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To Caesar, December 14
Acts 25
I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged.... For if I
be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not
do die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no
man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Acts 25:10, 11
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Once more, because of hatred born of bigotry and self-righteousness, a
servant of God was driven to turn for protection to the heathen. It was this same
hatred that forced the prophet Elijah to flee for succor to the widow of Sarepta;
and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn from the Jews to proclaim their
message to the Gentiles. And this hatred the people of God living in this age
have yet to meet. Among many of the professing followers of Christ there is the
same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit of oppression, that held
so large a place in the Jewish heart.... In the great crisis through which they are
soon to pass, the faithful servants of God will encounter the same hardness of
heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred.
All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates
of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His
word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be
impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil.
Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud
the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil....
God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming crisis.... Those only
who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand
firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of
religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really fear
and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character
will shine the brightest.... And while the enemies of truth are on every side,
watching the Lord’s servants for evil, God will watch over them for good. He
will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land
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The Acts of the Apostles, 430-432
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