Who Shall Be Able to Stand?

Chapter 1 - Who Shall Be Able to Stand?

The prophet Joel in speaking of the day of the Lord says, "The day of the Lord is great and very terrible." (Joel 2:11) and then inquires, "who can abide it?" (Joel 2:11)

Balaam, away in his distant day, speaking of the time when: "Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remains of the city, [exclaims,] Alas, who shall live when God does this?" (Numbers 24:33)

Malachi also wonderingly asks: "Who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears?" (Malachi 3:2)

And when at last that terrible day shall have come, "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come." (Revelation 6:15-17) and in terror they too inquire, "who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17)

The connection in which these questions are asked shows that they are questions of no slight importance. Who can abide the day of the coming of the Lord? Who shall stand when He appears? Job in viewing that dreadful time exclaimed, "O that You would hide me in the grave, that You would keep me secret, until your wrath be past." (Job 14:13)

And Habakkuk, beholding it in vision, said: "When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble." (Habakkuk 3:16)

This is the time of which Daniel said, "There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." (Daniel 12:1)

Some Will Stand

Yet for all this there will be those who may abide the day of His coming; there will be those who shall stand when He appears. Jesus speaks of them, and to them, and exhorts them, saying: "Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)

John also speaks to these, saying: "And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28)

Isaiah speaks of the same company, and says: "It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)

And Paul gives a point more in regard to the same ones: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

But, although it is certain that there will be a company who will abide the day of His coming, and although from other texts we know that the number will be one hundred and forty-four thousand, the question still remains, "Who shall abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand, when He appears?" (Malachi 3:2)

The Seven Last Plagues

More than this, the time of trouble, and of the wrath of God, is a longer period than just the short time in which the blaze of Christ's glory shall burst upon the earth, and His people shall be delivered. The wrath of God, the pouring out of which creates the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and which culminates in the personal coming of Christ to take vengeance on the wicked,--this wrath of God will be poured out in the seven last plagues.

1. The first manifestation of this wrath will be a dreadful pestilence,-a noisome and grievous sore,-which falls upon them that have the mark of the beast, and upon them which worship his image.

2. The second will be seen in the waters of the sea being turned to a pestilential mass, as the blood of a dead man.

3. The third will be seen in the rivers and fountains of water becoming blood.

4. The fourth will be manifested in the increased heat of the sun, to such a degree that even men will be scorched with it. 

5. The fifth will be a dreadful pall of darkness overhanging the greater part of the earth.

6. The sixth will be such a manifestation of Spiritualism as will deceive everybody but the very elect.

7. And with the seventh there comes the great voice out of the temple of Heaven from the throne, saying, "It is done." And then there are voices and thunderings and lightnings and a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great; the cities of the nations fall; every island flees away, and the mountains will not be found; and there will fall upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent.

And these plagues are cumulative-the terrors of each one being added to those which have gone before. ( See Revelation 16) Well indeed may all the prophets lament the dreadful day. Well indeed may all men anxiously inquire, "Who shall be able to stand?"

A Personal Connection Required

God spoke by Ezekiel of this time of trouble, saying: "If I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury uponit in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." (Ezekiel 14:19-20)

Noah, the one man only whom the Lord found righteous in the generation before the flood; Daniel, whom God twice called "greatly beloved;" and Job, the one chief example of suffering affliction and of patience--though these three God-chosen men were in this land in this fast-hastening day, no man could be supported by their righteousness or their faithfulness.

No man can then be delivered but by the righteousness which he himself possesses, nor be sustained in the time of trial, of trouble, of temptation, and of opposition, except by the connection which he himself sustains with God, and by the confidence which is begotten of personal and thorough conviction of the truth of God fixed in the very soul, and witnessed, as it will ever be, by the Spirit of God through an abiding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know not how we can better illustrate this than by giving two instances from the Bible--one from the Old Testament and one from the New.

The Example of Jeremiah

Jeremiah had spoken to all the people in Jerusalem the message of the Lord, that they should be carried captive to Babylon and there remain seventy years. Many of them had already been taken to Babylon, Jeconiah the king among them, and Jeremiah had said that Jeconiah should see his native land no more, but should die in Babylonia.

One day there was a great assembly of all the people and the priests at the house of the Lord. Jeremiah was there among them, and he had on his neck a wooden yoke which he had been wearing for some time as a sign to the people of their doomed servitude to Babylon. A false prophet, Hananiah by name, spoke to Jeremiah directly. "In the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon; And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, says the Lord; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon." (Jeremiah 28:1-4)

Jeremiah answered in substance that he would be glad if it could be so, and that he would be glad if the Lord would but do it: "Nevertheless, hear now this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people; ... The prophet which prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord has truly sent him." (Jeremiah 28:7,9)

This only roused up Hananiah to greater boldness, and he deliberately walked up to Jeremiah and "took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus says the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years." (Jeremiah 28:10,11)

And then the record is: "And the prophet Jeremiah went his way." (Jeremiah 28:11)

He had nothing more to say just then, and so silently walked away. Now when it is understood that all the people were already dead set against Jeremiah, it may be imagined what effect this public and palpable defeat, as they regarded it, of him whom they already hated would have upon the populace. We can fairly hear the scoffs, and hoots, and jeers, and groans, that followed Jeremiah as he edged his way through the crowd. Cries of "Ah-h-h, you're beat, you're beat, you're beat," "Prophesy again, won't you?" "Put another yoke on him," etc., etc., would fairly split the air. But what did it all amount to, to Jeremiah? Just nothing at all. He was right, and they were all wrong, the whole crowd of them, and though not a person in the whole nation should believe him made not a particle of difference to him so far as the truth or his conviction of it was concerned.

The Example of Paul

Paul stood before the embodiment of worldly power, the Emperor Nero, to answer for his life and especially for his faith. There also, to oppose him and to blind and confuse men's minds to the truth, stood an apostate from the faith, Alexander the coppersmith; and his opposition was so successful that Paul himself tells us: "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me." (2 Timothy 4:16)

Added to this all his brethren in Asia were turned away from him:

• those at Antioch for whom he had labored so earnestly; 

• those at Iconium, and Lystra, and Derbe for whom he had labored and suffered;

• those at Troas from whom he was so loath to take his farewell;

• those of Ephesus for whose good he had labored three long years, whom he had not ceased to warn night and day with tears, with whom he had talked, and prayed, and wept so tenderly at their final parting;

• those of Galatia, Phrygia, Pisidia, and Pamphylia, all-

"All they which be in Asia are turned away from me." (2 Timothy 1:15)

And then, as though that could not tell all the greatness of his cause for sorrow, he adds: "Of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." (2 Timothy 1:15)

And yet more, added to all this there was his own fellow-laborer, of whom he was compelled to write:

"Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." (2 Timothy 4:10)

For all this, though his life was in the balance, and though no man stood with him, yet he never faltered, but calmly stood forth alone, saying: "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me." (2 Timothy 4:17)

There was the source of his strength. It depended not upon any influence of the world, of men, or of the church-not even upon the moral influence and support of his own intimate brethren-it sprung solely from his own personal, living connection with the Lord Jesus Christ. That alone it was which sustained him in all his trials and afflictions; in all his contradiction and opposition of unbelievers and apostates; and in all the desertions of brethren and fellow-laborers in the faith.

And that alone it is which will sustain any man in the time of trouble, and in the day of the coming of Christ; that alone it is which will enable anyone to stand when He appears. Paul was able to stand unmoved amidst all earth's vicissitudes because he was able to say from the heart, "I know whom I have believed." (2 Timothy 1:12)

Not as is too often misquoted, "I know in whom I have believed," but, "I know whom I have believed;" and he used the word "know" in its real, proper sense too. The following from a late number of the Sunday School Times will give an idea of what Paul meant by this use of the word "know:" "To know" primarily means to have the ability to create or produce; hence it properly includes the idea of a perfect understanding of the innermost nature, or the most intricate parts, of the subject of knowledge.

This is the sense in which Paul used the word "know." It was a living experience with him. As he expressed it in other words, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Such as these shall abide the day of Christ's coming; they shall stand when He appears. And none others can. Are you looking and waiting for that day? Do you know whom you believe? It was written in the prophecy, of those upon whom should come the great tribulation, that: "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32)

Only the people who do know God and the Lord Jesus Christ shall be able to stand in the day of His wrath; only these may abide the day of His coming; only these shall stand when He appears.--Signs of the Times, November 3, 1887.

Chapter 2 - The Working of Satan

Last week we cited some scriptures upon the important question, "Who shall be able to stand?" when the Lord appears. The question is of sufficient importance to justify further consideration, especially as there are many other passages of Scripture that refer to it.

The Saviour said that at the time when His coming is at the doors, "There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24)

When falsehood shall have gained such power as that, every person who will not be deceived will have to have such a connection with the truth and with its Author, that falsehood, even in its most powerful manifestation, shall not affect him.

Power, Signs, and Lying Wonders

Paul presents this point in a manner so forcible that we shall make his words the subject of an extended analysis, because:

1. It is the key to all the events of the time to which it refers, and

2. As we are now living upon the closest confines of the time to which it refers, its consideration is of the utmost importance to the people now living.

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul, writing particularly of the second coming of the Lord, says: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

In other words, immediately preceding the coming of the Lord, God will give to men full opportunity to accept the truth, the love of which will save them from deception, and from the destruction that will surely come upon all who do not receive the love of the truth.

But many will reject that truth, they will not receive the love of it, and in rejecting the truth they place themselves on the side of falsehood, and in a position where Satan can and will work in them with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. When men reject the truth and will not receive the love of the truth, what then can they receive but lies? what can they love but falsehood? "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, buthad pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

God will send them strong delusion, by simply giving them up to their own delusion, by letting them have their own way. This is shown by Paul's reference to the heathen of old: "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, [and] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections. ... And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." (Romans 1:25-26,28-31)

Now with that read this description of men in the last days: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Thus it is seen that in the last days men having a form of godliness will reach the same condition in which stood the heathen of old; and that they reach that condition by the same means as did the heathen of old:

• They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them up to their own vile affections;

• They would not receive the love of the truth, so God gave them up to their own delusion, that they should believe a lie; 

• They "had pleasure in unrighteousness," and as "all unrighteousness is sin" this is only to say that they had pleasure in sin, therefore God gave them up to their own wishes and their own ways.

