a peg in a sure place

THE TIMING FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE IMAGE BEAST

At what point of time will the image be set up? What act upon the part of men will establish it? What is involved in this? These are the questions that are now to be answered. And the answers are there. There is no mystery about it. Let us turn to the prophetic word for the answers:

"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result... The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas." The Great Controversy, p.445.

"Romanists declare that 'the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves to the authority of the (catholic) church.' Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestants of Today, p.213. The enforcement of Sunday-keeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy, of the beast of Rev.13:1-10. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath, are thereby giving homage to the power by which it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image." The Great Controversy, pp.448-449.

Thus is answered the question, At what point of time will the image of the beast be set up? It will be set up at that point of time when the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such point of doctrine as they hold in common, shall obtain the power of the civil authorities to enforce as law the laws and injunctions of the church itself especially in regard to the enforcement of the Sunday legislation. That time is still future but it is not too much distant anymore. Already the movement for church unity is well advanced and strides have been made in this direction that would not have been thought possible but a few short years ago.

Many see in this unity a great blessing for the world and it is true that the prayer of Christ is for the unity of His people. But let us never forget that the unity that Jesus prayed for is not the root, but the fruit. First comes the unity with the truth of God and then all that are united with that truth will in turn be united with each other as the fruit of the basic unity with the truth.

The unity proposed here is not a platform of truth but as an expediency to gain a substitute power for the power of God. Having lost the power of God in the rejection of the great truths of the Advent message, the only remaining power that the churches can turn to is the arm of the state. But they cannot gain this power until they can go as a united front to take it up. Therefore they must first unify among themselves so that they will have the power to go to the state and demand and obtain that power to enforce their wishes. The reasons for this and the factors involved will be more fully developed as we proceed into this series of studies.

sky

Some may feel that the image of the beast must already be set up because there are numerous Sunday Laws upon the State books throughout the United States as well as in Australia, Canada and Europe. But at the present time these stand largely unenforced while the time will come when, in the face of certain issues, there will be a strong uniting of the churches and a very definite enforcement of the law on a national basis. It will be a nation wide affair that will involve the Constitution. It will be a "national apostasy which will end only in national ruin." Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p.976.

So there we have before us fact number one. The setting up of the enforcement of the Sunday law as the will of the leading and by then united churches on a national scale in the United States of America first, is the setting up of the image of the beast. But what takes place in the United States first is followed by every other country on the face of the globe. This is evident from the fact that the message of warning against the beast and his image as contained in Revelation 14:6-12 is a warning that is sent to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people."

"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honour the false sabbath, the people of every country of the globe will be led to follow her example."

"Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world." Testimonies, Vol.6, pp.18,395.

sky

It is no wonder that this is a significant event and one that is fraught with fearful consequences. It is the great point of no return. Once that step is taken then the powers of this earth will have gone too far to return and their destruction is certified. But there is more yet to be learned about this event, for by it the device of Satan will be perfected. For a long time the devil has been working to bring the whole world under his complete control and to unite it into one vast army of confederated opposition against the people and the truth of God.

Now at last his device is perfected and he is ready for the last great battle of the ages. Note how clearly this fact of the perfecting of his device is stated in the following quotation:

"When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, THE DEVICE OF SATAN WILL BE PERFECTED." RH, April 15, 1890.

Inasmuch as the whole object of the devil from the very beginning has been to make of none effect the law of God,(G.C.582) then it follows that if the device of Satan has been perfected at this time, then The law of God is also made void.

And so it proves to be as these statements show.

"A time is coming when the LAW OF GOD is, in a SPECIAL SENSE, to be MADE VOID IN OUR LAND. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God's people will be brought into great peril. When our nation in its legislative assemblies, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of man in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the Seventh day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in the land; and NATIONAL APOSTASY will be followed by NATIONAL RUIN." Review and Herald, Dec.18,1888.

Very naturally this will bring a great test for the people of God.

"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes: for it is to be the great test for the people of God by which their eternal destiny will be decided... Rev.13:11-17 quoted here)... This is the GREAT TEST that the people of God must have BEFORE they are sealed (second and final seal). All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of divine origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast." Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p. 976.

Finally we will notice that this event marks the signal to flee from the cities.

