The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 491

The European Union in Prophecy
elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more
terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. A single angel destroyed all the
first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with mourning. When David offended
against God by numbering the people, one angel caused that terrible destruction by
which his sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised by holy angels
when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when He permits. There are
forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation
everywhere.
Those who honour the law of God have been accused of bringing judgments upon
the world, and they will be regarded as the cause of the fearful convulsions of nature
and the strife and bloodshed among men that are filling the earth with woe. The power
attending the last warning has enraged the wicked; their anger is kindled against all
who have received the message, and Satan will excite to still greater intensity the
spirit of hatred and persecution. When God's presence was finally withdrawn from
the Jewish nation, priests and people knew it not. Though under the control of Satan,
and swayed by the most horrible and malignant passions, they still regarded
themselves as the chosen of God. The ministration in the temple continued; sacrifices
were offered upon its polluted altars, and daily the divine blessing was invoked upon
a people guilty of the blood of God's dear Son and seeking to slay His ministers and
apostles.
So when the irrevocable decision of the sanctuary has been pronounced and the
destiny of the world has been forever fixed, the inhabitants of the earth will know it
not. The forms of religion will be continued by a people from whom the Spirit of God
has been finally withdrawn; and the satanic zeal with which the prince of evil will
inspire them for the accomplishment of his malignant designs, will bear the
semblance of zeal for God. As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy
throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to
enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to
yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be
urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law
of the state ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole
nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness.
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