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which He bears long； and which He will not smite until it has filled up the
measure of its iniquity in God's account； will finally drink the cup of
wrath unmixed with mercy。
When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary； the unmingled wrath
threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his
mark （Revelation 14：9； 10）； will be poured out。 The plagues upon Egypt when
God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those
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more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just
before the final deliverance of God's people。 Says the revelator； in
describing those terrific scourges： 〃There fell a noisome and grievous sore
upon the men which had the mark of the beast； and upon them which worshiped
his image。〃 The sea 〃became as the blood of a dead man： and every living
soul died in the sea。〃 And 〃the rivers and fountains of waters 。 。 。 became
blood。〃 Terrible as these inflictions are； God's justice stands fully
vindicated。 The angel of God declares： 〃Thou art righteous； O Lord； 。 。 。
because Thou hast judged thus。 For they have shed the blood of saints and
prophets； and Thou hast given them blood to drink； for they are worthy。〃
Revelation 16：2…6。 By condemning the people of God to death； they have as
truly incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their
hands。 In like manner Christ declared the Jews of His time guilty of all the
blood of holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel； for they
possessed the same spirit and were seeking to do the same work with these
murderers of the prophets。
In the plague that follows； power is given to the sun 〃to scorch men with
fire。 And men were scorched with great heat。〃 Verses 8； 9。 The prophets thus
describe the condition of the earth at this fearful time： 〃The land
mourneth； 。 。 。 because the harvest of the field is perished。 。 。 。 All the
trees of the field are withered： because joy is withered away from the sons
of men。〃 〃The seed is rotten under their clods； the garners are laid
desolate。 。 。 。 How do the beasts groan！ the herds of cattle are perplexed；
because they have no pasture。 。 。 。 The rivers of water are dried up； and
the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness。〃 〃The songs of the
temple shall be howlings in that day； saith the Lord God： there shall be
many dead bodies in every place； they shall cast them forth with silence。〃
Joel 1：10…12； 17…20； Amos 8：3。
These plagues are not universal； or the inhabitants of the earth would be
wholly cut off。 Yet they will be the most
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awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals。 All the judgments upon
men； prior to the close of probation； have been mingled with mercy。 The
pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full
measure of his guilt； but in the final judgment； wrath is poured out unmixed
with mercy。
In that day； multitudes will desire the shelter of God's mercy which they
have so long despised。 〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord God； that I
will send a famine in the land； not a famine of bread； nor a thirst for
water； but of hearing the words of the Lord： and they shall wander from sea
to sea； and from the north even to the east； they shall run to and fro to
seek the word of the Lord； and shall not find it。〃 Amos 8：11； 12。
The people of God will not be free from suffering； but while persecuted and
distressed； while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they
will not be left to perish。 That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by
one of His self…sacrificing children。 He who numbers the hairs of their head
will care for them； and in time of famine they shall be satisfied。 While the
wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence； angels will shield the
righteous and supply their wants。 To him that 〃walketh righteously〃 is the
promise： 〃Bread shall be given him； his waters shall be sure。〃 〃When the
poor and needy seek water； and there is none； and their tongue faileth for
thirst； I the Lord will hear them； I the God of Israel will not forsake
them。〃 Isaiah 33：15； 16； 41：17。
〃Although the fig tree shall not blossom； neither shall fruit be in the
vines； the labor of the olive shall fail； and the fields shall yield no
meat； the flock shall be cut off from the fold； and there shall be no herd
in the stalls；〃 yet shall they that fear Him 〃rejoice in the Lord〃 and joy
in the God of their salvation。 Habakkuk 3：17； 18。
〃The Lord is thy keeper： the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand。 The sun
shall not smite thee by day； nor the moon by night。 The Lord shall preserve
thee from all evil：
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He shall preserve thy soul。〃 〃He shall deliver thee from the snare of the
fowler； and from the noisome pestilence。 He shall cover thee with His
fathers； and under His wings shalt thou trust： His truth shall be thy shield
and buckler。 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night； nor for the
arrow that flieth by day； nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness；
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday。 A thousand shall fall at
thy side； and ten thousand at thy right hand； but it shall not come nigh
thee。 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the
wicked。 Because thou hast made the Lord； which is my refuge； even the Most
High； thy habitation； there shall no evil befall thee； neither shall any
plague come nigh thy dwelling。〃 Psalms 121：5…7； 91：3…10。
Yet to human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal
their testimony with their blood as did the martyrs before them。 They
themselves begin to fear that the Lord has left them to fall by the hand of
their enemies。 It is a time of fearful agony。 Day and night they cry unto
God for deliverance。 The wicked exult； and the jeering cry is heard： 〃Where
now is your faith？ Why does not God deliver you out of our hands if you are
indeed His people？〃 But the waiting ones remember Jesus dying upon Calvary's
cross and the chief priests and rulers shouting in mockery： 〃He saved
others； Himself He cannot save。 If He be the King of Israel； let Him now
come down from the cross； and we will believe Him。〃 Matthew 27：42。 Like
Jacob； all are wrestling with God。 Their countenances express their internal
struggle。 Paleness sits upon every face。 Yet they cease not their earnest
intercession。
Could men see with heavenly vision； they would behold companies of angels
that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of
Christ's patience。 With sympathizing tenderness； angels have witnessed their
distress and have heard their prayers。 They are waiting the word of their
Commander to snatch them from their peril。 But they must wait yet a little
longer。 The people of God must drink
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of the cup and be baptized with the baptism。 The very delay； so painful to
them； is the best answer to their petitions。 As they endeavor to wait
trustingly for the Lord to work they are led to exercise faith； hope； and
patience； which have been too little exercised during their religious
experience。 Yet for the elect's sake the time of trouble will be shortened。
〃Shall not God avenge His own elect； which cry day and night unto Him？ 。 。 。
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily。〃 Luke 18：7； 8。 The end will
come more quickly than men expect。 The wheat will be gathered and bound in
sheaves for the garner of God； the tares will be bound as fagots for the
fires of destruction。
The heavenly sentinels； faithful to their trust； continue their watch。
Though a general decree has fixed the time when commandment keepers may be
put to death； their enemies will in some cases anticipate the decree； and
before the time specified； will endeavor to take their lives。 But none can
pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul。 Some are
assailed in their flight from the cities and villages； but the swords raised
against them break and fall powerless as a straw。 Others are defended by
angels in the form of men of war。
In all ages； God has wrought through holy angels for the succor and
deliverance of His people。 Celestial beings have taken an active part in the
affairs of men。 They have appeared clothed in garments that shone as the
lightning； they have come as men in the garb of wayfarers。 Angels have
appeared in human form to men of God。 They have rested； as if weary； under
the oaks at noon。 They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes。 They
have acted as guides to benighted travelers。 They have； with their own
hands； kindled the fires at the altar。 They have opened prison doors and set
free the servants of the Lord。 Clothed with the panoply of heaven； they came
to roll away the stone from the Saviour's tomb。
In the form of men； angels are often in the assemblies of
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the righteous； and they visit the assemblies of the wicked； as they went to
Sodom； to make a record of their deeds； to determine whether they have
passed the boundary of God's forbearance。 The Lord delights in mercy； and
for the sake of a few who really serve Him； He restr