给巴特尔克里克教会的特别证言
1.健忘
为什么古时的以色列人那么容易忘记上帝的作为呢?人们没有记住祂伟大权能的作为或祂警告的话语。他们如果记住了祂对他们的奇妙作为，就不会受到责备了：“却忘记铺张诸天、立定地基、创造你的耶和华?又因欺压者图谋毁灭要发的暴怒，整天害怕，其实那欺压者的暴怒在哪里呢?”(赛51:12, 13)。但以色列人忘记了上帝，因着创造也因着救赎，他们是属于祂的。在见到祂一切奇妙的作为之后，他们却试探了祂。{PH0861.1}
凡自称要作上帝儿女的人，我都要请你们注意《诗篇》第105篇，106篇和107篇。请仔细研读这些经文，由此我们可以收集赏识我们上帝的良善、怜悯和仁爱的必要性。{PH0861.2}
所敲响的警钟直达我们的时代：“弟兄们，你们要谨慎，免得你们中间或有人存着不信的恶心，把永生上帝离弃了。总要趁着还有今日，天天彼此相劝，免得你们中间有人被罪迷惑，心里就刚硬了。我们若将起初确实的信心坚持到底，就在基督里有分了。经上说：你们今日若听祂的话，就不可硬着心，象惹祂发怒的日子一样。那时，听见祂话惹祂发怒的是谁呢?岂不是跟着摩西从埃及出来的众人吗”(来3:12-16)?上帝的圣言交给了祂古时的百姓。但上帝明显的话却被他们曲解误用了。人们藐视了以色列圣者的言语。{PH0861.3}
“祸哉!那些称恶为善，称善为恶，以暗为光，以光为暗，以苦为甜，以甜为苦的人!祸哉!那些自以为有智慧，自看为通达的人!祸哉!那些勇于饮酒，以能力调浓酒的人。他们因受贿赂，就称恶人为义，将义人的义夺去!火苗怎样吞灭碎秸，干草怎样落在火焰之中，照样，他们的根必象朽物，他们的花必像灰尘飞腾;因为他们厌弃万军之耶和华的训诲，藐视以色列圣者的言语”(赛5:20-24)。请阅读《诗篇》91、92、95和96篇。{PH0862.1}
“父亲怎样怜恤他的儿女，耶和华也怎样怜恤敬畏祂的人!因为祂知道我们的本体，思念我们不过是尘土。至于世人，他的年日如草一样。他发旺如野地的花，经风一吹，便归无有;他的原处也不再认识他。但耶和华的慈爱归于敬畏祂的人，从亘古到永远;祂的公义也归于子子孙孙。”这证明了父亲和母亲对子女的影响。“就是那些遵守祂的约、记念祂的训词而遵行的人。耶和华在天上立定宝座;祂的国统管万有”(诗103:13-19)。{PH0862.2}
“行为完全、遵行耶和华律法的，这人便为有福!遵守祂的法度、一心寻求祂的，这人便为有福!这人不做非义的事，但遵行祂的道。耶和华啊，祢曾将祢的训词吩咐我们，为要我们殷勤遵守。但愿我行事坚定，得以遵守祢的律例。我看重祢的一切命令，就不至于羞愧。我学了祢公义的判语，就要以正直的心称谢祢。我必守祢的律例;求祢总不要丢弃我”(诗119:1-8)!{PH0863.1}
“少年人用什么洁净他的行为呢?是要遵行祢的话!我一心寻求了祢;求祢不要叫我偏离祢的命令。我将祢的话藏在心里，免得我得罪祢。”“求祢用厚恩待祢的仆人，使我存活，我就遵守祢的话。求祢开我的眼睛，使我看出祢律法中的奇妙。我是在地上作寄居的;求祢不要向我隐瞒祢的命令!我时常切慕祢的典章，甚至心碎。受咒诅、偏离祢命令的骄傲人，祢已经责备他们。求祢除掉我所受的羞辱和藐视，因我遵守祢的法度。虽有首领坐着妄论我，祢仆人却思想祢的律例。祢的法度是我所喜乐的，是我的谋士。我的性命几乎归于尘土;求祢照祢的话将我救活!我述说我所行的，祢应允了我;求祢将祢的律例教训我”(诗119:9-11,17-26)。{PH0863.2}
“求祢赐我悟性，我便遵守祢的律法，且要一心遵守。求祢叫我遵行祢的命令，因为这是我所喜乐的。求祢使我的心趋向祢的法度，不趋向非义之财。求祢叫我转眼不看虚假，又叫我在祢的道中生活。祢向敬畏祢的人所应许的话，求祢向仆人坚定!求祢使我所怕的羞辱远离我，因祢的典章本为美。我羡慕祢的训词;求祢使我在祢的公义上生活”(诗119:34-40)!{PH0864.1}
“我何等爱慕祢的律法，终日不住地思想。祢的命令常存在我心里，使我比仇敌有智慧。我比我的师傅更通达，因我思想祢的法度。我比年老的更明白，因我守了祢的训词。我禁止我脚走一切的邪路，为要遵守祢的话。我没有偏离祢的典章，因为祢教训了我。祢的言语在我上膛何等甘美，在我口中比蜜更甜!我藉着祢的训词得以明白，所以我恨一切的假道。”“耶和华啊，我切慕祢的救恩!祢的律法也是我所喜爱的。愿我的性命存活，得以赞美祢!愿祢的典章帮助我”(诗119:97-104,174,175)!{PH0864.2}
基督为祂的门徒祷告，说：“父啊，时候到了，愿祢荣耀祢的儿子，使儿子也荣耀祢;正如祢曾赐给祂权柄管理凡有血气的，叫祂将永生赐给祢所赐给祂的人。认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生”(约17:1-3)。{PH0864.3}
难道我们不明白使徒的话的必要性吗?“弟兄们，你们要谨慎，免得你们中间或有人存着不信的恶心，把永生上帝离弃了”(来3:12)。{PH0865.1}
我有一个信息给我们在美国的人。主已使我们这班人成为神圣真理的贮存库。祂已向我们敞开了活泼的圣言，使我们可以兴起发光;因为我们的光已经来到，耶和华的荣耀发现照耀我们(赛60:1)。{PH0865.2}
基督来到我们的世界，但世界无法忍受祂的纯洁。祂往祂的父那里去了，但祂已经派了圣灵来在世上代表祂，直到祂再来。这就是我们要传达的信息：“看哪，祂驾云降临!众目要看见祂，连刺祂的人也要看见祂;地上的万族都要因祂哀哭”(启1:7)。{PH0865.3}
我们在做什么?我们是在传达第三位天使的信息吗?“又有第三位天使接着他们[第一和第二位天使]，大声说：‘若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上或在手上受了印记，’这人也必喝上帝大怒的酒;此酒斟在上帝忿怒的杯中纯一不杂。他要在圣天使和羔羊面前，在火与硫磺之中受痛苦。他受痛苦的烟往上冒，直到永永远远。那些拜兽和兽像，受它名之印记的，昼夜不得安宁。’圣徒的忍耐就在此;他们是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的”(启14:9-12)。{PH0865.4}
这是上帝所赐的信息，要在第三位天使的大呼声中发出来。上帝的印记是遵守第七日安息日，是耶和华对祂创造之工的记念。“耶和华晓谕摩西说：你要吩咐以色列人说：‘你们务要守我的安息日;因为这是你我之间世世代代的证据，使你们知道我耶和华是叫你们成为圣的”(出31:12,13)。在这里，安息日被明确地定义为上帝与祂的子民之间的证据。{PH0866.1}
兽的印记与此相反，就是遵守七日的第一日。这个印记将那些承认教皇权威至高无上的人与那些承认上帝权威的人区别开来。教皇权威体现在那想要改变节期和律法的大罪人身上。拜兽的人是那些在额上和手上接受他的印记的人。{PH0866.2}
耶稣的信心和耶稣的见证是融合在一起的。应当将它们清楚地呈现给世界。然而在上帝的道中我们蒙指示看到传扬这信息的结果。“龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守上帝诫命、为耶稣作见证的”(启12:17)。拒绝遵守上帝的诫命，决心对那些宣布这些诫命的人怀有仇恨，导致了龙最坚决的战争，龙的全部精力都用来攻击遵守上帝诫命的子民。“它又叫众人，无论大小……都在右手上或是在额上受一个印记。”人们不仅不要在星期日用手作工，而且要用头脑承认星期日是安息日。“除了那受印记、有了兽名或有兽名数目的，都不得作买卖”(启13:16,17)。{PH0866.3}
