Last Day Events (Sunday Law)

[John317]

She said there would be some like you, but I figured we'd be closer to the end before I ever got to see one.

Some of the responses on this thread are fulfillment of prophecy. As the Spirit of prophecy says, "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken." We should be surprised at nothing. I believe God is preparing His people to stand totally alone, not depending on family, church leaders or on institutions.

[Kevin H]

Amen John, but not quite alone, but depending on Jesus and studying the Bible on an honest basis.

Through direct attacks and through coming in the back door by fundamentalism Satan is trying to shake us away from Jesus by either not having us take the Bible seriously, or to appear to completely accept the Bible, not actually not accept the Bible but tradition that will fail.

[John317]

Amen John, but not quite alone, but depending on Jesus and studying the Bible on an honest basis.

Through direct attacks and through coming in the back door by fundamentalism Satan is trying to shake us away from Jesus by either not having us take the Bible seriously, or to appear to completely accept the Bible, not actually not accept the Bible but tradition that will fail.

That's it, I agree. We have to know individually what we believe and why we believe it-- not because of what someone else believes or says but from personal study of the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy, i.e., Ellen White's writings. As she said, the truth has nothing to fear from the closest examination, and if our beliefs are not true, it's time we know it.

[skyblue888]

Amen!

[skyblue888]

No question of its great significance

There can be no question then in the light of the foregoing evidences from the prophetic Word that this event is a very significant and important one indeed. It marks a very definite point of development in the great final conflict and we must be thoroughly acquainted with all the facts that concern it. These facts will take on even greater significance as we proceed with the study and witness the bearing that they will have on the crisis.

For now it is time to turn to a study of what leads up to and actually brings the image into existence. This will be the subject of the next posts.

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 4

THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

The setting up of the image of the beast is not something that happens without cause. Rather it is the result of the outworking of certain steps and certain decisions that have been made along the way, and is the logical and inescapable culmination of those steps. It is something to which the church and the state, having set their feet in certain paths, must of necessity come to in the end.

For us who are called upon by God to be faithful Bible students it is not enough to know that the image is to be set up and to know what is involved in the setting up of that image. We must know how it comes to be set up. We must understand as far as it is revealed and as far as it is possible for the human mind aided by the Spirit of God to understand the outworking of the very principles that lead up to this situation. It is an important part of the study of prophecy.

What was it then that led to the setting up of the beast in the first case and to the setting up of the image of that beast in the second case? Inasmuch as the setting up of the beast is the result of the outworking of certain forces and the setting up of the image is the same result except at a later date, then it follows that the same forces that resulted in the setting up of the beast must have been again at work to set up the repetition of that beast in the image of it. Therefore to understand that which is yet to be we must study carefully that which has already been and can be clearly seen.

That then is the question, and the answer is given to us in language clear and plain. "It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy, the beast. Said Paul, 'There shall come a falling away... and that man of sin shall be revealed.' 2 Thess.2:3. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image of the beast." G.C.443,444.

Now, why is it that the setting up of the beast and then of the image is the natural and inevitable consequence of the apostasy?

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 5

THE LOSS OF THE POWER OF GOD

The word apostasy or falling away means to fall away, or to depart from the truth of God. This is only to fall away from the power of God and thus to leave the church powerless. To be powerless means to be without any ability to accomplish anything at all. This then means that the church has lost all right of existence when it has come to this place where she has nothing at all to attract the people, and she finds herself drifting more and more into insignificance. Therefore, the church must seek another power to attract the people other than the power of God. But what other power was there? There was only one other power and that was the power of force. If the people would not of themselves come to the churches and support them then they must be forced to come.

But the power of force rested not in the hands of the church. The state was the custodian of that. Therefore it followed that by some means the church must win the support of the state until they could finally control it and use it to force the people to do exactly what they wanted them to do.

