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THE
LOUD CRY IN DETAIL
Chapter
XXXIII. - The Loud Cry
"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." "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." [Revelation 18:1, 2,
4.] {4SP 421.1}
In
this scripture the announcement of the fall
of Babylon, as made by the second angel,
[Revelation 14:8.] is repeated, with the
additional mention of the corruptions which
have been entering the churches since 1844.
A terrible condition of the religious world
is here described. With every rejection
of truth, the minds of the people have become
darker, their hearts more stubborn, until
they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood.
In defiance of the warnings which God has
given, they continue to trample upon one
of the precepts of the decalogue, and they
persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ
is set at naught in the contempt placed
upon his word and his people. As the teachings
of Spiritualism are accepted by the churches,
no real restraint is imposed upon the carnal
heart, and the profession of religion becomes
a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity.
A belief in spiritual manifestations opens
the door to seducing spirits and doctrines
of devils. The influence of evil angels
is felt in the churches throughout the land.
{4SP 421.2}
Of
Babylon at this time it is declared, "Her
sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath
remembered her iniquities." [Revelation
18:5.] She has filled up the measure of
her guilt, and destruction is about to fall
upon her. 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. In connection with his message
the call is heard, "Come out of her,
my people." As these warnings join
the third angel's message, it swells to
a loud cry. {4SP 422.1}
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 no man may buy or sell, save
he that has the mark of the beast, and,
finally, that whoever refuses to receive
the mark shall be put to death. [Revelation
13:15, 17.] The word of God declares: "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 14:9, 10.]
But not one is made to feel the wrath of
God until the truth has been brought in
contact with his mind and conscience, and
has been rejected. There are many in the
churches of our country who have never,
even in this land of light and knowledge,
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. Jesus reads every heart,
and tries every motive. The decree is not
to be urged upon the people blindly. Every
one is to have sufficient light to make
his decision intelligently. The Sabbath
will be the great test of loyalty; for it
is the point of truth especially controverted.
{4SP 422.2}
Heretofore
those who presented the truths of the third
message have often been regarded as mere
alarmists. The prediction that Church and
State would unite to persecute those who
keep the commandments of God has been pronounced
groundless and absurd. It has been confidently
declared that this land could never become
other than what it has been, the defender
of religious freedom. 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 produces an effect which
it could not have had before. {4SP
423.1}
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. Many reformers,
in entering upon their work, determined
to exercise great prudence in attacking
the sins of the church and the nation. They
hoped, by the example of a pure Christian
life, to lead the people back to the doctrines
of the Bible. But the Spirit of God came
upon them as it came upon Elijah, and they
could not refrain from preaching the plain
utterances of the Bible,--doctrines which
they had been reluctant to present. They
were impelled to zealously declare the truth,
and the danger which threatened souls. The
words which the Lord gave them they uttered,
fearless of consequences, and the people
were compelled to hear the warning. {4SP
423.2}
Thus
will the message of the third angel be proclaimed.
As the time comes for the loud cry to be
given, the Lord will work through humble
instruments, leading the minds of those
who consecrate themselves to his service.
The laborers will be qualified rather by
the unction of his Spirit than by the training
of literary institutions. Men of faith and
prayer will be constrained to go forth with
holy zeal, declaring the words which God
gives them. The sins of Babylon will be
laid open. The fearful results of a union
of Church and State, the inroads of Spiritualism,
the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal
power,--all will be unmasked. By these solemn
warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands
upon thousands have never listened to words
like these. In amazement they hear the testimony
that Babylon is the church, fallen because
of her errors and sins, because of her rejection
of the truth sent to her from Heaven. 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 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, are filled with anger
as their authority is questioned; they denounce
the message as of Satan, and stir up the
sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute
those who proclaim it. {4SP 424.1}
As
the controversy extends into new fields,
and the minds of the people are called to
God's down-trodden law, Satan is astir.
The power attending the message only maddens
those who oppose it. The clergy put forth
almost superhuman efforts to shut away the
light, lest it should shine upon their flocks.
By every means at their command they endeavor
to suppress the discussion of these vital
questions. The church appeals to the strong
arm of civil power, and in this work, papists
are solicited to come to the help of Protestants.
The movement for Sunday enforcement becomes
more bold and decided. The law is invoked
against commandment-keepers. They are threatened
with fines and imprisonment, and some are
offered positions of influence, and other
rewards and advantages, as inducements to
renounce their faith. But their steadfast
answer is, "Show us from the word of
God our error,"--the same plea that
was made by Luther under similar circumstances.
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.