“此后，我看见另有一位有大权柄的天使从天降下，地就因他的荣耀发光。他大声喊着说：巴比伦大城倾倒了!倾倒了!成了鬼魔的住处和各样污秽之灵的巢穴(或作：牢狱;下同)，并各样污秽可憎之雀鸟的巢穴。因为列国都被她邪淫大怒的酒倾倒了。地上的君王与她行淫;地上的客商因她奢华太过就发了财。我又听见从天上有声音说：我的民哪，你们要从那城出来，免得与她一同有罪，受她所受的灾殃;因她的罪恶滔天，她的不义，上帝已经想起来了。她怎样待人，也要怎样待她，按她所行的加倍的报应她;用她调酒的杯加倍的调给她喝”(启18:1-6)。{PH0867.1}
主已大受羞辱，因为祂的子民竟在这测试和考验的时期卷入种种争端。祂的子民应当远离政治。他们应当作为分别出来的特选子民站立;他们的额上应该有我们的统治者上帝之名，向众人表明祂是他们的君主。{PH0867.2}
如果那些知道真理的人有与他们的知识相称的信心和热心，如果他们渴望表现他们的虔诚，显明真理为他们成就了什么，表明盐还没有失味，他们就会将真理拯救人和使人成圣的能力传达给凡与他们交往的人。他们就会更少辩论，就会对上帝的事有更深的兴趣。{PH0867.3}
心中珍爱真理的人，会从他的宝库中拿出新旧的东西来。他必在自己的言行举止上显出基督的样式。要高举髑髅地的伟人，将祂举得高而又高。基督是藉着正确地使用言语的能力而被高举起来的。圣灵就这样给人心留下印象。基督的义是凡接受祂为个人救主之人的救恩。基督为什么而死的呢?——为了将生命和不朽显明出来。藉着基督的功劳，人们受邀悔改，相信并顺从上帝的诫命。基督死在十字架上以便赦免所有的罪恶和过犯，使人重新忠于上帝的诫命。藉着祂的死，祂表明了上帝律法的不变性。祂以自己的死奠定了基础，树立十字架为其中心和荣耀，从而说明了这一真理。在祂的救赎计划中，祂拥抱人类，将人再次安置在与上帝同在的有利位置，这样人的道德能力就可以被认为是服从于上帝的，上帝是至高无上的统治者。{PH0868.1}
人要成为基督国度的公民，藉着赐给他们的神能恢复忠诚。上帝通过祂的法则和资源设立的上天与人类的属灵生活交流的方法，其活动就像风的科学和运作一样奥秘(约3:7, 8)。基督宣布：“我的国不属这世界”(约18:36)。虽然这个国度对地上的政权产生影响，但它决不接受地上政权的印记，否则就会损害上帝的形像。上帝在领受之人心中的运行非常属灵，致使每一个人都成为新造的人，同时并不摧毁或削弱上帝所赐给人的任何能力。它洁净每一品质，使之适合与神性联络。从灵生的，就是灵。人一旦从上头所生，心灵就会充满属天的平安。{PH0868.2}
基督的国民是那些遵守祂诫命的人。只有这些人才被算作祂的国民。如果亮光来到之后，不顺从的人继续犯罪，他们就是这世界之君的国民。从肉身生的，就是肉身;从灵生的，就是灵。{PH0869.1}
但那些将与基督合一的人与跟世界合一的人区别开来的属天原则，已变得几乎无法分辨了。自称基督子民的那班人不再是分别出来的特选子民了。分界线模糊了。人们正在使自己服从世界，服从世界的惯例、习俗和自私。在世人本应当顺从律法到教会这边来的时候，教会却违背律法，过到世界那边去了。教会每天都在向世界转变。自称的基督徒成了玛门的奴隶。他们放纵食欲，为自私的满足而挥霍钱财，大大地羞辱了上帝。{PH0869.2}
与世俗的国度相反，基督并不设法获得祂的国民，——祂创造了他们。那些站在以马内利大君血染旌旗之下的人，乃是一个不被属世国度承认的国度的国民，其国民已经偏离了对上帝的效忠，偏离了对祂国度律法的顺从。这些人被认为是死在过犯和罪恶中。他们缺乏那在顺命之子心中运行的上帝的灵。{PH08610.1}
基督说，我来是要建立一个新的国度。人若不是从圣灵生的，就不能被登记为我国度的国民。“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师(或作：训慰师;下同)，叫祂永远与你们同在，就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的;因为不见祂，也不认识祂。你们却认识祂，因祂常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。……有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的;爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。犹大(不是加略人犹大)问耶稣说：主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢?耶稣回答说：人若爱我，就必遵守我的道;我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住”(约14:15-23)。{PH08610.2}
上帝守诫命的子民站在全能者的大盾牌下;违背诫命的人站在大罪人的旗下。他想改变节期和律法，但他做不到;他只是声称要这么做，开口“向上帝说亵渎的话，亵渎上帝的名并祂的帐幕，以及那些住在天上的”(启13:6)。{PH08610.3}
我们是站在哪一边的?是在龙的一边吗?它“向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守上帝诫命、为耶稣作见证的”(启12:17)。约翰写道：“我又看见三个污秽的灵，好像青蛙，从龙口、兽口并假先知的口中出来。他们本是鬼魔的灵，施行奇事，出去到普天下众王那里，叫他们在上帝全能者的大日聚集争战”(启16:13,14)。{PH08611.1}
你站在哪一边?在那些拜兽和兽像的人一边吗?你和那些已经丧失了属灵原则、变成了次级下属，与那大叛徒联合的人有联络吗?属灵的原则将他们区分为人，并使他们与上帝联合。基督死过为要使你们能够与天使联合，作上帝的后嗣，与基督同作后嗣。你们若顺从祂所有的诫命，就会作王，作祭司，归于上帝。难道你们要选择不顺从和犯罪的可耻囚掳吗?难道你们要使自己与那些使上帝的律法无效的人联合吗?{PH08611.2}
那控制着上帝国度的律法，并不鼓励那些继续在罪恶过犯里的人。“凡犯罪的，就是违背律法;违背律法就是罪。你们知道主曾显现，是要除掉人的罪;在祂并没有罪。凡住在祂里面的，就不犯罪;凡犯罪的，是未曾看见祂，也未曾认识祂。小子们哪，不要被人诱惑，行义的才是义人，正如主是义的一样。犯罪的是属魔鬼，因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪”(约壹3:4-8)。{PH08611.3}
“看哪，世人都是属我的;为父的怎样属我，为子的也照样属我;犯罪的，他必死亡。人若是公义，且行正直与合理的事：……未曾亏负人，乃将欠债之人的当头还给他;未曾抢夺人的物件，却将食物给饥饿的人吃，将衣服给赤身的人穿;未曾向借钱的弟兄取利，也未曾向借粮的弟兄多要，缩手不作罪孽，在两人之间，按至理判断;遵行我的律例，谨守我的典章，按诚实行事。这人是公义的，必定存活。这是主耶和华说的”(结18:4-9)。{PH08612.1}
