END OF TIME SERIESPART ELEVENTHE LITTLE TIME OF TROUBLEThe great time of trouble, culminating in Jacob's trouble comes
after the general close of probation. But the little time of trouble occurs
prior to that general close, and simultaneously with the giving of the
loud cry by the faithful; see EW 85-86, 33. In summary, the little time of trouble will bring
trouble in several ways: (1) The wicked will war against one another, although to a lesser extent
than they did before and after the loud cry. (2) As the protecting Spirit is poured out on God's people, it is
withdrawn from the world. This gives Satan greater freedom to bring intensified
crises to his own followers. (3) Satan will bring desolations and natural disasters which will occur
in various places throughout the world. (4) Satan, his demons, and his agents will blame Sabbathkeepers for the
disasters. This enrages the wicked against Sabbath keepers. (5) Sunday law legislation will return power into the hands of Rome, and
it will use it to persecute Sabbathkeepers. (6) The righteous will be persecuted by both Catholics and Protestants. (7) Because of the no-buy-sell proviso, Sabbath keepers will suffer
hardship to one degree or another. In spite of the many disasters, crises, and no-buy-sell restrictions, God
will overrule so that His people will be able to continue spreading the
loud cry message. We are told that the faithful who live in the country will undergo less
privation during that time, than those who have chosen to be slow in
moving out of the cities. At the time that the Sunday law was enacted, the world was told that
enactment of the national Sunday law would bring a millennium of peace.
But, as God's Spirit is poured out upon His faithful ones, it is withdrawn
from the world-and strife and natural disasters caused by Satan are the
result. Conditions get worse, not better! Satan's objective is not merely
to require Sunday worship, but also to destroy those who refuse that
worship. The ongoing strife and disasters enrage the wicked against
faithful Sabbath keepers. During the great time of trouble (after the
general close of probation), these calamities greatly increase. In a later study in this series, we will discuss the great time of
trouble. -1 LITTLE TIME OF TROUBLE BEGINS WHEN
LOUD CRY BEGINS 1 - Sequence:
(1) (Little) time of trouble be gins; (2) latter rain; (3) loud cry
begins. "At
the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with
the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully."-Early
Writings, 33:2. - 2 LITTLE TIME OF TROUBLE EXTENDS TO END
OF LOUD CRY 1 - Sequence:
(Little) time of trouble comes before the
end of loud cry and Christ's mediation, and it comes before the close of
probation and the plagues. 'The commencement of that time of trouble,' here
mentioned [on page 33], does not refer to the time when the plagues
shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period Just
before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that
time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be
coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so
as not to prevent the work of the third angel. "-Early Writings, 85:3-86:0. - 3 PEACE AND SAFETY HAS BEEN THE
ASSURANCE 1 - It
will be imagined that the national Sunday law
will bring worldwide conversion and the beginning of a millennium of
peace. "Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of
godliness without the power, and they will see In this union a
grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering In of
the long-expected millennium.
"-Great Controversy, 588:3-589:0. 2
- Long ages of peace and prosperity are predicted.
'The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up.' 2 Peter 3:10. When the reasoning of philosophy has banished
the fear of God's judgments; when religious teachers are pointing
forward to long ages of peace
and prosperity, and the world are absorbed
in their rounds of business and pleasure, planting and building,
feasting and merrymaking, rejecting God's warnings and mocking His
messengers -then it is that sudden destruction cometh upon them,
and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3."-Patriarchs
and Prophets, 104:0. 3 - The people are dreaming of temporal prosperity. "Like the dwellers in the vale of Siddim, the people are dreaming
of prosperity and peace. 'Escape for thy life,' is the warning
from the angels of God; but other voices are heard saying, 'Be not
excited; there is no cause for alarm.' The multitudes
cry, 'Peace and safety,' while Heaven declares that swift destruction is about to come upon the
transgressor. On the night prior to their destruction, the cities of the
plain rioted in pleasure and derided the fears and warnings of the
messenger of God; but those scoffers perished in the flames; that very
night the door of mercy was forever closed to the wicked, careless
inhabitants of Sodom. God will not always be mocked; He will not long be
trifled with. 'Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath
and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the
sinners thereof out of it.' Isaiah 13:9. The great mass of the world will
reject God's mercy, and will be overwhelmed in swift and irretrievable
ruin. But those who heed the warning shall dwell 'in the secret place of
the Most High,' and' abide under the shadow of the Almighty.' His truth
shall be their shield and buckler." Patriarchs and Prophets, 167:2. - 4 STRIFE AND WARFARE CONTINUES BUT
RESTRAINED SOMEWHAT DURING THE LOUD CRY 1 - Calamities are permitted to
awaken men to their need. "Calamities
will come-calamities most awful, most unexpected; and these destructions
will follow one after another. If there will be a heeding of the
warnings that God has given, and if churches will repent, returning to
their allegiance, then other cities may be
spared for a time. But if men who have been deceived
continue in the same way in which they have been walking, disregarding the
law of God and presenting falsehoods before the people, God allows them
to suffer calamity, that their senses may be awakened." -Evangelism, 27:3. 2
- When the trouble begins, it will
continue till the Second Advent. "Soon grievous troubles will arise among the nations
-trouble
that will not cease until Jesus comes. As never before we need to press together, serving Him who has prepared His throne in
the heavens and whose kingdom ruleth over all. God has not forsaken His
people, and our strength lies in not forsaking Him. "The judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars,
the destruction by fire and flood,
say clearly that the time of trouble, which is to Increase until the end, is very near at hand. We have no time to lose. The
world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of
Daniel have almost reached their final fulfillment." - Welfare
Ministry, 136:4-5. 3 - Natural disasters will occur. "In the last scenes of this earth's history, war
will rage. There will be pestilence,
plague, and famine. The waters
of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Property and life will be
destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare
for them that love Him. There is a rest from earth's conflict." -Maranatha,
174:5. 4 - There
will be strife and warfare in and among nations. "Soon strife among the nations will break out with an intensity that we do not now anticipate. The
present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and
statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men
and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events
taking place around us. They are watching the strained, restless relations
that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity
that is taking possession of
every earthly element, and
they realize that something great and
decisive is about to take place, that the world is on the verge of a
stupendous crisis. "A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every
power lent us of Heaven is now to be used in working for those perishing
in ignorance. There must be no delay. The truth must be proclaimed in the
dark places of the earth . . A great work is to be done, and to those who know the truth for this
time, this work has been entrusted." -Maranatha, 174:3-4.
5 - [In the little time of trouble] this trouble will begin
during the loud cry, but will intensify after the loud cry is ended
[during the great time of trouble]. "While
the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming
on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check
so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the
'latter rain,' or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to
give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to
stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured
out." -Early Writings, 85:9-86:0.. 6 - A little time of peace will
occur, and then strife will resume to a far greater degree than before. "I was shown the Inhabitants of
the earth in the utmost confusion. War,
bloodshed, privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in
the land. As these things surrounded God's people, they began to press
together, and to cast aside their little difficulties. Self-dignity no
longer controlled them; deep humility took its place. Suffering,
perplexity, and privation caused reason to resume its throne, and the
passionate and unreasonable man became sane, and acted with discretion
and wisdom. "My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to
be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything
was in the utmost
confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with
famine and pestilence, raged everywhere.
Other nations were engaged in this
war and confusion. War caused
famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts failed them for fear, 'and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth.' "-1 Testimonies, 268:1-2. 7
- When the third angel's message ends and probation
closes, the check is removed from the nations -and the storm will burst upon them all the more
fiercely. "Angels
are now restraining the winds of
strife, until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm
is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when
God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of
strife as no pen can picture.
"A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every
power lent us of heaven is to be used in doing the work
assigned us by the Lord for those who are perishing in
ignorance. "-Evangelism,
704:1-2.
8 - Civil, international, and natural
crises are increasing, and will soon intensively climax. "The signs of the times give evidence that the judgments of
heaven are being poured out, that the day of the Lord is at hand. The
daily papers are full of indications of an intense conflict in the future.
Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and
murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed by demons are taking
the lives of men, women, and little children. All these things testify
that the Lord's coming is near. "The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from
the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, disasters by sea and by land,
follow one another in quick succession. The signs thickening around us,
telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any
other than the true cause. . "The time is right upon us
when there will be sorrow in the world that
no human balm can heal. Even before the last great destruction comes upon the
world, the flattering monuments of man's greatness will be crumbled in the
dust. God's retributive judgments will fall on
those who In the face of great light
have continued in sin.
Costly buildings, supposed to be fireproof, are erected. But as Sodom perished
in the flames of God's vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes. I have seen vessels which cost immense sums of money wrestling
with the mighty ocean, seeking to breast the angry billows.
But with all their treasures of gold and
silver, and with all their human freight, they sank into a watery
grave. . But amid the tumult of excitement, with confusion in every
place, there is a work to be done for God in the world." Maranatha,
175:2-4. - 5 SATAN WILL BRING GREAT DISASTERS 1 - Satan has remarkable power over the elements of
nature. "Satan
works through the elements also to garner his harvest of
unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of
nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far
as God allows. . While appearing to the children of men as a great
physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and
disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is
at work. In accidents and
calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations,
in fierce tornadoes
and terrific hailstorms,
in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and
earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms,
Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine
and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and
thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations
are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be
upon both man and beast." -Great Controversy,
589:2-590:0. - 6 THE FAITHFUL WILL BE BLAMED FOR THE MANY CALAMITIES1 - The judgments increase as the wickedness
of men increases. "The
judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light
of truth that they have had. If
they have had the truth, according to that light will be the
punishment." Maranatha, 176:3. 2
- Those keeping God's commandments will
be blamed for the world's problems. "As
men depart further and further from God, Satan is permitted to
have power over the children of disobedience. He hurls destruction among
men. There is calamity by land and sea. Property
and life are destroyed by fire and flood, Satan resolves to charge
this upon those who refuse to bow to the Idol which he has set
up. His agents point to Seventh-day Adventists as the cause
of the trouble. 'These people stand out
in defiance of law,' they say, 'They desecrate Sunday. Were they compelled
to obey the law for Sunday observance, there would be a cessation of these
terrible judgments,' "-Maranatha, 176:1. 3
- Sunday-violators will be declared to be the cause of all the troubles. "Satan
puts his interpretation upon events, and they [leading men] think,
as he would have them, that the calamites which fill the land are a
result of Sunday-breaking. Thinking to appease the wrath
of God, these influential men make laws enforcing Sunday observance. They
think that by exalting this false rest-day higher, and still higher,
compelling obedience to the Sunday law, the spurious sabbath, they are
doing God service. Those who honor God by observing the true Sabbath are
looked upon as disloyal to God, when it is really those who thus regard
them who are themselves disloyal, because they are trampling under foot
the Sabbath originated in Eden, "-Maranatha, 176:4. - 7 THE WORLD WILL BE AGAINST GOD'S
PEOPLE 1 - The
Christian denominations will do that (the setting up of the image) which
will focus attention on commandment keepers. "Our
people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy
of notice, but a change will come. The
Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring
commandment-keeping people into prominence." -5 Testimonies,
546:2. 2
- Sabbathkeepers will be hated, for Satan is purposing their destruction. "The
whole world is to be stirred with enmity against Seventh-day Adventists, because they will not yield homage to the
papacy, by honoring Sunday, the institution of this antichristian power. It
is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth, in
order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed." Testimonies
to Ministers, 37:0. 3 - The attention of the world will be riveted on the beliefs of the
faithful. "Every
position of truth taken by our people
will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest of the
world's great men will be brought in contact with truth, and therefore
every position we take should be critically examined and tested by the
Scriptures. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work
to bring us to the front, and
if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the
world's greatest men, it will be done. "We must individually know for ourselves what is truth, and be
prepared to give a reason of the hope that we have with meekness and fear,
not in a proud boasting, self-sufficiency, but with the spirit of Christ. We are nearing the
time when we shall stand Individually alone to answer for our belief. "-Evangelism, 69:1-2. 4 - Then as now, the strength of the faithful will be in Christ and an obedient knowledge
of His Word. "The powers of darkness
will open their batteries upon
us; and all who are
indifferent and careless, who have set their affections on their earthly
treasure, and who have not cared to understand God's dealings with His
people, will be ready victims. No power but
a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, will ever make us steadfast; but with this, one may chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight." Maranatha, 217:6. - 8 THE FAITHFUL WILL STAND BEFORE COURTS
AND COUNCILS 1 - We must study and prepare for what is coming! "You know not where you may be called upon to give your witness of
truth. Many will have to stand
in the legislative courts; some will have to stand before kings and before the learned of the earth, to answer for their faith. Those who have only a
superficial understanding of truth will not be able clearly to expound the
Scriptures, and give definite reasons for their faith. They will become
confused, and will not be workmen that need not to be ashamed. Let no one
imagine that he has no need to study, because he is not to preach in the
sacred desk. You know not what God may require of you." -Fundamentals
of Christian Education, 217:1. 2 - The faithful will be brought before the rulers of the earth. The time is not
far off when the people of God
will be
called upon to give their testimony before the rulers of the earth. Not
one in twenty has a realization of what rapid strides we are making
toward the great crisis in our history. . There is no time for vanity, for
trifling, for engaging the mind in unimportant matters."
