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The Reformation Herald Online Edition

The Gathering Storm

Editorial
As the Storm Gathers

Regardless of where you may live on this planet, chances are that at some time you will face a storm at least once in life. Clouds typically form and merge together so closely until the entire sky darkens and eventually the storm bursts—sometimes with tremendous fury.

In these last days of Earth’s history, life is compared to the development of a storm. The spiritual state of the human psyche is becoming darker and darker as various forms of evil close in on hearts and minds everywhere.

But we need not feel abandoned in the darkness! The God of heaven has given in His Word complete information so that we need not be surprised about what is happening and what is still to come. In His abundant grace, God has provided precious words of hope for us.

“Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth; and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.

“The Bible, and the Bible only, gives a correct view of these things. Here are revealed the great final scenes in the history of our world, events that already are casting their shadows before, the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble and men’s hearts to fail them for fear.

“ ‘Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. . . . They have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate. . . . The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.’ Isaiah 24:1–18. . . .

“ ‘I am pained at my very heart; . . . I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled.’

“ ‘I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down.’ Jeremiah 4:19, 20, 23–26.

“ ‘Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.’ Jeremiah 30:7.

“ ‘Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.’ Isaiah 26:20.”1

The protection of God and His angels, as well as the assurance of His abiding presence are promised to those who fully surrender to Christ. As we see the storm gathering with such tremendous intensity, let us trust in the awesome Hand that is above all—the Hand that holds the universe in place and was nailed to the cross for every one of us.

References:
1 Education, pp. 179-181.