Sabbath School Today, Volume 9 - Paul E. Penno

It is during the pouring out of these plagues that the warnings against
worshiping the beast and his image and receiving his mark will be fulfilled,
and the rejectors of God's grace will "have no rest day or night" (Rev. 14:10,
11). These plagues will bring the downfall of Babylon in one day (Rev.
18:8).
What would this world be like if it were not for the restraining power of
the Holy Spirit? Multitudes do not realize that they owe all their security and
happiness under what measure of law and order prevails, to the blessed
ministry of God's Spirit in the earth. During the time of the plagues, all will
see clearly that when men give themselves up to the control of Satan, they
will themselves produce a hell here on earth.
While imagining that they are being blessed with a marvelous
outpouring of God's Holy Spirit, these rejectors will in reality be gathered
together for the great battle against God Himself. Although the lost have
been rebellious against the principles of God's truth, they have not previously
dared to try actually to fight against God. They have known such a battle
would be hopeless for them. But now these "spirits of demons ... gather them
together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty, ... to the place
which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon [Armageddon]" (Rev. 16:14, 16).
Israel fought a memorable battle (described in Judges 5:19-21) on the
plain of Megiddo in the land of Canaan. God Himself went to battle for His
people. The Battle of Armageddon is the Bible way of speaking of the final
fruit of an active rejection of grace.
"The work begun in 1844, at the end of the 2300 years, is unique in the
universe and brings Christ and the remnant into a new kind of union. There
will be a mutual understanding which makes His remnant go with Him into
the Most Holy Place. (See Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pp. 55, 251, 255,
261.) ... They will have the faith of Jesus which keeps mortals from sinning.
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