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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
heed to lying spirits. Everywhere the spirit of darkness in the garb of
religion will confront you.
If all that appears to be divine life were such in reality; if all
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who profess to present the truth to the world were preaching for the
truth and not against it, and if they were men of God guided by His
Spirit,—then might we see something cheering amid the prevailing
moral darkness. But the spirit of antichrist is prevailing to such an
extent as never before. Well may we exclaim: “Help, Lord; for the
godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of
men.” I know that many think far too favorably of the present time.
These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin. Yet we
do not despair. We have been inclined to think that where there are no
faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the
case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will
take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly
dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification
of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and
true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to
measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near
when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will
thoroughly purge His floor.
The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity
and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible,
the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of
doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage
to “science falsely so called” will not be the leaders then. Those who
have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head
of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who
have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the
flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are
self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord
has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed
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to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed
the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining
in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and
uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character
will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see