Power to Finish the Work
By G. B. Thompson
In the early days of what is called the “Christian dispensation” the church of God had power. The believers were filled with the Holy Spirit; God worked with them “confirming the word with signs following.” “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure disease.” Luke 9:1. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. . . . Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Chap. 10:17, 19. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. “And when they had prayed, the place7was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. . . . And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:31-33. “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Acts 11:21. Like a warrior seated upon a white horse, the church went forth “conquering and to conquer.” Though opposed by the greatest system of power and darkness which perhaps has ever been suffered on earth to appear,—the Roman empire,—the gospel in a very brief time was carried to all the world. Thus was the church clothed with power during the former rain. Prison bars, flood, flame, the rack, sword, hunger, death, and beasts of the earth could not stay its progress. The closing hours of human probation have arrived, and the appointed time to finish the “mystery of God” has fully come. And in this time we are promised the “latter rain” in greater abundance than the former rain was bestowed upon the church on the day of Pentecost. Surely the need is as great. There has been delay because God’s people have not been ready. The time has come when there should be delay no longer. This message is not a fable; it is the truth. The Lord is at the door. This generation is to witness the end of the great controversy which for six thousand years has enjoyed the attention of the universe, and is to see the Deliverer coming on the cloud. The finishing work is the thing now on hand. Numbers alone can not do the work. Numerous or large institutions amount to nothing, only as they become a channel through which the real agency can work. The closing struggle with the principalities of darkness will be tremendously fierce. Satan, we are told, no longer able to trust the tried rulers of his kingdom, to marshal his forces, will take the field in person. Every home and agency he can use, or ever has used, to destroy souls will be lined up for battle. And we are even now in this very conflict. But, cheer up, brother pilgrims; the Lord will not leave his chosen struggling remnant to perish or to be overcome. The Captain of the armies which are in heaven will take the field also, and great power will rest upon those who stand faithful unto the end. In “Early Writings” we read of the closing work of the message:— “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, followed the convictions of his own conscience, and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message. I saw that this will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry. Servants of God, endowed with power from on high, with their faces lighted up, and shining with holy consecration, went forth to proclaim the message from heaven. Souls that were scattered all through the religious bodies answered to the call, and the precious were hurried out of the doomed churches, as Lot was hurried out of Sodom before the destruction. God’s people were strengthened by the excellent glory which rested upon them in rich abundance, and prepared them to endure the hour of temptation.” Page 139. “I heard these 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.’” Page 133. This blessed experience will be enjoyed by many. It will be the condition of the church as it finishes the work. It should be the condition of the church now, for the set time to favor Zion has fully come. Some will put away sin and seek God till he can trust them with his Spirit as here mentioned, and under its mighty inspiration the work will speedily be done. I can think of no sadder experience that can come to one of God’s servants in this time than to be passed by in the refreshing because he refuses to give up his sins, and while the word is being proclaimed with power by others he be left barren like the hills of Gilboa which are without dew or rain. “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.” Id., page 132.