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Part 41 (Last Day Events)
So it will be that when the churches of these last days secure the power of the state to enforce their decrees, they will think that they will have no more struggle in the world, but to their surprise and amazement they will find that A TINY AND INSIGNIFICANT COMPANY OF PEOPLE filled with a strange and wonderful power will arise to lay bare the true nature of their scheming. Yet even when these people of God first appear on the scene, the leaders will seriously underestimate the power which is with them, and will think that they can easily nullify their statements with arguments, whose only force will be the power of their own authority. For some this will be enough, but others will demand a plain "thus saith the Lord," which of course these men cannot supply from a Word which condemns in every phase and principle that which they are doing.
Thus it is plain and clear that the first measure used against the people of God after the loud cry has begun will not be persecution, but only argument based upon the authority of men. Certainly this is no great test for the people of God. To be able to meet successfully the arguments of those who oppose the truth is not a painful experience, but rather a stimulating one, even after making due allowance for the fact that there is a measure of sorrow in seeing otherwise intelligent and rational men, take a foolish and soul destroying stand against the God of Heaven.
Despite the efforts of the clergy to suppress the truth, the message rapidly grows in power and influence.
"As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God's downtrodden law, Satan is astir. the power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be INVOKED against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: 'SHOW US FROM THE WORD OF GOD OUR ERROR'--the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths." The Great Controversy,607.
This paragraph reveals that we have come to the time when the battle will be heating up to full intensity and more definite measures will be taken by the churches against the true people of God. Care must be taken in studying this paragraph that we do not draw a wrong conclusion from the statement, "As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be INVOKED against commandment-keepers." This could be understood to mean that the Sunday Law has not yet been passed at this stage until certain factors are considered.
In the first case we have seen before that the passing of the Sunday law sets up the image of the beast and accomplishes the complete spiritual fall of Babylon the Great. The message of the Loud Cry angel announces that Babylon the Great is fallen, and is therefore a message which cannot be sounded until the fact of it is accomplished. As surely as this is so, the Sunday Law has been passed before the Loud Cry begins, and as surely as the loud cry is in progress, so surely has the Sunday law been passed. Therefore the time referred to in the statement under study at this point, the Sunday law has already been passed for some time.
So it will be that when the churches of these last days secure the power of the state to enforce their decrees, they will think that they will have no more struggle in the world, but to their surprise and amazement they will find that A TINY AND INSIGNIFICANT COMPANY OF PEOPLE filled with a strange and wonderful power will arise to lay bare the true nature of their scheming. Yet even when these people of God first appear on the scene, the leaders will seriously underestimate the power which is with them, and will think that they can easily nullify their statements with arguments, whose only force will be the power of their own authority. For some this will be enough, but others will demand a plain "thus saith the Lord," which of course these men cannot supply from a Word which condemns in every phase and principle that which they are doing.
Thus it is plain and clear that the first measure used against the people of God after the loud cry has begun will not be persecution, but only argument based upon the authority of men. Certainly this is no great test for the people of God. To be able to meet successfully the arguments of those who oppose the truth is not a painful experience, but rather a stimulating one, even after making due allowance for the fact that there is a measure of sorrow in seeing otherwise intelligent and rational men, take a foolish and soul destroying stand against the God of Heaven.
Despite the efforts of the clergy to suppress the truth, the message rapidly grows in power and influence.
"As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God's downtrodden law, Satan is astir. the power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be INVOKED against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: 'SHOW US FROM THE WORD OF GOD OUR ERROR'--the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths." The Great Controversy,607.
This paragraph reveals that we have come to the time when the battle will be heating up to full intensity and more definite measures will be taken by the churches against the true people of God. Care must be taken in studying this paragraph that we do not draw a wrong conclusion from the statement, "As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be INVOKED against commandment-keepers." This could be understood to mean that the Sunday Law has not yet been passed at this stage until certain factors are considered.
In the first case we have seen before that the passing of the Sunday law sets up the image of the beast and accomplishes the complete spiritual fall of Babylon the Great. The message of the Loud Cry angel announces that Babylon the Great is fallen, and is therefore a message which cannot be sounded until the fact of it is accomplished. As surely as this is so, the Sunday Law has been passed before the Loud Cry begins, and as surely as the loud cry is in progress, so surely has the Sunday law been passed. Therefore the time referred to in the statement under study at this point, the Sunday law has already been passed for some time.
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Interesting picture! "
