Revelation 12:12, commentary and pictures

Rejoicing belongs to heaven and woe to earth and sea because the devil has been cast out of heaven and has come down in great wrath knowing his time is short, carrying on earth the conflict he began above, and everyone must stand on the Lord's side because he will not prevail. Heaven rejoices because salvation and the kingdom of God and the power of Christ have come, because the accuser who accused the brethren day and night is cast down, and because they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony even unto death. The present time is that short-time period, the very last days when his temptations, power, hatred and urgency grow stronger as the end nears and the conflict continues until salvation is complete. Knowing his usurped control will soon end forever, he brings all his skill, cruelty and power into the final conflict to destroy earth's inhabitants and oppose God's work, especially as the church nears its final deliverance. Safety is only in Christ as refuge, with faith as a barrier and God and angels holding Satan's fierceness in check so God's plans go forward, while believers must stay awake, prayerful and united, putting on the whole armor and working with urgent, self-denying effort to proclaim the last warning before every case is decided.

Heaven's Joy and Earth's Woe

The heavens and those who dwell in them are called to rejoice, while woe is pronounced on the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, because after being cast out of heaven the devil has come down with great wrath knowing that he has but a short time. In the last days he continues on earth the same conflict he began in heaven. His wrath is directed against God's people, but he will not prevail, and believers must take their stand on the Lord's side in the battle between righteousness and sin.

Heaven rejoices because salvation and strength and the kingdom of God and the power of Christ have come. It rejoices because the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before God day and night, is cast down. It rejoices over those who overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and by loving not their lives unto death. That overcoming belongs to the patience of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and to those who get the victory over the beast and his image and his mark and the number of his name and stand on the sea of glass singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

The devil's work is determined accusation of the brethren. He gains power over human minds and leads them into apostasy, stirring them to pour out public tirades and accusations against faithful believers when they are not present to answer. This he works through human accusers who speak evil against their brethren. Those who accuse their brethren are not prompted by the Holy Spirit but work under another leader, working under Satan and working out Satan's attributes, and this accusing spirit will continue until the close of time.

The prophecy's opening presents the dragon as Satan, who moved Herod to seek Christ's death. The dragon also represents pagan Rome, the chief human power used to make war on Christ and His people during the first centuries of the Christian era. The chapter belongs with Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17 in the apocalyptic picture of beasts arising from the union of church and state, a union destructive to both civil and religious life.

Christ's triumphant resurrection convinced Satan that his kingdom would end and that he would finally be destroyed. His wrath follows that recognition that his time is short.

Prophetic Timing and Fulfillment

The prophecies of Revelation 12 to 18 are being fulfilled now, and this verse belongs to them as the last message of warning that all are to hear, leading to the very last call in chapter 18 and then to the destruction of the beast and the false prophet and the dragon and all the wicked and to the triumph and reign of Christ.

The present time is the period described by the verse, the very last days of this earth's history when the devil has come down in great anger because his time is short. His wrath and hatred and power grow stronger as his time to work draws near its end, and as the last days approach his temptations become stronger and more determined through deception to lead people to perish. He will use all his power to hinder the work on earth, and the approaching time of trial is a final period of intensified opposition whose nearness makes it urgent to proclaim the truth plainly. Because he has only a short time he works with urgency, stirring up the world through his agents to deceive and distract people and keep them occupied until probation ends and the door of mercy is shut. His influence and deception are urgent dangers, so darkness must be resisted with firm effort, spiritual lethargy awakened, and faithful warnings and reproofs given rather than smooth words that leave sin unchallenged. The conflict between Christ and Satan continues until salvation is complete.

That short-time wrath is present after the midnight cry and the shutting of the door in 1844, when Jesus is soon to step out from between God and man and the sealing of the saints is about to be finished. Redemption is near, so the whole armor must be kept to be ready for battle at any moment and every inch of ground fought, with the commandments written in heart and mind, going on strong and bold crying the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus even though opposition is many and tall like the sons of Anak.

His short time means very soon every case will be decided either for life or for death. Probation's hour is fast closing and the door will be forever shut, for Christ's coming is near. Because his time is short he has set his agencies at work to stir the elements of the world in order to deceive and delude men and keep them occupied and entranced until every case is eternally decided. He stirs his agents to keep people deceived and absorbed in worldly activity while men still pursue their usual course of eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, seeking the highest place, following pleasure and business rivalry and excitement, and while nature still keeps its usual round and the signs of Christ's coming are fast fulfilling. This is a time of trial when believers need to encourage and comfort one another, bear up under all afflictions without sinking down beneath discouragement and trial, and trust wholly in the mighty God of Jacob, whose grace is sufficient for all trials and enables overcoming every temptation and coming off victorious.

