A Time of Trouble Such as Never Was

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for September 14
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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A Time of Trouble Such as Never Was

And 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, every one that shall be
found written in the book. Dan. 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." . . . 

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resisted, has been at last withdrawn.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. 

Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that
trying time. . . . Now is the time, while the four angels are holding
the four winds, to make our calling and election sure.

>From Maranatha - Page 265