39 . The Time of Trouble
" At that time shall Michael stand up , the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people : and there shall be a time of trouble , such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time : and at that time thy people shall be delivered , everyone that shall be found written in the book ." Daniel 12:1 .
When the third angel ' s message closes , mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth . The people of God have accomplished their work . They have received " the latter rain ," " the refreshing from the presence of the Lord ," and they are prepared for the trying hour before them . Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven . An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done ; the final test has been brought upon the world , and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received " the seal of the living God ." Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above . He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says , " It is done ;" and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement : " He that is unjust , let him be unjust still : and he which is filthy , let him be filthy still : and he that is righteous , let him be righteous still : and he that is holy , let him be holy still ." Revelation 22:11 .
Every case has been decided for life or death . Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins . The number of His subjects is made up ; " the kingdom and dominion , and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven ," is about to be given to the heirs of salvation , and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords . When He leaves the sanctuary , darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth . In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor . The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed , and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent . God ' s longsuffering has ended . The world has rejected His mercy , despised His love , and trampled upon His law . The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation ; the Spirit of God , persistently resisted , has been at last withdrawn . Unsheltered by divine grace , they have no protection from the wicked one .
Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great , final trouble . As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion , all the elements of strife will be let loose . The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old . A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with mourning . When David offended against God by numbering the people , one angel caused that terrible destruction by which his sin was punished . The same destructive
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