As they love sin more than they love God, and then persist in their love of sin by rejecting the very means by which God endeavors to save them, the Lord can do nothing more; it is impossible to reach them; they will have their own way; that way is in the love of sin; and in choosing that way rather than the love of the truth that they might be saved, they give themselves over to Satan, who works in them "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

The Time is Imminent

But how do we know that now is the time in which this danger is more imminent than it has been at any other time? We shall explain.

In the First Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote so much and spoke so plainly of the coming of the Lord, that the brethren, not keeping in mind what he had preached to them when he was there, had drawn from his letter the erroneous conclusion that the coming of the Lord was then immediately at hand.

This erroneous conclusion had been strengthened by the pretended revelations of some, and even by forged letters as from Paul, that it was so. And some had even gone so far wrong that they thought the coming of the Lord was so near that they need do no more work. (2 Thessalonians 3:11)

Now the Second Letter to the Thessalonians was written expressly to set the disciples right on this point. But so far is he from covering up, or toning down, the reality, the greatness, or the importance of that event, that the first thing after the address, he introduces the coming of the Lord Jesus "revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

Then after that he takes up the direct purpose of this letter. He says, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither byspirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5)

It is plain from this that when Paul was at Thessalonica he talked to them, and told them, about this falling away, and the development of the man of sin, and the self-exaltation of this son of perdition, and his opposition to the Lord. But where did Paul get his knowledge of these things? Upon what authority did he present these things for their acceptance? We read: "When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews; And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." (Acts 17:1-2)

Where, then, in the Scriptures did Paul learn anything of the rise of a power which he might fitly describe as "that man of sin" (lawlessness, or transgression of the law) and "the son of perdition" (utter destruction), which should exalt himself so highly and oppose God and His law?

Daniel 7

In the scriptures of the book of Daniel, and in that alone, he found the basis and the authority for his argument on this subject. In Daniel 7:7 he found the prophecy of the rise of a great and terrible beast, which represented Rome. He found that the beast had ten horns, representing ten kingdoms which should rise upon the fall of Rome.

 After the rise of these ten kingdoms and among them, and by the destruction of three of them, he found another power that was to arise, diverse from the others. He found that this power would "speak great words against the Most High" ("opposes himself" against God), and "wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws" (the man of sin, the lawless one, exalting himself above God). He found there also the prophet saying: "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit; ... the Judgment was set and the books were opened. ... I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." (Daniel 7:9-11)

And therefore, with the authority of the word of God, Paul could speak and write to the Thessalonians, that after the falling away, "that Wicked" should "be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

And so he could very appropriately call this power "the son of utter destruction." (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Daniel 8

Again, in Daniel 8. Paul would read of a "little horn which waxed exceeding great," and which covered the whole work and period of both the beast and the "little horn" of Daniel 7. In this 8th chapter he would read of this little horn that he should "magnify himself in his heart, ... Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, ... it cast down the truth [the word of God] to the ground." (Daniel 8:25,11-12)

And: "He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand." (Daniel 8:25)

Therefore Paul could speak and write the Thessalonians that after the falling away, then should arise that man of sin "the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

And that when he should be revealed and run his wicked course, then the Lord would consume him with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming; "Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

There can be no shadow of doubt that these scriptures from the book of Daniel are the basis of Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians, 2nd chapter. Nor can there be any just doubt that both these scriptures from the book of Daniel and from 2 Thessalonians refer specifically to the Papacy.

The Time of the End

The "little horn" power of Daniel 7 was to continue a time, times, and the dividing of time--1,260 years--then: "The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion,to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." (Daniel 7:26-27)

The time of Papal supremacy--the 1,260 years--ended in 1798, at the time the world entered upon the time called in the prophecy, "the time of the end": "Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision." (Daniel 8:17) "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. ... And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over." (Daniel 11:35,40) "But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ... And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4,9)

The Judgment was set in 1844. (Daniel 7:10; Daniel 8:14; Revelation 14:6-7) His dominion has been taken away to consume and to destroy it unto the end. Soon He shall come whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; and who shall consume "that Wicked" with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming. But before He comes, Satan is to work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Therefore it is certain that we are now living in the time when this working of Satan is to be looked for, and also the time when the truth is to be given, the love of which will save men from the falsehood and deception of the working of Satan.

In our next study we shall definitely locate the place where this working of Satan should arise, and the power through which it will be most prominently manifested.--Signs of the Times, November 10, 1887.

Chapter 3 - The Time of the Working of Satan

The prophecy of Daniel, and the exposition of Paul, show that the "working of Satan," of 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, was to be developed after 1798, and before the Lord comes.

Parallel Between Daniel 7 and Revelation 13

In the 13th chapter of Revelation is given the prophecy of the rise of the power through which this working will be developed. The first part of Revelation 13 is a prophecy relating to the same events as those in Daniel 7, which are spoken of in connection with the little horn power; a brief parallel will show this.

The Little Horn of Daniel 7 and The Beast of Revelation 13. 

The Little Horn has "a mouth speaking great things." (Daniel 7:8) The Beast "was given ... a mouth speaking great things." (Revelation 13:5)

The Little Horn "speaks great words against the Most High." (Daniel 7:25) The Beast opens "his mouth in blasphemy against God." (Revelation 13:6)

The Little Horn made "war with the saints, and prevailed against them." (Daniel 7:21) The Beast is said to "make war with the saints and overcome them." (Revelation 13:7)

The Little Horn continues "a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25) [1260 years] The Beast is said "to continue forty and two months." (Revelation 13:5) [1260 years]

The Little Horn succeeds Pagan Rome and the ten kingdoms." (Daniel 7:8) The Beast receives power from the Dragon (Rome), when the ten horns had crowns (kingdoms). (Revelation 13:1-2)

After the Little Horn continues the allotted time, his dominion is taken away." (Daniel 7:26) After the Beast continues the same allotted time, he also was to meet with the same fate--he was to be led into captivity, and to be wounded to death, although the deadly wound should be healed. (Revelation 13:3,10)

All this shows that Revelation 13:1-10 and Daniel 7:20-26 refer to the same identical power, and both alike bring us to 1798, when the Pope was led into captivity and died in captivity-when the Papacy received the deadly wound.

But the very next verse in Daniel 7--verse 27--introduces the coming of the Lord and the kingdom given to the saints, whereas in the parallel line of prophecy in Revelation 13 and 14, the coming of the Lord is not introduced until Revelation 14:14.

The Timing and Location

It is therefore certain that that portion of prophecy contained in Revelation 13:11-18 and 14:6-13 lies between 1798 and the coming of the Lord, and these passages may with perfect propriety be inserted and read between verses 26 and 27 of Daniel 7.

Now as the events prophesied in these parts of Revelation 13 and 14 stand between 1798 and the coming of the Lord; and as Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 2, compared with Daniel 7, show that the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, is also manifested in the last part of this same period, it follows that the power through which the working of Satan will be developed, must arise in this period, and that these scriptures must contain the prophecy which relates to the rise and work of this power. And such, in fact, is the case.

That it is so will be seen by merely reading the prophecy in the last part of Revelation 13. Immediately following the verse in which it is said of the Papacy, "He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity," (Revelation 13:10) which was in 1798, the prophecy says, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him [in his sight or presence], and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Revelation 13:11-14)

We have not the space to go into an analysis of this prophecy, nor to give an extended explanation of the symbols and sentences used; we can state the sum of it all in this single sentence: There is not a specification in this prophecy that is met in any nation except the United States; and there is not a specification in the prophecy that is not met to the full in the United States.

And thus in Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 14, there is given a prophetic view of history, without a break, from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to the end of the world and the reign of Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. There is:

1. The kingdom of Babylon, (Daniel 7:4) which ended 538 BC;

2. Medo-Persia, (Daniel 7:5) which ended 331 BC;

3. Grecia, (Daniel 7:6) which continued till 168 BC;

4. Rome and the ten kingdoms (Daniel 7:7) bring us to 538 AD;

5. The Papacy, (Daniel 7:8,20-26; Revelation 13:1-10) from 538 AD till 1798 AD; and

6. The United States, (Revelation 13:11-18; 14:9-14) ending with the coming of the Lord and the end of the world.

Miracles to Deceive

These things being true, for they are true, it inevitably follows that the United States is the power through which is to be developed the working of Satan, "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

This will be seen by reference to Revelation 13:13-14, and connecting scriptures: "And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do." (Revelation 13:13-14)

Here it is said there will be miracles (RV: "signs") and wonders wrought with power; they will be wonders to deceive, and which will deceive; and that is precisely what Paul refers to by the phrase: "power and signs [miracles] and lying wonders." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

And they are wrought by, and at the instigation of, Satan too, because he is the only one whose interest it is to deceive people. Satanic agency is the only one by which miracles to deceive can ever be wrought.

More than this, we have the plain word of God that these miracles will be wrought by Satanic agency. Notice, they are wrought for the purpose of deceiving people into the worship of the beast and his image: "And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." (Revelation 13:14)

And when Jesus comes it is said, "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image." (Revelation 19:20)

Now the word says, "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)

The wine of the wrath of God is the seven last plagues, for says the prophet, "I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angelshaving the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God." (Revelation 15:1)

The very first of these plagues falls upon "the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image." (Revelation 16:2)

The others follow in quick succession, and when the sixth one is poured out, "Unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,and out of the mouth of the beast, and our of the mouth of the false prophet [the image of the beast]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:13-14)

And when the very next word is from Christ: "Behold, I come as a thief." (Revelation 16:15)

Setting the Stage

If, therefore, this prophecy of the image of the beast and the rise of this miracle-working power, be applicable to the United States, as we have said, and if now is the time when a fulfillment of the prophecy should be expected, it is proper to inquire, "Is there anything that has yet appeared in this country which would go to show a fulfillment of the prophecy?"