Thus light is brought before thousands who
otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
{4SP 425.1}
Conscientious
obedience to the word of God will be treated
as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent
will exercise harshness and severity toward
the believing child; the master or mistress
will oppress the commandment-keeping servant.
Affection will be alienated; children will
be disinherited, and driven from home. The
words of Paul will be literally fulfilled,
"All that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution." [2
Timothy 3:12.] 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. To human wisdom, all this now seems
impossible; but as the restraining Spirit
of God shall be withdrawn from men, and
they shall be under the control of Satan,
who hates the divine precepts, there will
be strange developments. The heart can be
very cruel when God's fear and love are
removed. {4SP 425.2}
As
the storm approaches, a large class who
have professed faith in the third message,
but have not been sanctified through it,
abandon their position, and take refuge
under the banner of the powers of darkness.
By uniting with the world and partaking
of its spirit, they come to view matters
in nearly the same light; and when the test
is brought, they are prepared to choose
the easy, popular side. 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. When Sabbath-keepers
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. {4SP 426.1}
The
Lord's servants have faithfully given the
warning, looking to God and to his word
alone. They have not coolly calculated the
consequences to themselves. They have not
consulted their temporal interests, or sought
to preserve their reputation or their lives.
Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach
bursts upon them, they are overwhelmed with
consternation; and some are ready to exclaim,
"Had we foreseen the consequences of
our words, we would have held our peace."
They are hedged in with difficulties. Satan
assails them with fierce temptations. The
work which they have undertaken seems far
beyond their ability to accomplish. They
are threatened with destruction. The enthusiasm
which animated them is gone; yet they cannot
turn back. Then, feeling their utter helplessness,
they flee to the Mighty One for strength.
They remember that the words which they
have spoken were not theirs, but His who
bade them give the warning. God put the
truth into their hearts, and they could
not forbear to proclaim it. {4SP 427.1}
The
same trials were 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. Against these men, persecution
raged with relentless fury; yet they ceased
not to declare the truth. Different periods
in the history of the church have each been
marked by the development of some special
truth, adapted to the necessities of the
people of God at that time. Every new truth
has made its way against hatred and opposition;
those who were blessed with its light were
tempted and tried. 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.
Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do
with consequences. They must perform their
duty, and leave results with God. {4SP
427.2}
As
the opposition rises to a fiercer height,
the servants of God are again perplexed;
for it seems to them that they have brought
the crisis. But conscience and the word
of God assure them that their course is
right; and although the trials continue,
they are strengthened to bear them. 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
non-essential 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?" {4SP 428.1}
Persecution
in its varied forms is the development of
a principle which will exist as long as
Satan exists, and Christianity has vital
power. No man can serve God without enlisting
against himself the opposition of the hosts
of darkness. Evil angels will assail him,
alarmed that his influence is taking the
prey from their hands. Evil men, rebuked
by his example, will unite with them in
seeking to separate him from God by alluring
temptations. When these do not succeed,
then a compelling power is employed to force
the conscience. {4SP 428.2}
But
as long as Jesus remains man's intercessor
in the sanctuary above, the restraining
influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by
rulers and people. It still controls, to
some extent, the laws of the land. Were
it not for these laws, the condition of
the world would be much worse than it now
is. While many of our rulers are active
agents of Satan, God also has his agents
among the leading men of the nation. The
enemy moves upon his servants to propose
measures that would greatly impede the work
of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord
are influenced by holy angels to oppose
such propositions with unanswerable arguments.
Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful
current of evil. The opposition of the enemies
of truth will be restrained that the third
message may do its work. When the loud cry
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. {4SP
429.1}
The
angel who unites in the proclamation of
the third message is to lighten the whole
earth with his glory. A work of world-wide
extent and unwonted power is here brought
to view. The Advent movement of 1840-44
was a glorious manifestation of the power
of God; the first message was carried to
every missionary station in the world, and
in this country 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 far exceeded
by the mighty movement under the loud cry
of the third message. The work will be similar
to that of the day of Pentecost. Servants
of God, with their faces lighted up and
shining with holy consecration, hasten from
place to place to proclaim the warning from
Heaven. By thousands of voices, all over
the earth, the message will be given. Miracles
are wrought, the sick are healed, and signs
and wonders follow the believers. Satan
also works with lying wonders, even bringing
down fire from heaven in the sight of men.
Thus the inhabitants of the earth are brought
to take their stand. {4SP 429.2}
The
message will be carried, as was the midnight
cry of 1844, 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 publications
distributed by missionary workers have exerted
their influence; yet many whose minds have
been impressed have been prevented from
fully comprehending the truth or from yielding
obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate
everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness,
and the honest children of God sever the
bands which have held them. 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. {4SP 430.1}
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