"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the SIGNAL for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the PAPAL SABBATH will be a WARNING to us. It will then be TIME to LEAVE the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains." 5 T 464,465.

And now without advancing the evidences, we will state here that this is also the time for the complete spiritual fall of Babylon the Great and the beginning of the loud cry to the world.

to be continued

Amen. I believe it is closer than virtually all of us realize.

-----

EuropeanSundayAlliance.eu

On 4 march 2012 all over Europe, it’s the European Day Work-free Sunday ! The European Sunday Alliance calls on all members and supporters to take action on Sunday, 4 March 2012, as the EUROPEAN DAY FOR A WORK-FREE SUNDAY.

In times of financial and economic crisis when more and more social and employment rights are coming under pressure, the work-free Sunday is a clear and visible demonstration that the people and our societies are not dependent solely on work and the economy.

We believe that all citizens of the European Union are entitled to benefit from decent working hours that, as a matter of principle, exclude working late evenings, nights, public holidays and Sundays. Only essential services should operate on Sundays.

Today, legislation and practices now in place at EU and Member State levels need to be more protective of the health, safety and dignity of everyone and should more assertively promote the reconciliation of professional and family life. We believe that social cohesion in European citizenship should be reinforced.

Therefore, the European Sunday Alliance calls on members, supporters and all citizens to make our common demand visible on Sunday, 4 March 2012!

Look at what they had planned for earlier this week: http://www.europeansundayalliance.eu/site/4ma...

It's coming.

Yes, this is significant but our eyes should be upon the United States, not Europe. The last chapters of The Great Controversy zero in on the US enforcing Sunday observance and then every country on the globe will follow the example of the US. Right?

There can be no question then in the light of the foregoing evidences from the prophetic Word that this event (the device of Satan being perfected in making void the law of God by enforcing Sunday worship through the union of church and state) is a very significant and important one indeed. It marks a very definite point of development in the great final conflict and we must be thoroughly acquainted with all the facts that concern it. These facts will take on even greater significance as we proceed with the study and witness the bearing that they will have on the crisis.

For now it is time to turn to a study of what leads up to and actually brings the image into existence. This will be the subject of the next posts.

sky

The setting up of the image of the beast is not something that happens without cause. Rather it is the result of the outworking of certain steps and certain decisions that have been made along the way, and is the logical and inescapable culmination of those steps. It is something to which the church and the state, having set their feet in certain paths, must of necessity come to in the end.

For us who are called upon by God to be faithful Bible students it is not enough to know that the image is to be set up and to know what is involved in the setting up of that image. We must know how it comes to be set up. We must understand as far as it is revealed and as far as it is possible for the human mind aided by the Spirit of God to understand the outworking of the very principles that lead up to this situation. It is an important part of the study of prophecy.

What was it then that led to the setting up of the beast in the first case and to the setting up of the image of that beast in the second case? Inasmuch as the setting up of the beast is the result of the outworking of certain forces and the setting up of the image is the same result except at a later date, then it follows that the same forces that resulted in the setting up of the beast must have been again at work to set up the repetition of that beast in the image of it. Therefore to understand that which is yet to be we must study carefully that which has already been and can be clearly seen.

That then is the question, and the answer is given to us in language clear and plain.

"It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy, the beast. Said Paul,'There shall come a falling away... and that man of sin shall be revealed.' 2 Thess.2:3. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image of the beast." G.C.443,444.

Now, why is it that the setting up of the beast and then of the image is the natural and inevitable consequence of the apostasy?

sky

The word apostasy or falling away means to fall away, or to depart from the truth of God. This is only to fall away from the power of God and thus to leave the church powerless. To be powerless means to be without any ability to accomplish anything at all. This then means that the church has lost all right of existence when it has come to this place where she has nothing at all to attract the people, and she finds herself drifting more and more into insignificance.

Therefore, the church must seek another power to attract the people other than the power of God. But what other power was there? There was only one other power and that was the power of force. If the people would not of themselves come to the churches and support them then they must be forced to come.

But the power of force rested not in the hands of the church. The state was the custodian of that. Therefore it followed that by some means the church must win the support of the state until they could finally control it and use it to force the people to do exactly what they wanted them to do.