旧约的历史与新约完全一致。在亮光通过圣经临到我们之后，我们若不行在光中，就是不可原谅的;因为一种看不见的影响正在吸引灵魂顺从，使它能为真理作见证。“犯罪的是属魔鬼，因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪。上帝的儿子显现出来，为要除灭魔鬼的作为。凡从上帝生的，就不犯罪，因上帝的道(原文作种)存在他心里;他也不能犯罪，因为他是由上帝生的。……并且我们一切所求的，就从祂得着;因为我们遵守祂的命令，行祂所喜悦的事。上帝的命令就是叫我们信祂儿子耶稣基督的名，且照祂所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。遵守上帝命令的，就住在上帝里面;上帝也住在他里面。我们所以知道上帝住在我们里面是因祂所赐给我们的圣灵”(约壹3:8,9,22-24)。{PH08612.2}
怀爱伦{PH08613.1}
1897年1月11日{PH08613.2}
PH086 - Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church
【Forgetfulness】
Why did ancient Israel so easily forget God’s dealings? The people did not retain in their memory his works of greatness and power or his words of warning. Had they remembered his wondrous dealings with them, they would not have received the reproof, “And forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?” But the children of Israel forgot God, whose they were by creation and by redemption. After seeing all his wonderful works, they tempted him.?{PH086 1.1}[1]
I would call the attention of all who claim to be children of God, to the one hundred and fifth, one hundred and sixth, and one hundred and seventh psalms. Please read these psalms carefully. From them we may gather the necessity of appreciating the goodness, mercy, and love of our God.?{PH086 1.2}[2]
The warning comes sounding down along the line to our time:“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold?the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.” To the ancient people of God were committed the sacred oracles. But God’s revealed word was misinterpreted and misapplied. The people despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.?{PH086 1.3}[3]
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink; which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Please read psalms 91, 92, 95, and 96.?{PH086 2.1}[4]
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.” This testifies of the?influence a father and mother may have over their children. “To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”?{PH086 2.2}[5]
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity; they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”?{PH086 3.1}[6]
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” “Deal bountifully with they servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes did also sit and speak against me; but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counselors. My soul cleaveth unto the?dust, quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.”{PH086 3.2}[7]
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.”?{PH086 4.1}[8]
“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” “I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.”?{PH086 4.2}[9]
Christ prayed for his disciples, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; as thou hast given him power over all fresh, that he should give eternal life to?as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”{PH086 4.3}[10]
Can we not see the necessity of the apostle’s words, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God”??{PH086 5.1}[11]
