Preparing for the Final Crisis
343
iniquity calls for more earnest prayer, and God has promised that He
will avenge His own elect, who cry day and night unto Him, though
He bear long with them.
Men are prone to abuse the long-suffering of God, and to presume
on His forbearance. But there is a point in human iniquity when it
is time for God to interfere; and terrible are the issues. “The Lord is
slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked”
(
Nahum 1:3
). The long-suffering of God is wonderful, because He
[373]
puts constraint on His own attributes; but punishment is nonetheless
certain. Every century of profligacy has treasured up wrath against the
day of wrath; and when the time comes, and the iniquity is full, then
God will do His strange work. It will be found a terrible thing to have
worn out the divine patience; for the wrath of God will fall so signally
and strongly that it is presented as being unmixed with mercy; and the
very earth will be desolated. It is at the time of the national apostasy,
when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the land will rank
themselves on the side of the man of sin—it is then the measure of
guilt is full; the national apostasy is the signal for national ruin.
God has thrust His people into the gap, to make up the hedge,
to raise up the foundation of many generations. The heavenly intel-
ligences, angels that excel in strength, are waiting, obedient to His
command, to unite with human agencies; and the Lord will interpose
when matters have come to such a pass that none but a divine power
can counteract the satanic agencies at work. When His people shall
be in the greatest danger, seemingly unable to stand against the power
of Satan, God will work in their behalf. Man’s extremity is God’s
opportunity.
Now is the time when the loyal and true are to arise and shine; for
the glory of the Lord is risen upon them. It is no time now to hide our
colors, no time to turn traitors when the battle presses sore, no time
to lay aside our weapons of warfare. Watchmen on the walls of Zion
must be wide awake.
I am so thankful at this time that we can have our minds taken
off from the difficulties that surround us, and the oppression that is to
come upon the people of God, and can look up to the heaven of light
and power. If we place ourselves on the side of God, of Christ and the
heavenly intelligences, the broad shield of Omnipotence is over us, the