按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
608
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restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men； and they shall be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
609
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
610
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
611
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 powe