Adevrul despre ngeri

60:1 Enoh
60:2 Enoh a auzit din gura lui Adam povestea trist a cderii n pcat, ct i
minunata relatare despre harul acordat de Dumnezeu prin darul Fiului Su, ca
Mntuitor al lumii. El a crezut i s-a bizuit pe fgduina dat. Enoh a fost un brbat
sfnt. El L-a servit pe Dumnezeu cu o inim nemprit. El era contient de
stricciunea familiei omeneti i s-a desprit de urmaii lui Cain i i-a mustrat pentru
marea lor nelegiuire... Sufletul lui era ntristat vznd cum zi de zi clcau n picioare
autoritatea lui Dumnezeu... El s-a decis s se despart de ei i s petreac mai mult
timp singur, n meditaie i rugciune. El sttea n ateptare naintea lui Dumnezeu i
se ruga s cunoasc ct mai bine voia Lui, ca s o poat aduce la ndeplinire.
Dumnezeu a comunicat cu Enoh prin ngerii Lui i i-a dat nvturi divine. El i-a
fcut cunoscut c nu va ndura la nesfrit rzvrtirea omului i c avea n plan s
nimiceasc neamul cel pctos printr-un potop de ape, care avea s vin pe pmnt.
60:3 Domnul i-a prezentat mai ndeaproape lui Enoh planul mntuirii i, prin
Spiritul profeiei, l-a dus n decursul generaiilor care aveau s triasc dup potop,
artndu-i marile evenimente legate de cea de-a doua venire a Domnului Hristos i
sfritul lumii.
60:4 Enoh era preocupat de starea celor ce mor. I se prea c i cei neprihnii i
cei nelegiuii se ntorc n rn deopotriv i c acesta le este sfritul. El nu putea
vedea viaa celor drepi dincolo de mormnt. n viziune profetic, el a primit
nvturi cu privire la Fiul lui Dumnezeu, care avea s moar ca jertf pentru om i i-
a fost artat venirea Domnului Hristos pe norii cerului, nsoit de oastea cereasc,
pentru a da via celor neprihnii dintre cei mori i s-i elibereze din mormintele
lor...
60:5 Enoh a relatat cu credincioie oamenilor tot ce-i fusese
61:2 El [Enoh] cuta s aib anumite momente n care s fie singur i nu dorea s
fie gsit de oameni, pentru c ei i ntrerupeau meditaia sfnt i comuniunea lui cu
Dumnezeu. El nu se retrgea ntotdeauna din societatea acelora care l iubeau i
ascultau cuvintele lui nelepte; i nici nu se separa cu totul de cei stricai. El se
ntlnea i cu cei buni, i cu cei ri, n anumite momente stabilite, i se strduia s-i
ntoarc pe cei ri de la calea lor cea rea. - 3SG 56
61:3 Enoh se apropia tot mai mult de cer, n timp ce era n comuniune cu
Dumnezeu... Domnul l iubea pe Enoh, pentru c el l urma cu credincioie i hotrre
i ura nedreptatea i cuta cu struin o mai desvrit cunoatere a voii Sale, pentru
ca s o poat aduce la ndeplinire. El tnjea de dorul de a fi mai aproape de
Dumnezeu, de care se temea, pe care l respecta i adora. Domnul nu avea s ngduie
ca Enoh s moar ca toi ceilali oameni, ci i-a trimis pe ngerii Si s-l ia la cer, fr
ca s vad moartea. n prezena celor neprihnii i nelegiuii, Enoh a fost luat din
mijlocul lor. Cei care l iubeau au gndit c poate Dumnezeu l-a lsat n vreunul din
locurile n care obinuia s se retrag; ns dup ce l-au cutat cu struin i nu l-au
gsit, au raportat c nu era n acele locuri, cci l luase Domnul. - ST 20 februarie
1879
62:2 Domnul mi-a dat o viziune despre celelalte lumi. Mi-au fost date aripi i un
nger m-a nsoit din cetate pn ntr-un loc care era strlucitor i plin de slav... Apoi,
am fost luat ntr-o lume care avea apte luni [astre, n.tr.]. Acolo, l-am vzut pe
btrnul i bunul Enoh, care fusese rpit la cer. n mna Sa dreapt avea o ramur
minunat de palmier, pe ale crei frunze, pe fiecare dintre ele, era scris: "Biruin". Pe
capul su era o ghirland alb, de o strlucire ce-i lua ochii, cu frunze, iar n mijlocul
fiecrei frunze era scris "Curie"; n jurul ghirlandei erau pietre preioase, de diferite
culori, care strluceau mai tare ca stelele i reflectau asupra literelor, mrindu-le
strlucirea. n partea din spate a capului su era un arc, unde se nchidea ghirlanda i
pe acel arc era scris "Sfinenie". Deasupra ghirlandei era o coroan minunat, care
strlucea mai tare ca soarele. L-am ntrebat dac acela era locul unde a fost dus cnd a
fost luat de pe pmnt. El mi-a spus: "Nu; ci cetatea este cminul meu, aici am venit
n vizit". - EW 39,40
62:3 Enoh reprezint pe aceia care vor rmne pe pmnt i vor fi mutai la cer fr
s vad moartea. El reprezint acea mulime care va tri n primejdiile zilelor din
urm i se va mpotrivi stricciunii, rutii, pcatului i nedreptii i totui va
rmne neptat. i noi putem fi ca Enoh. S-au luat msuri n favoarea noastr...
