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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
But men cannot with impunity trample upon the word of God.
The Lord had declared concerning his two witnesses, “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
.] The meaning of this fearful denunciation
is set forth in the closing chapter of the book of 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
.]
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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 lightly regard 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 the written word, all who would change the plain meaning of
Scripture to suit their own convenience, or for the sake of conformity
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.
Notwithstanding the Lord’s witnesses were clothed in sackcloth,
they continued to prophesy 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 authority to declare his truth during the
whole of this time.
“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast
that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them,
and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall
lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom
and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” [
Revelation 11:7, 8
.]
These events were to take place near the close of the period in
which the witnesses testified in sackcloth. Through the medium
of the papacy, Satan had long controlled the powers that ruled in
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