In the closing work of God in the earth, the standard of His law will be
again exalted. False religion may prevail, iniquity may abound, the
love of many may wax cold, the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of,
and darkness, like the pall of death, may spread over the world; the
whole force of the popular current may be turned against the truth; plot
after plot may be formed to overthrow the people of God; but in the
hour of greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human
instrumentalities to bear a message that will not be silenced. In
the populous cities of the land, and in the places where men have gone
to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High, the voice of stern rebuke will be heard. Boldly will men of God's appointment denounce the union of the church with the world. Earnestly
will they call upon men and women to turn from the observance of a
man-made institution to the observance of the true Sabbath. "Fear
God, and give glory to Him," they will proclaim to every nation; "for
the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. . . . 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 14:7-10.
God
will not break His covenant, nor alter the thing that has gone out of
His lips. His word will stand fast forever as unalterable as His throne.
At the judgment this covenant will be brought forth, plainly written
with the finger of God, and the world will be arraigned before the bar
of Infinite Justice to receive sentence.
Today, as in the days of Elijah, the line of demarcation between God's commandment-keeping people and the worshipers of false gods is clearly drawn. "How long halt ye between two opinions?" Elijah cried; "if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him." 1 Kings 18:21. And the message for today is: "Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen. . . . Come out of her, My people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities." Revelation 18:2, 4, 5.
The
time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The
observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us. The contest will
be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those
who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to
worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than
subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and
death. At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many
a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in
darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are
not clothed with Christ's righteousness, will then appear in the shame
of their own nakedness.
.
Prophets and Kings, E. G. White, pp.186-188.
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