CHAPTER 26 (The Great Controversy)
Another
Illustration
I was shown the interest which all heaven had
taken in the work which had been going on upon the earth. Jesus commissioned a strong and mighty angel
to descend and warn the inhabitants of earth to get ready for his second
appearing. I saw the mighty angel leave
the presence of Jesus in heaven. Before
him went an exceedingly bright and glorious light. I was told that his mission was to lighten
the earth with his glory, and warn man of the coming wrath of God. Multitudes received the light. Some seemed to be very solemn, while others
were joyful and enraptured. The light
was shed upon all, but some merely came under the influence of the light, and
did not heartily receive it. But all who
received it, turned their faces upward to heaven, and glorified God. Many were filled with great wrath. Ministers and people united with the vile,
and stoutly resisted the light shed by the mighty angel. But all who received it withdrew from the
world, and were closely united together.
Satan and his angels were busily engaged in
seeking to attract the minds of all they could from the light. The company who rejected it were left in
darkness. I saw the angel watching with
the deepest interest the professed people of God, to record the character they
developed, as the message of heavenly origin was introduced to them. And as very many who professed love for Jesus
turned from the heavenly message with scorn, derision and hatred, an angel with
a parchment in his hand, made the shameful record. All heaven was filled with indignation,
because Jesus was slighted by his professed followers.
I saw the disappointment of the trusting
ones. They did not see their Lord at the
expected time. It was God's purpose to
conceal the future, and bring his people to a point of decision. Without this point of time the work designed
of God would not have been accomplished.
Satan was leading the minds of very many far ahead in the future. A period of time proclaimed for Christ's
appearing must bring the mind to earnestly seek for a present preparation. As the time passed, those who had not fully
received the light of the angel, united with those who had despised the
heavenly message, and they turned upon the disappointed ones in ridicule. I saw the angels in heaven consulting with
Jesus. They had marked the situation of
Christ's professed followers. The
passing of the definite time had tested and proved them, and very many were
weighed in the balance and found wanting.
They all loudly professed to be christians, yet failed in following
Christ in almost every particular. Satan
exulted at the state of the professed followers of Christ. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight
path, and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure, the clean, and holy, all
mixed up with sinners in Zion, and the world-loving hypocrite. They had watched over the true lovers of
Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy.
Those whose hearts burned with a longing, intense
desire to see Jesus, were forbidden by their professed brethren to speak of his
coming. Angels viewed the whole scene,
and sympathized with the remnant, who loved the appearing of Jesus. Another mighty angel was commissioned to
descend to earth. Jesus placed in his
hand a writing, and as he came to earth, he cried, Babylon is fallen! is fallen! Then I saw the disappointed ones again look
cheerful, and raise their eyes to heaven, looking with faith and hope for their
Lord's appearing. But many seemed to
remain in a stupid state, as if asleep; yet I could see the trace of deep
sorrow upon their countenances. The
disappointed ones saw from the Bible that they were in the tarrying time, and
that they must patiently wait the fulfillment of the vision. The same evidence which led them to look for
their Lord in 1843, led them to expect him in 1844. I saw that the majority did not possess that
energy which marked their faith in 1843.
Their disappointment had dampened their faith. But as the disappointed ones united in the
cry of the second angel, the heavenly host looked with the deepest interest,
and marked the effect of the message.
They saw those who bore the name of christians turn with derision and
scorn upon those who had been disappointed.
As the words fell from the mocker's lips, You have not gone up yet! an
angel wrote them. Said the angel, They
mock God.
I was pointed back to the translation of
Elijah. His mantle fell on Elisha, and
wicked children (or young people) followed him, mocking, crying, Go up thou
bald head! Go up thou bald head! They mocked God, and met their punishment
there. They had learned it of their
parents. And those who have scoffed and
mocked at the idea of the saints' going up, will be visited with the plagues of
God, and will realize that it is not a small thing to trifle with him.
Jesus commissioned other angels to fly quickly to
revive and strengthen the drooping faith of his people, and prepare them to
understand the message of the second angel, and of the important move which was
soon to be made in heaven. I saw these
angels receive great power and light from Jesus, and fly quickly to earth to
fulfill their commission to aid the second angel in his work. A great light shone upon the people of God as
the angels cried, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Then I saw those disappointed ones rise, and
in harmony with the second angel, proclaim, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye
out to meet him. The light from the
angels penetrated the darkness everywhere.
