the great controversy-第115章

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have　so　long　despised。　〃Behold；　the　days　come；　saith　the　Lord　God；　that　I
will　send　a　famine　in　the　land；　not　a　famine　of　bread；　nor　a　thirst　for
water；　but　of　hearing　the　words　of　the　Lord：　and　they　shall　wander　from　sea
to　sea；　and　from　the　north　even　to　the　east；　they　shall　run　to　and　fro　to
seek　the　word　of　the　Lord；　and　shall　not　find　it。〃　Amos　8：11；　12。

The　people　of　God　will　not　be　free　from　suffering；　but　while　persecuted　and
distressed；　while　they　endure　privation　and　suffer　for　want　of　food　they
will　not　be　left　to　perish。　That　God　who　cared　for　Elijah　will　not　pass　by
one　of　His　self…sacrificing　children。　He　who　numbers　the　hairs　of　their　head
will　care　for　them；　and　in　time　of　famine　they　shall　be　satisfied。　While　the
wicked　are　dying　from　hunger　and　pestilence；　angels　will　shield　the
righteous　and　supply　their　wants。　To　him　that　〃walketh　righteously〃　is　the
promise：　〃Bread　shall　be　given　him；　his　waters　shall　be　sure。〃　〃When　the
poor　and　needy　seek　water；　and　there　is　none；　and　their　tongue　faileth　for
thirst；　I　the　Lord　will　hear　them；　I　the　God　of　Israel　will　not　forsake
them。〃　Isaiah　33：15；　16；　41：17。

〃Although　the　fig　tree　shall　not　blossom；　neither　shall　fruit　be　in　the
vines；　the　labor　of　the　olive　shall　fail；　and　the　fields　shall　yield　no
meat；　the　flock　shall　be　cut　off　from　the　fold；　and　there　shall　be　no　herd
in　the　stalls；〃　yet　shall　they　that　fear　Him　〃rejoice　in　the　Lord〃　and　joy
in　the　God　of　their　salvation。　Habakkuk　3：17；　18。

〃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：

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He　shall　preserve　thy　soul。〃　〃He　shall　deliver　thee　from　the　snare　of　the
fowler；　and　from　the　noisome　pestilence。　He　shall　cover　thee　with　His
fathers；　and　under　His　wings　shalt　thou　trust：　His　truth　shall　be　thy　shield
and　buckler。　Thou　shalt　not　be　afraid　for　the　terror　by　night；　nor　for　the
arrow　that　flieth　by　day；　nor　for　the　pestilence　that　walketh　in　darkness；
nor　for　the　destruction　that　wasteth　at　noonday。　A　thousand　shall　fall　at
thy　side；　and　ten　thousand　at　thy　right　hand；　but　it　shall　not　come　nigh
thee。　Only　with　thine　eyes　shalt　thou　behold　and　see　the　reward　of　the
wicked。　Because　thou　hast　made　the　Lord；　which　is　my　refuge；　even　the　Most
High；　thy　habitation；　there　shall　no　evil　befall　thee；　neither　shall　any
plague　come　nigh　thy　dwelling。〃　Psalms　121：5…7；　91：3…10。

Yet　to　human　sight　it　will　appear　that　the　people　of　God　must　soon　seal
their　testimony　with　their　blood　as　did　the　martyrs　before　them。　They
themselves　begin　to　fear　that　the　Lord　has　left　them　to　fall　by　the　hand　of
their　enemies。　It　is　a　time　of　fearful　agony。　Day　and　night　they　cry　unto
God　for　deliverance。　The　wicked　exult；　and　the　jeering　cry　is　heard：　〃Where
now　is　your　faith？　Why　does　not　God　deliver　you　out　of　our　hands　if　you　are
indeed　His　people？〃　But　the　waiting　ones　remember　Jesus　dying　upon　Calvary's
cross　and　the　chief　priests　and　rulers　shouting　in　mockery：　〃He　saved
others；　Himself　He　cannot　save。　If　He　be　the　King　of　Israel；　let　Him　now
come　down　from　the　cross；　and　we　will　believe　Him。〃　Matthew　27：42。　Like
Jacob；　all　are　wrestling　with　God。　Their　countenances　express　their　internal
struggle。　Paleness　sits　upon　every　face。　Yet　they　cease　not　their　earnest
intercession。

Could　men　see　with　heavenly　vision；　they　would　behold　companies　of　angels
that　excel　in　strength　stationed　about　those　who　have　kept　the　word　of
Christ's　patience。　With　sympathizing　tenderness；　angels　have　witnessed　their
distress　and　have　heard　their　prayers。　They　are　waiting　the　word　of　their
Commander　to　snatch　them　from　their　peril。　But　they　must　wait　yet　a　little
longer。　The　people　of　God　must　drink

