Lent, Easter and other Traditions –
Part 05 of 05
Both Lent and Easter are
of Pagan origin as well described in Part 04 of this series. They have to do
more with a Pagan God and Sun worship then any other reason.
Easter
“Easter” is of
course the English word for the Christian feast of the resurrection of Jesus.
It falls generally near the Jewish feast of “Pesach” or Passover, because
Jesus’ famous “Last Supper” as described in the Gospels was a Passover meal.
Most other
languages record this connection by deriving their name for the Christian feast
from the Jewish: French “Pâques,” Spanish “Pascua,” Turkish “Paskalya.”
English however
sticks with its Germanic roots and goes with “Easter,” referring simply to the
direction of east, or perhaps an ancient deification and celebration of it. The
eighth-century English monk Bede identified this deity as the goddess Oestre
celebrated by pagan Anglo-Saxons at the Spring equinox. This is certainly the
time of year to celebrate a goddess of east-ness, when no matter where you
stand on the Earth, when the sun rises, it does so precisely due east. [Updated
2/13/2013]
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/12/surprising-meanings-of-lent-february-and-ash-wednesday/
A few years ago,
while working for a famous Architect and Builder, I was involved in helping
finish up a Roman Catholic Church building. My participation on that project is
still questionable in my mind. But, I can with assurance tell you this, the
idolatry and the deception is so great,
that many even among SDA believers, there is sympathy towards their traditions
and rituals. One detail, pertaining to our discussion is this article is this:
Instead of reading the Bible for daily mass, something I never cared to attend,
they read a Catholic ecclesiastical book, which I resorted several times to see
its content. It has daily prayers and
other church indoctrinations, with dates and events, which always point to the
next church holiday. For example: from
Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent season) to Easter. From Easter to Christmas, and so on. I believe that those who celebrate or even
have the lightest sympathy towards holidays at all, will yet fall away from
“present truth” and join hands with the apostate.
Why does the
Christian world have any regards for these Holidays?
The answer to
this question is more complex then it appears on the surface. What follows is an attempt to answer it:
THE FALL OF MAN –
“Now
the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat
of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall
not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis
3:1-5 [there are many who are listening to the Serpent’s lies even in our
days!]
“Satan watched every
event in regard to the sacrificial offerings with intense interest. The
devotion and solemnity connected with the shedding of the blood of the victim
caused him great uneasiness. To him, this ceremony was clothed with mystery;
but he was not a dull scholar, and he soon learned that the sacrificial
offerings typified some future atonement for man. He saw that these offerings
signified repentance for sin. This did not agree with his purposes, and he at
once commenced to work upon the heart of Cain, to lead him to rebellion against the sacrificial offering which prefigured a Redeemer
to come.” Confrontation, 22.1
“Adam’s repentance,
evidenced by his sorrow for his transgression and his hope of salvation through
Christ, shown by his works in the sacrifices offered, were a disappointment to
Satan. He hoped forever to gain Adam to unite with him in murmuring against God
and in rebelling against His authority. Cain and Abel were representatives of
the two great classes. Abel, as priest, in solemn faith offered his sacrifice.
Cain was willing to offer the fruit of his ground, but refused to connect with
his offering the blood of beasts.
His heart refused to show his repentance for sin, and his faith in a Saviour,
by offering the blood of beasts. He refused to acknowledge his need of a
Redeemer. This, to his proud heart, was dependence and humiliation.” IBID, 22.2
“But Abel, by faith in a
future Redeemer, offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. His
offering the blood of beasts signified that he was a sinner and had sins to put
away, and that he was penitent and believed in the efficacy of the blood of the
future great offering. Satan is the parent of unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion. He filled Cain with
doubt and with madness against his innocent brother, and against God because
his sacrifice was refused and Abel’s was accepted. And he slew his brother in
his insane madness.” IBID, 23.1
“The sacrificial
offerings were instituted to be a standing pledge to man of God’s pardon
through the great offering to be made, typified by the blood of beasts. Through
this ceremony man signified repentance, obedience, and faith in a Redeemer to
come. That which made Cain’s offering offensive to God was his lack of
submission and obedience to the ordinance of His appointment. He thought that
his own plan, in offering to God merely the fruit of the ground, was nobler,
and not as humiliating as the offering of the blood of beasts, which showed
dependence upon another, thus expressing his own weakness and sinfulness. Cain
slighted the blood of the atonement.” IBID, 23.2
·
THE RISE OF PAGANISM – “The
dwellers on the plain of Shinar disbelieved God’s covenant that He would not
again bring a flood upon the earth. Many of them denied the existence of God
and attributed the Flood to the operation of natural causes. Others believed in
a Supreme Being, and that it was He who had destroyed the antediluvian world;
and their hearts, like that of Cain, rose up in rebellion against Him. One
object before them in the erection of the tower was to secure their own safety
in case of another deluge. By carrying the structure to a much greater height
than was reached by the waters of the Flood, they thought to place themselves
beyond all possibility of danger. And as they would be able to ascend to the
region of the clouds, they hoped to ascertain the cause of the Flood. The whole
undertaking was designed to exalt still further the pride of its projectors and
to turn the minds of future generations away from God and lead them into idolatry.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 119.1
“When the tower had been
partially completed, a portion of it was occupied as a dwelling place for the
builders; other apartments, splendidly furnished and adorned, were devoted to
their idols. The people rejoiced in their success, and praised the gods of
silver and gold, and set themselves against the Ruler of heaven and earth.
