By John Thiel, mp3

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a  refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

We are in the time of waiting. Soon we shall behold our Lord. Keep us Lord from thine appearing pure, unspotted from the world. Are we looking forward to the last verse of the hymn Gracious Father Guard thy children?

“Freedom from the world’s pollutions; Freedom from all sin and pain; Freedom from the wiles of Satan, and from death’s destructive reign.”

This beautiful hymn is a prayer to our father. This was an old early advent hymn and here we are still singing it 160 years from that time. Why so long? Because we are not ready for the final crisis. We must and we are learning to meet the final crisis. We have been studying over the last so many divine services the preparation to be citizens on the other side of the river Jordan spiritually speaking. In the hereafter. In this study I want to prepare our minds to understand what is required to prepare ourselves for that final crisis and the barrier that prevents us from getting in there. How do we cross that barrier? We are to prepare for that society there. The Hebrews in their wilderness wanderings had to cross the river Jordan. In pilgrim’s progress they had to swim through a river. That is identified as a symbol of the final crisis. Daniel speaks of this final crisis.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

In this terrible time of trouble, the wise will be like the stars in the midnight darkness. It is this that we need to prepare for. Travelling through a river before you come to the promised land is symbolic of what a river does. As you are travel worn and dusty you come to a river and you get washed. It is a symbol of the terrible day of the Lord. That terrible day is a day of washing indeed, a final wash.

God Will Wash His People

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

What is involved? It is cleaning. The time of Jacob’s trouble removes earthliness. Not their sins. Their sins have been removed beforehand where Jesus is sitting and refining the sons of Levi. That is what the graces are all about which have been furnished. This is called the day of the Lord. We need to be prepared for that day now because if we are not prepared for that day, we need to understand what will overcome us. It is called as mentioned the day of the Lord.

The Day of the Lord

Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Here is a description of the day of the Lord. It is a time also of purification where he will make a man more precious than fine gold. Even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. That golden wedge was the finest gold that could be found at that time but it still wasn’t perfect. All in this time period, the day of the Lord, we need to understand that day and how to prepare for that day. This day of the Lord is something that is unexpected. Even though we have read this, when it comes it will take the people completely by surprise. Not because it will happen all of a sudden, but what will happen will be unexpected.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

How weighty are these words? Every sentiment counts. Watch and pray always. We need to be able to escape as it will come as a snare upon the whole earth and everybody. If we are overwhelmed with the cares of this life and all its surfeiting and drunkenness, that day will take us unawares. Follow prayerfully because we are told that there is something we must do to prepare for that.

Prepare For That Day

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.

As I have meditated on these scriptures, I have always observed there is much more in them than what I have been taught. There is much in those scriptures than is taken for granted. If we are children of light, that terrible day of the Lord will be illuminated to us. It will not take us by surprise. What is meant here? Our subject is to learn to meet this final crisis because it comes upon the world as a surprise.

Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. {PK 626.1}

What sort of a surprise? Not just a surprise, it’s going to be overwhelming. We as Christians should be preparing for it.

….and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts. {PK 626.1}

I pray to God that your heart is impressionable to this. To conform our lives to what we study is absolutely essential so we prepare for that day so it doesn’t consume us. there is something to grasp here. Why must I study to conform my life to it? We must prepare for that day by studying the scriptures and conforming our lives to it.

A Power from Beneath

God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama–Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect. {8T 27.4}

Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. {8T 28.1}

This overwhelming surprise has to do with the elements of confusion and disorder. A power from beneath is working to create the sense of this final day of the Lord. It is only those who know the truth should be preparing. Are we aware of what we are looking for as we are watching this?

I also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. {EW 71.1}

What did she see? Many do not realise and that is why it’s going to catch them as a surprise.

Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. {EW 71.1}

Why? Here is introductory material to help us focus on the answer. We must reflect the image of Jesus fully if we are going to survive that time.

I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of “refreshing” and the “latter rain” to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. (72) {EW 71.2}

But doesn’t it say that the latter rain fits them?

Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, {EW 71.2}

Hewed is a hard word. It means chopped like a rock that needs to be cut into shape.

…and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” I saw that none could share the “refreshing” unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence. {EW 71.2}

Daniel 11

We need a preparation that will enable us to stand. In the past I read these statements solemnly and I never saw their complete impact until over the last few months as I again meditated about Daniel 11. There is something that really began to open my mind and I want to share it with you. In this statement we are being brought face to face with the reality that this study is concentrating on. What is the experience of the day of the Lord that we must be enabled to meet? What is the experience of the day of the Lord? This is the unseen backdrop but we need to understand it as is written. Here is the experience of the time of the day of the Lord.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

In Daniel 12:1 it says Jesus stands up for his people and there is a time of trouble such as never was. But above he is no longer standing for his people but he is coming down and with his angels and his garments dipped in blood as he is pressing the winepress of the wrath of God.