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of　the　cup　and　be　baptized　with　the　baptism。　The　very　delay；　so　painful　to
them；　is　the　best　answer　to　their　petitions。　As　they　endeavor　to　wait
trustingly　for　the　Lord　to　work　they　are　led　to　exercise　faith；　hope；　and
patience；　which　have　been　too　little　exercised　during　their　religious
experience。　Yet　for　the　elect's　sake　the　time　of　trouble　will　be　shortened。
〃Shall　not　God　avenge　His　own　elect；　which　cry　day　and　night　unto　Him？　。　。　。
I　tell　you　that　He　will　avenge　them　speedily。〃　Luke　18：7；　8。　The　end　will
come　more　quickly　than　men　expect。　The　wheat　will　be　gathered　and　bound　in
sheaves　for　the　garner　of　God；　the　tares　will　be　bound　as　fagots　for　the
fires　of　destruction。

The　heavenly　sentinels；　faithful　to　their　trust；　continue　their　watch。
Though　a　general　decree　has　fixed　the　time　when　commandment　keepers　may　be
put　to　death；　their　enemies　will　in　some　cases　anticipate　the　decree；　and
before　the　time　specified；　will　endeavor　to　take　their　lives。　But　none　can
pass　the　mighty　guardians　stationed　about　every　faithful　soul。　Some　are
assailed　in　their　flight　from　the　cities　and　villages；　but　the　swords　raised
against　them　break　and　fall　powerless　as　a　straw。　Others　are　defended　by
angels　in　the　form　of　men　of　war。

In　all　ages；　God　has　wrought　through　holy　angels　for　the　succor　and
deliverance　of　His　people。　Celestial　beings　have　taken　an　active　part　in　the
affairs　of　men。　They　have　appeared　clothed　in　garments　that　shone　as　the
lightning；　they　have　come　as　men　in　the　garb　of　wayfarers。　Angels　have
appeared　in　human　form　to　men　of　God。　They　have　rested；　as　if　weary；　under
the　oaks　at　noon。　They　have　accepted　the　hospitalities　of　human　homes。　They
have　acted　as　guides　to　benighted　travelers。　They　have；　with　their　own
hands；　kindled　the　fires　at　the　altar。　They　have　opened　prison　doors　and　set
free　the　servants　of　the　Lord。　Clothed　with　the　panoply　of　heaven；　they　came
to　roll　away　the　stone　from　the　Saviour's　tomb。

In　the　form　of　men；　angels　are　often　in　the　assemblies　of

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the　righteous；　and　they　visit　the　assemblies　of　the　wicked；　as　they　went　to
Sodom；　to　make　a　record　of　their　deeds；　to　determine　whether　they　have
passed　the　boundary　of　God's　forbearance。　The　Lord　delights　in　mercy；　and
for　the　sake　of　a　few　who　really　serve　Him；　He　restrains　calamities　and
prolongs　the　tranquillity　of　multitudes。　Little　do　sinners　against　God
realize　that　they　are　indebted　for　their　own　lives　to　the　faithful　few　whom
they　delight　to　ridicule　and　oppress。

Though　the　rulers　of　this　world　know　it　not；　yet　often　in　their　councils
angels　have　been　spokesmen。　Human　eyes　have　looked　upon　them；　human　ears
have　listened　to　their　appeals；　human　lips　have　opposed　their　suggestions
and　ridiculed　their　counsels；　human　hands　have　met　them　with　insult　and
abuse。　In　the　council　hall　and　the　court　of　justice　these　heavenly
messengers　have　shown　an　intimate　acquaintance　with　human　history；　they　have
proved　themselves　better　able　to　plead　the　cause　of　the　oppressed　than　were
their　ablest　and　most　eloquent　defenders。　They　have　defeated　purposes　and
arrested　evils　that　would　have　greatly　retarded　the　work　of　God　and　would
have　caused　great　suffering　to　His　people。　In　the　hour　of　peril　and　distress
〃the　angel　of　the　Lord　encampeth　round　about　them　that　fear　Him；　and
delivereth　them。〃　Psalm　34：7。

With　earnest　longing；　God's　people　await　the　tokens　of　their　coming　King。　As
the　watchmen　are　accosted；　〃What　of　the　night？〃　the　answer　is　given
unfalteringly；　〃'The　morning　cometh；　and　also　the　night。'　Isaiah　21：11；　12。
Light　is　gleaming　upon　the　clouds　above　the　mountaintops。　Soon　there　will　be
a　revealing　of　His　glory。　The　Sun　of　Righteousness　is　about　to　shine　forth。
The　morning　and　the　night　are　both　at　handthe　opening　of　endless　day　to
the　righteous；　the　settling　down　of　eternal　night　to　the　wicked。〃

