and things that go BUMP! in the night.

As time grows shorter, as Jesus' coming draws nearer, there are a few individuals who have become so caught up in endtime events, they have lost their focus on Christ. One person I know has produced a publication for several years in which is detailed information on all kinds of government plots conspiracies, the kind of information that can be found in "underground" and "alternative" news sources. Since I was on his mailing list for a number of years in the early 1990's I received this publication and read it for some time. At first, this publication was Christ centered, but over time, the focus moved away from Christ to government plots and secret operations. I learned about black helicopters, and prison camps in the USA; I learned about secret this and secret that, until I and my family were scared half to death, fearful that the next vehicle that drove up the driveway was going to be filled with government agents dressed in black from head to toe who would haul us away to one of those camps.

Then survivalist rhetoric was added. This same individual also made videos, one of which covered information on how to survive in the "wilderness" if you had to run and hide. It advocated keeping a back pack by the door with such supplies as a water purifer, hunting knife, etc. If all this sounds bizarre, it was. This person along with the family actually went into hiding after one issue of his publication contained a lot of information about the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah building. Whether true or not, they believed that government agents were out to get them.

Where is faith in such behavior? Is this the working of God? How do you concentrate on carrying the 3 angel's messages to the world if you are constantly watching you back, thinking that at any moment you might disappear into a concentration camp? Is God honored when we are more concerned with self-preservation than with the lost? We have been cautioned not to make any provision for the time of trouble, nor are we to bring one on ourselves by unwise actions and hard thrusts.

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The Lord has shown me repeatedly that it is contrary to the Bible to make any provision for our temporal wants in the time of trouble. I saw that if the saints had food laid up by them or in the field in the time of trouble, when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the land, it would be taken from them by violent hands and strangers would reap their fields. Then will be the time for us to trust wholly in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water will be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger; for God is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary He would send ravens to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah, or rain manna from heaven, as He did for the Israelites. {EW 56.2}

Let everyone bear in mind that we are in no case to invite persecution. We are not to use harsh and cutting words. Keep them out of every article written, drop them out of every address given. Let the word of God do the cutting, the rebuking; let finite men hide and abide in Jesus Christ. Let the spirit of Christ appear. Let all be guarded in their words, lest they place those not of our faith in deadly opposition against us and give Satan an opportunity to use the unadvised words to hedge up our way. {9T 244.1}

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When the time for us to flee does comes, God will let us know unmistakably.

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During the night a very impressive scene passed before me. There seemed to be great confusion and the conflict of armies. A messenger from the Lord stood before me, and said, "Call your household. I will lead you; follow me." He led me down a dark passage, through a forest, then through the clefts of mountains, and said, "Here you are safe." There were others who had been led to this retreat. The heavenly messenger said. "The time of trouble has come as a thief in the night, as the Lord warned you it would come."

In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there will be no security for the transgressor of God's law. Angels cannot then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts. {Mar 270}

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I see two very strong messages for us in that post.

Linda, where exactly is that advice by EGW about not storing up for the time of trouble? I recognized I had seen it before, but forgot where. I have been under considerable conflict about how to face the years ahead. I've always been a preparedness nut, girl scout type, who was ready for Y2K, and keep my hurricane kit updated. I already do live in the country, next to 7000 acres of wilderness. I know a lot of survival skills from trying things out while camping, etc. But my research into storing food and living in the wilderness has resulted in disappointment. I dont see how anyone but the fittest could make it on his own wits and prowess. It's clear as day to me that anyone who stores up a lot of supplies is going to have it confiscated by the gov, or taken by hunger-maddened neighbors, if not brazen outlaws. I keep leaning more and more to the idea we will all have to depend upon God to sustain us literally. Remembering that quote from EGW seals it for me! I'm going to quit worrying about it and trust the Lord and His angels.

I have seen Adventists selling large containers in which to store food plus advertising where food can be bought in bulk already packaged for storage. I've heard Adventists tell how to save their clothes even!

Stockpiling food for several years in case something happens is different from putting up this years harvest. A lot of people still can fruits and vegetables to have over winter. I see nothing wrong with that. But making preparations for the future when we know not what the future holds is wrong. EGW wrote about a dream she had that illustrates how we will be called on to give up more and more of this earth as we come closer to Jesus' Second Coming.

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Chap. 73 - An Impressive Dream

While at Battle Creek in August, 1868, I dreamed of being with a large body of people. A portion of this assembly started out prepared to journey. We had heavily loaded wagons. As we journeyed, the road seemed to ascend. On one side of this road was a deep precipice; on the other was a high, smooth, white wall, like the hard finish upon plastered rooms.

As we journeyed on, the road grew narrower and steeper. In some places it seemed so very narrow that we concluded that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback.

As we progressed, the path still continued to grow narrow. We were obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the steep precipice. As we did this, the luggage on the horses pressed against the wall and caused us to sway toward the precipice. We feared that we should fall and be dashed in pieces on the rocks. We then cut the luggage from the horses, and it fell over the precipice. We continued on horseback, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance and fall. At such times a hand seemed to take the bridle and guide us over the perilous way.

As the path grew more narrow, we decided that we could no longer go with safety on horseback, and we left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another. At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, to aid us in keeping our balance upon the path. As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes, so we slipped them from our feet and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet.

We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.

Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. We pressed close to the white wall, yet could not place our feet fully upon the path, for it was too narrow. We then suspended nearly our whole weight upon the cords, exclaiming: "We have hold from above! We have hold from above!" The same words were uttered by all the company in the narrow pathway. As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which increased in size as we progressed.

I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood. It caused a feeling of regret to see the wall thus stained. This feeling, however, lasted but for a moment, as I soon thought that it was all as it should be. Those who are following after will know that others have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude that if others were able to pursue their onward course, they can do the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet, they will not faint with discouragement; but, seeing the blood upon the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.

At length we came to a large chasm, at which our path ended. There was nothing now to guide the feet, nothing upon which to rest them. Our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had increased in size until they were as large as our bodies. Here we were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in fearful whispers: "To what is the cord attached?" My husband was just before me. Large drops of sweat were falling from his brow, the veins in his neck and temples were increased to double their usual size, and suppressed, agonizing groans came from his lips. The sweat was dropping from my face, and I felt such anguish as I had never felt before. A fearful struggle was before us. Should we fail here, all the difficulties of our journey had been experienced for nought.

Before us, on the other side of the chasm, was a beautiful field of green grass, about six inches high. I could not see the sun; but bright, soft beams of light, resembling fine gold and silver, were resting upon this field. Nothing I had seen upon earth could compare in beauty and glory with this field. But could we succeed in reaching it? was the anxious inquiry. Should the cord break, we must perish. Again, in whispered anguish, the words were breathed: "What holds the cord?" For a moment we hesitated to venture. Then we exclaimed: "Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord. It has been our dependence all the difficult way. It will not fail us now." Still we were hesitating and distressed. The words were then spoken: "God holds the cord. We need not fear." These words were then repeated by those behind us, accompanied with: "He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far in safety."

My husband then swung himself over the fearful abyss into the beautiful field beyond. I immediately followed. And, oh, what a sense of relief and gratitude to God we felt! I heard voices raised in triumphant praise to God. I was happy, perfectly happy.

I awoke, and found that from the anxiety I had experienced in passing over the difficult route, every nerve in my body seemed to be in a tremor. This dream needs no comment. It made such an impression upon my mind that probably every item in it will be vivid before me while my memory shall continue. {2T 594-7}

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