I have a message for our people in America. We are a people whom the Lord has made the repository of sacred truth. To us he has opened the living oracles, that we may arise and shine; because our light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us.?{PH086 5.2}[12]
Christ came to our world, but the world could not endure his purity. He has gone to his Father, but he has sent his Holy Spirit to represent him in the world till he shall come again. This is the message we are to bear, “Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.”?{PH086 5.3}[13]
What are we doing? Are we voicing the message of the third angel? “The third angel followed them [the first and second angels,] 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 ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints:?here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus.”?{PH086 5.4}[14]
This is the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third angel. The sign or seal of God is the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, and the Lord’s memorial of his work of creation. “The Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Lord that doth sanctify you.” Here the Sabbath is clearly defined as a sign between God and his people.?{PH086 6.1}[15]
The mark of the beast is the opposite of this, the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority, seen in the man of sin thinking to change times and laws, and those who acknowledge the authority of God: The worshipers of the beast are those that receive his mark in their foreheads and in their hands.?{PH086 6.2}[16]
The faith of Jesus and the testimony of Jesus are blended. They are to be clearly presented to the world. But in God’s word we are shown the consequences of proclaiming this message. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” A refusal to obey the commandments of God, and a determination to cherish hatred against those who proclaim these commandments, leads to the most determined war on the part of the dragon, whose whole energies are brought to bear against the commandment-keeping people of God. “He causeth all,?both small and great ...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” Not only are men not to work with their hands on Sunday, but with their minds are they to acknowledge Sunday as the Sabbath. “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.”?{PH086 6.3}[17]
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven. Saying, 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. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double.”?{PH086 7.1}[18]
The Lord has been greatly dishonored by his people catching up the issues that arise in this time of test and trial. His people are to keep free from politics. They are to stand as a separate and peculiar people; the name of God our Ruler is to be in their foreheads, showing to all that he is their Sovereign.?{PH086 7.2}[19]
