A View of Coming Conflicts

“In vision I saw two armies in terrible conflict. One army was led by banners bearing the world’s insignia; the other was led by the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord’s army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God. An angel flying in the midst of heaven put the standard of Immanuel into many hands, while a mighty general cried out with a loud voice: ‘Come into line. Let those who are loyal to the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ now take their position.’”—Testimonies for the Church 8:41.FSG 438.3

The full meaning of the above and just how it will work out in detail will not be known by God’s people till they see the unfolding events, but it is evident that the church will have severe conflicts both within and without, and that those who win with God are those who stand loyal to the advent truths and follow the message of the prophetic gift. In other words, the future of the advent movement is largely bound up with the proper use of the light given to the advent people through the Spirit of prophecy. How the people of the remnant church use the light sent them through the prophetic gift is therefore a matter of life or death. As the children of Israel in the wilderness were safe when they followed the pillar of fire which never once lead them astray, so Adventists in the future, right to the end, will have nothing to fear if they study and follow the messages given them by the servant of the Lord; for these lead us deeper into God’s Word and a larger fullness of spiritual power.FSG 439.1

In God’s eyes the riches of a church are not in many members or much money but in the spiritual endowments of its ministers and members. Church decrees never take the place of divine messages, nor can the creation of offices and the election of officers make up for a dearth of the gifts of the Spirit. Neither education, eloquence, nor organization can ever be a substitute for the Holy Spirit.FSG 439.2

If we try to read our future in the light of the history of other religious awakenings and reforms over the centuries, the answer concerning the future of the advent movement is not cheering. Practically every church growing out of some great revival in doctrine or experience has departed from the faith of the fathers. If we look to the Bible for an answer to these questions about our future, the reply is twofold. While the love of many in the remnant church will grow cold, the body of believers who hold to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus will cling together as a church in the faith of Jesus and go on to triumphant victory.FSG 439.3