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Table of Contents By the request of dear friends I have consented to give a brief sketch of my experience and views, with the hope that it will cheer and strengthen the humble, trusting children of the Lord. {EW 11.1} At the age of eleven years I was converted, and when twelve years old was baptized, and joined the Methodist Church. [MRS. WHITE WAS BORN AT GORHAM, MAINE, NOVEMBER 26, 1827.] At the age of thirteen I heard William Miller deliver his second course of lectures in Portland, Maine. I then felt that I was not holy, not ready to see Jesus. And when the invitation was given for church members and sinners to come forward for prayers, I embraced the first opportunity, for I knew that I must have a great work done for me to fit me for heaven. My soul was thirsting for full and free salvation, but knew not how to obtain it. {EW 11.2} In 1842, I constantly attended the second advent meetings in Portland,
Maine, and fully believed that the Lord was coming. I was hungering and
thirsting for full salvation, an entire conformity to the will of God. Day and
night I was struggling to obtain this priceless treasure, that all the riches of
earth could not purchase. As I was bowed before God praying for this blessing,
the duty to go and pray in a public prayer meeting was presented before me. I
had never prayed vocally in meeting, and drew back from the duty, fearing that
if I should attempt to pray I would be confounded. Every time I went before the
Lord in secret prayer this unfulfilled duty presented itself, until I ceased to
pray, and settled down in a melancholy state, and finally in deep despair. In this state of mind I remained for three weeks, with not one ray of light to pierce the thick clouds of darkness around me. I then had two dreams which gave me a faint ray of light and hope. [THE DREAMS HERE REFERRED TO WILL BE FOUND ON PAGES 78-81.] After that I opened my mind to my devoted mother. She told me that I was not lost and advised me to go and see Brother Stockman, who then preached to the Advent people in Portland. I had great confidence in him, for he was a devoted and beloved servant of Christ. His words affected me and led me to hope. I returned home and again went before the Lord, and promised that I would do and suffer anything if I could have the smiles of Jesus. The same duty was presented. There was to be a prayer meeting that evening, which I attended, and when others knelt to pray, I bowed with them trembling, and after two or three had prayed, I opened my mouth in prayer before I was aware of it, and the promises of God looked to me like so many precious pearls that were to be received by only asking for them. As I prayed, the burden and agony of soul that I had so long felt left me, and the blessing of God came upon me like the gentle dew. I gave glory to God for what I felt, but I longed for more. I could not be satisfied till I was filled with the fullness of God. Inexpressible love for Jesus filled my soul. Wave after wave of glory rolled over me, until my body grew stiff. Everything was shut out from me but Jesus and glory, and I knew nothing of what was passing around me. {EW 12.1} I remained in this state of body and mind a long time, and when I
realized what was around me, everything seemed changed. Everything looked
glorious and new, as if smiling and praising God. I was then willing to confess
Jesus everywhere. For six months Most of my father's family were full believers in the advent, and for bearing testimony to this glorious doctrine seven of us were at one time cast out of the Methodist Church. At this time the words of the prophet were exceedingly precious to us: "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." Isa. 66:5. {EW 13.1} From this time, up to December, 1844, my joys, trials, and
disappointments were like those of my dear Advent friends around me. At this
time I visited one of our Advent sisters, and in the morning we bowed around the
family altar. It was not an exciting occasion, and there were but five of us
present, all women. While I was praying, the power of God came upon me as I had
never felt it before. I was wrapped in a vision of God's glory, and seemed to be
rising higher and higher from the earth, and was shown something of the travels
of the Advent people to the Holy City, as narrated below. {EW 13.2} While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me,
and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned
to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a
voice said to me, "Look again, and look a little higher." At this I raised my
eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this
path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end
of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the
path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along
the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they
kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the
city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great
way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage
The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet. {EW 15.1} Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had
appeared, about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the sign of
the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer
and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white
cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around
it were ten thousand angels, Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, "Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise." Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, "Alleluia!" as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. {EW 16.1} We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the
sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed
them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the
sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright
crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while
others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they
were all Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver. {EW 17.1} We all went under the tree and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Brethren Fitch and Stockman, [SEE APPENDIX.] who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, and whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out, "Alleluia, heaven is cheap enough!" and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven's arches ring. {EW 17.2} With Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this
earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it
parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, "They will never fade." Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green and had a reflection of silver and gold, as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts--the lion, the lamb, the leopard, and the wolf, all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here; no, no; but light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees moved to and fro, and we all cried out, "We will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods." We passed through the woods, for we were on our way to Mount Zion. {EW 18.1} As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the
glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns
were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set
with pearls most glorious. The wonderful things I there saw I cannot describe.
