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God’s Ideal for His Church, October 9
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.
Ephesians 5:27
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The Lord God is a jealous God; yet He bears long with the sins and
transgressions of His people in this generation. If the people of God
had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have advanced, the
messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell on
the face of the whole earth.... But because the people are disobedient,
unthankful, unholy, as were ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all
may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The
Lord’s work has been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have
not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be
converted.
What are you doing ... in the great work of preparation? Those who
are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing
for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are
humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying
the truth—these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the
seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the
stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for
eternity. Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be
placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be
placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman.
It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false
tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without
spot before God—candidates for heaven.
Every individual soul, if he would receive the seal of the living God,
must hear the Word of the Lord, and do it with exactitude. There must
be no such thing as haphazard religion if men would have a place in the
family of God.
Now is the time, while the four angels are holding the four winds,
to make our calling and election sure.
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