Troublous Times Before Us
We are not to locate ourselves where we will be forced into close relations with those who do not honor God…. A crisis is soon to come in regard to the observance of Sunday…. CL 20.2
The angels of mercy hurried Lot and his wife and daughters by taking hold of their hands. Had Lot hastened as the Lord desired him to, his wife would not have become a pillar of salt. Lot had too much of a lingering spirit. Let us not be like him. The same voice that warned Lot to leave Sodom bids us, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, … and touch not the unclean.” Those who obey this warning will find a refuge. Let every man be wide awake for himself, and try to save his family. Let him gird himself for the work. God will reveal from point to point what to do next. CL 6.7
Hear the voice of God through the apostle Paul: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Lot trod the plain with unwilling and tardy steps. He had so long associated with evil workers that he could not see his peril until his wife stood on the plain a pillar of salt forever.—The Review and Herald, December 11, 1900. CL 7.1
The Sunday party is strengthening itself in its false claims, and this will mean oppression to those who determine to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. We are to place ourselves where we can carry out the Sabbath commandment in its fullness. “Six days shalt thou labor,” the Lord declares, “and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” And we are to be careful not to place ourselves where it will be hard for ourselves and our children to keep the Sabbath. CL 20.3
If in the providence of God we can secure places away from the cities, the Lord would have us do this. There are troublous times before us.—Manuscript 99, 1908. CL 20.4
Make Haste to Get Ready
When the power invested in kings is allied to goodness, it is because the one in responsibility is under the divine dictation. When power is allied with wickedness, it is allied to Satanic agencies, and it will work to destroy those who are the Lord’s property. The Protestant world have set up an idol Sabbath in the place where God’s Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce.Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.—Letter 90, 1897. CL 21.1