There could be no other possible outcome than this. It was the inevitable step by step development of it all. And it was not a sudden thing. No apostasy or the result of it is ever sudden. It is a process. And inasmuch as that power is firmly held in the possession of the secular authorities who have been put in the world to rule those who cannot rule themselves, it follows that the church must gain the control of the State in order to control the power of the State. And when that is accomplished, then the beast is formed.

sky

skyblue888 wrote:

"When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, THE DEVICE OF SATAN WILL BE PERFECTED." RH, April 15, 1890.

"A time is coming when the LAW OF GOD is, in a SPECIAL SENSE, to be MADE VOID IN OUR LAND. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God's people will be brought into great peril. When our nation in its legislative assemblies, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of man in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the Seventh day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in the land; and NATIONAL APOSTASY will be followed by NATIONAL RUIN." Review and Herald, Dec.18,1888.

Very naturally this will bring a great test for the people of God.
"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes: for it is to be the great test for the people of God by which their eternal destiny will be decided... Rev.13:11-17 quoted here)... This is the GREAT TEST that the people of God must have BEFORE they are sealed (second and final seal). All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of divine origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast." Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p. 976.


"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the SIGNAL for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the PAPAL SABBATH will be a WARNING to us. It will then be TIME to LEAVE the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains." 5 T 464,465.

With 5T 464 --- you cannot hide in the countryside let alone anywhere else these days

An update was noted in 1892

"After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices crying, "Lo, here is Christ, Lo, he is there. This is the truth, I have the message from God, he has sent me with great light." Then there will be a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith. A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false Sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God himself by supplanting the day he has blessed and sanctified. This false Sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. Satan and his angels are wide-awake, and intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities to bring about his purpose of obliterating from the minds of men the knowledge of God. But while Satan works with his lying wonders, the time will be fulfilled foretold in the Revelation, and the mighty angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory, will proclaim the fall of Babylon, and call upon God's people to forsake her.{RH, December 13, 1892 par. 2}
At the time of the loud cry of the third angel those who have been in any measure blinded by the enemy, who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril, because it will be difficult for them to discern the light from heaven, and they will be inclined to accept falsehood.

skyblue888 wrote:

Yes, this is significant but our eyes should be upon the United States, not Europe. The last chapters of The Great Controversy zero in on the US enforcing Sunday observance and then every country on the globe will follow the example of the US. Right?

These two statements are very much contradictory to one another. If we all know that the International Sunday Law will follow on the heels of the US Sunday Law, why would you prevent Bible students from paying attention to the rest of the world? We should be paying attention to the US and the rest of the world for the corresponding signs. Looking just at the US will not grant you a thorough understanding of where we are exactly in the scope of prophecy. We must have balance and keep our eyes open to all the areas of our world, be it political, economical, or religious, where prophecy will meet its fulfillment.

A fair amount of faithful SDAs have an understanding of the progression of the steps which have been and are paving the way for the setting up and the acceptance of the Sunday Law here in America. In regards to these, Sky, you are correct on that which you pointed out. However, very few are aware of the actual reason and event which will cause the Sunday Law to be enacted. Very few are aware of the true Biblical fulfillment of the seven trumpets.

"I have something I must show you again.

I stand up and the Herald and I walk through the wall. I am again where I was not long ago in another dream--high above the surface of the earth. The Herald says,“I am to show you once again the things which are going to be happening to the earth soon. Hold strong to your faith, as I will be right here and no harm will come to those who are they.” I watch as suddenly balls of fire14 come screaming past us at a very high speed. They break through the atmosphere and explode, causing destruction from where they are to the surface below. Others go through and hit the earth. As they hit, the earth shakes and pulses. I see many buildings collapse. Others burn up and are consumed in an instant. It can only be described as shock waves that ripple through the ground. Complete highways and freeways disappear, either from the ground opening or they simply dissolve and disappear into the ground. I watch as these fireballs hit the ocean, which causes the water to rise up into a large wall. It hits many of the coastal cities that are still standing. The walls of water dissolve bridges and buildings as if they are simple sand structures.15

I see, hear and can feel explosions everywhere. Hot flames of fire shoot upward hundreds of feet. Large rivers of fire melt everything in a flowing path. I watch as buildings twist and turn from the earth moving. Oceans ripple from the vibration of the earth. Suddenly all becomes still. It is as if God Himself has reached down with His mighty hand and stayed the destruction that Satan was allowed to do. The smoke clears, fires subside, and water recedes back toward the oceans. I now see destruction unlike anything I have ever seen before. Cities are completely gone, many towns are in rubble, many highways and bridges have disappeared. Airplanes cannot take off since the runways are destroyed. I know that I just watched so many people die. Many were God’s people and many were not.

