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From Here to Forever
will excite the spirit of hatred and persecution against all who have
received the message.
When God’s presence was withdrawn from the Jewish nation,
priests and people still regarded themselves as the chosen of God.
The ministration in the temple continued; daily the divine blessing
was invoked upon a people guilty of the blood of God’s Son. So
when the irrevocable decision of the sanctuary has been pronounced
and the destiny of the world has been forever fixed, the inhabitants
of the earth will know it not. The forms of religion will be continued
by a people from whom the Spirit of God has been withdrawn;
the prince of evil will inspire them for the accomplishment of his
malignant designs.
As the Sabbath becomes the special point of controversy through-
out Christendom, it will be urged that the few who stand in opposi-
tion to the church and the state ought not to be tolerated, that it is
better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into
confusion and lawlessness. The same argument was brought against
Christ. “It is expedient for us,” said Caiaphas, “that one man should
die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”
John 11:50
.
This argument will appear conclusive; a decree will finally be issued
against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment,
denouncing them and giving the people liberty after a certain time
to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate
Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course. The people
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of God will then be plunged into those scenes of distress described
as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”
Jeremiah 30:5-7
;
Genesis 32:24-30
.
The Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Because of the deception practiced to secure his father’s blessing
intended for Esau. Jacob had fled, alarmed by his brother’s deadly
threats. After remaining many years an exile, he had set out to return
to his native country. On reaching the border he was filled with
terror by the tidings of Esau’s approach, doubtless bent on revenge.
Jacob’s only hope was in the mercy of God; his only defense must
be prayer.
Alone with God, he confessed his sin with deep humiliation. The
crisis in his life had come. In the darkness he continued praying.