Chapter 60
The Time of Jacob's Trouble
I SAW the saints leaving the cities and
villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places.
Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and
thirst. Then I saw the leading men of the earth consulting together, and Satan and his
angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different
parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith,
give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty
after a certain time to put them to death. But in this hour of trial the saints were calm
and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His promise that a way of escape would be
made for them.
In some places, before the
time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints to slay them; but
angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to have the privilege of
destroying the saints of the Most High, but Jesus bade His angels watch over them. God
would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the
heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing
death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.
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Soon I saw the saints
suffering great mental anguish. They seemed to be surrounded by the wicked inhabitants of
the earth. Every appearance was against them. Some began to fear that God had at last left
them to perish by the hand of the wicked. But if their eyes could have been opened, they
would have seen themselves surrounded by angels of God. Next came the multitude of the
angry wicked, and next a mass of evil angels, hurrying on the wicked to slay the saints.
But before they could approach God's people, the wicked must first pass this company of
mighty, holy angels. This was impossible. The angels of God were causing them to recede
and also causing the evil angels who were pressing around them to fall back.
The
Cry for Deliverance
It was an hour of fearful,
terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God for deliverance. To
outward appearance, there was no possibility of their escape. The wicked had already begun
to triumph, crying out, "Why doesn't your God deliver you out of our hands? Why don't
you go up and save your lives?" But the saints heeded them not. Like Jacob, they were
wrestling with God. The angels longed to deliver them, but they must wait a little longer;
the people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism. The angels,
faithful to their trust, continued their watch. God would not suffer His name to be
reproached among the heathen. The time had nearly come when He was to manifest His mighty
power and gloriously deliver His saints. For His name's glory He would deliver every one
of those who had patiently waited for Him and whose names were written in the book.
I was pointed back to
faithful Noah. When the
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rain descended and the Flood came, Noah and his family had entered
the ark, and God had shut them in. Noah had faithfully warned the inhabitants of the
antediluvian world, while they had mocked and derided him. And as the waters descended
upon the earth, and one after another was drowning, they beheld that ark, of which they
had made so much sport, riding safely upon the waters, preserving the faithful Noah and
his family. So I saw that the people of God, who had faithfully warned the world of His
coming wrath, would be delivered. God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who
were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his
mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil
host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a triumph it would be for his
satanic majesty to have power, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long
waited to behold Him whom they loved! Those who have mocked at the idea of the saints'
going up will witness the care of God for His people and behold their glorious
deliverance.
As the saints left the cities
and villages, they were pursued by the wicked, who sought to slay them. But the swords
that were raised to kill God's people broke and fell as powerless as straw. Angels of God
shielded the saints. As they cried day and night for deliverance, their cry came up before
the Lord.
Copyright © 1974
The Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Preparing For Eternity
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