By John Thiel, mp3
Scripture reading: John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
The loud cry is to be given by a very small people. We want to understand how the people of the loud cry will be exposed. The knowledge that the word of God imparts on this matter is very much misunderstood by a large number of Christians who believe in the loud cry. We have to remember that when we come to subjects of this nature, God’s communications to us will be misunderstood because God’s ways are not our ways and we need to open our hearts to the way God is trying to communicate it to us.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
On the subject of the loud cry, how Williams God’s people give the loud cry to the world as a witness and a final call for God’s true people to come out? We are told explicitly that God’s way of doing this is totally different to what is our way. We often read these words of the loud cry this way, It’s a loud cry, so we think that it is going to be with great public exposure of our own position as God’s people. Therefore people are labouring and working fastidiously to spread the message, which is not incorrect, so we should, but do we think that is the loud cry? We must worship God in spirit and in truth. He is looking for such people to worship Him. As we worship Him in anticipation of the loud cry that He wants the world to receive, these are the words addressed to us:
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.
We are dealing with something that is the knowledge of God and not our own knowledge. It is a way of God which is different to our ways. We are to worship God not according to our own spirit but in spirit and in truth. The final loud cry to call His people out is to be expected a little different to what we have often anticipated. In this last work that God will do, it is going to be different to our expectation.
Unless those who can help … are aroused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. {Ev 118.1}
Humans will have ideas of this work and bind it around; and if it doesn’t harmonise with their narrow ideas they will reject it, they will not recognise it.
Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. {Ev 118.1}
Isn’t that an eye-opener? In order to recognise and understand the loud cry, we must bear this revelation in mind. He will work in a way very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.
There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300. (1885) {Ev 118.1}
This is a profound introduction for us in regards to the way by which the people will provide the loud cry. It will be different to expectations. Let us behold and see God’s ways in dealing with this loud cry. It will make an impact in the world so that the whole world will receive the loud cry.
Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
We are living in the days when the forecast is that it is going to be like Sodom and Gomorrah. In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah there was only one man; Lot. In the last days there will be a very small remnant. We again identify the smallness of God’s faithful people at this time.
Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
How many people are going to be brought back together? One of a city, and two of a family.”He will bring them into Zion in this dark time in which we live. A very small remnant. There will be pastors according to His heart and a small people with them. In consideration of this we often wonder, how can this work be done by so small a number? This is typical human reasoning isn’t it? God’s ways are not our ways. There was an experience in the time of King Saul when they were surrounded by the multitude of the Philistines, and mark the words of his son Jonathan. When a work is to be done, it is to be understood that it will not be according to our ways.
1 Samuel 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
This is an understanding that we need to have. By many or by few, this is not a problem to God. We have a vivid example of this in the book of Judges when Gideon was commissioned to conquer the Midianites down in the valley. Something happened that was very revealing in reference to the ways of God.
Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that [are] with thee [are] too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
That is an important criterion. If we are going to give the loud cry and it is going to be as man expects, it is going to cause him to feel proud about his work. No, there’s too many. After some had been told to go home if they were fearful, this is what God said:
Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people [are] yet [too] many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, [that] of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. … 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.
The Midianites were in the valley by the hundreds of thousands, and with these three hundred men God was going to achieve His purpose. So it is in these last days that God will achieve His purpose. In the study of the prophecies the way in which God will complete the work in these last days is vividly revealed. When it comes to the loud cry it will be through test and trial that God’s people will be brought to the point where they will be used of Him. The Scriptures tells us that in the last days it will be a poor and afflicted people.
The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; {SpM 1.5}
Obscure and little known. If you have a church that is in the hundreds of thousands, or in the millions, are you going to be known by the Catholics? Absolutely. But these people are so obscure, so little known that the Catholics won’t know about them. That is something quite powerful because the Catholics have a very thorough system of research behind the scenes.
Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word;
These people tremble at His word, they are paying close attention to what He is saying, they like in Gideon’s time are ready and alert for the battle and will not stoop down and drink like an animal out of the water, but will just scoop it up quickly because they are wide alert.
Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
God’s faithful people are a poor and afflicted people not regarded highly by large organisations. Others say to them, What can you do? You cannot evangelise the world like we can. This is what has been expressed. What then can be done by these feeble numbers on a world-scale? Let the Spirit of Prophecy help us in our comprehension of such a small company.
The Lord is willing to do great things for us. We shall not gain the victory through numbers, but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in His strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel. {2BC 1003.8}
There is a lesson for us in the story of Gideon’s army. . . . {2BC 1003.9}
The Lord is just as willing to work through human efforts now, and to accomplish great things through weak instrumentalities. It is essential to have an intelligent knowledge of the truth; for how else could we meet its wily opponents? The Bible must be studied, not alone for the doctrines it teaches, but for its practical lessons. You should never be surprised, you should never be without your armor on. Be prepared for any emergency, for any call of duty. {2BC 1003.10}
This is what these men of Gideon’s army were doing as they were scooping up the water with their hands quickly, they were always alert.