There is decidedly. Modern Spiritualism, with its signs and lying wonders, its spirits of devils working miracles, arose in the United States. Here it has developed what power it has, and from here is has spread to all the world. The prophecy is being fast fulfilled.

Further, the prophecy says that there should be made an image to the beast--an image of the Papacy. If, therefore, this prophecy be applicable to the United States, and if now is the time when its fulfillment should be looked for, it is proper also to ask, "Is there anything that has appeared which would promise a fulfillment of the prophecy?"

Again the answer is, There is decidedly. That is the loud demand that is now being so persistently made for the constitutional establishment of a National religion, which will be in effect the union of Church and State in this Government.

The essential characteristic of the beast--the Papacy--is the union of Church and State, the Church using the civil power for the enforcement of her dogmas. For this Government to be revamped upon that model, would be the making of an image to the beast. And at this moment there is not only such a demand being loudly and persistently made, but there is actual danger that the scheme will be soon accomplished. Those who are working for it say themselves that assured success will be theirs not later than 1896.

And although Spiritualism is not, as yet, actively engaged in the work, it is through the success of that movement that Spiritualism and its working of Satan is to be developed to that extent that it will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

God's Answer

Once more; if the agency has already arisen and spread abroad in the world by which Satan is to manifest his signs and lying wonders; and if the power--the image of the beast--is already being formed through which Satan's power is to be manifested to the utmost degree in working "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved," (2 Thessalonians 2:10) then too a proper question to ask would be, "Is there at this time any particular manifestation of the truth of God, specially designed to expose and counteract this working of Satan and the iniquity of the fast-developing image of the Papacy?"

To this question also the answer must be decidedly, There is. This truth is embodied in the Third Angel's Message, of Revelation 14. The special and direct purpose of this message is to protect men from the deception of Satan, and from the worship of the beast and his image.

The work of deception is to say to them that dwell upon the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the beast; and yet more, both to speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed; and to cause all to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. But says the word of God by the Third Angel's Message: "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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-12)

In that message is embodied the truth which will save all who receive the love of it. It will not only save them from the worship of the beast and his image, and from the power and deception of Satan, but it will save them with the everlasting salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes in the glory of the Father, and all the holy angels with Him.

It is for this that the truth of the message is to fit all who will receive the love of it, for the event which immediately follows the message is the coming of the Lord: "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." (Revelation 14:14-16)

And, "the harvest is the end of the world." (Matthew 13:39)

Thus we find by every evidence of Scripture that now is the time when the working of Satan, "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish," (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) is at the very doors. Next week we shall dwell upon the truth, the love of which alone will save men from the deceptions of the workings of Satan.--Signs of the Times, November 17, 1887.

Chapter 4 - The Image to the Beast

Last week we found that the United States is the power through which is to be developed the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.

The agency--Spiritualism--has already arisen, by which Satan is to manifest his great power and his strong delusion; and through the loud and persistent demand for the establishment of a national religion, the power--the image of the Papacy--is about to be formed by which the working of Satan is to be made effective.

Our readers are acquainted with the manifestations of Spiritualism; but with the work of the National Reform Association which is to culminate in the living image of the Papacy, we fear they are not nearly as well acquainted as they ought to be.

Although we have written about it a good deal in the Signs, we have never yet given our readers a summary view of this movement as it now stands. In this article we propose to give a statement of the prospect of the success of the National Reform movement as it actually stands at present.

1. Supported by Evangelicals

The movement is supported by "all evangelical denominations." The Association has one hundred and twenty vice-presidents, eighty of whom, including Joseph Cook, are Revs. And Rev. D.Ds., and Rev. D.D., LL.Ds., and some are even Right Rev. D.D., LL.Ds. Of these eighty, eleven are bishops made up from the Episcopal, Evangelical, and United Brethren Churches. Besides these eighty divines, there are in the list ten college professors, one governor, three ex-governors, nine justices of Supreme Courts, two judges of Superior Courts, one judge of the United States District Court, one brevet brigadier-general, one colonel, and seven prominent officials of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

It is true that not all of these eminent personages are really in favor of the movement, but the National Reform managers use their names and full titles for all they are worth, and thus make their influence tell for as much as though they everyone favored it.

2. Supported by the WCTU

The W.C.T.U. is counted, both by themselves and the National Reformers, as one with the National Reform Association. Miss Willard, Mrs. Woodbridge, Mrs. Bateham, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. Clara Hoffman, Mrs. Mary T. Lathrop, and Mrs. W. I. Sibley, of the Union, are all vice-presidents of the National Reform Association. In the Pittsburg National Reform Convention, May 11, 12, 1887, Rev. T. P. Stevenson, editor of the Christian Statesman and corresponding secretary of the Nation Reform Association, in his annual report made the following statement of the cooperation of the W.C.T.U. with National Reform:

Two years ago Miss Frances E. Willard, president of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, suggested the creation of a special department of its already manifold work for the promotion of Sabbath observance, "co-operating with the National Reform Association." The suggestion was adopted at the National Convention in St. Louis, and the department was placed in charge of Mrs. Josephine C. Bateham, of Ohio, as national superintendent. Mrs. Bateham has since, with her own cordial assent, been made one of the vice-presidents of the National Reform Association.

One year ago your secretary placed in the hands of President Willard a memorandum suggesting the creation of another department "for the retention of the Bible in the public schools," and assigning reasons for such action. This step was recommended by Miss Willard in her annual address before the late National Convention at Minneapolis, and was adopted in so far that a committee was appointed to make preliminary inquiries during the coming year, with Miss Willard herself at the head of the committee.

In the series of "Monthly Readings" for the use of local Unions as a responsive exercise, prepared or edited by Miss Willard, the reading for last July was on "God in Government;" that for August on "Sabbath Observance" (prepared by Mrs. Bateham), and that for September on "Our National Sins." Touching the first and last-named readings your secretary had correspondence with Miss Willard before they appeared.

A letter has been prepared to W.C.T.U. workers and speakers, asking them, in their public addresses, to refer to and plead for the Christian principles of civil government. The president of the National Union allows us to say that this letter is sent with her sanction and by her desire.

The heartiness and intelligence, the faith and courage, with which these Christian women embrace and advocate the fundamental principles of Christian government are most gratifying. Mrs. Woodbridge chose for her theme at Ocean Grove and Chautauqua, "Shall the United States Acknowledge Christ as Sovereign?" Miss Willard loses no opportunity of declaring that "the Government is on His shoulder." Similar expressions are constantly on the lips of their leading speakers and writers....Mrs. Woodbridge, in her address to the Workingmen's Assembly in Cleveland, appealed to them to join hands with the temperance forces in placing this "Government upon the shoulder of Him who is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and in crowning Christ our Lord as the Ruler of Nations."

3. Supported by the Working Men

The workingmen. It will be seen by the above that the National Reform Association has not only gained the Union itself, but that through the Union it is making strong bids for the Knights of Labor and other workingmen's associations. Indeed, it was stated in the late convention that: The Anarchists, the Socialists, and the Catholic Church are all trying to catch the workingmen, but National Reform must secure the workingmen.

And we are safe in saying that National Reform will secure them. Even though the Roman Church should secure the workingmen's associations, bodily, that will be no hindrance to National Reform's securing them, for of all the bids for support that the National Reform Association is making the strongest are made for the support of the Catholic Church.

4. Supported by the Catholic Church

Thus says the Christian Statesman of December 11, 1884: Whenever they [the Roman Catholics] are willing to cooperate in resisting the progress of political atheism, we will gladly join hands with them.

And again: We cordially, gladly recognize the fact that in South American republics, and in France, and other European countries, the Roman Catholics are the recognized advocates of national Christianity, and stand opposed to all the proposals of secularism....In a world's conference for the promotion of national Christianity many countries could be represented only by Roman Catholics. [Editorial before quoted]

Now let us read a word from Rome. In his Encyclical published in 1885, Pope Leo XIII says, We exhort all Catholics who would devote careful attention to public matters, to take an active part in all municipal affairs and elections, and to further the principles of the church in all public services, meetings, and gatherings. All Catholics must make themselves felt as active elements in daily political life in the countries where they live. They must penetrate wherever possible in the administration of civil affairs; must constantly exert the utmost vigilance and energy to prevent the usage of liberty from going beyond the limits fixed by God's law.

All Catholics should do all in their power to cause the constitutions of States and legislation to be modeled to the principles of the true church. All Catholic writers and journalists should never lose for an instant from view the above prescriptions. All Catholics should redouble their submission to authority, and unite their whole heart and soul and body and mind in defense of the church and Christian wisdom.

From the above quotations from the Statesman it is seen that in European and South American countries the Roman Catholics are the recognized advocates of national Christianity. National Christianity is the object of the National Reform movement; our Constitution and legislation have to be remodeled before this national Christianity can be established; to remodel our Constitution and legislation is the aim of National Reform; but this is exactly what "all Catholics" are by the Pope ex cathedra commanded to do, and not to lose sight of it for an instant.

What the National Reformers propose to do with our Constitution and legislation is precisely what the Roman Catholics in this country are commanded by the Pope to do. Therefore the aim of National Reform and the aim of Rome are identical and of course they will "gladly join hands."

But to show how very eager the National Reformers are to join hands with Rome, we present another item. Last August the corresponding secretary of the National Reform Association went to Saratoga and held a National Reform meeting of the wateringplace preachers assembled there. The principal point of discussion was religion in the public schools. Mr. Stevenson opened the discussion and argued against the present school system, and the official report says: The speaker argued against the secular program: 1. That it does not satisfy the Roman Catholics or conciliate them to our school system. Their special outcry is against the atheistic tendencies of public education, and the exclusion of religious worship and instruction from the schools only gives color to the charge.

Then in the discussion that followed Mr. Stevenson was asked this question: If we put the Protestant Bible in the schools where Protestants are in the majority, how could we object to the Douay version [the Catholic Bible] in schools where Roman Catholics are in the majority?

