“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
All throughout history there have been separations amongst the faithful and unfaithful within the realm of religion. A shaking is the leaving of the church of God, whereas a call to come out is the calling to leave a fallen religious organization and come into God’s church.
The first incident of division amongst the people of God on earth was in the time of Cain and Abel. “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” Genesis 4:3–6
Why was the sacrifice of Cain not acceptable to the Lord? To the human mind, it seems like a very subtle difference between bringing fruit or bringing a lamb. The fact that Cain brought an offering seems to be indicative of the fact that he was at least compliant and obedient on some level. Was it fair for God to ask Cain to bring an offering of a lamb when He knew that Cain’s livelihood was constituted largely by the tilling of the ground?
We know very well the significance of the Lamb in the context of the plan of Salvation, and furthermore God is a God of specificity and order. If we want to be true followers of Him He expects us to obey Him in every detail, no matter how minute that detail may appear. Many shakings are caused by the presentation of deeper truth, given to God’s people, and the refusal of some to live up to this greater light. This was the case of Cain, as he would not accept the plan of Salvation, which had been instituted by God as a way of escape for man.
By bringing an offering that was not specifically what God required, what was Cain essentially doing? By choosing to do something completely different in an attempt to attain salvation, an individual is actually attempting to work for justification through their own works. Therefore, Cain was the first proponent of the concept of work righteousness; an error that has been with us down through the ages and has been repeated in a plethora of different historical contexts.
“And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.” Genesis 4:15–16. In like manner, as other shakings recorded in the Bible and throughout history, this shaking ultimately involved a separation between God’s true people, and those that would merely bring division and chaos, and would stain the purity of God’s people through their ongoing presence.
God, in His wisdom, did not merely exterminate Cain, which would have saved Seth’s descendants from the perpetual annoyance of dealing with Cain’s descendants. The fruits of sin must be permitted to reach maturity in order for the character of the perpetrator and their descendants, to be made fully manifest. The scenario involving Cain was similar to the shaking in heaven which involved actual war and forceful separation, with God allowing Satan and his angels to continue living. Just as with Lucifer and his angels, Cain and his descendants were to be exhibits of the outworking of sin in rational beings. Cain and his descendants were to show the awful consequences of sin when it is allowed to grow in one’s heart and take over the life. As sin and degradation worsened with each passing generation, the awful results of sin and Satan’s model of government became increasingly more apparent to the Universe. Also, the contrast between Seth’s descendants and Cain’s descendants became more marked as sin undoubtedly led to the rapid degeneration of Cain’s descendants, while Seth’s descendants were preserved from many of the degenerative effects of sin.
THE FLOOD
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:11–13
There is a difference between the mighty crisis of the flood, and the shaking at the time of Cain and Abel. The principle difference being that at the time of Cain and Abel a separation ensued, but the flood involved a final judgement and the death of all the wicked. Another difference is that one shaking involved individuals being shaken out of the truth, while the other involved a call to come out from among them and be ye separate.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
A disparity is seen between the time of Cain and Abel, and the time of the flood. The flood itself was more than just a crisis, or a call to come out from among them and be ye separate, it was a direct judgment from God. At this point God had given many generations for Cain’s descendants to repent through the example and witness of Seth’s descendants. Now God, in His mercy, gave them an additional 120 years as a grace period. It was a call to come out and be separate. Similar to other calls, it was associated with a message of truth.
A shaking is always associated with a message of truth (often greater truth). Those who choose not to live up to the greater truth, leave the church. Whereas, in the call to come out of apostasy, there may not be greater truth presented, but they are called to come out of their fallen organization and lifestyle of sin. Unfortunately, many reject the message of mercy, choosing rather to remain in their current state of sin and degradation. Turning their back on truth they go into deeper darkness and sin. Any future messages of mercy have little effect upon them, as they become increasingly less likely to listen.
Those who have not been living up to the light they currently have, and are living in a lukewarm state, are ultimately unable to live up to greater light when it is presented. Therefore, greater truth is merely a stumbling block and an inconvenience for them. The ones that accept the deeper truth are the ones that have been living up to the full light given to them, and are thirsting for more knowledge and truth. When it comes, they receive it gladly with open hearts, thinking of it as a great blessing.
“The world’s Redeemer had many hearers, but few followers. Noah preached one hundred and twenty years to the people before the Flood, and yet there were few who appreciated this precious, probationary time. Save Noah and his family, not one was numbered with the believers and entered into the ark. Of all the inhabitants of the earth, only eight souls received the message; but that message condemned the world. The light was given in order that they might believe; their rejection of the light proved their ruin. Our message to the world will be a savor of life unto life to all who accept it, and of condemnation to all who reject it.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 36
Once the people of the earth in Noah’s time received the call to come out of apostasy and be separate, and they refused to accept the message of truth, then God’s judgement followed.
