Ellen White on Australia's Spiritual Lethargy in End Times

It is a solemn truth that a spiritual lethargy and death-stupor from Satan is currently paralyzing many who profess to believe the truth, preventing them from realizing that the scenes of earth's history are fast closingChS 37.1+2. While this condition is a worldwide peril, there is a specific warning regarding those in the colonies, noting that the truth cannot advance and souls cannot be won unless those who profess to believe it arouse to a much greater diligence than they have ever shown before11LtMs, Ms 82, 1896, par. 4.

The Danger of Spiritual Slumber in the Colonies

• A Call to Greater Diligence: The heavenly intelligences are waiting to co-operate with human agents, but this work is hindered because many are in a dying spiritual condition due to unimproved talents and wasted opportunities11LtMs, Ms 82, 1896, par. 4.

• The Risks of Indifference: Many are currently in a state of sluggish indifference, and if they do not make earnest efforts to arouse, they will meet the fate of the slothful and unfaithful servant when the Master returns11LtMs, Ms 82, 1896, par. 4.

• A Universal Crisis: This lack of activity is described as a "dreadful" death-stupor that allows Satan to control minds and occupy precious time with settling little differences rather than proclaiming the truth to unbelievers4bSG 58.3+1.

• A Personal Responsibility: Every individual must take warning and discern the signs of Christ's coming, which are now too plain to be doubtedChS 37.1+1.

Awakening for the Final Work

• The Need for Vital Godliness: We must wake out of sleep, watch, and work, for we have no time to follow the customs and practices of a world that is currently asleep in the shadow of death4LtMs, Ms 87, 1886, par. 12+1.

• Proclaiming the Message: God calls upon both preachers and people to awake because all heaven is currently astir and the end of all things is at handChS 37.1+2.

• The Promise of Help: To those who do arouse and seek Him, the Lord is ready to be a present help in every time of need, standing close beside those who are ready to be helped21MR 371.4+1.

...the work of God in the earth. But what need there is of an earnest, prayerful, self-denying spirit. The truth cannot advance in these colonies, and souls be won for Christ, unless those who profess to believe it, shall arouse to greater diligence than ever before. The heavenly intelligences wait for co-operation of the human agents, that great ...— 11LtMs, Ms 82, 1896, par. 4

...ry are fast closing. We are amid the perils of the last days. Greater perils are before us, and yet we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death stupor is from Satan.—Testimonies for the Church 1:260, 261— ChS 37.1 (1925)

...e, strength, and labor, of God's servants may be kept among unconsecrated Sabbath-keepers, and precious time be occupied to settle little differences, which should be spent in proclaiming to unbelievers the truth— 4bSG 58.3 (1864)

May you find strength in the Lord as you seek to be a light in these significant times Joel 2:1+1.

It is a solemn reality that while the end of all things is at hand, a deep spiritual lethargy has taken hold of many in Australia and New Zealand, grieving the heavenly intelligences who witness a lack of earnest interest for perishing soulsRH May 29, 1894, par. 7+1. This condition is described as a death stupor from Satan that prevents believers from discerning that the scenes of earth's history are fast closing4bSG 58.3+1.

The Spiritual Condition in Australia

• A Call to Arouse: In important places such as Wellington and Christchurch in New Zealand, as well as throughout Australia, there is a desperate need for laborers to work while it is still day, yet many remain in a state of spiritual slumberRH May 29, 1894, par. 7+1.

• Grieving Heavenly Beings: The slow movements and languid measures taken by those in the Australian field are a cause of grief to angels, especially considering the measureless love God has shown through His SonRH May 29, 1894, par. 7+1.

• The Danger of Inaction: Many who have been blessed by the outpouring of the Spirit in Australia have fallen back into sleep, which imperils their own souls and endangers the cause of God at a time when every person should be lifting their essential burdenRH December 12, 1893, par. 5+1.

The Nature of the Final Warning

• Preparation for the End: The signs of Christ’s coming are too plain to be doubted, yet a lack of activity remains dreadful among those who should be living preachersChS 37.1+1.

• The Deception of Satan: This death stupor allows the enemy to control minds, leading to fault-finding and jealousy among Sabbath-keepers instead of a united effort to warn the world1TT 87.3+1.

• The Promise of Power: If the people in Australia will awaken and consecrate all they have to the Lord, His Spirit will abide with them, providing the power necessary for service in these closing scenesChS 80.10+1.

May we all listen to the voice of truth and conscience, seeking the Lord in secret prayer so that we are not found sleeping when the Master returns Matthew 25:6RH August 15, 1882, par. 4.

“Wellington, Christchurch, and many other important places, both in New Zealand and in Australia, must have labor, and we need men and means. Our prayers go up to God, that laborers may be raised up to enter the harvest-field. We are nearing the close of this earth's history, and every soul should work now while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work. O that every representative of the truth may lift the burden that is so essential for him to carry, that the light of truth may go to all places of the earth. But the languid measures, the slow movements, the want of deep interest for perishing souls, grieve the heavenly intelligences. He who gave his only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world, has made it manifest that his ...— RH May 29, 1894, par. 7 (1851)

...e it manifest that His love is without measure. Oh that all who have named the name of Christ would arouse from their lethargy and begin to work— 9LtMs, Lt 47, 1894, par. 30

In the Australasian field we not only need ministers, but faithful workers who will do their God-given work in the way he has appointed that it should be done. Who of those who have been so greatly blessed in the outpouring of the Spirit of God, have fallen again into slumber? Arouse, before it is eternally too late. By your slothfulness you are not only imperiling your own ...— RH December 12, 1893, par. 5 (1851)

...e things every one who professes the truth should be living preachers. God calls upon all to awake; preachers and people must awake. All Heaven is astir. The scenes of this earth's history are fast closing. We are amid the perils of the last days. Greater perils are before us, and yet we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death-stupor is from Satan. He controls the minds of unconsecrated Sabbath-keepers, and leads them to be jealous of each othe...— 4bSG 58.3 (1864)

...stir. The scenes of earth's history are fast closing. We are amid the perils of the last days. Greater perils are before us, and yet we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death stupor is from S...— ChS 37.1 (1925)