Suddenly the work that had been advancing so prosperously was checked. Angels
were sent to bring to naught the purpose of the builders.” IBID, 119.2
“The Babel builders had
indulged the spirit of murmuring against God. Instead of gratefully remembering
His mercy to Adam and His gracious covenant with Noah, they had complained of
His severity in expelling the first pair from Eden and destroying the world by
a flood. But while they murmured against God as arbitrary and severe, they were
accepting the rule of the cruelest of tyrants. Satan was seeking to bring
contempt upon the sacrificial offerings that prefigured the death of Christ;
and as the minds of the people were darkened by idolatry, he led them to
counterfeit these offerings and sacrifice their own children upon the altars of their gods. As men turned
away from God, the divine attributes—justice, purity, and love—were supplanted
by oppression, violence, and brutality.” IBID, 120.3
“The men of Babel had
determined to establish a government that should be independent of God. There
were some among them, however, who feared the Lord, but who had been deceived
by the pretensions of the ungodly and drawn into their schemes. IBID, 120.4
“The
place where they first tarried was Shechem. Under the shade of the oaks of
Moreh, in a wide, grassy valley, with its olive groves and gushing springs,
between Mount Ebal on the one
side and Mount Gerizim on the other, Abraham made his encampment. It was a fair
and goodly country that the patriarch had entered—“a land of brooks of water,
of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat,
and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive,
and honey.” Deuteronomy 8:7, 8. But
to the worshiper of Jehovah, a heavy shadow rested upon wooded hill and
fruitful plain. “The Canaanite was then in the land.” Abraham had reached the
goal of his hopes to find a country occupied by an alien race and overspread
with idolatry. In
the groves were set up the altars of false gods, and human sacrifices were
offered upon the neighboring heights. While he clung to the divine promise, it
was not without distressful forebodings that he pitched his tent. Then “the
Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land.” His
faith was strengthened by this assurance that the divine presence was with him,
that he was not left to the mercy of the wicked. “And there builded he an altar
unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.” Still a wayfarer, he soon removed to a
spot near Bethel, and again erected an altar, and called upon the name of the
Lord.” IBID, 127.2
“At
this time the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as “a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.” Romans 4:11. It was to be observed
by the patriarch and his descendants as a token that they were devoted to the
service of God and thus separated from idolaters, and that God accepted them as
His peculiar treasure. By this rite they were pledged to fulfill, on their
part, the conditions of the covenant made with Abraham. They were not to contract
marriages with the heathen; for by so doing they would lose their reverence for
God and His holy law; they would be tempted to engage in the sinful practices
of other nations, and would be seduced into idolatry.” IBID, 138.1
·
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY -- “After the dispersion from Babel idolatry again became well-nigh
universal, and the Lord finally left the hardened transgressors to follow their
evil ways, while He chose Abraham, of the line of Shem, and made him the keeper
of His law for future generations. Abraham had grown up in the midst of
superstition and heathenism. Even his father’s household, by whom the knowledge
of God had been preserved, were yielding to the seductive influences
surrounding them, and they “served other gods” than Jehovah. But the true faith
was not to become extinct. God has ever preserved a remnant to serve Him. Adam,
Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, in unbroken line, had preserved from age
to age the precious revealings of His will. The son of Terah became the inheritor
of this holy trust. Idolatry invited
him on every side, but in vain. Faithful among the faithless, uncorrupted by
the prevailing apostasy, he steadfastly adhered to the worship of the one true
God. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon
Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18. He communicated His will to Abraham,
and gave him a distinct knowledge of the requirements of His law and of the
salvation that would be accomplished through Christ.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 125.1
“At this time the rite of
circumcision was given to Abraham as “a seal of the righteousness of the faith
which he had yet being uncircumcised.” Romans 4:11. It
was to be observed by the patriarch and his descendants as a token that they
were devoted to the service of God and thus separated from idolaters, and that
God accepted them as His peculiar treasure. By this rite they were pledged to
fulfill, on their part, the conditions of the covenant made with Abraham. They
were not to contract marriages with the heathen; for by so doing they would
lose their reverence for God and His holy law; they would be tempted to engage
in the sinful practices of other nations, and would be seduced into idolatry. IBID, 138.1
“The light esteem in which the
law of God is held, even by religious leaders, has been productive of great
evil. The teaching which has become so widespread, that the divine statutes are
no longer binding upon men, is the same as idolatry in its effect upon the morals
of the people. Those who seek to lessen the claims of God’s holy law are
striking directly at the foundation of the government of families and nations.