The woe on earth and sea falls when God's long-suffering ends after the world has rejected mercy, despised love and trampled law, when the wicked have passed the boundary of probation. Then God withdraws protection and leaves them to the leader they have chosen, and the angels no longer hold in check the fierce winds of human passion. Satan then has power over those who yielded to his control to plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great final trouble, when all the elements of strife are let loose, bringing a worldwide ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.

His anger grows as his time shrinks, and his work of deceit and destruction comes to its height in the time of trouble bringing fearful events on the earth. Then demons perform supernatural signs to deceive rulers and people and draw them into a final struggle against heaven and against God's government. False christs will perform miracles of healing and claim revelations from heaven that contradict Scripture.

The chapter portrays the last great conflict between the obedient and the disobedient, in which there are only two parties on earth, those who stand under the bloodstained banner of Jesus Christ and those who stand under the black banner of rebellion. Those who stand under Christ's banner bear the sign of obedience described in Exodus 31:12-18. The present time is when Satan has come down with great power, playing the game of life for the souls of men and women and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, and no one must take the side of the power of darkness and stand under his banner unless by choice.

Satan's Wrath and Methods

Satan knows his authority is nearing its end and his usurped control of the world will soon be forever at an end, so as the end approaches and the church nears its final deliverance his wrath, power, hostility and determined efforts to destroy earth's inhabitants and oppose God's work intensify. In the final conflict he brings all his accumulated skill, cruelty and power in deception to oppose God's people, working with intensified deception and all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish while error presses against truth, justice and equity. Those not surrendered to God and kept by divine power will join his rebellion, which makes the time one of grave peril requiring faithfulness, alertness and full surrender, yet God gives His people grace and the Spirit to strengthen them to stand.

He is at war against Christ, God and the heavenly host, having come down with great power and great wrath because his time is short, and he works through deceit and unrighteousness among those who perish. He conceals his existence and methods to gain advantage over those who do not recognize his influence, professing to be converted and clothing himself in angel's robes, working subtly through hidden traps, deceptive theories and every artifice so his activity cannot always be readily detected. This makes the present conflict urgent, calling Christ's followers to carry forward the warfare with vigor and self-denial, to recognize the spiritual condition of the present time and the duty it brings, and to let the light of God shine more brightly in words and conduct.

His coming is reflected in multiplied errors, deceptive miracles, wonderful signs and lying wonders that sweep away those not firmly grounded in eternal truth, so even professed followers of Christ must be tested by God's word and obedience to His commandments. As the final conflict approaches he and evil angels use counterfeit miracles and deception, even claiming that Satan is God, to mislead if possible, and many will be deceived by his miracles and fallacies. When the Spirit of God is withdrawn he does the evil deeds he long wished to do, delighting in storm and tempest, war and bloodshed and gathering his harvest through them, while men are deceived to declare calamities punishment for desecrating Sunday, pleasing fables meet minds that love not truth, commandment-keepers are accused with angry zeal and raged against because their faith cannot be perverted, wicked men are hardened against truth, and just and unjust are deceived by fallen angels sent in the form of dead friends to those who would have been barricaded by honoring the law. Those who swerve from truth lose bearings and drift from delusion to delusion, blown about by vain doctrine, accepting his science and in danger of having a name to live while dead.

His wrath brings calamity and distress on land and sea, including storm and tempest, tornadoes, railroad and sea disasters, conflagrations, fierce hailstorms, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, earthquakes, famine, pestilence and war and bloodshed, sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey and sweeping away the ripening harvest. God restrains that power and shields people by His angels, but those who refuse warnings, counsels and reproof, choose their own way and resist light place themselves beyond His protection, and He no longer commissions angels to prevent decided attacks, leaving them to Satan to entangle and destroy if he can; these judgments do not come directly from God. Without restraint far more terrible manifestations would be seen than ever dreamed, and what has appeared is only the beginning, not leading hearts set on evil to repent. When the Spirit is withdrawn and God's hand withdrawn, as seen when a whole city like Johnstown was wiped out, such disasters will increase until the very close of history, with visitations more frequent and disastrous upon man and beast and a deadly taint imparting pestilence by which thousands perish, while outward life continues as usual with eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, buying and selling, jostling for place and crowding theaters, horse-races and gambling-hells.