ngeri ai lui Dumnezeu, care exceleaz n putere, sunt trimii s slujeasc n sprijinul
acelora care vor fi motenitori ai mntuirii. Aceti ngeri, cnd vd c noi facem tot ce
ne st n putere pentru a fi biruitori, i vor face partea lor, iar lumina lor va strluci n
jurul nostru, ndeprtnd influena ngerilor ri, care ne
Calea ctre Hristos
84:1 Astfel a umblat Enoh cu Dumnezeu. Aceste rugciuni n tain se nal la
tronul harului asemenea mirosului preios al jertfei de tmie. Satana nu poate s
nfrng pe acela a crui inim se sprijin astfel pe Dumnezeu. Nu exist timp sau loc
care s fie nepotrivit a nla rugciuni lui Dumnezeu.
Cminul adventist
134:5 Influena unui copil asupra lui Enoh. Dup naterea primului su fiu, Enoh a
dobndit o experien mai nalt; el a fost adus ntr-o relaie mai apropiat cu
Dumnezeu. i-a dat seama mai mult de propriile sale ndatoriri i de responsabilitatea
sa ca fiu al lui Dumnezeu, pe msur ce a vzut iubirea copilului fa de tatl su,
totala sa ncredere n protecia sa; pe msur ce a simit dorul adnc i afeciunea
propriei sale inimi pentru acel fiu nti-nscut, el a nvat o lecie preioas despre
minunata iubire a lui Dumnezeu pentru oameni n darul Fiului Su i despre
ncrederea cu care copiii lui Dumnezeu pot gsi odihn la Tatl lor ceresc. 8
183:1 i s ia putere de la Cel Prea nalt. Frailor, rugai-v n cmin, n familia
voastr, zi i noapte; rugai-v cu struin n cmrua voastr; chiar i n timpul
zilei, cnd suntei la lucru, nlai sufletul n rugciune ctre Dumnezeu. n acest fel a
umblat Enoh cu Dumnezeu. Rugciunea tcut, arztoare, a sufletului se va nla
precum tmia cea sfnt la tronul harului i va fi primit de Dumnezeu, ca i cnd ar
fi nlat n sanctuar. Pentru toi cei care l caut astfel, Domnul Hristos devine un
ajutor prezent la vreme de nevoie. Ei vor fi plini de trie n ceasul ncercrii. 8
Cugetri de pe Muntele Fericirilor
33:1 "Ferice va fi de voi cnd" oamenii v vor ocr, v vor prigoni", zicea Isus.
"Bucurai-v i veselii-v". Apoi, El a ndreptat atenia asculttorilor Si ctre
profeii care au vorbit n Numele Domnului, "ca pild de suferin i rbdare" (Iacov
5,10). Abel, cel dinti cretin dintre fiii lui Adam, a murit ca martir. Enoh a umblat cu
Dumnezeu i lumea nu l-a cunoscut. Noe a fost luat n btaie de joc, ca fanatic i
alarmist. "Alii au suferit batjocuri, bti, lanuri i nchisoare". "Unii, ca s
dobndeasc o nviere mai bun, n-au vrut s primeasc izbvirea care li se ddea i
au fost chinuii" (Evrei 11,35-36).
Divina vindecare
452:3 Dintre toate darurile pe care cerul le poate revrsa asupra oamenilor, prtia
cu Hristos prin suferinele Sale este cea mai consistent dovad de ncredere i cea
mai nalt onoare. Nici Enoh, care a fost schimbat i luat la cer, nici Ilie, care a urcat
ntr-un car de foc, nu a fost mai mare sau mai onorat dect Ioan Boteztorul, care a
pierit singur n nchisoare. "Vou vi s-a dat harul nu numai s credei n El, ci s i
ptimii pentru El" (Filipeni 1,29).
