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Another Illustration
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essary that the people be brought to seek earnestly for a present
preparation.
As the time passed, those who had not fully received the light of
the angel united with those who had despised the message, and they
turned upon the disappointed ones with ridicule. Angels marked the
situation of Christ’s professed followers. The passing of the definite
time had tested and proved them, and very many were weighed in the
balance and found wanting. They loudly claimed to be Christians,
yet in almost every particular failed to follow Christ. Satan exulted
at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. He had them in his
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snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path, and they
were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw
the pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion and with world-
loving hypocrites. They had watched over the true disciples of
Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy. Those whose hearts
burned with an intense desire to see Jesus were forbidden by their
professed brethren to speak of His coming. Angels viewed the scene
and sympathized with the remnant who loved the appearing of their
Lord.
Another mighty angel was commissioned to descend to earth.
Jesus placed in his hand a writing, and as he came to the earth, he
cried, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” Then I saw the disappointed
ones again raise their eyes to heaven, looking with faith and hope
for their Lord’s appearing. But many seemed to remain in a stupid
state, as if asleep; yet I could see the trace of deep sorrow upon their
countenances. The disappointed ones saw from the Scriptures that
they were in the tarrying time, and that they must patiently wait the
fulfillment of the vision. The same evidence which led them to look
for their Lord in 1843, led them to expect Him in 1844. Yet I saw
that the majority did not possess that energy which marked their
faith in 1843. Their disappointment had dampened their faith.
As the people of God united in the cry of the second angel,
the heavenly host marked with the deepest interest the effect of the
message. They saw many who bore the name of Christians turn
with scorn and derision upon those who had been disappointed. As
the words fell from mocking lips, “You have not gone up yet!” an
angel wrote them. Said the angel, “They mock God.” I was pointed
back to a similar sin committed in ancient times. Elijah had been