The Spirit of Prophecy not optional

"The remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12:17).

Some friends and I just read the short chapter in Early Writings, entitled, "The Shaking". That chapter is a "must read".

Why do I say that? Because we are getting woefully close to the first time of trouble. Who can deny that? That means the shaking is right upon us.

"Oh, what a day is before us! What sifting will there be among those who claim to be the children of God! The unjust will be found among the just. Those who have great light and who have not walked in it will have darkness corresponding to the light they have despised. We have need to heed the lesson contained in the words of Paul, “But I keep under my body, and bring it in subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” The enemy is diligently working to see whom he can add to the ranks of apostasy; but the Lord is soon coming, and erelong every case will be decided for eternity. Those whose works correspond with the light graciously given them will be numbered on the Lord's side.

But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor." Counsels for the church, p. 338.

"I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them....

As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people.

I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified." Early Writings, p. 269,270.

According to these statements in Early Writings, there is only one way to survive the shaking/sifting. That is to heed the straight testimony of Jesus. It is to stand before the perfect law of liberty. It is to let the mighty Cleaver of truth scourge every son who God receives.

The very destiny of our church hangs upon our reception of the straight testimony from Jesus. The destiny of the Advent movement is a 144,000 having obtained the victory over self and standing without fault before the throne of God on the day that Jesus returns, when "the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." (Luke 21:27).

But, all who will disregard the Spirit of Prophecy will be disregarding that which Jesus gave His Laodicean church for a destiny that leads to purification, especially so in Earth's final furnace of affliction, the early time of trouble.

"'At the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.'...

"'The commencement of that time of trouble,' here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the 'latter rain,' or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out." Ibid. p. 85,86.

The final vindication of God's character is a great privilege. The Advent movement's gift of prophecy is Jesus' privileged grace by which His Adventists will vindicate the Father, and with which He kept ancient Israel. Through His prophets Jesus constantly sent the Israelites guidance, and power to obey His personal guidance. Without His constant voice of instruction and correction, and His sometimes out of character purging the children of Israel would never have been ready for the Messiah.

In our case, His strong voice is given to us through His messenger, Ellen White, or the 144,000 could never be ready for His return. Therefore, if disregarding the voice of truth to the Israelites meant His cutting them off, then our disregarding the Lord's messenger would lead to Israel's fate being ours. The Lord is no respecter of persons, for good or for evil.

The Spirit of Prophecy straight testimony is not optional, just as it wasn't optional for ancient Israel. Instead, it is our great privilege, as it was theirs. They inherited the weighty covenant with the only true, holy God. They didn't choose to be strapped with the covenant their father Abraham made with the Creator.

But a covenant with the Father of love and Law need not be a liability. When obedient to Him He unswervingly protected them from the destroyer who despises every individual or group who are having the image of God traced upon them. And He raised them up above all peoples in the earth.

At the end, the 144,000 will be 100% obedient. And accordingly, whatsoever they do shall prosper because God will be with them. Before "the work of salvation is closing", and before "trouble will be coming on the earth" and all the nations are agitated, "some" Adventists will have been afflicting their souls in the presence of the scourging Schoolmaster. He then will drive them to seek the Lord's face for His loving-kindness and tender-mercies. And they will obtain it. That is, they will receive His blotting out of all sin, and His Spirit will testify to theirs that His Father is reconciled with them. So, they will obtain the victory over sin and self.