Here are the original contexts for the quoted statements, followed by the context from the Last Day Events compilation (all-caps added for emphasis):
“(Written February 20, 1905, from ‘Elmshaven,’ Sanitarium, California, to ‘Dear Brethren Palmer and Ballenger.’)
“We are well pleased with the reports that Brother Ballenger has sent us of the work of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. What we see being accomplished there is a fulfillment of what I have been instructed we might expect. For this we thank the Lord and take courage for the future, believing that the Lord will bless and guide.
“The patronage you are receiving, even before you are fully prepared to accommodate patients, has exceeded my expectations. The Lord has been good to us, and we must ever bear in mind that this sanitarium is to be made a means of communicating truth to those who know it not.
“Treatment rooms should be fitted up soon. Let them be, as was suggested when we were there, outside the main building. Were they inside the sanitarium, the steam from them would make an unhealthful atmosphere, which would pervade the rooms of the patients. Let us take every precaution to make everything connected with the Paradise Valley Sanitarium healthful and wholesome.
“We are made sad as we see in many places so much left undone that should be done. But THE LORD WILL USE IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS WORK MEANS THAT WE DO NOT NOW SEE. HE WILL RAISE UP FROM AMONG THE COMMON PEOPLE, MEN AND WOMEN TO DO HIS WORK, EVEN AS OF OLD HE CALLED FISHERMEN TO BE HIS DISCIPLES. THERE WILL SOON BE AN AWAKENING THAT WILL SURPRISE MANY. THOSE WHO DO NOT REALIZE THE NECESSITY OF WHAT IS TO BE DONE WILL BE PASSED BY, AND THE HEAVENLY MESSENGERS WILL WORK WITH THOSE WHO ARE CALLED THE COMMON PEOPLE, FITTING THEM TO CARRY THE TRUTH TO MANY PLACES. Now is the time for us to awake and do what we can.” (Manuscript Releases Volume Fifteen, pp. 312,313, by Ellen G. White)
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“What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, ‘Peace, peace;’ and the workers of iniquity are not alarmed. The Lord’s hand is not shortened that He cannot save, nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; but it is our sins that have separated us from God. The church is corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls.
“If all of those who come together for meetings of edification and prayer could be regarded as true worshipers, then might we hope, though much would still remain to be done for us. But it is in vain to deceive ourselves. Things are far from being what the appearance would indicate. From a distant view much may appear beautiful which, upon close examination, will be found full of deformities. The prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy–a spirit of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but in reality of the blindest presumption. There is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit. There is a spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed wisdom of God.
“There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit. Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind.
“God has shown me that these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge to our people. They are wise above what is written. This unbelief of the very truths of God’s word because human judgment cannot comprehend the mysteries of His work is found in every district, in all ranks of society. It is taught in most of our schools and comes into the lessons of the nurseries. Thousands who profess to be Christians give heed to lying spirits. Everywhere the spirit of darkness in the garb of religion will confront you.
“If all that appears to be divine life were such in reality; if all who profess to present the truth to the world were preaching for the truth and not against it, and if they were men of God guided by His Spirit,–then might we see something cheering amid the prevailing moral darkness. But the spirit of antichrist is prevailing to such an extent as never before. Well may we exclaim: ‘Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.’ I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin. Yet we do not despair. We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.
“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to ‘science falsely so called’ will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. IN THE LAST SOLEMN WORK FEW GREAT MEN WILL BE ENGAGED. THEY ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT, INDEPENDENT OF GOD, AND HE CANNOT USE THEM. THE LORD HAS FAITHFUL SERVANTS, WHO IN THE SHAKING, TESTING TIME WILL BE DISCLOSED TO VIEW. THERE ARE PRECIOUS ONES NOW HIDDEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL. THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE LIGHT WHICH HAS BEEN SHINING IN A CONCENTRATED BLAZE UPON YOU. BUT IT MAY BE UNDER A ROUGH AND UNINVITING EXTERIOR THE PURE BRIGHTNESS OF A GENUINE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER WILL BE REVEALED. IN THE DAY TIME WE LOOK TOWARD HEAVEN BUT DO NOT SEE THE STARS. THEY ARE THERE, FIXED IN THE FIRMAMENT, BUT THE EYE CANNOT DISTINGUISH THEM. IN THE NIGHT WE BEHOLD THEIR GENUINE LUSTER.
