The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Revelation 14:9, 10.
Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. . . . But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before. . . .
Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power –all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. . . . As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.
As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite.
Maranatha p. 172
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Prayer Requests
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Dear Friends,
When we moved to Kansas, we were very apprehensive about the storms this state gets. Stories of destructive tornadoes filled us with fear. Not only tornadoes were a problem. Thunderstorms with high winds are very common. Since we live in a mobile home, we felt especially vulnerable. To help alert us to any bad weather, Ron bought a weather alerter. Whenever a storm is coming, the weather alerter is activated through the NOAA weather system. The siren of this little box is very loud. Ron wanted to make sure that if a storm came while we were asleep, we would know it. That little box worked very well. Every time there was a storm anywhere within fifty miles, the siren would sound and a voice would tell us the storm’s location and which direction it was heading.
One particular night, a strong thunderstorm awakened us. Lightning and thunder crashed overhead. Strong winds shook our trailer. In a flash of lightning, I saw the concerned look on Ron’s face. He remarked that the weather alerter must be broken. Suddenly, the weather alerter’s siren began to sound and a sleepy voice reported the storm. Ron and I were very glad that the thunderstorm did not have any tornadoes or hazardous winds connected with it.
There is a storm coming upon this world that will plunge it in its final moments of existence. The end of all things is at hand. We are bidden to warn others of this coming destruction. How important it is that we do not sleep on the job. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible teaches us the way of salvation and warns us of things to come. Our Great Redeemer has given us a special message in His Holy Word for these last days that we are to give to all around us, yet how often we proclaim it in a sleepy voice. We are as Paul observed, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Cor 14:8
Think of it! We are His watchmen, who will blow the trumpet with a certain sound to warn those around us of what is coming upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. The Captain of the Lord’s Host commands, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression.” Isa 58:1 “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Eze 33:2-11
Our Dear Saviour tells us, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt 24:14 May we be faithful watchmen sharing God’s warning message with those around us, so that they can be saved from the coming storm is my prayer.
Rose
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