Religious parents, failing to walk in His statutes, do not command their
household to keep the way of the Lord. The law of God is not made the rule of life.
The children, as they make homes of their own, feel under no obligation to
teach their children what they themselves have never been taught. And this is
why there are so many godless families; this is why depravity is so deep and
widespread.” IBID, 143.1
“It
was because the Israelites were so disposed to connect themselves with the
heathen and imitate their idolatry that
God had permitted them to go down into Egypt, where the influence of Joseph was
widely felt, and where circumstances were favorable for them to remain a
distinct people. Here also the gross idolatry of
the Egyptians and their cruelty and oppression during the latter part of the
Hebrew sojourn should have inspired in them an abhorrence of idolatry, and should have led them to flee for refuge to the
God of their fathers. This very providence Satan made a means to serve his
purpose, darkening the minds of the Israelites and leading them to imitate the
practices of their heathen masters. On account of the superstitious veneration
in which animals were held by the Egyptians, the Hebrews were not permitted,
during their bondage, to present the sacrificial offerings. Thus their minds
were not directed by this service to the great Sacrifice, and their faith was
weakened. When the time came for Israel’s deliverance, Satan set himself to
resist the purposes of God. It was his determination that that great people,
numbering more than two million souls, should be held in ignorance and
superstition. The people whom God had promised to bless and multiply, to make a
power in the earth, and through whom He was to reveal the knowledge of His
will—the people whom He was to make the keepers of His law—this very people
Satan was seeking to keep in obscurity and bondage, that he might obliterate
from their minds the remembrance of God.” IBID, 333.3
“God would have His people
understand that He alone should be the object of their worship; and when they
should overcome the idolatrous nations around them, they should not preserve
any of the images of their worship, but utterly destroy them. Many of these
heathen deities were very costly, and of beautiful workmanship, which might
tempt those who had witnessed idol worship, so common in Egypt, to even regard
these senseless objects with some degree of reverence. The Lord would have His
people know that it was because of the idolatry of these nations, which had led
them to every degree of wickedness, that He would use the Israelites as His
instruments to punish them and destroy their gods.” STORY OF REDEMPTION, 143.1
·
DESIRE FOR POPULARITY – “Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah
5:20, 21.
“A profession of religion has
become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors,
merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of
society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all
their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various
religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized
worldlings, make a still higher bid forpopularity and patronage. Splendid churches,
embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The
worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is
paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons
must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable
ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church-records, and
fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness.” Great
Controversy, 386.1 (1888)
Commenting on the
present attitude of professed Christians toward the world, a leading secular
journal says: “Insensibly the church has yielded to the spirit of the age, and
adapted its forms of worship to modern wants.” “All things, indeed, that help
to make religion attractive, the church now employs as its instruments.” And a
writer in the New YorkIndependent speaks thus concerning Methodism as it
is: “The line of separation between the godly and the irreligious fades out
into a kind of penumbra, and zealous men on both sides are toiling to
obliterate all difference between their modes of action and enjoyment.” “The popularity of religion tends vastly to increase the number of those who
would secure its benefits without squarely meeting its duties.” IBID, 386.2
Says Howard Crosby: “The
church of God is today courting the world. Its members are trying to bring
itdown to the level of the ungodly. The ball, the theater, nude and lewd art,
social luxuries with all their loose moralities, are making inroads into the
sacred inclosure of the church; and as a satisfaction for all this worldliness,
Christians are making a great deal of Lent and Easter and church ornamentation.