There could be no other possible outcome than this. It was the inevitable step by step development of it all. And it was not a sudden thing. No apostasy or the result of it is ever sudden. It is a process. And inasmuch as that power is firmly held in the possession of the secular authorities who have been put in the world to rule those who cannot rule themselves, it follows that the church must gain the control of the State in order to control the power of the State. And when that is accomplished, then the beast is formed.

to be continued

[BobRyan]

Exactly my point. Most can't even see it. They've been blinded by a negative addiction.

Just out of curiousity --

do you see the fall of Lucifer (Rev 12), the fall of Adam (Gen 3, Romans 5), the fall of the Jewish Nation (Matt 28, 1Thess 2, Romans 9) the apostasy of the Christian church in the dark ages (Daniel 7, Rev 11, 12, 13, 2Thess 2), the prediction of a world wide flood (Gen 6) -- as "negative subjects" that should be avoided?

Good bible vs bad Bible??

When Noah was preaching and warning his people about the upcoming "negative event" was he being too focused on the negative.

Was God being too negative when he had Ezekiel lay on one side for 40 days warning of the 40 year captivity of Judah -- then on the other side for 390 days warning about the 390 year captivity of Israel??

So now we find ourselves coming up to yet another "series of negative events" -- should we approach this more along the lines of party streamers and icecream?

Wouldn't it have been "great" if the bible had used a symbolic number like "The 144 billion" in Rev 7 to describe the result of the shaking and the little group that would survive the close of probation?

Knowing what we know now - is there some "happy thoughts flier" that you would like to have printed up and handed out to people as they started lining up for tickets on the Titanic?

things to think about.

in Christ,

Bob

[BobRyan]

Yes. Every one of them has a different theory. Including you. Your theories are fine. I have no fault with them. I am just not interested in the topic and fear it is dangerous.

In Matt 24 Jesus said "so you too - when you see these signs know that it is near"

In 1Thess 5:1-1 Paul says that the churh is to be fully informed as to "times and epochs" and that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night -- and that we are not to "sleep as others do" but are to be awake and sober.

Hence Ellen White's comments "soon - none know how soon the judgment will pass from the cases of the dead to the living" -

Speaking of word searches "sound the alarm" and "sound the note of alarm" come to mind as well as "the end is near".

The "unique" and distinct message for the Adventist church is the 3 angels messages -- which are very difficult to teach without a focus on end time events (as it turns out).

in Christ,

Bob

[John317]

sky, how can we prepare today to be ready for the test of the Sunday law when that time comes? Won't there be a lot of people unprepared who thought they were strong and ready for it? How can we avoid being among those?

[BobRyan]

. Don't be fooled by the end time theorists. You must know God NOW.

err...ummm -- because "end times theorists always say we should NOT know God NOW?" -- did you have some quote of such a thing from them?

When Noah was preaching and building the ark for 120 years -- was he really saying "don't worry about knowing God now - everyone has over a 100 years before they need to know God"?

Was that the message of the Millerites in the "Great Awakening"? Was it "no need to worry about knowing God now! Oh no - in fact you can wait until 1843 to get serious"? Was that what everyone said was going on? Was that the effect of the message? OR was the effect "the great Awakening"??

I am just trying to figure out what actual facts lead you to conclude that telling people about upcoming events was another way to say "don't worry about knowing God now -- plenty of time, no need to be anxous -- go back to sleep, nothing here to get excited about".

Can't figure out where that message is getting associated with the study of end times in your thinking.

in Christ,

Bob

[BobRyan]

sky, how can we prepare today to be ready for the test of the Sunday law when that time comes? Won't there be a lot of people unprepared who thought they were strong and ready for it? How can we avoid being among those?

Maranatha 200 - 201 are pretty interesting when it comes to the sequence of the end.

Ellen White starts with "just as soon as the people of God are sealed... the shaking will begin" on Page 200.

Then she describes the shaking as the setting up of the mark of the beast etc.

