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The Time Has Come

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 18, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 16.

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The Time Has Come

By W. A. S.

THE evidence that we are in the time of the latter rain and the loud cry of the message multiplies on every side.
The other day letters came in from workers in three far-separated quarters of the earth — China, Africa, Central America — all speaking of experiences of the latter rain.
From China: “As we see these manifestations of His power, we can but feel that the time of the ‘latter rain’, has indeed come.”
From Sierra Leone, West Africa: “It is a shower of the ‘latter rain.’”
From Central America: “It seems to me that everywhere there is the moving of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of men.”
We know it; the time of the latter rain has come. The long, dark night is nearly past. The time of the finishing of the work is at hand.
But all these years we have known that the time of the latter rain would also be the shaking time, the time of testing and trial, when every element not of the message would be shaken out of it. We can never have the time of the latter rain without also the shaking time. We do well to reflect upon this as we see apostasy in our midst, men turning from the truth they once built up, and seeking to tear it down. The time has come when, if this message is of the truth, just such a development must come.
If we did not see evidence of the latter rain and the rapid progress of the message through all lands, we would be forced to conclude that the end was still afar. If we did not see developing the experiences described in the Scriptures and by the spirit of prophecy as of the shaking time, we would know that there was still this mile-stone before us.
But with all these things before our eyes, we know that the time has come —the time of the latter rain, and the shaking time. The last things are being done, and the end of the advent pathway is but a little way ahead.
Now let all loyal hearts “hold fast” that which they have. Those who keep the word of his patience, Christ will also keep. As an unpublished communication through the spirit of prophecy says: “The work will advance more and more as we humble our hearts, and bring our wills in submission to God. Some will place themselves under Satan’s rule, but we will not fail nor become discouraged.”
W. A. S.