EGW WritingsExodus 34

Reflecting Christ

Present Truth in Love, August 14

RC 240.1

The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 167, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 167, 1898, par. 12

Moses prayed, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” And God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” [Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6.]

13LtMs, Ms 167, 1898, par. 18

Christ comes to us in visitations of mercy and truth, holding before us the mirror of God’s law and revealing its claims. “Walk with me,” He says, “and I will fill thy path with light.” Christ humbled Himself that He might encircle the race with His long human arm, while with His divine arm He lays hold upon the throne of God. He came to show how man should treat his fellow man. He came to uplift the suffering and comfort the oppressed. To Moses He proclaimed Himself, “The Lord, the Lord [God], merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] But God cannot let sin go unpunished. He could not welcome any sinner into the courts of heaven. This would introduce woe and misery there. He will by no means clear the guilty. He visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Christ’s Object Lessons

Chapter 13—Two Worshipers

COL 162.3

It was when Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock that he beheld the glory of God. It is when we hide in the riven Rock that Christ will cover us with His own pierced hand, and we shall hear what the Lord saith unto His servants. To us as to Moses, God will reveal Himself as “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 24—“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

PK 296.3

The enemy of God’s church upon the earth had not, however, taken fully into account the compassionate nature of Him who “will by no means clear the guilty,” yet whose glory it is to be “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Despite the efforts of Satan to thwart God’s purpose for Israel, nevertheless even in some of the darkest hours of their history, when it seemed as if the forces of evil were about to gain the victory, the Lord graciously revealed Himself. He spread before Israel the things that were for the welfare of the nation. “I have written to him the great things of My law,” He declared through Hosea, “but they were counted as a strange thing.” “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.” Hosea 8:12; 11:3. Tenderly had the Lord dealt with them, instructing them by His prophets line upon line, precept upon precept.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 26—“Behold Your God!”

PK 312.2

“My presence shall go with thee,” was the promise given during the journey through the wilderness. Exodus 33:14. This assurance was accompanied by a marvelous revelation of Jehovah’s character, which enabled Moses to proclaim to all Israel the goodness of God, and to instruct them fully concerning the attributes of their invisible King. “The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Reflecting Christ

When Infirmities Come, Trust in God, September 24

RC 281.3

“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6, 7).

Selected Messages Book 1

Chapter 61—Christ the Center of the Message

1SM 383.1

The third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel’s message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had first place. The glory of God that was revealed to Moses in regard to the divine character has not been made prominent. The Lord said to Moses, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee” (Exodus 33:19). “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6, 7).

Selected Messages Book 2

Trust God—Lean Upon Him

2SM 231.2

“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6, 7).

Steps to Christ

Chapter 1—God’s Love for Man

SC 10.2

The word of God reveals His character. He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord answered, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” Exodus 33:18, 19. This is His glory. The Lord passed before Moses, and proclaimed, “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. He is “slow to anger, and of great kindness,” “because He delighteth in mercy.” Jonah 4:2; Micah 7:18.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6

Chapter 26—God’s Design in Our Sanitariums

6T 221.1

We are called to represent to the world the character of God as it was revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord promised, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7. This is the fruit that God desires from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that the “law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7.

That I May Know Him

Jesus Holds Us Fast! March 15

TMK 80.3

Jesus, precious Jesus, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6, 7). O how privileged we are that we may come to Jesus just as we are and cast ourselves upon His love! We have no hope but in Jesus. He alone can reach us with His hand to lift us up out of the depths of discouragement and hopelessness and place our feet upon the Rock. Although the human soul may cling to Jesus with all the desperate sense of his great need, Jesus will cling to the souls bought by His own blood with a firmer grasp than the sinner clings to Him.

The Desire of Ages

Chapter 21—Bethesda and the Sanhedrin

DA 208.3

When Moses was about to build the sanctuary as a dwelling place for God, he was directed to make all things according to the pattern shown him in the mount. Moses was full of zeal to do God’s work; the most talented, skillful men were at hand to carry out his suggestions. Yet he was not to make a bell, a pomegranate, a tassel, a fringe, a curtain, or any vessel of the sanctuary, except according to the pattern shown him. God called him into the mount, and revealed to him the heavenly things. The Lord covered him with His own glory, that he might see the pattern, and according to it all things were made. So to Israel, whom He desired to make His dwelling place, He had revealed His glorious ideal of character. The pattern was shown them in the mount when the law was given from Sinai, and when the Lord passed by before Moses and proclaimed, “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

The Faith I Live By

The Strange Act of God, November 28

FLB 338.5

To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11.... Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.86The Great Controversy, 627.

Christ’s Object Lessons

Chapter 23—The Lord’s Vineyard

COL 285.3

It was the privilege of the Jewish nation to represent the character of God as it had been revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord promised, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” Exodus 33:18, 19. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. This was the fruit that God desired from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they were to show that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7.

