"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
WOE UNTO THEM! quotes
1) “Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!” Isaiah 5:8.
2) “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee”. Genesis 12:1.
Where was Abraham living at this time? In the city of “Ur of the Chaldees” which was in Babylon (Genesis 11:31). This shows that it was God’s will for His people to live out of the cities which are corrupt and evil as Babylon was, and God changes not.
“‘Out of the cities; out of the cities!’–– this is the message the Lord has been giving me.” Country Living, p 31.
3) Why does God direct His people to get out of wicked cities?
“...we are not to establish ourselves in the wicked cities, where the enemy is served in every way, and where God is so often forgotten. The Lord desires that we shall have clear spiritual eyesight....We must make wise plans to warn the cities, and at the same time live where we can shield our children and ourselves from the contaminating and demoralizing influences so prevalent in these places.” Country Living, p 31-32.
These wicked influences in the cities hinder God’s people from being spiritually minded, and thus less able to be led of God and used in His work, just like with Abraham.
“Before God can use him, Abraham must be separated from his former associations, that he may not be controlled by human influence or rely upon human aid.” Testimonies, vol 4, p 523-524.
4) With the increasing catastrophes caused by violent weather, earthquakes, or other natural causes; the increase of terrorism, all reveal that it is in cities where the greatest destruction can occur in just a brief moment of time!
“The earthquakes will come; the floods will come; and we are not to establish ourselves in the wicked cities...” Country Living, p 31.
“In tender compassion God himself is speaking to an impenitent world through judgments; and he will continue to speak in this manner. For many years we have known that the great cities would be visited with divine judgments because of long-continued disobedience. In no uncertain words the Lord has warned us...‘Out of the cities; out of the cities,’ –– this is the message that has often come to us.” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.
5) We are warned about Trade Unions:
“The trades unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began.” Maranatha, p 182.
How can Trade Unions bring on a time of severe trouble? These Trade Unions control people who direct and handle various modes of transportation. If these Unions go on strike, then all the various modes of transportation would stop. Under this scenario, it is estimated that it will only take about 3 days before all the food items are depleted from the various supermarkets in the cities. If this occurred, where would you be able to obtain food in order to survive an extended strike? You would have to have your own source of growing food.
It is estimated that the minimum acreage that one family would need to be able to grow enough food to live on for a whole year is an area measuring 100' x 100', and of course the soil must be fertile!
“The crisis is coming soon...The trades unions and confederacies of the world are a snare. Keep out of them and away from them, brethren. Have nothing to do with them....Educate our people to get out of the cities into the country, where they can obtain a small piece of land, and make a home for themselves and their children....It is time, brethren, that we heeded the testimonies sent us in mercy and love from the Lord of heaven.” Manuscript Releases, vol 4, p 82-83.
6) Persecution will be much worse in the city than in the country! And once persecution begins, it will be nearly impossible for you to be able to jump into your vehicles and travel out of the city without being noticed and efforts taken to try and stop you.
But if you leave the city, where will you be able to have church and worship God? Right in your very homes -- just like the disciples and early Christian believers (see Romans 16:5, 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phil 2; 1 John 1:7).
7) If you choose not to heed God’s counsel and you remain in the city, this does NOT mean that your probation is immediately closed! But you will have a much greater chance of losing your salvation by remaining, than you would if you followed God’s advise and moved out into the country.
“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.” Sermons and Talks, vol 2, p 289 (See also Country Living, p 9).
It is the wicked influences within the cities that imperil your soul! I believe there is a 100 fold increased chance of you losing salvation by remaining in the wicked atmosphere of the cities, compared to living in the peaceful atmosphere of the country.
“He (God) wants us to live where we can have elbow room. His people are not to crowd into the cities. He wants them to take their families out of the cities, that they may better prepare for eternal life.” General Conference Bulletin, March 30, 1903.
8) Abraham did not cast off Lot just because he chose to live and raise his family in the corrupt city of Sodom. And it was only because of the earnest prayers of Abraham that Lot and part of his family were saved!
"In all the cities of the plain, even ten righteous persons had not been found; but in answer to the patriarch's prayer, the one man who feared God was snatched from destruction.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p 160.
Those who are fortunate and blessed to be living in the country need to pray for fellow brothers and sisters who are still living in the cities, because they really need our prayers to remain faithful to the Lord amid all the corrupting influences.
9) Those remaining in the city need to realize that you will have greater difficulty in preserving, not just your physical life from harm, but especially your spiritual life. And if you have children, your choice to raise them in the city may lead to their destruction, even though you yourself may be saved!
Lot chose to depart from the country and to live in the city of Sodom, and in the end, only he and his 2 unmarried daughters escaped destruction, while his wife and all his married children were destroyed! (See Genesis 19:12-26).
“We should choose the society most favorable to our spiritual advancement, and avail ourselves of every help within our reach; for Satan will oppose many hindrances to make our progress toward Heaven as difficult as possible. We may be placed in trying positions, for many cannot have their surroundings what they would; but we should not voluntarily expose ourselves to influences that are unfavorable to the formation of Christian character. When duty calls us to do this, we should be doubly watchful and prayerful, that, through the grace of Christ, we may stand uncorrupted. Lot chose Sodom as a place of residence, because he looked more to the temporal advantages he would gain than to the moral influences that would surround himself and his family. What did he gain so far as the things of this world are concerned? His possessions were destroyed, part of his children perished in the destruction of that wicked city, his wife was turned to a pillar of salt by the way, and he himself was saved so as by fire. Nor did the evil results of his selfish choice end here; but the moral corruption of the place was so interwoven with the character of his children that they could not distinguish between good and evil, sin and righteousness.
“It will not answer to follow our own judgment and inclination in choosing our surroundings. We should seek counsel of God, and let him lead. We drive holy angels from our homes, and displease God, when we place ourselves and families in an atmosphere of unbelief. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," is his command; and he will not alter his word to suit the convenience of any. Many fail to realize that their physical and mental powers are not their own, to be devoted exclusively to their selfish interest in the accumulation of property. They place themselves in positions favorable for worldly gain, and as a consequence amass wealth; but it is at the expense of their eternal interests. Had they exercised true wisdom, they would have gained less earthly substance, but made sure of a title to the immortal inheritance. Like Lot, they may be stripped of their earthly treasure, and barely save their own souls. Their life-work is lost; their lives are a miserable failure. They are not rich toward God. They have not laid up treasure in the bank of Heaven. Instead, they have laid up treasure on earth, just the thing that Jesus warned them not to do; and their heart is on their treasure, just as he told them it would be. Let us be willing to become pilgrims and strangers here, that we may gain a better country, even a heavenly.” Signs of the Times, May 29, 1884.
10) May we do all we can to avoid the WOE!
“In the future, cities will certainly feel the terrible results of earthquakes and fires. Cities will be destroyed by flood and by lightnings. Out of the cities, is my message at this time....
“The Lord calls for His people to locate away from the cities, for in such an hour as ye think not, fire and brimstone will be rained from heaven upon these cities. Proportionate to their sins will be their visitation....The Lord has spoken. Will men hear His voice?” Manuscript Releases, vol 21, p 90-91.
“Out of the cities, is my message. Those who have had the light, but have neglected to follow the instruction that the Lord has given...will one day see the folly of clinging to the cities. They will realize how kind the Lord was to point out the right way.” Paulson Collection, p 195, par 2.
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