It is the old trick of Satan. The Jewish church struck on that rock; the Romish
church was wrecked on the same; and the Protestant is fast reaching the same
doom.” IBID, 386.3
CATHOLIC DECEPTION – “The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the
Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the
establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ should not
come, “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7.] And furthermore, the apostle warns his
brethren that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7.] Even at that early
date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for
the development of the papacy.” Great
Controversy, 49.1
(1888)
“Little by little, at
first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength
and gained control of the minds of men, the mystery of iniquity carried forward
its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of
heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise
and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the
church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity
entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity
of Christ and his apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers;
and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and
traditions. The nominal conversion
of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great
rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the
church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while
appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the
church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the
faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.” IBID, 49.2
“This compromise between
paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of the “man of sin”
foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic
system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan’s power,—a monument of his
efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his
will.” IBID, 50.1
“The detector of error
having been removed, Satan worked according to his will. Prophecy had declared
that the Papacy was to “think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25. This work it was not slow to attempt. To afford converts
from heathenism a substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote
their nominal acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images and relics
was gradually introduced into the Christian worship. The decree of a general
council finally established this system of popish idolatry. To complete the
sacrilegious work, Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second
commandment, forbidding image worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in
order to preserve the number.” Story of
Redemption, 328.1
“The spirit of
concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven’s
authority. Satan tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set
aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified, and in
its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.” This change
was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true Sabbath had
been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and,
believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of
its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring
about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the
Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ.
Religious services were held on it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation,
the Sabbath being still sacredly observed.” IBID, 328.2
·
UNFAITHFUL SHEPHERDS -- “For the
sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the
blood of the just in the midst of her,” Lamentations 4:13. None of these popular holidays would be
observed by Christians had it not been for laws compelling the people to its
observance in times past.
“ When Christ came to speak the words of life, the
common people heard him gladly; and many, even of the priests and rulers,
believed on him. But the chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the
nation were determined to condemn and repudiate his teachings. Though they were
baffled in all their efforts to find accusations against him, though they could
not but feel the influence of the divine power and wisdom attending his words,
yet they encased themselves in prejudice; they rejected the clearest evidence
of his Messiahship, lest they should be forced to become his disciples. These
opponents of Jesus were men whom the people had been taught from infancy to
reverence, to whose authority they had been accustomed implicitly to bow. “How
is it,” they asked, “that our rulers and learned scribes do not believe on
Jesus? Would not these pious men receive him if he were the Christ?” It was the
influence of such teachers that led the Jewish nation to reject their
Redeemer.” Great Controversy, 595.3 (1888)
“The spirit which
actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested by many who make a high
profession of piety. They refuse
to examine the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the special truths for
this time. They point to their own numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with contempt
upon the advocates of truth as few, poor, and unpopular having a faith that
separates them from the world.” IBID, 595.4
“Christ foresaw that the
undue assumption of authority indulged by the scribes and Pharisees would not
cease with the dispersion of the Jews. He had a prophetic view of the work of
exalting human authority to rule the conscience, which has been so terrible a
curse to the church in all ages. And his fearful denunciations of the scribes
and Pharisees, and his warnings to the people not to follow these blind
leaders, were placed on record as an admonition to future generations.” IBID, 596.1
“The Romish Church
reserves to the clergy the right to interpret the Scriptures. On the ground
that ecclesiastics alone are competent to explain God’s Word, it is withheld
from the common people. Though the Reformation gave the Scriptures to all, yet
the self-same principle which was maintained by Rome prevents multitudes in
Protestant churches from searching the Bible for themselves. They are taught to
accept its teachings as interpreted by the church; and there are thousands who dare
receive nothing, however plainly revealed in Scripture, that is contrary to
their creed, or the established teaching of their church.” IBID, 596.2
“Notwithstanding the
Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit
the keeping of their souls to the clergy. There are today thousands of
professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of faith which
they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They
pass by the Saviour’s teachings almost unnoticed, and place implicit confidence
in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible? How can we trust
our souls to their guidance unless we know from God’s Word that they are
light-bearers? A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of
the world, leads many to follow
in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for
themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error. They
see that the truth for this time is plainly brought to view in the Bible, and
they feel the power of the Holy Spirit attending its proclamation; yet they
allow the opposition of the clergy to turn them from the light. Though reason
and conscience are convinced, these deluded souls dare not think differently
from the minister; and their individual judgment, their eternal interests, are sacrificed
to the unbelief, the pride and prejudice, of another.” IBID, 596.3
“Heretofore those who
presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as
mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control
in the United States, that church and State would unite to persecute those who
keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. It
has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what
it has been, the defender of religious freedom. But as the question of
enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and
disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an
effect which it could not have had before.” IBID, 605.3
“In every generation God
has sent his servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church. But
the people desire smooth things spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished truth
is not acceptable. Many reformers, in entering upon their work, determined to
exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of the church and the nation.
