Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: SMTF
Program Code: SMTF000006
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00:41 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:44 Our Father in heaven, 00:45 what a joy it is to be in Your presence. 00:48 We thank You Father for giving us Your word. 00:51 And we ask that as we study Your blueprint 00:54 of end time events that Your Holy Spirit 00:57 will be with us to instruct us. 00:59 We thank You Father for hearing and answering our prayer, 01:02 for we ask it in the precious name 01:04 of Your beloved Son Jesus. Amen. 01:09 As I mentioned in my prayer, 01:11 we are going to study this evening the topic, 01:15 "The Blueprint of End Time Events." 01:20 And perhaps many of you are wondering 01:23 why we're dedicating so much time 01:25 to the abomination of desolation. 01:29 The reason is that the abomination of desolation 01:32 as it was fulfilled in the past 01:33 is going to be fulfilled in the future. 01:36 And in Matthew Chapter 24, this event 01:40 is an extremely important event. 01:42 It is at the very center 01:45 of the prophecy of Matthew Chapter 24. 01:48 Allow me to review just very briefly 01:50 what we've studied concerning the abomination of desolation. 01:54 First of all, we studied about the Eagles of Rome 01:58 coming and being set up outside the city of Jerusalem. 02:03 On those standards was an eagle 02:06 and also a golden wreath representing the sun. 02:11 Then we went on to study the abomination of desolation 02:14 as it applies prophetically. 02:17 And we noticed that a nation 02:19 whose emblem is the eagle, the United States, 02:22 eventually some day is going to impose by force of law 02:28 the observance of the day of the sun as the day of rest. 02:33 Now some people might be thinking 02:36 is such a thing possible in the United States? 02:40 And our answer last time, it's definitely yes. 02:44 Because it happened once before 02:47 that a National Sunday law was proposed 02:51 and very seriously talked about 02:54 by Protestants united with Catholics 02:57 back in the 1880s. 03:00 So this scenario is not just a possibility, 03:03 it has already taken place once 03:06 in the history of the United States. 03:09 Now this evening, we are going to study 03:11 "The Blueprint of End Time Events." 03:16 And we're going to notice 03:18 that the scenario that we're going to study 03:20 is very similar to that which we've studied last time. 03:25 We're going to notice that in the future, 03:27 the same type of things are going to happen 03:30 as took place with the National Reform Movement. 03:33 There's going to be a desire to unite church and state 03:37 to declare this a Christian nation. 03:39 There is going to be also an attempt 03:42 to change or amend the constitution 03:45 to propose a National Sunday law. 03:47 Now we're gonna talk about that in our next subject, 03:50 but today we want to just notice 03:52 how end time events are going to transpire. 03:56 And then in our next lecture, 03:58 I'm going to talk to you about 04:00 what's happening in the churches of the United States today, 04:04 not only the Protestant churches 04:06 but also the Roman Catholic church, 04:09 which is fulfilling what we've studied last time 04:11 and what we are going to study this evening. 04:16 Now somebody might ask, 04:17 why wasn't a National Sunday law 04:20 actually enacted in the year 1888? 04:24 I believe there are two reasons. 04:26 Reason number one has to do with the church. 04:31 And secondly, the second reason has to do 04:34 with the condition of the world. 04:37 You see the church was not ready 04:39 for a National Sunday law to be given 04:42 and the world was not ready either 04:45 because they were certain prophetic events 04:47 that needed to transpire before a National Sunday law 04:52 could be enacted in the United States. 04:55 Now allow me to mention, 04:57 first of all a very important event 04:59 that many perhaps have never heard of. 05:02 In the year 1888, specifically October 17 05:06 through November 4 of that year 05:09 in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 05:13 a very important session of the General Conference 05:17 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church took place. 05:22 It's interesting that true pastors 05:24 spearheaded the preaching at that conference. 05:28 Their names were Pastors Jones and Waggoner. 05:33 It's interesting to notice that Ellen White 05:36 who was present there at that congress 05:40 actually said that the latter rain began to fall 05:44 there at the Minneapolis Conference in 1888. 05:47 She also says that the loud cry of the third angel 05:52 which is mentioned in Revelation 18 05:54 began to be heard there with the message 05:57 that was proclaimed in 1888. 06:01 And yet, what began was not carried on to fruition. 06:08 In fact, God was planning to bring about the great, 06:11 greatest revival in the history of the church 06:14 within the Seventh-day Adventist Church at that time. 06:17 But unfortunately, the church was not prepared, 06:21 was not ready to receive the latter rain 06:25 and to proclaim the loud cry with great power. 06:30 I would also like to mention 06:31 that events in the world at that time 06:35 were not ripe for the fulfillment 06:37 of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation in their fullness. 06:42 There were certain prophetic events 06:44 which we're going to notice in our study today 06:46 that needed to transpire before this National Sunday law 06:52 could be written and enacted in the United States of America. 06:57 Allow me first of all to read you a couple of statements 07:00 from the writings of Ellen White 07:02 where she speaks about what happened in Minneapolis. 07:05 You see the message in Minneapolis 07:06 was rejected by the church. 07:09 And that's the reason why the latter rain which began 07:13 could not finish its work 07:15 and the loud cry which started to be given 07:19 could not come to its fullest power. 07:22 In Testimonies to Ministers, pages 91 and 92, 07:26 we find this very interesting statement. 07:29 "The Lord in His great mercy 07:33 sent a most precious message to His people 07:37 through Elders Waggoner and Jones. 07:41 This message was to bring more prominently 07:44 before the world the uplifted Savoir, 07:48 the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. 07:51 It presented justification through faith in the Surety, 07:56 it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ." 