This means that IF the people of God are "waiting for the mark of the beast" to tell them to "get serious" they will be too late.

It also tells us that the shaking is in part a result of the 3 angels message become 'white hot'. So imagine if you will that you were going to be charged $5000 a week for every Sabbath that you keep from now on (a simple non-violent penalty example - just for illustration) -- how many weeks of "faithfulness"?

How many not-so-earnest members would start running out the doors in a month or so?

And in that case there is no aspect of peer pressure or threat to life or liberty -- just a financial difficulty to overcome. A financial hardship that then escalates --

What "preparation" would people need today that would help them stand up to that very simple example of pressure?

in Christ,

Bob

[Woody]

Graham Maxwell says:

"Obedience from fear springs the heart of a rebel".

[John317]

TODAY. NOW. THIS VERY SECOND. For you could die any second.

This idea that we have ANY time ... is of the Devil. You are falling into a trap. Satan wants you to 'think' that you have time 'closer to the end' .

Get to know Jesus NOW folks.

You actually raise a good point here, Redwood. It's dangerous to think of a far-off, future time when we must prepare to meet Christ instead of taking full advantage of the present. But at the same time, there is equal danger in either not studying the last-day events or in having a false confidence that one is already fully prepared for the events that must occur before Christ's return. All three of those mind-sets are dangerous. There's a good reason that God has given us this information. Study the book, Last Day Events. It's not to frighten us but it should let us know that the only way to be ready to go through it is by full & continuous surrender to Christ now.

[John317]

Graham Maxwell says:

"Obedience from fear springs the heart of a rebel".

Knowing Dr. Maxwell as well as I do-- the good man also teaches that sometimes God uses fear to get our attention and persuade us to listen, just as wise parents sometimes use fear to help their children avoid serious harm. Would it be wise of children to ignore their parent's warnings simply because they refuse to be motivated by fear?

God wants us to be ready because we love Him and want to spend eternity with Him, but when He sends us warnings about what we will have to face in the future, we would be foolish to ignore those messages, wouldn't we?

[skyblue888]

sky, how can we prepare today to be ready for the test of the Sunday law when that time comes? Won't there be a lot of people unprepared who thought they were strong and ready for it? How can we avoid being among those?

"The storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it? Are we one with Christ as He is one with the Father." E.G. White, R&H, Vol.4, p.242.

"With humanity and divinity combined you can accomplish a work as unduring as eternity." Faith and Works, p.27.

"The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ." Desire of Ages, p.466.

So this is the only way we can be prepared to meet the approaching crisis, the only way we can be settled into the truth both intellectually and spiritually so that we cannot be moved. Right?

Now, How do we become one with Christ as He is one with the Father?

sky

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

sky, how can we prepare today to be ready for the test of the Sunday law when that time comes? Won't there be a lot of people unprepared who thought they were strong and ready for it? How can we avoid being among those?

Ellen White starts with "just as soon as the people of God are sealed... the shaking will begin" on Page 200.

Then she describes the shaking as the setting up of the mark of the beast etc.

This means that IF the people of God are "waiting for the mark of the beast" to tell them to "get serious" they will be too late.

Really important points here and on your whole post. Thanks.

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 6

The rise of the beast

It is important for our future study to spend a little space in the study of the development of the original Sunday law which is, in other words, the study of the development of the control of the church over the people by the force of the power of the State.

The time had come when the churches so lacked the power of God that they could no longer attract the people at all and on the Sunday, and special feast days, the priests found that the people would rather work than come to church. This would never do, for not only was it a serious blow to their pride and prestige, but a decided threat to their livelihood. Having in the meantime gained great favour and power with the Emperor they went to him and secured the law that forbade all work on the first day of the week.

Neander in his history of the Christian Religion and Church, vol.2. section 3, part 2, div.3, par.4, records the fact in these words, "By a law of the year 386, these older changes effected by the Emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden. Whosoever transgressed was to be considered, in fact, guilty of sacrilege."

