The Great
Controversy - Chapter XXXVIII - The Final Warning
“I saw another angel
come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his
glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” “And I heard
another voice from Heaven, saying, Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye
receive not of her plagues.” [Revelation 18:1, 2, 4.]
This scripture points forward to a time when
the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel
[Revelation 14:8] of Revelation 14, is to be repeated, with the additional
mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations
that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of
1844.
A terrible condition
of the religious world is here described. With every rejection of truth, the
minds of the people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they
are entrenched in an infidel hardihood.
In defiance of the warnings which God has
given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the decalogue,
until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at
naught in the contempt placed upon his Word and his people.
As the teachings of
Spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the
carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to
conceal the basest iniquity.
A belief in
spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches. Of
Babylon, at the time brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared, “Her
sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
[Revelation 18:5.] She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction
is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in Babylon; and before
the visitation of his judgments, these faithful ones must be called out, that
they “partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.”
Hence the movement
symbolized by the angel coming down from Heaven, lightening the earth with his
glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon.
In connection with his message the call is heard, “Come out of her, my people.”
These announcements,
uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given
to the inhabitants of the earth. Fearful is the issue to which the world is to
be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of
God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond,” [Revelation 13:16.] shall conform to the customs of the church by the
observance of the false sabbath.
All who refuse
compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared
that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining
the Creator’s rest-day demands obedience, and threatens wrath against all who
transgress its precepts. With the issue thus clearly brought before him,
whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a human enactment, receives the
mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he
chooses to obey instead of God. The warning from Heaven is, “If any man worship
the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” [Revelation 14:9, 10.]
But not one is made
to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind
and conscience, and has been rejected.
There are many who
have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The
obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true
light. He who reads every heart, and tries every motive, will leave none who desire
a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy.
The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have
sufficient light to make his decision intelligently. The Sabbath will be the
great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted.
When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of
distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve him
not.
While the observance
of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the State, contrary to the
fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in
opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law,
is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator.
While one class, by
accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the
beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive
the seal of God.
Heretofore those who
presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as
mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control
in the United States, that church and State would unite to persecute those who
keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd.
It has been confidently declared that this land
could never become other than what it has been, the defender of religious
freedom.
But as the question
of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted
and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce
an effect which it could not have had before.
In every generation
God has sent his servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church.
But the people desire smooth things spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished
truth is not acceptable.
Many reformers, in
entering upon their work, determined to exercise great prudence in attacking
the sins of the church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure
Christian life, to lead the people back to the doctrines of the Bible. But the
Spirit of God came upon them as it came upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the
sins of a wicked king and an apostate people; they could not refrain from
preaching the plain utterances of the Bible,—doctrines which they had been
reluctant to present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth, and
the danger which threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they
uttered, fearless of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the
warning.
Thus the message of
the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with
greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the
minds of those who consecrate themselves to his service. The laborers will be
qualified rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary
institutions.
Men of faith and
prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words
which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful
results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the
inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal
power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be
stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like
these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen
because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to
her from Heaven.
As the people go to
their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the
ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears, and
quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the
mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular
ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is
questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving
multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.
As the controversy
extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to God’s
down-trodden 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.
Conscientious obedience to the Word of God
will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise
harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will
oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alienated; children
will be disinherited, and driven from home. The words of Paul will be literally
fulfilled, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
[2 Timothy 3:12.]
To be continued…
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