Seven Angels Having …

Revelation 15:2

I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us; the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters, “Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting.” I asked who this company were. The angel said, “These are they who kept the Sabbath and have given it up.” I heard them cry with a loud voice, – We have believed in Thy coming, and taught it with energy.” And while they were speaking, their eyes would fall upon their garments and see the writing, and then they would wail aloud. I saw that they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet ‘trodden the Sabbath underfoot’and that was why they were weighed in the balance and found wanting. EW 36-37.

Here we see that the church – the Lord’s sanctuary – was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God has given great light and who had stood as guardians of spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not to look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “peace and safety” is the cry from men who never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together. 5T 211

The Lord will not be trifled with. Those who neglect His mercies and blessings in days of opportunities will bring impenetrable darkness upon themselves and will be candidates for the wrath of God. Sodom and Gomorrah were visited with the curse of the Almighty for their sins and iniquities. There are those in our day who have equally abused the mercies of God and slighted His warnings. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for those who bear the name of Christ, yet dishonor Him by their unconsecrated lives. This class are laying up for themselves a fearful retribution when God in His wrath shall visit them with His judgments. 4T 191

Those who profess to be followers of Christ will be found guilty before God unless they are laborers together with God, and earnestly seek to lift up their fellow-men. Prophecy is rapidly fulfilling; and all men are ranging under their chosen standards. One class are preparing to be used of the Holy Spirit, and another class is ranging under the black banner of the prince of evil. This class have no love for either God or their fellow-men and Satan uses them as a vessel to honour himself. The very atmosphere of our world is tainted with physical and spiritual miasma. The principles of truth are corrupted. God has been dishonoured, His law has been transgressed, and the earth has become defiled under the inhabitants thereof, and the vials of the wrath of God will be poured out upon the world. ST Oct. 1, 1894.

The triumph of the wicked is short. The pleasures of sin are ever purchased at a tremendous cost; for the wrath of God is continually hanging over the sinner, and in the end, he will learn indeed that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Every corrupt passion, every wrong feeling, or sinful act, not only dishonours God, but brings guilt and misery upon ourselves. Only in the strength of God can we succeed in subduing the enemies of our soul. While the foes of Christ are continually at work as Satan’s agents, to entice us into sin, we must firmly resist their advances, looking to God for counsel and assistance. Every sinful desire must be repressed, every wrong trait overcome, or they will prove our ruin. ST Jan. 13, 1881.

There are those who are today doing the very same thing. In the counsels they venture to pronounce judgment upon the work of God; for they have become trained in doing that which the Lord has never required them to do. They might better humble their own hearts before God, lest the wrath of God shall break forth upon them; for if God has ever spoken by me, I testify that they have undertaken a work in criticizing and pronouncing unsound judgment, which I know is not right. They are but finite men, and being befogged themselves, suppose that other men are in error. (1888) 1604-1605

It was not the will of God that Israel should wander forty years in the wilderness; He desired to lead them directly to the land of Canaan and stablish them there, a holy happy people. But “they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Heb. 3:19. Because of their backsliding and apostasy they perished in the desert, and others were raised up to enter the Promised Land. In like manner, it was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be so long delayed and His people should remain so many years in this world of sin and sorrow. But unbelief separated them from God. As they refused to do the work which was appointed them, others were raised up to proclaim the message. In mercy to the world, Jesus delays His coming, that sinners may have opportunity to hear the warning and find in Him a shelter before the wrath of God shall be poured out. CGT 458.

God is sifting His people. He will have a clean and holy church. We cannot read the heart of man. But the Lord has provided means to keep the church pure. A corrupt people has arisen who could not live with the people of God. They despised reproof, and would not be corrected. They had an opportunity to know that theirs was an unrighteous warfare. They had time to repent of their wrongs; but self was too dear to die. They nourished it; and it grew strong, and they separated from the trusting people of God, whom He is purifying unto Himself. We all have reason to thank God that a way has been opened to save the church; for the wrath of God must have come upon us if these corrupt pretenders had remained with us. IT 99.

The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy, and the seven last plagues are to be poured out. Sin, shame, sorrow, and darkness are on every side; but God still holds out to the souls of men the precious privilege of exchanging darkness for light, error for truth, sin for righteousness. But God’s mercy will not always wait. Let not one soul think that he can hide from God’s wrath behind a lie, for God will strip from the soul the refuge of lies. The bolts of God’s wrath are soon to fall, and when He shall begin to punish the transgressors, there will be no period of respite until the end. The storm of God’s wrath is gathering, and those only will stand who are sanctified through the truth in the love of God. They shall be hid with Christ in God till the desolation shall be overpast. He shall come forth to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and “the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Let the language of the soul b “Hide me, O my Saviour, hide! Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide, Oh, receive my soul at last! Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, oh leave me not alone! Still support and comfort me. TM 182-183

On whose side are we? The world cast Christ out; the heavens received Him. Man, finite man, rejected the Prince of life; God, our Sovereign ruler, received Him into heaven. God has exalted Him. Man crowned Him with a crown of thorns; God has crowned Him with a crown of royal majesty. We must all think candidly. Will you have this man Christ Jesus to rule over you, or will you have Barabbas? The death of Christ brings to the rejecter of His mercy, the wrath and judgments of God, unmixed with mercy. This is the wrath of the Lamb. But the death of Christ is hope and eternal life to all who receive Him and believe in Him. Lt. 31, 1898, INL 20. God bless us and give us more power. AMEN.

Your Sister in Christ,
Edeline P. Cosby
Detroit, MI, USA