I turn to the Herald and I ask him once again if everyone was destroyed. Looking at me with patience in his eyes, he says,“Watch very closely.” I watch as many go into what is left of the streets. Many come together and start praying for forgiveness. Many say that all this is their fault and that they have strayed from worshiping the true God. I see a newspaper stand where the headlines read,“Let us all worship God this Sunday.” Another says,“Sunday, Sabbath, God’s Day.” The Herald says,“What I show you now I will veil from your eyes and ears, but I have been instructed to tell you. A great king will arise and walk the earth and claim he will make all things new.16 He will make all sick well and all things will be as if it never were. He walks about performing miracles, but this only lasts for a short time. He tells them,‘You have sinned against me. But I am your king and I will serve you, but you must submit and serve me. I now want you to only worship me on the new holy day. Those who will not comply will be handled as I know best.’” The Herald says,“Enough of this here. Lucifer shows no love or compassion, just lies. Our Father holds the one true book and it is called truth. Let us leave here."

The Dream 'Get Ready' ForMyPeople.org

A Voice In The Wilderness wrote:

A fair amount of faithful SDAs have an understanding of the progression of the steps which have been and are paving the way for the setting up and the acceptance of the Sunday Law here in America. In regards to these, Sky, you are correct on that which you pointed out. However, very few are aware of the actual reason and event which will cause the Sunday Law to be enacted. Very few are aware of the true Biblical fulfillment of the seven trumpets.
"I have something I must show you again.
I stand up and the Herald and I walk through the wall. I am again where I was not long ago in another dream--high above the surface of the earth. The Herald says,“I am to show you once again the things which are going to be happening to the earth soon. Hold strong to your faith, as I will be right here and no harm will come to those who are they.” I watch as suddenly balls of fire14 come screaming past us at a very high speed. They break through the atmosphere and explode, causing destruction from where they are to the surface below. Others go through and hit the earth. As they hit, the earth shakes and pulses. I see many buildings collapse. Others burn up and are consumed in an instant. It can only be described as shock waves that ripple through the ground. Complete highways and freeways disappear, either from the ground opening or they simply dissolve and disappear into the ground. I watch as these fireballs hit the ocean, which causes the water to rise up into a large wall. It hits many of the coastal cities that are still standing. The walls of water dissolve bridges and buildings as if they are simple sand structures.15
I see, hear and can feel explosions everywhere. Hot flames of fire shoot upward hundreds of feet. Large rivers of fire melt everything in a flowing path. I watch as buildings twist and turn from the earth moving. Oceans ripple from the vibration of the earth. Suddenly all becomes still. It is as if God Himself has reached down with His mighty hand and stayed the destruction that Satan was allowed to do. The smoke clears, fires subside, and water recedes back toward the oceans. I now see destruction unlike anything I have ever seen before. Cities are completely gone, many towns are in rubble, many highways and bridges have disappeared. Airplanes cannot take off since the runways are destroyed. I know that I just watched so many people die. Many were God’s people and many were not.
I turn to the Herald and I ask him once again if everyone was destroyed. Looking at me with patience in his eyes, he says,“Watch very closely.” I watch as many go into what is left of the streets. Many come together and start praying for forgiveness. Many say that all this is their fault and that they have strayed from worshiping the true God. I see a newspaper stand where the headlines read,“Let us all worship God this Sunday.” Another says,“Sunday, Sabbath, God’s Day.” The Herald says,“What I show you now I will veil from your eyes and ears, but I have been instructed to tell you. A great king will arise and walk the earth and claim he will make all things new.16 He will make all sick well and all things will be as if it never were. He walks about performing miracles, but this only lasts for a short time. He tells them,‘You have sinned against me. But I am your king and I will serve you, but you must submit and serve me. I now want you to only worship me on the new holy day. Those who will not comply will be handled as I know best.’” The Herald says,“Enough of this here. Lucifer shows no love or compassion, just lies. Our Father holds the one true book and it is called truth. Let us leave here."
The Dream 'Get Ready' ForMyPeople.org

Isn't Sister White's writings enough? Didn't God give all there was to know through His messenger?

