Monday, October 13, 2008

The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world


It is as true now as when Christ was upon the earth, that every inroad
made by the gospel upon the enemy's dominion is met by fierce opposition
from his vast armies.
!
The conflict that is right upon us will be the most terrible ever witnessed.
!
But though Satan is represented as being as strong as the strong man
armed, his overthrow will be complete, and everyone who unites with him
in choosing apostasy rather than loyalty will perish with him.
!
The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world.
!
Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land,
follow each other in quick succession.
!
Science seeks to explain all these.
!
The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of
God, are attributed to any other than the true cause.
!
Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they
shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid
His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen
can picture.
!
Four mighty angels are still holding the four winds of the earth. Terrible
destruction is forbidden to come in full.
!
The accidents by land and by sea; the loss of life, steadily increasing, by
storm, by tempest, by railroad disaster, by conflagration; the terrible floods,
the earthquakes, and the winds will be the stirring up of the nations to one
deadly combat, while the angels hold the four winds, forbidding the terrible
power of Satan to be exercised in its fury until the servants of God are
sealed in their foreheads.
!
Angels are holding the four winds, which are represented as an angry
horse seeking to break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth,
bearing destruction and death in its path.
!
A terrible conflict is before us. We are nearing the battle of the great day of
God Almighty. That which has been held in control is to be let loose. The
angel of mercy is folding her wings, preparing to step down from the throne
and leave the world to the control of Satan.
!
The principalities and powers of earth are in bitter revolt against the God of
heaven. They are filled with hatred against those who serve Him, and
soon, very soon, will be fought the last great battle between good and evil.
!
The earth is to be the battlefield--the scene of the final contest and the final
victory.


Matthew 24:6 through Matthew 24:13
6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they
deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for
my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and
shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 25:12 through Matthew 25:13
12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore,
for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Luke 21:34 through Luke 21:36
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you
unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole
earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Revelation 7:1 through Revelation 7:3
1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on
the sea, nor on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the
seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the
trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
6T - Testimonies for the Church Volume Six (1901)

