The
Devil's Strategy Against Sabbath keepers
Shall
the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by
a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,
and condemn the innocent blood. Ps. 94:20, 21.
As the
people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation
with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith....
Says the
great deceiver: "... The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide
the destiny of souls. We must exalt the Sabbath of our creating. We have caused
it to be accepted by both worldlings and church members; now the church must
be led to unite with the world in its support. We must work by signs and wonders
to blind their eyes to the truth, and lead them to lay aside reason and the
fear of God and follow custom and tradition.
"I
will influence popular ministers to turn the attention of their hearers from
the commandments of God....
But our
principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbathkeepers. We must excite
popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise
men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes.
Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe
and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities
and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the
power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their
allegiance to God. . . . Now that we are bringing the Protestant churches
and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally
have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death
shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now
ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.
"But
before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must . . . ensnare those who
honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust,
and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth,
but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment
and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall."