“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness.
“When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David–willing to do and dare. The deeper the night for God’s people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’
“The seeds of truth that are being sown by missionary efforts will then spring up and blossom and bear fruit. Souls will receive the truth who will endure tribulation and praise God that they may suffer for Jesus. ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ When the overflowing scourge shall pass through the earth, when the fan is purging Jehovah’s floor, God will be the help of His people. The trophies of Satan may be exalted on high, but the faith of the pure and holy will not be daunted.
“Elijah took Elisha from the plow and threw upon him his mantle of consecration. The call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position; had these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have honored them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated from God, yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them.
“Many have exalted science and lost sight of the God of science. This was not the case with the church in the purest times.
“GOD WILL WORK A WORK IN OUR DAY THAT BUT FEW ANTICIPATE. HE WILL RAISE UP AND EXALT AMONG US THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT RATHER BY THE UNCTION OF HIS SPIRIT THAN BY THE OUTWARD TRAINING OF SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. THESE FACILITIES ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED OR CONDEMNED; THEY ARE ORDAINED OF GOD, BUT THEY CAN FURNISH ONLY THE EXTERIOR QUALIFICATIONS. GOD WILL MANIFEST THAT HE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNED, SELF-IMPORTANT MORTALS.
“There are few really consecrated men among us, few who have fought and conquered in the battle with self. Real conversion is a decided change of feelings and motives; it is a virtual taking leave of worldly connections, a hastening from their spiritual atmosphere, a withdrawing from the controlling power of their thoughts, opinions, and influences. The separation causes pain and bitterness to both parties. It is the variance which Christ declares that He came to bring. But the converted will feel a continual longing desire that their friends shall forsake all for Christ, knowing that, unless they do, there will be a final and eternal separation. The true Christian cannot, while with unbelieving friends, be light and trifling. The value of the souls for whom Christ died is too great.
“He ‘that forsaketh not all that he hath,’ says Jesus, ‘cannot be My disciple.’ Whatever shall divert the affections from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. Its golden chain binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. These are Satan’s snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be broken; the flesh must be crucified with the affections and lusts. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half the world’s. We are not God’s people unless we are such entirely. Every weight, every besetting sin, must be laid aside. God’s watchmen will not cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when God has not spoken peace. The voice of the faithful watchmen will be heard: ‘Go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.’
“The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found wanting. The light has been shining clear and definite upon her pathway, and the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are unimproved, if her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light has become darkness, she is indeed found wanting. The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed.” (Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, pp. 78-84, by Ellen G. White)
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“God Will Employ Agencies That Will Surprise Us
“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.–TM 300 (1885).
“Do not imagine that it will be possible to lay out plans for the future. Let God be acknowledged as standing at the helm at all times and under every circumstance. He will work by means that will be suitable, and will maintain, increase, and build up His own people.–CW 71 (1895).
“The Comforter is to reveal Himself, not in any specified, precise way that man may mark out, but in the order of God–in unexpected times and ways that will honor His own name.–EGW’88 1478 (1896).
“HE WILL RAISE UP FROM AMONG THE COMMON PEOPLE MEN AND WOMEN TO DO HIS WORK, EVEN AS OF OLD HE CALLED FISHERMEN TO BE HIS DISCIPLES. THERE WILL SOON BE AN AWAKENING THAT WILL SURPRISE MANY. THOSE WHO DO NOT REALIZE THE NECESSITY OF WHAT IS TO BE DONE WILL BE PASSED BY, AND THE HEAVENLY MESSENGERS WILL WORK WITH THOSE WHO ARE CALLED THE COMMON PEOPLE, FITTING THEM TO CARRY THE TRUTH TO MANY PLACES.–15MR 312 (1905).
