Love and Rebuke
April 12, 2008
By Ernie Knoll
www.formypeople.org
Over the last couple months, I have received emails stating that what my angel, the Herald, has been telling me is wrong. I have received counsel that I should ignore what the Herald says and that I should ask for God to send His angels to escort me to safety. I was counseled to remove the website. I have been told the Herald is an angel of Satan.
Several counseled me to “test the spirits.” I was counseled to follow 1 John 4:1-3, which says:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
Knowing that an angel of Satan can only answer that Jesus did not come in the flesh, if the Herald stated this, it would prove that he is an agent of Satan and is trying to deceive many. However, if the Herald answered that Jesus did come in the flesh, then that would mean I am not being deceived. With these verses in mind, I invited some to join me in prayer that if the Father would send another dream that I would be allowed to ask this question of the Herald. This morning I was given the following dream.
In my dream, I had decided to hike among the ferns and redwood trees in the quiet of a forest. I walk along contemplating and praying that God will allow me an answer to the problems that have come about from the “Stand Fast” dream. I tell the Father that much opposition has arisen. As I walk along, I feel a closeness, as if Jesus is walking next to me. Yet I am all alone. As I continue on, I enjoy the odor of the redwoods and notice how I can see my breath from the cool moisture. Everything is a peaceful quiet. I now see a large tree limb lying across the path. I work on dragging this tree limb out of the path so that others walking along will not have this obstacle in their way. I continue on, thanking God for a beautiful place to walk and how I look forward to our walks together in the forests of heaven.
Suddenly I see three angels slowly descend in front of me. The first angel says, “Fear not as we have been sent by the Father which is in heaven.” The second angel says, “We come proclaiming Philippians 2:5-11.” The third angel recites:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
I have a feeling of utter adulation, a feeling of such excitement. I look for words but can only exclaim, “Praise Jesus, thank you Father.” The first angel says, “We have been asked to escort you back with us.” I ask the angel, “Where?” The angel answers, “To where our Creator has asked us to take you. May I have your right hand please?” I now know I am safe because of what the angel just quoted and that these are angels of God and not of Satan. These three angels meet the criteria of testing the spirits. I hold out my right hand and we quickly ascend. We are traveling extremely fast. Their wings have the appearance of pure light.
Suddenly I approach a large building that has two large wooden doors. While the one angel continues to hold my hand, the other two angels speed ahead and each takes a door handle and opens a door. My angel and I fly through the opening and down the long hall. At the end I see another set of doors. The other two angels again speed past us and open the doors. I enter a room and come to a complete stop. Toward the very front of the room, I see a railing going from the left to the right side of the room. Behind the railing are many people who are there to observe and listen. In front of the railing and on the right side of the room are three individuals–a woman and two men. Two of them I recognize by only a picture I have seen. The third I do not recognize but know whom he is. One holds a sign that says, “The Herald is of Satan.” The woman stands proudly and proclaims, “I have studied and I know all there is to be known. I have all the answers and will correct you of your errors. Listen only to what I say.” The second man, whom I do not recognize, is counting money. I hear him say, “All money belongs to God and is to be kept in only my storehouse.”
I stand on the left side by myself. In front of where I stand is a podium and on it lays a very large Bible with very large letters. The Herald stands in the middle of the room and faces us. The three angels that escorted me here quickly go and stand one to the left, one to the right and one directly behind the Herald. I notice that the Herald stands a little taller than the other three angels. Several angels in battle gear enter the room and stand on the left and right side of the room.
I then hear a voice descend over us from above that all at the same time has the sound of a thundering waterfall, a soft gentle stream and a quiet trickle of water. The voice says, “Ask so as all may see Whom My Herald serves.”
The Herald takes one step forward. I look at the Bible and the pages instantly turn to 1 John 4. I look down and read verses 1, 2 and 3 aloud. I then look back at the Herald. He is not smiling but has a look of calm, yet his demeanor is one of humbleness. He says, “This is a question that if I answer quickly many will not understand. Many will say it was too vague. Many will say that it was not made plain enough for them to accept. Please allow me to share in great detail so all cannot wonder, but acknowledge Whom I serve. This will be so all can continue on as one in the great work we all have ahead.” The Herald pauses, looks up for a few seconds, then looks back at me and glances over to the three individuals that stand on the right side of the room.
