Ellen White on Australia's Spiritual Lethargy in the 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)

The spiritual condition of the world is rapidly filling its cup of apostasy, and while Australia has been granted great light, there is a specific warning that a "death stupor" from Satan has taken hold of many there, causing them to respond with listless indifference to the closing scenes of earth's historyChS 37.1+2. While the world is becoming as corrupt as it was in the days of Noah, many in Australia have not discerned the spiritual preparation essential for this time, often allowing worldly enterprises and a commercial spirit to eclipse their sacred responsibilities16LtMs, Ms 14, 1901, par. 42+3.

The Condition of the World vs. Australia

• A World in Rebellion: The inhabitants of the world today have become like those before the flood—bold, blasphemous, and intemperate—transforming the earth into a lazar house of corruption16LtMs, Ms 14, 1901, par. 42+1.

• Australia’s Spiritual Paralysis: In Australia, many who have long expected Christ's return are currently assuming an attitude of listless indifference to the daily events that signal His near approachBTS June 1, 1902, par. 2. This condition is a "spiritual paralysis" that can only be reached by the help of the Great PhysicianHM November 1, 1890, par. 27.

• A Failure to Discern: Despite the plain signs of the times, there is a dreadful lack of activity and earnestness in Australia, as a "death stupor" from the enemy controls minds and leads to jealousy and fault-finding among those who should be warning the worldChS 37.1+1.

The Australian Response in the Last Days

• Neglect of Preparation: Many in the Australian field are not becoming more earnest or perfect in character; instead, their faith is dying because it is not sustained by works, and they are increasingly assimilating to the worldRH July 10, 1879, par. 10.

• The Snare of Speculation: There is a grave danger in Australia that brethren will engage in speculative plans and business transactions that confuse the judgment and lead to spiritual blindness regarding the perils of the last daysSpTB17a 27.2+2.

• Grieving the Heavenly Agencies: The "languid measures" and "slow movements" of those in the Australian field have caused grief to heavenly intelligences, as the work is hindered by a lack of consecrated individual effortAUCR April 15, 1912, par. 17+1.

The Call to Awake and Act

• Individual Responsibility: Every church member in Australia bears the responsibility of acting a part in the closing work, as the Lord will not work a miracle to change natural causes that individuals can controlAUCR April 15, 1912, par. 17+1.

• The Urgency of the Message: The fields in Australia are ripe for the harvest, and there is no time to be lost while the angels are still holding the four winds14LtMs, Lt 2, 1899, par. 32.

• Divine Power Available: If the people will shake off this spiritual lethargy and seek the Lord with the whole heart, the Holy Spirit will be imparted to give them power for service3BC 1152.4+2.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" 1 Thessalonians 5:6. The Master is waiting for His people in Australia to realize their need of help, promising that His presence is revealed as a "present help in every time of need"12LtMs, Lt 153a, 1897, par. 22. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" Matthew 26:41.