Chapter 30—The Shaking
I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with
God. Their countenances were pale, and marked with deep anxiety,
expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness
was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell
from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with
the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest,
anxious look would settle upon them.
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut
out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the dark-
ness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God, and
murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes di-
rected upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the
poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious
ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over
them to scatter the thick darkness.
As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of
light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts, and light up
their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of
agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They
were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a
thick cloud. The angels of God left these, and went to the aid of the
earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of
all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels,
and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance.
But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I
lost sight of them. 175
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I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that
it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel
of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon
the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and
pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony.
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