CHAPTER 32 (The Great Controversy)
The Shaking
I saw some with strong faith and agonizing cries,
pleading with God. Their countenances
were pale, and marked with deep anxiety, which expressed their internal
struggle. There were firmness and great
earnestness expressed in their countenances, while large drops of perspiration
rose upon their foreheads, and fell. Now
and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and
again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look settled upon them.
Evil angels crowded around them, pressing their
darkness upon them, to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be
drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and they distrust God, and next
murmur against him. Their only safety
was in keeping their eyes directed upward.
Angels were having the charge over the people of God, and as the
poisonous atmosphere from these evil angels was pressed around these anxious
ones, the angels, which had the charge over them, were continually wafting
their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness that surrounded them.
Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of
agonizing and pleading. They seemed
indifferent and careless. They were not
resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick
cloud. The angels of God left them, and
went to the aid of those earnest, praying ones.
I saw the angels of God hasten to the assistance of all those who were
struggling with all their energies to resist those evil angels, and trying to
help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But the angels left those who made no effort
to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.
As these praying ones continued their earnest
cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, and encouraged their
hearts, and lighted up their countenances.
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had
seen. I was shown that it would be
caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the true
Witness to the Laodiceans. It will have
its effect upon the heart of the receiver of the testimony, and it will lead
him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. This straight testimony some will not bear. They will rise up against it, and this will
cause a shaking among God's people.
I saw that the testimony of the true Witness has
not been half heeded. The solemn
testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs, has been lightly
esteemed, if not entirely disregarded.
This testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it,
will obey it, and be purified.
Said the angel, List ye! Soon I heard a voice that sounded like many
musical instruments, all sounding in perfect strains, sweet and
harmonious. It surpassed any music I had
ever heard. It seemed to be so full of
mercy, compassion, and elevating, holy joy.
It thrilled through my whole being.
Said the angel, Look ye! My
attention was then turned to the company I had seen before, who were mightily
shaken. I was shown those whom I had
before seen weeping, and praying with agony of spirit. I saw that the company of guardian angels
around them had doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to
their feet. They moved in exact order,
firm like a company of soldiers. Their
countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the
agonizing struggle they had passed through.
Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, shone now with
the light and glory of heaven. They had
obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude, and
holy, sacred joy.
The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out, and left by the
way. The careless and indifferent who
did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to agonize,
persevere, and plead for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in
darkness, and their numbers were immediately made up by others taking hold of
the truth, and coming into the ranks. Still
the evil angels pressed around them, but they could have no power over them.
I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth
the truth in great power. It had
effect. I saw those who had been bound;
some wives had been bound by their husbands, and some children had been bound
by their parents. The honest who had
been held or prevented from hearing the truth, now eagerly laid hold of the
truth spoken. All fear of their relatives
was gone. The truth alone was exalted to
them. It was dearer and more precious
than life. They had been hungering and
thirsting for truth. I asked what had
made this great change. An angel
answered, It is the latter rain; the refreshing from the presence of the Lord;
the loud cry of the third angel.
Great power was with these chosen ones. Said the angel, Look ye! My attention was turned to the wicked, or
unbelievers. They were all astir. The zeal and power with the people of God had
aroused and enraged them. Confusion,
confusion, was on every side. I saw
measures taken against this company, who were having the power and light of
God. Darkness thickened around them, yet
there they stood, approved of God, and trusting in him. I saw them perplexed. Next I heard them crying unto God
earnestly. Through the day and night
their cry ceased not. I heard these
words, Thy will, O God, be done! If it
can glorify thy name, make a way of escape for thy people! Deliver us from the heathen round about
us! They have appointed us unto death;
but thine arm can bring salvation. These
are all the words I can bring to mind.
They seemed to have a deep sense of their unworthiness, and manifested
entire submission to the will of God.
Yet everyone, without an exception, was earnestly pleading, and
wrestling like Jacob for deliverance.
Soon after they had commenced their earnest cry,
the angels, in sympathy would have gone to their deliverance. But a tall, commanding angel suffered them
not. Said he, The will of God is not yet
fulfilled. They must drink of the
cup. They must be baptized with the
baptism.
Soon I heard the voice of God, which shook the
heavens and the earth. There was a
mighty earthquake. Buildings were shaken
down, and fell on every side. I then
heard a triumphant shout of victory, loud, musical and clear. I looked upon this company who, a short time
before were in such distress and bondage.
Their captivity was turned. A
glorious light shone upon them. How
beautiful they then looked. All
weariness and marks of care were gone.
Health and beauty were seen in every countenance. Their enemies, the heathen around them, fell
like dead men. They could not endure the
light that shone upon the delivered, holy ones.
This light and glory remained upon them, until Jesus was seen in the
clouds of heaven, and the faithful, tried company was changed in a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, from glory to glory.
And the graves were opened and the saints came forth, clothed with
immortality, crying victory over death and the grave, and together with the
living saints, were caught up to meet their Lord in the air; while the rich,
musical shouts of glory and victory were upon every immortal tongue, and
proceeding from every sanctified, holy lip.
See Psalms chap.86; Hosea 6:3; Haggai 2:21-23;
Matthew 10:35-39, 20:23; Acts 3:19; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1Thessalonians 4:14-18;
Revelation 3:14-22
Psa 86:1 A
Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and
needy.
Psa 86:2
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth
in thee.
Psa 86:3 Be
merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
Psa 86:4
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul.
Psa 86:5 For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all
them that call upon thee.
Psa 86:6 Give
ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
Psa 86:7 In
the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Psa 86:8 Among
the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like
unto thy works.
Psa 86:9 All
nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and
shall glorify thy name.
Psa 86:10 For
thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Psa 86:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy
name.
Psa 86:12 I
will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name
for evermore.
Psa 86:13 For
great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest
hell.
Psa 86:14 O
God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have
sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
Psa 86:15 But
thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and
plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psa 86:16 O
turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and
save the son of thine handmaid.
Psa 86:17 Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed:
because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Hos 6:3 Then
shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as
the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former
rain unto the earth.
Hag 2:21 Speak
to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the
earth;
Hag 2:22 And I
will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the
kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride
in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword
of his brother.
Hag 2:23 In
that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant,
the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I
have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mat 10:35 For
I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against
her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And
a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He
that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of
me.
Mat 10:39 He
that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake
shall find it.
Mat 20:23 And
he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left,
is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my
Father.
Act 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Eph 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might.
Eph 6:11 Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil.
Eph 6:12 For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And
your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:
Eph 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1Th 4:14 For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep.
1Th 4:16 For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:
1Th 4:17 Then
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
1Th 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 3:14 And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of
God;
Rev 3:15 I
know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot.
Rev 3:16 So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth.
Rev 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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