The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 593
Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of
law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing
anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon
the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy,
stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of
disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation
of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding
obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls
and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and
condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst
construction will be put upon their motives.
As the Protestant churches reject the clear, Scriptural arguments in
defense of God’s law, they will long to silence those whose faith they
cannot overthrow by the Bible. Though they blind their own eyes to the
fact, they are now adopting a course which will lead to the persecution
of those who conscientiously refuse to do what the rest of the Christian
world are doing, and acknowledge the claims of the papal sabbath.
The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or
compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will
be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying
love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers
and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular
demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience,
which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In
the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the prophet’s words:
“The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have
the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17.
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