As　the　wrestling　ones　urge　their　petitions　before　God；　the　veil　separating
them　from　the　unseen　seems　almost　withdrawn。　The　heavens　glow　with　the
dawning　of　eternal　day；　and　like　the　melody　of　angel　songs　the　words　fall
upon　the

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ear：　〃Stand　fast　to　your　allegiance。　Help　is　coming。〃　Christ；　the　almighty
Victor；　holds　out　to　His　weary　soldiers　a　crown　of　immortal　glory；　and　His
voice　comes　from　the　gates　ajar：　〃Lo；　I　am　with　you。　Be　not　afraid。　I　am
acquainted　with　all　your　sorrows；　I　have　borne　your　griefs。　You　are　not
warring　against　untried　enemies。　I　have　fought　the　battle　in　your　behalf；
and　in　My　name　you　are　more　than　conquerors。〃

The　precious　Saviour　will　send　help　just　when　we　need　it。　The　way　to　heaven
is　consecrated　by　His　footprints。　Every　thorn　that　wounds　our　feet　has
wounded　His。　Every　cross　that　we　are　called　to　bear　He　has　borne　before　us。
The　Lord　permits　conflicts；　to　prepare　the　soul　for　peace。　The　time　of
trouble　is　a　fearful　ordeal　for　God's　people；　but　it　is　the　time　for　every
true　believer　to　look　up；　and　by　faith　he　may　see　the　bow　of　promise
encircling　him。

〃The　redeemed　of　the　Lord　shall　return；　and　come　with　singing　unto　Zion；　and
everlasting　joy　shall　be　upon　their　head：　they　shall　obtain　gladness　and
joy；　and　sorrow　and　mourning　shall　flee　away。　I；　even　I；　am　He　that
comforteth　you：　who　art　thou；　that　thou　shouldest　be　afraid　of　a　man　that
shall　die；　and　of　the　son　of　man　which　shall　be　made　as　grass；　and
forgettest　the　Lord　thy　Maker；　。　。　。　and　hast　feared　continually　every　day
because　of　the　fury　of　the　oppressor；　as　if　he　were　ready　to　destroy？　and
where　is　the　fury　of　the　oppressor？　The　captive　exile　hasteneth　that　he　may
be　loosed；　and　that　he　should　not　die　in　the　pit；　nor　that　his　bread　should
fail。　But　I　am　the　Lord　thy　God；　that　divided　the　sea；　whose　waves　roared：
The　Lord　of　hosts　is　His　name。　And　I　have　put　My　words　in　thy　mouth；　and　I
have　covered　thee　in　the　shadow　of　Mine　hand。〃　Isaiah　51：11…16。

〃Therefore　hear　now　this；　thou　afflicted；　and　drunken；　but　not　with　wine：
Thus　saith　thy　Lord　the　Lord；　and　thy　God　that　pleadeth　the　cause　of　His
people；　Behold；　I　have　taken　out　of　thine　hand　the　cup　of　trembling；　even
the　dregs　of　the　cup　of　My　fury；　thou　shalt　no　more　drink　it　again：　but　I
will　put　it　into　the　hand　of　them　that　afflict　thee；　which　have　said

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to　thy　soul；　Bow　down；　that　we　may　go　over：　and　thou　hast　laid　thy　body　as
the　ground；　and　as　the　street；　to　them　that　went　over。〃　Verses　21…23。

The　eye　of　God；　looking　down　the　ages；　was　fixed　upon　the　crisis　which　His
people　are　to　meet；　when　earthly　powers　shall　be　arrayed　against　them。　Like
the　captive　exile；　they　will　be　in　fear　of　death　by　starvation　or　by
violence。　But　the　Holy　One　who　divided　the　Red　Sea　before　Israel；　will
manifest　His　mighty　power　and　turn　their　captivity。　〃They　shall　be　Mine；
saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　in　that　day　when　I　make　up　My　jewels；　and　I　will
spare　them；　as　a　man　spareth　his　own　son　that　serveth　him。〃　Malachi　3：17。　If
the　blood　of　Christ's　faithful　witnesses　were　shed　at　this　time；　it　would
not；　like　the　blood　of　the　martyrs；　be　as　seed　sown　to　yield　a　harvest　for
God。　Their　fidelity　would　not　be　a　testimony　to　convince　others　of　the
truth；　for　the　obdurate　heart　has　beaten　back　the　waves　of　mercy　until　they
return　no　more。　If　the　righteous　were　now　left　to　fall　a　prey　to　their
enemies；　it　would　be　a　triumph　for　the　pr