Section Six - Cautions and Counsels
Subsection: Preparation for the Final Crisis
Pages: 404.1 - 410.4
The great crisis is just before us. To meet its trials and temptations, and to perform its
duties, will require persevering faith. But we may triumph gloriously; not one watching,
praying, believing soul will be ensnared by the enemy. {6T 404.1}
In the time of trial before us God's pledge of security will be placed upon those who
have kept the word of His patience. Christ will say to His faithful ones: "Come, My
people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it
were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." Isaiah 26:20. The Lion of
Judah, so terrible to the rejectors of His grace, will be the Lamb of God to the obedient
and faithful. The pillar of cloud which speaks wrath and terror to the transgressor of
God's law is light and mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His
commandments. The arm strong to smite the rebellious will be strong to deliver the
loyal. Every faithful one will surely be gathered. "He shall send His angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31. {6T 404.2}
Brethren, to whom the truths of God's word have been opened, what part will you act in
the closing scenes of this world's history? Are you awake to these solemn realities? Do
you realize the grand work of preparation that is going on in heaven and on earth? Let
all who have received the light, who have had the opportunity of reading and hearing
the prophecy, take heed to those things that are written therein; "for the time is at
hand." Let none now tamper with sin, the source of every misery in our world. No longer
remain in lethargy and stupid indifference. Let not the destiny of your soul hang upon
an uncertainty. Know that you are fully on the Lord's side. Let the inquiry go forth from
sincere hearts and trembling lips, "Who shall be able to stand?" Have you, in these last
precious hours of probation, been putting the very best material into your character
building? Have you been purifying your souls from every stain? Have you followed the
light? Have you works corresponding to your profession of faith? {6T 404.3}
Is the softening, subduing influence of the grace of God working upon you? Have you
hearts that can feel, eyes that can see, ears that can hear? Is it in vain that the
declaration of eternal truth has been made concerning the nations of the earth? They
are under condemnation, preparing for the judgments of God; and in this day which is
big with eternal results, the people chosen to be the depositaries of momentous truth
ought to be abiding in Christ. Are you letting your light shine to illumine the nations that
are perishing in their sins? Do you realize that you are to stand in defense of God's
commandments before those who are treading them underfoot? {6T 405.1}
It is possible to be a partial, formal believer, and yet be found wanting and lose eternal
life. It is possible to practice some of the Bible injunctions and be regarded as a
Christian, and yet perish because you lack qualifications essential to Christian
character. If you neglect or treat with indifference the warnings that God has given, if
you cherish or excuse sin, you are sealing your soul's destiny. You will be weighed in
the balance and found wanting. Grace, peace, and pardon will be forever withdrawn;
Jesus will have passed by, never again to come within reach of your prayers and
entreaties. While mercy lingers, while the Saviour is making intercession, let us make
thorough work for eternity. {6T 405.2}
The return of Christ to our world will not be long delayed. Let this be the keynote of
every message. {6T 406.1}
The blessed hope of the second appearing of Christ, with its solemn realities, needs to
be often presented to the people. Looking for the soon appearing of our Lord will lead
us to regard earthly things as emptiness and nothingness. {6T 406.2}
The battle of Armageddon is soon to be fought. He on whose vesture is written the
name, King of kings, and Lord of lords, is soon to lead forth the armies of heaven. {6T
406.3}
It cannot now be said by the Lord's servants, as it was by the prophet Daniel: "The time
appointed was long." Daniel 10:1. It is now but a short time till the witnesses for God will
have done their work in preparing the way of the Lord. {6T 406.4}
We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of
the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the
first, second, and third angel's messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming
of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory. {6T 406.5}
The day of the Lord is approaching with stealthy tread; but the supposed great and wise
men know not the signs of Christ's coming or of the end of the world. Iniquity abounds,
and the love of many has waxed cold. {6T 406.6}
There are thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, who are now making their
decision for eternal life or eternal death. The man who is wholly absorbed in his
counting room, the man who finds pleasure at the gaming table, the man who loves to
indulge perverted appetite, the amusement lover, the frequenters of the theater and the
ballroom, put eternity out of their reckoning. The whole burden of their life is: What shall
we eat? what shall we drink? and wherewithal shall we be clothed? They are not in the
procession that is moving heavenward. They are led by the great apostate, and with
him will be destroyed. {6T 406.7}
Unless we understand the importance of the moments that are swiftly passing into
eternity, and make ready to stand in the great day of God, we shall be unfaithful
stewards. The watchman is to know the time of night. Every thing is now clothed with a
solemnity that all who believe the truth for this time should realize. They should act in
reference to the day of God. The judgments of God are about to fall upon the world,
and we need to be preparing for that great day. {6T 407.1}
Our time is precious. We have but few, very few days of probation in which to make
ready for the future, immortal life. We have no time to spend in haphazard movements.
We should fear to skim the surface of the word of God. {6T 407.2}
It is as true now as when Christ was upon the earth, that every inroad made by the
gospel upon the enemy's dominion is met by fierce opposition from his vast armies. The
conflict that is right upon us will be the most terrible ever witnessed. But though Satan is
represented as being as strong as the strong man armed, his overthrow will be
complete, and everyone who unites with him in choosing apostasy rather than loyalty
will perish with him. {6T 407.3}
The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes,
storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick
succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling
of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause.
Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not
blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the
winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. {6T 408.1}
To those who are indifferent at this time Christ's warning is: "Because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth." Revelation 3:16.
The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or
your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your
spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request
that grace be given you. {6T 408.2}
Could the curtain be rolled back, could you discern the purposes of God and the
judgments that are about to fall upon a doomed world, could you see your own attitude,
you would fear and tremble for your own souls and for the souls of your fellow men.
Earnest prayers of heart-rending anguish would go up to heaven. You would weep
between the porch and the altar, confessing your spiritual blindness and backsliding.
{6T 408.3}
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people,
sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children: . . . let the
bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare
Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach." Joel 2:15-17. {6T 408.4}
"Turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with
mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your
God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a
blessing behind Him?" Verses 12-14. {6T 409.1}
After Israel's apostasy and bitter retribution, God's message of grace for the repentant
people was: "Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak
comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of
Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in
the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt." Hosea 2:14, 15. {6T 409.2}
"And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call Me my husband; and
shalt call Me no more my lord. . . . And I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will
betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in
mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord."
Verses 16-20, margin. {6T 409.3}
"And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and
none else: and My people shall never be ashamed." Joel 2:27. {6T 409.4}
Warning, admonition, promise, all are for us, upon whom the ends of the world are
come. "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1
Thessalonians 5:6. {6T 410.1}
"Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting,
and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."
Luke 21:34. {6T 410.2}
"Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Mark 14:38. Watch against the
stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest
they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the
plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has
purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good. {6T 410.3}
Watch, "lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13:36. {6T 410.4}
ML - My Life Today (1952)

Chap. 10 - A Reverent Life
Section: Angels Holding the Four Winds
Pages: 308.1 - 308.5
I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he
cried with a loud voice to the four angels, . . . saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea,
nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:2, 3
{ML 308.1}
Four mighty angels are still holding the four winds of the earth. Terrible destruction is
forbidden to come in full. The accidents by land and by sea; the loss of life, steadily
increasing, by storm, by tempest, by railroad disaster, by conflagration; the terrible
floods, the earthquakes, and the winds will be the stirring up of the nations to one
deadly combat, while the angels hold the four winds, forbidding the terrible power of
Satan to be exercised in its fury until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.
{ML 308.2}
Angels are holding the four winds, which are represented as an angry horse seeking to
break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in
its path. {ML 308.3}
A terrible conflict is before us. We are nearing the battle of the great day of God
Almighty. That which has been held in control is to be let loose. The angel of mercy is
folding her wings, preparing to step down from the throne and leave the world to the
control of Satan. The principalities and powers of earth are in bitter revolt against the
God of heaven. They are filled with hatred against those who serve Him, and soon, very
soon, will be fought the last great battle between good and evil. The earth is to be the
battlefield--the scene of the final contest and the final victory. {ML 308.4}
While their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful
eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to
the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. Then another
angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them hold until the
servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads. {ML
308.5}