the great controversy-第164章
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the result is what it is； but they do not repent of their wickedness。 They
would leave no means untried to conquer if they could。
The world see the very class whom they have mocked and derided； and desired
to exterminate； pass unharmed through pestilence； tempest； and earthquake。
He who is to the transgressors of His law a devouring fire； is to His people
a safe pavilion。
The minister who has sacrificed truth to gain the favor of men now discerns
the character and influence of his teachings。 It is apparent that the
omniscient eye was following him as he stood in the desk； as he walked the
streets； as he mingled with men in the various scenes of life。 Every
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emotion of the soul； every line written； every word uttered； every act that
led men to rest in a refuge of falsehood； has been scattering seed； and now；
in the wretched； lost souls around him； he beholds the harvest。
Saith the Lord： 〃They have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people
slightly； saying； Peace； peace； when there is no peace。〃 〃With lies ye have
made the heart of the righteous sad； whom I have not made sad； and
strengthened the hands of the wicked； that he should not return from his
wicked way； by promising him life。〃 Jeremiah 8：11； Ezekiel 13：22。
〃Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture！ 。
。 。 Behold； I will visit upon you the evil of your doings。〃 〃Howl； ye
shepherds； and cry； and wallow yourselves in the ashes； ye principal of the
flock： for your days for slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished；
。 。 。 and the shepherds shall have no way to flee； nor the principal of the
flock to escape。〃 Jeremiah 23：1；
2； 25：34； 35； margin。
Ministers and people see that they have not sustained the right relation to
God。 They see that they have rebelled against the Author of all just and
righteous law。 The setting aside of the divine precepts gave rise to
thousands of springs of evil； discord； hatred； iniquity； until the earth
became one vast field of strife； one sink of corruption。 This is the view
that now appears to those who rejected truth and chose to cherish error。 No
language can express the longing which the disobedient and disloyal feel for
that which they have lost forevereternal life。 Men whom the world has
worshiped for their talents and eloquence now see these things in their true
light。 They realize what they have forfeited by transgression； and they fall
at the feet of those whose fidelity they have despised and derided； and
confess that God has loved them。
The people see that they have been deluded。 They accuse one another of
having led them to destruction； but all unite in heaping their bitterest
condemnation upon the ministers。 Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth
things； they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to
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persecute those who would keep it holy。 Now； in their despair； these
teachers confess before the world their work of deception。 The multitudes
are filled with fury。 〃We are lost！〃 they cry； 〃and you are the cause of our
ruin；〃 and they turn upon the false shepherds。 The very ones that once
admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them。 The
very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their
destruction。 The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to
destroy their enemies。 Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed。
〃A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth； for the Lord hath a
controversy with the nations； He will plead with all flesh； He will give
them that are wicked to the sword。〃 Jeremiah 25：31。 For six thousand years
the great controversy has been in progress； the Son of God and His heavenly
messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one； to warn；
enlighten； and save the children of men。 Now all have made their decisions；
the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God。 The time
has come for God to vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law。 Now the
controversy is not alone with Satan； but with men。 〃The Lord hath a
controversy with the nations；〃 〃He will give them that are wicked to the
sword。〃
The mark of deliverance has been set upon those 〃that sigh and that cry for
all the abominations that be done。〃 Now the angel of death goes forth；
represented in Ezekiel's vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons； to
whom the command is given： 〃Slay utterly old and young； both maids； and
little children； and women： but come not near any man upon whom is the mark；
and begin at My sanctuary。〃 Says the prophet： 〃They began at the ancient men
which were before the house。〃 Ezekiel 9：1…6。 The work of destruction begins
among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people。
The false watchmen are the first to fall。 There are none to pity or to
spare。 Men； women； maidens； and little children perish together。
〃The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants
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of the earth for their iniquity： the earth also shall disclose her blood；
and shall no more cover her slain。〃 Isaiah 26：21。 〃And this shall be the
plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against
Jerusalem； Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet；
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes； and their tongue shall
consume away in their mouth。 And it shall come to pass in that day； that a
great tumult from the Lord shall be among them； and they shall lay hold
everyone on the hand of his neighbor； and his hand shall rise up against the
hand of his neighbor。〃 Zechariah 14：12； 13。 In the mad strife of their own
fierce passions； and by the awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath； fall
the wicked inhabitants of the earthpriests； rulers； and people； rich and
poor； high and low。 〃And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one
end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth： they shall not be
lamented； neither gathered； nor buried。〃 Jeremiah 25：33。
At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole
earthconsumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness
of His glory。 Christ takes His people to the City of God； and the earth is
emptied of its inhabitants。 〃Behold； the Lord maketh the earth empty； and
maketh it waste； and turneth it upside down； and scattereth abroad the
inhabitants thereof。〃 〃The land shall be utterly emptied； and utterly
spoiled： for the Lord hath spoken this word。〃 〃Because they have
transgressed the laws； changed the ordinance； broken the everlasting
covenant。 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth； and they that dwell
therein are desolate： therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned。〃
Isaiah 24：1； 3； 5； 6。
The whole earth appears like a desolate wilderness。 The ruins of cities and
villages destroyed by the earthquake； uprooted trees； ragged rocks thrown
out by the sea or torn out of the earth itself； are scattered over its
surface； while vast caverns mark the spot where the mountains have been rent
from their foundations。
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Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day
of Atonement。 When the ministration in the holy of holies had been
completed； and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by
virtue of the blood of the sin offering； then the scapegoat was presented
alive before the Lord； and in the presence of the congregation the high
priest confessed over him 〃all the iniquities of the children of Israel； and
all their transgressions in all their sins； putting them upon the head of
the goat。〃 Leviticus 16：21。 In like manner； when the work of atonement in
the heavenly sanctuary has been completed； then in the presence of God and
heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God's people will
be placed upon Satan； he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he
has caused them to commit。 And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land
not inhabited； so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth； an
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