The Great Controversy

Chapter 29—The Origin of Evil

GC 500.3

But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

The Great Controversy

Chapter 33—The First Great Deception

GC 541.2

God has given to men a declaration of His character and of His method of dealing with sin. “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7. “All the wicked will He destroy.” “The transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” Psalm 145:20; 37:38. The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.

The Great Controversy

Chapter 39—The Time of Trouble

GC 627.2

God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)

Chapter 29—The Origin of Evil

GC88 500.4

But the Eternal One himself proclaims his character: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)

Chapter 33—The First Great Deception

GC88 541.2

God has given to men a declaration of his character, and of his method of dealing with sin. “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] “All the wicked will he destroy.” “The transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” [Psalm 145:20; 37:38.] The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.

The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)

Chapter 39—“The Time of Trouble”

GC88 627.1

God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy his people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is none the less certain and terrible because it is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.” [Isaiah 28:21.] To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” [Ezekiel 33:11.] The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet he will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” [Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3.] By terrible things in righteousness he will vindicate the authority of his downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which he bears long, and which he will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

The Ministry of Healing

In the Mount With God

MH 508.2

“Come up to Me into the mount,” God bids us. To Moses, before he could be God’s instrument in delivering Israel, was appointed the forty years of communion with Him in the mountain solitudes. Before bearing God’s message to Pharaoh, he spoke with the angel in the burning bush. Before receiving God’s law as the representative of His people, he was called into the mount, and beheld His glory. Before executing justice on the idolaters, he was hidden in the cleft of the rock, and the Lord said, “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee,” “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth; ... and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 33:19; 34:6, 7, A.R.V. Before he laid down, with his life, his burden for Israel, God called him to the top of Pisgah and spread out before him the glory of the Promised Land.

The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4

Chapter 24—Origin of Evil

4SP 320.2

But the Eternal One himself proclaims his character: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4

Chapter 28—The First Great Deception

4SP 361.4

God has given to men a declaration of his character: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.

The Upward Look

Our Long-suffering God, January 27

UL 41.1

The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Exodus 34:6, 7.

Counsels on Health

God’s Design in Our Sanitariums

CH 203.4

We are called to represent to the world the character of God as it was revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord promised, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7. This is the fruit that God desires from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7.

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”—Matthew 5:7.

MB 22.1

God is Himself the source of all mercy. His name is “merciful and gracious.” Exodus 34:6. He does not treat us according to our desert. He does not ask if we are worthy of His love, but He pours upon us the riches of His love, to make us worthy. He is not vindictive. He seeks not to punish, but to redeem. Even the severity which He manifests through His providences is manifested for the salvation of the wayward. He yearns with intense desire to relieve the woes of men and to apply His balsam to their wounds. It is true that God “will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7), but He would take away the guilt.

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing

“I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”—Matthew 5:17.

MB 46.1

It was to Moses that God revealed His glory in those wonderful words that have been the treasured heritage of the ages: “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials

Chapter 115—The Vision at Salamanca

1888 938.1

Let us see the character of God as presented or proclaimed by Himself: “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887

Counselor in the Sickroom

EGWE 89.2

Then she quoted from Exodus 34:6, 7: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”

The Review and Herald

February 19, 1914

RH February 19, 1914, par. 10

This prophecy, fulfilled in part in the time of the judges of Israel, met a more complete and terrible fulfillment in the captivity of Israel in Assyria and of Judah in Babylon. During the passing centuries, from generation to generation, Satan made repeated attempts to cause Israel to forget “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments” (Deuteronomy 6:1) that they had promised to keep forever; for he knew that if he could only lead Israel to forget God, and to “walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them,” the chosen nation would surely perish. Deuteronomy 8:19. But the enemy of all souls had not taken into account the long-suffering of Him who “will by no means clear the guilty,” yet whose glory it is to be “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Despite the efforts of Satan to thwart God’s purpose for his chosen people, yet even in some of the darkest hours of Israel’s history, when it seemed as if the forces of evil were about to gain the victory, the Lord graciously revealed himself. He spread before Israel the things that were for their welfare as a nation. “I have written to him the great things of my law,” he declared, of Israel through Hosea, “but they were counted as a strange thing.” Hosea 8:12. “I taught Ephraim also to go,” he declared “taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.” Hosea 11:3. Tenderly the Lord dealt with them, instructing them by his prophets, line upon line, and precept upon precept.

The Review and Herald

March 18, 1915

RH March 18, 1915, par. 4

“My presence shall go with thee” (Exodus 33:14), was the promise given during the journey through the wilderness. This assurance was accompanied by a marvelous revelation of Jehovah’s character, which enabled Moses to proclaim to all Israel the goodness of God, and to instruct them fully concerning the attributes of their invisible King. “The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Testimony Treasures, vol. 2

To Represent the Character of God

2TT 478.3

We are called to represent to the world the character of God as it was revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord promised, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7. This is the fruit that God desires from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7.

