{Chapter 38: The Final Warning}
Please be advised to read the whole book of the Great Controversy to get Context.
#1
A terrible condition of the religious world is here
described. With every rejection of truth the minds of the people will
become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched
in an infidel hardihood.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 603
#2
In defiance of the warnings which God has
given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the
Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 603-604
*** #3 ***
As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the
churches, the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed,
and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the
basest iniquity.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 603-604
+++++++ #4 +++++++
But God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation
of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that
they partake not of her sins and "receive not of her plagues."
Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from
heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily
with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 604
+++++++ #5 +++++++
In connection with his message the
call is heard: "Come out of her, My people." These announcements,
uniting with the third angel's message, constitute the final warning
to be given to the inhabitants of the earth.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 604
+++++++ #6 +++++++
Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The
powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God,
will decree that "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond" (Revelation 13:16), shall conform to the customs of the church
by the observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance
will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared
that they are deserving of death.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 604
+++++++ #7 +++++++
On the other hand, the law of God
enjoining the Creator’s rest day demands obedience and threatens
wrath against all who transgress its precepts.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 604-605
+++++++ #8 +++++++
With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall
trample upon God's law to obey a human enactment receives the
mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power
which he chooses to obey instead of God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 604-605
+++++++ #9 +++++++
But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth
has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been
rejected.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
#10
There are many who have never had an opportunity to
hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth
commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He
who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who
desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the
controversy.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
**** #11 ****
The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly.
Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
+*+*+*+ #12 +*+*+*+
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of
truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to
bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between
those who serve God and those who serve Him not.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
+++++++ #13 +++++++
While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the
state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of
allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the
true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to
the Creator.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
+*+*+*+ #14 +*+*+*+
While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to
earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the
token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
******* #15 *******
Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel's
message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions
that religious intolerance would gain control in the United
States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who
keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless
and absurd.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 605
+++++++ #16 +++++++
But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is
widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to
be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which
it could not have had before.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 606
+++++++ #17 +++++++
In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin, both
in the world and in the church. But the people desire smooth things
spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished truth is not acceptable.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 606
+*+*+*+ #18 +*+*+*+
Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As
the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord
will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those
who consecrate themselves to His service.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 606
+*+*+*+ #19 +*+*+*+
The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His
Spirit than by the training of literary institutions.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 606
+*+*+*+ #20 +*+*+*+
The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results
of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the
inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal
power-all will be unmasked.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 606-607
#21
As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry,
Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth
things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience.
But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of
men and demand a plain "Thus saith the Lord," the popular ministry,
like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is
questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the
sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 607
*** #22 ***
The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the
light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their
command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital
questions.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 607
+*+*+*+ #23 +*+*+*+
As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will
be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened
with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions
of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to
renounce their faith.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 607
#24
Those who are arraigned before the
courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear
them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 607-608
+++++++ #25 +++++++
As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some
of them will be thrust into prison, some will be exiled, some will
be treated as slaves.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608
+*+*+*+ #26 +*+*+*+
As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith
in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through
obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of
the opposition.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608
+*+*+*+ #27 +*+*+*+
By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit,
they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when
the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608
+*+*+*+ #28 +*+*+*+
Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth,
employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the
most bitter enemies of their former brethren.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608
+*+*+*+ #29 +*+*+*+
When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for
their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of
Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports
and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608-609
#30
Stimulated with holy zeal, and with the
divine impulse strong upon them, they entered upon the performance
of their duties without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking
to the people the word which the Lord had given them. They
have not consulted their temporal interests, nor sought to preserve
their reputation or their lives.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 608-609
#31
The same trials have been experienced by men of God in ages
past. Wycliffe, Huss, Luther, Tyndale, Baxter, Wesley, urged that all
doctrines be brought to the test of the Bible and declared that they
would renounce everything which it condemned.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 609
#32
The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who
dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present the
last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent,
except at the peril of their souls.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 609
+*+*+*+ #33 +*+*+*+
Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They
must perform their duty and leave results with God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 609-610
+++++++ #34 +++++++
The contest grows closer and sharper, but their faith
and courage rise with the emergency. Their testimony is: "We dare
not tamper with God's word, dividing His holy law; calling one
portion essential and another nonessential, to gain the favor of the
world. The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us. Christ has
conquered the powers of earth; and shall we be afraid of a world
already conquered?"
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 610
+++++++ #35 +++++++
The contest grows closer and sharper, but their faith
and courage rise with the emergency. Their testimony is: "We dare
not tamper with God's word, dividing His holy law; calling one
portion essential and another nonessential, to gain the favor of the
world. The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us. Christ has
conquered the powers of earth; and shall we be afraid of a world
already conquered?"
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 610
+++++++ #36 +++++++
But so long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary
above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers
and people.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 610
+++++++ #37 +++++++
The opposition of the enemies of truth will
be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When
the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these
leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of
them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through
the time of trouble.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 610-611
#38
The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power
of God; the first angel's message was carried to every missionary
station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest
religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the
Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded
by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 611
**** #39 ****
The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the
"former rain" was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the
opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed,
so the "latter rain" will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 611
#40
Here are "the times of refreshing" to which the apostle Peter looked
forward when he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus." Acts 3:19, 20.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 611-612
+*+*+*+ #41 +*+*+*+
By thousands of voices, all over the earth,
the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be
healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also
works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in
the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth
will be brought to take their stand.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 612
**** #42 ****
The message will be carried not so much by argument as by
the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been
presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and
bear fruit.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 612
**** #43 ****
Family connections, church relations, are
powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides.
Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large
number take their stand upon the Lord's side.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 612