"The corresponding secretary" answered: "We Wouldn't Object."

They "wouldn't object!!" They "wouldn't object" to a majority of Roman Catholics forcing the Catholic Bible into the hands of the children of Protestants and other non-Catholics, in the public schools! They "wouldn't object" to twenty Catholics forcing the Catholic Bible into the hands, and the Catholic worship upon the minds, of the children of nineteen non-Catholics in any public school district!

We have not the space now to thoroughly ventilate this wicked offer; we may do that at another time. At present we shall only say that if this scheme were adopted at this hour it would place the public schools of ten States and four Territories under the control of the Catholic Church. This shows to what lengths the National Reformers are willing to go to gain the alliance of Rome in their project for the establishment of a national religion.

5. Supported by the Prohibition Party

The National Reform report before mentioned says on this point:

The national platform of the Prohibition party adopted in Pittsburgh in 1884, contained an explicit acknowledgment of Almighty God, and of the paramount authority of his law as the supreme standard of all human legislation. The Rev. Dr. A.A. Miner, D.D., of Boston, an eloquent and devoted friend and one of the vice-presidents of the National Reform Association, was a member of the committee which framed the declaration. After that presidential campaign was over, and before the State conventions of 1885, Professor Wallace, of Wooster University, wrote to your secretary, suggesting that all diligence be used to secure similar acknowledgments and kindred declarations on related points, in the Prohibition platforms of the several States. Under this most judicious and timely suggestion, a large correspondence has been held with the leaders of the party, and its chief workers in many States.

And then of the State and county Prohibition Conventions that have "incorporated into their platforms" distinct acknowledgment of National Reform principles, there are named the States of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, Texas, and Connecticut; and the counties of Washington, Lancaster, and Chester, Pa., and Belmont, Ohio.

Now take the voters of "all the evangelical denominations;" the voters of the Prohibition party; the voters of the workingmen's associations; and the voters of the Catholic Church; and it is perfectly clear that they compose an overwhelming majority of all the voters in this nation; and much more would it be so if the W.C.T.U. should secure their demanded right of suffrage. And against this thing there will be no "solid South." 

Take, then, all the voters that are here represented; take with them an issue upon which all will heartily unite; veil National Reform under that issue; then bring that issue to a vote at the polls, and it is absolutely certain that it will carry by a vast majority.

Is there then any such issue in view? There is such an issue, and that already clearly defined and well developed. That issue is The Universal Demand for Sunday Laws, or, as otherwise expressed, laws enforcing the observance of the "Christian Sabbath."

Agitation to Change the Laws

Every one of these bodies that we have named will almost unanimously support whatever demand may be made for Sunday laws, even to the subversion of the national Constitution to secure them. The reader needs not to be told that all the churches are in favor of rigid Sunday laws. It is well known that one grand aim of the W.C.T.U. is to secure the enactment and enforcement of strict Sunday laws.

The Baltimore Plenary Council, indorsed by the Pope, commands the observance of Sunday, and the Romish Church will heartily support any movement to enforce its observance by national laws. It is this very thing that makes the National Reform Association so anxious to secure the help of Rome. Both the Catholic and the National Reform papers urge upon the workingmen that as they have already struck for eight hours for a day's work, now they must strike for six days for a week's work, and Sunday secured by law.

In the late National Reform Convention it was not only stated, as we have quoted, that "National Reform must secure the workingmen," but it was also said that "they could best be secured through the agitation of the Sabbath." And they are securing them by this very means.

The Illinois Legislature, which we believe is yet in session, had before it for passage a Sunday law framed by the preachers of Chicago-it might well have been framed by the Inquisition itself -and a petition, said to represent 25,000 Knights of Labor, was sent up urging its passage. Nor does the movement stop with the Knights of Labor and other workingmen's associations, but even the Socialists join themselves to the movement and are welcome, as the following from the Christian Union testifies: It is very clear that if our Sabbath [Sunday, of course] is to be preserved at all--and we are sanguine of its preservation--the non-religious sentiment of the country must be brought in to reenforce the religious demand for Sabbath [Sunday] rest, and it is increasingly evident that this is entirely practicable. And, curiously, what renders this practicable is that horrid "socialism" which keeps some good people lying awake at nights in fear and trembling.

Are not the Legislatures of all the States already being besieged at every session with demands for the enactment of rigorous Sunday laws with no respect whatever to the rights of conscience? Only the past winter such demands were made upon the Legislatures of California, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Illinois, and we know not how many other States. Such laws were secured in Massachusetts and Tennessee, and passed the House in Illinois sweepingly and with cheers. But State laws will amount to but little while national statutes are wanting.

And now Congress itself is to be besieged. The W.C.T.U. is now circulating everywhere for signatures, petitions to be presented to Congress next month asking for the enactment of laws forbidding Sunday mails in any shape, and Sunday interstate railroad traffic. And it is safe to say that they will very readily get millions of signatures to the petitions.

Here, then, is the situation. The National Reform Association proposes a religious amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Through such an amendment there will be formed a union of Church and State. Under cover of the universal demand for Sunday laws the question of the constitutional amendment can be made a question of national politics, and can be brought to a vote of the nation.

When it is so brought to a vote, the National Reform Association can bring to the polls, in its support, the voters of "all evangelical churches," the voters of the Prohibition party, the voters of the Catholic Church, the voters of the Knights of Labor, and the workingmen generally, and with these the Socialists and all the rest of the non-religious rabble, and the whole thing sanctified by the sweet influences of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and so can carry it as sweepingly as inquisitorial Sunday laws are now carried in some of the State Legislatures.

By these evidences it will be seen that it will be but a little while till this question can be made a national issue. The National Reformers themselves say that their amendment will be secured "within the next nine years at the very furthest." And Dr. McAllister says: I think in a much less time than that, probably within the next five years, this will be the living issue, an issue that American politicians can no longer quibble over, but that they must face and settle.

He says that there may be a partial success in the campaign of 1892, but that there will be a much broader success in 1896. Of this we can offer no opinion only to say that we very much fear that they are right in their estimate. But this we know, and everyone else may know, that whenever the day comes that it is brought to a vote it will as surely carry as that day comes. That the day will come is as sure as that these facts exist.

And when it does come, then there comes with it a union of Church and State, with its whole train of attendant evils in this Government. And in that day, liberty--whether civil or religious--will forever take her departure from this dear land, her last and happiest home on earth. Then will be formed the image to the beast, and his enforced worship will speedily follow. But the message of God is speaking 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. ... Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-10,12)

And speedily to follow there will be: "The working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth [this truth], that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Thus the most fearful contest between truth and error that the world has ever seen, is at the very doors, and who is ready? Who has received such a love for the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus that by that love they shall be able to defeat all the deceptions of Satan in all his power? Who?--Signs of the Times, November 24 & December 1, 1887.

Chapter 5 - A Worldwide Warning

The Third Angel's Message being that part of the truth of God which is designed especially to warn the world against the worship of the beast and his image, and which embodies the truth, the love of which will save from the deceptions of Satan all who receive the love of it; and as the enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image, and the accompanying power and signs and lying wonders, is most dangerously near, it becomes especially important that we should study this message with the most intense interest.

The Truth of God

This message presents the truth of God which is to save the people of this generation, whosoever of them will be saved when the Lord comes. The Third Angel's Message calls all men to the keep of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The commandments of God here referred to are the ten commandments--the law of God--and: "Your law is the truth." (Psalm 119:142)

The faith of Jesus is the faith of Him who said, "I am the way, the truth." (John 14:6)

The truth of this message is therefore the very supremacy of truth itself, and to receive the love of the truth of this message is to receive the love of the very highest manifestation of truth that is known to the universe of God.

How appropriate therefore that this should be the message which should be given to men to save them from the influence of the "lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9) of Satan's greatest efforts-that this should be the truth the love of which should save the men of this generation from the delusion of believing only a lie.

The Righteousness of God

The law of God is itself righteousness, (Psalm 119:172) and therefore holds as unrighteous all the race of man, because all have transgressed it. "Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19-20)

And being transgressors, the only way in which they can ever attain to harmony with the righteous law of God is through the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christunto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:21-22)

The righteousness embodied in the Third Angel's Message, therefore, is the very supremacy of righteousness itself, and to receive the love of the truth of this message is to receive the love of the highest manifestation of righteousness that is known to the universe of God.

How appropriate therefore it is that this should be the message which should be given to men in this generation to save them from all the "deceivableness of unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:10) which Satan will work, "with all power and signs and lying wonders." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

The line is clearly drawn. "[The] strong delusion that they should believe a lie," (2 Thessalonians 2:11) comes upon men because "They...believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:12)

Because men "received not the love of the truth," (2 Thessalonians 2:10) Satan works in them "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

In the Third Angel's Message is embodied the supreme truth and the supreme righteousness. Satan's work is to deceive men into the making of an image to the beast and the worshiping of the beast and his image. The Third Angel's Message is aimed directly against the worship of the beast and his image.

Therefore it is absolutely certain that in the Third Angel's Message is embodied the truth, the love of which alone will enable any person to withstand the power and the lying deceptions of Satan, which are now dangerously near to being plunged upon the world. This message alone embodies the truth, through the love of which alone any soul will ever get "the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." (Revelation 15:2)

We have found that the agency through which Satan is to develop his lying wonders is already in the world, and that the power—the tyranny of a national religion—by which Satan’s work is to be made effective is not only already in process of formation, but is near completion.

A Worldwide Message

But is not the Third Angel's Message also already in the world? Most assuredly it is and has been for forty-two years. Starting in February, 1845, with but one person, it has spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from British Columbia to Mexico; building up thirty-eight Conferences; establishing two large printinghouses, issuing millions upon millions of pages of printed matter every year; building one of the largest health institutions in the world, besides other important health and educational institutions-all in our own country.

From this country it has spread to Australia, New Zealand, and the smaller islands of the Pacific; to Europe, establishing missions, churches, Conferences, and printing-houses in Great Britain, Scandinavia, Russia, and Central Europe; to Central America, South America, and South Africa: thus have almost compassed the earth with its solemn warning and its gracious call.