From Eternity Past

Chapter 61—Saul Rejected as King

EP 455.5

To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” Ezekiel 33:11; Exodus 34:6, 7. While He does not delight in vengeance, He will execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law. He is forced to do this to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter depravity and ruin. In order to save some, He must cut off those who have become hardened in sin.

From Here to Forever

God’s People Not Misled

HF 380.3

God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to destroy His people. To God, punishment is a “strange act.” Isaiah 28:21; see also Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. The nation with which He bears long, and which has filled up the measure of its iniquity, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 24—A Nation “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

SS 158.2

The enemy of God’s church on the earth had not, however, taken into account the compassionate nature of Him whose glory it is to be “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Even in the darkest hours of their history, the Lord graciously spread before Israel the things that were for the welfare of the nation. “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,” He declared through Hosea. “I took them up in My arms; but they did not know that I healed them.” Hosea 11:3, RSV.

Darkness Before Dawn

The Comforter of His People

DD 43.4

God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy....

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 26—Isaiah’s Message: “Behold Your God!”

SS 165.2

In losing sight of God’s true character, the Israelites were without excuse. Often had God revealed Himself to them as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15, RSV. Tenderly had the Lord dealt with Israel in their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and in their journey to the Promised Land. “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them.” Isaiah 63:9. Moses instructed them fully concerning the attributes of their invisible King. See Exodus 34:6, 7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Lt 26, 1885

4LtMs, Lt 26, 1885, par. 2

In this feebleness, I presented before her the words of promise from God. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Thus God has proclaimed His character Himself. Will you, my dear child, believe Him? What sins can be too great for Him to pardon? Every soul is precious in His sight. He is merciful, infinitely more willing to pardon than condemn. He is gracious. He is touched with the feelings of your infirmities. He knows your weakness. It would have been much better had you obtained the experience of becoming acquainted with God when in strength; then you would have been able to trust Him fully whom you had proved; but you have made your best efforts, and now Christ stands ready to supply where you lack. His merits will be imputed to you; His boundless goodness will heal your backslidings, and He will accept today the best you have to give, and He will love and bless you. “He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9.] “He doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.” [Lamentations 3:33.] He suffereth long and is kind. His love is without a parallel. He is slow to anger and of great kindness. He has waited and waited for you to give Him your affections, an undivided heart. God will never leave nor forsake one penitent soul that looks to Him in faith.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)

Ms 25, 1888

5LtMs, Ms 25, 1888, par. 26

Attended morning meeting at half past five o’clock. Spoke to doctors, nurses, and helpers in regard to the necessity of the Lord being with us in all our labors. The Lord declared His character to Moses: “And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)

Ms 33, 1887

5LtMs, Ms 33, 1887, par. 4

Sabbath I was very feeble. I felt that it would not be possible for me to speak without special strength being given me from the Lord. My left thumb keeps up a continual motion that I have no power to control. I am fastening upon the promises. How precious is every one of them! God Himself has proclaimed His love and His pity for His needy, suffering ones. “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

5LtMs, Ms 33, 1887, par. 20

But this was one of the most precious nights of my life. I enjoyed sweet communion with God, and the presence of the Lord and angels seemed to be in my stateroom. The goodness and mercy and love of God to me, so unworthy, seemed to be so abundant. These words of God proclaiming Himself impressed my mind, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] I had a sleepless night, suffered with fever and pain, yet my soul was filled with thoughts of God’s mercy and His precious promises. How calmly could my soul rest in God, fearing nothing! The declarations of God’s love were to me. My faith could grasp the promises and rest in them.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)

Lt 5, 1888

5LtMs, Lt 5, 1888, par. 7

Repeat to them the precious assurance which God Himself has given to them: “I am the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] What a precious declaration is this! What can be too hard for Him? What sin too great for Him to pardon? He is gracious, not working according to our merit, but in His boundless goodness healing our backslidings, forgiving our iniquities, and loving us freely while we were yet sinners.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 20, 1889

6LtMs, Lt 20, 1889, par. 15

The Lord Himself declares His character, that Satan has malignantly set in a false light. “And the Lord proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] The heart of God yearns over man. He is ever looking down upon us with the tender solicitude of a parent for his erring child, drawing us by the strong cords of His love, [expressed] in His rich promises. What stronger or more tender language could have been employed than He has chosen to express His love toward us? He declares, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget; yet will I not forget thee.” [Isaiah 49:15.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 4, 1889

