STANDING BEFORE CHURCH AND STATE

John 16:1-6These things have I spoken unto you, that ye

should not be offended.1 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that

whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you,

because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you

at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none

of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you,

sorrow hath filled your heart.

Early Writing page 64:"Time is almost finished. Do you reflect the lovely image of Jesus as you should?" Then

I was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready

among those who have of late embraced the third angel's message. Said the angel,

". Ye will have to die a greater deatGet ready, get ready, get readyh to the world

than ye have ever yet died." I saw that there was a great work to do for them and

but little time in which to do it.

Revelation 13:15

And 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.

The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so

marked that many who shall be convinced of the truth will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping

people. When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last

closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their

lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth....

NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW

GENERAL CLOSE OF PROBATION

SECOND COMING

MANY MARTYRS

Selected message book 3, page 397.

JACOB’S TIME OF TROUBLE

NO MARTYRS.

GC 634.1

 

MARTYRS OR NO MARTYRSPersecution in the Battle Before the Last

Closing Conflict—The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many

who shall be convinced of the truth will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping

people. When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for

their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in

defense of the truth.... Selected Messages Book 3, pg 397.

“Those who have step by step yielded to worldly

demands and conformed to worldly customs will

not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than

subject themselves to derision, insult,

threatened imprisonment, and

death. The contest is between the

commandments of God and the commandments

of men.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 81.

Matthew 10:28…

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.

It is not for me to decide whether my life or my

death will contribute most to the salvation of all....

You may expect everything from me...

except flight and recantation. Fly I cannot,

and still less retract…here I stand, so help me

God”…Martin Luther…Great Controversy (GC)

book page, 146.

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as

always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,

whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of

my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a

desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far

better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for

you. Philippians 1:20-24

There is a picture

representing a bullock

standing between a plow

and an altar, with the

inscription, “Ready for

either,” ready to toil in the

furrow or to be offered …Min of Healing pg, 502

AFTER PROBATION IS CLOSED NO MARTYRS ANYMORE

The Great Controversy page 634:

The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet, when earthly powers shall be

arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they will be in fear

of death by starvation or by violence. But the Holy One who

divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity. "They shall be Mine, saith the

Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will

spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."

Malachi 3:17.

….If the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be

as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more. If the righteous were

now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a

triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist:

"In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion:

in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me."

Psalm 27:5.

We will not be able to meet the trials of this time without God. We are not to have the courage and

fortitude of martyrs of old until brought into the position they were in. . . . We are to receive daily

supplies of grace for each daily emergency. Thus we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord

Jesus Christ, and if persecution comes upon us, if we must be enclosed in prison walls for the faith of Jesus and the keeping of God's holy law, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Should there be a

return of persecution there would be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show a true

heroism.... Our High Calling, page 125.

SUNDAY LAW will be enacted

before martyrdom. To

become martyrs we will have to

face church and state. To

overcome them, we have to be

faithful, sanctified,

consecrated & holy.

When we’re martyred, our blood will serve as gospel seeds to many who

will join the church & keep God’s

commandments before the close of probation. These would be stars

added to our crowns.

Luke 21:12-13But before all these,

they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute

you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being

brought before kings and rulers (church & state) for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a

testimony.

Revelation 12:11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and

by the word of their testimony; and they loved

not their lives unto the death.

Luke 21:14-16Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall

answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries

shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and

brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends;

and some of you shall they cause to be put to

death.

Kings, Legislators, Councils, Hear the

MessageIt does not seem possible to us now that any should have to stand alone, but if God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought

before councils and before thousands for His name's sake, and each one will have to give the reason of his

faith. Then will come the severest criticism upon every position that has

been taken for the truth. We need, then, to study the Word of God, that we may know why we believe

the doctrines we advocate.--RH Dec. 18, 1888. Last Days Events

Chpt 14.

Coming again!

How was Jesus treated?

Before His crucifixion, he was brought before the Sanhedrin council

(church) after scourging Him, they

sent Him to the political rulers

(Church & State)

Our fate won’t be different!

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Pg 707

I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. They do not understand the evidences of their faith. They have no

just appreciation of the work for the present time. When the time of trial shall come, there

are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold,

that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason.

Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And

there are many in the church who take it for granted that

they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their

own weakness.

When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to

explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how

confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as

truth.

