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Chapter 60
The Time of Jacob's Trouble
I SAW the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies,
and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the
wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. Then I saw the leading men of the earth
consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of
which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints
should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the
week, the people were at liberty after a certain time to put them to death. But in this
hour of trial the saints were calm and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His
promise that a way of escape would be made for them.
In some places, before the time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the
saints to slay them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to
have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High, but Jesus bade His angels
watch over them. God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His
law, in the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by
translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long
expected Him. Soon I saw the saints suffering great mental anguish. They seemed to be
surrounded by the wicked inhabitants of the earth. Every appearance was against them. Some
began to fear that God had at last left them to perish by the hand of the wicked. But if
their eyes could have been opened, they would have seen themselves surrounded by angels of
God. Next came the multitude of the angry wicked, and next a mass of evil angels, hurrying
on the wicked to slay the saints. But before they could approach God's people, the wicked
must first pass this company of mighty, holy angels. This was impossible. The angels of
God were causing them to recede and also causing the evil angels who were pressing around
them to fall back.
The Cry for Deliverance
It was an hour of fearful, terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God
for deliverance. To outward appearance, there was no possibility of their escape. The
wicked had already begun to triumph, crying out, "Why doesn't your God deliver you
out of our hands? Why don't you go up and save your lives?" But the saints heeded
them not. Like Jacob, they were wrestling with God. The angels longed to deliver them, but
they must wait a little longer; the people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized
with the baptism. The angels, faithful to their trust, continued their watch. God would
not suffer His name to be reproached among the heathen. The time had nearly come when He
was to manifest His mighty power and gloriously deliver His saints. For His name's glory
He would deliver every one of those who had patiently waited for Him and whose names were
written in the book.
I was pointed back to faithful Noah. When the rain descended and the Flood came, Noah and
his family had entered the ark, and God had shut them in. Noah had faithfully warned the
inhabitants of the antediluvian world, while they had mocked and derided him. And as the
waters descended upon the earth, and one after another was drowning, they beheld that ark,
of which they had made so much sport, riding safely upon the waters, preserving the
faithful Noah and his family. So I saw that the people of God, who had faithfully warned
the world of His coming wrath, would be delivered. God would not suffer the wicked to
destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the
beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints,
Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a
triumph it would be for his satanic majesty to have power, in the last closing struggle,
over those who had so long waited to behold Him whom they loved! Those who have mocked at
the idea of the saints' going up will witness the care of God for His people and behold
their glorious deliverance.
As the saints left the cities and villages, they were pursued by the wicked, who sought to
slay them. But the swords that were raised to kill God's people broke and fell as
powerless as straw. Angels of God shielded the saints. As they cried day and night for
deliverance, their cry came up before the Lord.
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