The Shaking Time

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 11
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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The Shaking Time

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matt. 24:12. 


Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is
not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth,
both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as
soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will
come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon
the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. 

The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and
confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the
very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of
doctrine will be blowing. . . . 

The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step
yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not
find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than
subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and
death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the
commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the
dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from
the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for
its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be
borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of
rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not
clothed with Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their
own nakedness. 

But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take the
places made vacant by those who become offended and leave the truth.... 

Men of true Christian principle will take their place, and will become
faithful, trustworthy householders, to advocate the word of God in its
true bearings, and in its simplicity. The Lord will work so that the
disaffected ones will be separated from the true and loyal ones.... The
ranks will not be diminished. Those who are firm and true will close up
the vacancies that are made by those who become offended and apostatize.

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