foreheads are in their hands with rapid steps we are approaching this period. When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin. Brothers and sisters, this sequence of end time events, these way marks, the marks along the ways of the prophetic end time events are clearly identified in the spirit of prophecy. The great time of trouble is different than the little time of trouble. The great time of trouble is when probation is closed. Testimonies, volume 5, page 212, and at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even at that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book. When this time of trouble comes, notice how she says, when this time of trouble comes, every case is decided, there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon his people. This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May God help his people now, for what can they do in such a fearful conflict without his assistance? There is a distinction between the little time of trouble and the great time of trouble. The great time of trouble begins at the close of human probation. The little time of trouble begins at the Sunday law. The seven last plagues are one of the way marks that are ahead of us. Life Sketches, page 117 and 118. I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. When Jesus is done in the sanctuary is when Michael stands up. We just read a passage, the last passage, the close of human probation, and the plagues begin. Let's begin that one again, Life Sketches 117, 118. I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enrage the wicked against the righteous. They thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed.