day of
Pentecost, Peter exhorted the people to repentance and baptism in the name
of Christ, for the remission of their sins; and he said: "Ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call." Acts 2:38, 39.

In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the Lord
by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit.
Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfilment in the outpouring
of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full
accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the
closing work of the gospel.

The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to
the very close of time. In all ages the wrath of Satan has been manifested
against the church of Christ; and God has bestowed His grace and Spirit
upon His people to strengthen them to stand against the power of the evil
one. When the apostles of Christ were to bear His gospel to the world and
to record it for all future ages, they were especially endowed with the
enlightenment of the Spirit. But as the church approaches her final
deliverance, Satan is to work with greater power. He comes down "having
great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev.
12:12. He will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2 Thess.
2:9. For six thousand years that master-mind that once was highest among
the angels of God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin.
And all the depths of satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty
developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear
against God's people in the final conflict. And in this time of peril the
followers of Christ are to bear to the world the warning of the Lord's
second advent; and a people are to be prepared to stand before Him at His
coming, "without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14. At this time the
special endowment of divine grace and power is not less needful to the
church than in apostolic days.

Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the
long-continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the
writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted to behold
the working, in different ages, of the great controversy between Christ,
the Prince of life, the Author of our salvation, and Sa