Many will have to stand in the legislative courts; some will have to stand before kings and before the learned of the earth to answer for their faith. Those who have only a superficial

understanding of truth will not be able clearly to expound the Scriptures and give definite reasons for their faith. They will become confused and will not be workmen that need not to

be ashamed. Let no one imagine that he has no need to study because he is not to preach in the sacred desk. You

know not what God may require of you.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 217 (1893).

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready

always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The SabbathThe Law of God

The Investigative Judgement(22 October, 1844)

The Relation between God’s Law & Grace

The Spirit of Prophecy?

Romans 13:1,2…

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the

powers that be are ordained of God.1 2

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of

authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the

civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and

condemned…GC, page 592

The law of God is above the law of the land!

Can you proof to us from the scriptures?

Protestantism/ Liberty of Conscience

“The principles contained in this celebrated Protest ... constitute the very essence of

Protestantism. Now this Protest opposes two abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and the second the arbitrary authority of the

church. Instead of these abuses, Protestantism sets the power of

conscience above the magistrate, and the authority of the word of God above the

visible church. In the first place, it rejects the civil power in divine things, and says with the prophets and apostles, ‘We must obey God

rather than man.’ …Great Controversy pg, 203

Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,

We ought to obey God rather than men.

We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the

claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God's word must be

recognized as above all human legislation. A “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for a “Thus saith the

church” or a “Thus saith the state.” The crown of Christ is to be lifted above

the diadems of earthly potentates.…The Acts of the Apostles, page 69.

The Spirit of Prophecy?

Remember when the Papacy ruled the

world and persecuted the Reformers they

didn’t only ask them to recant but also

asked them to recant all the things the reformers before

them had said and written.

Can we prove from the Bible who constitutes God’s

church?

Jesus was rejected by His people (the

church leaders) and handed over to

the state (military).

Jesus’ disciples too.

Reformers also experienced the

same fate.

The deputies had admonished the councilors to continue in the church, out of which, they declared,

there was no salvation. Zwingli responded: “Let not this accusation move you. The foundation

of the church is the same Rock, the same Christ, that gave Peter his name because he

confessed Him faithfully. In every nation whosoever believes with all his heart in the Lord

Jesus is accepted of God. Here, truly, is the church, out of which no one can be saved.”—

D'Aubigne, London ed., b. 8, ch. 11. As a result of the conference, one of the bishop's deputies

accepted the reformed faith…GC, 181.1

Can we prove from the Bible who constitutes God’s church?

If your name is not in the church register, you are not a member of

God’s church!

Wycliffe began to write and publish tracts against the friars, not,

however, seeking so much to enter into dispute with them as to call the

minds of the people to the teachings of the Bible and its Author. He declared that the

power of pardon or of excommunication is possessed

by the pope in no greater degree than by common priests, and

that no man can be truly excommunicated unless he has first brought upon himself the

condemnation of God…In no more effectual way could he have

undertaken the overthrow of that mammoth fabric of spiritual and

temporal dominion which the pope had erected and in which the souls

and bodies of millions were held captive. GC, 84

Mathew 10:16-1916 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the

midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But

beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in

their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it

shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

What shall be given you is what you have already learnt in the past!

The time will come when many will be deprived of the written Word. But if this Word is printed in the memory, no one can take it from us. --20MR 64 (1906).

{LDE 67.5}

Study the Word of God. Commit its precious promises to memory so

that, when we shall be deprived of our Bibles, we may still be in

possession of the Word of God.--10MR 298 (1909). {LDE 67.6}

None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible

will stand through the last great conflict.--GC 593, 594 (1911). {LDE

66.3}

Keep a pocket Bible with you as you work, and improve every opportunity

to commit to memory its precious promises.--RH April 27, 1905. {LDE

67.4}

Several times each day precious, golden moments should be consecrated to

prayer and the study of the Scriptures, if it is only to

commit a text to memory, that spiritual life may exist

in the soul.--4T 459 (1880). {LDE 66.6}

God's precious Word is the standard for youth who

would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study

the Scriptures. Let them commit text after text to memory and acquire a

knowledge of what the Lord has said.—ML 315 (1887).

{LDE 67.1}

Build a wall of scriptures around you, and you will see that the world cannot break it down.

Commit the Scriptures to memory, and then throw right

back upon Satan when he comes with his temptations, "It is written." This is the way that our Lord met the temptations of Satan, and resisted them.--RH

April 10, 1888. {LDE 67.2}

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