Continuing
our study on The Final Warning.
(Excerpt)-
'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
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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
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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 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.
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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. As the defenders of truth
refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison,
some will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this
now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn
from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine
precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when
God's fear and love are removed.
As the
storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's
message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon
their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world
and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same
light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy,
popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the
truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most
bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before
the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient
agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and
insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.
In this
time of persecution the faith of the Lord's servants will be tried. They have
faithfully given the warning, looking to God and to His word alone. God's
Spirit, moving upon their hearts, has constrained them to speak. Stimulated
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with holy
zeal, and with the divine impulse strong upon them, they entered upon the
performance of their duties without coldly calculating the consequences of
speaking to the people the word which the Lord had given them. They have not
consulted their temporal interests, nor sought to preserve their reputation or
their lives. Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them,
some, overwhelmed with consternation, will be ready to exclaim: "Had we
foreseen the consequences of our words, we would have held our peace."
They are hedged in with difficulties. Satan assails them with fierce
temptations. The work which they have undertaken seems far beyond their ability
to accomplish. They are threatened with destruction. The enthusiasm which
animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn back. Then, feeling their utter
helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for strength. They remember that the
words which they have spoken were not theirs, but His who bade them give the
warning. God put the truth into their hearts, and they could not forbear to
proclaim it.
The same
trials have been experienced by men of God in ages past. Wycliffe, Huss,
Luther, Tyndale, Baxter, Wesley, urged that all doctrines be brought to the
test of the Bible and declared that they would renounce everything which it
condemned. Against these men persecution raged with relentless fury; yet they
ceased not to declare the truth. Different periods in the history of the church
have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the
necessities of God's people at that time. Every new truth has made its way
against hatred and opposition; those who were blessed with its light were
tempted and tried. The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an
emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present
the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at
the peril of their souls. Christ's ambassadors
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have
nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results
with God.
As the
opposition rises to a fiercer height, the servants of God are again perplexed;
for it seems to them that they have brought the crisis. But conscience and the
word of God assure them that their course is right; and although the trials
continue, they are strengthened to bear them. The contest grows closer and
sharper, but their faith and courage rise with the emergency. Their testimony
is: "We dare not tamper with God's word, dividing His holy law; calling
one portion essential and another nonessential, to gain the favor of the world.
The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us. Christ has conquered the powers
of earth; and shall we be afraid of a world already conquered?"
Persecution
in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will exist as long
as Satan exists and Christianity has vital power. No man can serve God without
enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness. Evil angels
will assail him, alarmed that his influence is taking the prey from their
hands. Evil men, rebuked by his example, will unite with them in seeking to
separate him from God by alluring temptations. When these do not succeed, then
a compelling power is employed to force the conscience.
But so
long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary above, the restraining
influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. It still controls to
some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the condition of
the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our rulers are
active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading men of the
nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose measures that would
greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced
by holy angels to oppose such propositions with unanswerable arguments. Thus a
few men will
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hold in
check a powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will
be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final
warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men
through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will
stand with the people of God through the time of trouble.
The angel
who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message is to lighten the
whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is
here foretold. The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of
the power of God; the first angel's message was carried to every missionary
station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious
interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the
sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by the mighty movement under
the last warning of the third angel.
The work
will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the "former rain"
was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel,
to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the "latter rain"
will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. "Then shall we
know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the
morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain
unto the earth." Hosea 6:3. "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and
rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately,
and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the
latter rain." Joel 2:23. "In the last days, saith God, I will pour
out of My Spirit upon all flesh." "And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:17,
21.
The great
work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God
than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring
of the
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former
rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain
at its close. Here are "the times of refreshing" to which the apostle
Peter looked forward when he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus." Acts 3:19, 20.
Servants
of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will
hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of
voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be
wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the
believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from
heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth
will be brought to take their stand.
The
message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of
the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown,
and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by
missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were
impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from
yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is
seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which
have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay
them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies
combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's
side.'
(((What a message.
It hardly seems pertinent to our day and age. To imagine such things taking
place. We've talked about one scenario that could bring about a law to worship
on Sunday, and that same scenario is applicable to the above. To have such a
revival close to the end it could all fall into place. Those same people
preaching a return to God will be eager to hear messages, only Satan will
destroy the message of truth and in its place set up one of lies that will
sooth the ears, the conscience of those not desirous of the hard truth. The Holy Spirit will work in those who are
God's just as the evil spirit will work in those who are not God's. To think there will come a time in our future
that here in the United States people will be locked up, imprisoned, and
enslaved for preaching truth seems incomprehensible.
Maybe, just maybe it
will happen this way, but only time will tell it all. Right now in many
countries people are imprisoned for their faith, for preaching their faith to
others. We don’t feel that evil touch here in the United States and it seems
impossible that we ever would, yet right not, others are feeling it.
The Bible tells us
this--
Mat 10:19 But
when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it
shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For
it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you.
Mat 10:21 And
the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child:
and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put
to death.
Mat 10:22 And
ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the
end shall be saved.
Mat 24:7 For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall
be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All
these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then
shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be
hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And
then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one
another.
Luk 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather
division:
Luk 12:52 For
from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two,
and two against three.
Luk 12:53 The
father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the
mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in
law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
Whether or not these
are world-wide prophecies, or locational, we have to comprehend that as they
occur anywhere in our world - they are
coming to pass. If we wait for a particular prophecy to affect us when in truth
it is meant for another and we blind ourselves to that truth, we will miss
things unfolding.
As the golden head
of the statue in the book of Daniel depicted Babylon, it wasn't ever meant to
depict China. When the prophetic chest
and arms of silver indicated Medo-Persia, it wasn't geared toward Australia. As
the brass skirt of the statue was Greece, it could never be fulfilled by the
Americas. Prophecy will come to pass and there is time and place for things to
happen. We cannot be found looking through narrow vision, blinder guided
towards one thing only to miss the unfolding of it elsewhere. Especially today as we live in a world of
instant communication world-wide, we'd be very remiss to keep our blinders
on. Even with the telephone invention
one hundred and forty-two years ago we did not have the access to each other we
do today, on the level we do today. The visual ability to see something
happening half way around the world instantaneously is a much more recent
occurrence and something those living even fifty years ago only thought to be
science FICTION.
Will things come to
pass as mentioned? Yes, they will, but by the Grace of God we will not be found
watching in the wrong direction for things to unfold.
The Final Warning
will go forth for ALL MANKIND make no mistake, it will happen, which side of
that warning do you want to be on? Do you want to be on the side giving the
warning and suffering for it? It's much better to be on that side than the side
unheeding of the message. Perhaps you want to be on the side of those heeding
the message anew, praise God for that as well.
May we only ever
seek TRUTH, and may we only ever HEED that truth when it is revealed to us! All
through the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, now and forever!!!!!!!
