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Hard Days of Persecution, November 20
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12
.
As the time comes for it [the third angel’s message] to be given
with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments,
leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service.
The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than
by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be
constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God
gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of
enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of
spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will
be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred....
The power attending the message will only madden those who op-
pose it.... The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in
this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday
enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked
against commandment keepers....
The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled, “All that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 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be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, ...
there will be strange developments....
No man can serve God without enlisting against himself the opposi-
tion of the hosts of darkness.
What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered perse-
cution for Christ’s sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy
Spirit, union with Christ. It is this fellowship with the Saviour that will
enable God’s people to endure to the end.
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