Arnurna wrote:

<quoted text>
Isn't Sister White's writings enough? Didn't God give all there was to know through His messenger?

Not in the slightest. God's truth is ever progressive and it has always been unfolded to His people with the progression of time. Especially, now, in the final generation, are we to receive "the hidden manna" through the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit without measure. New light which will enhance the old light, the pillars of our faith, has been reserved for this final remnant of the faithful which will witness and experience the climax of the war between Christ and Satan. Up until now we have only had but a glimmer of the light which is now beginning to be revealed. Notice the following statements from the Spirit of Prophecy:

“Our work is aggressive. We need the heavenly anointing, that our spiritual eyesight may be clear. We are living in the last remnant of time. Truth is now to be sought for as hidden treasure. The commandments of men have taken the place of the commandments of God. The Lord calls upon His workmen to watch and work and pray. Precious truths are to be recovered from the human traditions under which men have buried them. God desires His people to show a constantly increasing interest in the things of eternity. He desires us to value more highly the favor of His friendship. Let us not become Satan's agents to belittle the solemn, important truth which we profess to believe. Let us not show an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” RH, June 4, 1901

“Great truths that have lain unheeded and unseen since the day of Pentecost, are to shine from God's word in their native purity. To those who truly love God the Holy Spirit will reveal truths that have faded from the mind, and will also reveal truths that are entirely new. Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God will bring from the books of Daniel and Revelation truth that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. They will start into action forces that cannot be repressed. The lips of children will be opened to proclaim the mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.” Fundamentals of Christian Education 473

“There are mines of truth yet to be discovered.”(5T 704).

“We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light yet to come to us.”(RH, June 3, 1890).

“When God’s people are at ease, and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favour them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward, to receive the increased and ever increasing light that is shining for them.”(5T, pp. 708, 709).

“We must not think,‘Well, we have all the truth, we understand the main pillars of our faith, and we may rest on this knowledge.’ The truth is an advancing truth, and we must walk in the increasing light.”(RH, March 25, 1890).

“New Light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed. The diligent, prayerfull seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the Word of God. Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God ... There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.”(Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34,35)

“We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God’s Word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give .... as we near the closing scenes of this earth’s history still more wonderful representations will be made. We need to study the Scriptures with humble, contrite hearts. Those who will devote their powers to the study of God’s Word, and especially the prophecies referring to these last days, will be rewarded by the discovery of important truths.”(Ms 75, 1899, pp. 4, 5.) Manuscript Releases, Vol. 1, pp. 195-196

“In the Scriptures thousands of gems of truth lie hidden from the surface seeker. The mine of truth is never exhausted.”(5T, p. 266).

“At no period of time has man learned all that can be learned of the word of God. There are yet new views of truth to be seen, and much to be understood of the character and attributes of God,--his benevolence, his mercy, his long forbearance, his example of perfect obedience.“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This is a most valuable study, taxing the intellect, and giving strength to the mental ability. After diligently searching the word, hidden treasures are discovered, and the lover of truth breaks out in triumph. Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:‘God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.’‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied Himself, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”(Special Testimonies on Education, 1897, p. 147, par. 2).

“Whenever the people of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clearer understanding of His word. They will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages, and thus will continue to the end. But as real spiritual life declines, it has ever been the tendency to cease to advance in the knowledge of the truth. Men rest satisfied with the light already received from God’s word, and discourage any further investigation of the Scriptures. They become conservative, and seek to avoid discussion ... When no new questions are started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what.”(5T, pp. 706-707).

skyblue888 wrote:

The setting up of the image of the beast is not something that happens without cause. Rather it is the result of the outworking of certain steps and certain decisions that have been made along the way, and is the logical and inescapable culmination of those steps. It is something to which the church and the state, having set their feet in certain paths, must of necessity come to in the end.
For us who are called upon by God to be faithful Bible students it is not enough to know that the image is to be set up and to know what is involved in the setting up of that image. We must know how it comes to be set up. We must understand as far as it is revealed and as far as it is possible for the human mind aided by the Spirit of God to understand the outworking of the very principles that lead up to this situation. It is an important part of the study of prophecy.
What was it then that led to the setting up of the beast in the first case and to the setting up of the image of that beast in the second case? Inasmuch as the setting up of the beast is the result of the outworking of certain forces and the setting up of the image is the same result except at a later date, then it follows that the same forces that resulted in the setting up of the beast must have been again at work to set up the repetition of that beast in the image of it. Therefore to understand that which is yet to be we must study carefully that which has already been and can be clearly seen.
That then is the question, and the answer is given to us in language clear and plain.
"It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy, the beast. Said Paul,'There shall come a falling away... and that man of sin shall be revealed.' 2 Thess.2:3. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image of the beast." G.C.443,444.
Now, why is it that the setting up of the beast and then of the image is the natural and inevitable consequence of the apostasy?
sky

The word apostasy or falling away means to fall away, or to depart from the truth of God. This is only to fall away from the power of God and thus to leave the church powerless. To be powerless means to be without any ability to accomplish anything at all. This then means that the church has lost all right of existence when it has come to this place where she has nothing at all to attract the people, and she finds herself drifting more and more into insignificance. Therefore, the church must seek another power to attract the people other than the power of God. But what other power was there? There was only one other power and that was the power of force. If the people would not of themselves come to the churches and support them then they must be forced to come.

But the power of force rested not in the hands of the church. The state was the custodian of that. Therefore it followed that by some means the church must win the support of the state until they could finally control it and use it to force the people to do exactly what they wanted them to do.

There could be no other possible outcome than this. It was the inevitable step by step development of it all. And it was not a sudden thing. No apostasy or the result of it is ever sudden. It is a process. And inasmuch as that power is firmly held in the possession of the secular authorities who have been put in the world to rule those who cannot rule themselves, it follows that the church must gain the control of the State in order to control the power of the State. And when that is accomplished, then the beast is formed.

sky

Okay, if you don't mind you guys, I will just keep going with the train of thought I started on this thread.

THE RISE OF THE BEAST

It is important for our future study to spend a little space in the study of the development of the original Sunday law which is, in other words, the study of the development of the control of the church over the people by the force of the power of the State.

The time had come when the churches so lacked the power of God that they could no longer attract the people at all and on the Sunday, and special feast days, the priests found that the people would rather work than come to church. This would never do, for not only was it a serious blow to their pride and prestige, but a decided threat to their livelihood. Having in the meantime gained great favour and power with the Emperor they went to him and secured the law that forbade all work on the first day of the week.

Neander in his history of the Christian Religion and Church, vol.2. section 3, part 2, div.3, par.4, records the fact in these words, "By a law of the year 386, these older changes effected by the Emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden. Whosoever transgressed was to be considered, in fact, guilty of sacrilege."

"As a direct result of this law, there soon appeared an evil which, under the circumstances and in the logic of the case, called for further legislation in the same direction. The law forbade all work. But as the people had no such religion as would cause them to devote the day to pious and moral exercises, the effect of the law was only to enforce idleness. Enforced idleness only multiplied opportunity for dissipation. The natural consequences was that the circuses and the theaters throughout the empire were crowded every Sunday." A.T. Jones, Great Empires of Prophecy, p.488.

What to do now? The answer was simple. Having entered upon this wrong path there was nothing left to do but to go further along that path and accordingly they worked till they had a law that closed the theaters on the Sunday. At the council of Carthage in June A.D.401, the following canon was enacted: "Canon 5. On Sundays and feast days, no plays may be performed." This they carried to the Emperor Honorius and requested that he pass this into law.

"The church members had not enough religion or love of right to do what they professed to believe was right, therefore, the State was asked to take away from them all opportunity to do wrong; then they would be Christians! Satan himself could be that kind of Christian in that way, and he would be the devil still." Ibid, 490.

In 425 this came into law and the priests were now confident that the churches were to be filled with a people who, not being permitted by law to work on the Sunday or to play either would now come to church. But again they were disappointed for the people would rather do nothing at all than come to the church which held nothing for them. Accordingly they rested at home on the Sunday and the church was as empty as ever.

