Chapter 36—The Time of Jacob’s Trouble
I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating in
companies together, and living in the most solitary places. Angels
provided them food and water; but the wicked were suffering with
hunger and thirst. Then I saw the leading men of earth consulting
together, and Satan and his angels were busy around them. I saw a
writing, and copies of it scattered in different parts of the land, giving
orders, that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up
the Sabbath, and observe the first day, they were at liberty, after such
a time, to put them to death. But in this time the saints were calm
and composed, trusting in God, and leaning upon his promise, that a
[202]
way of escape would be made for them. In some places, before the
time for the writing to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints
to slay them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them.
Satan wished to have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most
High; but Jesus bade his angels watch over them, for God would be
honored by making a covenant with those who had kept his law in the
sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by
translating the faithful, waiting ones, who had so long expected him,
without their seeing death.
Soon I saw the saints suffering great mental anguish. They seemed
to be surrounded with the wicked inhabitants of earth. Every appear-
ance was against them. Some began to fear that God had left them at
last to perish by the hand of the wicked. But if their eyes could have
been opened, they would have seen themselves surrounded by angels
of God. Next came the multitude of the angry wicked, and next a mass
of evil angels, hurrying on the wicked to slay the saints. But as they
would attempt to approach them, they would first have to pass this
company of mighty, holy angels, which was impossible. The angels
of God were causing them to recede, and also causing the evil angels
who were pressing around them, to fall back. It was an hour of terrible,
fearful agony to the saints. They cried day and night unto God for
[203]
deliverance. To outward appearance, there was no possibility of their
133