passed the boundary of God's forbearance。 The Lord delights in mercy； and
for the sake of a few who really serve Him； He restrains calamities and
prolongs the tranquillity of multitudes。 Little do sinners against God
realize that they are indebted for their own lives to the faithful few whom
they delight to ridicule and oppress。
Though the rulers of this world know it not； yet often in their councils
angels have been spokesmen。 Human eyes have looked upon them； human ears
have listened to their appeals； human lips have opposed their suggestions
and ridiculed their counsels； human hands have met them with insult and
abuse。 In the council hall and the court of justice these heavenly
messengers have shown an intimate acquaintance with human history； they have
proved themselves better able to plead the cause of the oppressed than were
their ablest and most eloquent defenders。 They have defeated purposes and
arrested evils that would have greatly retarded the work of God and would
have caused great suffering to His people。 In the hour of peril and distress
〃the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him； and
delivereth them。〃 Psalm 34：7。
With earnest longing； God's people await the tokens of their coming King。 As
the watchmen are accosted； 〃What of the night？〃 the answer is given
unfalteringly； 〃'The morning cometh； and also the night。' Isaiah 21：11； 12。
Light is gleaming upon the clouds above the mountaintops。 Soon there will be
a revealing of His glory。 The Sun of Righteousness is about to shine forth。
The morning and the night are both at handthe opening of endless day to
the righteous； the settling down of eternal night to the wicked。〃
As the wrestling ones urge their petitions before God； the veil separating
them from the unseen seems almost withdrawn。 The heavens glow with the
dawning of eternal day； and like the melody of angel songs the words fall
upon the
633
ear： 〃Stand fast to your allegiance。 Help is coming。〃 Christ； the almighty
Victor； holds out to His weary soldiers a crown of immortal glory； and His
voice comes from the gates ajar： 〃Lo； I am with you。 Be not afraid。 I am
acquainted with all your sorrows； I have borne your griefs。 You are not
warring against untried enemies。 I have fought the battle in your behalf；
and in My name you are more than conquerors。〃
The precious Saviour will send help just when we need it。 The way to heaven
is consecrated by His footprints。 Every thorn that wounds our feet has
wounded His。 Every cross that we are called to bear He has borne before us。
The Lord permits conflicts； to prepare the soul for peace。 The time of
trouble is a fearful ordeal for God's people； but it is the time for every
true believer to look up； and by faith he may see the bow of promise
encircling him。
〃The redeemed of the Lord shall return； and come with singing unto Zion； and
everlasting joy shall be upon their head： they shall obtain gladness and
joy； and sorrow and mourning shall flee away。 I； even I； am He that
comforteth you： who art thou； that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that
shall die； and of the son of man which shall be made as grass； and
forgettest the Lord thy Maker； 。 。 。 and hast feared continually every day
because of the fury of the oppressor； as if he were ready to destroy？ and
where is the fury of the oppressor？ The captive exile hasteneth that he may
be loosed； and that he should not die in the pit； nor that his bread should
fail。 But I am the Lord thy God； that divided the sea； whose waves roared：
The Lord of hosts is His name。 And I have put My words in thy mouth； and I
have covered thee in the shadow of Mine hand。〃 Isaiah 51：11…16。
〃Therefore hear now this； thou afflicted； and drunken； but not with wine：
Thus saith thy Lord the Lord； and thy God that pleadeth the cause of His
people； Behold； I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling； even
the dregs of the cup of My fury； thou shalt no more drink it again： but I
will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee； which have said
634
to thy soul； Bow down； that we may go over： and thou hast laid thy body as
the ground； and as the street； to them that went over。〃 Verses 21…23。
The eye of God； looking down the ages； was fixed upon the crisis which His
people are to meet； when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them。 Like
the captive exile； they will be in fear of death by starvation or by
violence。 But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel； will
manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity。 〃They shall be Mine；
saith the Lord of hosts； in that day when I make up My jewels； and I will
spare them； as a man spareth his own son that serveth him。〃 Malachi 3：17。 If
the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time； it would
not； like the blood of the martyrs； be as seed sown to yield a harvest for
God。 Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the
truth； for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they
return no more。 If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their
enemies； it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness。 Says the
psalmist： 〃In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion： in the
secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me。〃 Psalm 27：5。 Christ has spoken：
〃Come； My people； enter thou into thy chambers； and shut thy doors about
thee： hide thyself as it were for a little moment； until the indignation be
overpast。 For； behold； the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the
inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity。〃 Isaiah 26：20； 21。 Glorious
will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming
and whose names are written in the book of life。
（635）
Chapter 40
God's People Delivered
When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor
the law of God； there will be； in different lands； a simultaneous movement
for their destruction。 As the time appointed in the decree draws near； the
people will conspire to root out the hated sect。 It will be determined to
strike in one night a decisive blow； which shall utterly silence the voice
of dissent and reproof。
The people of Godsome in prison cells； some hidden in solitary retreats in
the forests and the mountainsstill plead for divine protection； while in
every quarter companies of armed men； urged on by hosts of evil angels； are
preparing for the work of death。 It is now； in the hour of utmost extremity；
that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His chosen。
Saith the Lord； 〃Ye shall have a song； as in the night when a holy solemnity
is kept； and gladness of heart； as when one goeth 。 。 。 to come into the
mountain of the Lord； to the Mighty One of Israel。 And the Lord shall cause
His glorious voice to be heard； and shall show the lighting down of His arm；
with the indignation of His anger； and with the flame of a devouring fire；
with scattering； and tempest； and hailstones。〃 Isaiah 30：29； 30。
With shouts of triumph； jeering； and imprecation； throngs of evil men are
about to rush upon their prey； when； lo； a
636
dense blackness； deeper than the darkness of the night； falls upon the
earth。 Then a rainbow； shining with the glory from the throne of God； spans
the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company。 The angry multitudes
are suddenly arrested。 Their mocking cries die away。 The objects of their
murderous rage are forgotten。 With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the
symbol of God's covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering
brightness。
By the people of God a voice； clear and melodious； is heard； saying； 〃Look
up；〃 and lifting their eyes to the heavens； they behold the bow of promise。
The black； angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted； and like
Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven and see the glory of God and
the Son of man seated upon His throne。 In His divine form they discern the
marks of His humiliation； and from His lips they hear the request presented
before His Father and the holy angels： 〃I will that they also； whom Thou
hast given Me； be with Me where I am。〃 John 17：24。 Again a voice； musical
and triumphant； is heard； saying： 〃They come！ they come！ holy； harmless； and
undefiled。 They have kept the word of My patience； they shall walk among the
angels；〃 and the pale； quivering lips of those who have held fast their
faith utter a shout of victory。
It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His
people。 The sun appears； shining in its strength。 Signs and wonders follow
in quick succession。 The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the
scene； while the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their
deliverance。 Everything in nature seems turned out of its course。 The
streams cease to flow。 Dark； heavy clouds come up and clash against each
other。 In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable
glory； whence comes the voice of God like the sound of ma