The Church will not Fall

Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. Matthew 16:18.

Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire
of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects, he has gained
control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that are resisting his
supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete.

As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will
stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God.... Their only hope
is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer.

The trying experiences that came to God’s people in the days of Esther were
not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of
time, has declared, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the
earth will see these words fulfilled.

The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and
destruction will reach its culmination in the time of trouble.

Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme.
The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the
sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This
is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have
been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will
be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their
mouths.

God declares that even a mother may forget her child, “yet will I not forget
thee.” ... God thinks of His children with the tenderest solicitude and keeps a book
of remembrance before Him, that He may never forget the children of His care.
   - Ellen G. White, Maranatha  Chap. 24 page 32