Divine Rebuke for Ignoring Counsel
151
Past Experiences Prepare for Future—Again and again I have
been shown that the past experiences of God’s people are not to be
counted as dead facts. We are not to treat the record of these experi-
ences as we would treat a last year’s almanac. The record is to be kept
in mind, for history will repeat itself. The darkness of the mysteries of
the night is to be illuminated with the light of heaven....
In the future, Satan’s superstitions will assume new forms. False
[176]
theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God’s
people. Thus Satan will try to deceive if possible the very elect. Our
watchword is to be, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (
Isaiah
8:20
).—
Letter 238, 1903
.
Warning Not to Rebuild in Battle Creek—Yesterday morning
we heard that the Review and Herald publishing building has been
burned to the ground. How sad this is! The financial loss that the fire
will be to the cause, we do not yet know. I hear that nothing was saved.
This disaster may make a decided change in affairs. I hope that
our brethren will heed the lesson that God is trying to teach them, and
that they will not rebuild the publishing house in Battle Creek. God
means that we shall not locate in the cities, for there are very stormy
times before us.—
Letter 2, 1903
.
Scattering From Battle Creek Spreads the Light—In the
calamities that have befallen our institutions in Battle Creek, we have
had an admonition from God. Let us not pass this admonition care-
lessly by without trying to understand its meaning. There are those
who will say, “Of course the Review office must be rebuilt in Battle
Creek.” Why did the Lord permit Jerusalem to be destroyed by fire
the first time? Why did He permit His people to be overcome by
their enemies and carried into heathen lands? It was because they had
failed to be His missionaries, and had built walls of division between
themselves and the people around them. The Lord scattered them, that
the knowledge of His truth might be carried to the world. If they were
loyal and true and submissive, God would bring them again into their
own land.—
Manuscript 22, 1903
.
The Lord instructed me that unless the people did respond to the
words of admonition sent them, He would surely scatter them from
Battle Creek. Again and again I have been shown that the Lord would
turn and overturn in Battle Creek.... The Lord told me that I must