They hoped, by the example of a pure Christian life, to lead the people back to
the doctrines of the Bible. But the Spirit of God came upon them as it came
upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a wicked king and an apostate
people; they could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances of the
Bible,—doctrines which they had been reluctant to present. They were impelled
to zealously declare the truth, and the danger which threatened souls. The
words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of consequences, and the
people were compelled to hear the warning.” IBID, 606.1
“Thus the message of the
third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it 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. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard
words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the
church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the
truth sent to her from Heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with
the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears,
and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with
the mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the
popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their
authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the
sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.” IBID, 606.2
“As the controversy
extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to God’s
down-trodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only
madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts
to shut away the light, lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means
at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital
questions. 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. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and
some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages,
as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is, “Show us
from the Word of God our error,“—the same plea that was made by Luther under
similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong
vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to
keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands
who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.” IBID, 607.1
“Conscientious obedience
to the Word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent
will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or
mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be
alienated; children will be disinherited, and driven from home. The words of
Paul will be literally fulfilled, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” [2 Timothy 3:12.] 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, who hates the
divine precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very
cruel when God’s fear and love are removed.” IBID, 607.2}
“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 ranks of the opposition. By uniting with
the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly
the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the
easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the
truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most
bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought
before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most
efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports
and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.” IBID, 608.1
“In this time of
persecution the faith of the Lord’s servants will be tried. They have
faithfully given the warning, looking to God and to his Word alone. God’s Spirit,
moving upon their hearts, has constrained them to speak. Stimulated with holy
zeal, and with the divine impulse strong upon them, they entered upon the
performance of their duties without coldly calculating the consequences of
speaking to the people the word which the Lord had given them. They have not
consulted their temporal interests, or sought to preserve their reputation or
their lives. Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them, some, overwhelmed with
consternation, will be ready to exclaim, “Had we foreseen the consequences of
our words, we would have held our peace.” They are hedged in with difficulties.
Satan assails them with fierce temptations. The work which they have undertaken
seems far beyond their ability to accomplish. They are threatened with
destruction. The enthusiasm which animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn
back. Then, feeling their utter helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for
strength. They remember that the words which they have spoken were not theirs,
but His who bade them give the warning. God put the truth into their hearts,
and they could not forbear to proclaim it.” IBID, 608.2
·
WORLD DOMINATION
“It is one of the
leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the
universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and
pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope has arrogated the
very titles of Deity. He styles himself “Lord God the Pope,” assumes
infallibility, and demands that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim
urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through
the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.” Great Controversy, 50.3
“But those who fear and
reverence God meet this Heaven-daring assumption as Christ met the
solicitations of the wily foe: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve.” [Luke
4:8.]
God has never given a hint in his Word that he has appointed any man to be the
head of the church. The doctrine of papal supremacy is directly opposed to the
teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no power over Christ’s church
except by usurpation.” IBID, 51.1
“Romanists have
persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy, and willful separation
from the true church. But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They
are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ, and departed from “the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.” [Jude 3.] IBID, 51.2
“This scripture points forward
to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second
angel [Revelation 14:8] of Revelation 14, is to be repeated, with the additional mention
of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that
constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844.
A terrible condition of the religious world is here described. With every
rejection of truth, the minds of the people will become darker, their hearts
more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance
of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of
the precepts of the decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold
it sacred. Christ is set at naught in the contempt placed upon his Word and his
people. As the teachings of Spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the
restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of
religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual
manifestations opens the door to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil
angels will be felt in the churches.” Great
Controversy, 603.2
(1888)
“Of Babylon, at the time
brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared, “Her sins have reached unto
heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” [Revelation 18:5.] She has filled up the measure of her guilt,
and destruction is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in
Babylon; and before the visitation of his judgments, these faithful ones must
be called out, that they “partake not of her sins, and receive not of her
plagues.” Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from Heaven,
lightening the earth with his glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice,
announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is
heard, “Come out of her, my people.” These announcements, uniting with the
third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the
inhabitants of the earth.” IBID, 604.1
“Fearful is the issue to
which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against
the commandments of God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and
poor, free and bond,” [Revelation
13:16.]
shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false
sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it
will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand,
the law of God enjoining the Creator’s rest-day demands obedience, and
threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts.” IBID, 604.2
“With the issue thus
clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a
human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of
allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning
from Heaven is, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his
indignation.” [Revelation
14:9, 10.] IBID, 604.3
“But not one is made to
suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and
conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an
opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the
fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who
reads every heart, and tries every motive, will leave none who desire a
knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The
decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Every one is to have
sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.” IBID, 605.1
“The Sabbath will be the
great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted.
When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of
distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve him
not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of
the State, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance
to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in
obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one
class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark
of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority,
receive the seal of God. [See Appendix, note 13.] IBID, 605.2
No comments:
Post a Comment