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From Here to Forever
Thus the message will be proclaimed. The Lord will work
through humble instruments who consecrate themselves to His ser-
vice. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His
Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men will be con-
strained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God
gives. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The people will be
stirred. Thousands have never heard words like these. Babylon is the
church, fallen because of her sins, because of her rejection of truth.
As the people go to their teachers with the inquiry “Are these things
so?” the ministers present fables to quiet the awakened conscience.
But since many demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular
ministry will stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute
those who proclaim it.
The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away
the light, to suppress discussion of these vital questions. The church
appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, the papists
and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement
becomes more bold, commandment-keepers will be threatened with
fines and imprisonment. Some will be offered positions of influence
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and other rewards to renounce their faith. But their answer is “Show
us from the Word of God our error.” Those arraigned before courts
make a strong vindication of truth, and some who hear them are led
to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thousands
otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
Obedience to God will be treated as rebellion. The parent will
exercise severity toward the believing child. Children will be dis-
inherited and driven from home. “All that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12
. As the defenders of
truth refuse to honor Sunday, some will be thrust into prison, some
will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. As the Spirit of God
shall be withdrawn from men there will be strange developments.
The heart can be very cruel when God’s fear and love are removed.
The Storm Approaches
As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith
in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through
obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the opposition.