The Shaking


I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them. {EW 269.1}
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness. {EW 269.2}

As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them. {EW 270.1}

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. {EW 270.2}
I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified. {EW 270.3}

Said the angel, "List ye!" Soon I heard a voice like many musical instruments all sounding in perfect strains, sweet and harmonious. It surpassed any music I had ever heard, seeming to be full of mercy, compassion, and elevating, holy joy. It thrilled through my whole being. Said the angel, "Look ye!" My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy. {EW 270.4}

The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around them, but could have no power over them. {EW 271.1}
I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel."

What is their victory?
The have gained the victory over the beast, over his image, and over his mark! All the human pressures to conform to worldly solutions, agendas, and evils, no longer has any hold on them. They have given themselves full to Christ, they are Christ's and they know He is coming soon.



7. clothed with the armor they speak forth the truth with great power.

The last message of mercy to the world will be preached WITH POWER by everyone Who has gained the victory and received the holy Spirit.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

And at the commencement of the time of trouble, [That is, the 'little time of trouble'.] we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.

Below is the first part of The Shaking vision from Early Writings. I've wondered for years what she means when she says this group of devout praying saints got "the victory" at the bottom part of the quote. It has to do with overcoming in some special sense but I was always mystified about the exact meaning and context. An idea came to me yesterday that I want to put forward for the forum to critique, but first, does any one have any thoughts?

Simply at this point they are sealed and there is no more any point to allowing them to fall or be tempted, as Christ now comes to redeem them. Thus the victory....

Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
Dan 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

My conclusion is that the latter rain comes with a high price tag. But as the saints look with wonder at the loveliness of their new home, they'll all confess "heaven is cheap enough!".

Hey Pastor Rick. Thanks for your comment. I agree the saints who receive the latter rain in Ellen White's quote "at the beginning of the (little) time of trouble" are sealed. But does sealing equate to being beyond falling? Here's another scripture that I think applies to the same event:


My view of verse 35 above is that during the latter rain some even of those who are wise, who've received it will fall away. It's similar to the Millerite Movement. Some received the first angel's message but not the second and some the second but not the third. Somewhere Ellen White states that there will be a dual cleansing of the church like the dual cleansing of the temple by Christ - once at the start of his ministry and once at the close. If you put that statement with her vision it suggests to me that the shaking she speaks of in EW is the first of the two. But what do you think Pastor?

Hey Pastor Rick. Thanks for your comment. I agree the saints who receive the latter rain in Ellen White's quote "at the beginning of the (little) time of trouble" are sealed. But does sealing equate to being beyond falling? Here's another scripture that I think applies to the same event:


My view of verse 35 above is that during the latter rain some even of those who are wise, who've received it will fall away. It's similar to the Millerite Movement. Some received the first angel's message but not the second and some the second but not the third. Somewhere Ellen White states that there will be a dual cleansing of the church like the dual cleansing of the temple by Christ - once at the start of his ministry and once at the close. If you put that statement with her vision it suggests to me that the shaking she speaks of in EW is the first of the two. But what do you think Pastor?

Sealed or in the process of being sealed?

According to Paul's writings the Holy Spirit is sealing us == a process (2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13) yet he states it in a manner that says, when we are in the sealing process, we are sealed.
"ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

However during the sealing process, it is still possible to turn our backs on the Holy Spirit, and become "unsealed".

The latter rain is poured out on those who whole heartedly accept the Holy Spirit's sealing work. Yet, the final irrevocable seal (he that is righteous let him be righteouse still, he that is filthy let him be filthy still...) is not "locked in" irreversible until probation closes, and Christ leaves the sanctuary, and that takes place AFTER the loud cry, not before.

So I don't think they have that irreversible seal yet in the sequence of the vision.

God has not revealed to us the time when this message will close or when probation will have an end. Those things that are revealed we shall accept for ourselves and for our children, but let us not seek to know that which has been kept secret in the councils of the Almighty. . . . {LDE 227.1}
Letters have come to me asking me if I have any special light as to the time when probation will close, and I answer that I have only this message to bear, that it is now time to work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work.--1SM 191 (1894).

I'm a little confused about the sealing. In some ways, it sounds like a corporate event: the entire Church is finally sealed simultaneously, as one body. However, if I understand the judgement taking place right now in the Most Holy; it begins with the Church and the case of each person is decided individually.

When an individual's case is decided, their eternal destiny is finally determined.
After this occurs each person is irrevocably either lost or saved.
Is this the sealing? If it is, the sealing is not a corporate event, but a gradual process completed only when each individual case is decided.

Therefore, could it be said that Probation is 50% or 75%, as the case may be, closed?

So, what do we believe about these very end times?
Even though we can't realize when Probation closes, what are some of the earliest indications we should notice that Probation has in fact closed?
What do you all believe?

The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives...When this time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent....The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. {Maranatha 269.5}