The Herald now says, “I watched as Lucifer in heaven disagreed with the Father and wanted to be equal with our Creator. I watched as Lucifer and many of his followers were cast to the earth. I watched as Lucifer brought sin onto the world. I watched as the Father, the Son and God’s Spirit laid out a plan to save His created beings. I watched as it was decided that Jesus would come to earth as a created Being. He the Creator would become one of the created. I watched as Jesus our Creator said goodbye to the Father and the Holy Spirit placed Him in the womb as a seed. He was placed in a pure undefiled womb that had never been touched. I heard the silence of heaven because the Creator was no longer on the throne next to the Father. I watched when the Father would look and find the throne next to His empty. I watched as the Father looked forward to the day when His Son would be returned to Him. But yet I saw such love the Father had that He allowed His only Son to give up His place on the throne and become a created Being. Jesus the Creator became a human. He became that which was created in His own image. What more, Jesus would come not only as a man as Adam but Jesus came as Adam in sin. Jesus came with no propensity to sin. Jesus could have sinned, but He did not. I watched as our Creator grew in that virgin womb. I watched when the day arrived and no one would give Him a place to be born. I watched as all heaven and the entire universe anticipated the birth of the Creator becoming a created Being. I watched as many protected the Child whose name would be Emmanuel. I watched as this Child grew and learned to walk. I watched as this Child would fall and become hurt. I watched as many of us so wanted to catch our Creator so as He would not be harmed, but our hands were stayed. I watched as this Child grew into a young Boy, a young Man and then began His work. I watched the day that He was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. I watched as He taught. I watched as many accepted Him. I watched as many were healed, saw divine miracles, gave up all and followed Him. I watched as many from the courts of heaven were sent to keep constant watch over Him. I watched as He was sent out to the desert where Satan tried to tempt Him. I watched for a sign to deliver Him but the Father stayed all the hands. I watched when He was captured and accusations were made by those who pressed on through evil agents to destroy the Son of God. I stood by ready to deliver my Master from the ones who beat Him. I listened for a single word to deliver Him. I watched as His created beings laid Him on a cross and nailed my Creator, my Master, and drove the nails. I watched as they lifted the cross and dropped it into the hole in the earth. I watched as He, the Creator of the universe was mocked and a crown was made from a thorny bush and thrust upon His head. I watched as the Father could not look upon the scene and He turned His eyes as His Son died. I watched when Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born of a virgin, born as a created man turned His eyes to the Father and said ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ I watched when He was placed in the tomb and His resting place was guarded over the Sabbath. I watched when the stone at the tomb was rolled back. I watched when my Creator came forth victorious over Lucifer. The Master had completed the plan for saving His creations.
You ask if I will confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. With my testimony and my witness to all that I have seen I do stand before my Creator, the Father, the Holy Spirit, and all of His created beings throughout the universe. I do openly and without reservation declare with my voice, yes, Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, came in the flesh.”
Suddenly I see the three angels who stood to the left and right and directly behind the Herald shoot upwards. Their wings become as high speed light. I watch as they streak up and away as if three beams of pure light. Just as suddenly, the three return, each holding a clear glass tablet. Each approaches the Herald and one at a time hands him a glass tablet. He takes each of the tablets and places each on top of the other. I realize the three tablets have the same thing written on each of them. The three tablets are now one tablet.
The Herald steps forward and says to all. “Understand I am the Herald. I am God’s messenger. Herald is not my name but what I am. I have said before that my real name is not important. I am just a messenger. The name that should be called is the name Jesus. This is the name that all should have on their lips. This is the name all should want to sing and praise. He has placed in my hands a message for all. It is a message of love but it is also a message of rebuke. It is a message of love and rebuke. I will read what He has sent and it is up to you to take His rebuke and walk in the light that has been given. If you who are His are willing to accept the testimony of what I just shared as well as the messages God has sent to His servant that stands here today, you must acknowledge these messages are of God.”
The Herald now walks and stands in front of me. He says to me, “All the messages God has given to you that have been written and shared are by Him and you are to continue to share these on His website. You were wrong in sharing your response with a few that had questions in the ‘Stand Fast’ dream regarding tithe. You must understand, you like I am just a messenger. You were told if they do not understand you were to ONLY tell them to take their questions to the One who holds the keys to the Great Storehouse. You were wrong in what you did in sharing your studies. How can others learn and depend on God if you do the studying for them? How can they learn to have a close relationship to the Father if you don’t allow them to pray? Each must take their questions and reservations to the Creator. Each must learn to stand by themselves before the Father.”
