126 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
I thank God that the light has come to this place. Although it may
seem that you are all alone here, yet you are not alone; for Christ is with
you; you are in blessed company. You have the words coming down
the line from prophets and apostles, to encourage you to steadfastness.
Many of these holy men lost their lives for their faithfulness to God.
If you suffer for the truth’s sake, remember that this is no more than
others have done before you. What trials and afflictions Paul endured,
yet he says: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen;
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.”
As the wickedness of the wicked increases, opposition will be
brought to bear upon you closer and closer. Satan has many batteries
prepared to open upon the people of God. You will have troubles and
difficulties to meet, such as you never experienced before, and there
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will seem to be no way of escape. But if you have learned to trust
in God, you know that he will not leave you; you have the assurance
that he will hear your prayers, for he has been to you all that he has
promised. You can hang your helpless soul on Jesus, and in the time
of trial he will prove to you a never-failing helper.
Those who here acknowledge God as their ruler, by obeying the
laws of his government, will be accounted worthy of a place in his
family in heaven; for they have proved that they will reverence him and
obey his will in the future life. When the final hour of trial comes, God
will send his angels to guard them. When the voice that once shook the
earth shall shake not only the earth but also heaven, then the voice of
our Lord will be heard saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” They
will see him as he is; they will escape those things that are coming
upon the earth, and will stand within the heavenly courts; for Christ
has promised, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.”