6LtMs, Lt 4, 1889, par. 46

Sufficient light was given to the Jewish people so that they might have known “the time of their visitation.” God had sent them “the way, the truth, and the life” [John 14:6] in the gift of His Son. Christ came as the Messenger of Jehovah, and His path was marked with blessings. He was sent to make known the Father. His whole life to its final sacrifice was a revelation of God to men. Calvary itself announced Him, “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] From Christ, the light of the world, shone forth the clear, bright beams of His Father’s glory. Yet the Jews comprehended it not.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Ms 40, 1890

6LtMs, Ms 40, 1890, par. 74

Let us see the character of God as presented or proclaimed by Himself: “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Ms 62, 1890

6LtMs, Ms 62, 1890, par. 18

God proclaims His own character as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] He says again, “I am the Lord, which exerciseth loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight.” [Jeremiah 9:24.] “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” [Micah 6:8.] “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” [Isaiah 1:16, 17.]

God’s Amazing Grace

What Is God’s Glory? November 10

AG 322.2

The glory of God is His character. While Moses was in the mount, earnestly interceding with God, he prayed, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” In answer God declared, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” The glory of God—His character—was then revealed: “The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Ms 40a, 1890

6LtMs, Ms 40a, 1890, par. 81

God proclaims His own character as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] He says again, “I am the Lord which exerciseth lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight.” [Jeremiah 9:24.] “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” [Micah 6:8.] “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” [Isaiah 1:16, 17.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 41, 1892

7LtMs, Ms 41, 1892, par. 6

The Word of God reveals His character. He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed, “Show me thy glory,” the Lord answered, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee!” [Exodus 33:18, 19.] This is His glory. The Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] He is “slow to anger, and of great kindness,” “because He delighteth in mercy.” [Joel 2:13; Micah 7:18.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 14b, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 14b, 1892, par. 3

“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 119, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 119, 1893, par. 17

Jesus, precious Jesus, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Oh, how privileged we are that we may come to Jesus just as we are and cast ourselves upon His love! We have no hope but in Jesus. He alone can reach us with His hand to lift us up out of the depths of discouragement and hopelessness and place our feet upon the Rock. Although the human soul may cling to Jesus with all the desperate sense of his great need, Jesus will cling to the souls bought by His own blood with a firmer grasp than the sinner clings to Him.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 98, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 98, 1893, par. 24

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] My poor discouraged, doubting brother, I address you as one of the world for whom God gave His Son. He loves you. He will save you if you will receive His gift, even His only begotten Son. God revealed His glory, which was His character to Moses, in answer to his earnest prayer. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty,” who continue in sin and defy God by continual transgression of His law. Exodus 34:6-7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 84, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 84, 1894, par. 1

The third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great Center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel’s message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had the first place. The glory of God that was revealed to Moses in regard to the divine character has not been made prominent. The Lord said to Moses, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 33:19; 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 45, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 45, 1894, par. 9

Through false philosophy Satan has a widespread influence over many minds that are loyal to God’s commandments in sentiment but not in practice. What is the character of God?—“Merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] Here we have the character of the Lord Jesus plainly set forth, and the principles upon which He acts as Lawgiver.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 18, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 18, 1895, par. 19

The Lord has declared that He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. When He revealed His character to Moses, He “passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] “His eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.” [Psalm 11:4.] “The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” [1 Samuel 2:3.] “I the Lord search the hearts, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” [Jeremiah 17:10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 3, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 3, 1895, par. 1

Christ revealed His character to Moses, and made all His goodness pass before him. Moses prayed, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” And the Lord answered saying, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. ... And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children (because they follow the example given them by their fathers, and indulge in iniquity to their own destruction) unto the third and to the fourth generation.” [Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7.]

Help In Daily Living

In the Mount With God

HDL 55.1

“Come up to Me into the mount,” God bids us. To Moses, before he could be God’s instrument in delivering Israel, was appointed the forty years of communion with Him in the mountain solitudes. Before bearing God’s message to Pharaoh, he spoke with the angel in the burning bush. Before receiving God’s law as the representative of His people, he was called into the mount, and beheld His glory. Before executing justice on the idolaters, he was hidden in the cleft of the rock, and the Lord said, “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee,” “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth; ... and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6, 7, A.R.V. Before he laid down, with his life, his burden for Israel, God called him to the top of Pisgah and spread out before him the glory of the Promised Land.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 5, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 5, 1897, par. 25

When you have a knowledge of God’s will, you will follow Christ in all things, and He will hide you in a cleft of the rock, and cover you with His hand, that you may lose sight of self, and behold His glory. Moses said to the Lord, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” [Exodus 33:18.] “And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] This is a representation of the passing by of God. It is a true description of the after-influence of all His working in the path where He goes.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 25, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 25, 1897, par. 17

“And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” [Exodus 23:25.] Here we see that the Lord in His promises ever binds up bodily health and happiness with the spiritual good He would bestow upon Israel, upon condition of obedience to His law. “And the Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 40, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 40, 1897, par. 26

Each one has a very important question to answer: Are you on the side of Satan, and a transgressor of God’s law, or are you loyal to that God who declared Himself to Moses to be, “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.] Justice is as much an expression of love as mercy. God’s character was here displayed as His glory. God has delivered all judgment into the hands of His Son, and as a righteous judge He must pass sentence on every work, whether it be good or bad.

