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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
Great power was with these chosen ones. Said the angel: “Look
ye!” My attention was turned to the wicked, or unbelievers. They
were all astir. The zeal and power with the people of God had aroused
and enraged them. Confusion, confusion was on every side. I saw
measures taken against this company, who had the power and light of
God. Darkness thickened around them, yet there they stood, approved
of God, and trusting in Him. I saw them perplexed. Next I heard them
crying unto God earnestly. Through the day and night their cry ceased
not. [
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and
night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will
avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the son of man cometh,
shall he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:7, 8
. See also
Revelation
14:14, 15
.] I heard these words: “Thy will, O God, be done! If it can
glorify Thy name, make a way of escape for Thy people! Deliver us
from the heathen round about us! They have appointed us unto death;
but Thine arm can bring salvation.” These are all the words that I can
bring to mind. All seemed to have a deep sense of their unworthiness,
and manifested entire submission to the will of God. Yet like Jacob,
every one, without an exception, was earnestly pleading and wrestling
for deliverance.
Soon after they had commenced their earnest cry, the angels, in
sympathy, would have gone to their deliverance. But a tall, command-
ing angel suffered them not. Said he: “The will of God is not yet
fulfilled. They must drink of the cup. They must be baptized with the
baptism.”
[184]
Soon I heard the voice of God which shook the heavens and the
earth. [
“The Lord also shall roar out of zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord
will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of
Israel.”
Joel 3:16
. See also
Hebrews 12:26
;
Revelation 6:17
.] There
was a mighty earthquake. Buildings were shaken down, and fell on
every side. I then heard a triumphant shout of victory, loud, musical,
and clear. I looked upon this company, who, a short time before,
were in such distress and bondage. Their captivity was turned. A
glorious light shone upon them. How beautiful they then looked! All
weariness and marks of care were gone; health and beauty were seen
in every countenance. Their enemies, the heathen around them, fell
like dead men. They could not endure the light that shone upon the