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The Time Of Trouble - The Great Controversy, Chapter 39

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In Short:

Those who delay a preparation for the day of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble, or at any subsequent time. The case of all such is hopeless.
The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. It is now. Return to God with true repentance. Pray long and earnestly for His blessing. Cling with unyielding faith to His promises.
Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ.

The people of God have accomplished the work of The Third Angels Message.

Moreover, they have received the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and are prepared for the trying hour before them.

The final test has been brought upon the world. All who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received the seal of the living God.

Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the Sanctuary above - It is done. Every case has been decided for life or death.

Time when the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an Intercessor.

Furthermore, the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn.

There are evil forces now ready to spread desolation everywhere when God lets loose all the elements of human passion and strife.

The Bible Sabbath

Those who honor the Law of God have been accused of bringing judgments upon the world.

Therefore, they will be regarded as the cause of the fearful natural disasters and the strife and bloodshed among people.

Sabbath has become a special point of controversy. Religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday.

Thus the few who stand in opposition to the church's institution and the State’s law ought to suffer than the whole nation to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness.

The same argument 2000 years ago was brought against Christ by the rulers of the people.

The time of Jacob's trouble

For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:5, 7.

Jacob's night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau represents the experience of God's people in the time of trouble. Genesis 32:24-30.

Through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of Heaven.

He had power over the Angel, and prevailed. Hosea 12:4.

And the fact that Jacob had prevailed with God was an assurance that he would prevail with men.

He no longer feared to encounter his brother's anger; for the Lord was his defence.

Afflicting their souls before God

As Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins, the Lord permits him to try them to the utmost.

They fear that every sin has not been repented of, and that through some fault in themselves they shall fail to realize the fulfillment of the Saviour's promise:

I will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world. Revelation 3:10.

Though suffering the keenest anxiety, terror and distress, they do not cease their intercessions.

They lay hold of the strength of God as Jacob laid hold of the Angel - I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

While they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal.

Enduring faith

We should learn the lessons of faith now. Moreover, to make it a habit to trust God and be acquainted with Him by proving His promises.

Furthermore, we must take time to pray. Even to pray for the blessings of God as Jacob did.

Thus we would find many places where we could say: I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Genesis 32:30.

Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ.

It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ.

He invites us to join ourselves to Him and unite our:

weakness to His strength
ignorance to His wisdom
unworthiness to His merits.

God's providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus.

The Lord is ever setting before us the true aims of life. It rests with us to cooperate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the Divine model.

Fleeing from the cities and villages

As the decree is issued against commandment-keepers, they will associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places.

Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains and will thank God for the munitions of rocks. Isaiah 33:16.

Nevertheless, many will be shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain.

Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour?

Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?

yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graved thee upon the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:14-16.

The Lord of hosts has said, He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8.

Nothing can cut off the communication between their souls and Christ.

He is above all earthly powers; and angels will come to them in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from Heaven.

The people of God will not be free from suffering in the plagues that follow.

While persecuted and distressed, while enduring privation, and suffering for want of food, they will not be left to perish.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. Psalm 121:5-7.

The Heavenly Sentinels

Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of humans. They have:

appeared clothed in garments that shone as the lightning and in human form to people of God
accepted the hospitality of human homes
acted as guides to benighted travellers
with their own hands, kindled the fires of the altar
opened prison doors and set free the servants of the Lord
rolled away the stone from the Saviour's tomb.

In human form, angels are often found in the assemblies of the righteous and the wicked.