The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power , and , in this work , papists and Protestants unite . As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided , the law will be invoked against commandment keepers . They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment , and some will be 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 will be 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 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 ." 2 Timothy 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 To human wisdom all this now seems impossible ; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men , and they shall be under the control of Satan , who hates the divine precepts , there will be strange developments .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 angel ' s message , but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth , abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition . By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit , they have 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 Sabbathkeepers 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 .
In this time of persecution the faith of the Lord ' s servants will be tried . They have faithfully given the warning , looking to God and to His word alone . God ' s Spirit , moving upon their hearts , has constrained them to speak . Stimulated with holy zeal , and with the divine impulse strong upon them , they entered upon the performance of their duties without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord had given
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