and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath
[13] God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that
we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath
God’s Purpose in the Church 17
statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before
you this day?” Deuteronomy 4:5-8.
Even these words fail of expressing the greatness and the glory
of God’s purpose to be accomplished through His people. Not to this
world only but to the universe are we to make manifest the principles
of His kingdom. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says:
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be [made] known
by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3:8-10.
Brethren, “we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels,
and to men.” “What manner of persons sought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting the coming of
the day of God?” 1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Peter 3:11, 12, margin.
* * * * *
In order to manifest the character of God, in order that we may
not deceive ourselves, the church, and the world by a counterfeit
Christianity, we must become personally acquainted with God. If
we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may
never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God
in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity. [14]
Chapter 2—TheWork for This Time
We are standing upon the threshold of great and solemn events.
Prophecies are fulfilling. Strange, eventful history is being recorded
in the books of heaven. Everything in our world is in agitation.
There are wars and rumors of wars. The nations are angry, and the
time of the dead has come, that they should be judged. Events are
changing to bring about the day of God, which hasteth greatly. Only
a moment of time, as it were, yet remains. But while already nation
is rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there is not
now a general engagement. As yet the four winds are held until the
servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers
of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle.
Satan is busily laying his plans for the last mighty conflict, when
all will take sides. After the gospel has been proclaimed in the world
for nearly two thousand years, Satan still presents to men and women
the same scene that he presented to Christ. In a wonderful manner
he causes the kingdoms of the world in their glory to pass before
them. These he promises to all who will fall down and worship him.
Thus he seeks to bring men under his dominion.
Satan is working to the utmost to make himself as God and to
destroy all who oppose his power. And today the world is bowing before
him. His power is received as the power of God. The prophecy
of the Revelation is being fulfilled, that “all the world wondered
after the beast.” Revelation 13:3.
Men in their blindness boast of wonderful progress and enlight-
[15] enment; but to the eye of Omniscience are revealed the inward guilt
and depravity. The heavenly watchers see the earth filled with violence
and crime. Wealth is obtained by every species of robbery,
not robbery of men only, but of God. Men are using His means
to gratify their selfishness. Everything they can grasp is made to
minister to their greed. Avarice and sensuality prevail. Men cherish
the attributes of the first great deceiver. They have accepted him as
God, and have become imbued with his spirit.
18
Work for This Time 19
But the cloud of judicial wrath hangs over them, containing the
elements that destroyed Sodom. In his visions of things to come the
prophet John beheld this scene. This demon worship was revealed
to him, and it seemed to him as if the whole world were standing
on the brink of perdition. But as he looked with intense interest
he beheld the company of God’s commandment-keeping people.
They had upon their foreheads the seal of the living God, and he
said: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice
from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked,
and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the
Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand
a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying
with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle,
and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of
the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on
the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of
the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And [16]
another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire;
and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying,
Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the
earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle
into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the
great winepress of the wrath of God.” Revelation 14:12-19.
When the storm of God’s wrath breaks upon the world, it will be
a terrible revelation for souls to find that their house is being swept
away because it is built upon the sand. Let the warning be given
them before it is too late. We should now feel the responsibility of
laboring with intense earnestness to impart to others the truths that
God has given for this time. We cannot be too much in earnest.
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The heart of God is moved. Souls are very precious in His sight.
It was for this world that Christ wept