08:00 Now notice this, this is important. 08:03 "It invited the people to receive 08:05 the righteousness of Christ which is made manifest 08:10 in obedience to all the commandments of God." 08:15 Receiving the righteousness of Jesus 08:18 which is made manifest which is seen 08:20 in observance of all the commandments of God. 08:24 Then she continues to say, "This is the message that God 08:29 commanded to be given to the world. 08:31 It is the third angel's message, 08:35 which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, 08:38 and attended with the outpouring 08:40 of His Spirit in a large measure." 08:44 So the message of the loud cry was proclaimed in 1888. 08:49 But the church to a great degree was unprepared to receive it. 08:55 In another statement that we find in 08:57 Volume 1 of Selected Messages page 363, 09:01 Ellen White says this about that Minneapolis Conference. 09:05 "The time of test is just upon us, 09:09 for the loud cry of the third angel 09:12 has already begun 09:15 in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, 09:19 the sin-pardoning Redeemer. 09:22 This is the beginning of the light of the angel 09:25 whose glory shall fill the whole earth." 09:29 God was expecting to do something tremendous 09:33 for His church and through His church in 1888. 09:37 I believe that the events in the world could have matured 09:40 and could have taken place in rapid succession, 09:43 so that we would already be in the kingdom 09:46 if the church had simply accepted this message. 09:50 In the book Last Day Events, page 201, 09:54 we find this statement about what took place in Minneapolis. 09:58 "As the third message swells to a loud cry 10:02 and as great power and glory attend the closing work, 10:07 the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. 10:11 It is the latter rain which revives 10:14 and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble." 10:20 God had amazing things prepared for His people 10:23 but His people were unprepared to receive the message. 10:27 In fact, those who have studied the history 10:29 of what happened in Minneapolis will notice the sad story 10:33 of how the messages of Jones and Waggoner 10:36 were rejected to a great degree in the church. 10:39 And so God had to put the outpouring of His Spirit 10:43 and the proclamation of the loud cry on hold 10:47 and the events in the world 10:49 were also put on hold for a season. 10:53 Now I would like to share with you 10:55 Ellen White's scenario of End Time Events 10:58 and I'm going to also mention 11:00 several biblical concepts to go along 11:04 with Ellen White's presentation of end time scenario. 11:08 And I'm going to mention several points 11:11 that she says are going to transpire 11:14 as we near the end of time. 11:17 First of all, she says very clearly 11:20 that the United States will embrace 11:23 Roman Catholic principles by uniting church and state. 11:29 This is what Revelation Chapter 13 is talking about. 11:32 It speaks about a first beast 11:35 which we believe to be the papacy. 11:37 Then there's a second beast that rises from the earth 11:40 which is a symbol of the United States 11:42 and that second beast, a symbol of the United States 11:46 will actually imposed by force of law, 11:49 the religious principles of that first beast 11:53 which represents the Roman Catholic papacy. 11:56 So Ellen White drawing on Revelation Chapter 13 11:59 has made it very clear that in the end time, 12:02 the United States will embrace the idea, 12:05 the Roman Catholic idea of uniting church and state 12:09 to impose religious observances. 12:12 Another thing which Ellen White mentions 12:14 and which is contained as well in scripture 12:18 is the fact that the Protestant churches 12:20 of the United States will unite 12:23 on points of doctrine which they have in common. 12:27 In fact, the Book of Revelation makes it clear 12:29 that all of the religious organizations 12:31 are going to unite. 12:33 They're not going to form in one church, 12:34 but they're actually going to unite 12:36 on the points that they have in common. 12:39 They're gonna have a common agenda 12:40 on what they agree on. 12:43 And so Ellen White is very clear that Protestantism 12:46 is going to unite in the United States. 12:50 Another point which she mentions 12:52 is that there is going to be great 12:54 social turmoil in the United States. 12:58 Natural disasters, social unrest, problems, crime, 13:06 you know, things, problems like with drugs 13:08 and alcohol and so on. 13:11 And she says that these things 13:13 are going to lead the powers that be 13:16 to blame God's remnant people for the maladies of society. 13:21 This isn't anything new, it's found in the Bible. 13:24 In Elijah's day, Elijah was blamed for the problems. 13:28 When Nero burned the city of Rome, 13:31 he blamed the Christians. 13:33 We notice also that in Matthew Chapter 24 13:37 after mentioning wars and rumors of wars, 13:39 disasters, pestilence, hunger, we're told that then 13:45 God's people were going to be persecuted 13:47 as those who were causing these evils. 13:50 And so Ellen White is simply agreeing with scripture 13:53 that God's people are going to be blamed 13:55 for what is happening in the world. 13:58 Another thing which Ellen White mentions 14:01 is that the legislators of the United States, 14:05 in order to gain the favor of the populous, 14:09 the favor of the people, are going to support 14:12 a National Sunday law even though they might not agree 14:17 with that Sunday law. 14:19 In other words, they will be afraid 14:21 that if they don't support this Sunday law, 14:24 they will be voted out of office. 14:26 In fact, Ellen White says that this should be 14:29 our first consideration when we decide 14:31 who we're going to vote for in an election 14:33 is how that candidate looks upon the idea 14:36 of church and state and religious liberty. 14:40 She actually even says that when we place individuals 14:44 in office who will take away and respect religious liberty, 14:48 we become guilty of the sins that they commit 14:52 while they are in office. 14:54 Now back in the 1880s, 14:56 the problem was with the Democratic Party, 15:00 the problem today is with the right wing 15:03 of the Republican Party 15:04 and we're going to notice that a lot more in detail 15:08 in our next study together. 