the great controversy-第158章
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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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