Press Your Petitions
I asked the angel why there was not more faith and power in Israel. Said he, "Ye let go of the arm of God too quick. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by living faith; believe that ye receive the things ye ask for, and you shall have them." I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. I saw we had doubted and wounded Jesus by our unbelief.
"God's people are rising," said the angel, "never to fall again." "Be careful," said the angel, "lest the branches be cut off and others are raised up in their stead." I saw [that] some would bear fruit, and work to the glory of God. I saw we must keep close to Jesus, and fast and pray, if we could not get the victory over the powers of darkness..... 18MR 11
Said the angel, "Jesus has nearly finished His work in the sanctuary. It is no time to be stupid now. A quick work will the Lord do upon the earth. The four angels will soon let go the four winds." Said the angel, "Beware how thou treadest enchanted ground all around the east and west, north and south. If Satan can get thee to slumber now, he is sure of his prey." I saw that some in Israel had been half starved for food, and when the present truth was presented to them they ate it with thankfulness and gratitude like half-starved children. Said the angel, "Can ye stand in the battle in the day of the Lord? Ye need to be washed, and live in newness of life." Then I saw that those whose hands are now engaged in making up the breach and are standing in the gaps, but that have formally since '44 broken the commandments of God and have so far followed the pope as to keep the first day instead of the seventh, would have to go down into the water and be baptized in the faith of the shut door and keeping the commandments of God, and in the faith of Jesus who is coming to sit on the throne of His father David, and to redeem Israel. I also saw that those who have been baptized as a door into the professed churches will have to be baptized out of that door again, and into the faith mentioned above; and all who have not been baptized since '44 will have to be baptized before Jesus comes, and some will not gain progress now until that duty is done, and then they must live anew unto God and serve Him faithfully.
Said the angel, "Will ye sink and let others take the stars to your crown?" I told the angel that I could not endure to see any in Israel falling back. "Thou Advocate, save the purchase of Thy blood. What more can we do for Thee?" Oh, that we had more to give to the lovely Jesus, more to render to Him for His merciful kindness to us. We will do anything, we will go anywhere, only lend us strength from the Sanctuary.
The angel said, "Some tried too hard to believe; faith is so simple ye look above it. Satan has deceived some and got them to looking to their own unworthiness." I saw that they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus, and throw themselves, just as they are, needy and dependent and unworthy, upon His mercy, and by faith draw strength and nourishment from Him. Said the angel, "The desolations of Zion are accomplished." I saw that He took away the first and established the second--that is, those who were in the faith would become rebellious and be purged out, and others who had not heard the Advent doctrine and rejected it would embrace the truth and take their places. Said the angel, "Will ye lack faith? Climb up; take hold; never let go of the promises of God, for they are sure. Ye have been discouraged too quick."
18MR 11-12.2