One day is with the Lord as a thousand years. (2 Pet 3:8). The seventh thousand (or Sabbath – “the seventh day is the Sabbath“) commenced in 1873, consequently we are now in the Sabbath day of our text: Pray (desire) that your flight (out of Babylon, nominal Zion) be not on the Sabbath. The Jewish law placed restrictions upon the people on the Sabbath, and hindered them from journeying as much as they might desire – therefore, if bound by those laws it hindered flight.

How is it now? Is there any special hindrance to escape from nominal Zion since we entered the seventh day?

We answer, Yes; those who stood fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and were not entangled by any yoke of bondage or creed of men, were in a favored position – those who get weaned now and eat the strong meat of present truth (See Matt 24: 45,46 – which shows that “meat in due season” will be given when the Lord shall have come and is present), and hear the Lord’s word, saying: “Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues.” If they now attempt to obey, they will find such laws in force in Zion as will make it difficult to get out quickly unless those man-made laws are disregarded.

During the last century nominal Zion has sought by every means to prevent escape from her house; it is easy, very easy, for almost any sort of creature to gain admittance, but vile indeed must be the one she casts out; but be you ever so faithful a child of God, and attempt to go forth in obedience to His call to come out of her you will find your way wondrously hedged up, and unless your senses have been exercised – unless God has taught you knowledge and made you to understand true doctrines, you will be unable to make your escape. You will first be fawned upon, told how indispensable are your services, how much good you are doing, how you would be throwing away all your Christian influence, how you would lose your social standing, etc. You will also be reminded of the extent of learning (worldly wisdom) of the church and her ministers, of the comparatively few “peculiar people” who hold these views, etc. And, unless you have had your spiritual senses exercised in the Word [not by merely reading, but by searching] you will be unable to force your way against these barriers. Unless possessed of a knowledge of the Word you will be unable to test their ministers by the evidences of heavenly wisdom – the understanding of God’s Word, as shown in Isa 29:10-14. You will be unable to prove whether or not they are the Lord’s friends by the tests of John 15:15, and 16:13.

Unless you have laid all on the altar, you cannot break away from the social ties and flattering influences; but if you have you can say: “We ought to obey God rather than men”. Yes, you must say:

“The dearest idol I have known,

Whate’er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,

And worship only Thee.”

And not only say, but do it. You will be severely tested, for if you have been blameless before, an example in conduct, and insist on withdrawing, your character will be carefully examined, and if possible, some pretext will be found to let you down and out – as though you had been expelled.

But we read: “Pray that your flight be not in winter.”

How shall we understand this?

We believe that we are now in the “harvest,” that it is composed of two parts, or as shown in Rev 14:14-18, two harvests. The first part spent gathering the “first fruits of the wheat” and the succeeding period harvesting of the “Vine of the Earth.” The first a time of favor, the latter a “time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.” It is with reference to the first harvest that we understand all reference and exhortation to the bride or “little flock” stands related: it is her harvest time and if we rightly interpret the Word all who will have part in that company and be overcomers will come out of “Babylon” before this harvest ends.

Harvest always comes in summer and is followed by the destructive frosts of winter and in the figure used by our Lord we believe that the second harvest or time of trouble stands to the first harvest soon to end, in the relation of winter. With this thought see the force of Jesus’ words ‘pray (seek, desire) that you may get out before winter’ – in season to be an overcomer.

We know that some will say: “The harvest is past – the summer is ended and we are not saved.” “Yea, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment [dealings] of the Lord. How do you say, we are wise and the law of the Lord (the knowledge of the Lord) is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made He it. [They use very little of it] …. The wise man is ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them?” (Jer 8:7-9, 19-22)

No, Zion knows not the time of her visitation, and soon, when the harvest and summer are ended, it will also be true that the Lord is not in Zion – there is no king in her, there is no balm (no healing) in Gilead – no physician there and those then in Zion will have lost the opportunity to participate in the “special” salvation, the prize of being made the heavenly Zion.

This “winter” time coming, is the time of Zion’s travail when the great majority of her children (the great company class) will be brought forth but those who will be members of the first-born will come forth before the travail [and we know not how soon thereafter, they will be “changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye.”]

Thus, we read “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child [the overcomers]. Who hath heard such a thing? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” [the great company.] Isa 66:7.

In view of these things can you wonder that Jesus says escape from the house before winter? The harvest is nearly over; the summer will soon be ended, and the winter of trouble will soon be here – “Come out of her my people.” R229