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Duty in View of the Time of Trouble
The Lord has shown me repeatedly that it is contrary to the Bible
to make any provision for our temporal wants in the time of trouble.
I saw that if the saints had food laid up by them or in the field in
the time of trouble, when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the
land, it would be taken from them by violent hands and strangers
would reap their fields. Then will be the time for us to trust wholly
in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water will
be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger; for
God is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary
He would send ravens to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah, or rain
manna from heaven, as He did for the Israelites.
Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of
trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and
at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the
cause of present truth. I was shown that it is the will of God that the
saints should cut loose from every encumbrance before the time of
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trouble comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If
they have their property on the altar and earnestly inquire of God for
duty, He will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they
will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them
down.
I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire
of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and
they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of
trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them,
and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard
some mourn like this: “The cause was languishing, God’s people
were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack;
now our property is useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up
treasure in heaven!” I saw that a
sacrifice
did not increase, but it
decreased and was
consumed
. I also saw that God had not required
all of His people to dispose of their property at the same time; but if
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