The Herald now steps back and walks to the middle of the room. He holds out the three glass tablets as one tablet and says, “This is a message for all who will accept and be willing to hear.” The tablet says, “Let he that rides dismount and prostrate before the Lord of hosts, the Creator of the universe, He who came to be the created. Bow before your Master and confess your sins so all will hear of your rebellion. A message was sent to a chosen messenger and you denied your Lord’s ear and convinced others to turn away. Repent now and ask for forgiveness so the Father will hear and turn His face toward you. Ask this through and in the name of His Son. Kneel, confess your sins lest the streams and rivers dry up and the horse that drinks die, lest you walk the face of the earth and every ear turn away from you as the words you speak fall like rocks from your mouth. Repent lest the Lord God spew you out of His mouth as boiling seawater.
Let he that holds the keys to the vault repent for the evil you have done and spoken against Me and My servant. Let him prostrate himself before the Master Key Maker and ask for forgiveness and walk no more in the ways of your errors. Let him confess before all of misconstruing what he knows is truth as he has been shown. Confess before all lest the keys be knocked from your hand and placed in the hands of another.
Let this person humble them self before the Lord of truth for speaking errors. Let this person acknowledge a proud boasting walk and ask for humbleness. Let this person admit their faults of using a tongue that speaks against truth lest that tongue be cut off and you walk the earth dumb.
Let all who have spoken evil against the message and messenger I have sent prostrate themselves before the throne of God. Ask for forgiveness in the name of His Son. Let them admit fault and take up their cross and follow the path of Jesus. Let them do this before the book is closed and the name is not written in the book.”
This is where my dream ends. I feel it is important for all of us who want to have that walk with God to hold to the counsel that has been given.
In closing join with me in the words from Proverbs 1:22-31.
“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”
I see, hear and can feel explosions everywhere. Hot flames of fire shoot upward hundreds of feet. Large rivers of fire melt everything in a flowing path. I watch as buildings twist and turn from the earth moving. Oceans ripple from the vibration of the earth. Suddenly all becomes still. It is as if God Himself has reached down with His mighty hand and stayed the destruction that Satan was allowed to do. The smoke clears, fires subside, and water recedes back toward the oceans. I now see destruction unlike anything I have ever seen before. Cities are completely gone, many towns are in rubble, many highways and bridges have disappeared. Airplanes cannot take off since the runways are destroyed. I know that I just watched so many people die. Many were God’s people and many were not.
I turn to the Herald and I ask him once again if everyone was destroyed. Looking at me with patience in his eyes, he says, “Watch very closely.” I watch as many go into what is left of the streets. Many come together and start praying for forgiveness. Many say that all this is their fault and that they have strayed from worshiping the true God. I see a newspaper stand where the headlines read, “Let us all worship God this Sunday.” Another says, “Sunday, Sabbath, God’s Day.” The Herald says, “What I show you now I will veil from your eyes and ears, but I have been instructed to tell you. A great king will arise and walk the earth and claim he will make all things new. {16} He will make all sick well and all things will be as if it never were. He walks about performing miracles, but this only lasts for a short time. He tells them, ‘You have sinned against me. But I am your king and I will serve you, but you must submit and serve me. I now want you to only worship me on the new holy day. Those who will not comply will be handled as I know best.’ ” The Herald says, “Enough of this here. Lucifer shows no love or compassion, just lies. Our Father holds the one true book and it is called truth. Let us leave here.”
The Herald and I return to the corridor. I stand there looking at him. He can tell I am very shaken from all I have seen. He looks at me and says, “Keep your faith. Stay on the path God has shown you.” As he smiles he says, “I have been instructed to take you one more place.”
