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.
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 a straw.
Angels of God shielded the saints. As they cried day and night
for deliverance, their cry came up before the Lord. -