15:10 Another aspect that Ellen White mentions 15:13 is that the leaders of this movement 15:16 in the end time for a National Sunday law 15:20 don't actually know where this idea is coming from. 15:25 It's actually coming from beneath. 15:27 It's coming from the evil powers. 15:30 It's coming from Satan and his angels, 15:32 but they don't realize it. 15:33 They actually feel that this is something good. 15:37 And she says that they don't even dream 15:39 what the consequences of a National Sunday law 15:43 will be either. 15:45 In fact, the same story that took place 15:47 in the days of Esther is gonna take place again. 15:50 You know Haman came to the king 15:53 and he said to the king, "There's a people 15:54 who are dangerous to have around, 15:56 they don't obey your laws and if you keep them around, 15:59 your society's gonna fall apart." 16:01 And so the king without reflection he says, 16:03 "Hey, if they're menace, go ahead 16:05 and give a law to get rid of them." 16:07 The same is going to happen 16:09 with the politicians in the end time. 16:11 They're going to listen to the religious leaders 16:13 and the religious leaders are gonna say, 16:15 "These people who keep the commandments of God, 16:18 who keep the Sabbath, they're menace to society. 16:21 If we let them exist, the whole nation 16:23 will fall apart and will disappear." 16:26 The same argument was used by Caiaphas, do you remember? 16:29 He said, it's necessary for this man to die 16:32 and not that the whole nation should disappear. 16:35 There is nothing new really under the sun. 16:38 In fact, we find in the writings of Ellen White 16:41 as well as in the Bible 16:43 that the political rulers of the world 16:46 will all unite to persecute God's people 16:50 instigated by the religious powers of the world. 16:54 Ellen White also mentions as well as the Bible 16:57 that there will be an attempt to change or amend 17:02 the constitution of the United States. 17:05 In other words, what today 17:07 would be considered unconstitutional 17:10 will actually be declared to be constitutional. 17:14 You know, I've often wondered how it's possible 17:17 for anyone to believe that National Sunday law 17:20 could be constitutional. 17:22 When clearly the first amendment says, 17:25 that the congress shall make no law 17:27 respecting on establishment of religion. 17:31 Now if a National Sunday law is not an establishment 17:33 of religion, I don't know what an establishment of religion is, 17:37 and yet Ellen White says, that somehow 17:40 they're going to bypass the constitution 17:43 amending it, changing it or overruling it, 17:47 so that a National Sunday law will be given 17:50 and it will be declared constitutional 17:54 probably by the Supreme Court of the United States. 17:58 Ellen White also mentions 18:00 that Protestants will unite with Roman Catholics. 18:04 In fact, she goes one step further. 18:07 She says that instead of Catholics 18:11 trying to secure the cooperation of Protestants, 18:14 Protestants will actually 18:16 offer their services to Roman Catholics. 18:19 In other words, the overture would not be made 18:21 by Roman Catholics to Protestants, 18:24 but the overtures would be made by Protestants to Catholics. 18:27 And by the way, this is in Revelation Chapter 13 18:31 where it says that the second beast 18:33 makes an image to the first beast. 18:36 It imposes the mark of the first beast, 18:39 the number of the first beast. 18:41 In other words, the second beast 18:43 is the helper of the first beast. 18:45 And the second beast, of course represents the United States. 18:48 The first beast represents the Roman Catholic papacy. 18:53 Ellen White also says that Sundays Laws 18:56 will eventually become anti-Sabbath laws. 19:00 In other words, not only will Sunday be mandated 19:03 but also Sabbath observance will be forbidden. 19:07 Once again you have the story of Daniel 3 and Daniel 6, 19:10 you know, those two stories illustrate the two first clauses 19:15 of the first amendment to the constitution. 19:18 Congress shall not establish religion 19:21 nor can it forbid the free exercise of religion. 19:23 In Daniel Chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar tries 19:26 to establish religion by saying everybody 19:28 has to worship his image. 19:29 In Daniel Chapter 6, Darius attempts to forbid 19:34 the free exercise of religion by saying, 19:36 you can't pray to God for a period of 30 days. 19:40 And so in Daniel, we have an illustration 19:42 of these first two clauses 19:44 of the first amendment to the constitution. 19:46 The establishment clause 19:47 and the free exercise clause of the constitution. 19:51 It's interesting that Ellen White says 19:54 that not only then will Sunday be imposed 19:57 as a day of rest, but the Sabbath 19:59 will actually be forbidden as a day of rest. 20:03 She also says that the clergy will use underhanded 20:08 and devious methods to get their objectives accomplished. 20:14 She also says that many good causes will be linked 20:18 with this desire for a Sunday law. 20:21 For example, back in the 1880s, 20:24 we noticed that the Third Party prohibitionist and WCTU, 20:29 the Women's Christian Temperance Union joined forces, 20:31 you know, they had some good causes like the idea 20:34 of getting rid of liquor, you know, 20:36 you can't say that that's all bad. 20:38 They were in favor of temperance, 20:40 but they linked that with the Sunday law. 20:42 Is it just possible that in the end time 20:45 the idea of a Sunday law will be linked with the 20:48 constitutional amendment to protect human life? 20:52 Is it possible that it will be linked 20:54 with the constitutional amendment that marriages between 20:57 a man and a woman good causes in themselves, 21:00 but linked with something 21:02 which is contrary to Holy Scripture. 21:06 Ellen White also says in harmony with scripture that 21:11 religious curriculum will be introduced into public schools. 21:17 In other words, there will be the desire to establish 21:20 a curriculum acceptable to all of the churches 21:24 that can be included as part of the curriculum 21:27 that is taught in public schools. 21:30 She also says that the United States 21:32 will come to the point of establishing a theocracy 21:37 and there will be the idea that the ministers 21:39 are the moral conscience of the nation 21:42 and that the legislators need to listen to the ministers 21:46 because they are the new prophets. 21:48 And they are the ones who can guide 21:50 the conscience of the nation. 