12LtMs, Ms 40, 1897, par. 43

You have refused and rejected until mercy has exhausted her last resource. What more could I have done to my vineyard than I have done? I left no means untried to see if I could not lead you to repentance and to God, that you might live. But the arm strong to support, to shield, and to save will [be] found strong to execute the commands of a long suffering God, who keeps mercy for thousands, “forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children to the third and to the fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 33, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 33, 1898, par. 21

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 34, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 34, 1899, par. 38

By a faithful performance of duty they might have shown honor to God, and have declared, Them that honor me, I will honor. Their obligations were proportionate to their privileges and the light given them by Christ, their invisible leader. Their faithful obedience to the law would have exalted God and put an indelible stamp on their purity and holiness, revealing God to be, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 46, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 46, 1900, par. 5

All the gifts of God are to be exercised to produce as well as to consume. In no case can this work become a self-centered work, or exclusive of his fellow workmen. The character of God whose likeness we are all to receive, was revealed to Moses on the mount. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 28, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 28, 1900, par. 28

The Lord passed by before Moses, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 42, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 42, 1900, par. 10

The Lord passed by before Moses, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Lift Him Up

His Crowning Work, August 6

LHU 232.1

The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. Exodus 34:6, 7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Ms 125, 1901

16LtMs, Ms 125, 1901, par. 52

Now the glory of the Lord is revealed: “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 361, 1907

22LtMs, Lt 361, 1907, par. 5

My brother, be of good courage in the Lord. We see so much need of the grace of Christ, and of that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. We need to learn our lessons of Jesus Christ, and to labor both for the health of the body and the saving of the soul. Our mission is the same as that of our Master, of whom it is written, “He went about doing good and healing all that were sick.” [See Acts 10:38.] In every place we are to bear a decided testimony for the truth for this time, representing to the world the character of God as it was revealed to Moses. In the prayer of Moses, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord answered, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7.] This is the fruit that God desires of His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” [Psalm 19:7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)

Lt 50, 1909

24LtMs, Lt 50, 1909, par. 2

Moses prayed to God, saying, “Show me Thy glory.” And the Lord said to him, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee. ... And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” [Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7.]

The Three Angels’ Messages

“The wine of the wrath of God”

3AM 96.3

Judgment delayed but certain—God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.—The Great Controversy, 627 (1888, 1911)

Manuscript Releases, vol. 19 [Nos. 1360-1419]

MR No. 1406—Counsel on the Importance of Making Every Aspect of the Sabbath School, Including Enactments, Count for Eternity

19MR 302.3

Repeat to them the precious assurance which God Himself has given to them: I am “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6, 7). What a precious declaration is this! What can be too hard for Him, what sin too great for Him to pardon? He is gracious, not working according to our merit, but in His boundless goodness healing our backslidings, forgiving our iniquities, and loving us freely while we were yet sinners.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 61—Saul Rejected

PP 628.1

The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked, emboldens men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7. While He does not delight in vengeance, He will execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law. He is forced to do this, to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter depravity and ruin. In order to save some He must cut off those who have become hardened in sin. “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. And the very fact of His reluctance to execute justice testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor.

Christian Education

Chapter 8—The Teacher of Truth the Only Safe Educator

CE 75.1

Christ declares the mission he had in coming to the earth. He says in his last public prayer, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” [John 17:25, 26.] When Moses asked the Lord to show him his glory, the Lord said, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” [Exodus 33:19.] “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.... And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” [Exodus 34:6-8.] When we are able to comprehend the character of God as did Moses, we too shall make haste to bow in adoration and praise. Jesus contemplated nothing less than “that the love wherewith Thou hast love me” [John 17:26.] should be in the hearts of his children, that they might impart the knowledge of God to others.

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students

A True Representation

CT 30.1

When Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory, the Lord said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.... And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” Exodus 33:19; 34:6-8. When we are able to comprehend the character of God, as did Moses, we, too, shall make haste to bow in adoration and praise.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Ms 32, 1903

18LtMs, Ms 32, 1903, par. 15

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” [Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6-8.]

