The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 612
hold in check a powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies
of truth will be restrained that the third angel’s message may do its work.
When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these
leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them
will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of
trouble.
The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s
message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of
world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. The advent
movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God;
the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the
world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest
which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the
sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by the mighty movement
under the last warning of the third angel.
The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the
“former rain” was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the
opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so
the “latter rain” will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.
“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth
is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as
the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3. “Be glad then, ye
children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given
you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you
the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain.” Joel 2:23. “In the last days,
saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.” “And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.” Acts 2:17, 21.
The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation
of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which
were fulfilled in the outpouring of the
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