"As a direct result of this law, there soon appeared an evil which, under the circumstances and in the logic of the case, called for further legislation in the same direction. The law forbade all work. But as the people had no such religion as would cause them to devote the day to pious and moral exercises, the effect of the law was only to enforce idleness. Enforced idleness only multiplied opportunity for dissipation. The natural consequences was that the circuses and the theatres throughout the empire were crowded every Sunday." A.T. Jones, Great Empires of Prophecy, p.488.

What to do now? The answer was simple. Having entered upon this wrong path there was nothing left to do but to go further along that path and accordingly they worked till they had a law that closed the theatres on the Sunday. At the council of Carthage in June A.D.401, the following canon was enacted: "Canon 5. On Sundays and feast days, no plays may be performed." This they carried to the Emperor Honorius and requested that he pass this into law.

"The church members had not enough religion or love of right to do what they professed to believe was right, therefore, the State was asked to take away from them all opportunity to do wrong; then they would be Christians! Satan himself could be that kind of Christian in that way, and he would be the devil still." Ibid, 490.

In 425 this came into law and the priests were now confident that the churches were to be filled with a people who, not being permitted by law to work on the Sunday or to play either would now come to church. But again they were disappointed for the people would rather do nothing at all than come to the church which held nothing for them. Accordingly they rested at home on the Sunday and the church was as empty as ever.

"In the logic of this theory there was one more step to be taken. To see how logically it came about, let us glance at the steps taken from the first one to this point: First, the church had all work on Sunday forbidden, in order that the people might attend to things divine; work was forbidden, that the people might worship. But the people would not worship; they went to the circuses and to the theatres instead of to church. Then the church had laws enacted closing the circuses and the theatres, in order that the people might attend church. But even then the people would not be devoted, nor attend church, for they had no real religion. The next step to be taken therefore, in the logic of the situation was to compel them to be devoted, to compel them to attend to things divine. This was the next step logically to be taken, and it was taken. The theocratical bishops were equal to the occasion. They exactly met the demands of the case; and one of the grandest of the Catholic Fathers and Catholic saints was the father of this Catholic saintly theory. He wrote:

"It is indeed better that men should be brought to serve God by instruction than by fear of punishment or by pain. But because the former means are better, the latter must not therefore be rejected.... Many must be often brought back to their Lord, like wicked servants, by the rod of temporal sufferings, before they attain the highest grade of religious development." Augustine, Ibid, p.491.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

post # 7

ON TO THE ULTIMATE

And in this fashion and along this course of development, which step by step was the only possible outcome in the nature of the situation as it stood, came the development of the beast in the early days of the Christian dispensation. Of course the majority of people who before did not have enough religion to take them to church now went, for they did not have enough religion in them either to discern the nature of this force to offer any resistance to it.

But now the true people of God began to find themselves in difficulty. They could obey a civil law that forbade work on the first day of the week, and the law that forbade them from going to the circuses and the theatres did not touch them either, but when a law came into being that demanded that they worship on the false sabbath, then they found that they had to disobey that law.

So they found themselves suffering the civil penalties of breaking a law that the church had caused the State to enact in the selfish interests of a church which, having lost the power of God, had no right to even exist as a church. And when the church found that such punishments as were inflicted did not cause the true ones to waver and to obey, then, in the ultimate, they brought in the death decree and as history attests, they slew with savage and heartless cruelty the thousands who would not yield but would obey God rather than man no matter what the price might be.

Such was the history of the setting up of the beast. "It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy." The Great Controversy, p.443.

Thus it was with the setting up of the beast and so will it be in the setting up of the image to the beast. The one is a matter of the past, but the other is yet in the future and terrible will be the repetition of this thing.