The "few" everywhere receive the love of the truth which it embodies, while the "many" believe not its truth, and receive not the love of it, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. (Matthew 7:13-14)

That the Third Angel's Message shall encompass the earth, even to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, giving them ample opportunity to receive the truth and the love of it, which, if received, will deliver them from the power of Satan and give them victory over all his deceivableness of unrighteousness, is clear from the word of God. This we shall now make plain.

This is the "third" in a series of messages in which the second and the third follow the first in quick succession. (Matthew 7:13-14) The first of the three (Revelation 14:6-7) said with a loud voice to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; the second followed this one, and the third angel followed them. As, therefore, the first one was to go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, and as the third one follows, it likewise must go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

The third angel says with a loud voice, "If any man worship the beast and his image," etc. This phrase, "If any man," shows that it is to all men; that it is a universal message. Of the beast it is said that, "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb." (Revelation 13:8)

The work of the image of the beast is to cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the beast, as well as himself; therefore, the worship of the image of the beast is indirectly the worship of the beast, and it is the mark of the beast which the image causes men to receive.

Now as the worship of the beast is to be by "all them that dwell on the earth;" as the Third Angel's Message is the warning against that worship; and as obedience to this message is the only means of escaping that worship and the wrath of God; it is, therefore, certain that this message must go to "all that dwell on the earth"--the warning must be as extensive as the worship will be.

Here, then, is a message of the word of God which is to be sounded loudly to all the world, calling upon men to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, that out of "all that dwell upon the earth" there may be gathered a people of whom it can be truly said by the Lord, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

And that so all who will may escape the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. Having almost compassed the earth, the preliminary work of this message is almost done. Soon it will rise up in the strength of God, and speak with a mighty voice that will arrest the attention of the nations and kingdoms of all the earth, and turn it to such a world-wide study of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as there has not been since the world began.

A Warning for Today

This makes it incumbent upon all people now to study the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as they have never studied them before, asking themselves the question, "Am I one of whom this scripture speaks? Am I one who truly keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Have I received such a love of this truth that I can stand against all the wiles of Satan when he shall work with all power and signs and lying wonders?"

By the evidences which we have now presented from the word of God, it is certain that we have reached the day and generation when all these things shall be. God sends no message to a people to whom its warnings do not apply.

• He did not send a warning of a coming flood to a people who should never see a flood; the people whom the Lord warned of a coming flood, those were the very people who saw the flood come.

• The people whom the Lord besought to escape from the impending doom of Sodom, those were the people who saw the doom of Sodom.

So the people to whom the Lord sends this message of warning against the worship of the beast and his image, these are the people who will see the worship of the beast and his image. The people upon whom God calls to keep His commandments and the faith of Jesus, that they may escape the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, these are the very people who will see the wrath of God poured out without mixture--these are the people who will see the seven last plagues poured upon the earth.

It was necessary to bring out the points shown in this and the four preceding articles, that the reader might fully understand that which is to follow. In the next two, or perhaps three, articles we shall trace the development of the working of Satan, even to its culmination.--Signs of the Times, December 8, 1887--Original title: The Third Angel's Message.

Chapter 6 - The Place of the Sabbath

We have shown that the Third Angel's Message alone presents to the world the truth, the love of which is to save men from being deceived by the lying wonders of Satan; that the truth of this message alone will develop in those who receive the love of it, the righteousness which will shield them from the "deceivableness of unrighteousness," (2 Thessalonians 2:10) which Satan will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders," (2 Thessalonians 2:9) in them that receive not the love of it. This message calls upon all men to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," (Revelation 14:12) while Satan's whole endeavor is by whatever means he may employ, to keep all people from doing this.

Two Main Points

Although it is universally true that Satan is engaged always in deceiving men and seducing them from the truth of God on every conceivable point, yet there are in the Third Angel's Message two main points, above all others, against which all of Satan's power will be employed, and all his signs and lying wonders will be wrought to deceive men into receiving a counterfeit of each instead of the true, and into believing a lie instead of the truth. These two points are:

1. The Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment; and

2. The Coming of the Lord.

Inseparably connected with these main points there are two others; with the first: the obligation of the ten commandments as a whole; and with the second: life and immortality only through faith in Christ. Through opposition to these Satan will largely develop his deceptions, but against the first two points all his power and signs and lying wonders will culminate.

That the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the pivot upon which turns the controversy of the Third Angel's Message is clear both by the Scripture and by the facts in the case. 

A Threefold Message

The three messages of Revelation 14:6-12 are not three distinct and separate messages, so that each one is fully given and past before the next one begins. But rather they are cumulative, the second blending its voice with the first, and the third blending its "loud voice" with the other two, thus making what might be termed a threefold message rather than three distinct messages.

Yet they are properly termed first, second, and third, because there is this order in their rise. The first warns of the hour of God's Judgment come, and calls upon men to worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Then there follows another, announcing the result of the rejection of the first. And then the third angel follows them, warning against the evil which is developed through the "fall" announced by the second, in consequence of the rejection of the first.

The first carries: "the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nations, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:6-7)

When this message, which would have healed Babylon, was rejected, then there followed another, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." (Revelation 14:8)

Out of this "fall" there grows the image of the beast and the worship of the beast and his image; therefore: "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, which is poured without mixture into the cup of His indignation." (Revelation 14:9)

Fitness for the Judgment

The first angel speaks of the hour of God's Judgment come. And since: "As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, ... In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel," (Romans 2:12,16) therefore the third angel follows close upon this, saying, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

Keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will fit men to stand in the Judgment.

The first message calls the attention of all men to the Judgment of God, and tells them that its time is come; and the third message follows, telling all men what to do that they may meet the Judgment in peace, that is, "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

True Worship Defined

The first message calls upon men to worship God. They refuse, and are led to worship the beast and his image instead. Then the third angel follows, not only warning against the worship of the beast and his image, but also telling them what they must do to worship God, that is, "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

The First Angel's Message commands men specifically to: "worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:7)

The Third Angel's Message calls men specifically to: "keep the commandments of God." (Revelation 14:12)

The Sabbath Pointed Out

Now is there any part of the commandments of God that points specifically to "Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters?" (Revelation 14:7)

There is decidedly. Let us read: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work; But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work. ... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-11)

Therefore as the first message commands men specifically to "worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters;" (Revelation 14:7)

And as the third message, following, calls men to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus;" (Revelation 14:12)

And as the fourth commandment, through the Sabbath of the Lord, points specifically to Him that "made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is;" (Exodus 20:11)

Therefore it is certain that in the time of the Third Angel's Message every nation and kindred and tongue and people will be called to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and so to "worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters," (Revelation 14:7) and escape the worship of the beast and his image. The keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord--the seventh day--is the sign that those who do so worship the true God. "Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 20:20)

And it is the sign that He is the true God, because it is the sign that He made heaven and earth and all things that are therein. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:16-17)

Now:

• As the one great question, above every other, of the Third Angel's Message is whether men will worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters or whether they will worship the beast and his image; and

• As the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord is the sign that those who do keep it do worship Him that made heaven and earth; and

• As the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord; therefore it certainly follows that the keeping of the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord is the one point above every other that distinguishes the worshipers of Him that made heaven and earth from the worshipers of the beast and his image, and is the pivot upon which the Third Angel's Message turns.

So much for the Scripture proofs; now for the proofs from the other side of the controversy.--Signs of the Times, December 15, 1887--Original title: The Place of the Sabbath in the Third Angel's Message.

Chapter 7 - The Rise of the Sabbath Controversy

We have before shown that the image of the beast-the union of Church and State in this Nation-is almost formed. But the pretensions of those who are carrying forward that wicked work will so closely resemble the work of the Third Angel's Message, the counterfeit will so closely resemble the true, that those only who receive the love of the truth of God as given in the Third Angel's Message, and whose eyes are anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, will be able to detect the deviltry in the thing.

The Real and the Counterfeit

Counterfeit number one. The word of God, spoken directly against the worship of the beast and his image, and intended to save men from that wicked worship, says, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

These, who are making here the image of the Papacy, pretending boundless faith in Jesus, propose to secure an amendment to the National Constitution, which will make the ten commandments the supreme law of the Nation, to be enforced upon all men as such. Here, then, are those who are making that image and who will enforce his worship even to the last extreme, and they propose to compel all men to keep the commandments of God.

On the other hand, here also, are those who are set to warn the world against the worship of the beast and his image, urging all people to keep the commandments of God.

Now where lies the difference between these two classes? How is it that the last of these escape the wrath of God, and get the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, while the first actually make the image of the beast, and worship both the image and the beast, and drink the wine of the wrath of God?

Remember that it is "evangelical" Protestantism that is making the image of the Papacy in the United States, by the proposed establishment of National Christianity, and that it is the Seventhday Adventists that are opposing it with all their might by giving the Third Angel's Message.

Where, then, is the difference between "evangelical" Protestants and Seventh-day Adventists in regard to the ten commandments?

Take the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)

They all view it and teach its obligations exactly alike. It is so also with the second commandment, with the third, with the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth. Upon all these there is scarcely a shade of difference between the views of Seventh-day Adventists and the great body of Protestants.

The only difference that there is between these two bodies is in their respective views of what day is the Sabbath. The Seventhday Adventists hold to the fourth commandment as it is: "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work." (Exodus 20:10)

They endeavor to obey it strictly as God spoke it, as He wrote it, and as He interpreted it. On the other hand the whole body of Protestants hold that the seventh day is not the Sabbath, but that the first day is the Sabbath, and that to so keep the first day is the one great distinguishing badge of Christianity.

This is the only difference between the two bodies so far as the ten commandments are concerned. And this is just the difference between the Third Angel's Message and the movement to make an image of the Papacy, against which that message warns men. This is just the difference between the worship of Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters, and the worship of the beast and his image.

Therefore, it is evident from the facts in the case as they exist today, as well as from the Scriptures, that the Sabbath question is the pivot upon which turns the Third Angel's Message.