21:53 She also says amazingly that eventually the whole world 21:58 will follow in the steps of the United States 22:02 in proclaiming a universal Sunday law. 22:06 The Bible tells us that the whole world 22:08 wondered after the beast, not just one nation, 22:11 all of the world wondered after the beast. 22:14 People could not buy or sell all over the world 22:17 and a death decree will be given also all over the world 22:22 against those who do not keep the first day of the week. 22:25 And that leads people to ask what about Muslims, 22:28 and what about Hindus, and what about Buddhists? 22:30 Are they going to join also? 22:32 We believe that they will. 22:33 How it's gonna happen? 22:35 We can only speculate at this point, 22:41 but I believe that what's gonna happen 22:42 if I read correctly the Spirit of Prophecy, 22:45 what's gonna take place is that there's gonna be more and more 22:48 natural disasters in the world. 22:50 There's gonna be more and more wars. 22:52 There are going to be more and more calamities, 22:55 greater and greater crime until the point where the human race 23:00 is not gonna see anyway out. 23:02 And they're gonna say, "Unless, we all join forces, 23:04 the human race is going to be extinguished." 23:07 And when the world is in an emergency, 23:11 strange things can happen. 23:14 She actually says that eventually a death decree 23:18 will be given against God's people. 23:21 That is the scenario that is presented by Ellen White 23:25 in her book "The Great Controversy." 23:27 By the way, the Great Controversy 23:30 was written around the same time 23:32 as the National Sunday law 23:34 was being proposed in the United States. 23:37 In fact, The Great Controversy was published in the year 1888. 23:42 The one that we have is the 1911 revision, 23:46 but the Great Controversy itself was published in the year 1888, 23:51 the very year in which this Sunday law 23:55 was being proposed before the United States Congress. 23:59 Now what I want to do in the rest of the time 24:01 that we have together is read some statements, 24:04 some striking amazing statements from Ellen White 24:08 to illustrate the points that we've gone through so far 24:12 from the Bible and also from the writings of Ellen White. 24:16 First of all, I would like to read some statements 24:19 where Ellen White speaks about the union of church and state 24:23 here in the United States of America. 24:26 Many of these by the way 24:27 are from the book, the Great Controversy. 24:29 Everybody should read the book, 24:30 the Great Controversy, by the way. 24:32 Every person in the world should read that book, 24:35 because that book is saturated with scripture. 24:39 It's saturated with history. 24:42 And Ellen White was living in the days 24:44 when these things were transpiring before her eyes. 24:48 She-it's the voice of experience, 24:50 you see, it's not just somebody 24:52 who is writing a history of something 24:53 that happened once upon a time, 24:55 she was living in the midst of this. 24:59 Now notice what she says in Great Controversy, page 442, 25:04 speaking about a National Sunday law, 25:06 she says, "Such action would be directly contrary 25:11 to the principles of this government, 25:14 to the genius of its free institutions, 25:18 to the direct and solemn avowals 25:20 of the Declaration of Independence, 25:23 and the Constitution." 25:24 She says a National Sunday law would be opposed 25:26 to the Declaration of Independence 25:28 and the Constitution. 25:29 She continue saying, 25:31 "The founders of the nation 25:33 wisely sought to guard against the employment" 25:36 Notice this, "the employment of secular power 25:39 on the part of the church, 25:42 with its inevitable result, intolerance and persecution. 25:47 The Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law 25:51 respecting an establishment of religion, 25:53 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," 25:56 and that "no religious test shall ever be required 26:00 as a qualification to any office 26:03 of public trust under the United States.' 26:07 And then she says this, "Only in flagrant violation" 26:12 not only violation, what kind of violation? 26:14 "flagrant violation of these safeguards 26:18 to the nation's liberty, can any religious observance 26:23 be enforced by civil authority. 26:27 But the--" now notice this, 26:28 "But the inconsistency of such action 26:31 is no greater than is represented in the symbol. 26:35 It is the beast with lamblike horns 26:39 in profession pure, gentle, and harmless 26:43 that speaks as a dragon." 26:46 So you see this contradictory character 26:48 in the symbol that's used in Revelation 13. 26:51 Revelation 13, you have this beast that has 26:52 two lamblike horns, speaks like a dragon. 26:55 In other words, it contradicts its profession. 26:58 These two horns by the way represent 27:00 civil and religious liberty, Republicanism and Protestantism. 27:05 A church without a pope and a state without a king. 27:10 A government of, by and for the people. 27:14 Notice what she says also in Great Controversy, page 581. 27:21 "Let the principle once be established 27:24 in the United States that the church--" notice this, 27:28 "that the church may employ 27:31 or control the power of the state, 27:34 that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws, 27:40 in short, that the authority of church and state 27:43 is to dominate the conscience, 27:46 and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured." 27:52 How is the triumph of Rome assured in this country? 27:56 When the church is allowed to use the state 28:00 to impose religion, the result is persecution. 28:03 Because the same thing happened with the Roman Catholic papacy 28:07 during the Middle Ages and the Bible says 28:09 that her deadly wound is going to be, what? 28:13 Her deadly wound is going to be healed 28:16 and everyone will wonder after the beast 28:18 and then a death decree will be given. 28:20 People will not be able to buy or sell 28:23 unless they have the mark of the beast. 28:26 Notice this statement that we find 28:28 in Great Controversy, page 615. 28:31 "As the Sabbath has become 28:33 the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, 28:37 and religious and secular authorities 28:41 have combined--" you see that? 28:45 Once again, "and religious and secular authorities 28:49 have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, 28:53 the persistent refusal of a small minority 28:57 to yield to the popular demand 28:59 will make them objects of universal execration." 