The Final Shaking—a Prediction

One of Ellen White’s unfulfilled predictions relates to future events. Key words that describe the forces that will focus on Seventh-day Adventists are “sifting” and “shaking.”MOL 537.9

Human beings have been sifted by trials and temptations ever since the Garden of Eden, but Ellen White foresaw a time prior to the close of probation when special circumstances will test and sift every Adventist. The special sifting is often called the “shaking” time. Sometimes she uses the term “shaking” to refer to the process ^{19“We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.” Testimonies for the Church 6:332 (1900).} by which all church members will be tested; at other times she refers to the profound shaking that will prevail during the Seven Last Plagues. ^{20“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come.” Manuscript 173, 1902, cited in The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 4:1161.}MOL 537.10

Some of the causes of the final shaking within the Adventist Church will be:MOL 538.1

Persecution from outside the church. ^{21“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.... In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church.” Testimonies for the Church 5:81. See also The Great Controversy, 608.}MOL 538.2

Erroneous doctrines within the church. ^{22“When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112.}MOL 538.3

Prevailing worldliness caused by not having experienced “the love of the truth,” or being “sanctified through obedience to the truth.” ^{23“Not having received the love of the truth, they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and will depart from the faith.” Testimonies for the Church 6:401. “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.” The Great Controversy, 608.}MOL 538.4

Resistance to the “straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.” ^{24“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.” Testimonies for the Church 1:181.}MOL 538.5

Specific rejection of the sanctuary doctrine involving the significance of the pre-advent judgment and the relationship between the cleansed sanctuary and cleansed people. ^{25“The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith.” Evangelism, 224. See Evangelism, 221-225; The Great Controversy, 423, 488; The Review and Herald, January 21, 1890; Testimonies for the Church 5:575.}MOL 538.6

Rejection of the ministry of Ellen White. ^{26“One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit.” Selected Messages 3:84. See also Selected Messages 3:48Testimonies for the Church 4:211.}MOL 538.7

The impact of the shaking on Seventh-day Adventists will be enormous:MOL 538.8

Defections among church leaders. ^{27“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.” Prophets and Kings, 188. “Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.” The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888. See also Manuscript Releases 13:379, 381.}MOL 538.9

Apostasies of ministers who have preached false doctrine. ^{28“Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan.... Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.” Last Day Events, 179. See also Selected Messages 3:385; Manuscript Releases 7:192.}MOL 538.10

The church will seem about to fall. ^{29“The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.” Selected Messages 2:380.}MOL 538.11

An impressive number of church members will leave. ^{30“The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:89. “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.” The Great Controversy, 608. “Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal.” Testimonies for the Church 5:136.}MOL 538.12

New converts will take the place of the defectors. ^{31“The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour.... Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.” Letter 103, 1903, cited in Last Day Events, 182. See also Early Writings, 27Testimonies for the Church 8:41.}MOL 538.13

Preparation for the crisis involves developing habits of enthusiasm, courage, and loyalty. ^{32“When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.” Testimonies for the Church 5:136.}MOL 538.14