participation in , the blessings of salvation . But those who rejected the truth lost all desire for the gift of Heaven . They had " put darkness for light , and light for darkness ," until the light which was in them became darkness ; and how great was that darkness !
It suits the policy of Satan that men should retain the forms of religion if but the spirit of vital godliness is lacking . After their rejection of the gospel , the Jews continued zealously to maintain their ancient rites , they rigorously preserved their national exclusiveness , while they themselves could not but admit that the presence of God was no longer manifest among them . The prophecy of Daniel pointed so unmistakably to the time of Messiah ' s coming , and so directly foretold His death , that they discouraged its study , and finally the rabbis pronounced a curse on all who should attempt a computation of the time . In blindness and impenitence the people of Israel during succeeding centuries have stood , indifferent to the gracious offers of salvation , unmindful of the blessings of the gospel , a solemn and fearful warning of the danger of rejecting light from heaven .
Wherever the cause exists , the same results will follow . He who deliberately stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with his inclinations will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth and error . The understanding becomes darkened , the conscience callous , the heart hardened , and the soul is separated from God . Where the message of divine truth is spurned or slighted , there the church will be enshrouded in darkness ; faith and love grow cold , and estrangement and dissension enter . Church members center their interests and energies in worldly pursuits , and sinners become hardened in their impenitence .
The first angel ' s message of Revelation 14 , announcing the hour of God ' s judgment and calling upon men to fear and worship Him , was designed to separate the professed people of God from the corrupting influences of the world and to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and backsliding . In this message , God has sent to the church a warning , which , had it been accepted , would have corrected the evils that were shutting them away from Him . Had they received the message from heaven , humbling their hearts before the Lord and seeking in sincerity a preparation to stand in His presence , the Spirit and power of God would have been manifested among them . The church would again have reached that blessed state of unity , faith , and love which existed in apostolic days , when the believers " were of one heart and of one soul ," and " spake the word of God with boldness ," when " the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved ." Acts 4:32 , 31 ; 2:47 .
If God ' s professed people would receive the light as it shines upon them from His word , they would reach that unity for which Christ prayed , that which the apostle describes , " the
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