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THE EARLY AND LATTER RAIN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IN THE END-TIME

Part 1

(Based on the book by Elder Gordon Collier)

1. RAIN REPRESENTS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour out My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring." Isa. 44:3

"Ask ye of The Lord rain in the time of the latter rain: so The Lord will make bright clouds (lightning, thunder, and heavy rain!), and give them showers of rain to every one grass in the field." Zech.10:1

"And I will cause the shower to come down in his season, there shall be showers of blessing." Ezek. 34:26

"In the east the former rain falls at the sowing time. it is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilising showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of The Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate and to ripen the harvest, so The holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the processes of spiritual growth." TM 506

SERIOUS POINTS TO PONDER!

“Nearly all who profess to believe present truth.....are wholly unfitted to receive the latter rain." 1T 466

"Today a large part of those who compose our congregations are dead in trespasses and sins." 6T 426

 "I have stated before them that, from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved—not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God’s own appointed way." 2T 445

"When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." GC Bulletin p.257, 1891

"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." GC 608

"To stand in defence of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of The lord when champions are few--this will be our test." 5T 136

"God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal." 5T 136

"From what has been shown me, there are not more than half of the young who profess religion and the truth, who have been truly converted." 1T 158

"It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon." ChS 41

"Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat." 5T 81

"Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness.." 5T 81

 "I would say that we are living in a most solemn time. In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead.

The humble, self-sacrificing followers of Jesus will pass on to perfection, leaving behind the indifferent and lovers of the world." 1T 608-609

WE FIND MUCH IN THE BIBLE ABOUT 

THE EARLY AND LATTER RAIN

"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in The lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit."

"Ask ye of The Lord rain in the time of the latter rain: so The Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."  Zech. 10:1

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know The Lord: . . .and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3

"In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, The lord by the prophet Joel, has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfilment in the outpouring of The spirit on the  Day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of Divine grace which will attend the closing work of the Gospel." GC Intro. p. ix

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with The Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as The Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My spirit; and they shall prophesy." Acts 2:14-18

"What was the result of the outpouring of The Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. As the disciples proclaimed the message of redeeming grace, hearts yielded to the power of this message. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were re-converted.... Some who had been the bitterest opponents of the gospel became its champions... Every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of Divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed, one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character, and to labour for the enlargement of His Kingdom." AA 48

"Then they that gladly received His Word were baptised; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

THE DISCIPLES PREPARATION PRECEDING THE FALLING OF THE EARLY RAIN IN THEIR TIME

"Putting away all differences, all desire for supremacy, they came close together they came together in Christian fellowship." AA 37

"They did not wait in idleness. The record says that they were 'continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.' Luke 24:53" {AA 35}

"They humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief." {AA 35}

"The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and nearer to God, and as they did this they realised what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ. Sadness filled their hearts as they thought of how many times they had grieved Him by their slowness of comprehension, their failure to understand the lessons that, for their good, He was trying to teach them.

These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realised that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised." {AA 37}

THE EFFECT OF THE EARLY RAIN ON THEIR SPIRITUALITY AND ABILITY TO WITNESS FOR THEIR MASTER

"Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit’s working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine.

The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ’s parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfilment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death." {AA 49-50}

"What was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. As the disciples proclaimed the message of redeeming grace, hearts yielded to the power of this message. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were reconverted. Sinners united with believers in seeking the pearl of great price. Some who had been the bitterest opponents of the gospel became its champions. The prophecy was fulfilled, “He that is feeble ... shall be as David; and the house of David ... as the angel of the Lord.” {Zechariah 12:8} Every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.

“With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” ” {Acts 4:33} 

“Under their labours were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the word of truth, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that filled their hearts with peace and joy. They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatenings. The Lord spoke through them, and as they went from place to place, the poor had the gospel preached to them, and miracles of divine grace were wrought.”   {AA 48}

"The Jewish leaders had supposed that the work of Christ would end with His death; but, instead of this, they witnessed the marvellous scenes of the Day of Pentecost. They heard the disciples, endowed with a power and energy hitherto unknown, preaching Christ, their words confirmed by signs and wonders. In Jerusalem, the stronghold of Judaism, thousands openly declared their faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah." {AA 44}

"The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that reached every heart. The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His church. It was as if for ages this influence had been held in restraint, and now Heaven rejoiced in being able to pour out upon the church the riches of the Spirit’s grace. And under the influence of the Spirit, words of penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven. Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. All heaven bent low to behold and to adore the wisdom of matchless, incomprehensible love. Lost in wonder, the apostles exclaimed, “Herein is love.” They grasped the imparted gift. And what followed? The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief. Thousands were converted in a day." {AA 38}

"The Holy Spirit.... enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted." {AA 39}

"The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were labouring. This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven. From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language." {AA 39-40}

"No longer was it a matter of faith with them that Christ was the Son of God. They knew that, although clothed with humanity, He was indeed the Messiah, and they told their experience to the world with a confidence which carried with it the conviction that God was with them. 

