When is it time to leave the cities? This question is on the lips of
many of God's people, and it is an important one to consider and
pray about. Is it time to leave for the countryside now? Or can we just
wait and see what happens? Well, as the people of God we are
lucky to have the pen of inspiration to help guide us in this matter.
Please prayerfully read the following.
"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was
the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption
of power on the part of our nation, in the decree enforcing the papal
Sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the
large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes
in secluded places among the mountains." (Testimonies, vol.
5, pp. 464, 465)
So we have a clear instruction that when the "Papal sabbath" is
enforced, this will be the signal for God's people to leave the
large cities and to prepare to leave the smaller cities and towns for
homes in the countryside. And we know from Revelation 13 that it
is the earth beast (America) that causes the world to receive the mark
of the beast. So when the Sunday law is enforced in the United
States of America, God's people all around the world will have the final
signal to leave the cities and move to the countryside.
Now there are some people who relate Ellen White's above statement to
the attempt made in 1888 to enforce a Sunday law in America, and they
say that this was the signal for God's people to leave the cities. Now I
don't have any major issue against this thinking, because I
would say that all of God's people should be looking to leave the large
cities now. Why? Because the large cities are not the kind of
places that God wants His people to dwell. And this is confirmed by
inspiration ...
"The cities are filled with temptation. We should
plan our work in such a way as to keep our young people as far as
possible from this contamination. The cities are to be worked from
outposts. Said the messenger of God, 'Shall not the cities be warned?
Yes,
but not by God's people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth.'"
But going back to this 1888 date as being the signal for God's people
to leave the cities. There are certain quotes from Ellen White that
suggest contrary to this thinking. Take a look at the following quote
that was written in 1906 ...
"More and more, as time advances, our people will have to leave the cities. For years we have been instructed that
our brethren and sisters, and especially families with children, should plan to leave the cities as the way opens before them to do so.
Many will have to labor earnestly to help open the way. But until it is possible for them to leave, so long as they remain, they should
be most active in doing missionary work, however limited their sphere of influence may be." (Review and Herald, September 27, 1906)
So here she is implying that the move out of the cities would be a
progressive one, and that it would not be possible for all people to
leave
the cities straight away. And this is well AFTER 1888.
But should we just wait until the Sunday law is enforced in America
to leave the cities, even if it is possible for us to leave? No,
because we are also
told by inspiration that the cities should be reached from OUTSIDE them,
not by God's people living IN them.
"In harmony with the light given me, I am urging
people to come out from the great centers of population. Our cities
are increasing in wickedness, and it is becoming more and more evident
that those who remain in them unnecessarily do so at the peril of
their souls salvation." (Country Living, p. 9)
"Get out of the cities as soon as possible and purchase a little piece of land where you can have a garden, where your children
can watch the flowers growing and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity." (2 Selected Messages, p.356)
"Out of the cities is my message at this time. Be assured that the call is for our people to locate miles away from the large
cities." (Manuscript Release 1518, May 10 1906)
The wickedness has been increasing in the cities over the past
100 years and they are no longer places that God's people should dwell.
We should be thinking also of the influence that temptations in the
cities can have over our children and make every effort to protect
them from Satan's devices.
So if you live in a city, and there is nothing stopping you from
leaving, then you should
start praying and planning to leave for a quieter place to live. And
some of us who have the resources to secure a home in the countryside
can place ourselves in a position to help someone else who may not have
the finances to leave when the Sunday law is enforced.
Think of how you can help your family and how you can help others
during this time and when the mark of the beast is enforced. God has
really blessed some of us in order that we can be a blessing and help to
others. But please, do not rush into this. Instead by prayer and
supplication, put this issue before God and ask for His guidance and
provision.
"Let everyone take time to consider carefully and
not be like the man in the parable who began to build and was not
able to finish. Not a move should be made but that movement and all that
it portends are carefully considered - everything weighed."
(Selected Messages, vol. 2, pp. 362, 363)
The superior benefits of country living are plain to see for any
thoughtful Christian. And as far as possible, we should start
relocating ourselves
away from the cities now and secure for ourselves country homes in
places God created for us to live, away from the temptations and
wickedness of
man made towns and cities.
So it is clear, not only from inspiration, but also from the reality
of how wicked the cities are now, that we should be striving to leave.
Especially
the large cities. But if there is no way for you to leave, due to
finances or some other reason, then take it to the Lord. Be faithful to
Him. Trust in
the Lord and let Him open up a way for you to leave.
Finally, think about this last thought also ... If you look
at major cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and many other
large urban
areas, there are very few ways of escaping. So during a disaster, these
routes of escape could either be destroyed, clogged by millions of
people fleeing, or
closed down by the government, which would force many people to stay
within the city's confines - which in turn could be a death sentence for
the unprepared.
The major cities are death traps!
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