Educaie
240:3 Ct de adesea, cei care s-au ncrezut n Cuvntul lui Dumnezeu, dei total
neajutorai ei nii, au fcut fa puterii lumii ntregi - Enoh, cu o inim curat, cu o
via sfnt, inndu-i strns credina n triumful neprihnirii mpotriva unei generaii
stricate i batjocoritoare; Noe i familia sa mpotriva oamenilor din vremea lui,
oameni cu cea mai mare putere fizic i intelectual, dar complet imorali; copiii lui
Israel la Marea Roie, o mulime de robi neajutorai, ngrozii, mpotriva celei mai
puternice armate a celei mai tari naiuni de pe glob; David, un pstora care avea
fgduina lui Dumnezeu c va urca pe tron, mpotriva lui Saul, monarhul ales care
era hotrt s nu dea drumul din mn puterii sale; adrac i tovarii lui n foc i
Nebucadnear pe tron; Daniel printre lei, iar vrjmaii lui n locurile nalte ale
mpriei; Isus pe cruce, iar preoii i conductorii iudei forndu-l chiar i pe
guvernatorul roman s le mplineasc voia; Pavel n lanuri, mpins ctre o moarte ce
se cuvenea unui criminal, iar Nero ca despot al unui imperiu mondial.
Hristos Lumina Lumii
13:3 Venirea Mntuitorului a fost prevestit n Eden. Cnd au auzit prima dat
fgduina, Adam i Eva ateptau s se mplineasc n foarte scurt timp. Ei au primit
cu mare bucurie pe primul lor nscut, spernd c el putea fi Eliberatorul. Dar
mplinirea fgduinei a ntrziat. Cei care au primit-o pentru prima dat au murit fr
s-i vad mplinirea. ncepnd de la Enoh, fgduina a fost repetat prin patriarhi i
profei, pstrnd vie ndejdea artrii Sale; i, cu toate acestea, El nu a venit. Profeia
lui Daniel descoperea timpul venirii Sale, dar nu toi au interpretat corect solia.
Veacurile au trecut unul dup altul; glasurile proorocilor au tcut. Mna opresorului
apsa greu asupra lui Israel i muli erau gata s zic: "Zilele se lungesc i toate
vedeniile rmn nemplinite" (Ezech. 12,22).
187:1 lucrrii pe care o ndeplinesc ca mpreun-lucrtori cu El. Nici Enoh, care a
fost nlat la cer, nici Ilie, care a fost ridicat ntr-un car de foc, n-au fost mai mari sau
mai onorai dect Ioan Boteztorul, care a pierit singur n nchisoare. "Cci cu privire
la Hristos, vou vi s-a dat harul nu numai s credei n El, ci s i ptimii pentru El."
(Fil. 1,29). i din toate darurile pe care Cerul le poate revrsa asupra oamenilor,
mprtirea cu suferinele lui Hristos este ncrederea cea mai mare i onoarea cea mai
nalt.
552:3 Pentru c nu tim timpul exact al venirii Lui, ni se d sfatul s veghem.
"Ferice de robii aceia pe care stpnul i va gsi veghind la venirea Lui" (Luca 12,37).
Aceia care ateapt venirea Domnului nu lenevesc. Ateptarea venirii lui Hristos are
ca scop s-i fac pe oameni s se team de Domnul i de judecile Lui asupra
neascultrii. Ea trebuie s le deschid ochii fa de pcatul cel mare al lepdrii
darurilor milei Sale. Aceia care vegheaz n vederea venirii Domnului i cur
sufletele, prin ascultare de adevr. i cu vegherea atent ei combin o activitate plin
de zel. Pentru c tiu c Domnul este la u, zelul lor este nviorat i colaboreaz cu
fiinele cereti n lucrarea pentru salvarea sufletelor. Acetia sunt slujitorii credincioi
i nelepi, care dau celor din casa Domnului "partea lor de hran la timpul cuvenit"
(Luca 12,42). Ei vestesc adevrul care este de folos n vremea aceasta. Dup cum
Enoh, Noe, Avraam i Moise au vestit adevrul, fiecare pentru vremea lui, tot astfel i
slujitorii lui Hristos dau acum o avertizare deosebit pentru generaia lor.