“Laborers Qualified by the Holy Spirit
“IN THE LAST SOLEMN WORK FEW GREAT MEN WILL BE ENGAGED. . . . GOD WILL WORK A WORK IN OUR DAY THAT BUT FEW ANTICIPATE. HE WILL RAISE UP AND EXALT AMONG US THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT RATHER BY THE UNCTION OF HIS SPIRIT THAN BY THE OUTWARD TRAINING OF SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. THESE FACILITIES ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED OR CONDEMNED; THEY ARE ORDAINED OF GOD, BUT THEY CAN FURNISH ONLY THE EXTERIOR QUALIFICATIONS. GOD WILL MANIFEST THAT HE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNED, SELF-IMPORTANT MORTALS.–5T 80, 82 (1882).
“To souls that are earnestly seeking for light and that accept with gladness every ray of divine illumination from His holy Word, to such alone light will be given. It is through these souls that God will reveal that light and power which will lighten the whole earth with His glory.–5T 729 (1889).
“It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought that is needed. This is of more value than brilliant talent, tact, or knowledge. An ordinary mind, trained to obey a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ is better qualified for God’s work than are those who have capabilities but do not employ them rightly.–RH Nov. 27, 1900.
“The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them.–GC 606 (1911).
“God Uses Even the Illiterate
“Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour will stand the test and trial of these last days. Strengthened by unquestioning faith in Christ, even the illiterate disciple will be able to withstand the doubts and questions that infidelity can produce, and put to blush the sophistries of scorners.
“The Lord Jesus will give the disciples a tongue and wisdom that their adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. Those who could not, by reasoning, overcome satanic delusions will bear an affirmative testimony that will baffle supposedly learned men. Words will come from the lips of the unlearned with such convincing power and wisdom that conversions will be made to the truth. Thousands will be converted under their testimony.
“Why should the illiterate man have this power, which the learned man has not? The illiterate one, through faith in Christ, has come into the atmosphere of pure, clear truth, while the learned man has turned away from the truth. The poor man is Christ’s witness. He cannot appeal to histories or to so-called high science, but he gathers from the Word of God powerful evidence. The truth that he speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit is so pure and remarkable and carries with it a power so indisputable that his testimony cannot be gainsaid.–8MR 187, 188 (1905).
“Children Proclaim the Message
“Many, even among the uneducated, now proclaim the words of the Lord. Children are impelled by the Spirit to go forth and declare the message from heaven. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man’s machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit’s power.–Ev 700 (1895).
“When the heavenly intelligences see that men will no longer present the truth in simplicity as did Jesus, the very children will be moved upon by the Spirit of God and will go forth proclaiming the truth for this time.–SW 66 (1895).
“The Ministry of Angels
“The angels of heaven are moving upon human minds to arouse investigation in the themes of the Bible. A far greater work will be done than has yet been done and none of the glory of it will flow to men, for angels that minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation are working night and day.–CW 140 (1875).
“There are many men in our world who are like Cornelius. . . . As God worked for Cornelius, so He works for these true standard-bearers. . . . They will obtain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did through the visitation of angels from heaven.–Letter 197, 1904.
“When divine power is combined with human effort, the work will spread like fire in the stubble. God will employ agencies whose origin man will be unable to discern. Angels will do a work which men might have had the blessing of accomplishing had they not neglected to answer the claims of God.–1SM 118 (1885).
“World-wide Extent of the Proclamation
“The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. . . . Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given.–GC 611, 612 (1911).
“The message of the angel following the third is now to be given to all parts of the world. It is to be the harvest message, and the whole earth will be lighted with the glory of God.–Letter 86, 1900.
“When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, . . . then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.–6T 401 (1900).
“In every city in America the truth is to be proclaimed. In every country of the world the warning message is to be given.–GCB March 30, 1903.
“During the loud cry the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be communicated to every city and town.–Ev 694 (1904).
“A crisis is right upon us. We must now by the Holy Spirit’s power proclaim the great truths for these last days. It will not be long before everyone will have heard the warning and made his decision. Then shall the end come.–6T 24 (1900).” (Last Day Events, pp. 203-208, by Ellen G. White)
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