Final Events Timeline-EGW

From the Great Controversy (1888) by Ellen White:

Chapter 36 – Satan’s Master Plan/The Impending Conflict

(summary of chapter 38-39)

1. Background:

“The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final struggle of the longstanding controversy concerning the law of God.”

“The agencies which will unite against truth and righteousness in this contest are now actively at work.” Page 582

2. “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul, and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” Page 587

3. “Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of Spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.” Page 587

“Satan determines to unite them in one body, and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of Spiritualism” Page 588

4. “And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils.” Page 589

Chapter 38 – To All the World / The Final Warning 

1. It has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what it has been, the defender of religious freedom. Page 604

2. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven. Page 606

3. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. Page 606

4. As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. Page 607

5. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side. Page 612

Chapter 39 – When Probation Closes/The Time of Trouble 

1. At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of Thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1. Page 613

When  the  third  angel’s  message  closes,  mercy  no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received “the seal of the living God.” Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. (Close of probation / Day of Atonement) page 613

Those who honor the law of God have been accused of bringing judgments upon the world, and they will be regarded as the cause of the fearful convulsions of nature and the strife and bloodshed among men that are filling the earth with woe. Page 613

2. A decree  will  finally  be  issued  against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment, and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Page 615

3. Lord permits him to try them to the uttermost. Their confidence in God, their faith and firmness, will be severely tested. Page 618

Though God’s people will be surrounded by enemies who are bent upon their destruction, yet the anguish which they suffer is not a dread of persecution for the truth’s sake; they fear that every sin has not been repented of, and that through some fault in themselves they shall fail to realize the fulfillment of the Saviour’s promise, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world.” Revelation 3:10. Page 618

They afflict their souls before God, pointing to their past repentance of their many sins, and pleading the Saviour’s promise, “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” Isaiah 27:5. Their faith does not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering the keenest anxiety, terror, and distress, they do not cease their intercessions. Page 619

4. Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be  revealed  in  the  heavens,  in  token  of  the  power  of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of Heaven. Page 622

Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing, and will profess to have revelations from Heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. Page 622

5. As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment-keepers shall withdraw the protection of government, and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages, and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains. Page 624

6. The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel, were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people. Page 626

(direct references to the plagues of Revelation 16)  These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. Page 627

But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity. “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:17. If the blood of Christ’s faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Page 632

Chapter 40 -The Coming of the King / God’s People Delivered 

(Second coming)