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history of the church have each been marked by the development of some
special truth； adapted to the necessities of God's people at that time。
Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition； those who
were blessed with its light were tempted and tried。 The Lord gives a special
truth for the people in an emergency。 Who dare refuse to publish it？ He
commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world。
They cannot remain silent； except at the peril of their souls。 Christ's
ambassadors
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have nothing to do with consequences。 They must perform their duty and leave
results with God。
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。 The
contest grows closer and sharper； but their faith and courage rise with the
emergency。 Their testimony is： 〃We dare not tamper with God's word； dividing
His holy law； calling one portion essential and another nonessential； to
gain the favor of the world。 The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us。
Christ has conquered the powers of earth； and shall we be afraid of a world
already conquered？〃
Persecution in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will
exist as long as Satan exists and Christianity has vital power。 No man can
serve God without enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of
darkness。 Evil angels will assail him； alarmed that his influence is taking
the prey from their hands。 Evil men； rebuked by his example； will unite with
them in seeking to separate him from God by alluring temptations。 When these
do not succeed； then a compelling power is employed to force the conscience。
But so long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary above； the
restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people。 It
still controls to some extent the laws of the land。 Were it not for these
laws； the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is。 While
many of our rulers are active agents of Satan； God also has His agents among
the leading men of the nation。 The enemy moves upon his servants to propose
measures that would greatly impede the work of God； but statesmen who fear
the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions with
unanswerable arguments。 Thus a few men will
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hold in check a powerful current of evil。 The opposition of the enemies of
truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work。
When the final warning shall be given； it will arrest the attention of these
leading men through whom the Lord is now working； and some of them will
accept it； and will stand with the people of God through the time of
trouble。
The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message is to
lighten the whole earth with his glory。 A work of world…wide extent and
unwonted power is here foretold。 The advent movement of 1840…44 was a
glorious manifestation of the power of God； the first angel's message was
carried to every missionary station in the world； and in some countries
there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any
land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century； but these are to be
exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel。
The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost。 As the 〃former
rain〃 was given； in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the
gospel； to cause the upspringing of the precious seed； so the 〃latter rain〃
will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest。 〃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。〃 Hosea 6：3。 〃Be glad then； ye children of Zion； and
rejoice in the Lord your God： for He hath given you the former rain
moderately； and He will cause to come down for you the rain； the former
rain； and the latter rain。〃 Joel 2：23。 〃In the last days； saith God； I will
pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh。〃 〃And it shall come to pass； that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved。〃 Acts 2：17； 21。
The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the
power of God than marked its opening。 The prophecies which were fulfilled in
the outpouring of the
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former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the
latter rain at its close。 Here are 〃the times of refreshing〃 to which the
apostle Peter looked forward when he said： 〃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； and He shall send Jesus。〃 Acts
3：19； 20。
Servants of God； with their faces lighted up and shining with holy
consecration； will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from
heaven。 By thousands of voices； all over the earth； the warning will be
given。 Miracles will be wrought； the sick will be healed； and signs and
wonders will follow the believers。 Satan also works； with lying wonders；
even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men。 Revelation 13：13。
Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand。
The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep
conviction of the Spirit of God。 The arguments have been presented。 The seed
has been sown； and now it will spring up and bear fruit。 The publications
distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence； yet many
whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the
truth or from yielding obedience。 Now the rays of light penetrate
everywhere； the truth is seen in its clearness； and the honest children of
God sever the bands which have held them。 Family connections； church
relations； are powerless to stay them now。 Truth is more precious than all
besides。 Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth； a large
number take their stand upon the Lord's side。
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Chapter 39
The Time of Trouble
〃At that time shall Michael stand up； the great Prince which standeth for
the children of thy people： and there shall be a time of trouble； such as
never was since there was a nation even to that same time： and at that time
thy people shall be delivered； everyone that shall be found written in the
book。〃 Daniel 12：1。
When the third angel's message closes； mercy no longer pleads for the guilty
inhabitants of the earth。 The people of God have accomplished their work。
They have received 〃the latter rain；〃 〃the refreshing from the presence of
the Lord；〃 and they are prepared for the trying hour before them。 Angels are
hastening to and fro in heaven。 An angel returning from the earth announces
that his work is done； the final test has been brought upon the world； and
all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received
〃the seal of the living God。〃 Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the
sanctuary above。 He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says； 〃It is
done；〃 and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn
announcement： 〃He that is unjust； let him be unjust still： and he which is
filthy； let him be filthy still： and he that is righteous； let him be
righteous still： and he that is holy； let him be holy still。〃 Revelation
22：11。 Every case has been decided for life or death。 Christ has made the
atonement for His people and
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blotted out their sins。 The number of His subjects is made up； 〃the kingdom
and dominion； and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven；〃 is
about to be given to the heirs of salvation； and Jesus is to reign as King
of kings and Lord of lords。
When He leaves the sanctuary； darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth。
In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God
without an intercessor。 The restraint which has been upon the wicked is
removed； and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent。 God's
long…suffering has ended。 The world has rejected His mercy； despised His
love； and trampled upon His law。 The wicked have passed the boundary of
their probation； the Spirit of God； persistently resisted； has been at last
withdrawn。 Unsheltered by divine grace； they have no protection from the
wicked one。 Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one
great； final trouble。 As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce
winds of human passion； all the elements of strife will be let loose。 The
whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon
Jerusalem of old。
A single angel destroyed all the first…born of the Egyptians and filled the
land with mourning。 When David offended against God by numbering the people；
one angel caus