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Time of Trial Before Us
197
He will purify His church even as He purified the temple at the
beginning and close of His ministry on earth. All that He brings
upon the church in test and trial comes that His people may gain
deeper piety and more strength to carry the triumphs of the cross
to all parts of the world. He has a work for all to do. There must
be constant enlargement and progress. The work must extend from
city to city, from country to country, and from nation to nation,
moving continually onward and upward, established, strengthened,
and settled.
* * * * *
“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace
and truth.” But those whom Christ came to save, would have none
of Him. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”
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John 1:14, 11
. Yielding themselves to Satan’s control, they rejected
the Messiah and sought opportunity to put Him to death.
Satan and his angels determined to make Christ’s death as hu-
miliating as possible. They filled the hearts of the Jewish leaders
with feelings of bitter hatred against the Saviour. Controlled by the
enemy, priests and rulers stirred the multitude to take part against
the Son of God. Aside from Pilate’s declaration of His innocence,
no one spoke a word in His favor. And even Pilate, knowing His
innocence, gave Him over to the abuse of men under the control of
Satan.
Similar events will take place in the near future. Men will exalt
and rigidly enforce laws that are in direct opposition to the law
of God. Though zealous in enforcing their own commandments,
they will turn away from a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Exalting
a spurious rest day, they will seek to force men to dishonor the
law of Jehovah, the transcript of His character. Though innocent
of wrongdoing, the servants of God will be given over to suffer
humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who, inspired by Satan,
are filled with envy and religious bigotry.
* * * * *
Religious powers, allied to heaven by profession, and claiming
to have the characteristics of a lamb, will show by their acts that