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Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White
with their iniquity until the fourth generation. Then, if no change was
seen for the better, His judgments were to fall upon them.
With unerring accuracy, the Infinite One still keeps an account
with all nations. While His mercy is tendered, with calls to repentance,
this account will remain open; but when the figures reach a certain
amount which God has fixed, the ministry of His wrath commences.
The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more
pleading of mercy in their behalf....
The crisis is fast approaching. The time for God’s visitation has
about come. Although loth to punish, nevertheless He will punish,
and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of
the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned
expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God
will shelter His people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They should
realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others, looking
with strong faith to God for help. “The effectual, fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.”
James 5:16
.
The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time
when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little
company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for
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the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will
their prayers arise in behalf of the church, because its members are
doing after the manner of the world.
The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When
the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of
all those who have preserved the faith in its purity, and kept themselves
unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to
avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He
bear long with them.
The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will
be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the
abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the
world are eating and drinking with the drunken, and will surely be
destroyed with the workers of iniquity. “The eyes of the Lord are upon
the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry;” but “the face of
the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Psalm 34:15, 16
.
Our own course of action will determine whether we shall receive
the seal of the living God, or be cut down by the destroying weapons.