-Maranatha, 258:1. 3 - They will appear before kings and
great men. "Kings, governors, and great men will hear of you through the
reports of those who are at enmity with you, and your faith and
character will be misrepresented before them. But those who are falsely
accused will have an opportunity to appear in the presence of their
accusers to answer for themselves. They will have the privilege of
bringing the light before those who are called the great men of the earth,
and if you have studied the Bible, if you are ready to give an answer to
every man that asketh you of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear, your enemies will not be able to gainsay your wisdom. "You now have an opportunity to attain to the greatest intellectual
power through the study of the Word of God. But if you are indolent, and
fail to dig deep in the mines of truth, you will not be ready for the
crisis that is soon to come upon us. a that you would realize that each moment is golden. If
you live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, you will
not be found unprepared." -Marantha, 258.'2-3. 4 - They will witness to their faith before councils and thousands. "The time will come when we
shall be brought before councils and before thousands for His name's sake, and each one will have to give the
reason of his faith." -Maranatha, 252:2. 5 - They will stand before leading authorities.
"Every
position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest
of the world's great men will be brought in contact with truth, and therefore every
position we take should be critically
examined and tested by the Scriptures. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but
this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front,
and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by
historians or the world's greatest men, it will be done." Evangelism, 69:1.
6 - The presentation of pure truth
is powerful. "The Lord Jesus will give the disciples a tongue and wisdom that
their adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. Those who could not by
reasoning overcome satanic delusions will bear an affirmative testimony
that will baffle supposedly learned men. Words will come from the lips
of the unlearned with such convincing power and
wisdom that conversions will be made
to the truth. Thousands will be converted under their testimony. "Why should the illiterate man have this power, which the learned
man has not? The illiterate one, through faith in Christ, has come into the atmosphere
of
pure, clear truth, while the learned man has turned away from the truth. The poor man is Christ's witness. He
cannot appeal to histories or to so-called high science, but he gathers from the Word of God powerful
evidence. The truth that
he speaks under the inspiration of
the Spirit, is so pure and remarkable and carries with It a power
so Indisputable, that his testimony cannot be gainsaid."-
Maranatha, 252:4-5. 7 - Perplexities will come to us, but God will be our Helper. "In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but
let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the
wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass." -Evangelism,
65:2. - 9 GOD'S PEOPLE WILL BE PERSECUTED 1 - Prior
to the end of the loud cry (and the close of probation), persecution of
the faithful will be limited. "Persecution
in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will exist as
long as Satan exists and Christianity has vital power. . "But so long as Jesus remains man's Intercessor
In the sanctuary above, the restraining Influence of the
Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people, it still controls to some
extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our
rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the
leading men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose
measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who
fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions
with unanswerable arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful
current of
evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest
the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working,
and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God
through the time of trouble." -Great Controversy, 610:2-611:0. 2 - The setting up of the image (in the enactment of the national
Sunday law) will bring civil penalties. "When
the leading churches of the United States,
uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall
influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions,
then Protestant America will have formed
an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the Infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will Inevitable result,
"-Great Controversy, 445:1. 3 - Be prepared to be arrested and brought before councils. "As Christ was hated without cause, so will His people be hated
because they are obedient to the commandments of God. If He who was pure,