580:4 Dup cum Hristos a trit legea n natura omeneasc, tot astfel putem face i
noi, dac ne vom sprijini pe Cel puternic. Dar nu trebuie s aruncm asupra altora
rspunderea n ceea ce privete datoria noastr, ateptnd s ni se spun ce s facem.
Cnd este vorba de sfat, nu ne putem ncrede n oameni. Domnul ne va nva care ne
este datoria tot att de binevoitor cum va nva i pe alii. Dac venim la El n
credin, ne va descoperi tainele Lui. Adesea, inima va arde n noi cnd Domnul Se va
apropia s aib comuniune cu noi aa cum a avut pe vremuri cu Enoh. Cei care se
hotrsc s nu fac nici un lucru, de nici un fel, care nu I-ar plcea lui Dumnezeu vor
cunoate, dup ce au nfiat cazul lor naintea Lui, care este calea pe care trebuie s
mearg. Ei vor primi nu numai nelepciune, ci i putere. Li se va da putere s asculte
i s slujeasc, aa cum a fgduit Hristos. Tot ce I-a fost dat lui Hristos - "toate
lucrurile" pentru a mplini nevoia oamenilor czui - I-a fost dat n calitate de
cpetenie i reprezentant al neamului omenesc. "i orice vom cere, vom cpta de la
El, fiindc pzim poruncile Lui i facem ce este plcut naintea Lui" (1 Ioan 3,22).
Istoria Mntuirii

The Saviours coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard the
promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-
born son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise
tarried. Those who first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the
promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive the hope of His
appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His
advent, but not all rightly interpreted the message. Century after century passed away;
the voices of the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel,
and many were ready to exclaim, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth.
Ezekiel 12:22. {CSA 5.1}
In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far
more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance.
They obtained their knowledge by the faithful use of their powers, under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit. They placed themselves in connection with the Source of all
wisdom, making the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. In faith they
prayed for wisdom, and they lived their prayers. They placed themselves where God
could bless them. They avoided that which would weaken their powers, and improved
every opportunity to become intelligent in all lines of learning. They followed the
rules of life that could not fail to give them strength of intellect. They sought to
acquire knowledge for one purposethat they might honor God. They realized that in
order to stand as representatives of true religion amid the false religions of heathenism
they must have clearness of intellect and must perfect a Christian character. And God
Himself was their teacher. Constantly praying, conscientiously studying, keeping in
touch with the Unseen, they walked with God as did Enoch. {CSA 55.5}
Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ; we are to draw constantly from
Him, partaking of Him, the living Bread that came down from heaven, drawing from
a fountain ever fresh, ever giving forth its abundant treasures. If we keep the Lord
ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we
shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of
a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries
to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of
Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as
He did with Enoch. When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen
in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all
with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him. {COL
129.3}
Chapter 13Godss Love for His People
I have seen the tender love that God has for His people, and it is very great. I saw
angels over the saints with their wings spread about them. Each saint had an attending
angel. If the saints wept through discouragement, or were in danger, the angels that
ever attended them would fly quickly upward to carry the tidings, and the angels in
the city would cease to sing. Then Jesus would commission another angel to descend
to encourage, watch over, and try to keep them from going out of the narrow path; but
if they did not take heed to the watchful care of these angels, and would not be
comforted by them, but continued to go astray, the angels would look sad and weep.