At the time of the flood, there was undoubtedly more than eight of Seth’s descendants left on this earth. Sadly, “The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” Genesis 6:2. Through intermarriage and intermingling with Cain’s descendants, Seth’s descendants were corrupted. We can take to heart the lesson that if we attach ourselves to the material things of this world, or to the people of this world, then when a shaking comes our heart will be divided and we will be shaken out. God’s original plan to ensure a separation between Cain’s descendants and Seth’s descendants was undermined when the sons of God sought out the daughters of men.
We must be very careful in our personal lives not to go against God’s plan. If people are shaken out of God’s truth, as many were in World War I, we must avoid making alliances with them or intermingling with them excessively. Our duty is to call them out, and while doing so, still maintain our separation from them! If we try to call them out, while being in their church, our words will have little influence on them. They will simply look at our actions and our words will be lost upon them.
Some believe that we should stay in the midst of the fallen churches, whose sins and follies we deplore, in the hope of reforming them from within. Such reasoning has a good deal of force in the first stages of decline. A strong protest may arrest error and stop the gangrene. As time advances, and the whole body becomes diseased; when the protests have been disregarded, and the arguments trampled underfoot; when the majority have clearly taken up their position against the truth—we have no alternative but to come out and be separate. The place from which we can exert the strongest influence for good is not from within, but from without. Lot lost all influence by living within Sodom; but Abraham, from the heights of Mamre, was able to exert a mighty influence for good.
EGYPT/ON BORDERS OF CANAAN
“As Moses rehearsed to Israel of the provisions of God for their deliverance, ‘the people bowed the head and worshiped.’ The glad hope of freedom, the awful knowledge of the impending judgment upon their oppressors, the cares, and labors incident to their speedy departure—all were for the time swallowed up in gratitude to their gracious Deliverer. Many of the Egyptians had been led to acknowledge the God of the Hebrews as the only true God, and these now begged to be permitted to find shelter in the homes of Israel when the destroying angel should pass through the land. They were gladly welcomed, and they pledged themselves henceforth to serve the God of Jacob and to go forth from Egypt with His people.” –Patriarchs and Prophets p. 279
These Egyptians chose voluntarily to find shelter with the Israelites. In fact, they even begged them for shelter. What prompted them to make this move? Although there was not a specific call for them to come out and be separate, it is safe to say that the Egyptians saw all the plagues occurring, and many of them saw this as evidence of Yahweh being the one true God and chose to separate from the world. Some may previously have been impressed by the example of some of the faithful Israelites. Their example, combined with the evidence of God’s power, prepared the people’s minds and hearts to accept the truth. This is an example for us in detailing our responsibility in the last days. We are to call people to come out of Babylon, and not be partakers of her sins. Just as with the ten plagues of Egypt there will be powerful evidence of God’s might and power in the outpouring of the Latter Rain. By letting the light of Jesus shine to the world through us, we can be calling people out strictly through our example; or, at the very least, we can be preparing people’s hearts and minds to receive the final call to come out of Babylon when the Latter Rain is poured out. Although there will be mighty evidences of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain, we have our part to play in touching people’s hearts and minds with the love of Jesus right now, and ensuring that their hearts are ready to receive the Three Angels’ messages and the truth of the Sabbath.
Once people do come out of Babylon it is our responsibility to do just as the Hebrews did and welcome them with open arms. We must welcome them just as the Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son welcomed back his son. It is our God-given duty to not only welcome them and educate them further about truth and necessity of baptism, but also to trust that their conversion is authentic.
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.” Numbers 14:1–5
“But God had promised the land to Israel. ‘Let us go up at once and possess it,’ urged Caleb; ‘for we are well able to overcome it.’ But the ten, interrupting him, pictured the obstacles in darker colors than at first. “We be not able to go up against the people,’ they declared; ‘for they are stronger than we. . . . All the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” These men, having entered upon a wrong course, stubbornly set themselves against Caleb and Joshua, against Moses, and against God.” –Patriarchs and Prophets p. 388–389
In this passage we see quite clearly that a shaking is also associated with a conflict. Those who wish to stand faithful to God are brought into direct opposition with those who wish to actively assassinate their characters, and also attack those that wish to adhere strictly to God’s will. Little do they realize that by opposing those who desire nothing else than to live up to the truth, they are in fact, opposing God. The more they resist truth, the easier it will become to accept error. How many would fight against the true and faithful if they realized they were fighting against God Himself?
EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:36–38. Some of the Jews, who at the time of Jesus, had been crying “crucify Him,” were baptized in the time of the Early Rain. They baptized 1,000’s per day. Was this a call to come out and be separate, or was this a shaking?
The Israelite nation was being called out of their religious traditions into Christianity, but at this time they were still technically God’s people, as the stoning of Stephen had not yet occurred. So, in some sense, it was a shaking as well, because the Jewish people obviously had great truth, and were still technically God’s people. It was a unique situation, because the only possibility for them to continue as God’s people involved them joining an alternate religious belief system.
From this shaking, or call out to be separate, we learn that God often gives the most powerful revelation of Himself, and the Holy Spirit comes with the greatest force, before a final judgment. This is the God of mercy that He is! The Jewish people had Jesus for 33 ½ years and then they were gifted with the Early Rain, which were the two most powerful revelations of God and His character that the world had ever seen. They received this just before the most severe judgment from God their nation had ever received. This will be repeated at the end of the world when God will send the Latter Rain, the fullest outpouring of His Holy Spirit, right before the most severe and final judgment the world has ever seen! God is so merciful, He only pours out His wrath, unmixed with mercy, immediately subsequent to the outpouring of the fullest manifestation of His love and mercy that the world has ever experienced.
TIME OF CONSTANTINE
Many think in terms of religious tradition and an official church, whereas God thinks in terms of where the truth is upheld, and the people are being obedient to Him. In the time of Constantine, the true and faithful ones had to separate themselves from the established church traditions, and form little groups of believers. Was this a calling out, or a shaking? In the eyes of the world it was a heretical group of believers that simply chose to apostatize. However, in God’s eyes, the true church was the small percentage that chose to come apart and be separate, because they heard God calling them out of their apostate religious traditions. That very small percentage of believers that left the Catholic/Universal church formed God’s true church on earth, hunted and persecuted though it may have been. The apostasy that occurred in this case was more because of the acceptance of error than the rejection of truth; however, these two go hand in hand. The church at the time of Constantine had prepared itself for the acceptance of gross error and darkness by the rejection of the Sabbath truth over centuries. All throughout the Dark Ages God had a true church, whose believers were referred to as heretics, and they were hunted like animals, but “they loved not their lives even unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
MILLERITE MOVEMENT/ 1844
The Shaking at the time of the Millerite movement was a mighty shaking, but there was still a remnant that remained. This remnant was more suited for carrying forward the work than the unconverted masses, because even after the terrible disappointment they did not stop loving Jesus and being committed to the truth. This clearly indicated how deep and full their love for Jesus, and faith in Him really was.
How deep is our love for Jesus? Is our love for Jesus deep enough to go through sacrifice, disappointment, trial, persecution, and still say, “I will use every last ounce of my strength to work for Jesus!”
SHAKING OF 1914
Was the separation in 1914 a shaking or a call to come out and be separate? In some sense you have elements of both! You have a time of crisis with 98% of the membership supporting the war effort, so they are shaken, not out of the nominal church, but out of the purity of God’s truth. Because these nominal Adventists have been shaken out of the purity of God’s truth, you have the faithful ones coming apart and being separate, because they were called out by the Holy Spirit. They came apart to be separate, even though there was no religious organization for them to immediately become a part of, and they were extremely isolated from others of like faith. What great faith!
In regards to the Shaking of 1914, just like the example from the time of Constantine, the rejection of truth had prepared the way for the acceptance of error. This can be seen in the rejection of the Christ our Righteousness message in 1888. Also, in similar manner to the shaking when the Jews were cut off as God’s people, it was necessary at this point for an Adventist individual to join a new religious organization in order to continue being a member of God’s church.
TODAY’S SHAKING
There will be a Shaking and a Call to come out at the End of the World. Many of the half-converted ones will be shaken out and their places will be filled by those who come in, having been called out of their fallen churches during the Latter Rain. There is only space in heaven for those who are fully converted.
The final shaking is necessary, because only those who have laid aside all sin and committed their hearts fully to Jesus will be ready for the final test (Jacob’s Trouble, Seven Last Plagues). God wants a pure church, because being in a pure church provides an environment conducive to the individual attaining the standard of perfection, with the help of Christ.
It is my wish and prayer that we will be faithful during the final test that will come upon us! Amen!
Richard Eaton