We walk to the wall and pass through. We instantly are in a garden of extreme beauty that cannot be put into words. As we walk along a path, we come to an open area. I see many angels lined on each side of the path. They all form one focal point, and that is Jesus who sits on a most beautiful throne. The Herald takes me to Jesus. I fall to my knees at His feet. He calls me by my heavenly name and puts a hand on each of my shoulders. He says, “I have a message you are to share, along with what you have been shown.” He then wraps His left arm around me and I feel His large open hand against my back as He draws me close to Him. His large right hand now cups the left side of my face as He pulls me to His chest. I can feel His strength pull me close to Him. He then says, “Tell my brothers our Father loves them so very, very much. {17} Tell them He is patiently waiting but wants you home now. {18} Tell them to watch and to listen. Tell them to not give up. Tell them to keep their eyes and ears to the horizon. Tell them to not be distracted with the things of this world. Tell them to hold fast to what lies above and is just ahead.” Then He pulls me even tighter. I can feel the warmth of His hands on the side of my face as He says, “Tell them I am coming to bring them home. Tell them, ‘Get ready!’ ” {19}
- Luke 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
- Joel 3:2
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
- Psalms 73:23
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
- Early Writings, p. 14
While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, “Alleluia!” Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.
- Luke 8:11
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
- 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
- John 10:1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
- Revelation 2:4-5
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
- Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
- Mark 6:11
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
- Evangelism, p. 29
Last Friday morning, just before I awoke, a very impressive scene was presented before me. I seemed to awake from sleep but was not in my home. From the windows I could behold a terrible conflagration. Great balls of fire were falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every direction. It was impossible to check the fires that were kindled, and many places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable. After a time I awoke and found myself at home. Letter 278, 1906.
- Last Day Events, p. 24
The tempest is coming and we must get ready for its fury by having repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth. We shall see troubles on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions. Fires will break out unexpectedly and no human effort will be able to quench them. The palaces of earth will be swept away in the fury of the flames. Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent. Confusion, collision, and death without a moment’s warning will occur on the great lines of travel. The end is near, probation is closing. Oh, let us seek God while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near!–MYP 89, 90 (1890).
- Last Day Events, p. 165
Satan . . . will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do? Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God, and that when Christ shall make His appearance it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands, and that when He shall come we shall know His voice.
Satan is striving to gain every advantage. . . . Disguised as an angel of light, he will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments; good words will be spoken by him and good deeds performed. Christ will be personified. But on one point there will be a marked distinction–Satan will turn the people from the law of God. Notwithstanding this, so well will he counterfeit righteousness that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. Crowned heads, presidents, rulers in high places, will bow to his false theories.
The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited?
- John 16:27
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
- Matthew 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
- Matthew 24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Maranatha, p. 253
Witnessing Before the Great Men of the Earth
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. Matthew 10:18.
The time is not far off when the people of God will be called upon to give their testimony before the rulers of the earth. Not one in twenty has a realization of what rapid strides we are making toward the great crisis in our history. . . . There is no time for vanity, for trifling, for engaging the mind in unimportant matters.
Kings, governors, and great men will hear of you through the reports of those who are at enmity with you, and your faith and character will be misrepresented before them. But those who are falsely accused will have an opportunity to appear in the presence of their accusers to answer for themselves. They will have the privilege of bringing the light before those who are called the great men of the earth, and if you have studied the Bible, if you are ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, your enemies will not be able to gainsay your wisdom.
You now have an opportunity to attain to the greatest intellectual power through the study of the Word of God. But if you are indolent, and fail to dig deep in the mines of truth, you will not be ready for the crisis that is soon to come upon us. O that you would realize that each moment is golden. If you live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, you will not be found unprepared.
You know not where you may be called upon to give your witness of truth. Many will have to stand in the legislative courts; some will have to stand before kings and before the learned of the earth, to answer for their faith. Those who have only a superficial understanding of truth will not be able clearly to expound the Scriptures, and give definite reasons for their faith. They will become confused, and will not be workmen that need not to be ashamed. Let no one imagine that he has no need to study, because he is not to preach in the sacred desk. You know not what God may require of you.
Last Day Events, pp. 172-182
Chapter 12: The Shaking
Church Membership No Guarantee of Salvation
It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.–ChS 41 (1893).
Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive of the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God.–19MR 176 (1898)
The Chaff Separated From the Wheat
Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.–2SM 114 (1896).
There will be a shaking of the sieve. The chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. It is the very time when the genuine will be the strongest.–Letter 46, 1887.