Oh, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of
the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of
the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. After we beheld the glory of the
temple, we went out, and Jesus left us and went to the city. Soon we heard His
lovely voice again, saying, "Come, My people, you have come out of great
tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will
gird Myself, and serve you." We shouted, "Alleluia! glory!" and entered into the
city. And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our
eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna,
almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. I asked
Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, "Not now. Those who eat of the fruit
of this After I came out of vision, everything looked changed; a gloom was spread over all that I beheld. Oh, how dark this world looked to me. I wept when I found myself here, and felt homesick. I had seen a better world, and it had spoiled this for me. I told the view to our little band in Portland, who then fully believed it to be of God. That was a powerful time. The solemnity of eternity rested upon us. About one week after this the Lord gave me another view and showed me the trials I must pass through, and that I must go and relate to others what He had revealed to me, and that I should meet with great opposition and suffer anguish of spirit by going. But said the angel, "The grace of God is sufficient for you; He will hold you up." {EW 20.1} After I came out of this vision, I was exceedingly troubled. My health
was very poor, and I was but seventeen years old. I knew that many had fallen
through exaltation, and I knew that if I in any way became exalted, God would
leave me, and I should surely be lost. I went to the Lord in prayer and begged
Him to lay the burden on someone else. It seemed to me that I could not bear it.
I lay upon my face a long time, and all the light I could get was, "Make known
to others what I have revealed to you." In my next vision I earnestly begged of the Lord that, if I must go and relate what He had shown to me, He would keep me from exaltation. Then He showed me that my prayer was answered, and if I should be in danger of exaltation His hand would be laid upon me, and I would be afflicted with sickness. Said the angel, "If you deliver the messages faithfully, and endure unto the end, you shall eat of the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of the river of life." {EW 21.1} Soon it was reported all around that the visions were the result of mesmerism, [SEE APPENDIX.] and many Adventists were ready to believe and circulate the report. A physician who was a celebrated mesmerizer told me that my views were mesmerism, that I was a very easy subject, and that he could mesmerize me and give me a vision. I told him that the Lord had shown me in vision that mesmerism was from the devil, from the bottomless pit, and that it would soon go there, with those who continued to use it. I then gave him liberty to mesmerize me if he could. He tried for more than half an hour, resorting to different operations, and then gave it up. By faith in God I was able to resist his influence, so that it did not affect me in the least. {EW 21.2} If I had a vision in meeting, many would say that it was excitement and
that someone mesmerized me. Then I would go away alone in the woods, where no
eye or ear but God's could see or hear, and pray to Him, and He would sometimes
give me a vision there. I then rejoiced, and told them what God had revealed to
me alone, where no mortal could influence me. But I was told by some that I
mesmerized myself. Oh, thought I, has it come to this that those who honestly go
to God alone to plead His promises and to claim His salvation, are to be charged
with being under the foul and soul-damning influence of mesmerism? Do we ask our
kind Father in heaven for "bread," only to receive a At this time there was fanaticism in Maine. Some refrained wholly from labor and disfellowshiped all those who would not receive their views on this point, and some other things which they held to be religious duties. God revealed these errors to me in vision and sent me to His erring children to declare them; but many of them wholly rejected the message, and charged me with conforming to the world. On the other hand, the nominal Adventists charged me with fanaticism, and I was falsely, and by some wickedly, represented as being the leader of the fanaticism that I was actually laboring to correct. Different times were repeatedly set for the Lord to come and were urged upon the brethren; but the Lord showed me that they would all pass by, for the time of trouble must come before the coming of Christ, and that every time that was set and passed by would only weaken the faith of God's people. For this I was charged with being with the evil servant that said in his heart, "My Lord delayeth His coming." {EW 22.1} All these things weighed heavily upon my spirits, and in the confusion I
was sometimes tempted to doubt my own experience. While at family prayers one
morning, the power of God began to rest upon me, and the thought rushed into my
mind that it was mesmerism, and I resisted it. Immediately I was struck dumb and
for a few moments was lost to everything around me. I then saw my sin in
doubting the power of God, and that for so doing I was struck dumb, and that my
tongue would be loosed in less than twenty-four hours. A card was held up before
me, on which were written In 1846, while at Fairhaven, Massachusetts, my sister (who usually accompanied me at that time), Sister A., Brother G., and myself started in a sailboat to visit a family on West's Island. It was almost night when we started. We had gone but a short distance when a storm suddenly arose. It thundered and lightened, and the rain came in torrents upon us. It seemed plain that we must be lost, unless God should deliver. {EW 23.1} I knelt down in the boat and began to cry to God to deliver us. And
