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Open and the Shut Door
59
from the truth by a Satanic influence. Oh, that all could get a view
of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the
wiles of Satan and be on their guard! I saw that Satan was at work
in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just
now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly
for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding,
because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering
of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were
thus trembling.
Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were,
until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God’s
people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of
God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering
over His people, and it will soon be drawn over all who are to have
a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for His
people; and Satan will be permitted to work also.
[45]
I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reforma-
tions would increase and spread. The reformations that were shown
me were not reformations from error to truth. My accompanying
angel bade me look for the travail of soul for sinners as used to
be. I looked, but could not see it; for the time for their salvation is
past. [
The writer of these words did not understand them as teaching
that the time for the salvation of all sinners was past. At the very
time when these things were written she herself was laboring for the
salvation of sinners, as she has been doing ever since
.
Her understanding of the matter as it has been presented to her
is given in the following paragraphs, the first published in 1854, and
the second in 1888:
“The ‘false reformations’ here referred to are yet to be more fully
seen. The view relates more particularly to those who have heard
and rejected the light of the advent doctrine. They are given over to
strong delusions. Such will not have ‘the travail of soul for sinners’
as formerly. Having rejected the advent, and being given over to the
delusions of Satan, ‘the time for their salvation is past.’ This does
not, however, relate to those who have not heard and rejected the
doctrine of the second advent.”
“It is a fearful thing to treat lightly the truth which has convinced
our understanding and touched our hearts. We cannot with impunity