A Scorned Message

All this, however, is nothing new to us. We have known this and have been telling the world so these forty years. All these years we have been holding before the world the great principles of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and calling the attention of the people to the truth that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and the great sign which God has set by which it may be known who they are who worship Him that made heaven and earth; and also that by this they should escape the worship of the beast and his image.

We have known all these years, and have told the world so, that the Sabbath question would yet be the greatest question in the world. The greater part of this time we were counted fools, hobby-riders, and all such like things, by the great body of Protestants.

They said that the Sabbath question was the least of the great questions of our holy religion. They said that the great questions of how the gospel of Christ could be conveyed to the masses, at home and abroad, how infidelity and atheism could be checked,--that these were the great, the transcendent questions that must occupy the thoughts and efforts of the church, while as for the Sabbath question, that was one of the least and only incidental at that.

The Warning Being Fulfilled

Thus it was in former years. But now how is it? What now is the leading topic in all the temperance and religious bodies in the land? It is,

"How shall our American Christian civil Sunday sabbath be preserved?"

• Large conventions of ecclesiastics all over the land are held solely to discuss this question.

• o The W.C.T.U. works it up all over the United States.

• Prohibition conventions put it in their platforms.

• The leading preachers and lecturers of the Nation discuss it from pulpit and platform.

• Legislatures, both State and National, from beginning to end of their sessions, are petitioned for the enactment of stringent laws in its behalf.

• The religious papers of the country lift up one united cry that it must and shall be preserved.

• Knights of Labor, and workingmen's unions, and socialists, call loudly for laws enforcing its observance.

• Political conventions are "worked" and Legislatures are "lobbied" in the interests of the Christian Sunday.

• Saloon-keepers enforce laws for its observance.

Now, instead of its being the least and most incidental of the questions of our holy religion, it is by their own confession the greatest and most urgent of all. Now, instead of the question of how to reach the masses with the gospel being the greater, that question must take a back seat, while there comes to the front the universal demand for stringent Sunday laws strictly enforced, that by this means the masses may be reached.

Now, instead of the questions of infidelity and atheism taking the far greater precedence, it has come to this, that if you don't favor Sunday laws you are an infidel, and if you oppose them you are an atheist. Now, instead of the questions of infidelity and atheism taking precedence, it has come to pass that the question of the Sunday sabbath is made the test of fidelity and theism.

What, then, does all this mean? Well, it means this one thing if nothing else, it means that we were telling the truth all these years when we told the world that the Sabbath question would yet be the greatest question in the world.

How did we know it? We knew it by the truth of God, the love of which will save men. How could we see it when as yet there was not only none of it, but when those denied it who we said would preach it? We saw it by the light of the Third Angel's Message, of which it is the pivot.

And this further shows that the Third Angel's Message is abroad in the world, and there is no use in denying it.--Signs of the Times, December 22, 1887--Original title: The Place of the Sabbath in the Third Angel's Message.

Chapter 8 - Abolishing the Law of God

We have said that this message alone embodies the truth, the love of which will save men from the deceivableness of unrighteousness of Satan's power and signs and lying wonders.

Turning From Light to Darkness

When the truth of this message is presented to men, and is rejected, then the way is opened for Satan to work with the power of his deception as never before. This is a principle that accompanies the representation of the truth of God at all times, but much more now because Satan's power is to be manifested now to a greater extent than ever before. Jesus said, "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you." (John 12:35)

When God presents light to men and they refuse to walk in it, then the darkness becomes greater to them than ever it was before. And as the darkness is greater, they are more easily deceived and led astray, because: "He that walks in darkness knows not where he goes." (John 12:35)

Now the light of the Third Angel's Message is to lighten the earth with its glory, (Revelation 18:1) and when that light is rejected and men refuse to walk in it, their darkness becomes greater than that of any age since the world began, and consequently the working of Satan will be more powerfully deceptive than it has ever yet been in the world; and this emphasized by the fact that: "He knows that he has but a short time." (Revelation 12:12)

Now see the deceitful working of Satan against this point of truth, the Sabbath of the Lord. The world, especially the Christian world, professes to have some respect for the ten commandments. The Third Angel's Message calls upon all men to keep these commandments, and in presenting this call, it points to the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord as given in the fourth commandment.

But just as soon as this duty is presented, all manner of opposition is raised against it. And it is a fact that cannot be denied, that the greatest opposition to it arises from the professed Christian world, the very ones who profess the greatest respect for the commandments of God.

Any scheme that can be employed, is employed, to blind the minds and dull the consciences of men to the duty of obeying the fourth commandment and honoring God by keeping the Sabbath of the Lord; and in about nine cases out of every ten this opposition winds up with the argument that the law is abolished. When once people can be given to understand that the ten commandments are abolished, it is not hard then for such teachers to satisfy them that they are under no obligation to keep the seventh day, as the commandment of God enjoins.

The Fruit of Abolishing the Law

But such teaching as that cannot be set forth with safety. Its only effect is to loosen the restraints of the law and conscience, and lawlessness is the inevitable result. "They that forsake the law praise the wicked," (Proverbs 28:4) and the wicked cannot be praised from the pulpit, without profiting by the praise. It matters not at all that the thing be not intended, when the pulpit sets forth the idea that the law of God is abolished, and thus loosens the wholesome restraints of law, the effect of it will be seen in our land, and is seen today. This is the secret of the prevailing lawlessness of all classes. Where it is not manifested in outbreaking lawlessness itself, it is manifested in the almost universal sympathy with the lawless.

Nor is this confined to the wicked world as such; it prevails in the churches. Preachers cannot tell their congregations that the ten commandments are abolished, without the evil fruit being seen in a general letting down of conscientious respect for all things sacred; the church then loses its godly influence over the world, and then if it is to influence the world at all it must do it by ungodly means such as are seen everywhere in the fairs, the feasts, the carnivals, and the revelry which now characterize the efforts of the church, and which only increase unto more ungodliness.

Looking to Civil Power

Well, having taken this turn to prevent people from keeping the commandment of God, and by it having given place to a general spirit of lawlessness both in the church and in the world, what next must be done? Oh, the civil power must be called to the rescue to enforce laws dictated by the church! 

For when the preachers tell the people that the Sabbath is a Jewish institution and has been abolished, and then try to impress upon them the duty of keeping Sunday as the Sabbath, they are met with the same arguments that they themselves have used against the Sabbath of the Lord.

This was plainly stated by Dr. Pierson, of Philadelphia, in 1884, in these words: The sanctity of the Lord's day is but a remnant, if not a relic, of the past; and if this process goes, within the present century Sabbath sanctification will be among the curiosities of archaeology and paleontology! Christians apologize for this on the ground that the "Sabbath is a Jewish institution" and is abrogated, making no distinction between the ceremonial and the moral law. ... Other disciples do away with the consecrated seventh of time, as with the consecrated tenth of money, on the ground that all time and property are holy unto the Lord, and so the practical effect is that they consecrate nothing.

This is the sober truth, but the people are not primarily to blame. These same apologies, in these very words, have been preached to them time and again all over the land. These very arguments have been put into the mouths of the people by the preachers in their efforts to persuade them not to obey the commandment of God, and now the ministers turn about and complain of the people for doing exactly as they themselves have taught them to do.

• Little did these men think all these years that in thus opposing the Sabbath of the Lord, they were brandishing a sword that would cut both ways.

• Little did they think that they were weaving a spider web, and hatching cockatrice's eggs that would break out into vipers to sting themselves. (Isaiah 59:4-8)

• Little did they think that in raising these objections, and appealing to popularity and worldly interest, against the Sabbath of the Lord, they were destroying respect for the whole law of God, and implanting a disposition of lawlessness that would break any commandment of God or men that conflicts with those interests.

The ministers have taught the people to say, "If everybody else will keep Sabbath, I will."

Now when they are called upon to more strictly observe Sunday, the teaching comes back to the teachers in the words, "If everybody else will keep Sunday, I will."

Accordingly the church members go on Sunday excursions, read Sunday newspapers, and so on, because "everybody else" does the same. Therefore to have the church members keep Sunday, all Sunday trains must be stopped and all Sunday papers must be abolished. Thus to satisfy a demand which they themselves have created, and to meet arguments which they themselves have invented, the preachers are obliged to work up civil enactments and constitutional amendments by which everybody shall be compelled to keep Sunday.

Worshiping a False God

But Sunday is only a counterfeit of the Sabbath of the Lord. It has no sacred quality whatever. There is no authority from God for its observance at all as a sacred institution of any sort. Its only authority is that of Rome, pagan as well as papal. And that is simply no authority to the man who recognizes God and the authority of his word.

Rome sets forth Sunday as the sign of her authority, as the signs that she has power to command men under penalty of sin for disobedience. As the Sabbath of the Lord is the sign of the true God, so Sunday is the sign of that false god, "[The] man of sin ... Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

The only image and superscription that the Sunday institution bears, is the image and superscription of Rome. As the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord is an acknowledgment of the authority of the true God, so to refuse to do that, and deliberately choose to keep Sunday instead, is to acknowledge the authority of Rome instead of the authority of God, and is to worship Rome instead of God. For, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)

And whenever the people of the United States, or of any other country, whether by State or National law, try to compel men to keep Sunday, it is only trying to compel them to bow to the authority of Rome--it is only trying to compel them to worship the beast.

And when the union of religion and the State is formed here, and thus an image of the Papacy is erected for the express purpose of compelling men to keep Sunday, then in that men will be compelled to worship the beast and his image.

Through this evil channel, and to help forward this wicked work, Satan will develop his power and signs and lying wonders, and his deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

But against it all, the Third Angel's Message utters the solemn warning of God: "If any man worship the beast and is image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation." (Revelation 14:9-10)

And to save men from this dreadful fate, it presents the supreme truth of "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-12)--Signs of the Times, December 29, 1887--Original title: The Working of Satan.

Chapter 9 - The Image of the Beast

We have shown that the National Reform movement, or the movement to unite religion and the State in this nation, is in the direct course of the fulfillment of Revelation 13:11-17.