there upon the tossing billows, while the water washed over the top of the boat
upon us, I was taken off in vision and saw that sooner would every drop of water
in the ocean be dried up than we perish, for my work had but just begun. After I
came out of the vision all my fears were gone, and we sang and praised God, and
our little boat was to us a floating Bethel. The editor of The Advent Herald has
said that my visions were known to be "the result of mesmeric operations." But,
I ask, what opportunity was there for mesmeric operations in such a time as
that? Brother G. had more than he could well do to manage the boat. He tried to
anchor, but the anchor dragged. Our little boat was tossed upon the waves and
driven by the wind, while it was so dark that we could not see from Texts Referred to on Preceding Page All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:15. {EW 24.2} And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4. {EW 24.3} And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31. {EW 24.4} Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend
you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24:24. {EW 25.1} As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:6-8. {EW 25.2} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb. 10:35-39. {EW 25.3} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own
works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4:10-12. Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. . . . Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Phil. 1:6, 27-29. {EW 26.1} For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Phil. 2:13-15. {EW 26.2} Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Eph. 6:10-18. {EW 26.3} And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 1 Peter 1:22. {EW 27.1} A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34, 35. {EW 27.2} Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Cor. 13:5. {EW 27.3} According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1 Cor. 3:10-13. {EW 27.4} Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:28-30. {EW 27.5} I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an
angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again,
If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him
be accursed. Gal. 1:6-9. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:3-7. {EW 28.1} For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Luke 4:10, 11. {EW 28.2} For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:6-9. {EW 28.3} For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:17, 18. {EW 28.4} Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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. 1 Peter 1:5-7. {EW 28.5} For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thess. 3:8. And these things shall follow them that believe: In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17, 18. {EW 29.1} His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this Man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did He to thee? how opened He thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Would ye also be His disciples? John 9:20-27. {EW 29.2} And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:13-15. {EW 29.3} If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. John 15:7, 8. {EW 29.4} And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he
cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of
Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of
God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Mark
1:23-25. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38, 39. {EW 30.1} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 3:7-13. {EW 30.2} These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Rev. 14:4, 5. {EW 30.3} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:20. {EW 30.4} 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 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. Phil. 3:21. {EW 31.1} And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. Rev. 14:14-17. {EW 31.2} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Heb. 4:9. {EW 31.3} And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21:2. {EW 31.4} And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. Rev. 14:1. {EW 31.5} And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street
of life, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare
twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of
the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse:
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall
serve Him. And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their
foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither
light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: and they shall reign forever
and ever. Rev. 22:1-5. 3 Subsequent Visions We felt an unusual spirit of prayer. And as we prayed the Holy Ghost fell upon us. We were very happy. Soon I was lost to earthly things and was wrapped in a vision of God's glory. I saw an angel flying swiftly to me. He quickly carried me from the earth to the Holy City. In the city I saw a temple, which I entered. I passed through a door before I came to the first veil. This veil was raised, and I passed into the holy place. Here I saw the altar of incense, the candlestick with seven lamps, and the table on which was the shewbread. After viewing the glory of the holy, Jesus raised the second veil and I passed into the holy of holies. {EW 32.2} In the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold.
On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it.
Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the
angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an
exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt. Jesus stood
by the ark, and as the saints' prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer
would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense
to His Father. In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded,
and the tables of stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened them,
and I saw the ten commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one
table were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone
brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the And I saw that if God had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, He would have changed the writing of the Sabbath commandment, written on the tables of stone, which are now in the ark in the most holy place of the temple in heaven; and it would read thus: The first day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. But I saw that it read the same as when written on the tables of stone by the finger of God, and delivered to Moses on Sinai. "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints. {EW 33.1} I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They
have not rejected the light upon it. And 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. [SEE PAGE 85.] This enraged the churches and nominal
Adventists, [SEE ALSO APPENDIX.] as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And
at this time God's chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came
out and endured the persecution with us. I saw In the time of trouble we all fled from the cities and villages, but
were pursued by the wicked, who entered the houses of the saints with a sword.
They raised the sword to kill us, but it broke, and fell as powerless as a
straw. Then we all cried day and night for deliverance, and the cry came up
before God. The sun came up, and the moon stood still. The streams ceased to
flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was
one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters,
which shook the heavens and the earth. The sky opened and shut and was in
commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind, and cast out ragged
rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land.
And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus' coming and delivered the
everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, and then paused,
while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with
their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of
Jehovah, and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was
awfully solemn. And at the end of every sentence the saints shouted, "Glory!
Alleluia!" Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God; and they
shone with the glory, as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The
wicked could not look on them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing
was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there
was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. Then commenced the jubilee, when the land should rest. I saw the pious
slave rise in triumph and victory and shake off the chains that bound him, while
his wicked master was in confusion and knew not what to do; for the wicked could
not understand the words of the voice of God. Soon appeared the great white
cloud. It looked more lovely than ever before. On it sat the Son of man. At
first we did not see Jesus on the cloud, but as it drew near the earth we could
behold His lovely person. This cloud, when it first appeared, was the sign of
the Son of man in heaven. The voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping
saints, clothed with glorious immortality. The living saints were changed in a
moment and were caught up with them into the cloudy chariot. It looked all over
glorious as it rolled upward. On either side of the chariot were wings, and
beneath it wheels. And as the chariot rolled upward, the wheels cried, "Holy,"
and the wings, as they moved, cried, "Holy," and the retinue of holy angels
around the cloud cried, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" And the saints in
the cloud cried, "Glory! Alleluia!" And the chariot rolled upward to the Holy
City. Jesus threw open the gates of the golden city and led us in. Here we were
made welcome, for we had kept the "commandments of God," and had a "right to the
tree of life." 4 The Sealing I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work
was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These
plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had
brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of
us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay Then my attending angel directed me to the city again, where I saw four angels winging their way to the gate of the city. They were just presenting the golden card to the angel at the gate when I saw another angel flying swiftly from the direction of the most excellent glory, and crying with a loud voice to the other angels, and waving something up and down in his hand. I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that I could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that I then saw meant. {EW 37.1} Sabbath afternoon one of our number was sick, and requested prayers that
he might be healed. We all united in applying to the Physician who never lost a
case, and while healing power came down, and the sick was healed, the Spirit
fell upon me, and I was taken off in vision. I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, "My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!" Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, "Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads." {EW 38.1} I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the
four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the
powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on the earth; that the
four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and that they were about
to let them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were
about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not
sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had
spilled His blood for them. Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly
to the four angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with
the seal of the living God in their foreheads. 5 God's Love for His People
There is perfect order and harmony in the Holy City. All the angels that are commissioned to visit the earth hold a golden card, which they present to the angels at the gates of the city as they pass in and out. Heaven is a good place. I long to be there and behold my lovely Jesus, who gave His life for me, and be changed into His glorious image. Oh, for language to express the glory of the bright world to come! I thirst for the living streams that make glad the city of our God. {EW 39.2} The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and