29:05 Then I want to read one further statement 29:07 on this idea of the union of church and state 29:09 in the future in the United States. 29:11 Here she is speaking about what happened in 1888 29:15 but it applies also to 29:17 what's going to happen in the future. 29:18 Do you remember that Rome had two sieges of Jerusalem? 29:22 One time they came, they surrounded the city, 29:25 they laid siege around it. 29:27 God's people, the Christians were in the city. 29:29 Jesus said, He said, watch for the sign. 29:32 And then the it says in history, Josephus says that suddenly 29:35 Cestius Gallus retreated and he left. 29:38 The Jews went after the Roman armies. 29:41 Many of the Roman soldiers were killed. 29:43 And those apostates within the city they said, 29:46 "See, we told you, God is with us." 29:49 But the Christians who were in the city 29:51 saw this first episode as the sign 29:54 that they needed to flee 29:55 that there was going to be another siege 29:57 and so they left. 29:59 And then Titus came back and laid siege 30:02 and the city was destroyed. 30:03 I believe that in 1888, God was giving us a blueprint 30:06 of what's gonna happen in the end time. 30:08 He was showing us what was going to take place, 30:12 so that we could keep our eyes open 30:14 and know exactly what the signs of the times were. 30:18 Volume 5 of the Testimonies, page 712, she says this, 30:23 the National Reform Movement, 30:24 that's what we talked about in 1888. 30:26 "The National Reform movement, 30:29 exercising the power of religious legislation, 30:33 will, when fully developed, 30:36 manifest the same intolerance and oppression 30:40 that have prevailed in past ages. 30:43 Human councils then assumed the prerogatives of Deity, 30:48 crushing under their despotic power 30:52 liberty of conscience, and imprisonment, 30:55 exile and death followed for those 30:58 who opposed their dictates. 31:00 If popery--" or the papacy, 31:05 "If popery or its principles shall again be 31:09 legislated into power, 31:12 the fires of persecution will be rekindled 31:16 against those who will not sacrifice conscience 31:20 and the truth in deference to popular errors. 31:24 This evil is on the point of realization." 31:30 She also mentions that those 31:31 who will be involved in this movement 31:34 won't have the foggiest idea where the idea is coming from 31:38 and what the consequences will be. 31:41 Notice this statement from volume 5 31:43 of the Testimonies, page 711. 31:46 She says, "There are many, 31:48 even of those engaged in this movement 31:52 for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results 31:57 which will follow this action." In other words, 32:01 they're working in blindness. 32:03 Then she says, "They do not see 32:05 that they are striking directly against religious liberty." 32:11 She says in Review and Herald, 32:12 January 1, 1889, 32:15 "There is a satanic force propelling the Sunday movement, 32:22 but it is concealed." 32:25 You see it looks nice, it looks good, 32:27 everybody back to church on Sunday. 32:29 Everybody, consecrate your life to the Lord. 32:31 Let's bring the country back to Jesus, 32:34 doesn't that sound nice? 32:35 Sounds beautiful. 32:36 But she says, "There is a satanic force 32:39 propelling the Sunday movement, but it is concealed. 32:42 Even the men who are engaged in the work, 32:45 are themselves blinded to the result 32:48 which will follow their movement." 32:52 In volume 4, the Testimonies, page 452, 32:56 she says this, "The Sunday movement 32:58 is now making its way in darkness. 33:01 The leaders are concealing the true issue 33:05 and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see 33:10 whither the undercurrent is tending. 33:14 Its professions--" notice, 33:16 "Its professions are mild and apparently Christian, 33:21 but when it shall speak 33:22 it will reveal the spirit of the dragon." 33:27 Is that biblical? It sure is. 33:30 The beast of Revelation 13, 33:32 it has two horns like a lamb but it speaks like a, what? 33:36 It speaks like a dragon. Now let me ask you, 33:39 doesn't it sound beautiful to say 33:41 the United States is a Christian nation? 33:43 That sounds wonderful. 33:46 Doesn't it sound wonderful 33:47 that the government should give laws, 33:49 so that people will return to God? 33:52 It sounds so mild and so wonderful. 33:55 But you'll see, the United States was founded 33:58 upon the idea of separation of church and state. 34:00 The church should moralize society. 34:03 It is not the state that should do it. 34:06 By the way, Ellen White also says that Protestants 34:09 will stretch forth their hands to take 34:11 the hand of the papacy, not the other way around. 34:15 Notice this interesting statement 34:17 in the Book Maranatha, page 179. 34:21 By the way, this is corroborated by Revelation 13 34:23 where it says that the second beast will do 34:25 everything in its power to exalt the first beast. 34:28 Notice this statement. 34:30 "Protestants will throw their whole influence 34:35 and strength on the side of the papacy." 34:39 Incredible. 34:40 They came here because of the papacy. 34:43 What the papacy did in Europe. 34:45 Now they're going to backtrack, 34:48 you see, because they have forgotten history. 34:50 She continues saying, "By a national act enforcing 34:56 the false Sabbath they--" that is Protestants, 34:59 "will give life and vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, 35:05 reviving her tyranny and oppression of conscience." 35:10 So who is going to revive the papacy? 35:13 It is Protestants, according to her in harmony 35:16 with Revelation Chapter 13. 35:19 Allow me to read you another statement. 35:21 This one is found, actually I have several here, 35:25 Great Controversy, page 566. 35:28 She says, "Protestants have tampered 35:32 with and patronized popery," 35:36 that mean that she says, she's meaning the papacy. 35:38 "Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery, 35:42 they have made compromises and concessions 35:46 which papists themselves are surprised to see 35:50 and fail to understand." 35:52 Now the papacy says, this is too good to be true. 35:55 This can't be happening. She continue saying, 35:58 "Men are closing their eyes to the real character 36:02 of Romanism and the dangers 36:04 to be apprehended from her supremacy. 