holy, and undefiled, who did good and only good in our world, was treated
as a base criminal and condemned to death, His disciples must expect but
similar treatment, however faultless may be their life
and blameless their character. "Human enactments, laws manufactured by satanic agencies under a plea of goodness and restriction of evil, will be exalted, while God's holy commandments are despised and trampled underfoot. And
all who prove their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah must be
prepared to be arrested, to be brought before councils that have not
for their standard the high and holy law of God."-7 Bible
Commentary, 977/1:4/2:0. 4 - Courts and judges will be corrupt. "Those who live during the last days of this
earth's history will know what it means to be persecuted
for the truth's sake. In
the courts injustice will prevail. The
judges will refuse to listen
to the reasons of those who are loyal
to the commandments of God, because they know that arguments in favor of
the fourth commandment are unanswerable. They will say, 'We have a
law, and
by our law he ought to die.' God's
law is nothing to them. 'Our law' with them
is supreme. Those who respect this human law will be favored, but those who will not bow to the Idol
Sabbath will have no favors shown them. "-Maranatha, 195:3. 5 - God will work on behalf of
His people. "The
commandment-keeping people of God erelong will be placed in a most
trying position; but all those who have walked in the light, and diffused
the light, will realize that God interposes in their
behalf. When everything looks most forbidding, then the Lord will reveal His power to His
faithful ones. When the
nation for which God has worked in such a marvellous manner, and over
which He has spread the shield of Omnipotence,
abandons Protestant principles, and through its legislature gives countenance and support to Romanism in
limiting religious Liberty, then God will work in His own power for His people that are true. The tyranny of Rome will
be exercised, but Christ is our refuge." Maranatha,
194:3. 6 - They will face personal dangers, distress, and persecution. "The
Scriptures teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy, and that the
fires of persecution will be rekindled through the time-serving concessions of the so-called Protestant world. In this
time of peril we can stand only as we have the truth and the power of God.
. "The prospect of being brought into personal danger and distress,
need not cause despondency, but should quicken the vigor and hopes of
God's people; for the time of their peril is the season for God to grant
them clearer manifestations of His power." -2 Selected Messages,
367:4368:0, 370:2. "Before the warfare shall be ended and the victory won, we as a
people are to experience trials similar to those of Paul. We shall
encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel determination, the
same unyielding hatred. . Persecution
will again be kindled against
those who are true to God; their motives
will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, their names cast out
as evil. . God would have His people prepared for the soon-coming crisis.
Prepared or unprepared, we must meet it."-Sketches from the Life
of Paul, 251:0-252:1. "There will come a time when, because of our advocacy of Bible
truth, we shall be treated as
traitors. "-6 Testimonies, 394:2. "Wealth, genius, education, will combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church
members will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts, threats, and ridicule,
they will seek to overthrow their faith."
-5 Testimonies, 450:2. "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."-Great Controversy,
608:1. 7
- They will be brought before courts and imprisoned. "And
all who prove their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah must be
prepared to be arrested, to be brought before councils that
have not for their standard the high and holy law of God." -7 Bible
Commentary 977/2:0. "The
tender mercies of this power will be displayed in prison cells and
dungeons. Already preparations are advancing, and movements are in
progress, which will result in making an image to the beast."-Review,
April 23, 1889. "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."-Great Controversy, 608:1. - 10 ROME INTENDS TO RENEW ITS
PERSECUTIONS: THE PERSECUTIONS OF THE PAST WILL BE REPEATED 1 - The church, state, Protestants, Romanists, and devils are already at
work. "Church
and state are now making preparations for the future
conflict. Protestants are working in disguise to bring Sunday to
the front, as did the Romanists. Throughout the land the
papacy is piling up her lofty and massive structures,
in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions are to be
repeated. And the way is preparing for the manifestation, on a grand
scale, of those lying wonders by which, if it were possible, Satan would
deceive even the elect."-5 Testimonies, 449:3-450:0.
