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mighty city！ for in one hour is thy judgment come。〃 Revelation 18：5…10。
〃The merchants of the earth；〃 that have 〃waxed rich through the abundance of
her delicacies；〃 〃shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment； weeping
and wailing； and saying； Alas； alas that great city； that was clothed in
fine linen； and purple； and scarlet； and decked with gold； and precious
stones； and pearls！ For in one hour so great riches is come to nought。〃
Revelation 18：11； 3； 15…17。
Such are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation
of God's wrath。 She has filled up the measure of her iniquity； her time has
come； she is ripe for destruction。
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When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people； there is a terrible
awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life。 While
probation continued they were blinded by Satan's deceptions； and they
justified their course of sin。 The rich prided themselves upon their
superiority to those who were less favored； but they had obtained their
riches by violation of the law of God。 They had neglected to feed the
hungry； to clothe the naked； to deal justly； and to love mercy。 They had
sought to exalt themselves and to obtain the homage of their fellow
creatures。 Now they are stripped of all that made them great and are left
destitute and defenseless。 They look with terror upon the destruction of the
idols which they preferred before their Maker。 They have sold their souls
for earthly riches and enjoyments； and have not sought to become rich toward
God。 The result is； their lives are a failure； their pleasures are now
turned to gall； their treasures to corruption。 The gain of a lifetime is
swept away in a moment。 The rich bemoan the destruction of their grand
houses； the scattering of their gold and silver。 But their lamentations are
silenced by the fear that they themselves are to perish with their idols。
The wicked are filled with regret； not because of their sinful neglect of
God and their fellow men； but because God has conquered。 They lament that
the result is what it is； but they do not repent of their wickedness。 They
would leave no means untried to conquer if they could。
The world see the very class whom they have mocked and derided； and desired
to exterminate； pass unharmed through pestilence； tempest； and earthquake。
He who is to the transgressors of His law a devouring fire； is to His people
a safe pavilion。
The minister who has sacrificed truth to gain the favor of men now discerns
the character and influence of his teachings。 It is apparent that the
omniscient eye was following him as he stood in the desk； as he walked the
streets； as he mingled with men in the various scenes of life。 Every
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emotion of the soul； every line written； every word uttered； every act that
led men to rest in a refuge of falsehood； has been scattering seed； and now；
in the wretched； lost souls around him； he beholds the harvest。
Saith the Lord： 〃They have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people
slightly； saying； Peace； peace； when there is no peace。〃 〃With lies ye have
made the heart of the righteous sad； whom I have not made sad； and
strengthened the hands of the wicked； that he should not return from his
wicked way； by promising him life。〃 Jeremiah 8：11； Ezekiel 13：22。
〃Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture！ 。
。 。 Behold； I will visit upon you the evil of your doings。〃 〃Howl； ye
shepherds； and cry； and wallow yourselves in the ashes； ye principal of the
flock： for your days for slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished；
。 。 。 and the shepherds shall have no way to flee； nor the principal of the
flock to escape。〃 Jeremiah 23：1；
2； 25：34； 35； margin。
Ministers and people see that they have not sustained the right relation to
God。 They see that they have rebelled against the Author of all just and
righteous law。 The setting aside of the divine precepts gave rise to
thousands of springs of evil； discord； hatred； iniquity； until the earth
became one vast field of strife； one sink of corruption。 This is the view
that now appears to those who rejected truth and chose to cherish error。 No
language can express the longing which the disobedient and disloyal feel for
that which they have lost forevereternal life。 Men whom the world has
worshiped for their talents and eloquence now see these things in their true
light。 They realize what they have forfeited by transgression； and they fall
at the feet of those whose fidelity they have despised and derided； and
confess that God has loved them。
The people see that they have been deluded。 They accuse one another of
having led them to destruction； but all unite in heaping their bitterest
condemnation upon the ministers。 Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth
things； they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to
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persecute those who would keep it holy。 Now； in their despair； these
teachers confess before the world their work of deception。 The multitudes
are filled with fury。 〃We are lost！〃 they cry； 〃and you are the cause of our
ruin；〃 and they turn upon the false shepherds。 The very ones that once
admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them。 The
very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their
destruction。 The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to
destroy their enemies。 Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed。
〃A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth； for the Lord hath a
controversy with the nations； He will plead with all flesh； He will give
them that are wicked to the sword。〃 Jeremiah 25：31。 For six thousand years
the great controversy has been in progress； the Son of God and His heavenly
messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one； to warn；
enlighten； and save the children of men。 Now all have made their decisions；
the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God。 The time
has come for God to vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law。 Now the
controversy is not alone with Satan； but with men。 〃The Lord hath a
controversy with the nations；〃 〃He will give them that are wicked to the
sword。〃
The mark of deliverance has been set upon those 〃that sigh and that cry for
all the abominations that be done。〃 Now the angel of death goes forth；
represented in Ezekiel's vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons； to
whom the command is given： 〃Slay utterly old and young； both maids； and
little children； and women： but come not near any man upon whom is the mark；
and begin at My sanctuary。〃 Says the prophet： 〃They began at the ancient men
which were before the house。〃 Ezekiel 9：1…6。 The work of destruction begins
among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people。
The false watchmen are the first to fall。 There are none to pity or to
spare。 Men； women； maidens； and little children perish together。
〃The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants
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