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The Great Controversy 1888
hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went
over.” [
Isaiah 51:11-16, 21-23
.]
The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis
which his people are to meet, when earthly powers shall be arrayed
against them. Like the captive exile, they will be in fear of death by
starvation or by violence. But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea
before Israel, will manifest his mighty power and turn their captivity.
“They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make
up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that
serveth him.” [
Malachi 3:17
.] If the blood of Christ’s faithful witnesses
were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs,
be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their fidelity would not
be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the obdurate heart
has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more. If
the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies it would
be a triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist, “In the
time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his
tabernacle shall he hide me.” [
Psalm 27:5
.] Christ has spoken: “Come,
my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about
thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be
overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the
inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.” [
Isaiah 26:20, 21
.] Glorious
will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for his
coming, and whose names are written in the book of life.
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