He inaugurates a fearful confederacy and brotherhood in which unholy human agencies combine with demon forces and the whole is imbued with satanic impulses, now marshaling hosts to speak for the beast, a work running until the close of history so every soul must take hold of Christ's strength to make peace with Him. Because his time is short he stamps his image and superscription on all ambitious human projects, leading a vast army practicing worldly greed, murder, violence and wickedness to gain advantage and supremacy, even selling souls for highest place, so conflict wages more fiercely. His coming brings wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, selfishness and covetousness leading to violence, crime and all wickedness, nations watching for advantage and robbing others in unholy ambition, with idolatry practiced in sports, games and horse racing deepening misery and increasing crime, and all this confusion, violence and crime fulfills Christ's words as signs of His coming when He whose right it is will take possession of earthly things.

His power is exercised especially upon the remnant as the close nears, warring against them to divide and scatter them so they grow weak and are overthrown, coming to dishearten, perplex and trouble them and taking advantage of disorder and disunion to hinder the work and draw church property and means dedicated to God into his ranks and control. As probation nears its close he works urgently to ensnare even professed Christians and use them as vain talkers and mischief-makers to mislead and destroy others, crowding out Christlike graces with hatred, jealousy, worldliness, selfishness, love of pleasure and pride, so believers must be watchful and prayerful. Therefore God's people must move understandingly, united in mind, judgment and effort, maintaining order in union, acting wisely to leave church matters settled and secure and trusting the Lord to overrule, lest he take advantage.

Because his time is short he leads men to greater selfishness and covetousness, taking advantage of covetous selfish dispositions, controlling those who indulge them even unknowingly, then exulting in hellish triumph and laughing at the folly of those wrapped up in themselves, close, penurious and selfish who accept his suggestions and enter his snares. His devouring work as a roaring lion is to occupy minds and attract and ensnare souls, especially the youth, with every amusement made the great all-absorbing theme of the day, men cooperating with evil angels until debasing influences from passion for amusement are leveled with duty and eternal interests overshadowed. Because the attack is so intense in this short time, God's people must now more than ever be distinct and peculiar, in the world but not of the world.

He works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to spread the leaven of evil, and those who had great light but did not cherish it nor purify souls by obeying truth will meet great loss unless they heed reproof, soften dispositions and let self be crucified. He leads men today as he led Adam and Eve to disregard God's law and cast off allegiance, holding before them loss if they obey and teaching the opposite story that keeping the law is falling from grace, if possible deceiving the very elect, while men in deep stupor help him by ignorance and need great caution not to take his sophistry for Bible truth nor his will for God's. He seeks to turn souls to false theories and delusions and false doctrines, sifting minds with doubt so truth once loved loses clearness, so that even those once used by God and once valuing truth but rejecting instruction are ensnared and should not be trusted as guides for others or the young. When the Spirit moves he intrudes into every religious effort, and if he cannot keep souls in indifference he pushes awakenings into fanaticism and extremes, molding God's work through unsanctified traits and mingling errors so harm through extremes exceeds no awakening.

He plays the game of life for each soul to secure it, working with deceiving power on hearts and minds of all listening to his suggestions, tempting people to disregard given light, follow own way and will instead of the Lord's way, choose unwise companions and confusing counsel from those without God as counselor, and place themselves on enemy ground to separate souls from God. There is no safety elsewhere, for any not following Christ's footsteps follows another leader, listening to strange voices until the True Shepherd cannot be distinguished, little by little ceasing to heed warnings and instructions and relying on human wisdom, imaginations, exertion and devices until satisfied with own inventions. His angels with him are busy lulling many of God's people to sleep and settling a cloud of darkness over the church, broken only by earnest effort and persevering prayer, while he gathers forces targeting each soul through worldly attractions that separate from God.

