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A City of Refuge, October 2
For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his
habitation. This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell; for I have
desired it.
Psalm 132:13, 14
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Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has
sustained His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not
prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork His work,
that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as He predicted. He has
not left His church forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations
what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the prophets to
foretell has been brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled. His
law is linked with His throne, and no power of evil can destroy it. Truth
is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition.
During ages of spiritual darkness, the church of God has been as a
city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the
pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders.... It
is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to
transform hearts.
The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in
a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who
has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From
the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In
every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful
testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the
message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor,
others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant
relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in
heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the
gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people.
God loves His children with infinite love. To Him the dearest object
on earth is His church.
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