Satan and his angels sought to hinder this light from spreading, and
having its designed effect. They
contended with the angels of God, and told them that God had deceived the
people, and that with all their light and power, they could not make the people
believe that Jesus was coming. The
angels of God continued their work, although Satan strove to hedge up the way,
and draw the minds of the people from the light. Those who received it looked very happy. They fixed their eyes up to heaven, and
longed for the appearing of Jesus. Some
were in great distress, weeping and praying.
Their eyes seemed to be fixed upon themselves, and they dared not look
upward.
A precious light from heaven parted the darkness
from them, and their eyes, which had been fixed in despair upon themselves,
were turned upward, while gratitude and holy joy were expressed upon every
feature. Jesus and all the angelic host
looked with approbation upon the faithful, waiting ones.
Those who rejected and opposed the light of the
first angel’s message, lost the light of the second, and could not be benefited
by the power and glory which attended the message, Behold the Bridegroom
cometh. Jesus turned from them with a
frown. They had slighted and rejected
him. Those who received the message were
wrapt in a cloud of glory. They waited
and watched and prayed to know the will of God.
They greatly feared to offend him.
I saw Satan and his angels seeking to shut this divine light from the
people of God; but as long as the waiting ones cherished the light, and kept
their eyes raised from earth to Jesus, Satan could have no power to deprive
them of this precious light. The message
given from heaven enraged Satan and his angels, and those who professed to love
Jesus, but despised his coming, scorned and derided the faithful, trusting
ones. But an angel marked every insult,
every slight, every abuse they received from their professed brethren. Very many raised their voices to cry, Behold
the Bridegroom cometh, and left their brethren who did not love the appearing
of Jesus, and who would not suffer them to dwell upon his second coming. I saw Jesus turn his face from those who
rejected and despised his coming, and then he bade angels lead his people out
from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those obedient to the messages stood out free
and united. A holy and excellent light
shone upon them. They renounced the
world, tore their affections from it, and sacrificed their earthly
interests. They gave up their earthly
treasure and their anxious gaze was directed to heaven, expecting to see their
loved Deliverer. A sacred, holy joy
beamed upon their countenances, and told of the peace and joy which reigned
within. Jesus bade his angels go and
strengthen them, for the hour of their trial drew on. I saw that these waiting ones were not yet
tried as they must be. They were not
free from errors. And I saw the mercy
and goodness of God in sending a warning to the people of earth, and repeated
messages to bring them up to a point of time, to lead them to a diligent search
of themselves, that they might divest themselves of errors which have been
handed down from the heathen and papists.
Through these messages God has been bringing out his people where he can
work for them in greater power, and where they can keep all his commandments.
See 2Kings 2:11-25; Daniel 8:14; Habakkuk 2:1-4;
Matthew 25:6; Revelation 14:8, 18:1-5
2Ki 2:11 And
it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there
appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder;
and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2Ki 2:12 And
Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and
the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own
clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2Ki 2:13 He
took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood
by the bank of Jordan;
2Ki 2:14 And
he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and
said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters,
they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
2Ki 2:15 And
when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said,
The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed
themselves to the ground before him.
2Ki 2:16 And
they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men;
let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of
the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.
And he said, Ye shall not send.
2Ki 2:17 And
when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore
fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
2Ki 2:18 And
when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them,
Did I not say unto you, Go not?
2Ki 2:19 And
the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of
this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the
ground barren.
2Ki 2:20 And
he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to
him.
2Ki 2:21 And
he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and
said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from
thence any more death or barren land.
2Ki 2:22 So
the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which
he spake.
2Ki 2:23 And
he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there
came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him,
Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
2Ki 2:24 And
he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD.
And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two
children of them.
2Ki 2:25 And
he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to
Samaria.
Dan
8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Hab 2:1 I will
stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he
will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
Hab 2:2 And
the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon
tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Hab 2:3 For
the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not
lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not
tarry.
Hab
2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the
just shall live by his faith.
Mat
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet him.
Rev
14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication.
Rev 18:1 And
after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great
power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And
he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul
spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For
all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the
kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of
the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I
heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be
not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For
her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities.
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