His great wrath is manifested as fierce opposition to gospel preaching, seen in remarkable demonstrations at Adelaide through a Disciple minister and a professedly converted Jew breaking in with unreasonable ridiculous interruptions, which overdid itself and died while large congregations inside and outside heard and embraced truth. Instead of reducing efforts as time shortens he increases them, stirring disaffection and breaking confidence in God's work and messengers. When ministers and people sleep he can sleep, but when the church is aroused to living truths, a life of faith and holiness, glad reception of the return and peaceful reign of the Just One, consecration of all and swelling the note Behold he cometh, darkness is astir and he shows vigilance and wrath with both wiles and anger, calling fallen angels to aid and imposing wiles on the uninstructed unguarded to stir fanaticism, which proves the genuineness of the Advent movement he would not let warn the world lest thousands leave his ranks.

Those Satan Attacks

The devil's fierce anger in the present time is without restraint because he knows his remaining time is brief, and it is directed against God's people as God leads them out from the abominations of the world to keep His law while still in the land of the enemy. This repeats Israel's experience when Canaan became their habitation under God's law, and as the antitypical land of promise lies just before them Satan with cruel hatred is determined to destroy them and cut them off from their inheritance. That coming inheritance is a land where no strange god will ever come and no evil spirit will ever enter. Watching and praying against temptation is therefore needed now more than ever.

His anger falls especially upon people who despite weakness and sin honor God's law and seek to carry out God's purposes, and he tries to ensnare them, accuse them, and make them lose faith and turn from God. It comes upon a people loyal through obedience to His precepts who are thereby prepared to stand in the great day of wrath, bringing trouble and affliction with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. As Christ's appearing draws near his temptations against God's commandment-keeping people grow more powerful, so they must remain watchful and vigilant, resist his devices, and stand firm in faith. They need not be deceived by his fatal delusions if they study the Scriptures for themselves and stand unmoved on the foundation of eternal truth, with the Captain of their salvation aiding them in battle and the Lord raising up a standard when the enemy comes in like a flood.

He knows the sealing of the saints will place them beyond his power, so as the sealing nears its end he works with exceptional power in every way he can to keep them from receiving the seal of the living God. He uses every insinuation to catch them off guard, to get them asleep on present truth or doubting it, and to make them spiritually asleep. He may come in almost human form, and his angels seek to destroy the saints and exert evil influence and power against them. God and His angels guard and protect them from this power.

He has come down in great power because his time is short, and his angels work through human agents to strengthen them against God's people while the powers of darkness continually rise to gain victory over them. He seeks to take possession of hearts and minds, even of those occupying positions as teachers, and works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish amid the moral darkness of this world. He works through deception to tempt, trouble, and deceive those who want to serve and glorify God, and through evil angels spreading delusions and false theories seeks to deceive even God's faithful people. He also works through men who knew the truth but abandoned the faith once delivered to the saints, making them active agencies to hinder God's cause, impede its progress, and draw workers away from the work God gave them. Believers must therefore grow daily in grace, strength, and knowledge of truth to keep the ascendancy, stand as firm as a rock for truth and not be moved, stand on Christ's side kept by God's power through faith lest they become agents through whom Satan works, be true Christians worked by the Holy Spirit as bright shining lights Satan cannot possess, and give a clear earnest message of Bible truth in the power of the Holy Spirit, while singing can drive the enemy away and shouting can beat him back.

Satan himself at the head of his army, not only human agencies filled with his spirit, is arrayed against God and against all that is good, striving to perfect the force he rules so he can take vengeance on God's people. He fills the minds of his human instruments with hatred against God and intense desire for revenge, stirring hatred and desire for revenge to carry out his plans. The inhabitants of the world have largely given themselves into his control as god of this earth, cooperating with him in conspiracies against the government of God. His rage against God's people and his contention and opposition to God's work increase as knowledge of God's requirements spreads and present truth shines on people long in darkness, and his power over humanity and deception drive that opposition.

He works deceitfully in the last days and targets people entrusted with responsible work because their influence can shape others, bringing temptations and danger from which safety is found only in trusting God, clinging to Jesus, and letting nothing separate the soul from Him. People, especially the young, face many daily unseen dangers from his workings, attacks, and temptations, so special care is needed to protect them and preserve their faith in perilous times when his influence works through worldly forces to corrupt and seduce. In a great crisis he seeks to devour by using influential depraved persons as agents to corrupt the youth and by laying artful snares that catch them unawares and lead into confusion, dishonor, and shame. They must be awake to need of strength from God, watchful and prayerful so conscience stays sensitive and perception stays clear to discern him, and resist steadfast in faith to be fortified, gain precious victories, and obtain valuable experience in Christian warfare, for young people who give themselves to Jesus and rely on His power can resist his strongest assaults.