Be waiting, watching for every opportunity to present the truth, familiar with the prophecies, familiar with the lessons of Christ. {2BC 1003.10}
These people have to familiarise themselves with everything if they are going to be used.
But do not trust in well-prepared arguments. Argument alone is not enough. God must be sought on your knees; you must go forth to meet the people through the power and influence of His Spirit. {2BC 1003.10}
Act promptly. God would have you minute men, as were the men who composed Gideon’s army. Many times ministers are too precise, too calculating. While they are getting ready to do a great work, the opportunity for doing a good work passes unimproved. The minister moves as though the whole burden rested on himself, a poor finite man, when Jesus is carrying him and his burden too. Brethren, trust self less, and Jesus more (RH July 1, 1884). {2BC 1004.1}
These words are very revealing and important for us to understand that if God is going to use any of us for the loud cry, we must be prepared for it. Until we are prepared for it we will not be able to give it. It is a people who do not prepare arguments but who prepare their hearts to move under God’s providential leading, alert for His signs.
Kind David was waiting for the Lord to indicate when He wanted him to go down and attack the Philistines. God said to him, Watch for the movement of the wind in the mulberry trees. There was all sorts of noise down in the battlefield, but nothing in the trees. There they were watching. When God gave him the signs, the wind blowing, then it was time to go. Isn’t the wind a symbol of the Holy Spirit? How important that we are in tune with the movement of the Holy Spirit? Only those people who are as watching as Gideon’s army was will be a people that God will use no matter how small they are.
The discouraging influences that often surround us:
Such strong, discouraging influences as these have been a tide almost too strong for the church to stand against. Ten members, who were walking in all humbleness of mind, would have a far greater power upon the world than has the entire church, with its present numbers and lack of unity. The more there is of the divided, inharmonious element, the less power will the church have for good in the world. {5T 119.1}
How many members are needed to make the impact on the world that the church thinks it can make? Ten members who are what? Walking in all humbleness of mind. Those are the people that God can use. He only needs ten, in fact, He doesn’t even need that many. He will use only a few to make a loud impact upon the entire civilised world. That was what the three worthies did. In the days of Noah there were only eight that went into the ark. In the days of the test of the image that Nebuchadnezzar put up for them to worship, how many people stood firm? Three. As a consequence of those three the whole empire heard a loud impact of the power of God. Ten members, three, one, it doesn’t matter. Ten members have power on the world. But how? Remember the three hundred men in Gideon’s time and the method that was used. At night time in the darkest hour when people tend to sleep there were one hundred men from every direction from three mountains around the valley and they came down onto those multitudes with torches and a trumpet sound. The Midianites were defeated in a way that was not expected in any kind of warfare.
We are now living in gross darkness, in the midnight time of earth’s history. This is the language of the call of God for a little company to stand and give the loud cry:
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
The three worthies were in the furnace, and they were glowing. What a beautiful story that is to remind us that God can do it. In the darkest of the night God will use just a few stars:
The appearance of Christ to John should be to all, believers and unbelievers, an evidence that we have a risen Christ. It should give living power to the church. At times dark clouds surround God’s people. It seems as though oppression and persecution would extinguish them. But at such times the most instructive lessons are given. As in the darkest night the stars shine the brightest, so the most brilliant beams of God’s glory are revealed in the deepest gloom. The darker the sky, the more clear and impressive are the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, the risen Saviour.—Manuscript 106, 1897. {CTr 311.6}
In the darkest gloom the light will shine the brightest, and the darkness will see the light. This is the way by which God will do this:
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us. The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. {PK 188.1}
The conditioning of the mind to the worldly ways is happening all around us, and when the real test comes, the people are ready to yield. This is what happened to Adventists in the First World War. The test came but the conditioning had so taken place that they saw a way through by which they could be unfaithful, while the faithful few stood firm in that dark hour. The customs of the world are a preconditioning to cause the church in its great numbers to submit, just like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. There must have been Jews amongst that great multitude that bowed down in front of the image, but there were only three that stood firm because they were not conditioned.
At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. {PK 188.1}
The gold will be separated from the dross at that time when the threats of death and imprisonment are made.
True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness. {PK 188.1}
Among earth’s inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every tongue and people; and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones, “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,” will “shine as lights in the world.” Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:15. The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine. {PK 188.2}
They are scattered all around the world. This was the picture in Gideon’s time. They were coming from all directions. So it will be at the end. From all these countries in different parts of the world, they will shine in contradiction to the darkness. Here we are in Australia. How many do you think we should be here when there are others all over in the world? Small in number as we may be, do not despair; this is God’s work. He will bring about circumstances so that those people who are committed, who are living in total humility in their relationship with God and are preparing themselves, will be brought forward.
Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, {Ev 69.1}
Some people say, I don’t want to go to the front. But movements are going to bring us to the front if we are faithful. Those people are little known to the Catholics, they are not in the great numbers of the churches; they have been disfellowshipped from their churches. The others said, Let the Lord be glorified. This is the experience of God’s children who will remain totally loyal to the cause no matter how weak and sinful they may be. They will be loyal nonetheless. What are these movements of the darkness that will expose them?
Isaiah 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.
In coming out into the open by standing firm, you become a prey and you will be brought into the open because truth faileth. If you are going to stand faithful to truth, then you will become a prey.
Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15 Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey:
This is the precursor to the loud cry. This is what we are to expect. The people will be exposed when truth fails. Isn’t truth failing around us? Here are a small number of people – maybe ten, maybe three, it makes little difference – and they will become a prey. It may seem to be that these small numbers of people aren’t noticed, but it shall not always be, because movements are at work to bring them to the front. These are the movements, when truth fails. Are you prepared to stand up for truth that is practiced and that will make you a prey?
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
This is the darkness.
2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
This darkness will make God’s people stand out like a sore thumb in the midst of the corruption; they will be bright lights in the midst of the darkness. Under such conditions, with the infliction of the papal government affecting people to worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, we are given a very vivid description of the events that will reveal these faithful ones:.
As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. {GC 607.1}
You can already see it happening now. It swells into an emboldenment.
They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. {GC 607.1}
Not only will there be oppression, but because they are such nice people standing faithful, they will be offered positions of influence and rewards and advantages as inducements to renounce their faith.
But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”–the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. {GC 607.1}
Those circumstances will expose God’s people, and those faithful few will stand from all lands as the stars shining in the midnight darkness. As this pressure is put upon them they will stand out.
Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths. {GC 607.1}
I cannot comprehend that people cannot appreciate this. The loud cry will reach thousands. How? By the darkness crowding in upon God’s people and they themselves standing faithful and then ending up in the courts. With today’s media, imagine what an amazing experience this will reveal itself to be. From all places of the world there will be these people, a firmament of shining stars. It is going to come through all the news agencies. These people speaking in the courts will be heard from this country and that country, and the other. From all over the world they will be heard and people will say, This must be a mighty company, yet the Catholics didn’t even know them.
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. {GC 608.1}
There’s nothing else but the loud cry. These are the people who are exposed.
Matthew 10:35 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.
This is the issue because we are little known by the Catholics. Who will put us in then? It is the relatives, those with whom we are closely bound. God’s people who will follow God’s directions will be brought forward without them wanting to come forward. The circumstances will push them forward. If you are going to concentrate and focus on a life of entire submission to all of God’s ways which are not man’s ways or man’s ideas, you will be noticed. Even if we are not going to pronounce anything much and even if we are very silent, we will be brought to the attention of God’s people in Babylon even if you don’t say much. In this time, we are actually told not to sprout because if you sprout you are only going to make it worse for yourself.
Amos 5:10 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate,
Don’t they? If you were to rebuke publicly the sins of the world of today, how would you go? If you were to rebuke homosexuality as the Bible does, how do you think you are going to get on? They hate you for it. “They hate him that rebuketh in the gate.”
Amos 5:10 …and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. 11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. 12 For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].
In this period of time, what will you do if you are a prudent person?
Amos 5:13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.
It is the darkness, it is an evil time. God’s people will not go along rebuking people anymore.
Amos 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
They will be wise and prudent. They will not sprout. What is meant by the silence of the prudent here? We live today at a time when people think that with this message of the three angels, they must give a “loud” cry. They think they must go along and attack the papacy. They think they must go along and attack all the countries and nations and governments because they are ungodly and they must let them have it.
God is angry with those who pursue a course to make the world hate them. {Mar 157.5}
Yes, they are practicing homosexuality and if you say anything against anything of this sort of activity, you will be in court for it because you are “discriminating.” Well then, keep silence. God is angry with those who pursue a course to make the world hate them.
If a Christian is hated because of his good works, and for following Christ, he will have a reward. But if he is hated because he does not take a course to be loved, hated because of his uncultivated manners, and because he makes the truth a matter of quarrel with his neighbors, and because he has taken a course to make the Sabbath as annoying as possible to them, he is a stumbling-block to sinners, a reproach to the sacred truth, and unless he repents it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea. {Mar 157.5}
The prudent will be silent in that time but because God’s ways are not our ways we sometimes think but, but, is this right? Should we be silent? Well we’ve been told. God is angry if you annoy them. The only reason why you are going to come forward into the forefront and shine in this darkness is when they will enforce upon you and me things that we cannot do. Whether it be the Sabbath issue or anything else. We cannot do it and you will then become prominent.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Not those that mouth off and argue and fight with the people making the truth a quarrel, getting into debate, not those. Who? Those that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
To worship God means to worship Him in spirit and in truth; in His spirit and in His truth. This will produce the loud cry. May God help us to prepare ourselves and recognise what is to be transpiring in our life if we will be the faithful people. Let us continue to confess our sins and submit ourselves to all of God’s providence.
Amen.