They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him! Their hearts were surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth, testifying to the power of Christ. They were filled with an intense longing to carry forward the work He had begun. They realised the greatness of their debt to heaven and the responsibility of their work. Strengthened by the endowment of the Holy Spirit, they went forth filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. The Spirit animated them and spoke through them. The peace of Christ shone from their faces. They had consecrated their lives to Him for service, and their very features bore evidence to the surrender they had made." {AA 46}

THE EARLY AND LATTER RAIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

"Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive The Early and The Latter Rain." {James 5:7} 

"The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the “former rain” was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the up-springing of the precious seed, so the “latter rain” will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain.” Joel 2:23. “In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.” “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” {Acts 2:17, 21} 

“The great work of the Gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are “the times of refreshing” to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.” Acts 3:19, 20. {GC 611-612}

"The people of God are to be called out from their association with worldlings and evil-doers, to stand in the battle for the Lord against the powers of darkness. When the earth is lightened with the glory of God, we shall see a work similar to that which was wrought when the disciples, filled with the holy Spirit, proclaimed the power of a risen Saviour.” {RH Nov. 29, 1892}

"These scenes are to be repeated, and with greater power. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the former rain, but the latter rain will be more abundant. The Spirit awaits our demand and reception. Christ is again to be revealed in His fullness by the Holy Spirit’s power." {COL 121}

"So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was “the former rain,” and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. What is the promise to those living in these last days? “Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zechariah 9:12; 10:1. 

“Christ declared that the divine influence of the Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. 

But the promise is not appreciated as it should be; and therefore its fulfilment is not seen as it might be. The promise of the Spirit is a matter little thought of; and the result is only what might be expected—spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death.” { 8T 21} 

"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." {TM 300}

"I saw that this message will close with power and strength far exceeding the Midnight Cry.  

 Servants of God, endowed with power from on high with their faces lighted up, and shining with holy consecration, went forth to proclaim the message from heaven. Souls that were scattered all through the religious bodies answered to the call, and the precious were hurried out of the doomed churches, as Lot was hurried out of Sodom before her destruction.” {EW 278-279}

"I saw the Latter Rain was coming as [suddenly as] the midnight cry, and with ten times the power.”

{Spalding Magan collection, 1985. SpM p.4; vision of Aug. 24, 1850} 

LATTER RAIN REFERENCES IN THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

AA 55; GC 372; GC 611-612; LDE 183, 186, 203; 6BC 1055; TM 506; AG July 31; FLB Nov.22, 23, 24; Mar. Jan 12, Sept. 5,; OFC Aug. 18; YRP Jan. 17, July 13, Nov. 4; RH July 20, 1897; RH March 19, 1895; RH March 2, 1897; 1MR 176; 3BIO 484.

GOD'S LAST MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

"The truth for this time, - The Lord our Righteousness." RH Aug. 13, 1889

"The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of His character of love. " COL 415

"The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the (message) glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel." 6T 19

"The truth for this time, the third angel's message, (the truth of Righteousness by Faith in Christ which reproduces the character of God in His people) is to be proclaimed with a loud voice as we approach the final test (of the National Sunday Law)." Loma Linda Messages 82, par. 2. (Ev. 191)



The Time of the Early Rain.

"The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the Early or Former rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church." AA 54

"The time in which we are now living is to be, to those that ask, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Ask for His blessing. It is time we were more intense in our devotions." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 511

WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN? - WHAT IS GOD'S SPECIAL PURPOSE

for His people in the last days of earth's history?
What is God's Purpose for His Last Message to the World?

God brought the Seventh-day Adventist Church into existence in 1844 for the specific purpose of defeating Satan and vindicating His character and His law before the world and the universe. As soon as Satan is defeated and God is vindicated, Jesus will return. What is it that will defeat Satan, vindicate God, and enable Christ to return?

