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The Great Controversy 1888
to hide from the people the Word of truth, and set before them false
witnesses to contradict its testimony. When the Bible was proscribed
by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted,
and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the
minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred
truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, mar-
tyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and
to dens and caves of the earth,—then the faithful witnesses prophesied
in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony 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.
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“And 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
.] Men cannot with impunity
trample upon the Word of God. The meaning of this fearful denuncia-
tion is set forth in the closing chapter of the 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
.]
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 divine revelation, all who would change the plain meaning of
Scripture to suit their own convenience, or for the sake of conforming
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.
“When they shall have finished [are finishing] their testimony.” The
period when the two witnesses were to prophesy clothed in sackcloth
ended in 1798. As they were approaching the termination of their work