36:08 The people need to be aroused to resist the advances 36:12 of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty." 36:19 In another statement, volume 5 of the Testimonies, 36:21 page 711 and 712, she says this, 36:26 "Any movement in favor of religious legislation 36:30 is really an act of concession to the papacy, 36:34 which for so many ages has steadily warred 36:38 against liberty of conscience. 36:39 Sunday observance owes its existence 36:42 as a so-called Christian institution 36:45 to ''the mystery of iniquity'' and its enforcement 36:49 will be a virtual recognition of the principles 36:52 which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. 36:56 When our nation shall so abjure the principles 37:00 of its government as to enact a Sunday law, 37:04 Protestantism will in this act join hands." 37:08 We read a statement last time about joining hands 37:11 between Protestants and Catholics, 37:13 not from Ellen White. 37:14 "Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery, 37:19 it will be nothing else than giving life 37:23 to the tyranny which has long been eagerly waiting 37:27 its opportunity to spring into active despotism." 37:34 She also says that in order for this to happen, 37:36 Protestants have to unite on common points of doctrine. 37:40 Notice this interesting statement 37:42 that we find in Great Controversy, 445. 37:44 She says, "When the leading churches of the United States, 37:47 uniting upon such points of doctrine 37:52 as are held by them in common." 37:54 By the way, all of this that I'm talking about 37:56 in our next lecture I'm gonna prove to you 37:58 from the writings of religious leaders 38:01 in the United States today, to show you that 38:04 what she said way back there over 100 years ago 38:07 is taking place with the religious world 38:10 in the United States today, all except the Sunday law. 38:13 You see that's the last part of this whole scenario. 38:17 She says, "When the leading churches of the United States, 38:19 uniting upon such points of doctrine 38:21 as are held by them in common, 38:23 shall influence the state to enforce their decrees 38:27 and to sustain their institutions, 38:30 then Protestant America will have formed 38:32 an image of the Roman hierarchy, 38:34 and the infliction on civil penalties 38:37 upon dissenters will inevitably result." 38:42 And in Great Controversy, page 563, 38:44 she has this telling statement, 38:46 "There is an increasing indifference 38:49 concerning the doctrines that separate 38:52 the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy, 38:55 the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, 38:58 we do not differ so widely upon vital points 39:01 as has been supposed, and that a little concession 39:05 on our part will bring us 39:07 into a better understanding with Rome." 39:11 She also says that the clergy will be foremost 39:15 in convincing their church members to act upon congress, 39:19 for congress to give the National Sunday law. 39:22 Notice this very remarkable statement 39:24 in the Review and Herald, December 24, 1889. 39:29 "Plans of serious import to the people of God 39:33 are advancing in an underhanded manner 39:38 among the clergymen of various denominations, 39:43 and the object of this secret maneuvering 39:47 is to win popular favor 39:50 for the enforcement of Sunday sacredness. 39:54 If the people..." that is by the clergy. 39:57 "If the people can be led to favor a Sunday law, 40:01 then the clergy intend to exert their united influence 40:07 to obtain a religious amendment to the Constitution, 40:12 and compel the nation to keep Sunday." 40:15 Ministers working upon the people, 40:19 so that the people will push for a National Sunday Law. 40:22 By the way this has already happened 40:24 with the idea of gay marriage, the opposition to gay marriage 40:29 and it's also happening in the idea of safeguarding 40:33 the life of babies. The abortion issue. 40:38 Aren't they talking about a constitutional amendment? 40:42 Absolutely. 40:44 She also says that politicians will give in 40:47 because of the popular demand. 40:48 After all, they want votes. 40:50 Notice what she has to say, Great Controversy, page 592, 40:55 "The dignitaries of church and state 40:56 will unite to bribe, persuade, 41:00 or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. 41:04 The lack of divine authority will be 41:07 supplied by oppressive enactments." 41:09 In other words, because they can't convince you 41:11 of them in the Bible, 41:12 they're gonna force you to do it. 41:14 She says, and, boy, is this ever true, 41:17 "Political corruption is destroying love of justice 41:22 and regard for truth..." What would she write today? 41:25 "And even in free America, rulers," 41:28 notice this, "rulers and legislators, 41:31 in order to secure public favor, 41:35 will yield to the popular demand for a law 41:39 enforcing Sunday observance. 41:41 Liberty of conscience, 41:43 which has cost so great a sacrifice, 41:46 will no longer be respected." 41:50 If I had time, I would read you a statement 41:51 in Fundamentals of Christian Education, page 475, 41:55 where she says that God's people 41:57 should not vote to put such men in office. 42:00 We need to put men of principle in office, 42:02 who will stand upon the constitution 42:04 of the United States, 42:05 upon the pillars that this country was built upon. 42:09 They will separate Church and State 42:11 and guarantee liberty of conscience, 42:13 full civil and religious liberty. 42:17 She also speaks about the idea of introducing 42:19 religion into school curriculum. Notice what she says, 42:24 this is in a journal called The Watchman, 42:26 May 1, 1906. She says, 42:28 "The present effort of the church to get the state 42:31 to introduce the teaching of Christianity 42:33 into state schools, 42:35 is but a revival of the doctrine of force 42:39 in religious things and as such it is anti-Christian." 42:46 Well, so you want to kick Christ out of public school? 42:49 The fact is that the government should not be teaching religion. 42:54 That's the point. 42:55 Religion should be taught in private schools, 42:57 religious schools. It should be taught in the home. 43:00 It should be taught in the church. 43:02 You can read your Bible in the street. 43:03 You can gather groups to pray anywhere you want, 43:05 we're in favor of religion. 43:07 But we're against the state establishing 43:10 religion or forbidding the free exercise of religion. 