He works with all his hellish power to quench the light God has for every soul, the light that should burn brightly in the soul and shine forth in good works. He casts his shadow across the pathway to intercept every ray of heavenly light. He also makes every effort urgently to destroy faith in God and His Word, with his agents continually trying to lead people into wrong words and actions. Christ gives power and wisdom to meet these attacks when people diligently seek the Lord and watch in prayer, so everyone must take a definite stand with Jesus and cleave to God and to what God pronounces truth though the whole world be arrayed against it, for indifference, carelessness, and cherishing hereditary and cultivated traits misrepresenting Christ leave people open to the enemy and losing their bearings.

His power takes hold of evil dissolute people who give themselves to him, producing wicked works and killing, going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, so that life is endangered by violent characters and requires being guarded, cautious, and taking every precaution against being unguarded and exposed. His coming down with great power and wrath because his time is short means the present time of continued apostasy and abounding iniquity that chills the faith, constancy, and steadfastness of many. As Christ's soon coming and the close of time draw near his wrath brings growing corruption and danger in the cities, making them more objectionable as centers of work with increased dangers of travel and abounding confusion and drunkenness. That condition calls the faithful to the front to give straight, clear, decided testimonies freighted with light for the time so truth shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day, with the Spirit and power of the Coming One imparted in large measure to those preparing to stand in the day of God and hastening the second advent, to whom Christ gives special communications as He talked with His disciples and whom the Spirit of truth guides into all truth through God's appointed agencies and lines of warning and encouragement, while Satan is ever alert to make that counsel of no effect and close every avenue so dull ears and closed eyes mingle prior light with supposition, uncertainty, and darkness until light cannot be distinguished from darkness. Therefore every advantage for the work should be recognized and all possible strength obtained, including securing places in retired mountain regions difficult for city evils to enter for sanitariums and advanced schools.

Watchfulness Unity and Victory

The last days are perilous because the devil has come down in great wrath knowing his time is short, bringing woe to earth and sea and severe tribulation, and Christ alone is the refuge from his secret work to draw followers into self-indulgence and wickedness. His power is bounded by God, and faith stands as a barrier against his efforts to weaken and destroy. Renewed energy, vigilant action, and the whole armor of God are needed as dangers continually increase, with the Laodicean message given to arouse a slumbering church, lest indifference and sloth lose personal religion and heaven itself. Angels of God that excel in strength wait to be called to aid so faith is not eclipsed by the fierceness of the conflict, and they stand ready to lift a standard for hard-pressed soldiers and put songs of victory and rejoicing on their lips.

Believers live in an enemy's country because he who was cast out of heaven has come down with great power and wrath to take souls captive. He works with every artifice and device, with worldly entanglements, error, superstition, carefully concealed masterly snares, unexpected attacks, and unnumbered deceptions to win Christ's followers away. Therefore he who overcomes must be watchful, alert, vigilant, constantly on guard, prayerful, and close to Christ in self-denial and sacrifice, keeping conscience sensitive and perception clear through communion with God. Carelessness, neglect of Christian duty, indifference, glaring dangers, perilous inconsistent moves, wandering from humility, casting aside Christ's yoke, and leaving the narrow path to the city of God leave even the young vulnerable and make one an easy prey. Only such close abiding builds firm character and gives strength by grace and the Spirit to recognize and resist his efforts to deceive, ensnare, and overthrow faith.

As the close of time approaches he directs this short-time power and wrath especially against the remnant, seeking in every possible way to dishearten, perplex, trouble, divide and scatter them so they grow weak and are overthrown. He works on right and left with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to seduce God's people and tear up foundations through deceptive theories in those who will not obey truth, and through vain talkers and mischief-makers as his agents. Therefore God's people must move understandingly, awake and prepared, united in effort of the same mind and same judgment, with order observed and maintained, leaving nothing undone to settle church matters and property securely and then trusting the Lord to overrule. Only so will efforts tell forcibly for present truth instead of scattering, only those who unify will stand, and Satan will take no advantage through division.

His power is rising and increasing in the world and among professed churches, like Egypt's magicians imitating God's works through Moses, working through agents and their influence with darkness continually rising against God's people. God's people must therefore wake up and grow daily in strength, grace, and knowledge of truth to keep the ascendancy over the powers of darkness, or be overcome by them. Constant watchfulness and steadfastness are required, with the whole armor put on to be ready at any moment. Singing to God's glory and shouting in faith drive back the enemy and bring victory.