"God has called (Seventh-day Adventists) to be the depositories (Revelations) of His Holy Law and to vindicate His character before the world." 5T 746

"All Heaven is waiting to hear us (Seventh-day Adventists) vindicate God's law." RH April 16, 1901

"It is the purpose of God to glorify (vindicate) himself in His people before the world." 9T 21

"Christ is honoured (vindicated) in excellence and perfection of character." OHC 152 (And therefore dishonoured by imperfection of character.)

"The honour (vindication) of God, the honour (vindication) of Christ is involved in the perfection of the character of His people." DA 671

"The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory (the message, the revelation, the demonstration) of God, which closes the work of the third angel." 6T 19

"When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people. Then He will come to claim them as His own." Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69
(See Book Number 33 - God's Eternal Purpose in the Great Controversy)

THE TIME OF THE LATTER RAIN

"Movements are at work to bring us (Seventh-day Adventists) to the front." Evangelism, p. 69

THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW WILL DO IT!

Are you prepared to be thrust onto the stage and into the spotlight of the whole world?
Are you prepared to stand against public opinion - to stand up for God when all the world turns its back on Him?

Are you prepared to have every earthly support cut off?
"God's people "need an experience much higher, deeper, broader, than many have yet thought of having." Ministry of Healing, p. 503

PREPARATION CANNOT BE MADE AT THE LAST MOMENT!

"Courage, fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God's power to save do not come in a moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavour and firm adherence to the right, the children of God are sealing their destiny." 5T (Testimonies vol. 5) p. 213

NOW is the TIME for you to be FULLY REVIVED and to WORK EARNESTLY for the REVIVAL of the CHURCH! SOON IT WILL BE TOO LATE!

"The coming struggle will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed." Great Controversy, xi

"Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God's people on every side . . . . We, with all our religious advantage, ought to know far more today than we do know . . . ." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 116

THERE ARE TWO CLASSES, IN WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

"Those who are uniting with the world . . . preparing for the Mark of the Beast. Those . . . who are purifying their souls . . . preparing for the Seal of God." 5T 216
(The chapter, "The Seal of God" needs to be read often. It is stirring!)

A GREAT AWAKENING AMONG SDA's COMING SOON!

" . . . The Lord will use in the accomplishment of His work means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people, men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will SOON be an AWAKENING that will SURPRISE MANY." Those who do not realise the necessity of what is to be done, will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places. Now is the time for us to awake and do what we can." Loma Linda Messages (Unabridged Edn.) pp. 131, 132.

"TEACH, WRITE, PUBLISH"

"Let all have more to teach, to write, and to publish in regard to those things that are now to be fulfilled, and that concern the eternal welfare of souls. Give meat in due season to old and the young, to saints and sinners. Let everything that can be said to awaken the church from its slumbers be brought forward without delay. . . . Let more time be given to the publication and circulation of books containing present truth." 7T 157, 158

TO "THEY THAT BE TEACHERS"

"The Third Angel's message, the great testing truth for this time, is to taught in all our institutions. . . . The youth should understand these things. They should know the things that will come to pass before the closing up of the world's history. These things concern our eternal welfare, and teachers and students should give more attention to them." 6T 128, 129

A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY- EDUCATORS, TEACHERS!

A HOLLOW SQUARE

"When men arise, claiming to have a message from God, but instead of warning against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, they form a hollow square, and turn the weapons of warfare against the church militant, be afraid of them. They do not bear the Divine credentials. God has not given them any such burden of labour. They would tear down that which God would restore by the Laodiceans message." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 22

SEEK THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

"On no account should you allow yourself to be entangled in work that will weaken your influence with Seventh-day Adventists." Letters and Ms - Going to Battle Creek, p. 115.

"The Lord would be greatly dishonoured were His people to follow a course that would lead the people of the world to think that we are divided into two parties." Letters and Ms - Going to Battle Creek, p. 115.

"We must keep before the world a united front. Satan will triumph to see differences among Seventh-day Adventists." Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 76.

"If there is any difference upon any parts of the understanding of some particular passage of Scripture, then do not be with pen or voice making your differences apparent and making a breach when there is no need of this." CW 79.

"If Satan can get in dissension among us as a people, he will be only too glad." CW 79

"This un-Christian harshness has excluded Jesus from the church, and has brought in a spirit of dissension. It has fostered a disposition to judge and condemn, a hatred of those who do not see things as you see them." 5T 342. (Read context).

