The Church Appears About to Fall

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 14
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The Church Appears About to Fall

But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not
forget thee. Isa. 49:14, 15. 


Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as
supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall.
It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff
separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but
nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming
by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found
with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in
their mouths.... The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the
truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of
holiness amid the surrounding apostasy. 

I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or
broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in
this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those
who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be
deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come
to naught. 

I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still
guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to
the end. 

We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We
cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy
from the truth. 

The church, soon to enter upon her most severe conflict, will be the
object most dear to God upon earth. The confederacy of evil will be
stirred with power from beneath, and Satan will cast all the reproach
possible upon the chosen ones whom he cannot deceive and delude with his
satanic inventions and falsehoods. But exalted "to be a Prince and a
Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins," will
Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or withdraw His
hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.

>From Maranatha - Page 203