494
The Great Controversy
works through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to
the enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God.
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Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies
of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society,
causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of
God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced
obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be
accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny
the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty
of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In
legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be
misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their
words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives.
As the Protestant churches reject the clear, Scriptural arguments
in defense of God’s law, they will long to silence those whose faith
they cannot overthrow by the Bible. Though they blind their own
eyes to the fact, they are now adopting a course which will lead to the
persecution of those who conscientiously refuse to do what the rest
of the Christian world are doing, and acknowledge the claims of the
papal sabbath.
The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or
compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority
will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is de-
stroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America,
rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to
the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty
of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be
respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the
prophet’s words: “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went
to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the command-
ments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation
12:17
.
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