"In the logic of this theory there was one more step to be taken. To see how logically it came about, let us glance at the steps taken from the first one to this point: First, the church had all work on Sunday forbidden, in order that the people might attend to things divine; work was forbidden, that the people might worship. But the people would not worship; they went to the circuses and to the theaters instead of to church. Then the church had laws enacted closing the circuses and the theaters, in order that the people might attend church. But even then the people would not be devoted, nor attend church, for they had no real religion. The next step to be taken therefore, in the logic of the situation was to compel them to be devoted, to compel them to attend to things divine. This was the next step logically to be taken, and it was taken. The theocratical bishops were equal to the occasion. They exactly met the demands of the case; and one of the grandest of the Catholic Fathers and Catholic saints was the father of this Catholic saintly theory. He wrote:

'It is indeed better that men should be brought to serve God by instruction than by fear of punishment or by pain. But because the former means are better, the latter must not therefore be rejected.... Many must be often brought back to their Lord, like wicked servants, by the rod of temporal sufferings, before they attain the highest grade of religious development.'" Augustine, A.T.Jones, Great Empires, p.491.

sky

ON TO THE ULTIMATE

And in this fashion and along this course of development, which step by step was the only possible outcome in the nature of the situation as it stood, came the development of the beast in the early days of the Christian dispensation. Of course the majority of people who before did not have enough religion to take them to church now went, for they did not have enough religion in them either to discern the nature of this force to offer any resistance to it.

But now the true people of God began to find themselves in difficulty. They could obey a civil law that forbade work on the first day of the week, and the law that forbade them from going to the circuses and the theaters did not touch them either, but when a law came into being that demanded that they worship on the false sabbath, then they found that they had to disobey that law.

So they found themselves suffering the civil penalties of breaking a law that the church had caused the State to enact in the selfish interests of a church which, having lost the power of God, had no right to even exist as a church. And when the church found that such punishments as were inflicted did not cause the true ones to waver and to obey, then, in the ultimate, they brought in the death decree and as history attests, they slew with savage and heartless cruelty the thousands who would not yield but would obey God rather than man no matter what the price might be.

Such was the history of the setting up of the beast. "It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy." The Great Controversy, p.443.

Thus it was with the setting up of the beast and so will it be in the setting up of the image to the beast. The one is a matter of the past, but the other is yet in the future and terrible will be the repetition of this thing.

In the historical word we have the story of the rise of the beast. In the Prophetic word we have the story of the rise of the image. It is time to spend a little time and space on the story of the rise of the image. This will be the subject of the next posts in this series.

sky

VITW,,, thanks for sharing those beautiful statements from Mrs. White.:)

A Voice In The Wilderness wrote:

A fair amount of faithful SDAs have an understanding of the progression of the steps which have been and are paving the way for the setting up and the acceptance of the Sunday Law here in America. In regards to these, Sky, you are correct on that which you pointed out. However, very few are aware of the actual reason and event which will cause the Sunday Law to be enacted. Very few are aware of the true Biblical fulfillment of the seven trumpets.

"I have something I must show you again.

Ernie Knolls dream .....
I stand up and the Herald and I walk through the wall. I am again where I was not long ago in another dream--high above the surface of the earth. The Herald says,“I am to show you once again the things which are going to be happening to the earth soon. Hold strong to your faith, as I will be right here and no harm will come to those who are they.” I watch as suddenly balls of fire14 come screaming past us at a very high speed. They break through the atmosphere and explode, causing destruction from where they are to the surface below. Others go through and hit the earth. As they hit, the earth shakes and pulses. I see many buildings collapse. Others burn up and are consumed in an instant. It can only be described as shock waves that ripple through the ground. Complete highways and freeways disappear, either from the ground opening or they simply dissolve and disappear into the ground. I watch as these fireballs hit the ocean, which causes the water to rise up into a large wall. It hits many of the coastal cities that are still standing. The walls of water dissolve bridges and buildings as if they are simple sand structures.15
I see, hear and can feel explosions everywhere. Hot flames of fire shoot upward hundreds of feet. Large rivers of fire melt everything in a flowing path.... The Dream 'Get Ready' ForMyPeople.org

While there are again no contextual Scriptures shared

The above is after Daniel 12:1

VITW, I just noticed your post about Ernie Knolls dream. Do you support his ministry? This man has been exposed as a fraud if I am not mistaken. The last thing I heard on other adventist forums is that he even confessed to have been led by Satan. Did you not hear about that?

sky