They would bear the tidings upward, and all the angels in the city would weep, and
then with a loud voice say, Amen. But if the saints fixed their eyes upon the prize
before them, and glorified God by praising Him, then the angels would bear the glad
tidings to the city, and the angels in the city would touch their golden harps and sing
with a loud voice, Alleluia! and the heavenly arches would ring with their lovely
songs. {CET 97.1}
There is perfect order and harmony in the holy city. All the angels that are
commissioned to visit the earth hold a golden card, which they present to the angels at
the gates of the city as they pass in and out. Heaven is a good place. I long to be there,
and behold my lovely Jesus, who gave His life for me, and be changed into His
glorious image. Oh, for language to express the glory of the bright world to come! I
thirst for the living streams that make glad the city of our God. {CET 97.2}
The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel
attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the
place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of
the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the
express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of
the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much
more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, We have lived in strict obedience
to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the
earth. {CET 97.3}
Then I saw two trees. One looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of
both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both,
but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, None in this
place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall. {CET
98.1}

Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch,
who had been translated. On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, and on each leaf
was written Victory. Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, and leaves on
the wreath, and in the middle of each leaf was written Purity, and around the wreath
were stones of various colors, that shone brighter than the stars, and cast a reflection
upon the letters and magnified them. On the back part of his head was a bow that
confined the wreath, and upon the bow was written Holiness. Above the wreath was
a lovely crown that shone brighter than the sun. I asked him if this was the place he
was taken to from the earth. He said, It is not; the city is my home, and I have come
to visit this place. He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. I begged of my
attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming
back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, You must go back, and if you are
faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and
viewing the handiwork of God. {CET 98.2}

Chapter 15The Trial of Our Faith

In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted by one another. The
temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for he knows that his time is
short, and that very soon every case will be decided, either for life or for death. It is
no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under
all our afflictions, and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has
shown me that His grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater
than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation,
and through His grace come off victorious. {CET 103.1}
If we overcome our trials, and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we
endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and
better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way to the temptations
of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial, and shall not be so
well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are
led captive by Satan at his will. {CET 103.2}
We must have on the whole armor of God, and be ready at any moment for a
conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let
us go to God, and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but
will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh,
that all could see these things in their true light, and endure hardness as good soldiers
of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of His
might. {CET 103.3}
God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and
cleanse them. It is a bitter draft, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring,
complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draft, for
the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not
effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its
designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup
can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its
designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored
and glorified. {CET 103.4}
It is no small thing to be a Christian, and to be owned and approved of God. The
Lord has shown me some who profess the present truth, whose lives do not
correspond with their profession. They have the standard of piety altogether too low,
and they come far short of Bible holiness. Some engage in vain and unbecoming
conversation, and others give way to the risings of self. We must not expect to please
ourselves, live and act like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the company of
those who are of the world, and reign with Christ in glory. {CET 104.1}
We must be partakers of Christs sufferings here, if we would share in His glory
hereafter. If we seek our own interest, how we can best please ourselves, instead of
seeking to please God and advance His precious, suffering cause, we shall dishonor
God and the holy cause we profess to love. We have but a little space of time left in
which to work for God. Nothing should be too dear to sacrifice for the salvation of the
scattered and torn flock of Jesus. Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice
now, will soon be gathered home to share a rich reward, and possess the new kingdom
forever and ever. {CET 104.2}

Oh, let us live wholly for the Lord, and show by a well-ordered life and godly
conversation that we have been with Jesus, and are His meek and lowly followers. We
must work while the day lasts, for when the dark night of trouble and anguish comes,
it will be too late to work for God. Jesus is in His holy temple, and will now accept
our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of faults and sins, and will pardon all
the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the
sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous,
will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will
be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy, will be
unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no priest in the sanctuary to offer their
sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Fathers throne. Therefore
what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath, must be done before
Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. {CET 105.1}
A few in every generation from Adam resisted his every artifice and stood forth as
noble representatives of what it was in the power of man to do and to be, while Christ
should co-operate with human efforts, to help man in overcoming the power of Satan.
Enoch and Elijah are the correct representatives of what the race might be through
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy
men were untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfecting righteous
characters, and accounted worthy for translation to heaven. As they had stood forth in
moral power, in noble uprightness, overcoming Satans temptations, he could not
bring them under the dominion of death. He triumphed that he had power to overcome
Moses with his temptations, and that he could mar his illustrious character and lead
him to the sin of taking to himself glory before the people which belonged to God.
{Con 26.1}
Christ came into the world to save it, to connect fallen man with the infinite God.
Christs followers are to be channels of light. Maintaining communion with God, they
are to transmit to those in darkness and error the choice blessings which they receive
of heaven. Enoch did not become polluted with the iniquities existing in his day; why
need we in our day? But we may, like our Master, have compassion for suffering
humanity, pity for the unfortunate, and a generous consideration for the feelings and
necessities of the needy, the troubled, and the despairing.558 {CCh 312.4}
As Gods commandment-keeping people, we must leave the cities. As did Enoch,
we must work in the cities but not dwell in them.Evangelism, 78, 79 (1899). {CL
30.4}
When iniquity abounds in a nation, there is always to be heard some voice giving
warning and instruction, as the voice of Lot was heard in Sodom. Yet Lot could have
preserved his family from many evils, had he not made his home in this wicked,
polluted city. All that Lot and his family did in Sodom could have been done by them,
even if they had lived in a place some distance away from the city. Enoch walked
with God, and yet he did not live in the midst of any city, polluted with every kind of
violence and wickedness, as did Lot in Sodom.Evangelism, 79 (1903). {CL 30.5}
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they
could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they
are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not
Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the
Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. Unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29.
And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His
sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. {DA 224.5}