Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The Gathering Time
September 23, the Lord showed me that He had stretched out
His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people,1
and that efforts must be redoubled in this gathering time. In the scattering,
Israel was smitten and torn, but now in the gathering time God will heal and
bind up His people. In the scattering, efforts made to spread the truth had but
little effect, accomplished but little or nothing; but in the gathering, when
God has set His hand to gather His people, efforts to spread the truth will
have their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in the work. I saw
that it was wrong for any to refer to the scattering for examples to govern us
now in the gathering; for if God should do no more for us now than He did then,
Israel would never be gathered. I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by
the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were
as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the
figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed.2 {EW 74.1}
Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Daniel
8:12) that the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and
does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to
those who gave the [75] judgment hour cry. When union
existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the
"daily"; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been
embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test
since 1844, and it will never again be a test. {EW 74.2}
The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel
must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, but it must
not be hung on time. I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising
from preaching time; but the third angel's message is stronger than time can
be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation and needs not time
to strengthen it; and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and
will be cut short in righteousness. {EW 75.1}
Then I was pointed to some who are in the great error of
believing that it is their duty to go to Old Jerusalem,*
and think they have a work to do there before the Lord comes. Such a view is
calculated to take the mind and interest from the present work of the Lord,
under the message of the third angel; for those who think that they are yet to
go to Jerusalem will have their minds there, and their means will be withheld
from the cause of present truth to get themselves and others there. I saw that
such a mission would accomplish no real good, that it would take a long while
to make a very few of the Jews believe even in the first advent of Christ, much
more to believe in His second advent. I saw that Satan had greatly deceived
some in this thing and that souls all around them in this land could be helped
by them and led to keep the commandments of God, but they were leaving them to
perish. I also saw that Old Jerusalem never would be built up; and that Satan
was doing his utmost to lead the minds of the children of the Lord into these
things now, in the gathering time, to keep [76] them
from throwing their whole interest into the present work of the Lord, and to
cause them to neglect the necessary preparation for the day of the Lord. {EW 75.2}
_______
Dear Reader: A sense of duty to my brethren and
sisters and a desire that the blood of souls might not be found on my garments
have governed me in writing this little work. I am aware of the unbelief that
exists in the minds of the multitude relative to visions, also that many who
profess to be looking for Christ and teach that we are in the "last
days" call them all of Satan. I expect much opposition from such, and had
I not felt that the Lord required it of me, I should not have made my views
thus public, as they will probably call forth the hatred and derision of some.
But I fear God more than man. {EW 76.1}
When the Lord first gave me messages to deliver to His
people, it was hard for me to declare them, and I often softened them down and
made them as mild as possible for fear of grieving some. It was a great trial
to declare the messages as the Lord gave them to me. I did not realize that I
was so unfaithful and did not see the sin and danger of such a course until in
vision I was taken into the presence of Jesus. He looked upon me with a frown
and turned His face from me. It is not possible to describe the terror and
agony I then felt. I fell upon my face before Him, but had no power to utter a
word. Oh, how I longed to be covered and hid from that dreadful frown! Then
could I realize, in some degree, what the feeling of the lost will be when they
cry, "Mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him
that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." {EW 76.2}
Presently an angel bade me rise, and the sight that met my
eyes can hardly be described. A company was [77]
presented before me whose hair and garments were torn and whose countenances
were the very picture of despair and horror. They came close to me and took
their garments and rubbed them on mine. I looked upon my garments and saw that
they were stained with blood, and that blood was eating holes in them. Again I
fell like one dead at the feet of my accompanying angel. I could not plead one
excuse. My tongue refused all utterance, and I longed to be away from such a
holy place. Again the angel stood me upon my feet and said, "This is not
your case now, but this scene has passed before you to let you know what your
situation must be if you neglect to declare to others what the Lord has
revealed to you. But if you are faithful to the end, you shall eat of the tree
of life and shall drink of the river of the water of life. You will have to
suffer much, but the grace of God is sufficient." I then felt willing to
do all that the Lord might require me to do that I might have His approbation
and not feel His dreadful frown. {EW 76.3}
I have frequently been falsely charged with teaching views
peculiar to Spiritualism. But before the editor of the Day-Star*
ran into that delusion, the Lord gave me a view of the sad and
desolating effects that would be produced upon the flock by him and others in
teaching the spiritual views. I have often seen the lovely Jesus, that He is a person.
I asked Him if His Father was a person and had a form like Himself. Said Jesus,
"I am in the express image of My Father's person." {EW 77.1}
I have often seen that the spiritual view took away all the
glory of heaven, and that in many minds the throne of David and the lovely
person of Jesus have been burned up in the fire of Spiritualism. I have seen
that some who have been deceived and led into this error will be brought out
into the light of truth, but it will be almost impossible for them to get
entirely rid of [78] the deceptive power of
Spiritualism. Such should make thorough work in confessing their errors and
leaving them forever. {EW
77.2}
I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule
of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in that
Word, promised to give visions in the "last days"; not for a
new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who
err from Bible truth. Thus God dealt with Peter when He was about to send him
to preach to the Gentiles. (Acts 10.) {EW 78.1}
To those who may circulate this little work, I would say
that it is designed for the sincere only and not for those who would ridicule
the things of the Spirit of God. {EW 78.2}
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