14:20.
GC.623.001
Now,
while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to
become perfect in Christ
It
is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the
atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites
us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our
ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God's providence is
the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The
Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier
and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate
with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters
to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most
fearful peril to their souls.
[Email received Monday 4/11/2005
Early Writings
pages
56-58 give some
perspective on what we are to do in preparation for the time of trouble. Notice
the first paragraph.
Duty in View of
the Time of Trouble
The Lord has shown
me repeatedly that it is contrary to the Bible to make any provision for our
temporal wants in the time of trouble. I saw that if the saints had food laid
up by them or in the field in the time of trouble, when sword, famine, and
pestilence are in the land, it would be taken from them by violent hands and
strangers would reap their fields. Then will be
the time for us to
trust wholly in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water
will be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger; for God
is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary He would send
ravens to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah, or rain
manna from heaven, as He did for the Israelites.
Houses and lands
will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have
to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be
disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. I was shown that it is the
will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance before the
time of trouble comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If they
have their property on the altar and earnestly inquire of God for duty, He will
teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time
of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down.
I saw that if any
held on to their property and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He
would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property,
and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush
them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some
mourn like this: "The cause was languishing, God's people were starving
for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is
useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in
heaven!" I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased
and was consumed. I also saw that God had not required all of His people to
dispose of their property at the same time; but if they desired to be taught,
He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell. Some
have been required to dispose of their property in times past to sustain the
Advent cause, while others have been permitted to keep theirs until a time of
need. Then, as the cause needs it, their duty is to sell.
I saw that the
message, "Sell that ye have, and give alms," has not been given, by
some, in its clear light, and the object of the words of our Saviour has not been clearly presented. The object of
selling is not to give to those who are able to labour
and support themselves, but to spread the truth. It is
a sin to support and indulge in idleness those who are able to labour. Some have been zealous to attend all the meetings,
not to glorify God, but for the "loaves and fishes." Such would much
better have been at home labouring with their hands,
"the thing that is good," to supply the wants of their families and
to have something to give to sustain the precious cause of present truth. Now
is the time to lay up treasure in heaven and to set our hearts in order, ready
for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will
stand in that trying time.
Now is the time
for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts.
The Lord has shown
me the danger of letting our minds be filled with worldly thoughts and cares. I
saw that some minds are led away from present truth and a love of the Holy
Bible by reading other exciting books; others are filled with perplexity and
care for what they shall eat, drink, and wear. Some are looking too far off for
the coming of the Lord. Time has continued a few years longer than they
expected; therefore they think it may continue a few years more, and in this
way their minds are being led from present truth, out after the world. In these
things I saw great danger; for if the mind is filled with other things, present
truth is shut out, and there is no place in our foreheads for the seal of the
living God. I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place was
nearly finished and that time can
last but a very
little longer. What leisure time we have should be spent in searching the
Bible, which is to judge us in the last day.
My dear brethren
and sisters, let the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ be
in your minds continually and let them crowd out worldly thoughts and cares.
When you lie down and when you rise up, let them be your meditation. Live and
act wholly in reference to the coming of the Son of man. The sealing time is
very short, and will soon be over. Now is the time, while the four angels are
holding the four winds, to make our calling and election sure.
Invitation to Tree of Life
Chronology Forums©:
You
are hereby warmly invited to join Tree of Life
Chronology Forums© where
the within historical paradigm and more is the focus of an ongoing dialogue.
Please
come to Tree of Life Chronology Forums© and share your valuable points of
view such that we may all grow in knowledge and wisdom!
A
Sampling of God’s Wonderful Free Gifts
The GateWays
into Tree of Life Chronology Forums©