In the historical word we have the story of the rise of the beast. In the Prophetic word we have the story of the rise of the image. It is time to spend a little time and space on the story of the rise of the image. This will be the subject of the next posts in this series.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 8

The rise of the image

So far in this study of the order of last day events, we have noted that the Image of the Beast is a landmark in the unrolling of the prophetic scroll. It is accomplished when the churches, having secured the support of the power of the State, have the National Sunday Law passed and enforced. Such an act, we learned, would bring about national ruin. It will have brought the powers of church and state to the point of no return and there will be left only the calling out of the true children of God before the judgments on Babylon fall in deadly earnest and destroy her completely.

Such a point of disaster will not have been reached in a moment. Rather, it is the outworking of certain forces over quite a period of time and the object of our study at the moment is to understand this outworking, so that we can follow it as it develops and know that all things are at hand in the final finishing movements of this earth's history.

We are fortunate that already such an outworking has taken place as we have already seen from the words of The Great Controversy, pp.443,444, the development of the beast before it. There we read, "It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy, the beast of Rev.13:1-10. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the Image of the Beast." Rev.13:11-18.

The word "so" means, "in just the same way." This then is but to say that as the apostasy in the early church led to the rise of the papacy, so, in exactly the same way, apostasy in the modern church will lead to the rise of the Image of the Beast. This is the very thing that is happening and is in fact well advanced to the full outworking of the evil thing that it is.

Having seen then in our last chapter, the history of the development of the rise of the apostasy and the consequent rise of the beast in the early centuries, let us now study the step by step development of the rise of the apostasy in the modern church which will lead to the rise of the Image of the Beast in this our day.

to be continued

[Woody]

Quote:

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you

may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

Praise God ... I AM SAVED. And it is through HIS blood. Not my works or knowledge.

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

Exactly my point. Most can't even see it. They've been blinded by a negative addiction.

Just out of curiousity --

do you see the fall of Lucifer (Rev 12), the fall of Adam (Gen 3, Romans 5), the fall of the Jewish Nation (Matt 28, 1Thess 2, Romans 9) the apostasy of the Christian church in the dark ages (Daniel 7, Rev 11, 12, 13, 2Thess 2), the prediction of a world wide flood (Gen 6) -- as "negative subjects" that should be avoided?

Good bible vs bad Bible??

When Noah was preaching and warning his people about the upcoming "negative event" was he being too focused on the negative.

Was God being too negative when he had Ezekiel lay on one side for 40 days warning of the 40 year captivity of Judah -- then on the other side for 390 days warning about the 390 year captivity of Israel??

So now we find ourselves coming up to yet another "series of negative events" -- should we approach this more along the lines of party streamers and icecream?

Wouldn't it have been "great" if the bible had used a symbolic number like "The 144 billion" in Rev 7 to describe the result of the shaking and the little group that would survive the close of probation?

Knowing what we know now - is there some "happy thoughts flier" that you would like to have printed up and handed out to people as they started lining up for tickets on the Titanic?

things to think about.

in Christ,

Bob

Good points Bob.

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: Richard Holbrook

She said there would be some like you, but I figured we'd be closer to the end before I ever got to see one.

Some of the responses on this thread are fulfillment of prophecy. As the Spirit of prophecy says, "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken." We should be surprised at nothing. I believe God is preparing His people to stand totally alone, not depending on family, church leaders or on institutions.

Amen

[skyblue888]

Light rejected

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 9

Light Rejected

Between the years 1833-1844, the Lord sent to the Protestant Churches who were then the professed churches of God in the world, the glorious light of the Advent message. Had that light been received as the Lord planned that it should, then those churches would have become a mighty power in the world, soon the gospel would have been carried to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and the kingdom of Christ would have been established.

But the light that was sent was unwelcome and was fiercely rejected and this led to a serious spiritual fall. "The second angel's message of Revelation 14 was first preached in the summer of 1844, and it then had a direct application to the churches of the United States, where the warning of the judgment had been most generally rejected, and where the declensions in the churches had been most rapid. But the message of he second angel did not reach its complete fulfilment in 1844. The churches then experienced a moral fall, in consequence of their refusal of the light of the Advent message; but that fall was not complete. As they have continued to reject the special truths for this time they have fallen lower and lower." The Great Controversy, p.389.