If those who know the truth will have faith and zeal corresponding to their knowledge, if?they desire to manifest their piety, and reveal what the truth has done for them, showing that the salt has not lost its savor, they will communicate the saving and sanctifying power of the truth to all with whom they associate. There will then be less controversy and a deeper interest in the things of God.?{PH086 7.3}[20]
The man in whose heart the truth is cherished will bring from his treasure-house things new and old. In his words and deportment he will reveal the likeness of Christ. Lift him up, the Man of Calvary, higher and still higher. Christ is uplifted by the right use of the faculty of speech. Thus the Holy Spirit makes an impression upon minds. The righteousness of Christ is the salvation of all who accept him as their personal Saviour. Why did Christ die?—To bring life and immortality to light. Through the merits of Christ men are invited to repent, believe and obey the commandments of God. Christ died on the cross that he might pardon all transgression and sin, and bring man back to his loyalty to the commandments of God. By his death he showed the immutability of the law of God. He illustrated this truth by laying the foundation in his own death, erecting a cross as its center and glory. In his redemptive plan he embraces man, placing him once more on vantage ground with God, that his moral capacity might be recognized as amenable to God, who is the Supreme Ruler.?{PH086 8.1}[21]
Men are to become the subjects of Christ’s kingdom. Through the divine power imputed to them, they are to return to their allegiance. By laws and resources God has ordained a heavenly communication with man’s spiritual life, that in?its action is as mysterious as the science and operation of the wind. (John 3:7, 8.) Christ declared, “My kingdom is not of this world.” While it imprints its influence upon earthly governments, it cannot take the slightest imprint from them without marring the divine similitude. So spiritual is the character of God’s work upon the human heart that receives it, that it makes every one a new creature, without destroying or weakening any capability God has given to man. It purifies every attribute fit for connection with the divine nature. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and when man is born from above, a heavenly peace pervades the soul.?{PH086 8.2}[22]
Christ’s subjects are those who keep his commandments. These only are counted as his subjects. If after the light has come, the disobedient continue in transgression, they are subjects of the kingdom of the prince of this world. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.?{PH086 9.1}[23]
But the heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The professed people of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. People are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practises, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is becoming converted to the world. Professing Christians are slaves of mammon. Their indulgence of appetite, and extravagant expenditure of money for selfish gratification, greatly dishonors God.?{PH086 9.2}[24]