"Harmony and union existing among men of varied dispositions is the strongest witness that can be borne that God has sent His Son into the world to save sinners. It is our privilege to bear this witness . . . But God cannot make them one in Christ unless they are willing to give up their own way for His way." 8T 243. (Read context)

"My brethren, allow nothing to come in that will separate you from one another, or from God. Talk not of differences of opinion, but unite in the love of the truth as it is in Jesus." 8T 12. (Read context)

"Divisions, and even bitter dissensions which would disgrace any worldly community, are common in the churches. . ." COR 148. (Read context)

"Union with Christ and with one another is our only safety in these last days. Let us not make it possible for Satan to point to our church members saying, 'Behold how these people, standing under the banner of Christ, hate one another.'" 8T 240.

"Do not let anything interpose between you and your brethren. . . . God wants us to love one another as brethren." 9T 193. (Read whole section for context).

BEWARE!

Seventh-day Adventists should be on the alert for men who arise from among us from time to time claiming to have great light from God, but who do not have clear Bible evidence for their positions. Some Seventh-day Adventists are accepting "new light" without clear Bible evidence.

GOOD COUNSEL

The messenger of The Lord warns:

"God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms. . . . Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain, 'thus saith The Lord' in its support." Great Controversy, p. 595.

"Do not advocate theories or tests that Christ has never mentioned, and that have no foundation in the Bible." Gospel Workers, p. 309.

"It is not His plan that His people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word." 1 Selected Messages, p. 174.

A TRAGIC CONDITION

"Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the . . . " Spirit of Prophecy. 5T 681.

OUR DANGER

Many Seventh-day Adventists are in terrible danger of rejecting truth and consequently of being lost because they have neglected the study of the Spirit of Prophecy. Here is their opportunity to make up for lost time. It may well be the last opportunity for many!

PRESS TOGETHER

Let us now do all we can to unite our church. Let us oppose anyone, or any teaching that would divide the church. Let us present a united front to the world.
Time is running out! Soon it will be everlastingly too late to work for the revival of the church and the salvation of souls. A terrible intensity should now grip our hearts and impel us to go out into the great harvest field and to labour untiringly for the Master.

A GRAND AND AWFUL TIME

Seventh-day Adventists should be on tiptoe of expectancy, preparing most earnestly for what is soon to burst upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.

Earth-shattering events, riots, assassinations, cities destroyed, rising crime, immorality, drunkenness, strikes, the Ecumenical movement, are the end of a civilisation, the death pangs of a dying world, the culmination of earth's history, the harbingers of our coming King!

AN ALARMING SITUATION!

Soon many Seventh-day Adventists will cry out in anguish and bitterness of soul, 'It's here! It's the end; and I'm not ready!'

(G. Collier comments)

"Nearly all (Seventh-day Adventists) who profess to believe present truth . . . are wholly unfitted to receive the latter rain." Testimonies vol.1, p.466

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

The church is the apple of God's eye.

"Nothing else in this world is so dear to God as His church." 6T 42.
Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her. God is holding each one of us individually responsible for the revival and reformation of our beloved church. The destiny of our church is our destiny! We have absolutely nothing else for which to live! May we love the church as God loves her. May we toil for her and defend her to our dying breath.

"PERILOUS TIMES are before us." 8T 298.

"A great crisis awaits THE PEOPLE OF GOD." 5T 711.

"The crisis is stealing gradually upon us." DA 636.
"Everything in the world is in agitation." DA 636.
"All Heaven is astir." 5T 451.

"A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it?" 8T 315.
"The fires of persecution will be rekindled." GC 48.
"Awful judgments (are) soon to fall upon the world." 8T 37. Every man's faith will be tried to the utmost.

"Fearful tests and trials await the people of God." 9T 17.
"Soon He will arise in majesty to shake terribly the earth." 8T 36.

"We need not say, The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. Already they have come." 8T 315.

"Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, . . . calamity follows calamity . . . probation's hour is fast closing . . . every case is about to be eternally decided." DA 636.

Sudden destruction is coming! "For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them . . ." 1 Thess. 5: 3.
"Suddenly, with power and great glory, Christ will come." 8T 37.

"Ministers and people, wake up! 7T 14.
"We must now be terribly in earnest." 8T 36.
"Intense earnestness should now take possession of us." 9T 44.

"Let the Gospel message ring through our churches, summoning them to universal action." RH August 5, 1902.

"NOW is the time to put forth earnest effort to overcome the natural tendencies of the carnal heart. Our efforts, our self-denial, our perseverance, must be proportionate to the infinite value of the object of which we are in pursuit. Only by overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life." 8T 315

THANK GOD - "God's chosen people will stand unmoved." 9T 17.

[ End of E.A.L.R. - Pt.1 ]