Explore this Detail

Christ and his angels are there coordinating this scene in the day of God.

Joel 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I [am] strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Who? Those who have prepared themselves for this. If you want to study how God has orchestrated the coming of this event, you must study Daniel 11 because there in Daniel 11 you will see how nation after nation has worked to destroy each other by the interactivity of human being and their nature. The king of the north and the king of the south with the Grecian empire with their antagonistic activities with each other repeated with the Roman empire coming into the picture, their hatred of each other, their retributive activities on each other right through to the time of Christ. Jesus came to the Jews and they with their war like nature and mentality, rejecting their own king and crucifying him. How they would then be dealt with their nastiness right through to the time of the papacy to affect the minds of the people against each other. It goes on right through to the time of the end with the king of the north coming to its end and then Jesus will stand up. What is this last drama going to encompass? Nothing else that hasn’t happened before hand.

Zechariah 14:12 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.

Do you recall the stories of the Old Testament when God stirred up a tumult? By the time the Israelites got to the Assyrians they were all dead.

Neighbour Against Neighbour

Zechariah 14:13 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 every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

What is the day of the Lord? It is a final conclusion of all that he did all through history. Neighbour against neighbour killing each other. Now it’s a grand finale. Everyone turned against his family and friend. That is the day of the Lord.

Isaiah 19:1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. Every man’s heart will be melting.

People Will Fight Against Each Other

Isaiah 19:2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.

This is the day of the Lord. Let it percolate into your understanding. All that is involved, everything that has ever been written in the scriptures that God has done in past history comes to total accumulation. What is involved? People fighting each other. Those that need to be spared in that day, are admonished. This is what the day of the Lord is. People fighting each other. People tearing each other to shreds. Whether it is explosion by bombs, they wear bombs around their waist and blow each other to pieces.

Zechariah 8:10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

That was Daniel 11. God orchestrating neighbour against neighbour.

Zechariah 8:11 But now I [will] not [be] unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

He is now talking about his people Israel. But now he says I ‘m going to give them an opportunity.

Zechariah 8:12 For the seed [shall be] prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these [things]. 13 And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong. 14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not: 15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

What did he do before when Judah was corrupted?

Zechariah 8:16 These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these [are things] that I hate, saith the LORD.

If God used his capability to turn men and brothers against each other, what is he saying to those who should not be destroyed?

Zechariah 8:16 These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour;

Are you picking it up? If people will imagine evil in each other they will finally be destroyed of each other. God doesn’t want us to go through that so here is his counsel. When God orchestrated the nations in the past he orchestrated their hatred to each other. That is chronicled all through the scripture. Only those that honoured his love were spared. What is his counsel to us that we will be prepared to stand in that day? What is chronicled to us?

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Why? If God is like that, didn’t Jesus show himself like that?

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Here you seen a powerful answer to survive in the day when probation closes? How are we to regard everyone around us? We are to regard them in such a way that we will not be instrumental in destroying another. If somebody is instrumental to destroy me, if I am going to survive, I must not return the favour. If I return the favour, I am going to destroy him and he will destroy me and everyone to his brother. Here is the rule to avoid Gods people from getting embroiled.

Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Don’t do to them what they have done to you, do to them what you think they should have done to you. Can you see the answer? The day of the Lord is people not practising this and the Lord is going to orchestrate them to do it to each other. If the church fails to practise what we have been reading, if the church doesn’t practise this, what will the church do to itself in the day of the Lord?

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

That is what the day of God is going to be. They will be consuming each other and Jesus is going to be there like he was in Daniel 11 just orchestrating them so they will consume each other. What do you do with each other? If the church practises the opposite it says in Zechariah, not to speak against each other but to be transparent and loving and kind to each other then they will be consumed as they will be consume each other. This is what Jesus deals with as he forecasts his coming at the first advent when he came just at the right time to affect the Jews if they would receive him or not. What did he do by orchestrating their response to him?

