I was shown the interest which all heaven had taken in the work
going on upon the earth. Jesus commissioned a mighty angel to
descend and warn the inhabitants of the earth to prepare for His
second appearing. As the angel left the presence of Jesus in heaven,
an exceedingly bright and glorious light went before him. I was
told that his mission was to lighten the earth with his glory
and warn man of the coming wrath of God. Multitudes received the
light. Some of these seemed to be very solemn, while others were
joyful and enraptured. All who received the light turned their
faces toward heaven and glorified God. Though it was shed upon
all, some merely came under its influence, but did not heartily
receive it. Many were filled with great wrath. Ministers and people
united with the vile and stoutly resisted the light shed by the
mighty angel. But all who received it withdrew from the world
and were closely united with one another.
Satan and his angels were busily engaged in seeking to attract
the minds of as many as possible from the light. The company who
rejected it were left in darkness. I saw the angel of God watching
with the deepest interest His professed people, to record the
character which they developed as the message of heavenly origin
was presented to them. And as very many who professed love for
Jesus turned from the heavenly message with scorn, derision, and
hatred, an angel with a parchment in his hand made the shameful
record. All heaven was filled with indignation that Jesus should
be thus slighted by His professed followers.
I saw the disappointment of the trusting ones, as they did not
see their Lord at the expected time. It had been God's purpose
to conceal the future and to bring His people to a point of decision.
Without the preaching of definite time for the coming of Christ,
the work designed of God would not have been accomplished. Satan
was leading very many to look far in the future for the great
events connected with the judgment and the end of probation. It
was necessary that the people be brought to seek earnestly for
a present preparation.
As the time passed, those who had not fully received the light
of the angel united with those who had despised the message, and
they turned upon the disappointed ones with ridicule. Angels marked
the situation of Christ's professed followers. The passing of
the definite time had tested and proved them, and very many were
weighed in the balance and found wanting. They loudly claimed
to be Christians, yet in almost every particular failed to follow
Christ. Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers
of Jesus. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to
leave the straight path, and they were attempting to climb up
to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure and holy mixed up
with sinners in Zion and with world-loving hypocrites. They had
watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were
affecting the holy. Those whose hearts burned with an intense
desire to see Jesus were forbidden by their professed brethren
to speak of His coming. Angels viewed the scene and sympathized
with the remnant who loved the appearing of their Lord.
Another mighty angel was commissioned to descend to earth. Jesus
placed in his hand a writing, and as he came to the earth, he
cried, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." Then I saw the
disappointed ones again raise their eyes to heaven, looking with
faith and hope for their Lord's appearing. But many seemed to
remain in a stupid state, as if asleep; yet I could see the trace
of deep sorrow upon their countenances. The disappointed ones
saw from the Scriptures that they were in the tarrying time, and
that they must patiently wait the fulfillment of the vision. The
same evidence which led them to look for their Lord in 1843, led
them to expect Him in 1844. Yet I saw that the majority did not
possess that energy which marked their faith in 1843. Their disappointment
had dampened their faith.
As the people of God united in the cry of the second angel, the
heavenly host marked with the deepest interest the effect of the
message. They saw many who bore the name of Christians turn with
scorn and derision upon those who had been disappointed. As the
words fell from mocking lips, "You have not gone up yet!"
an angel wrote them. Said the angel, "They mock God."
I was pointed back to a similar sin committed in ancient times.
Elijah had been translated to heaven, and his mantle had fallen
upon Elisha. Then wicked youth, who had learned from their parents
to despise the man of God, followed Elisha, and mockingly cried,
"Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head." In thus
insulting His servant, they insulted God and met their punishment
then and there. In like manner, those who have scoffed and mocked
at the idea of the saints' going up, will be visited with the
wrath of God, and will be made to feel that it is not a light
thing to trifle with their Maker.
Jesus commissioned other angels to fly quickly to revive and strengthen
the drooping faith of His people and prepare them to understand
the message of the second angel and the important move which was
soon to be made in heaven. I saw these angels receive great power
and light from Jesus and fly quickly to earth to fulfill their
commission to aid the second angel in his work. A great light
shone upon the people of God as the angels cried, "Behold,
the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Then I saw
these disappointed ones rise and in harmony with the second angel
proclaim, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet
Him." The light from the angels penetrated the darkness everywhere.
Satan and his angels sought to hinder this light from spreading
and having its designed effect. They contended with the angels
from heaven, telling them that God had deceived the people, and
that with all their light and power they could not make the world
believe that Christ was coming. But notwithstanding Satan strove
to hedge up the way and draw the minds of the people from the
light, the angels of God continued their work.
Those who received the light appeared very happy. They looked
steadfastly toward heaven and longed for the appearing of Jesus.
Some were weeping and praying in great distress. Their eyes seemed
to be fixed upon themselves, and they dared not look upward. A
light from heaven parted the darkness from them, and their eyes,
which had been fixed in despair upon themselves, were turned upward,
while gratitude and holy joy were expressed upon every feature.
Jesus and all the angelic host looked with approbation upon the
faithful, waiting ones.
Those who rejected and opposed the light of the first angel's
message, lost the light of the second, and could not be benefited
by the power and glory which attended the message, "Behold,
the Bridegroom cometh." Jesus turned from them with a frown;
for they had slighted and rejected Him. Those who received the
message were wrapped in a cloud of glory. They greatly feared
to offend God, and waited and watched and prayed to know His will.
I saw Satan and his angels seeking to shut this divine light from
the people of God; but as long as the waiting ones cherished the
light and kept their eyes raised from earth to Jesus, Satan could
have no power to deprive them of its precious rays. The message
given from heaven enraged Satan and his angels, and led those
who professed to love Jesus, but despised His coming, to scorn
and deride the faithful, trusting ones. But an angel marked every
insult, every slight, every wrong, which the children of God received
from their professed brethren.
Very many raised their voices to cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh!" and left their brethren who did not love the appearing
of Jesus, and who would not suffer them to dwell upon His second
coming. I saw Jesus turn His face from those who rejected and
despised His coming, and then He bade angels lead His people out
from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those who
were obedient to the message stood out free and united. A holy
light shone upon them. They renounced the world, sacrificed their
earthly interests, gave up their earthly treasures, and directed
their anxious gaze to heaven, expecting to see their loved Deliverer.
A holy light beamed upon their countenances, telling of the peace
and joy which reigned within. Jesus bade His angels go and strengthen
them, for the hour of their trial drew on. I saw that these waiting
ones were not yet tried as they must be. They were not free from
errors. And I saw the mercy and goodness of God in sending a warning
to the people of the earth, and repeated messages to lead them
to a diligent searching of heart, and study of the Scriptures,
that they might divest themselves of errors which have been handed
down from the heathen and papists. Through these messages God
has been bringing out His people where He can work for them in
greater power, and where they can keep all His commandments. -