an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The
grass of the place was living green, and the birds there 6 Shaking of the Powers
of Heaven Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The
atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space
in Orion, whence came the voice of God. The Holy City will come down through
that open space. I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that
events come in order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are
first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun,
moon, and stars, and this earth also. I saw that the shaking of the powers in
Europe is not, as some teach, the shaking of the powers of heaven, but it is the
shaking of the angry nations. 7 The Open and the Shut Door
I saw that Jesus had shut the door of the holy place, and no man can open it; and that He had opened the door into the most holy, and no man can shut it (Rev. 3:7,8); [SEE PAGE 86. SEE ALSO APPENDIX.] and that since Jesus has opened the door into the most holy place, which contains the ark, the commandments have been shining out to God's people, and they are being tested on the Sabbath question. {EW 42.2} I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come until the
mediation of Jesus in the holy place was finished and He had passed within the
second veil; therefore Christians who fell asleep before the door was opened
into the most holy, when the midnight cry was The enemies of the present truth have been trying to open the door of the holy place, that Jesus has shut, and to close the door of the most holy place, which He opened in 1844, where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by the finger of Jehovah. {EW 43.1} Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God's people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty. {EW 43.2} Satan knew this, and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth. I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a religious garb so as to lull the deceived to greater security and to draw the minds of God's people, if possible, to those things and cause them to doubt the teachings and power of the Holy Ghost. [SEE PAGE 86. SEE ALSO APPENDIX.] {EW 43.3} I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was
at work through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to Some of these agents of Satan were affecting the bodies of some of the saints--those whom they could not deceive and draw away from the truth by a Satanic influence. Oh, that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan and be on their guard! I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God's people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling. {EW 44.1} Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the
sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God's people, and they left
without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God
has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it will soon be drawn over
all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power
for His people; and Satan will be permitted to work also. I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations would
increase and spread. The reformations that were shown me were not reformations
from error to truth. My accompanying angel bade me look for the travail of soul
for sinners as used to be. I looked, but could not see it; for the time for
their salvation is past. [THE WRITER OF THESE WORDS DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEM AS
TEACHING THAT THE TIME FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL SINNERS WAS PAST. AT THE VERY
TIME WHEN THESE THINGS WERE WRITTEN SHE HERSELF WAS LABORING FOR THE SALVATION
OF SINNERS, AS SHE HAS BEEN DOING EVER SINCE. 8 The Trial of our Faith
If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan,
then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are
stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way
to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the
trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow
weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have
on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the
powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to
God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will
give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh,
that all could see these things in their true light and endure hardness as good
soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the
power of His might. God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian and to be owned and approved of God. The Lord has shown me some who profess the present truth, whose lives do not correspond with their profession. They have the standard of piety altogether too low, and they come far short of Bible holiness. Some engage in vain and unbecoming conversation, and others give way to the risings of self. We must not expect to please ourselves, live and act like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the company of those who are of the world, and reign with Christ in glory. {EW 47.1} We must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here if we would share in
His glory hereafter. If we seek our own interest, how we can best please
ourselves, instead of seeking to please God and advance His precious, suffering
cause, we shall dishonor God and the holy cause we profess to love. We have but
a little space of time left in which to work for God. Nothing should be too dear
to sacrifice for the salvation of the scattered and torn flock of Jesus. Those
who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now will soon be gathered home to
share a rich reward and possess the new kingdom forever and ever. Oh, let us live wholly for the Lord and show by a well-ordered life and
godly conversation that we have been with Jesus and are His meek and lowly
followers. We must work while the day lasts, for when the dark night of trouble
and anguish comes, it will be too late to work for God. Jesus is in His holy
temple and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of
faults and sins and will pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may
be blotted out before He leaves the sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the sanctuary,
then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; for all
their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of
the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy will be unjust and filthy
still; for then there will be no Priest in the sanctuary to offer their
sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father's throne.
Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath must be
done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. 9 To the Little Flock
As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22) they went away sorrowful, and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven. {EW 49.1} I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely; that He left the realms of glory and came to this dark and lonely world to give His precious life and die, the just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, wore the plaited crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood in the garden, while the burden of the sins of the whole world was upon Him. The angel asked, "What for?" Oh, I saw and knew that it was for us; for our sins He suffered all this, that by His precious blood He might redeem us unto God! {EW 49.2} Then again was held up before me those who were not willing to dispose
of this world's goods to save perishing souls by sending them the truth while
Jesus stands before the Father pleading His blood, His sufferings, and His death
for them; and while God's messengers are waiting, ready to carry them the saving
truth The suffering Jesus, His love so deep as to lead Him to give His life for man, was again held up before me; also the lives of those who professed to be His followers, who had this world's goods, but considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, "Can such enter heavens?" Another angel answered, "No, never, never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth can never sing the song of redeeming love above." I saw that the quick work that God was doing on the earth would soon be cut short in righteousness and that the messengers must speed swiftly on their way to search out the scattered flock. An angel said, "Are all messengers?" Another answered, "No, no; God's messengers have a message." {EW 50.1} I saw that the cause of God had been hindered and dishonored by some traveling who had no message from God. [SEE APPENDIX.] Such will have to give an account to God for every dollar they have used in traveling where it was not their duty to go, because that money might have helped on the cause of God; and for the lack of the spiritual food that might have been given them by God's called and chosen messengers, had they had the means, souls have starved and died. I saw that those who have strength to labor with their hands and help sustain the cause were as accountable for their strength as others were for their property. {EW 50.2} The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken
out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth and to
sacrifice for God and His cause. The angel said, "Think ye that any will be
compelled to sacrifice? No, no. It I then beheld the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was whiter than the whitest white. No language can describe His glory and exalted loveliness. All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the city and have right to the tree of life and ever be in the presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday. {EW 51.1} I was pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the forbidden tree and were driven from the garden, and then the flaming sword was placed around the tree of life, lest they should partake of its fruit and be immortal sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I heard an angel ask, "Who of the family of Adam have passed the flaming sword and have partaken of the tree of life?" I heard another angel answer, "Not one of Adam's family has passed that flaming sword and partaken of that tree; therefore there is not an immortal sinner. The soul that sinneth it shall die an everlasting death--a death that will last forever, from which there will be no hope of a resurrection; and then the wrath of God will be appeased. {EW 51.2} "The saints will rest in the Holy City and reign as kings and priests
one thousand years; then Jesus will descend with the saints upon the Mount of
Olives, and the mount will part asunder and become a mighty 10 The Last Plagues and
the Judgment After the saints are changed to immortality and caught up together with
Jesus, after they receive their harps, their robes, and their crowns, and enter
the city, Jesus and the saints sit in judgment. The books are opened--the book
of life and the book of death. The book of life contains the good deeds of the
saints; and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books
are compared with the statute book, the Bible, and according to that men are
judged. The saints, in unison with Jesus, pass their judgment upon the wicked
dead. "Behold ye," said the angel, "the saints, in unison with Jesus, sit in
judgment, and mete While Satan was rallying his army, the saints were in the city,
beholding the beauty and glory of the Paradise of God. Jesus was at their head,
leading them. All at once the lovely Saviour was gone from our company; but soon
we heard His lovely voice, saying, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." We gathered about
Jesus, and just as He closed the gates of the city, the curse was pronounced
upon the wicked. The gates were shut. Then the saints used their wings and
mounted to the top of the wall of the city. Jesus was also with them; His crown
looked brilliant and Then the wicked saw what they had lost; and fire was breathed from God
upon them and consumed them. This was the execution of the judgment. The wicked
then received according as the saints, in unison with Jesus, had meted out to
them during the one thousand years. The same fire from God that consumed the
wicked purified the whole earth. The broken, ragged mountains melted with
fervent heat, the atmosphere also, and all the stubble was consumed. Then our
inheritance opened before us, glorious and beautiful, and we inherited the whole
earth made new. We all shouted with a loud voice, "Glory; Alleluia!" 11 End of the 2300 Days
I saw the Father rise from the throne, [SEE PAGE 92.] and in a flaming
chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus
rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with
Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude
after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when
Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a
little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying,
"Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments
spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you
to Myself." Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by
angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to
the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest,
standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a
pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send
up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy Spirit."
Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light,
power, and much love, joy, and peace. I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne;
they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne,
trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray,
"Father, give us Thy Spirit." Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy
influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and
peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive
God's children. 12 Duty in View of the Time
of Trouble Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble,
for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their
possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. I was
shown that it is the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every
encumbrance before I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn like this: "The cause was languishing, God's people were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!" I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased and was consumed. I also saw that God had not required all of His people to dispose of their property at the same time; but if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell. Some have been required to dispose of their property in times past to sustain the Advent cause, while others have been permitted to keep theirs until a time of need. Then, as the cause needs it, their duty is to sell. {EW 57.1} I saw that the message, "Sell that ye have, and give alms," has not been given, by some, in its clear light, and the object of the words of our Saviour has not been clearly presented. The object of selling is not to give to those who are able to labor and support themselves, but to spread the truth. It is a sin to support and indulge in idleness those who are able to labor. Some have been |