2 - When Rome is reinstated in power, there will
be a return to persecution. "The
papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All that she has done in her
persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to be right; and
would she not repeat the same acts, should the opportunity be presented? Let
the restraints now Imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome
be reinstated In her former power, and there would speedily be a revival
of her tyranny and persecution. "-Great Controversy, 564:2. 3 - The goal will be to regain control and re-establish persecution. "The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of
operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and
increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to
regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution,
and to undo all that Protestantism has done."-Great
Controversy, 565:4-566:0. 4 - A cruel and despotic power. "She
[Rome] possess the same pride and arrogant
assumption that lorded it over kings and princes and claimed the
prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the
saints of the Most High,"-Great Controversy, 571:1. 5 - The enmity of Rome toward
Sabbathkeepers. "These
records of the past clearly reveal the
enmity of Rome toward the true
Sabbath and Its defenders, and the means which she employs to honor the institution of her creating,
The word of God teaches that these
scenes are to be repeated as
Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of
the Sunday." -Great Controversy,
578:2. 6 - Rome's power will be restored. "The influence
of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion is still far
from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of
her power. "-Great Controversy, 579:0. 7 - The triumph of Rome is assured. "Let the principle once be
established in the United States that the church
may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances
may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church
and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of
Rome in this country is assured. "God's word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant
world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when It Is too late to escape
the snare. She is silently growing
into power. Her doctrines are exerting
their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts
of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret
recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated, Stealthily and
unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when
the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage
ground, and this is already being given her, We shall soon see and
shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element Is. Whoever
shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and
persecution." -Great
Controversy, 581:1-2. -11 PROTESTANTS WILL PERSECUTE THE
FAITHFUL ALSO Catholicism will be concerned with (1) urging apostate Protestantism to
coerce the government to enact a repressive Sunday Law and ancillary
legislation, and (2) physically persecute the faithful. Protestant leaders will focus on getting the Sunday law passed and
heavily enforced by governmental powers. 1 - Read the past if you would understand the future. "If the reader would understand the agencies to be employed in the
soon-coming contest, he has but to trace the record of the means which
Rome employed for the same object in ages past. If he would know how papists and Protestants united will deal with those
who reject their dogmas, let him see the
spirit which Rome manifested toward the Sabbath and Its defenders. "-Great Controversy, 573:2-574:0. 2 - Papists and Protestants will unite in these
coercive actions. "The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power,
and, in this work, papists and
Protestants unite. "-Great Controversy, 607:1. 3
- The spirit of Antichrist is also in the Protestant churches. "
'There is no reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices
to be confined to that which is now called the Church
of Rome. The Protestant churches have much of antichrist in
them, and are far from being wholly reformed from. . corruptions and
wickedness.' "-Great Controversy,
984:2. 4 - Satan says: "We are now bringing the
Protestant churches to Rome." " '(In past ages] we (Satan and his hosts] led the
Romish church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who
refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the
Protestant churches and the world Into harmony with this right arm of our
strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who
will not submit to our authority,' "-Testimonies to Ministers, 479:1 {the complete
statement by Satan is also quoted in the 1884 edition of
Great Controversy (pp. 997-940)}. 5 - Former believers will do their part. "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." Great Controversy, 608:2. - 12 THE FAITHFUL WILL BE THREATENED WITH
DEATH 1
- As in earlier centuries, Satan is still seeking to destroy God's
people. "The
decree which is to go forth against the people of God will be very similar
to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews in the time of Esther . . Satan instigated the scheme In order to rid
the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the
true God. But his plots were defeated by a counterpower that reigns
among the children of men. . The Protestant world today see in the little
company keeping the Sabbath a Mordecai in the gate. His character and
conduct, expressing reverence for the law of God, are a constant rebuke
to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling upon His
Sabbath; the unwelcome Intruder must
by some means be put out of the way. "The
same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is still seeking to rid
the earth of those who fear God and obey His law. Satan will
excite indignation against the humble minority who conscientiously refuse
to accept popular customs and traditions. Men of position and reputation
will join with the lawless and the vile to take counsel against the people
of God. Wealth, genius, education, will combine to cover them with
contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members will
conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts, threats, and
ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith. By false
representations and angry appeals they will stir up the passions of the
people. Not having a 'Thus saith the Scriptures' to bring against the advocates
of the Bible Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply
the lack. To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to
the demand for a Sunday law. Those who fear God cannot accept an
institution that violates a precept of the Decalogue. On this battlefield
comes the last great conflict of the controversy between truth and error.
