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From Here to Forever
distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands
perish.
And then the great deceiver will persuade men to charge all their
troubles on those whose obedience to God’s commandments is a per-
petual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men offend
God by the violation of Sunday, that this sin has brought calamities
which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly en-
forced. “Those who destroy reverence for Sunday are preventing
restoration of divine favor and prosperity.” Thus the accusation urged
of old against the servant of God will be repeated. “When Ahab saw
Elijah, ... Ahab said unto him, art thou he that troubleth Israel?”
1
[361]
Kings 18:17, 18
.
Miracle-working power will exert its influence against those who
obey God rather than men. The “spirits” will declare that God has
sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error. They will
lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony
of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by
the desecration of Sunday.
Under the rule of Rome, those who suffered for the gospel were
denounced as evildoers in league with Satan. So it will be now. Satan
will cause those who honor God’s law to be accused as men who
bring judgments on the world. Through fear he endeavors to rule
the conscience, moving religious and secular authorities to enforce
human laws in defiance of the law of God.
Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as ene-
mies of law and order, breaking down the moral restraints of society,
causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of
God on the earth. They will be accused of disaffection toward the
government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law
will present from the pulpit the duty of obedience to civil authorities.
In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment-keepers will
be condemned. A false coloring will be given their words; the worst
construction will be put on their motives.
Dignitaries of church and state will unite to persuade or compel
all to honor Sunday. Even in free America rulers and legislators
will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday obser-
vance. Liberty of conscience which has cost so great a sacrifice will
no longer be respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see