Looking up, I see dark blue sky above. My angel is standing next to me. He explains that there are 800 little black birds that have been trained {1} to all fly at once. They are to fly out of the large, deep valley. {2} My angel looks at me and smiles, and I know it is the Herald. He looks up and says, “Great Creator, we are ready to see.” Suddenly all the birds begin to fly and look so excited. As they get higher and higher, they have such fervor to ascend to the top. The Herald looks at me and smiles. He calls me by my heavenly name and asks, “May I have your hand?” I hold out my left hand. He looks at me, at my left hand, and then back at me. He smiles a larger smile, calls me by my heavenly name again and asks, “May I have your right hand?” {3}
I hold out my right hand and the two of us ascend. As we fly up, we are sometimes surrounded by all the birds. I look at them and it is as if they still have an excitement about what they are doing. The Herald and I continue to ascend and pass all the birds. After a little time we are at the very top of the large valley. We go to a large, white observation deck which is built into the side of the wall at the top of the valley. There is a large white wall behind the deck in the valley wall. We turn and look down into the vast valley below. We watch as the birds keep flying and flying, some in a circle and others at different angles. Each is trying to get higher and higher to leave the valley.
After a while I notice many of the birds get tired and give up. {4} They turn and fly or glide back to the valley floor. {5} Others become disinterested in flying out. They become distracted {6} with the many beautiful flowers and trees. Other birds begin to fight and try to stop each other from flying out. {7} They show a greedy, {8} selfish tendency. They are always doing what they can to get ahead of the other birds, while using up precious energy to fly out of this vast valley. I watch as others stop to discuss the ancient books of the best ways to fly. They get out charts to plot and study the wind currents and try to figure out what is the best way to ascend. Many continue to ascend, but many continue to give up and glide back down. {9} Seeing the beautiful trees, others fly over and begin building nests. Some stop to enjoy the beautiful, fragrant flowers. {10}
The Herald now points out one single bird. He says, “Notice how he always keeps looking up. He keeps his eyes on the top of the valley wall.” As I watch, I tell the Herald that he looks very tired. The Herald says that he is but has not lost sight of his goal. I watch the few birds that are left. Many have grown tired, given up and returned to the valley floor. All the while this one small bird keeps his eyes on the very top of the valley. As he gets closer he is now all alone. All the rest have given up. Many are fighting and trying to get ahead of each other while slowly descending. However, the one bird gets closer and closer to the top. He looks very tired, but he keeps his eyes on the open sky. He never looks back. As he passes us, I know he could have stopped to rest on the deck, but he doesn’t. He continues on, up and out of the valley. {11}
Looking at the Herald, I tell him that it appears only one bird {12} made it out of the valley. He says, “Come, I have more to show you.” I ask him why I was shown that. Holding my hand, he and I walk through the white wall on the side of the valley where the deck is attached. We are once again in the corridor and sit down on a couch. He says, “Many will not understand what you were just shown. Many did not understand the things you were shown in the last dream either. Let me give you something to read after you are awake. Share this and let those who believe read and study so they will understand. Our Creator showed His prophet, Ellen White, to pen what is now written in Maranatha, page 253 and also Last Day Events, Chapter 12. (See pg 172-182.) Many believe because they are given a certificate [for baptism into SDA church] that it will allow them entrance to heaven. What I have shown you now you will understand after reading again what you have already read. Remember only one of the 800 birds came out of the great valley.
1. Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
2. Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
3. Psalms 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
4. Early Writings, p. 14
While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, "Look again, and look a little higher." At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, "Alleluia!" Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.
5. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and Riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
6. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
7. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
8. Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
9. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
10. Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
11. Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
12. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Maranatha, p. 253
Witnessing Before the Great Men of the Earth
Witnessing Before the Great Men of the Earth
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. Matthew 10:18.
The time is not far off when the people of God will be called upon to give their testimony before the rulers of the earth. Not one in twenty has a realization of what rapid strides we are making toward the great crisis in our history. . . . There is no time for vanity, for trifling, for engaging the mind in unimportant matters.
Kings, governors, and great men will hear of you through the reports of those who are at enmity with you, and your faith and character will be misrepresented before them. But those who are falsely accused will have an opportunity to appear in the presence of their accusers to answer for themselves. They will have the privilege of bringing the light before those who are called the great men of the earth, and if you have studied the Bible, if you are ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, your enemies will not be able to gainsay your wisdom.
You now have an opportunity to attain to the greatest intellectual power through the study of the Word of God. But if you are indolent, and fail to dig deep in the mines of truth, you will not be ready for the crisis that is soon to come upon us. O that you would realize that each moment is golden. If you live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, you will not be found unprepared.
You know not where you may be called upon to give your witness of truth. Many will have to stand in the legislative courts; some will have to stand before kings and before the learned of the earth, to answer for their faith. Those who have only a superficial understanding of truth will not be able clearly to expound the Scriptures, and give definite reasons for their faith. They will become confused, and will not be workmen that need not to be ashamed. Let no one imagine that he has no need to study, because he is not to preach in the sacred desk. You know not what God may require of you.
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