Bible and the French Revolution
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sought to hide from the people the word of truth, and set before them
false witnesses to contradict its testimony. (See Appendix.) When
the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its
testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons
could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those
who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured,
buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee
to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth—then the
faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their
testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest
times there were faithful men who loved God’s word and were jealous
for His honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and
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authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time.
“And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth,
and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must
in this manner be killed.”
Revelation 11:5
. Men cannot with impunity
trample upon the word of God. The meaning of this fearful denuncia-
tion is set forth in the closing chapter of the Revelation: “I testify unto
every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any
man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out
of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which
are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18, 19
.
Such are the warnings which God has given to guard men against
changing in any manner that which He has revealed or commanded.
These solemn denunciations apply to all who by their influence lead
men to regard lightly the law of God. They should cause those to fear
and tremble who flippantly declare it a matter of little consequence
whether we obey God’s law or not. All who exalt their own opinions
above divine revelation, all who would change the plain meaning of
Scripture to suit their own convenience, or for the sake of conforming
to the world, are taking upon themselves a fearful responsibility. The
written word, the law of God, will measure the character of every man
and condemn all whom this unerring test shall declare wanting.
“When they shall have finished [are finishing] their testimony.” The
period when the two witnesses were to prophesy clothed in sackcloth,
ended in 1798. As they were approaching the termination of their work