It does a world of difference for the credibility of your message.

Another thing you could try is making your case from the bible. That also would strongly enhance the message.

Back to your opening comment, Richard...
I haven't seen that as clearly cut as you have, where I am, but the idealistic, practical Godliness Gospel message itself of the Testimonies is perhaps rather reluctantly promoted by the laity themselves - at least in open session like Sabbath School.

Confidence is down; it's increasingly difficult to be a spiritual Adventist rather than a social Adventist...without believing that the Bible teaches what Sister White wrote in her support of the Advent Movement & message.

I do believe such, taking my cue from Herbert Douglass and his ilk of the 20th century pastors and theologians, and I'm glad and confident for doing that.

I thought these were very powerful and enlightening quotes, Richard...and appreciate them very much!

Beings the shaking started so many years ago, like over 120 years ago, how do we know that it isn't almost over with?

I thought "the" shaking will occur during the mark of the beast crisis?

4T 89
I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under temptation. The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their spirits are not steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, many are offended. {4T 89.2}

5T 80, 81
The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be [future tense] disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster. {5T 80.1}

The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness. {5T 81.1}

---

Yes, 107 years ago she wrote the following:

6T 331, 332 [1901]
If we only knew what is before us we would not be so dilatory in the work of the Lord. We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands. If we make no effort to win souls to Christ we shall be held responsible for the work we might have done, but did not do because of our spiritual indolence. Those who belong to the Lord's kingdom must work earnestly for the saving of souls. They must do their part to bind up the law and seal it among the disciples. {6T 331.2}

But she also wrote the following:

I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: "Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus."--1T 131, 132 (1856). {LDE 36.3}

Because time is short, we should work with diligence and double energy. Our children may never enter college.--3T 159 (1872). {LDE 36.4}

It is really not wise to have children now. Time is short, the perils of the last days are upon us, and the little children will be largely swept off before this.--Letter 48, 1876. {LDE 36.5}

In this age of the world, as the scenes of earth's history are soon to close and we are about to enter upon the time of trouble such as never was, the fewer the marriages contracted the better for all, both men and women.--5T 366 (1885). {LDE 37.1}

The hour will come; it is not far distant, and some of us who now believe will be alive upon the earth, and shall see the prediction verified, and hear the voice of the archangel and the trump of God echo from mountain and plain and sea to the uttermost parts of the earth.--RH July 31, 1888. {LDE 37.2}

The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer.--1SM 363 (1892). {LDE 37.3}

The long night of gloom is trying, but the morning is deferred in mercy, because if the Master should come so many would be found unready.--2T 194 (1868). {LDE 37.4}

Had Adventists after the great disappointment in 1844 held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. . . . It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. . . . {LDE 37.5}

For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord's professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years.--Ev 695, 696 (1883). {LDE 38.1}

Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.--DA 633, 634 (1898). {LDE 38.2}

Could it be that the shaking, which began 100 years ago, ended because the church wasn't ready?

We are discussing this on our forum as well, so I'll c/p some thoughts from there:

The shaking is the preaching of the straight truth, right? Think about this quote ~ and note that it is under the title "The Testimonies Slighted" (Isn't that what The Shaking is caused by- the rejection of the testimonies?), and it was written in 1882.




In 1882, there were faithful preachers who were preaching the straight testimony....and she feared that those might be the last of the faithful preachers. Look at the last paragraph ~
In 1882, God was very angry with our church...."fierce anger" is the words she chose to use.... She was calling for the church to repent "as did Ninevah"..."with all their might and believe with all their heart". Has the church done that? That was over 125 years ago! We must ask ourselves, in the last 125 years, which direction has the church gone, has it become more spiritual, or more worldly? Anyone with eyes to see must admit, the church has become more worldly. (I'm speaking of the church as a WHOLE.) Obviously, as a church, we have not repented.... I fear that those very well could have been the last faithful preachers.

Yes, there have been a few here and there since then, just as there are a few faithful preachers in other churches....but as a WHOLE....

"I fear that those very well could have been the last faithful preachers."

If so, what good would the shaking do? The shaking is supposed to sift out the ungodly so that only the faithful remain, right? If there are none faithful remaining in the Church, then sifting out the ungodly would result in the termination of the church, right?

LDE 179
The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of Sunday laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.--3SM 385 (1886). {LDE 179.2}

5T 79
We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor. {5T 79.4}

Can't answer that....but she is the one who said it...

As you see it, Tammy, what will become of the Church after the Shaking has done its appointed work? Will the SDA Church as a whole remain, purified and sanctified, prepared for the latter rain? Or, will the SDA Church as a whole cease to exist?