Jesus, Name Above All Names

Glorified Head, April 22

JNN 122.2

Christ declares the mission He had in coming to the earth. He says in His last public prayer, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:25, 26). When Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory, the Lord said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee” (Exodus 33:19). “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.... And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped” (Exodus 34:6-8). When we are able to comprehend the character of God as did Moses, we too shall make haste to bow in adoration and praise. Jesus contemplated nothing less than “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me” (John 17:26) should be in the hearts of His children, that they might impart the knowledge of God to others.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 85, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 85, 1894, par. 17

“And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped, and said, if now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiff necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. And he said, behold I make a covenant: before all thy people will I do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing which I will do with thee.” [Exodus 33:20-23; 34:6-10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 21, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 21, 1897, par. 2

What was God’s answer to Moses? “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” [Verse 19.] “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and unto the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

12LtMs, Lt 21, 1897, par. 4

“Thou shalt worship no other God; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” [Verse 14.] The Lord God of Israel is a wonder-working God; and He is jealous for His own glory. How then, we inquire, does He regard the inhabitants of this world, who live in His house, and are provided with food and clothing from His liberal treasury, but who never so much as say, Thank you, to Him. They are not mindful of His goodness. They are like the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, who were destroyed by a flood because they constantly worked in opposition to their Creator. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. ... And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them, and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” [Genesis 6:5, 6, 13.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 161, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 161, 1897, par. 2

What was God’s answer to Moses? “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” [Verse 19.] “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:6, 7.]

12LtMs, Ms 161, 1897, par. 4

“Thou shalt worship no other God; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14. The Lord God of Israel is jealous for His honor. How then, I inquire, does He regard the inhabitants of this world, who live in His house, and from His liberal treasury are provided by Him with food and clothing, but who never so much as say, “Thank you” to Him? They are unmindful of His goodness. They are like the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, who were destroyed by a flood because they continually worked in opposition to their Creator.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Lt 1, 1902

17LtMs, Lt 1, 1902, par. 16

Thousands of years before, Christ had shown to Moses the character of the Father, passing before him and proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” “Thou shalt worship no other God; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” [Exodus 34:6, 7, 14.]

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 43—The Death of Moses

PP 469.2

The infinite love of God has been manifested in the gift of His only-begotten Son to redeem a lost race. Christ came to the earth to reveal to men the character of His Father, and His life was filled with deeds of divine tenderness and compassion. And yet Christ Himself declares, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” Matthew 5:18. The same voice that with patient, loving entreaty invites the sinner to come to Him and find pardon and peace, will in the judgment bid the rejecters of His mercy, “Depart from Me, ye cursed.” Matthew 25:41. In all the Bible, God is represented not only as a tender father but as a righteous judge. Though He delights in showing mercy, and “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,” yet He “will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:7.

With God at Dawn

God’s Love Will Not Clear the Guilty, February 11

WGD 44.1

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. Exodus 34:7.

The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Ms 5, 1851

I will now write you1

The last paragraph of the letter identifies “you” as “Bro. Rhodes.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 52, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 52, 1896, par. 66

In (Deuteronomy 7:6) it is recorded that the Lord did hear and did fulfill His covenant with Moses in regard to Israel. And yet when the Lord had made such abundant promises to him, he still desired larger things, and ventures to make a marvelous request. “And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” [Exodus 33:18.] Was this presumption? Was he asking too large things of God? He held the Lord with a firm hand of faith, and would not cease his importunings. The Lord does not turn from him or rebuke him, but still favors his request. “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee ..., for it is a terrible thing which I will do with thee.” [Exodus 33:19; 34:10.]

Selected Messages Book 2

Chapter 13—Should Christians Be Members of Secret Societies?

2SM 121.2

The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), refers not only to the marriage of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from idolaters. They were not to intermarry with the heathen nor form any confederacy with them: “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:12-14).

2SM 123.4

The work of our personal salvation also depends upon our cooperation with the divine agencies. God has imparted to us moral powers and religious susceptibilities. He has given His Son as a propitiation for our sins, that we might be reconciled to God. Jesus lived a life of self-denial and sacrifice, that we might follow His example. He has given the Holy Spirit to be in Christ’s stead in every place where help is needed. He employs the heavenly intelligences to bring divine power to combine with our human efforts. But we must accept the gift of God, we must repent, and believe in Christ. We must watch, we must pray, we must obey the requirements of God. We must practice self-denial and self-sacrifice for Christ’s sake. We must grow up into Christ by constant connection with Him. Whatever turns the mind away from God to trust in man, or conform to a human standard, will prevent us from cooperating with God in the work of our own salvation. This is why the Lord forbade His people to form any alliance with the heathen, “lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee” (Exodus 34:12). He said, “They will turn away thy son from following me” (Deuteronomy 7:4). And the same principle applies to the association of Christians with the ungodly.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 53, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 53, 1894, par. 2

The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” [Verse 14], refers not only to the marriage of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from idolaters. They were not to intermarry with the heathen nor to form any confederacy with them: “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be a snare in the midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other God: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” [Exodus 34:12-14.]