We have shown that this movement to unite religion and the State is but to form an image to the Papacy, and is a fulfillment of the prophecy which speaks of its being said "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Revelation 13:14)

Legislative Power

We now propose to show that the logic of the National Reform movement is the exact fulfillment of the words which immediately follow: "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, thatthe image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free andbond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:15-17)

By the proposed amendment to the Constitution, the National Reformers propose to have this nation acknowledge God as sovereign, and as "the source of all authority and power in civil government." When that shall have been done, then, according to their own statements, what will follow? Let us see.

First, they say that: "The keeping of the Sabbath is an acknowledgment of the sovereign rights of God over us."

Secondly, they say, "Sunday is the Sabbath."

Therefore it inevitably follows that whoever refuses to keep Sunday denies the sovereignty of God.

Now the nation, in declaring that God is Sovereign, virtually takes upon itself the obligation to maintain that sovereignty within its jurisdiction; and as the keeping of Sunday is declared to be the acknowledgment of that sovereignty, the nation thereby sets itself to maintain the proper observance of Sunday, and so the proper recognition of the sovereignty of God.

Persecution to Follow

And the refusal to keep Sunday, being counted a denial of the sovereignty of God, will also be treason against the State, and if persisted in can only receive the punishment due to treason, and that is death.

It is even now claimed by the leading Sunday advocates, that the terrible calamities that so often occur, are the judgments of God sent upon the nation because of the desecration of Sunday; and that all manner of Sunday work must be stopped, or the nation will perish.

Therefore, according to their argument, as Sunday work imperils the nation, whoever persists in working on Sunday and in disregarding the day, thereby sets himself against the life of the nation. Then, in the view of the National Reformers, the only question will be, "Which is the most valuable, the life of the nation or the life of the few who persistently refuse to keep Sunday?"

To this question there can be but one answer, of course. It will readily be argued that it is better that the few shall die than that the whole nation perish. (John 11:50)

The awful train disaster that occurred last summer at Chatsworth is attributed by the National Reformers to the national disregard of Sunday. Therefore when the nation espouses the cause of Sunday sacredness, suppose there shall yet be those throughout the land who persistently and intentionally work on Sunday, then suppose a train runs off the track and a number of persons are killed; as the desecration of Sunday causes the accident by which these are killed, it necessarily follows that those who desecrated the Sunday are guilty of their death. And as these persons still refuse to keep Sunday, the only thing that remains will be to put them to death.

This is the plain, straightforward logic of the National Reform Sunday law propositions. And this is precisely what is pointed out in the scripture which speaks of the making of the image of the beast: "He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Revelation 13:15)

The Warning of God

But in direct opposition to this work stands the warning of the Third Angel's Message, that whosoever worships the beast and his image, "shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." (Revelation 14:10)

It is therefore certain that no person who loves the truth of the Third Angel's Message, will ever obey any law which forbids work on Sunday, even though death be involved in his working on that day. If the law says he shall not work, he, like Daniel when he was forbidden by the law to pray to God, will do exactly "as he did aforetime," (Daniel 6:10) and just as if there was no such law in existence. Of course, he will have to face fine and imprisonment, and the time will come when he will have to face death to do it. This is plainly set forth in the Third Angel's Message. But it is far better to face fine and imprisonment and even death itself, than to worship the beast and his image.

Let no one think that we are writing extravagantly in thus setting forth the logic of the Sunday-law propositions. We have their own arguments, which show the very thing which we have here pointed out.

Their Own Testimony

And to show that we are not talking at random, we shall not give some of their own testimony on the subject. Last August there was a National Reform W.C.T.U. Convention held at Lakeside, near Sandusky, Ohio. One of the questions, with its answer, was as follows:

[Question:] Will those who conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week, be required to keep Sunday also?

[Answer by Dr. McAllister, editor of the Christian Statesman:] I will say, not in the way of compelling them to wait upon services on that day. No man should be compelled to attend public worship. But let a man be what he may-Jew, seventh-day observer of some other denomination, or those who do not believe in the Christian Sabbath-let the law apply to everyone, that there shall be no public desecration of the first day of the week, the Christian Sabbath, the day of rest for the nation. They may hold another day of the week as sacred, and observe it; but that day which is the one day in seven for the nation at large, let not that be publicly desecrated by anyone, by officer in the Government, or by private citizen, high or low, rich or poor.

At one of the meetings, Mrs. Bateham, the head of the W.C.T.U.'s Department of Sunday Observance, made a speech on the subject. After the speech there was a short time given for questions. There were many questions asked, all of which involved the point of work on Sunday. We shall choose one question and its answer, which contain the substance of many. A member of the W.C.T.U. said, This subject was called to my attention just a few days ago, by a lady in our town who is an observer of the seventh day, and she said:

"Oh! I hope you women of the Christian Temperance Union will never press this question of Sunday observance into the law of the State. Don't you see that if they make it a legal Sabbath day, it will persecute us? for it is just as binding a command of God that we labor six days of the week, as it is to rest one."

Of course, I have not given much attention to it; but I was forcibly impressed with the manner in which she expressed herself. She said if we put anything into the Constitution of the United States, or the laws of the State, that compels all labor to cease on our Sunday, then they would be obliged to disobey God, or else the laws of the land, or their own consciences. Now I would like some light on this point.

[Answer by Mrs. Bateham:] I believe myself that the fourth commandment not only commands to rest on one day but to labor on the other six; but I believe there is abundance of labor which could be performed upon that day and would not draw public attention. There are many things that are right and proper for others who are not observers of the first day of the week, to do on that day. But when the good of the whole country requires that this day should be kept as a holy day, they must not be allowed to infringe upon the rights of the people.

Now look at the argument. She admits that the commandment of God not only enjoins rest on one day of the week, but also enjoins labor on the other six. Here are a people who obey the commandment by resting on that one day, and who also desire to obey the commandment by laboring on the other six. But the W.C.T.U. says, through Mrs. Bateham, They must not be allowed to labor on the other six days.

That is to say, They must not be allowed to obey the commandment of God--even that which Mrs. Bateham herself confesses to be the commandment of God. She says,

The fourth commandment not only commands rest on one day but to labor on the other six.

These people rest on that one day, and then in addition to that the W.C.T.U. proposes to compel them to rest on one of the other six, on which the commandment of God commands them to labor. Therefore the W.C.T.U. deliberately proposes to compel a whole people to break the commandment of God. And why? Oh! Because ... they must not be allowed to infringe upon the rights of the people.

What a specious plea indeed! Let the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union be told that the rights of the people never can involve the breaking of the commandment of God. Let the Woman's Christian Temperance Union be told that obedience to the commandment of God never can infringe upon the rights of the people.

How perfectly the Third Angel's Message applies right here! Just at this time, when this vast organization deliberately sets itself to compel a people to break the commandment of God, how appropriate it is that the Third Angel's Message should cry with a mighty voice, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

But suppose these people refuse to break the commandment of God, what then? Amid further questions and answers, there was said this: There is a law in the State of Arkansas enforcing Sunday observance upon the people, and the result has been that many good persons have not only been imprisoned, but have lost their property, and even their lives. [Reply:] It is better that a few should suffer than that the whole nation should lose its Sabbath.

Exactly! That is the very argument by which the Saviour was condemned to death by the popular religionists of His day;  and: "If they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shallnot be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak in light; and what you hear in the ear, that preach upon the house-tops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:25-28) "Yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." (Luke 12:5)--Signs of the Times, January 20, 1888.

Chapter 10 - The Counterfeit of Christ's Coming

One of the principal truths presented by the Third Angel's Message is the second coming of the Lord. It is the nearness of this event that makes so very urgent the necessity of obeying the truths announced by the message. And in fact the Third Angel's Message and the events directly connected with it only close with the coming of the Lord in His glory. Immediately following the announcement of the message, the prophet says: "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." (Revelation 14:14-16) "The harvest is the end of the world." (Matthew 13:39)

Rejecting the Second Advent Message

More than forty-seven years the world has been told that the Lord is coming, that His coming is at the doors, and that men must be ready to meet Him in peace or they cannot be saved. But the world-the so-called Christian world as well as any other-has rejected the message of His glorious coming. Ministers have put far off the day of his coming, saying it would not be for a thousand, or maybe ten thousand, or even a million years. Almost all have said in their hearts, "My Lord delays His coming." (Matthew 24:48)

And some have even said openly that they did not care to have Him come. The message of His coming has not only been rejected, but it has been made a subject of reproach to those who have accepted it, and have lived in the hope of seeing Him, whom, having not seen, they love.

Thus it has been all these years, and in fact, thus it still is so far as the real truth of the coming of the Lord is concerned. But the signs which He has given of His coming are so abundant, and are being so rapidly and plainly fulfilled, and the message which announced the truth of His coming and the duties, which, if observed, will fit men to meet Him when He comes, is so widespread over the world that the matter can be concealed no longer. It is making an impression that can no longer be resisted.

A Worldly Kingdom

And as it has gained such power that Satan can no longer blind men's minds to it, he now whirls about and counterfeits it. Having led men to reject the truth, until, in spite of all, it has gained such power that it can no longer be hidden, he now turns about and makes the coming of the Lord almost the watch-word of the popular movements of the day; but, as is naturally to be expected, it is so wrapped about with falsehood that, in such connection, the truth itself is made in effect to serve the purposes of falsehood.

In this is another evidence that through what is called the National Reform movement, is to be developed "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

The National Reform proposition is, by amendment to the Constitution, to turn this republic of men into a kingdom of Christ. And they declare that when that shall have been done, then Christ will come into His kingdom and reign, and the millennium will begin. In a speech in the New York National Reform Convention, 1874, "Rev." J.P. Lytle likened that movement to a train of cars going up a grade, and said: When we reach the summit, the train will move out into the mild yet glorious light of millennial days, and the cry will be raised, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ."

In the same convention Rev. John Hogg, of Massachusetts, said: Let us acknowledge God as our Father and Sovereign and source of all good, and His blessing will be upon us, crime and corruption will come to an end, and the benign reign of Jesus, our rightful Lord will be established.

