EarlySDA wrote:

---

do all in their power to sound the warning

In practice, what can and should we be doing?

---

God leads His people on, step by step.  He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart.  Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next.  At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer.  If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord.  Said the angel: "God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people."  Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol.  Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus.  They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus.  Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness.  If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: "They are joined to their idols, let them alone," and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels.  Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.  {1T 187.1} 

Anonymous wrote:

---

Revelation 6:15-17 

[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

 [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

(this is the second coming of Jesus in all His glory and brightness.  The living wicked cannot stand His brightness because it will consume sin )

[17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

---

The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.  Revelation 6:15, 16.  {Mar 295.1}

The derisive jests have ceased.  Lying lips are hushed into silence.  The clash of arms, the tumult of battle, "with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood" (Isaiah 9:5), is stilled.  Nought now is heard but the voice of prayer and the sound of weeping and lamentation.  The cry bursts forth from lips so lately scoffing: "The great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"  The wicked pray to be buried beneath the rocks of the mountains rather than meet the face of Him whom they have despised and rejected.  {Mar 295.2} 

That voice which penetrates the ear of the dead, they know.  How often have its plaintive, tender tones called them to repentance.  How often has it been heard in the touching entreaties of a friend, a brother, a Redeemer.  To the rejecters of His grace no other could be so full of condemnation, so burdened with denunciation, as that voice which has so long pleaded: "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11.  Oh, that it were to them the voice of a stranger!  Says Jesus: "I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof."  Proverbs 1:24, 25.  That voice awakens memories which they would fain blot out -- warnings despised, invitations refused, privileges slighted. . . .  {Mar 295.3} 

In the lives of all who reject truth there are moments when conscience awakens, when memory presents the torturing recollection of a life of hypocrisy and the soul is harassed with vain regrets.  But what are these compared with the remorse of that day . . . when "destruction cometh as a whirlwind"!  Proverbs 1:27.  Those who would have destroyed Christ and His faithful people now witness the glory which rests upon them.  {Mar 295.4} 

All should now endeavor to realize the shortness and solemnity of the time in which we live.  There is no time now to be spent in serving self, and in acquiring property for ourselves and our children.  A change is soon to take place; a new order of things is to begin.  The heavens are to be rolled together as a scroll.  "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory."  "The Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him; then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory."  Then it is that "the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman and every freeman," will receive as their works have been.  Solemn hour when the servants are reckoned with, and retribution is awarded to all!  There is no second trial.  Probation is forever ended.  All unbelief in regard to the claims of God's law here ceases; for it is by this standard that all are judged.  Every eye then sees him; and every soul then realizes what has proved his ruin.  It is then seen and acknowledged that God's law governs all created intelligences.  There is none to question his authority.  Scoffers no longer say, "Where is the promise of his coming?" neither do they wonder that a peculiar people believed in, and waited for, their Lord's appearing.  The reason of this is apparent to all.  His coming is the greatest event in the world's history.  Those who have had respect to all his commandments, are then classed among the loyal and true, and rewarded with eternal life.  {RH, January 12, 1886 par. 1} 

Soon appeared the great white cloud, upon which sat the Son of man.  When it first appeared in the distance, this cloud looked very small.  The angel said that it was the sign of the Son of man.  As it drew nearer the earth, we could behold the excellent glory and majesty of Jesus as He rode forth to conquer.  A retinue of holy angels, with bright, glittering crowns upon their heads, escorted Him on His way.  No language can describe the glory of the scene.  The living cloud of majesty and unsurpassed glory came still nearer, and we could clearly behold the lovely person of Jesus.  He did not wear a crown of thorns, but a crown of glory rested upon His holy brow.  Upon His vesture and thigh was a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.  His countenance was as bright as the noonday sun, His eyes were as a flame of fire, and His feet had the appearance of fine brass.  His voice sounded like many musical instruments.  The earth trembled before Him, the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"  Those who a short time before would have destroyed God's faithful children from the earth, now witnessed the glory of God which rested upon them.  And amid all their terror they heard the voices of the saints in joyful strains, saying, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us."  {EW 286.2}