43:14 She also says in Letter 44, 1893, 43:18 "I do not see the justice nor right in enforcing by law 43:24 the bringing of the Bible to be read in the public schools." 43:28 She also says that this desire for a Sunday law 43:32 will be linked with good causes. 43:34 So God's people will be in a difficult situation 43:36 because if we don't link up, they'll say, 43:38 "Oh, so you're in favor of immorality, aren't you?" 43:40 Notice what she says, Great Controversy, 43:43 page 587 and 588. 43:45 This woman had more than human wisdom, folks. 43:47 We're gonna see it in our next lecture. 43:49 I'm gonna prove it to you from-- 43:51 by giving quotations from religious leaders 43:52 in the United States in the last 25 years. 43:55 Notice what she says, "Here the temperance work, 44:01 one of the most prominent and important of moral reforms, 44:04 is often combined with the Sunday movement." 44:07 See, she says, temperance is combined 44:09 with the Sunday movement. 44:10 "And the advocates of the latter represent themselves 44:14 as laboring to promote the highest interest of society, 44:18 and those who refuse to unite with them 44:21 are denounced as the enemies of temperance and reform. 44:26 But the fact that a movement to establish error 44:29 is connected with a work which is in itself good, 44:33 is not an argument in favor of the error. 44:37 We may disguise poison by mingling it with wholesome food, 44:41 but we do not change its nature. 44:43 On the contrary, it is rendered more dangerous, 44:47 as it is more likely to be taken unawares. 44:50 It is one of Satan's devices to combine with falsehood 44:54 just enough truth to give it plausibility. 44:58 The leaders of the Sunday movement 44:59 may advocate reforms which the people need, 45:03 principles which are in harmony with the Bible, 45:06 yet, while there is with these a requirement 45:09 which is contrary to God's law, 45:12 His servants cannot unite with them. 45:15 Nothing can justify them in setting aside 45:19 the commandments of God for the precepts of men." 45:23 She also says that God's people are gonna be 45:26 blamed for the upheavals in society. 45:29 You think this country is bad? 45:30 You haven't seen anything yet. 45:32 Notice what she has to say in the book 45:35 "The Great Controversy," page 592. 45:39 "Those who honor the Bible's Sabbath 45:41 will be denounced as enemies of law and order." 45:44 Imagine Seventh-day Adventists 45:46 who have always taught that we're supposed to keep the law, 45:47 being denounced as enemies of the law. 45:50 That's an interesting thing, isn't it? 45:52 She says, "Those who honor the Bible's Sabbath 45:54 will be denounced as enemies of law and order, 45:57 as breaking down the moral restraints of society, 46:01 causing anarchy and corruption, 46:04 and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth." 46:09 Just like with Elijah. 46:10 Just like Matthew 24 says, she says, 46:14 "Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, 46:19 stubbornness, and contempt of authority. 46:22 They will be accused," notice this, 46:24 "they will be accused of disaffection 46:26 toward the government." 46:29 Are you prepared for the day 46:30 when you will be declared treasonous 46:33 against the United States for saying these things 46:35 that I'm sharing with you? 46:37 She says, "Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law 46:41 will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding 46:45 obedience to the civil authorities 46:47 as ordained of God." And they'll quote Romans 13, 46:51 where it says you're supposed to be 46:52 subject to the civil authorities. 46:54 What they won't quote is 46:55 "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's 46:57 and unto God that which is God's." 47:00 She says, "In legislative halls and courts of justice, 47:04 commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned." 47:10 She also says 47:11 that the constitution of the United States 47:13 will be changed or amended. 47:16 By the way, allow me read a statement of the crisis 47:19 that existed in her day. 47:21 This is volume 5 of the Testimonies, page 711. 47:24 She is talking about the National Reform 47:26 issue in her day. 47:27 She says, "A great crisis awaits the people of God. 47:31 A crisis awaits the world. 47:34 The most momentous struggle of all the ages 47:38 is just before us. 47:41 Events which for more than forty years 47:43 we have upon the authority of the prophetic word 47:46 declared to be impending are now taking place 47:50 before our eyes. 47:52 Already the question of an amendment 47:55 to the Constitution restricting religious liberty-- 48:01 restricting liberty of conscience, rather, 48:03 has been urged upon the legislators of the nation. 48:06 The question of enforcing Sunday observance 48:09 has become one of national interest and importance." 48:12 Here she's talking about 48:14 what was happening with the National Reform movement. 48:16 And then notice, she says, in Review and Herald, 48:19 December 11, 1888, 48:22 "They do not see that if a Protestant 48:24 government sacrifices the principles 48:26 that have made them a free, independent nation, 48:29 and through legislation brings into the Constitution, 48:33 principles that will propagate papal falsehood 48:37 and papal delusion, 48:38 they are plunging into the Roman horrors of the Dark Ages." 48:45 Now she realized that event in 1888 48:49 might not lead yet to this National Sunday Law. 48:53 In fact, in the same chapter, volume 5 of the Testimonies, 48:56 page 713 that we read from a moment ago she says this, 49:01 "It may be..." and this is very significant, 49:04 "it may be that a respite may yet be granted 49:09 for God's people to awake and let their light shine." 49:12 She says this might just be a sign of things 49:15 that will come in the future. 49:17 She continues saying. 49:19 "If the presence of ten righteous persons 49:21 would have saved the wicked cities of the plain, 49:24 is it not possible that God will yet, 49:27 in answer to the prayers of His people, 49:29 hold in check the workings of those 49:32 who are making void His law? 49:34 Shall we not humble our hearts greatly before God, 49:37 flee to the mercy seat, 49:39 and plead with Him to reveal His mighty power?" 49:42 So she says this crisis is upon us. 49:47 It's been brewing for the last 40 years. 49:49 She says, "but may be God 49:51 is still going to give us a respite." 49:53 But then she says this, 49:56 this is found in Review and Herald, 49:57 February 16, 1905. 