Coming Crisis
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from the sepulchers of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convent
vaults: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and
avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
The Lord is doing His work. All heaven is astir. The Judge of all the
earth is soon to arise and vindicate His insulted authority. The mark of
deliverance will be set upon the men who keep God’s commandments,
who revere His law, and who refuse the mark of the beast or of his
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image.
God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His
people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and
wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not
to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves
that the Lord will shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble. We
are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but
in earnest work, with unwavering faith. It is no time now to allow
our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance. While
men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging matters so that the Lord’s
people may not have mercy or justice. The Sunday movement is now
making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue,
and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither
the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild and apparently
Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit of the dragon.
It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We
should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper
light before the people. We should bring before them the real question
at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures
to restrict liberty of conscience. We should search the Scriptures and
be able to give the reason for our faith. Says the prophet: “The wicked
shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the
wise shall understand.”
Those who have access to God through Christ have important work
before them. Now is the time to lay hold of the arm of our strength.
The prayer of David should be the prayer of pastors and laymen: “It
is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law.”
Let the servants of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar,
crying: “Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to
reproach.” God has always wrought for His people in their greatest
extremity, when there seemed the least hope that ruin could be averted.