That rejection of light there was a step which could only end in the full formation of the Image of the Beast. There is no possible outcome than this. The setting up of the Image of the Beast and all the oppression and persecution which will go with it, was from that moment on, an unavoidable certainty. It is such not by any arbitrary decree of God, nor even basically by the will and choice of man, but simply because effect will follow the cause in this field as surely as in any other field. That is to say, just as surely as the cause is there, then just as surely will the effects follow.

To understand this let us follow the matter through step by step. The message and the warning which came to those people in 1844 was the Glad Tidings of the all-sufficient merits of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation from sin. Romans 3:25; 1:16; Matt.1:21. Now, if they who needed it so much refused to receive it, then they did not have it. That is obvious. The churches stood devoid of power when they refused to accept the power of God which was ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5.

Pitted against the church is the power of sin and the church is in the world to save men from sin. It has no other right to exist than this. Now either the church has that power or she does not. It is not the possession of great and splendid organization, not the number of people that serve the church, nor the amount of money under her command, nor any other of these things which gives to a church such power, but the acceptance of the truth as it is brought to the church by God, not the acceptance of the mere theory of the truth but of the living experience of the truth which brings the power of God.

In 1844, the churches rejected the truth of God in the experience and power of it and thus were left without the power of God to combat the power of sin. It must therefore follow that sin must make mighty inroads into their domains, so that wickedness and immorality would increase and prosper. This is the only possible outworking of the situation. Such a cause must be followed by the certain effects of that cause. History itself attests to this in the past as we read: "The iniquity and spiritual darkness that prevailed under the supremacy of Rome were the inevitable result of her suppression of the Scriptures." The Great Controversy, p.586.

As it was in the past so it will be in the future for the same rejection of the truth of God will bring the same sad results.

The message of the everlasting gospel as brought in the light of the Advent truth of 1844, called upon men to receive the righteousness of Christ which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God including the Seventh Day Sabbath. Truly understood, received and obeyed, the Sabbath of God is the evidence of the presence and power of God, and therefore its place in the teaching of the last message to the world is vital and necessary. It has to be there or the message is incomplete and lacking in vital power and efficiency. But the Sabbath is particularly objectionable to those that reject the message and they are led to cast aside the whole law in order to avoid the claims of the Sabbath. But the work of Sabbath reform extends nevertheless and the more it does then the more it is resisted by the churches. In this way their rejection of the truth of God becomes the more confirmed, and inevitably the power of sin makes the more determined and effective inroads into the world. Thus the very churches that are in the world as the channels by which the salvation of God is to come to the world become the very means by which sin is strengthened and entrenched.

Thus we read, "As the work of Sabbath reform extends, this rejection of the Divine law to avoid the claims of the fourth commandment will become well-nigh universal. The teachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity, to spiritualism, and to contempt of God's holy law, and upon these leaders rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian world." The Great Controversy, p.587.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Order of Last Day Events

Post # 10

THIS IS UTTERLY TRUE

None but those who know nothing of history can deny it. Up till 1844, the churches were strong teachers of the obligation of the law and the period is recognized as one of the most circumspect and moral of history. True, there was the worldly class who lived wickedly but the hard core of society was religious and law abiding. It was a period when there were men and women of decided strength of character and moral worth.

But when came the added light of the Advent message in 1844, and as has been noted already, the churches led out in a rejection of that message. Ever since there has been an ever increasing crime wave around the world. The family unit is no longer stable, juvenile as well as adult crime is of such fearful proportion to be a major concern of the powers that be. Divorce is common, and violence is rampant the world over. And all this is rapidly on the increase.

