The Time of Trouble “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).
Suggested Readings:
Early Writings, pp. 282–289.
The Great Controversy, pp. 635–652.
“While Jesus had been standing between God and guilty man, a restraint was upon the people; but when He stepped out from between man and the Father, the restraint was removed and Satan had entire control of the finally impenitent.” –Early Writings, p. 280.
1. WHEN THE TIME OF TROUBLE BEGINS SundayDecember 19
a. What will come upon the people of God when the decree is issued against them? Jeremiah 30:5–7; Daniel 12:1.“A decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 615, 616.b. Why is the time of trouble compared to the anguish of Jacob? Genesis 32:6, 7, 24–28. What will be the main cause of affliction for God’s people during this time? What assurance should we obtain now?“Though God’s people will be surrounded by enemies who are bent upon their destruction, yet the anguish which they suffer is not a dread of persecution for the truth’s sake; they fear that every sin has not been repented of, and that through some fault in themselves they will fail to realize the fulfillment of the Saviour’s promise: I ‘will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world’ (Revelation 3:10). If they could have the assurance of pardon they would not shrink from torture or death; but should they prove unworthy, and lose their lives because of their own defects of character, then God’s holy name would be reproached.” –The Great Controversy, p. 619.“Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me’ (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble. It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ.” –Ibid., p. 623.
2. HORROR, DISMAY, AND DESPAIR MondayDecember 20
a. What comfort and assurance will the unsaved multitudes seek in vain during the time of trouble? Amos 8:11, 12.“All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy. In that day, multitudes will desire the shelter of God’s mercy which they have so long despised.” –The Great Controversy, p. 629.b. What will then be the feeling of these people? What distinction will be made clear? Malachi 3:18.“It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have trampled upon God’s holy requirements. The Lord gave them His law; they might have compared their characters with it and learned their defects while there was yet opportunity for repentance and reform; but in order to secure the favor of the world, they set aside its precepts and taught others to transgress. They have endeavored to compel God’s people to profane His Sabbath. Now they are condemned by that law which they have despised. With awful distinctness they see that they are without excuse.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 639, 640.
3. “WOE TO THE INHABITERS OF THE EARTH” TuesdayDecember 21
a. Specify some of Satan’s activities which will intensify during the time of trouble. Revelation 13:13; 16:14.“Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.” –The Great Controversy, p. 624.“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive.” –Ibid., p. 625.b. What exclamation did John the Revelator hear concerning the culmination of Satan’s work? Revelation 12:12.“The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in the time of trouble.” –The Great Controversy, p. 623.
4. THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD WednesdayDecember 22
a. What will come upon the world after the close of probation? Isaiah 28:21; Revelation 16:1.“God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. . . . ‘The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked’ (Nahum 1:3). By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.“When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured out. The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 627, 628.b. For what will the wicked inhabitants of the world be responsible, and what plague will be poured out as a result? Revelation 16:4–6 (compare Matthew 23:35, 36).“By condemning the people of God to death, they have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their hands. In like manner Christ declared the Jews of His time guilty of all the blood of holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel; for they possessed the same spirit and were seeking to do the same work with these murderers of the prophets.” –The Great Controversy, p. 628.
5. LIVING BY GOD’S PROMISES ThursdayDecember 23
a. While the remnant people of God are threatened with destruction, what promises will encourage them? Isaiah 33:2, 16; 26:20, 21.“The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish. That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied.”–The Great Controversy, p. 629.“What are the chambers in which they are to hide?–They are the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in different companies, and in all parts of the earth; and they will be tried singly, not in groups. Every one must stand the test for himself.” –The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 4, p. 1143.b. What song will the triumphant company of saints be able to sing after their deliverance? Psalm 46:1–3; Revelation 15:1–3.“A marvelous change has come over those who have held fast their integrity in the very face of death. They have been suddenly delivered from the dark and terrible tyranny of men transformed to demons. Their faces, so lately pale, anxious, and haggard, are now aglow with wonder, faith, and love. Their voices rise in triumphant song. [Psalm 46:1–3 quoted.]” –The Great Controversy, p. 639.“And they sing ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had.” –Ibid. pp. 648, 649.
REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS FridayDecember 24
1. What is foremost in the minds of God’s faithful few during the time of trouble, and how are we now to prepare for that time?2. What despair will soon come upon the rejecters of God’s mercy?3. By what authority are all miracles and miracle-makers to be measured?4. How will God deal with those who have spilled the blood of His faithful servants?5. What song is each of us now learning to sing?