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from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others
to do the same。 Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard。
He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs； and he
will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is
afflicting them。
While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all
their maladies； he will bring disease and disaster； until populous cities
are reduced to ruin and desolation。 Even now he is at work。 In accidents and
calamities by sea and by land； in great conflagrations； in fierce
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tornadoes and terrific hailstorms； in tempests； floods； cyclones； tidal
waves； and earthquakes； in every place and in a thousand forms； Satan is
exercising his power。 He sweeps away the ripening harvest； and famine and
distress follow。 He imparts to the air a deadly taint； and thousands perish
by the pestilence。 These visitations are to become more and more frequent
and disastrous。 Destruction will be upon both man and beast。 〃The earth
mourneth and fadeth away；〃 〃the haughty people 。 。 。 do languish。 The earth
also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof； because they have
transgressed the laws； changed the ordinance； broken the everlasting
covenant。〃 Isaiah 24：4； 5。
And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are
causing these evils。 The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven
will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's
commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors。 It will be declared
that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath； that this
sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance
shall be strictly enforced； and that those who present the claims of the
fourth commandment； thus destroying reverence for Sunday； are troublers of
the people； preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal
prosperity。 Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will
be repeated and upon grounds equally well established： 〃And it came to pass；
when Ahab saw Elijah； that Ahab said unto him； Art thou he that troubleth
Israel？ And he answered； I have not troubled Israel； but thou； and thy
father's house； in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord； and
thou hast followed Baalim。〃 1 Kings 18：17； 18。 As the wrath of the people
shall be excited by false charges； they will pursue a course toward God's
ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward
Elijah。
The miracle…working power manifested through spiritualism
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will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than
men。 Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to
convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error； affirming that the laws of
the land should be obeyed as the law of God。 They will lament the great
wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that
the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday。 Great
will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their
testimony。
Satan's policy in this final conflict with God's people is the same that he
employed in the opening of the great controversy in heaven。 He professed to
be seeking to promote the stability of the divine government； while secretly
bending every effort to secure its overthrow。 And the very work which he was
thus endeavoring to accomplish he charged upon the loyal angels。 The same
policy of deception has marked the history of the Roman Church。 It has
professed to act as the vicegerent of Heaven； while seeking to exalt itself
above God and to change His law。 Under the rule of Rome； those who suffered
death for their fidelity to the gospel were denounced as evildoers； they
were declared to be in league with Satan； and every possible means was
employed to cover them with reproach； to cause them to appear in the eyes of
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