In these last days his wrath falls upon a people loyal through obedience to God's holy law and prepared to stand in the great day of wrath, working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. God's people need not be deceived if they study Scripture for themselves, stand unmoved on eternal truth, make the Lord God of Israel their counselor, lean hard on Christ, and meet Him as personal enemy and leader of rebellion with God's Word prayerfully studied and lived as their weapon to conquer through the blood of the Lamb. The conflict is not over and victory not complete, and as earth's history closes the pressure of darkness grows stronger with outward temptations and inward tendencies still alluring, yet difficulties are overcome through watchfulness and prayer unto greater experience and growth in grace. His usurped authority will soon end and his present opportunity is his last, with great scenes soon to open and the Lord coming in power and glory, so believers must be faithful sentinels trusting not in men nor making flesh their arm, resisting him, drawing near to God, and looking constantly to Christ for help lest unsurrendered souls ally with Satan against heaven.

It is a time of trial because his temptations are greater now than ever, and very soon every case will be decided for life or death. Believers must therefore encourage and comfort one another, bear up under all afflictions, and not sink beneath discouragement and trial. They must trust wholly in the mighty God of Jacob, whose grace is sufficient for all trials, and by that trust overcome every temptation and come off victorious with strength for further trials, since yielding weakens and can lead to captivity.

Every person who overcomes through grace increases his determination to work with fierce intensity, using subtlety even upon those who know truth to lead them to resist Christ, and his growing power shows the final phase of the conflict between Christ and Satan is near. He has come down with great power to work in the children of men, bent on harming, disorganizing, and destroying, yet in Christ's strength people can stand and must give him no place.

His working is subtle, diligent, and hidden to ruin souls and take possession of minds to hold them captive, so activity cannot always be readily detected. The only safety is in following closely after Christ, walking in His wisdom, practicing His truth, placing oneself under His protection, denying self, and taking Him as example in all things. Jesus understands the enemy's subtle arts and keeps feet in safe paths, and nothing done apart from such following is acceptable to God.

The present calls for faithfulness more than any other period because he works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, planning with intensity to place obstacles and hinder progress, so future difficulties will be tenfold greater than any yet met. Every soul must stand watching and waiting, listening for God's warning, with self-denial and close watching lest Satan come in and be received as honored guest, with faith and purification going forward to escape snares, and with willing unquestioning obedience now more than ever to come off conquerors. Humility is at this time a safeguard and shield for churches as they use talents without exaltation, working carefully and conscientiously to do God's will, since even the best could not endure God's wrath for a moment.

He disputes every step of advance made by righteousness in the inward battle for mastery between unbelief and righteousness that every follower must go through, a controversy waged in full view of the heavenly universe. The ministry of angels is especially essential now, with an appointed angel sent from heaven to minister to every believer who constantly realizes dependence on God. The mingling of believers and unbelievers together helps the enemy spoil faith and destroy distinct identity as God's peculiar people.

Urgency of Final Work

The nearness of the final trial makes plain proclamation urgent, for Satan's short time brings his great power against the earth. Two great armies are at war, Satan and his host against Christ and God and the heavenly host, working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish in days as Noah's were. In that age the sanctifying present truth must be given with decided work, the third angel's message not smothered but swelling by the Spirit into a loud cry until the whole earth is lightened with glory. This requires laborers together with God, united in heart and mind and strength, with success depending on wise unreserved cooperation with one another and with God in new territories while sustaining pure principle and forwarding Christ's second appearing in power and great glory in harmony with the former angels. Calamity and upheaval demand urgent action to share truth and draw others to Christ because the Lord comes very soon.

Because the devil is active and time is short, talent must not be held out of the field by long advanced preparation, but men and women must go at once into God's moral vineyard to communicate received light and knowledge to those in darkness. The verse is fulfilled now while the last message of warning is being given and the last call of mercy heard, with little remaining time while the world perishes without truth. During the time of the end Satan's servants work with greatly increased activity, so God's servants must meet it with proportionately increased activity, Christian uniting with Christian and church with church under the Holy Spirit to accomplish God's work.