And we are not left in doubt as to the issue. Now, as in the days of Mordecai,
the Lord will vindicate His truth and His people,"- 5 Testimonies,
450:1-451:0. 2 - The decree brings the threat of death. The
time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that
the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the
Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with
punishment, and even death, if they do
not observe, the first day of the week as the Sabbath,"-Maranatha,
198:1. 3
- It will
bring threatened imprisonment and death. "The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul.
The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step
yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find
it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject
themselves to derision, Insult, threatened imprisonment, and
death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments
of men,"-5 Testimonies, 81:1. - 13 - PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF PROBATION
THERE WILL BE MARTYRS 1 - The blood of martyrs cries to God. "As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of
the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to
us that the limit of God's forbearance
is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that
the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return. The people of God will then be
plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have
described as the time of Jacob's trouble, The cries of the faithful, persecuted
ones ascend to heaven, And as the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there are voices also crying to God
from martyrs' graves, from the sepulchres of the sea, from
mountain caverns, from convent vaults: 'How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost Thou
not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth.' "-5
Testimonies, 451:2. 2 - Linking the fifth seal and Revelation 18. "When
the fifth seal was opened, John the
Revelator in vision saw beneath the altar the company that were slain
for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. After this came
the scenes described in the eighteenth of Revelation, when those who are
faithful and true are called out from Babylon,"-7 Bible
Commentary, 968/1:4. 3
- There will be martyrs. "The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this
distinction will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of truth
will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping people, When this
grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last
closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their
lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for
Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth."- Maranatha, 199:2. "Christ
will restore the life taken; for He is the
Life-giver: He will beautify the righteous with immortal life."-Maranatha,
199:6, "There is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk
of imprisonment, loss of property, and even of life itself, to
defend the law of God," -5 Testimonies 712:9. "As he [Satan) influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so
in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy
the people of God. Men will be required to render obedience to human
edicts in violation of the divine law, Those who are true to God will be
menaced, denounced, proscribed, They will be 'betrayed both by parents,
and brethren, and kinskfolk, and friends,' even unto
death. "Prophets and Kings, 587:2-588:0. Note:
For the righteous, the "last closing conflict" is Jacob's
trouble, which comes after probation closes. We are told that there will
be no martyrs after the close of probation (discussed later in this
study; for example, see GC 634:1; 629:2; PK 513). 4
- God will give grace for every emergency. "If
we are called to suffer for Christ's sake, we shall be able to go to
prison trusting in Him as a little child trusts In Its parents. Now
is the time to cultivate faith in God."-Our High Calling, 357:3. "We
are not to have the courage and fortitude of martyrs of
old until brought Into the position they were In. . Should there
be a return of persecution there would be grace given to arouse
every energy of the soul to show a true heroism. "-Our
High Calling, 125:3. "The
disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of the martyrs
until such grace was needed. "-Desire of Ages, 354:3. "When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of the unrighteous tribunals, Christ stands by his side. . When one is incarcerated in prison walls, Christ ravishes the heart with His love. When one suffers death for His sake, Christ says, 'I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, . . and have the keys of hell and of death.' Revelation 1:8. The life that is sacrificed for Me is preserved unto eternal glory. "-Desire of Ages, 669:3. LAST
DAYS APPENDIX
The following material was gleaned from our book of unpublished
manuscripts, entitled The Last Days, and is some of the best
material from that volume on topics given in this section. LITTLE
TIME OF
PEACE The
Present Peace Is a Lull Before the Storm: Nations Will Be in Confusion.-
"We have the light of prophecy -the Old Testament [which indicates] that we are
standing on the threshold of the fulfillment of great and solemn events.
