the people and even to themselves as the vilest of criminals。 So it will be
now。 While Satan seeks to destroy those who honor God's law； he will cause
them to be accused as lawbreakers； as men who are dishonoring God and
bringing judgments upon the world。
God never forces the will or the conscience； but Satan's constant resortto
gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduceis compulsion by
cruelty。 Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the conscience and to
secure homage to himself。 To accomplish this； he works through both
religious and secular authorities； moving them to the enforcement of human
laws in defiance of the law of God。
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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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Chapter 37
The Scriptures a Safeguard
〃To the law and to the testimony： if they speak not according to this word；
it is because there is no light in them。〃 Isaiah 8：20。 The people of God are
directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false
teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness。 Satan employs every
possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible； for
its plain utterances reveal his deceptions。 At every revival of God's work
the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity； he is now putting
forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His
followers。 The last great delusion is soon to open before us。 Antichrist is
to perform his marvelous works in our sight。 So closely will the counterfeit
resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them
except by the Holy Scriptures。 By their testimony every statement and every
miracle must be tested。
Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and
derided。 They can stand only in God。 In order to endure the trial before
them； they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word； they can
honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character； government；
and purposes； and act in accordance with them。 None but those who have
fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last
great
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conflict。 To every soul will come the searching test： Shall I obey God
rather than men？ The decisive hour is even now at hand。 Are our feet planted
on the rock of God's immutable word？ Are we prepared to stand firm in
defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus？
Before His crucifixion the Saviour explained to His disciples that He was to
be put to death and to rise again from the tomb； and angels were present to
impress His words on minds and hearts。 But the disciples were looking for
temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke； and they could not tolerate the
thought that He in whom all their hopes centered should suffer an
ignominious death。 The words which they needed to remember were banished
from their minds； and when the time of trial came； it found them unprepared。
The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if He had not
forewarned them。 So in the prophecies the future is opened before us as
plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ。 The events
connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the
time of trouble； are clearly presented。 But multitudes have no more
understanding of these important truths than if they had never been
revealed。 Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them
wise unto salvation； and the time of trouble will find them unready。
When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as
proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven； He requires every
person endowed with reasoning powers to heed the message。 The fearful
judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image
（Revelation 14：9…11）； should lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies
to learn what the mark of the beast is； and how they are to avoid receiving
it。 But the masses of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth
and are turned unto fables。 The apostle Paul declared； looking down to the
last days： 〃The time will come when they will not
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endure sound doctrine。〃 2 Timothy 4：3。 That time has fully come。 The
multitudes do not want Bible truth； because it interferes with the desires
of the sinful； world…loving heart； and Satan supplies the deceptions which
they love。
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible； and the
Bible only； as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms。
The opinions of learned men； the deductions of science； the creeds or
decisions of ecclesiastical councils； as numerous and discordant as are the
churches which they represent； the voice of the majoritynot one nor all of
these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious
faith。 Before accepting any doctrine or precept； we should demand a plain
〃Thus saith the Lord〃 in its support。
Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the place of
God。 He leads the people to look to bishops； to pastors； to professors of
theology； as their guides； instead of searching the Scriptures to learn
their duty for themselves。 Then； by controlling the minds of these leaders；
he can influence the multitudes according to his will。
When Christ came to speak the words of life； the common people heard Him
gladly； and many； even of the priests and rulers； believed on Him。 But the
chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the nation were determined to
condemn and repudiate His teachings。 Though they were baffled in all their
efforts to find accusations against Him； though they could not but feel the
influence of the divine power and wisdom attending His words； yet they
incased themselves in prejudice； they rejected the clearest evidence of His
Messiahship； lest they should be forced to become His disciples。 These
opponents of Jesus were men whom the people had been taught from infancy to
reverence； to whose authority they had been accustomed implicitly to bow。
〃How is it；〃 they asked； 〃that our rulers and learned scribes do not believe
on Jesus？ Would not these pious men receive Him if He were
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the Christ？〃 It was the influence of such teachers that led the Jewish
nation to reject their Redeemer。
The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested by
many who make a high profession of piety。 They refuse to examine the
testimony of the Scriptures concerning the special truths for this time。
They point to their own numbers； wealth； and popularity； and look with
contempt upon the advocates of truth as few； poor； and unpopular； having a
faith that separates them from the world。
Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority indulged by the
scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews。 He
had a prophetic view of the work of exalting human authority to rule the
conscience； which has been so terrible a curse to the church in all ages。
And His fearful denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees； and His warnings
to the people not to follow these blind leaders； were placed on record as an
admonition to future generations。
The Roman Church reserves to the clergy the right to interpret the
Scriptures。 On the ground that ecclesiastics alone are competent to explain
God's word； it is withheld from the common people。＇* SEE APPENDIX NOTE FOR
PAGE 340。＇ Though the Reformation gave the Scriptures to all； yet the
selfsame principle which was maintained by Rome prevents multitudes in
Protestant churches from searching the Bible for themselves。 They are taught
to accept its teachings as interpreted by the church； and there are
thousands who dare receive nothing； however plainly revealed in Scripture；
that is contrary to their creed or the established teaching of their church。
Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers； many
are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy。 There are
today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for
points of faith which they