Again in the same convention, Dr. A.M. Milligan said: Either like them [the Jewish nation] we will reject Him and perish, or, becoming a kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, we shall fill the earth and endure forever.

They claim that they will thus make this nation the kingdom of Christ, that then He will come into His kingdom here, and from this the other nations of earth will acknowledge Him, and so they say will be fulfilled the words, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." (Revelation 11:15)

Therefore, at noon of every day, the National Reformers repeat the words, "Your kingdom come." But the word of God says that when Jesus comes it will be with "flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:8)

And that when the God of Heaven sets up His kingdom, "It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms." (Daniel 2:44)

The National Reform Association is anxious to secure the support of the "working men." We are fully assured that the movement will yet be heartily supported by that whole element. And their minds too are being prepared for it on the very point that we are now showing. Dr. McGlynn starts out as the champion of the "workingmen," bearing, as he says, "the cross of a new crusade." And in a speech last May, in Pittsburgh, to the thousands of those whose champion he is, he said: It shall be the high and holy purpose of this crusade to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord.

A False Messiah

As this matter of the counterfeit coming of the Lord is Satan's device to oppose the Third Angel's Message, it might very naturally be supposed that Spiritualism, being one of his very chiefest instruments of evil, would also be active in favor of it. And such is precisely the case. Spiritualism promises a new messiah, and announces his coming "to this very generation." The World's Advance-Thought is the avant-courier of the new spiritual dispensation, and in its issue of April 5, 1886, says: Another Sun of righteousness is called for on earth, and the messenger cannot be far off whose life mission it shall be to practically illustrate the new truths that will be vouchsafed. He will not be a mere racial messiah nor a half-world messiah as was the great Nazarene; but steam locomotion and lightning communication, and the harmonizing influences of commercial intercourse, have made a whole-world messiah possible, and such the next one shall be. Though themselves ignorant of the fact, as a body, the great and multiplying army of mediums are his avant-couriers.

The unanimity of the immortals' answers may thrill the world with the promise of a new messiah.

Thus through counterfeiting the doctrines of the coming of the Lord, Satan is preparing the world to receive a false Christ who will show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible he will deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24)

It is high time that every soul should study the word of God as never before, to know the truth concerning the coming of the Lord, and then to receive such a love of that truth as shall resist all the deceptions of Satan, whatever they may be.

He will deceive all but the very elect. Who will be of the elect? Who will be faithful?--Signs of the Times, February 3, 1888--Original title: The Working of Satan.

Chapter 11 - The Image of the Papacy

We have already shown in our examination of the Sunday question as connected with the image of the beast that death to dissenters is the logical result of dissent from the National Reform doctrines, when that doctrine shall have been given a legal basis; and that thus the scripture will be fulfilled which says: "He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Revelation 13:15)

We shall now show the same thing from their false doctrine of the coming and kingdom of Christ.

Religious Dissent Becomes Treason

We have shown by their own words that they intend by constitutional amendment to acknowledge Christ as king of this nation, and so to make this republic the kingdom of Christ. When that shall have been done, then, Sunday being the supreme test of Christianity, to refuse to keep it will be treason to the State.

We have this in their own words. July 4, 1887, "Rev." Wm. Benton Greene, Jr., pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, preached a sermon which the Christian Nation commends as containing "sound National Reform doctrine." In that sermon, after having to his own satisfaction proved that this should be a Christian nation, Mr. Greene proceeded to call attention to some of the consequences flowing from it, and said: Indifference to Christ is treason to the State.

This being so, then it surely follows that anyone who persists in showing what these men pronounce to be indifference to Christ, will have to suffer the penalty of confirmed treason, which is death. But this ardent "reformer" is not willing even to wait for a constitutional acknowledgment of Christ as king; he is willing to count it so already, and to carry into effect his evil principles and their infamous consequences. He says, Let him [the citizen] see to it that all civil enactments harmonize with the spiritual law of his King....If deliberate failure to do this be treason to the State, we have among us many traitors. Those there are who oppose the observance of the Sabbath [Sunday]; who demand that the law be not controlled by the gospel; that the Government must be administered on the principle that Christ has nothing to do with the State.

The secularists are more numerous and more dangerous than the infidels. Professedly aiming at keeping asunder Church and State, they aim chiefly at secularizing public education, as if there were no God and no future for the human soul....Such education must be equally false and unscientific, and when we permit it we are sanctioning the worst treason, the most oppressive tyranny, and conniving at the destruction of our nation.

If this is the way in which these men talk now, when they are are powerless to act, what will be the result when they shall have secured the constitutional authority to make their principles effective in acts. Woe then to the man who is so presumptuous as to have any opinions of his own, and thrice woe to him who shall be guilty of the treason of uttering dissent.

If there be any of our readers who think yet that we are not living in a time of which the Third Angel's Message speaks, or who think that we are talking at random when we speak of persecution coming, and of an image of the Papacy arising here, we only hope that something may occur that will wake them up before it is too late.

Signs and Wonders

Nor is this all. The Saviour says: "There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24)

This shows that those who show these great signs and wonders will do so under the pretense that they are Christ; in other words, these signs and wonders will be shown under the form of false Christ's. Now the very greatest of those wonders are to be wrought by Satan: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

Therefore, it follows that Satan will at that time reveal himself, and do his great wonders in the form of a false Christ. Then, as the National Reformers expect Christ to come as soon as they shall have finished their testimony, when they shall have succeeded in making this nation a kingdom of Christ, and stand expectantly waiting for Christ to come into his kingdom, Satan through the mighty working of his great power will appear as an angel of light, and say, "I am Christ," and all the multitude--infidels, atheists, anarchists, Spiritualists, all--with the National Reform D.D.'s at their head, will receive him as Christ and king. Then will be indeed fulfilled the scripture that tells of "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Then to speak against their devil-king will be blasphemy, and to refuse to receive him as king will be treason, to be visited only with death.

The Faithful Considered Traitors

Yet there will be some who will refuse to receive him, and will openly say that he is the devil. These will be those who have received the love of the truth of the Third Angel's Message, that they might be saved, and who utterly refuse to worship either the beast or his image. They will refuse to worship the Papal Church by keeping Sunday, and they will refuse to acknowledge the devil as either Christ or king.

To refuse to do either of these things will be treason, and to refuse to do both will be doubly so. These alone of all the people will so refuse, and they will be but a "little flock." (Luke 12:32)

What then shall be done with them? They will be but confirmed traitors. It will be argued that they are only bringing destruction upon the nation, and above all that they refuse to acknowledge Christ as king. What shall be done? The prophecy tells: "He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Revelation 13:15)

Besides this, did not the Saviour say that when He should return, having received the kingdom: "Those my enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:27)

And when Satan shall have come a false Christ, and shall have been received as the true, this scripture will be enforced by the National Reformers in his behalf. They have already quoted it in this very connection, and with this very meaning. National Reform Secretary M. A. Gault, in replying to one who is opposed to National Reform, said to him: Have you forgotten that the day is coming when all professed Christians who deny the kingship of Christ over the nations, together with their infidel confederates, will at Christ's command be slain before His face, because they would not have Him to reign over them?

Fire from Heaven

Nor is this all. When Satan, as a false Christ, shall have come, then, then among the "great signs and wonders" (Matthew 24:24) that he will show, there will be fulfilled: "And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." (Revelation 13:13)

Now Elijah was a prophet of the true God, and fire came down from heaven in testimony that he was the servant of the true God, and in testimony that what he taught was the commandments of God. (1 Kings 18:17-39; 2 Kings 1:10,12) But in this test that is coming, this same miracle is to be performed to prove that the devil is God, and that the one distinguishing institution of the Papal Church--Sunday--must be kept instead of the commandments of God.

There will be those who, out of love to the truth of the Third Angel's Message, will be keeping "the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." They will be keeping the seventh day according to the commandment, and will be waiting for the Lord from Heaven. On the other hand, there will be the multitude saying that Sunday is the Sabbath and that those who keep it are the servants of the true God.

Then to those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, Elijah's challenge will be made by those who keep Sunday. It will be said, "If Sunday is the Sabbath of the Lord, and if we be the servants of the true God, let fire come down from heaven."

And fire will come down from heaven. But instead of accepting the evidence, those who have received the love of the truth of God will reply, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." (Exodus 20:10)

And the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, even though heaven itself comes down. Then these people, having refused to accept the evidence of such a stupendous wonder, and still persisting in their "rebellion" and "treason,"--what can be done with them? Nothing at all but to go on with the perversion of the story of Elijah, and exclaim, "Take these traitors, let not one of them escape."

And then as the prophets of Baal were slain, so will those be commanded to be who receive the love of the truth of the Third Angel's Message, and through it keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. But not one of them will be slain, [Editor's note: Revelation 20:4 indicates that some will be martyred for their faith during this time] for, says the prophet, "I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." (Revelation 15:2)

And so the contest will be finished; and thus those who have received the love of the truth, and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will gain the everlasting victory through Him "that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (Revelation 1:5)

Which Path?

To some of our readers, these things may seem very strange. But they are true, nevertheless. These things will come to pass as surely as this nation runs into the iniquity of religious legislation, and the union of religion and the State. These things will come to pass as surely as this nation makes Sunday the national sabbath, and that is as certain as that the word of God is true. And the only protection for anybody on earth is to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12) with such a love for the truth that all the power and signs and lying wonders of Satan cannot swerve him from it in the least degree.

This nation is going to make an image of the Papacy. The Papacy made war with the saints, and the image of the Papacy will do likewise. The Papacy "opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (Revelation 13:6-7)

And the image of the Papacy will do likewise. "And [he] deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, thatthe image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free andbond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:14-17)

This war with the saints is because they keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, (Revelation 12:17) and with the purpose of making all men worship the Papacy. But God says, "And 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-12)

Reader, we beseech you to take heed to the message; receive the love of its truth; stand firmly for the righteousness of God; and so obtain a part in the promised victory.--Signs of the Times, February 10, 1888.