Mightily Shaken by George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1916

Mightily Shaken

By George B. Thompson

WITH Moses as a chosen human leader, the Lord started in Egypt a movement to lead Israel into the Land of Promise. Though this exodus movement was divinely started and divinely led by the pillar of cloud and of fire, many lost their faith in it, and failed to realize the fulfilment of the promise. That they were mightily shaken through unbelief and rebellion, is set forth in the awful pronouncement of the Lord after the murmuring of the Israelites, when they were discouraged by the report of the unfaithful spies:—

“The Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness.” Num. 14: 26-32.

This scripture contains a warning against the sin of unbelief. Israel rebelled against God, and rejected those whom he had chosen to lead in the movement he had started. But notwithstanding the terrible results to individuals, the nation that God brought out of Egypt went into Canaan. He did not abandon it and start another. Although men “famous in the congregation, men of renown,” men who were “princes of the assembly,” rebelled, and led others with them into darkness, so that at times the “whole congregation” wept and murmured and wished they had never started from Egypt, and were ready to stone their leaders; yet in spite of all this, the work of God moved on, and those who in the face of difficulties kept their faith and stayed with the movement, went into the Promised Land.

All this we are told is “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10: 11. In the last days, just before the coming of Christ, the Lord will have another movement, of which the exodus movement from Egypt was in many respects a type. The Lord will lead again through human instrumentalities, as in days of yore. We have been warned that similar experiences will come in this message. Many will fail to allow the sanctifying power of the message to purify their lives, and will consequently lose their way. They will begin to doubt the message, either as a whole or in part. They will lose faith in the Testimonies, cavil about health reform, or become disaffected over something else.

One step in unbelief prepares the way for the next. Those chosen by the people to stand in responsible places will be subjected to the fire of cruel and unjust criticism, and be blamed for hindering the progress of the work. Some will stop paying an honest tithe because they conclude, from some false report, that the tithe fund is not used as it should be. Instead of paying tithe from principle, they pay it when things are run according to their ideas. Instead of knowing what is truth, and that the message they have espoused is from God, when some false brethren come along with something called “new light,” though it is hard to be understood and if believed will obscure the light already received, these faltering ones become uncertain about everything, think perhaps they have followed some cunningly devised fable; and they drift down the stream, out of the light, out of sight, into the night, and conclude that the message is a failure, and finally give it up altogether.

There will indeed be a “shaking time.” “My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. . . . The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way.”—Early Writings, p. 271.

Here is another startling statement of the same kind:—

“Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, p. 136.

The “great proportion” of those who now appear to be true Christians will, when tested, be found wanting. This shows that no mere theory of the truth will suffice. The message must do its work in the heart. Sin must be given up. We must be anchored to the truth, built up in Christ.

Here is another statement:—

“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.”—Id., p. 81.

“Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.” Though there is the appearance of wheat, when tested it proves to be only chaff. Half-hearted believers will accept strange and new doctrines which lead away from the old landmarks of the message. Wolves in sheep’s clothing will do a baneful work. Even of our own selves will men arise, speaking perverse things, and the weak-kneed and unbelieving will gather around them. The cares of the world and the pleasures of life will choke the word in many hearts, and the less sacrificing, easy, popular side will be chosen.

As in the exodus movement, “men of renown,” “princes of the assembly,” will give up the truth. “Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy, will then go out in darkness.” Not a few, but many! How sad this seems! Again we are told:—

“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been

sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.”—The Great Controversy, p. 608.

When the storm strikes us, only those who are rooted and grounded in Christ will stand. All others will be swept away. “Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth,” will give it up and lead others astray. All along, in the history of this message, men of talent have given it up, and while seeking to show that the Spirit of prophecy was not true, have themselves taken a course which fulfilled some of its predictions.

We call attention to these things, that as a people we may be reminded that though many may give up the truth, some of whom we have admired for their brilliancy, it is still God’s precious truth, and is sure to triumph; and that we may be admonished by these things to put away all sin from the heart, and in humility lay hold with unwavering trust upon the enduring promises of God, and stand secure upon a firm foundation, amid the tempest and stress of the final conflict.

G. B. T.