Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

powerful. Other nations are intently watching this nation, for what purpose I was notinformed, and are making great preparations for some event. The greatest perplexityand anxiety now exists among our national men. Proslavery men and traitors are in thevery midst of them; and while these are professedly in favor of the Union, they havean influence in making decisions, some of which even favor the South.I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed,privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in the land. As these thingssurrounded God’s people, they began to press together, and to cast aside their littledifficulties. Self-dignity no longer controlled them; deep humility took its place.Suffering, perplexity, and privation caused reason to resume its throne, and thepassionate and unreasonable man became sane, and acted with discretion and wisdom.My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time ofpeace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and againeverything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine andpestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion.War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men’s heartsfailed them for fear, “and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”*****Chap. 56 - Perilous TimesThe unbelieving world will soon have something to think of besides their dress andappearance; and as their minds are torn from these things by distress and perplexity,they will have nothing to turn to. They are not prisoners of hope, and therefore do notturn to the Stronghold. Their hearts will268