The history of the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram is being repeated, and will be repeated till the close of time. Who will be on the Lord’s side? Who will be deceived, and in their turn become deceivers?–Letter 15, 1892.
The Lord is soon to come. There must be a refining, winnowing process in every church, for there are among us wicked men who do not love the truth or honor God.–RH March 19, 1895.
We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.–6T 332 (1900).
Persecution Cleanses the Church
Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church.–4T 89 (1876).
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church.–5T 81 (1882).
In the absence of the persecution there have drifted into our ranks men who appear sound and their Christianity unquestionable, but who, if persecution should arise, would go out from us.–Ev 360 (1890).
When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.–2SM 368 (1891).
Superficial Believers Will Renounce the Faith
The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative [ELLEN WHITE IS NOT HERE DISTINGUISHING THEOLOGICAL CONSERVATIVES FROM THEIR LIBERAL COUNTERPARTS; SHE IS DESCRIBING THOSE WHO PUT “WORLDLY CONFORMITY” FIRST AND GOD’S CAUSE SECOND.] class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith.–5T 463 (1885).
If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His people and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his master power to bring in fanaticism on the one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls.–2SM 19 (1890).
Those who have had privileges and opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth and yet who continue to counterwork the work God would have accomplished will be purged out, for God accepts the service of no man whose interest is divided.–Ms 64, 1898.
As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges but have not improved them will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.–6T 400 (1900).
The Straight Testimony Produces a Shaking
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.–1T 181 (1857).
There are those among us who will make confessions, as did Achan, too late to save themselves. They are not in harmony with right. They despise the straight testimony that reaches the heart, and would rejoice to see everyone silenced who gives reproof.–3T 272 (1873).
The Lord calls for a renewal of the straight testimony borne in years past. He calls for a renewal of spiritual life. The spiritual energies of His people have long been torpid, but there is to be a resurrection from apparent death. By prayer and confession of sin we must clear the King’s highway.–8T 297 (1904).
Unjust Criticism Causes Loss of Souls
Even in our day there have been and will continue to be entire families who have once rejoiced in the truth, but who will lose faith because of calumnies and falsehoods brought to them in regard to those whom they have loved and with whom they have had sweet counsel. They opened their hearts to the sowing of tares, the tares sprang up among the wheat, they strengthened, the crop of wheat became less and less, and the precious truth lost its power to them.–TM 411 (1898).
False Doctrines Draw Some Away
Science, so-called, and religion will be placed in opposition to each other because finite men do not comprehend the power and greatness of God. These words of Holy Writ were presented to me, “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” [Acts 20:30]. This will surely be seen among the people of God.–Ev 593 (1890).
When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.–TM 112 (1897).
Not having received the love of the truth, they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and will depart from the faith.–6T 401 (1900).
The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith.–Ev 224 (1905).
Rejection of the Testimonies Results in Apostasy
One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit.–3SM 84 (1903).
The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.–1SM 48 (1890).
The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies. . . . This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life.–3SM 83 (1890).
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.–4T 211.
Defections Among Church Leaders
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.–PK 188 (c. 1914).
Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing scenes of this earth’s history, pattern after ancient Israel. . . . A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel.–13MR 379, 381 (1904).
Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.–RH Sept. 11, 1888.
Unsanctified Ministers Will Be Weeded Out
The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of Sunday laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.–3SM 385 (1886).
Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. . . .
Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these can not make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.–TM 409, 411 (1898).
Ministers and doctors may depart from the faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given His servant declare they will.–7MR 192 (1906).
The Church May Appear as About to Fall
The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves.–4T 89 (1876).
Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.–5T 81 (1882).
Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. . . .
When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few–this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.–5T 136 (1882).
The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out–the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.–2SM 380 (1886).
As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.–GC 608 (1911).
God’s Faithful Will Be Revealed
The Lord has faithful servants who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.–5T 80, 81 (1882).
On every occasion that persecution takes place, the witnesses make decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those who show sympathy for the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against them, show their attachment for Christ.–ST Feb. 20, 1901.
Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the half-hearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter than in days of prosperity.–GC 602 (1911).
New Converts Will Take the Places of Those Who Leave
Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks.–EW 271 (1858).
The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.–Letter 103, 1903.
Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust as company after company from the Lord’s army joined the foe and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God.–8T 41 (1904).
