Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)

Ms 2, 1849

The Sealing

Topsham, Maine

January 17, 1849

Portions of this manuscript are published in 1Bio 157-158; EW 36-39. See also Annotations.

At the commencement of the holy Sabbath (Jan. 5) I was taken off in vision to the most holy place, where I saw Jesus still interceding for Israel. On the bottom of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided, either for salvation or destruction. I saw that the wrath of God could not come until Jesus had finished His work in the most holy place, laid off His priestly attire, and clothed Himself with the garments of vengeance. Then Jesus will step out from between the Father and man, and God will keep silent no longer, but pour out His wrath on those who have rejected His truth. I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead, were separate events, one following the other. I saw that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such as never was, had not yet commenced. I saw that the nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, then He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then will the seven last plagues be poured out. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 1

I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, then the seven last plagues will be poured out. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous, and they thought that we had brought the plagues down upon them, and if they could rid the earth of us, then the plagues would be stayed. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 2

A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. Then the 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters—thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting. I asked who this company were, and the angel said, these are they who have once kept the Sabbath, and have given it up. I heard them cry with a loud voice—we have believed in Thy coming and taught it with energy. And then while they were speaking, their eyes would fall upon their garments, and see the writing—thou are weighed in the balance and found wanting. Then they would wail aloud. I saw they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet—trodden the Sabbath underfoot, and that is why they were weighed in the balance and found wanting. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 3

Then my attending angel directed me to the City again where I saw four angels winging their way to the gate of the City, and were just presenting the golden card to the angel at the gate. Then I saw another angel swiftly flying from the direction of the most excellent glory; and crying with a loud voice to the other four angels and waving something up and down in his hand. I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that I could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that I then saw meant. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 4

Sabbath afternoon one of our number was sick and requested prayers that he might be healed. We all united in applying to the Physician who never lost a case and while healing power came down, and the sick was healed, the power fell upon me and I was taken off in vision. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 5

I saw the state of some who professed to stand on present truth, but disregarded the visions—the way God had chosen to teach, in some cases, those who erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions, they did not strike against the worm,—the feeble instrument that God spoke through, but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God. I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think they were right until they would find it out too late. Then in the time of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony—why didst Thou not show us our wrong, that we might have gotten right, and ready for this time. Then an angel pointed to them, and said—my Father taught but you would not be instructed. He spoke through visions but you disregarded His voice, and He gave you up to your own ways to be filled with your own doings. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 6

Then I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. I saw Jesus clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant then raised His hands upward, and with a voice of deep pity cried—“My Blood, Father, My Blood, My Blood, My Blood.” 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 7

Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God who sat on the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, “Hold, Hold, Hold, Hold until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.” [Revelation 7:3.] 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 8

I asked my attending angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on the earth, and that the four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and that they were about to let them go, and while they had started to let the four winds go the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant who were not all sealed, then He raised His hands to the Father, and plead with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels, and bid them hold until the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 9

I saw that the nations had not power to hold themselves. I also saw that we were not to cry to God to hold the four winds, nor to the nations, but one angel was to cry to other angels equal in power, to hold until the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 10

In hope of being one of the 144,000. 1LtMs, Ms 2, 1849, par. 11