9LtMs, Ms 53, 1894, par. 8

This is why the Lord forbade His people to form any alliance with the heathen, “lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.” He said, “They will turn away thy son from following me.” [Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:4.] And the same principle applies to the association of Christians with the ungodly.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 52—The Annual Feasts

PP 537.2

The people were surrounded by fierce, warlike tribes, that were eager to seize upon their lands; yet three times every year all the able-bodied men and all the people who could make the journey were directed to leave their homes and repair to the place of assembly, near the center of the land. What was to hinder their enemies from sweeping down upon those unprotected households, to lay them waste with fire and sword? What was to prevent an invasion of the land, that would bring Israel into captivity to some foreign foe? God had promised to be the protector of His people. “The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7 [A.R.V.]. While the Israelites went up to worship, divine power would place a restraint upon their enemies. God’s promise was, “I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year.” Exodus 34:24.

From Eternity Past

Chapter 52—Annual Feasts of Rejoicing

EP 386.2

God had promised to be the protector of His people. “I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year.” Exodus 34:24.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Lt 218, 1901

16LtMs, Lt 218, 1901, par. 7

The Lord says, “Enlarge your borders.” [Exodus 34:24.] The power of the gospel is expansive. Men are to be devoted soul-savers and may have something to show for their labors. If the workers fail to produce fruit, something may be wrong with the tree. The cost of working the vineyard must be made as little as possible, because there is a large territory to be worked. As men are employed in different places they should always be looked after to see what is the result of their labor. If the tree bears no fruit it may be because it needs to be transplanted. If after proper labor it still has no fruit to bear, let it be removed; let the laborer be dismissed as an unprofitable servant in the work of soul-saving, and encouraged to go into some business, by which he can earn means to act his part in sustaining laborers that can work successfully—persons with tact and wisdom, who in the fear of God will win souls to Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 12b, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 12b, 1896, par. 29

Where did Moses receive his education that he might educate the children of Israel? He was taken up in the mount to receive his education direct from God. There can be no higher education than this; none so pure, so precious, or so valuable for all mankind. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words; for after the tenor of these words have I made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; and he did neither eat bread nor drink water. And He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” [Exodus 34:27, 28.] This instruction was considered so essential that the Lord called Moses into the mount and talked with him face to face, as a man speaketh with his friend.

11LtMs, Ms 12b, 1896, par. 30

“And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with them. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” [Verses 29, 30.] The glory of the Lord was so revealed through the human agent, his face shone with such excellent glory and heavenly brilliancy, that Aaron and the rulers were afraid to come nigh him. “And Moses called unto them: and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him, and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh; and he gave them in commandment all the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.” [Verses 31-33.]

Living by Principle

The Power of Influence

PH048 11.1

Exodus 34:29: And it came to pass when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Ms 36, 1885

4LtMs, Ms 36, 1885, par. 20

When Moses returned to the people, they could not look upon his countenance;, for he had been talking with God, and his face reflected the glory of God which had been revealed to him. “The skin of his face shone.” [Exodus 34:29, 30.] When talking with the people, he was obliged to cover his face with a veil.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 11, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 11, 1896, par. 3

When Moses came down from the mount where he had been given a sight of the glory of God, his face was so lighted up that Aaron and all the children of Israel “were afraid to come nigh him.” “And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him, and Moses talked with them.” “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail upon his face.” [Exodus 34:30, 31, 33.]

To the Little Remnant Scattered Abroad

April 6, 1846

Broadside1 April 6, 1846, par. 2

While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them—when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were travelling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses did when he came down from Mount Sinai, (Exodus 34:30-34).

