Time to Leave the Cities

Leave The Cities

When is it time to leave the cities? This question is on the lips of many of God's people, and it is an important one to consider and pray about. Is it time to leave for the countryside now? Or can we just wait and see what happens? Well, as the people of God we are lucky to have the pen of inspiration to help guide us in this matter. Please prayerfully read the following.

"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation, in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains." (Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 464, 465)

So we have a clear instruction that when the "Papal sabbath" is enforced, this will be the signal for God's people to leave the large cities and to prepare to leave the smaller cities and towns for homes in the countryside. And we know from Revelation 13 that it is the earth beast (America) that causes the world to receive the mark of the beast. So when the Sunday law is enforced in the United States of America, God's people all around the world will have the final signal to leave the cities and move to the countryside.

Now there are some people who relate Ellen White's above statement to the attempt made in 1888 to enforce a Sunday law in America, and they say that this was the signal for God's people to leave the cities. Now I don't have any major issue against this thinking, because I would say that all of God's people should be looking to leave the large cities now. Why? Because the large cities are not the kind of places that God wants His people to dwell. And this is confirmed by inspiration ...

"The cities are filled with temptation. We should plan our work in such a way as to keep our young people as far as possible from this contamination. The cities are to be worked from outposts. Said the messenger of God, 'Shall not the cities be warned? Yes, but not by God's people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth.'"

But going back to this 1888 date as being the signal for God's people to leave the cities. There are certain quotes from Ellen White that suggest contrary to this thinking. Take a look at the following quote that was written in 1906 ...

"More and more, as time advances, our people will have to leave the cities. For years we have been instructed that our brethren and sisters, and especially families with children, should plan to leave the cities as the way opens before them to do so. Many will have to labor earnestly to help open the way. But until it is possible for them to leave, so long as they remain, they should be most active in doing missionary work, however limited their sphere of influence may be." (Review and Herald, September 27, 1906)

So here she is implying that the move out of the cities would be a progressive one, and that many would STILL have a work to do in the cities (where they live). And this is well AFTER 1888.

So when will the definitive time to leave the cities and towns be? When the Sunday law is enforced NATIONWIDE in America. This will be the final signal that persecution is to come upon the people of God, and that destruction is to come upon the cities and towns. When the mark of the beast is enforced, God's people all over the world will then need to leave the large cities and also start preparing to leave the smaller cities and towns.

But should we just wait until the Sunday law is enforced in America to leave the cities? No, we are told by inspiration that the cities should be reached from OUTSIDE them, not by God's people living IN them.

"In harmony with the light given me, I am urging people to come out from the great centers of population. Our cities are increasing in wickedness, and it is becoming more and more evident that those who remain in them unnecessarily do so at the peril of their souls salvation." (Country Living, p. 9)

The wickedness has been increasing in the cities over the past 100 years and they are no longer places that God's people should dwell. We should be thinking also of the influence that temptations in the cities can have over our children and make every effort to protect them from Satan's devices. So if you live in a city, and have no great reason to stay there (in other words, if you are not doing God's work there), then you should start praying and considering leaving for a quieter place to live. And some of us who have the resources to secure a home in the countryside can place ourselves in a position to help someone else who may not have the finances to leave when the Sunday law is enforced.

Think of how you can help your family and how you can help others during this time and when the mark of the beast is enforced. God has really blessed some of us in order that we can be a blessing and help to others. But please, do not rush into this. Instead by prayer and supplication, put this issue before God and ask for His guidance and provision.

"Let everyone take time to consider carefully and not be like the man in the parable who began to build and was not able to finish. Not a move should be made but that movement and all that it portends are carefully considered - everything weighed." (Selected Messages, vol. 2, pp. 362, 363)

The superior benefits of country living are plain to see for any thoughtful Christian. And as far as possible, we should start relocating ourselves away from the cities now and secure for ourselves country homes in places God created for us to live, away from the temptations and wickedness of man made towns and cities. At least start preparing now, so that when the final signal comes (National Sunday law in America), you will be ready to leave.

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