The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | 页面 519

The European Union in Prophecy
having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as "the
first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. "These are they
which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble
such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the
time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final
outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have "washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
"In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault" before God.
"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His
temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." They have seen
the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men
with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But
"they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes." Revelation 7:14-17.
In all ages the Saviour's chosen have been educated and disciplined in the school
of trial. They walked in narrow paths on earth; they were purified in the furnace of
affliction. For Jesus' sake they endured opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed
Him through conflicts sore; they endured selfdenial and experienced bitter
disappointments. By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin, its
power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with abhorrence. A sense of the infinite
sacrifice made for its cure humbles them in their own sight and fills their hearts with
gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot appreciate. They love
much because they have been forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ's
sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory.
The heirs of God have come from garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from
scaffolds, from mountains, from deserts, from the caves of the earth, from the caverns
of the sea. On earth they were "destitute, afflicted, tormented." Millions went down to
the grave loaded with infamy because they steadfastly refused to yield to the deceptive
claims of Satan. By human tribunals they were adjudged the vilest of criminals. But
now "God is judge Himself." Psalm 50:6. Now the decisions of earth are reversed. "The
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