prophets and kings-第32章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
first chapter of Exodus are the answer。 He who is the same yesterday； today； and forever； has declared of the seventh…day Sabbath： 〃It is a sign between Me and you throughout your
185
generations。〃 〃It is a sign 。 。 。 forever。〃 Exodus 31：13； 17。 The changed signpost is pointing the wrong way； but God has not changed。 He is still the mighty God of Israel。 〃Behold； the nations are as a drop of a bucket； and are counted as the small dust of the balance： behold； He taketh up the isles as a very little thing。 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn； nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering。 All nations before His are as nothing； and they are counted to Him less than nothing； and vanity。〃 Isaiah 40：15…17。 And He is just as jealous for His law now as He was in the days of Ahab and Elijah。
But how is that law disregarded！ Behold the world today in open rebellion against God。 This is in truth a froward generation； filled with ingratitude； formalism； insincerity； pride； and apostasy。 Men neglect the Bible and hate truth。 Jesus sees His law rejected； His love despised； His ambassadors treated with indifference。 He has spoken by His mercies； but these have been unacknowledged； He has spoken by warnings； but these have been unheeded。 The temple courts of the human soul have been turned into places of unholy traffic。 Selfishness； envy； pride； malice all are cherished。
Many do not hesitate to sneer at the word of God。 Those who believe that word just as it reads are held up to ridicule。 There is a growing contempt for law and order； directly traceable to a violation of the plain commands of Jehovah。 Violence and crime are the result of turning aside from the path of obedience。 Behold the wretchedness and misery of multitudes who worship at the shrine of idols and who seek in vain for happiness and peace。
186
Behold the well…nigh universal disregard of the Sabbath commandment。 Behold also the daring impiety of those who； while enacting laws to safeguard the supposed sanctity of the first day of the week； at the same time are making laws legalizing the liquor traffic。 Wise above that which is written； they attempt to coerce the consciences of men； while lending their sanction to an evil that brutalizes and destroys the beings created in the image of God。 It is Satan himself who inspires such legislation。 He well knows that the curse of God will rest on those who exalt human enactments above the divine； and he does all in his power to lead men into the broad road that ends in destruction。
So long have men worshiped human opinions and human institutions that almost the whole world is following after idols。 And he who has endeavored to change God's law is using every deceptive artifice to induce men and women to array themselves against God and against the sign by which the righteous are known。 But the Lord will not always suffer His law to be broken and despised with impunity。 There is a time coming when 〃the lofty looks of man shall be humbled； and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down； and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day。〃 Isaiah 2：11。 Skepticism may treat the claims of God's law with jest； scoffing； and denial。 The spirit of worldliness may contaminate the many and control the few； the cause of God may hold its ground only by great exertion and continual sacrifice； yet in the end the truth will triumph gloriously。
In the closing work of God in the earth； the standard of His law will be again exalted。 False religion may prevail；
187
iniquity may abound； the love of many may wax cold； the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of； and darkness； like the pall of death； may spread over the world； the whole force of the popular current may be turned against the truth； plot after plot may be formed to overthrow the people of God； but in the hour of greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instrumentalities to bear a message that will not be silenced。 In the populous cities of the land； and in the places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High； the voice of stern rebuke will be heard。 Boldly will men of God's appointment denounce the union of the church with the world。 Earnestly will they call upon men and women to turn from the observance of a man…made institution to the observance of the true Sabbath。 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him；〃 they will proclaim to every nation； 〃for the hour of His judgment is come： and worship Him that made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the fountains of waters。 。 。 。 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。〃 Revelation 14：7…10。
God will not break His covenant； nor alter the thing that has gone out of His lips。 His word will stand fast forever as unalterable as His throne。 At the judgment this covenant will be brought forth； plainly written with the finger of God； and the world will be arraigned before the bar of Infinite Justice to receive sentence。
Today； as in the days of Elijah； the line of demarcation
188
between God's commandment…keeping people and the worshipers of false gods in clearly drawn。 〃How long halt ye between two opinions？〃 Elijah cried； 〃if the Lord be God； follow Him： but if Baal； then follow him。〃 1 Kings 18：21。 And the message for today is： 〃Babylon the great is fallen； is fallen。 。 。 。 Come out of her； My people； that ye be not partakers of her sins； and that ye receive not of her plagues。 For her sins have reached unto heaven； and God hath remembered her iniquities。〃 Revelation 18：2； 4； 5。
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul。 The observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us。 The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men。 Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be； rather than subject themselves to derision； insult； threatened imprisonment； and death。 At that time the gold will be separated from the dross。 True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it。 Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness。 Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary； but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness； will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness。
Among earth's inhabitants； scattered in every land； there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal。 Like the stars of heaven； which appear only at night； these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people。 In heathen Africa； in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America； in China； in India；
189
in the islands of the sea； and in all the dark corners of the earth； God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness； revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law。 Even now they are appearing in every nation； among every tongue and people； and in the hour of deepest apostasy； when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause 〃all； both small and great； rich and poor； free and bond；〃 to receive； under penalty of death； the sign of allegiance to a false rest day； these faithful ones； 〃blameless and harmless； the sons of God； without rebuke；〃 will 〃shine as lights in the world。〃 Revelation 13：16； Philippians 2：15。 The darker the night； the more brilliantly will they shine。
What strange work Elijah would have done in numbering Israel at the time when God's judgments were falling upon the backsliding people！ He could count only one on the Lord's side。 But when he said； 〃I； even I only； am left； and they seek my life；〃 the word of the Lord surprised him； 〃Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel； all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal。〃 1 Kings 19：14； 18。
Then let no man attempt to n