Prophecies are coming down to point. The dangers and perils of the last
days are right upon us. At the present time the angels
are holding the four winds. There seems to be a little
moment of peace. It is a lull in the conflicting elements just before the
outburst of the unprecedented storm that has been gathering its forces for
the last great crisis. Nations will be in confusion. Kingdoms will be
terribly shaken. Everything betokens [that] the end is near. "-Undated
Manuscript 153, pp. 1-4. (Copenhagen, Denmark, 1886.) PERSECUTION Persecution Will Come to Those Who Seek Uprightness
and Holiness. - "The
tyrant is seeking to oppress man's
conscience, which Christ has made free.
Persecution will come more definitely
and decidedly upon the people of God,
because the godly are seeking for uprightness and holiness, and the
disobedient are in sin. -Letter 2c, 1892, pp. 7-8,12-14. (To
"Dear Brethren and Sisters in Battle Creek," December 21,
1892). [See also-EV 506.] False
Charges Against the Truth and Its Representatives Will Create Holy
Indignation in Non Adventists Who Reverence God. - "The
inconsistencies, the unreasonable workings of the human agents, stirred
with a power from beneath, will create in those who reverence God, a holy
indignation to see the truth of God brought into contempt, and its
advocates misrepresented and clothed in garments of darkness-false
charges. Then is the very time [that] the Holy Spirit is to take
possession of the human mind and it be made to appear that
Christ is formed within."-Letter 60, 1899, p. 2. (To I. D. Van Horn, July 20, 1899). [See
also-TMK 946.} Commit the Word to Memory for the Time Is Coming when Many Will Be
Deprived of It.- "The time will come (in] which many will be deprived of the Written Word. But,
if this Word is printed in the memory, no one can take it from us . . It is a talisman that will meet the worst forms of error
and evil. . The End Will Come Suddenly.-" Only for a very
short time longer will the Lord bear with the gross
wickedness that fills the world. Oh, how suddenly will the end come,
surprising the world in their increasing iniquity."-Manuscript 20,
1906, pp. 2-9. ("Preach The Word," February 7, 1906).
[See also:
Ev 616-17; PM 224-5.J God's People Will be Scattered In Many Countries.-"The time is soon
coming when God's people, because of persecution, will be scattered in
many countries. Those who have received an all-rounded education will
have a great advantage wherever they are." -Letter 92, 1908,
p.
9. ("To
Our Brethren in Positions of Responsibility," January 6, 1908). WARFARE Great Trouble Will Soon Arise.- "Great trouble will soon arise among
the nations which will not cease until Jesus comes.-Letter
5, 1889, pp. 1-5. (To
"Brethren," November 1889). [See 3Sm 414-415] CALAMITIES God Will Not Intervene to Protect the Property of Transgressors of His
Law.-"What mean the awful calamities by sea-vessels hurled into
eternity without a moment's warning? What means the accidents by land-fire
consuming the riches men have hoarded, much of which has been accumulating
by oppression of the poor. The Lord will not interfere to protect the
property of those who transgress His law, break His covenant, and
trample upon His Sabbath, accepting in its place a spurious rest day."-Manuscript
106, 1902, pp. 14-15. ("An aggressive Work," July 21,
1902). God Has a Purpose in Permitting Calamities.
- "Frequently
we hear of earthquakes, of tempests and
tornadoes, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Apparently these are capricious
outbreaks of seemingly disorganized, unregulated
forces. But God has a purpose in permitting
these calamities to occur. They are one of His means of calling men and
women to their senses. By unusual workings through nature, God will
express to doubting human agencies that which He clearly reveals in His Word. . Calamities Foreshadow What Will Happen Worldwide When Angels Loose Winds.
"Local disturbances in nature are permitted to
take place as symbols of that which may be
expected all over the world when the
angels loose the four winds of the earth. The forces of nature are under
the direction of an eternal Agency." Manuscript
159,
1902, pp. 1-6. (Calamities, November 5, 1902). [See
also: Mar 205; TE 95.} STRIFE Strife and Oppression of Foreign Nations Coming With Unanticipated
Intensity. "Very soon
the strife and oppression of foreign nations will break forth with an
intensity that you do not now anticipate. "-Manuscript 21, 1909,
pp. 9-5. ("A Call to Service, " a sermon preached
in Takoma Park, Maryland, May 17,1909). [See also: GC 244.] MARTYRS |
