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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
The movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and
decided. The law is invoked against commandment-keepers. They
are threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some are offered
positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as induce-
ments 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 is brought before thousands who otherwise would
know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated
as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harshness
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and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will
oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alien-
ated; 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the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they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 message, but have not been sanctified through it, abandon
their position, and take refuge under the banner of the powers of
darkness. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they
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 Sabbath-keepers 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.
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