These are facts and no one can honestly deny them. The world is not getting to be a better place. It is getting worse and worse at a fearful pace. 2 Tim.3:1-5.

We are in the last days and this situation exists right now. The common man, the man in the street can see it. The officials can see it. The church can see it and the leaders of the nations can see it. Everyone can see it. And it is because they can, and because they are disturbed by it that it becomes the issue on political platforms. Every election in the United States stresses the need for the restoration of Law and Order.

Men will advance a number of different reasons for its presence or even be at a loss to give a reason at all, but let it be known on the authority of the Word of God that there is but one reason for it and that is the rejection of the truth sent to the churches from heaven. This is the reason. Having rejected the truth of God, they have rejected the power of God and thus have no method of defence against the power of sin in their lives, and therefore, the ever increasing crime, violence and immorality provides an ever strengthening pressure to come up with an answer that will either solve the situation or at least remove the blame from the churches.

This brings us to the next step in the inexorable march to the setting up of the Image of the Beast. They have rejected the truth of God, the Sabbath of God, the power of God. The barrier to sin removed, it has swept in like a flood. Now what?

Already quoted above is this statement, "The teachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity, to spiritualism, and to contempt of God's holy law; and upon these leaders rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the 'Christian' world." The Great Controversy, p.587.

Now there immediately follows this word, "Yet this very class put forth the claim that the fast spreading corruption is largely attributable to the desecration of the so-called 'Christian sabbath,' and that the enforcement of Sunday would greatly improve the morality of society." The Great Controversy, p.587.

So here the churches, having rejected the Sabbath of God and the power of God, add further sin to the first sin by charging the trouble to Sunday desecration when it is not that at all. This is an act in support of Sunday and therefore is a further act in the rejection of the Sabbath, the truth and the power of God.

This then can only drive them still further away from God, still more firmly and deeply into the power of sin and thus the more widely open the door to the inroads of immorality, sin and spiritualism. Thus the churches are found to be in a descending spiral of ever frightening proportions until a crisis is reached of such dimension as will demand drastic and inevitable action. And that action will be the call for the enforcement of the Sunday, which, when it is accomplished, will be the setting up of the Image of the Beast.

This crisis will force the churches to the point where they will have to have the Image set up in their behalf or they themselves will cease to exist. It will be a matter of their own survival. So serious will the situation have become, so desperate the plight to which the world will have come, that something will have to be done to meet the situation. On every hand the church will see faith in her institutions and her authority fading away. Conscious of the fact that they are powerless to reach and hold the people, conscious of the fact that they cannot stem the rising tide of evil, the churches will be forced to seek power where it can be found. But they have rejected the power of God and have confirmed themselves in that rejection to the point where they have no mind to confess the sin and return to the Lord. Therefore they must find some other power and they will. The only other power that is available is the power of force, the means whereby a man is compelled to do that which it is not in him do do.

But such power is vested, not in the church, but in the state. It is not the way of God to force anyone to do anything. God desires only willing and cheerful obedience. He looks for a people who are willing to be made willing by trusting wholly in the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. But the power of the state is such that it can obtain obedience to its laws only by force. It has no other means. Therefore, when the church has lost the power of God, the power to appeal to the heart of man, and needs the power of force, then she will go to the State and obtain from it the power which it has, the power of force, and, when she has obtained that, then she will have set up the image of the beast. But such a situation will not have arrived in a moment. It will be the culmination of a long process beginning with the rejection of the power of God, followed by the consequent inroads of immorality, vice, spiritualism, violence, rebellion, and such like.

If they were but to see that this is the outworking of their own mischievous course of action and thus be led to repent of that which caused the problem, that one wrong action leads to another and then another until the matter reaches crisis proportions and a desperate church calls in the power of the State to do that which she is powerless to do.

This is the procedure, long and remorseless, which leads up to the Image of the Beast. Already this is well advanced and shortly we shall see the fruition of it all.

to be continued