Politicians who uphold biblical morals and values is not a bad thing. Passing legislation, for example, that prevents wanton abortion is good. So long as political leaders don't enforce church attendance or sabbath keeping, I can rest satisfied that things are not crossing the line that separates church and state, even if I don't agree with how they're running the country otherwise.

As long as they don't cross the line -- but we know things aren't going to stay that way.

When the Sunday law is passed will not be driven by politians but by God's people. When His character is perfectly produced in His people, then Christ will come.

That's true enough, Tom. But on the other side, the Sunday laws are a lot more likely to come into play when the powers that be are sympathetic to the cause of those who will likely clamor for their passage. All of these things -- God's people getting ready for Jesus' coming, the opponents of His sabbath passing restrictive laws against it -- will happen synergetically, not independent of one another.

Jesus told us to "watch." Political developments in the U.S. and other places can definitely be seen as indicators of what's coming and how soon, in light of prophecy.

Are we, as a church, any closer to being ready than, say, 100 years ago? It's hard to tell, isn't it? Are we waiting for the church members to get better or worse or both? What about the prophecy regarding the shaking? It would seem that a gulf needs to be created within the world church, a gulf between those who are ready and those who are not, in order for the shaking to take place. And, from what I've read, the shaking take place during the MOB crisis, and is caused, at least in part, by the different and contradicting ways each member thinks the church should handle it (the Sunday Laws).

What do you make of it?

Christ was never closer to coming than in the 1888 era. The Sunday law failed by passing in the Senate by 1 vote in November of 1888 if I'm remembering correctly (and I'm pretty sure I am).

The Spirit of Prophesy identified the shaking/loud cry of the third angels message/ latter rain with the Gospel message which Waggoner and Jones presented. Perhaps a bit more accurate would be to say that she indentified the beginning of the latter raise/loud cry/etc. with that message.

The shaking is caused as people respond to the truth about God's character. We see a foreshadowing of this happening in the life of Christ. There are those who loved what they saw in Christ, and it transformed them. There are others who reacted strongly against what they saw, and there desire was to kill Christ. EGW tells us that when the beginning of the latter rain/loud cry/etc. was presented in Minneapolis in 1888, those who were present would have acted as the Jews did in Christ's time. That is, they would have killed Christ had they had the opportunity. We can't be critical of them, because apart from the grace of God, we would have reacted the same way.

What this shows us is that the shaking is caused not by political or temporal events, but by the revelation of God's character. This is the last message of mercy to be given to the world. The same sun which bakes the clay melts the ice. The same message which shakes some settles others.

As the truth of God's character is being made known, Satan knows his time is short and he is lost if he does nothing. So he does what he can to muddy the waters.

Sister White's prophetic description of the shaking is quite graphic, that's for sure. It seems to take place, in its fullest sense, during the MOB crisis, before probation closes, and it seems to involve those who are undergoing the investigative judgment of the living, the soul anguish they are experiencing may very well be caused by the close scrutiny of their sins.

Afterwards, perhaps when they are numbered and sealed, and their memory of specifics sins has been blotted, they go forth and proclaim the 3AMs with great success and conviction, no doubt under the power of the latter rain. Then probation closes, and while the unsaved are plotting the death decree the 144,000 are being baptized with Jacob's time of trouble. Then Jesus arrives and all the saved, both the resurrected saints and the living, are transported to heaven.

EW 270-272
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. {EW 270.2}

I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified. {EW 270.3}

I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel." {EW 271.2}

I saw measures taken against the company who had the light and power of God…. All seemed to have a deep sense of their unworthiness and manifested entire submission to the will of God; yet, like Jacob, every one, without an exception, was earnestly pleading and wrestling for deliverance. {EW 272.1}

Soon after they had commenced their earnest cry, the angels, in sympathy, desired to go to their deliverance. But a tall, commanding angel suffered them not. He said, "The will of God is not yet fulfilled. They must drink of the cup. They must be baptized with the baptism." {EW 272.2}

Soon I heard the voice of God, which shook the heavens and the earth…. Their captivity was turned…. And the graves were opened, and the saints came forth, clothed with immortality, crying, "Victory over death and the grave"; and together with the living saints they were caught up to meet their Lord in the air, while rich, musical shouts of glory and victory were upon every immortal tongue. {EW 272.3}

What is the testimony of the True Witness? Apparently, it includes, at least in part, a rebuke regarding selfishness and sin, and the rejection of new light.

CW 33
It is a fact that we have the truth, and we must hold with tenacity to the positions that cannot be shaken; but we must not look with suspicion upon any new light which God may send, and say, Really, we cannot see that we need any more light than the old truth which we have hitherto received, and in which we are settled. While we hold to this position, the testimony of the True Witness applies to our cases its rebuke, "And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Those who feel rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, are in a condition of blindness as to their true condition before God, and they know it not.--Review and Herald, August 7, 1894. {CW 33.1}

3T 257, 258
Ministers who are preaching present truth should not neglect the solemn message to the Laodiceans. The testimony of the True Witness is not a smooth message. The Lord does not say to them, You are about right; you have borne chastisement and reproof that you never deserved; you have been unnecessarily discouraged by severity; you are not guilty of the wrongs and sins for which you have been reproved. {3T 257.2}

The True Witness declares that when you suppose you are really in a good condition of prosperity you are in need of everything. It is not enough for ministers to present theoretical subjects; they should also present those subjects which are practical. They need to study the practical lessons that Christ gave His disciples and make a close application of the same to their own souls and to the people. Because Christ bears this rebuking testimony, shall we suppose that He is destitute of tender love to His people? Oh, no! He who died to redeem man from death, loves with a divine love, and those whom He loves He rebukes. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." But many will not receive the message that Heaven in mercy sends them. They cannot endure to be told of their neglect of duty and of their wrongs, their selfishness, their pride and love of the world. {3T 257.3}

I was shown that God has laid upon my husband and me a special work, to bear a plain testimony to His people, and to cry aloud and spare not, to show the people their transgressions and the house of Israel their sins. But there is a class who will not receive the message of reproof, and they raise their hands to shield those whom God would reprove and correct. These are ever found sympathizing with those whom God would make to feel their true poverty. {3T 258.1}