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Can you see the core of the answer here? If you are trying to keep your own life and your own rights secure within yourself and you want to fight for your rights, what is going to happen? It tells you. This is Christ’s orchestration that if you do that and if you don’t follow Jesus in his self sacrificing manner of letting people persecute you, you will devour others. What do you do when you are reviled? You will do it again if you are not absorbing Jesus. You will be destroyed with the rest of them. Jesus came to orchestrate when he first came. Isn’t it true? They turn against each other. What a terrible thing when the mothers ate their babies. Jesus comes for a final orchestration and he says prepare for it as its going to come in an unsuspected manner. As you fight for your rights, and you claim you are God’s church and you are right and others wrong, where will you be? You will consume each other. It says don’t speak against your neighbour.

Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This was read before in terms of legalistic action. The unfaithful servant is the one who smote his brother and he will be caught up with the others. The Christian church through history persecuted others. The pilgrim fathers that we thought were beautiful people what did they do? They persecuted others. If you believe you are right, you will fight for that right and you will destroy the one in opposition to you and you are heading for the day of the Lord and its destruction.

Brother Against Brother

Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alienated; children will be disinherited and driven from home. The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, {GC 608.1}

Do you like the restraint of God? If you don’t like it he will withdraw and then what?

….and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when God’s fear and love are removed. {GC 608.1}

Haven’t you seen it? Oh I love you and I want to marry you and after the love has grown cold what happens? The affections are alienated and it is a love-hate relationship. That is the way God orchestrates it. The human heart that once loved you can become very cruel. If you have been a member of the church and have stood firm and faithful, look at what the ungodly minister will do;

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. {GC 608.2}

If we want to be prepared for that day what must we do? We must study and obey. Isn’t it spelt out in detail for us? What must we do? This point of persecution within the church is only one side of the coin. As you look at the other side, when those people who have turned against their brethren and persecuted them, look at what they will do on the other side of the coin;

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

These nations will support the papacy and they are in good cohorts together. Then what will they do after they persecuted Gods people? They will eat the flesh of the papacy. Come to the day of the Lord with me and see what is written what they will do within the church and those people who knew each other will do that when Gods restraining power is removed the other side of the coin is demonstrated.

Such are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation of God’s wrath. She has filled up the measure of her iniquity; her time has come; she is ripe for destruction. {GC 653.3}

When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life. {GC 654.1}

They have lost it all to the papacy. When they awake, what will they do?

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 forever–eternal 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. {GC 655.3}

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 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. {GC 655.4}

Where will you and I be at that time? It all depends on what you are doing now to prepare to come out on the right side. Remember what Jesus said? He said that we are to not protect ourselves, we are to relinquish our life that we may find it.

While probation continued they were blinded by Satan’s deceptions, and they justified their course of sin. {GC 654.1}

Blinded by Satan

How can you be blinded by Satan’s deceptions? If he can’t blind you in reference to truth, how else can he blind you? What are we doing in our probation? Are we being molded among the company that go against each other? If we want to be in those beautiful courts learn this by heart as it will encourage you to be protected. Only these people will be there, these people that will not join the company that are hacking each other;

Psalms 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 [He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Do you know what that is? You are nice to a person’s face but then you talk bad about them.

Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. [He that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not. 5 [He that] putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved.

If you do this you will be among the company that pull each others to pieces. Do you honour the Lord? Then honour each other. We don’t need to condemn each other. I’ve sworn to help this person, I change not, and I still keep on loving and caring for them. This will save us from that terrible onslaught of the last days. Consider Satan’s efforts. What is he doing? What is his delusion in this matter? Not in regards to doctrine, but what is his delusion in reference to this subject:

Are You Looking Through Satan’s Eye-Glasses?

“Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it. {TM 474.2}

How will they do that? they say we must cause distraction. Have you ever heard a precious message and something distracts you?

“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.”  {TM 475.2}

Prepare to Stand in the Day of the Lord

What does Satan do? In this area? With all the knowledge of the truth that we have, and all the ways he can deceive us, what does he do?

If you think your brother has injured you, go to him in kindness and love, and you may come to an understanding and to reconciliation. . . . If you succeed in settling the trouble you have gained your brother without exposing his frailties, and the settlement between you has been the covering of a multitude of sins from the observation of others. . . . {TMK 181.3}

It takes special watchfulness to keep the affections alive and our hearts in a condition where we shall be sensible of the good that exists in the hearts of others. If we do not watch on this point, Satan will put his jealousy into our souls; he will put his glasses before our eyes, that we may see the actions of our brethren in a distorted light. Instead of looking critically upon our brethren we should turn our eyes within, and be ready to discover the objectionable traits of our own character. As we have a proper realization of our own mistakes and failures, the mistakes of others will sink into insignificance. {TMK 181.4}

It takes careful watchfulness to look for good in the hearts of others. If they are not sinking into insignificance we are looking through Satan’s glasses and we are being deceived and prepared to be destroyed in the day of the Lord. You can see things in a wrong reality. Have you ever seen something you thought you saw but was flatly denied by the person who said what you had done? I saw you do that, yes, you saw it through Satan’s glasses. That is the reality. Satan makes things appear in each other that are not done at all. Has someone said to you stop being angry at me? But you weren’t angry? Why? The devil has made it seem an angry tone. Satan puts his glasses and his hearing aids into your ears to tear us to pieces and to consume each other. Will you give him that right?