The Day-Star

January 24, 1846

DS January 24, 1846, par. 1

As God has shown me in holy vision the travels of the Advent people to the Holy City, and the rich reward to be given those who wait the return of their Lord from the wedding, it may be my duty to give you a short sketch of what God has revealed to me. The dear saints have got many trials to pass through. But our light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I have tried to bring back a good report, & a few grapes from the heavenly Canaan, for which many would stone me, as the congregation bade stone Caleb and Joshua for their report, (Numbers 14:10.) But I declare to you, my brother in the Lord, it is a goodly land, and we are well able to go up and possess it. While praying at the family*The original publication had the spelling “famly.” altar the Holy Ghost fell on me and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, Look again, and look a little higher. At this, I raised my eyes and see a strait and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out which left their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again & go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000, in number, know and understand the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder & an earthquake. When God spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses did when he came down from Mount Sinai, (Exodus 34:30-34.) By this time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another’s feet, and salute the holy brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshipped at our feet. Soon our eyes were drawn to the East, for a small black cloud had appeared about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the Sign of the Son of Man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song. And on it sat the Son of Man, on his head were crowns, his hair was white and curly and lay on his shoulders. His feet had the appearance of fire, in his right hand was a sharp sickle, in his left a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched his children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless? Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke, Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand, my grace is sufficient for you. At this, our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sung again while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as he descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints then raised his eyes and hands to heaven & cried out, Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise. Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. We all entered the cloud together, and were 7 days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought along the crowns and with his own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared hung [heavy] with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the City. Jesus raised his mighty glorious arm, laid hold of the gate and swung it back on its golden hinges, and said to us, You have washed your robes in my blood, stood stiffly for my truth, enter in. We all marched in and felt we had a perfect right in the City. Here we see [saw] the tree of life, & the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure transparent gold. At first I thought I see [saw] two trees. I looked again and see [saw] they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood. And the fruit was glorious, which looked like gold mixed with silver. We all went under the tree, and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Bro. Fitch, and Stockman, who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us, that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough, and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven’s arches ring. And as we were gazing at the glories of the place, our eyes were attracted upwards to something that had the appearance of silver. I asked Jesus to let me see what was within there. In a moment we were winging our way upward and entering in. Here we saw good old father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them. And I saw a veil with a heavy fringe of silver, and gold as a border on the bottom. It was very beautiful. I asked Jesus what was within the veil. He raised it with his own right arm, and bade me take heed. I saw there a glorious ark, overlaid with pure gold, and it had a glorious border resembling Jesus’ crowns. On it were two bright angels; their wings were spread over the ark as they sat on each end, with their faces turned towards each other and looking downward. In the ark, beneath where the angels wings were spread, was a golden pot of Manna of a yellowish cast, and I saw a rod, which Jesus said was Aaron’s†The original publication had the spelling “Aarons.”, I saw it bud, blossom, and bear fruit.—And I saw two long golden rods on which hung silver wires, and on the wires most glorious grapes. One cluster was more than a man here can carry. And I saw Jesus step up and take of the manna, almonds, grapes, and pomegranates, and bear them down to the city, and place them on the supper table. I stepped‡The original publication had the spelling “steped.” up to see how much was taken away, and there was just as much left, and we shouted Hallelujah. Amen. We all descended from this place down into the city, and with Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city with twelve foundations, twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate, and all cried out the city, the great city, it’s coming, it’s coming down from God, out of heaven, and it came and settled on the place where we stood. Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars, set with pearls most glorious to behold, which were to be inhabited by the saints. In them was a golden shelf, I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth, not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God. And I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, well they will never fade. Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold. It was living green, and had a reflection of silver and gold as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts; the lion, the lamb, the leopard and the wolf, altogether in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here, no, no; but light, and all over glorious. The branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out, we will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in this woods. We passed through the wood, for we were on our way to Mount Zion, as we were traveling along we met a company who were also gazing at the glories of the place: I noticed red as a border on their garments. Their crowns were brilliant—their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were? He said they were martyrs that had been slain for him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones, they had a hem of red on their garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the Mount sat a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies, and I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place. The box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate§The original publication had the spelling “pomegranet.” and the fig tree, bowed down with the weight of its timely figs that made the place look all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised his lovely voice and said, only the 144,000 enter this place, and we shouted Hallelujah. Well bless the Lord, Bro. Jacobs, it is an extra meeting for those who have the seal of the living God. This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The glorious things I saw there, I cannot begin to describe. O, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the upper world; but if faithful you soon will know all about it. I saw there the tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000, were engraved in letters of gold.—After we had beheld the glory of the temple, we went out. Then Jesus left us and went to the city. Soon we heard his lovely voice again, saying: Come my people; you have come out of great tribulation, and done my will, suffered for me; come in to supper, for I will gird myself, and serve you. We shouted Hallelujah, glory, and entered into the city, and I saw a table of pure silver, it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. And I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates‖The original publication had the spelling “pomegranets.”, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. We all reclined at the table. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain, and he said, you must go back to the earth again, and relate to others, what I have revealed to you. Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. Sometimes I think I cannot stay here any longer, all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. O, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Ellen G. Harmon.
N.B. This was not written for publication; but for the encouragement of all who may see it, and be encouraged by it.

The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Lt 1, 1845

As God has shown me in holy vision the travels of the Advent people to the Holy City, and the rich reward to be given those who wait the return of their Lord from the wedding,4

Although the important concept of “the return of their Lord from the wedding” is inserted here, it does not actually form part of the December 1844 vision, but is part of Ellen Harmon’s introductory remarks to Enoch Jacobs, written one year later, reflecting theological insights gained after the December vision. The wedding imagery is first introduced about two months after the first vision, in the vision of February 1845. See notes under Lt 1, 1846 (Feb. 15).

The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Ms 1, 1846

1EGWLM 101.6

While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them—when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were travelling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses did when he came down from Mount Sinai, (Ex. 34:30-34.)

Jesus, Name Above All Names

Divine Mediator, February 22

JNN 61.1

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.—Exodus 34:33