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PART IV
LESSONS OF HISTORY ILLUSTRATE OUR DUTY
In the stock market crash of 1929, and the ensuing depression, there were people who went through this bitter time totally unscathed. They were the Amish, the Mennonites, the Quakers, and others who were not reliant on the governing system of trade for life support. Those who were self-reliant remained at peace and were unaffected with the surrounding turmoil inflicted on the multitudes. This testimony will prove its value when GOD’S people honor this lesson of history and replicate its benefit. And when GOD knows that His children have their safety-net in place (Gen.7:1), He can then set in motion the final and rapid movements to bring the suffering of Earth to a close (Lu.18:7,8).
GOD is raising up people everywhere for this work. And logic dictates that He desires many more to join together (Matt.9:38) with the sure hope that they will participate in helping prepare destinations, shelters, food, medical facilities, and sanitation to secure a degree of comfort and safety for those who sacrifice all connection with the world for the sake of the Truth, “as the truth is in Jesus” (Eph.4:21). The goal is a smooth transition between dependence on society, to our ultimate goal of total dependence on GOD. For many who have not trained in this area of our future conflict will return to the world and receive the “mark of the beast” because their faith will be shattered due to it's sudden divorce from comfort and prosperity, as the Saviour warned: “Remember Lot's wife.” Lu. 17:32
Our acclimation to the coming hardships is a most important objective. The LORD hungers to lessen the shock of the dramatic changes that are about to take place in our world. To accomplish this, a special education must take place, just as it was in the days of Moses. Moses learned many practical lessons during his years as a humble shepherd that when he lived in Egypt he was completely unfamiliar with. While he stood with the rulers in Egypt he had his every need met. He did not have to struggle for his provisions. He was unfamiliar with the trials of patience, discomfort, and threats of wilderness life. So when he left Egypt and made his abode in a solitary land this wilderness education fit him for the work the LORD had assigned to him. When Moses was commanded by GOD to be the shepherd of Israel he had all the practical training to deal with the many situations that arose in providing for the safety of the life entrusted to his care.
As Moses instructed, [in the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt (Ex.12:35,36)], we also are instructed to gather life-support provisions to meet the needs of GOD’S people. A transitional period of time will be needed to acclimate thousands of believers to the environment by which their affections for worldly things will be removed from their character. GOD’S design: a merciful dove-tailing from our dependence on society to complete dependence on GOD: to the end that when Christ comes, there will be nothing to hold us here, and thus fulfill the prophecy, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa.25:9. |