I am thankful that we need not be left a prey to Satan’s power. We need not be left to be driven this way and that. {RH, February 11, 1890 par. 2}

One day you are having a really joyful experience in the church and the next day, I wish I wasn’t here.

We need not be blinded by the delusions of Satan, but may have our eyes anointed so that we may see things as they really are. The children of God should not permit Satan to place himself between them and their God. If you permit him to do this, he will tell you that your troubles are the most grievous, the sorest troubles that any mortal ever bore. He will place his magnifying glasses before your eyes, and present everything to you in an exaggerated form to overwhelm you with discouragement. You should have your eyes anointed with the heavenly eye-salve. You should take the word of God as the man of your counsel, and humble your doubting soul before God, and with contrition of heart say, “Here I lay my burden down. I cannot bear it. It is too heavy for me. I lay it down at the feet of my compassionate Redeemer.” {RH, February 11, 1890 par. 2}

We are living on Satan’s on enchanted ground.

We must not think that we shall escape trials; for the apostle says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Gold is tried in the fire, that it may be purified from dross; but faith that is purified by trial, is more precious than refined gold. Then let us look upon trials in a reasonable way. {RH, February 11, 1890 par. 3}

When we hear Satan doing this to us, all the trouble we feel about each other, let us look upon the trials in a reasonable way.

Let us not come through them with murmuring and discontent. Let us not make mistakes in getting out of them. In times of trial we must cling to God and his promises. Some have said to me, “Do you not get discouraged at times when you are under trial?” And I have answered, “Yes, if by discouragement you mean sad or cast down.” “Didn’t you talk to any one of your feelings?” “No; there is a time for silence, a time to keep the tongue as with a bridle, and I was determined to utter no word of doubt or darkness, to bring no shade of gloom upon those with whom I was associated. I have said to myself, I will bear the Refiner’s fire; I shall not be consumed. When I speak, it shall be of light; it shall be of faith and hope in God; it shall be of righteousness, of goodness, of the love of Christ my Saviour; it shall be to direct the minds of others toward heaven and heavenly things, to Christ’s work in heaven for us, and our work upon earth for him.” {RH, February 11, 1890 par. 3}

What a spectrum of conversation we can have. In preparation for this terrible day of the Lord that is right upon us, we must understand our trials.

Christ desires nothing so much as to redeem His heritage from the dominion of Satan. But before we are delivered from Satan’s power without, we must be delivered from his power within. The Lord permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh, unchristlike traits of character. He suffers the deep waters of affliction to go over our souls in order that we may know Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, in order that we may have deep heart longings to be cleansed from defilement, and may come forth from the trial purer, holier, happier. Often we enter the furnace of trial with our souls darkened with selfishness; but if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character. When His purpose in the affliction is accomplished, “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:6. {COL 174.3}

You can only know if Satan has deceived you but through this illumination.

There is no danger that the Lord will neglect the prayers of His people. The danger is that in temptation and trial they will become discouraged, and fail to persevere in prayer. {COL 175.1}

We are being prepared for the great day. We have the truth before us. But this is where Satan will work. We will go through trials in the church and be tested from within before we are tested from without.

When, under the temptations of Satan, men fall into error, and their words and deportment are not Christlike, they may not realize their condition, because sin is deceptive and tends to deaden the moral perceptions. But through self-examination, searching of the Scriptures, and humble prayer, they will, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, be enabled to see their mistake. If they then confess their sins and turn from them, the tempter will not appear to them as an angel of light, but as a deceiver. . . . {TMK 239.4}

I thought I was right, devil get out of my life.

Those who acknowledge reproof and correction as from God, and are thus enabled to see and correct their errors, are learning precious lessons, even from their mistakes. {TMK 239.5}

We make mistakes to each other. We tread on each other so easily. We have received instruction. Our safety for preparation for the final crisis is to overlook the mistreatments that we receive at the hands of others. If we tenaciously cling to the grudges, we will seek for retribution and to gain our rights and we will be occupied with a mindset to be finally drawn to those who are consuming themselves in the day of the Lord. We are to be equipped to be able to stand in that time.

Amen.