Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
Another Illustration
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'Another mighty angel was comissioned to descend to earth. Jesus placed in his hand a writing, and as he came to the earth, he cried, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.'
Illustration ©
Review and Herald Publ. Assoc. |
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I was shown the interest which all heaven had taken in the
work going on upon the earth. Jesus commissioned a mighty angel to descend and
warn the inhabitants of the earth to prepare for His second appearing. As the
angel left the presence of Jesus in heaven, an exceedingly bright and glorious
light went before him. I was told that his mission was to lighten the earth
with his glory and warn man of the coming wrath of God. Multitudes received the
light. Some of these seemed to be very solemn, while others were joyful and
enraptured. All who received the light turned their faces toward heaven and
glorified God. Though it was shed upon all, some merely came under its
influence, but did not heartily receive it. Many were filled with great wrath.
Ministers and people united with the vile and stoutly resisted the [246]
light shed by the mighty angel. But all who received it withdrew from the world
and were closely united with one another. {EW 245.2}
Satan and his angels were busily engaged in seeking to
attract the minds of as many as possible from the light. The company who
rejected it were left in darkness. I saw the angel of God watching with the
deepest interest His professed people, to record the character which they
developed as the message of heavenly origin was presented to them. And as very
many who professed love for Jesus turned from the heavenly message with scorn,
derision, and hatred, an angel with a parchment in his hand made the shameful
record. All heaven was filled with indignation that Jesus should be thus
slighted by His professed followers. {EW 246.1}
I saw the disappointment of the trusting ones, as they did
not see their Lord at the expected time. It had been God's purpose to conceal
the future and to bring His people to a point of decision. Without the
preaching of definite time for the coming of Christ, the work designed of God
would not have been accomplished. Satan was leading very many to look far in
the future for the great events connected with the judgment and the end of
probation. It was necessary that the people be brought to seek earnestly for a
present preparation. {EW
246.2}
As the time passed, those who had not fully received the
light of the angel united with those who had despised the message, and they
turned upon the disappointed ones with ridicule. Angels marked the situation of
Christ's professed followers. The passing of the definite time had tested and
proved them, and very many were weighed in the balance and found wanting. They
loudly claimed to be Christians, yet in almost every particular failed to
follow Christ. Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. [247]
He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path,
and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the
pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion and with world-loving hypocrites.
They had watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were
affecting the holy. Those whose hearts burned with an intense desire to see
Jesus were forbidden by their professed brethren to speak of His coming. Angels
viewed the scene and sympathized with the remnant who loved the appearing of
their Lord. {EW 246.3}
Another mighty angel was commissioned to descend to earth.
Jesus placed in his hand a writing, and as he came to the earth, he cried,
"Babylon is fallen, is fallen." Then I saw the disappointed ones
again raise their eyes to heaven, looking with faith and hope for their Lord's
appearing. But many seemed to remain in a stupid state, as if asleep; yet I
could see the trace of deep sorrow upon their countenances. The disappointed
ones saw from the Scriptures that they were in the tarrying time, and that they
must patiently wait the fulfillment of the vision. The same evidence which led
them to look for their Lord in 1843, led them to expect Him in 1844. Yet I saw
that the majority did not possess that energy which marked their faith in 1843.
Their disappointment had dampened their faith. {EW 247.1}
As the people of God united in the cry of the second angel,
the heavenly host marked with the deepest interest the effect of the message.
They saw many who bore the name of Christians turn with scorn and derision upon
those who had been disappointed. As the words fell from mocking lips, "You
have not gone up yet!" an angel wrote them. Said the angel, "They
mock God." I was pointed back to a similar sin committed in ancient times.
Elijah had been translated [248] to heaven, and his mantle had
fallen upon Elisha. Then wicked youth, who had learned from their parents to
despise the man of God, followed Elisha, and mockingly cried, "Go up, thou
bald head; go up, thou bald head." In thus insulting His servant, they
insulted God and met their punishment then and there. In like manner, those who
have scoffed and mocked at the idea of the saints' going up, will be visited
with the wrath of God, and will be made to feel that it is not a light thing to
trifle with their Maker. {EW
247.2}
Jesus commissioned other angels to fly quickly to revive and
strengthen the drooping faith of His people and prepare them to understand the
message of the second angel and the important move which was soon to be made in
heaven. I saw these angels receive great power and light from Jesus and fly
quickly to earth to fulfill their commission to aid the second angel in his
work. A great light shone upon the people of God as the angels cried,
"Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Then I saw
these disappointed ones rise and in harmony with the second angel proclaim,
"Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." The light
from the angels penetrated the darkness everywhere. Satan and his angels sought
to hinder this light from spreading and having its designed effect. They
contended with the angels from heaven, telling them that God had deceived the
people, and that with all their light and power they could not make the world
believe that Christ was coming. But notwithstanding Satan strove to hedge up
the way and draw the minds of the people from the light, the angels of God
continued their work. {EW
248.1}
Those who received the light appeared very happy. They
looked steadfastly toward heaven and longed for the appearing of Jesus. Some
were weeping and praying [249] in great distress. Their eyes
seemed to be fixed upon themselves, and they dared not look upward. A light
from heaven parted the darkness from them, and their eyes, which had been fixed
in despair upon themselves, were turned upward, while gratitude and holy joy
were expressed upon every feature. Jesus and all the angelic host looked with
approbation upon the faithful, waiting ones. {EW 248.2}
Those who rejected and opposed the light of the first
angel's message, lost the light of the second, and could not be benefited by
the power and glory which attended the message, "Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh." Jesus turned from them with a frown; for they had slighted and
rejected Him. Those who received the message were wrapped in a cloud of glory.
They greatly feared to offend God, and waited and watched and prayed to know
His will. I saw Satan and his angels seeking to shut this divine light from the
people of God; but as long as the waiting ones cherished the light and kept their
eyes raised from earth to Jesus, Satan could have no power to deprive them of
its precious rays. The message given from heaven enraged Satan and his angels,
and led those who professed to love Jesus, but despised His coming, to scorn
and deride the faithful, trusting ones. But an angel marked every insult, every
slight, every wrong, which the children of God received from their professed
brethren. {EW 249.1}
Very many raised their voices to cry, "Behold, the
Bridegroom cometh!" and left their brethren who did not love the appearing
of Jesus, and who would not suffer them to dwell upon His second coming. I saw
Jesus turn His face from those who rejected and despised His coming, and then
He bade angels lead His people out from among the unclean, lest they should be
defiled. Those who were obedient to the message [250] stood
out free and united. A holy light shone upon them. They renounced the world,
sacrificed their earthly interests, gave up their earthly treasures, and
directed their anxious gaze to heaven, expecting to see their loved Deliverer.
A holy light beamed upon their countenances, telling of the peace and joy which
reigned within. Jesus bade His angels go and strengthen them, for the hour of
their trial drew on. I saw that these waiting ones were not yet tried as they
must be. They were not free from errors. And I saw the mercy and goodness of
God in sending a warning to the people of the earth, and repeated messages to
lead them to a diligent searching of heart, and study of the Scriptures, that
they might divest themselves of errors which have been handed down from the
heathen and papists. Through these messages God has been bringing out His
people where He can work for them in greater power, and where they can keep all
His commandments. {EW 249.2}
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"The Sanctuary"
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