49:59 "Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed. 50:04 But there is much for God's servants 50:06 to do to warn the people. 50:08 This work has been greatly retarded 50:11 by their having to wait 50:14 and stand against the devisings of Satan, 50:16 which have been striving to find a place in our work. 50:21 We are years behind", she says. 50:24 So she says sooner or later 50:26 there will be a National Sunday Law. 50:28 She realized that, there was respite 50:31 that was taking place 50:32 after this first siege of Jerusalem, 50:35 if you please. 50:36 In fact, she actually says that the whole world 50:39 is going to join forces in imposing a universal Sunday law. 50:43 Allow me to read you a few statements here. 50:45 The book Maranatha, page 217, she says, 50:48 "The whole world is to be 50:50 stirred with enmity against Seventh-day Adventists, 50:54 because they will not yield homage to the papacy, 50:57 by honoring Sunday, 50:59 the institution of this antichristian power. 51:03 It is the purpose of Satan to cause them 51:05 to be blotted from the earth, 51:07 in order that his supremacy of the world 51:10 may not be disputed." 51:14 You say, "That could never happen. 51:15 Persecution wanting to blot out 51:18 a whole people from the face of the earth?" 51:21 Yet, it's gonna happen. 51:23 Volume 6 of the Testimonies, page 18, she says, 51:26 "As America, the land of religious liberty, 51:30 shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience 51:34 and compelling men to honor the false Sabbath, 51:38 the people of every country on the globe 51:42 will be led to follow her example." 51:45 Every country on the globe. 51:48 Volume 3 of Selected Messages, page 392, she says, 51:52 "The so-called Christian world is to be 51:55 the theatre of great and decisive actions. 51:59 Men in authority will enact laws 52:02 controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. 52:07 Babylon will make all nations 52:09 drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 52:14 Every nation will be involved." 52:19 One final statement, volume 6 of the Testimonies, 52:22 page 395, she says, "Foreign nations will follow 52:26 the example of the United States. 52:28 Though she leads out, 52:31 yet the same crisis will come upon 52:34 our people in all parts of the world." 52:40 Now in closing, I would like to ask, 52:41 "What's wrong with the church using the power of the state?" 52:45 Allow me read you a rather extensive statement 52:47 that we find in the book, "The Desire of Ages", 52:50 page 509 and 510. 52:52 This is the most profound statement 52:54 I've ever read anywhere about the proper relationship 52:58 between church and state. 53:00 And how the state can use power illegitimately 53:04 which ultimately leads to persecution. 53:06 This is what she says, 53:09 "But today, in the religious world there are multitudes 53:14 who, as they believe, 53:16 are working for the establishment 53:19 of the kingdom of Christ 53:21 as an earthly and temporal dominion. 53:25 They desire to make our Lord 53:27 the ruler of the kingdoms of this world, 53:30 the ruler in its courts and camps, 53:34 its legislative halls, its palaces and market places. 53:39 They expect Him to rule through legal enactments, 53:43 enforced by human authority. 53:47 Since Christ is not now here in person, 53:51 they themselves will undertake to act in His stead, 53:55 to execute the laws of His kingdom." 53:57 Because He is not here, they say we'll do it. 54:00 She continues saying, 54:01 "The establishment of such a kingdom is 54:04 what the Jews desired in the days of Christ. 54:08 They would have received Jesus, 54:10 had He been willing to establish a temporal dominion, 54:14 to enforce what they regarded as the laws of God, 54:18 and to make them the expositors of His will 54:20 and the agents of His authority. 54:24 But He said, 'My kingdom is not of this world.' 54:29 He would not accept the earthly throne." 54:33 Now notice what she says, "The government under 54:37 which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive. 54:41 On every hand were crying abuses, 54:44 extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. 54:49 Yet the Savior attempted no civil reforms." 54:53 You don't find him picketing against gay marriage. 54:59 He attempted--she says, 55:01 "Yet the Savior attempted no civil reforms. 55:04 He attacked no national abuses, 55:07 nor condemned the national enemies. 55:10 He did not interfere with the authority 55:12 or administration of those in power. 55:15 He who was our example kept aloof 55:19 from earthly governments. 55:21 Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men 55:25 but because the remedy did not lie 55:28 in merely human and external measures. 55:32 To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually 55:38 and must regenerate the heart." 55:41 Capitol Hill cannot do that. She continues saying, 55:45 "Not by the decisions of courts 55:47 or councils or legislative assemblies, 55:51 not by the patronage of worldly great men 55:54 is the kingdom of Christ established 55:57 but by the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity 56:01 through the work of the Holy Spirit. 56:04 As many as received Him, 56:06 to them gave He power to become the sons of God, 56:09 even to them that believe on His name, 56:11 which were born, not of blood, 56:13 nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, 56:17 but of God. Here is the only power 56:21 that can work the uplifting of mankind 56:25 and the human agency 56:27 for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching 56:30 and practicing of the word of God." 56:35 That is the proper relationship between Church and State. 56:39 You see, the State cannot change the heart. 56:43 It can impose moral law against people's will. 56:48 But it cannot lead people to follow the Lord 56:52 because they want to, 56:54 because it comes naturally from the heart. 56:57 Same thing is gonna happen in the United States 56:59 as happened in Rome. 57:03 You know, the church lost its spirituality. 57:07 As a result, things started going downhill in society. 57:11 So they said, "We got to get Caesar to fix it. 57:13 We got to get Constantine to fix it." 57:15 Same is gonna happen in the United States. 57:18 But the solution is not for the government to remedy things, 57:22 it is the implanting of the Holy Spirit 57:25 within the human heart. |
Revised 2014-12-17