Contrary to worldly kingdoms, Christ does not find his subjects,—he makes them. Those who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel are the subjects of a kingdom not recognized by worldly kingdoms, whose subjects have wandered from their allegiance to God, from their obedience to the law of his kingdom. These are accounted as dead in trespasses and sins. They are destitute of the Spirit of God, which worketh in the children of obedience.?{PH086 10.1}[25]
I am come, Christ said, to set up a new kingdom. Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot be enrolled as a subject of my kingdom. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.... He that hath [the light on] my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”?{PH086 10.2}[26]
God’s commandment-keeping people stand under the broad shield of Omnipotence; the commandment-breakers, under the ensign of the man of sin, who thought to change times and laws. But he could not do this; he only claimed to do?it, opening his mouth “in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”?{PH086 10.3}[27]
On which side are we ranging ourselves? On the side of the dragon, who was wroth with the woman, and who went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ? “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs,” John writes, “come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 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.”?{PH086 11.1}[28]
On which side are you standing? On the side of those that worship the beast and his image? Are you connected with those who have lost the spiritual principles that distinguish them as men, and allied them to God, and who have become secondary subordinates, united with the great apostate? Christ died to make it possible for you to be allied with angels, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If you are obedient to all his commandments, you will reign as kings and priests unto God. Will you choose the degrading captivity of disobedience and transgression? Will you link yourselves with those who make void God’s law??{PH086 11.2}[29]
The law that controls God’s kingdom gives no encouragement to those who continue in transgression and sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.?Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”?{PH086 11.3}[30]
“Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right.... and hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; he that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.”?{PH086 12.1}[31]
Old Testament history agrees perfectly with the New. After light has come to us through the Scripture, we are inexcusable if we do not walk in the light; for an unseen influence is drawing the soul to obedience, that it may bear witness to the truth. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.... And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those?things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”?E. G. White?January 11, 1897.?{PH086 12.2}[32]
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