74
Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White
sufferings, and His death for them; and while God’s messengers are
waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth, that they might be sealed
with the seal of the living God. It is hard for some who profess to
believe the present truth, to do even so little as to hand the messengers
God’s own money that He has lent them to be stewards over.
The suffering Jesus, His love so deep as to lead Him to give His
life for man, was again held up before me; also the lives of those
who professed to be His followers, who had this world’s goods, but
considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel
said, “Can such enter heaven?” Another angel answered: “No, never,
never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on
earth, can never sing the song of redeeming love above.” I saw that the
quick work that God was doing on the earth would soon be cut short
in righteousness, and that the messengers must speed swiftly on their
way to search out the scattered flock.
The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will
be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand
for the truth, and to sacrifice for God and His cause. The angel said:
“Think ye that any will be compelled to sacrifice? No, no. It must
be a freewill offering. It will take all to buy the field.” I cried to God
[108]
to spare His people, some of whom were fainting and dying. Then I
saw that the judgments of the Almighty were speedily coming, and I
begged of the angel to speak in his language to the people. Said he,
“All the thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai would not move those
who will not be moved by the plain truths of the word of God, neither
would an angel’s message awake them.”
I then beheld the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was
whiter than the whitest white. No language can describe His glory and
exalted loveliness. All, all who keep the commandments of God, will
enter in through the gates into the city, and have right to the tree of life,
and ever be in the presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance
shines brighter than the sun at noonday.
I was pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the
forbidden tree, and were driven from the garden, and then the flaming
sword was placed around the tree of life, lest they should partake of
its fruit and be immortal sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate
immortality. I heard an angel ask, “Who of the family of Adam have
passed the flaming sword, and have partaken of the tree of life?” I