Copyright
1994 Ellen G. White Estate, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume Four
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The Loud Cry
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Chapter XXXIII. <EB
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The Loud Cry. <EB
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"I
saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth
was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice,
saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation
of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean
and hateful bird." "And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye
receive not of her plagues."[1 REV. 18:1, 2, 4.]
In
this scripture the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the
second angel,[2 REV. 14:8.] is repeated, with the additional mention of
the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844. A terrible
condition of the religious world is here described. With every rejection
of truth, the minds of the people have become darker, their hearts more
stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance
of the warnings which God has given, they continue to trample upon one
of the precepts of the decalogue, and they persecute those who hold it
sacred. Christ is set at naught in the contempt placed upon his word and
his people.
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As
the teachings of Spiritualism are accepted by the churches, no real restraint
is imposed upon the carnal heart, and the profession of religion becomes
a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations
opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The influence
of evil angels is felt in the churches throughout the land.
Of
Babylon at this time it is declared, "Her sins have reached unto heaven,
and God hath remembered her iniquities."[1 REV. 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." As these
warnings join the third angel's message, it swells to a loud cry.
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 no man
may buy or sell, save he that has the mark of the beast, and, finally,
that whoever refuses to receive the mark shall be put to death.[2 REV.
13:15, 17.] The word of God declares: "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
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cup
of his indignation."[1 REV. 14:9, 10.] But not one is made to feel the
wrath of God until the truth has been brought in contact with his mind
and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many in the churches of
our country who have never, even in this land of light and knowledge, 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.
Jesus reads every heart, and tries every motive. The decree is not to be
urged upon the people blindly. Every one is to have sufficient light to
make his decision intelligently. The Sabbath will be the great test of
loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted.
Heretofore
those who presented the truths of the third message have often been regarded
as mere alarmists. The prediction that Church and State would unite to
persecute those who keep the commandments of God has 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 produces an effect which it could not have had before.
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
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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, and 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.
Thus
will the message of the third angel be proclaimed. As the time comes for
the loud cry to be given, 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 a union
of Church and State, 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 have never listened
to 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. 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
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conscience.
But 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, are filled with anger as their authority is questioned; they denounce
the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile
and persecute those who proclaim it.
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 only maddens those who oppose it. The clergy put forth almost superhuman
efforts to shut away the light, lest it should shine upon their flocks.
By every means at their command they endeavor to suppress the discussion
of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil
power, and in this work, papists are solicited to come to the help of Protestants.
The movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided. The
law is invoked against commandment-keepers. They are threatened with fines
and imprisonment, and some are 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 is brought before thousands who otherwise would know
nothing of these truths.
Conscientious
obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan,
the parent
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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."[1 2 TIM. 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.
As
the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third
message, but have not been sanctified through it, abandon their position,
and take refuge under the banner of the powers of darkness. By uniting
with the world and partaking of its spirit, they 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.
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The
Lord's servants have faithfully given the warning, looking to God and to
his word alone. They have not coolly calculated the consequences to themselves.
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, they are overwhelmed with consternation; and some are
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.
The
same trials were experienced by men of God in ages past. Wycliffe, Huss,
Luther, Tyndale, Baxter, Wesley, urged that all doctrines be brought to
the test of the Bible, and declared that they would renounce everything
which it condemned. Against these men, persecution raged with relentless
fury; yet they ceased not to declare the truth. Different periods in the
history of the church have each been marked by the development of some
special truth, adapted to the necessities of the people of God at that
time. Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those
who were
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blessed
with its light were tempted and tried. The Lord gives a special truth for
the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands
his servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They
cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ's ambassadors
have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty, and
leave results with God.
As
the opposition rises to a fiercer height, the servants of God are again
perplexed; for it seems to them that they have brought the crisis. But
conscience and the word of God assure them that their course is right;
and although the trials continue, they are strengthened to bear them. The
contest grows closer and sharper, but their faith and courage rise with
the emergency. Their testimony is, "We dare not tamper with God's word,
dividing his holy law, calling one portion essential and another non-essential
to gain the favor of the world. The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver
us. Christ has conquered the powers of earth; and shall we be afraid of
a world already conquered?"
Persecution
in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will exist
as long as Satan exists, and Christianity has vital power. No man can serve
God without enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness.
Evil angels will assail him, alarmed that his influence is taking the prey
from their hands. Evil men, rebuked by his example, will unite with them
in seeking to separate him from God by alluring temptations. When these
do not succeed, then a compelling power is employed to force the conscience.
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But
as 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 message may do its work. When the loud cry 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.
The
angel who unites in the proclamation of the third message is to lighten
the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted
power is here brought to view. The Advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious
manifestation of the power of God; the first message was carried to every
missionary station in the world, and in this country there was the greatest
religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation
of the sixteenth century; but these are to be far exceeded by the mighty
movement under the loud cry of the third message. The work will be similar
to that of the day of Pentecost. Servants of
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God,
with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, hasten
from place to place to proclaim the warning from Heaven. By thousands of
voices, all over the earth, the message will be given. Miracles are wrought,
the sick are healed, and signs and wonders follow the believers. Satan
also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the
sight of men. Thus the inhabitants of the earth are brought to take their
stand.
The
message will be carried, as was the midnight cry of 1844, not so much by
argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments
have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up
and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have
exerted their influence; yet many whose minds have been impressed have
been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience.
Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness,
and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family
connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is
more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against
the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side.
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