The night of trial is nearly spent and Satan brings in his masterly power, while God's chastisement is upon the world to call all who know truth to hide in the cleft of the Rock and behold God's glory. Therefore truth must not now be muffled with smooth words crying peace when there is no peace, but plain unvarnished truth must be stated in leaflets and pamphlets scattered like autumn leaves, bearing God's message whether men accept or reject it. Shortness of time should stimulate earnest untiring effort with renewed energy and vigilant action, putting on the whole armor lest Satan gain advantage, since dangers continually increase and indifference and sloth lose personal religion and heaven. The Laodicean message must be given to arouse a slumbering church, while angels excelling in strength wait to be called to aid so faith is not eclipsed by the fierceness of the conflict.

Faithful warnings and reproofs are especially urgent because Satan spreads pleasing fables welcomed as smooth teaching that leaves sin unchallenged. God's people must therefore resist the darkness with firm determined effort through the Spirit's work, wake from spiritual lethargy, and press back growing darkness rather than give smooth words. The warfare is left in their hands to carry forward with vigor and self-denial amid deceitful unrighteousness among those who perish near the close of time. Christ's self-denying life rebukes indifference and coldness, love of ease, and doing only a twentieth of what could be done if awake, in contrast to professed believers who say time is short yet pursue wealth as though the world would continue a thousand years.

Satan knows his time is very short and rallies his followers against Christ to hinder the third angel's message that must warn the world before God punishes transgressors at the approaching judgment. He works deceptively against the advancement of truth, seeking to draw even those with great light into his work and divert attention from the perishing world, so those following Christ in the large work for this time must stay on guard and press forward under greatest difficulties. His coming brings scenes of calamity through unseen agencies seeking to destroy human life, at a time when truth is fallen in the streets and equity cannot enter, when everything shakable will be shaken and only what cannot be shaken will remain. Therefore God's people must not be engrossed in worldly business and love of trade and gain but be truly converted with life hid with Christ in God, with sanctified tongues glorifying Him, working now as never before instant in season and out to open ways for truth in purity and power and draw souls to Christ as He comes to establish His kingdom. As the close nears his wrath brings greater corruption, confusion, drunkenness and travel dangers making cities more objectionable as centers, so every providential advantage should be recognized and retired mountain places secured for sanitariums and advanced schools difficult for city evils to enter.

The verse marks the present giving of the last warning and call of mercy, making the time for warning precious and urgent amid intensified conflict. Satan has come down with great power to ensnare the unguarded lest they miss the glory revealed at Jesus' appearing, working actively and deceitfully throughout the world and rising even among professed churches like Egypt's magicians imitating God's works through Moses. People must therefore take hold of truth and turn from sin now rather than wait for convenience, and must wake and grow daily in strength, grace and knowledge to keep ascendancy over darkness, singing to God's glory and shouting in faith to drive back the enemy unto victory.

The faithful are called to the front amid continued apostasy and abounding iniquity chilling faith and constancy, to give straight clear decided testimonies freighted with present light so truth shines brighter until the perfect day. The Spirit and power of the Coming One is given largely to those preparing to stand in the day of God and hastening Christ's second advent, to whom Christ gives special communications as to His disciples and whom the Spirit of truth guides into all truth through appointed agencies and lines of warning and encouragement for a purifying people. At the same time Satan is ever alert to make that counsel of no effect and close every avenue for receiving truth, until dull ears and closed eyes mingle prior light with supposition and darkness so light cannot be distinguished from darkness. His great wrath is now turned against earth's inhabitants at the giving of the last message of mercy, while God and Christ and angels work intensely to quell its fierceness so God's plans are not thwarted, requiring ministers and people to wake and quickly use every providential advantage to urge the work forward.

He works on right and left with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to seduce God's people and tear up foundations through deceptive theories in the disobedient, so churches must awake from slumber, do decided preparatory work for the Lord's coming, and unify, for only those who unify will stand. He stirs powers from beneath in one last desperate effort with satanic subtlety to convert the world to his principles, with sudden destruction, a crisis now before us when those having light and warnings should show living zeal yet are almost unmoved. The powers of darkness act with intensity setting every evil work in operation to counteract heaven, so those entrusted with greatest truth must not be half asleep but wide awake, gathering with Christ and cooperating with God to carry truth nation to nation until it belts the world and completes His plan without delay. He is a diligent Bible student seeking at every point to counterwork God's people when the Lord has a controversy with earth's inhabitants and the battle is fiercely waged between servers of God and servers of Him not, multiplying fallacies so those swerving from truth lose bearings and drift from delusion to delusion, deceived by miracles and in danger of having a name to live while dead.