The Mighty Shaking

“The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth and to sacrifice for God and His cause.” EW p. 50.

We are not to look to the future for the shaking time, it is going on now. While we are doing outside missionary work, we also have a work to do inside the church. The members need to be established in the truth. Unless they are firmly rooted and grounded in it, they will be blown away as dry leaves.

Of Ancient Israel, only two men of the adults who left Egypt entered the Promised Land. The shaking continued for 40 years. Today we have even a greater danger in neglecting our character development and falling into a lukewarm condition. Satan has much more temptations prepared for us today than ever before.

The leaders of the church have a great responsibility to arouse the people to see the dangers around them and to work out a thorough reformation in their personal lives. If they neglect to do it God will put them aside and choose humble messengers who will finish the work of God on the earth.

Sister White wrote a testimony to the church in Battle Creek, where the General Conference was located: “October 23, 1879, the Lord gave me a most impressive testimony in regard to the church in Battle Creek… The Lord who knows their spiritual condition declares: They have cherished evil and separated from Me. They have gone astray, every one of them. No one is guiltless. They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and have hewed out to them broken cisterns that can hold no water. Many have corrupted their ways before Me. Envy, hatred of one another, jealousy, evil surmising, emulation, strife, bitterness, is the fruit that they bear. And they will not heed the testimony that I send them.” Test. Vol. 5, p. 63.

Because of this condition among the leaders it is no wonder that nine years later they rejected the message of Christ Righteousness.

When the shaking came in 1914, not even one of them took their stand with the prophesied reformation, but became bitter enemies of the church of God.

The Lord has hidden talent that will be called to the front to finish His work on the earth. Many who have talent, education, and intellect will be put aside because they become self-important and think that the success depends on them.

“Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file… In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed their knee to Baal.” Test. Vol. 5, p. 80.

Sister White repeats the condition required by God for the last finishing work. She says that God is seeking humble men and women to finish His work.

She also mentions that in the time of shaking, “All who had sought positions were never seen any more… God answered by helping them choose leaders of their number who had never sought position.” Spirit of Prophecy Research, p. 3.

Before the final shaking, when the wise and foolish virgins will be separated, the work of sealing takes place. Those who are accepted in the investigative judgment will receive the seal of God in their foreheads. And this takes place during the time of peace. “Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women grinding at the mill: the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Matt. 24:40-41.

This is not yet the time when God’s people are in the mountains or in the prisons. This is not yet the time of persecution. Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matt. 24:44.

We are expecting the Sunday law and the persecution because of it. Then we think that the end is upon us. But in the time of peace when we do our daily normal work, we do not think that now our judgment takes place, but that is the time in reality, when the investigative judgment has turned upon the living and the church of God will be judged first while the outsiders still have a time of mercy.

While all the virgins were sleeping peacefully, their judgment took place and when the cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh” was heard, they all woke up, bit it was too late for the foolish virgins to get oil. Their time of mercy had ended while they were comfortably sleeping.

All who fail to pass the judgment of God will not receive the seal in their foreheads.
“There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew the Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had no corresponding works… No one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement.” Test. Vol. 5, p. 214.

“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without
spot before God – candidates for heaven.” Test. Vol. 5, p. 216.

The result of this mighty shaking is a little remnant, who then will receive the latter rain and finish the work of God on the earth.

As we see the development toward the Sunday law and the crisis in the Middle East as well as other signs of the times being fulfilled, then we need to realize that before these events take place our sealing will be finished.

If you have been careless in the Sabbath keeping, immediately work out a Sabbath reform in your life. If you have not followed strictly the health message that God has given us, correct this quickly before your sealing takes place.

If you have been unfaithful in tithes and offerings, make restitution with interest for the unpaid tithes. It is not a small sin to rob God. Read Malachi chapter three, again. If you have neglected missionary work, then you have neglected an important part in your character development. While there may still be an opportunity, correct this without delay. Check your prayer life and your Bible reading if they need improvement. An important question is, do you love your enemies, and do you pray for them?

Paul writes to us, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” 2 Cor. 13:5.

Also we need to ask God to help us in it. David writes, “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Ps. 26:2.

It would be a terrible disappointment to anyone of us if we fail to receive the seal of God and be shaken out in the end. The Holy Spirit is urging us to get ready. But after resisting His calls continually He will leave us alone and then great darkness will fall upon us and we become confused and leave the church of God. This kind of shaking has continued
since the beginning of the church’s history.

“For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” Amos 9:9.

It may be sooner than many of us do realize that the mighty shaking will come to its end and all who have neglected this preparation time will be shaken out. Let us wake up to realize the seriousness of our time and not to waste even one more day in sleeping while eternity is closing on us. May the Lord have mercy on us and reveal to each one the sins that may still be lingering in our lives, that no one may be shaken out.
AMEN.

Timo Martin, Canada