1. CHURCH AND STATE

2. Rev 14:8
And their followed another angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen, that
great city because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication.

3. Babylon’s Fall not Yet complete
But the second angels message did not reach its complete
fulfilment in 1844. The churches experienced a moral fall,
in consequence of their refusal of the light of the advent
message: but the fall was not complete. As they have
continued to reject the special truth for this time they
have fallen lower and lower. Not yet, however can it be
said that Babylon is fallen… because she has made all
nations drink of the wine of her fornication.” She has not
yet made all nations do this. The spirit of world-
conforming and indifference to the testing truths for our
time exists and has been gaining ground in churches of
the Protestant faith in all the countries of Christendom;
and these churches are included in the solemn and
terrible denunciation of the second angel. But the work
of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination
GC 389

4. And there came one of the seven angels which had seven vials, and
talked with me saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the
judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom
the Kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of
the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her Fornication. Rev 17:1-
2

5. Matthew 22;15-21
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know
that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man:
for thou regardest not the person of men.
Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

6. Deut 4:13 The Covenant
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform,
even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

7. Here, O Israel: The Lord our God
is one Lord: And thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might.
Deut 6:4-5
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any
grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thy self. I am the Lord.
Lev 19:18

8. Jesus opened them, and I
saw the ten
commandments written on
them with the finger of God.
On one table were four, and
on the other six. The four
on the first table shone
brighter than the other six.
But the fourth, the Sabbath
commandment, shone
above them all
EW p33

9. Then one of them which was a lawyer asked him a question,
tempting him and saying, Master which is the great
commandment of the law?
Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the
first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matt 22:35-40

10. When the Chief
priests and officers
saw him, they cried
out saying, Crucify
him, crucify him.
Pilate saith unto
them, take ye him
and crucify him: for
I find no fault in him.
The Jews answered
him, We have a law,
and by our law he
ought to die,
because he made
himself the Son of
God
John 19:6-7

11. Pilate then went out unto
them, and said what
accusations bring ye
against this man?
They answered and said
unto him, if he were not
a malefactor, we would
not have delivered him
unto thee.
Then said Pilate unto
them, Take ye him and
judge him according to
your law. The Jews
therefore said unto him,
it is not lawful for us to
put any man to death.
John 18:30-31

12. I Find no Fault in Him
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he
went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him
no fault at all. John 18:38
Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I
bring him forth to you, that ye may no I find no fault in him John
19:4
When the Chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried
out saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto him, take ye
him and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. John 19:6

13. And from
thenceforth
Pilate sought to
release him:
but the Jews
cried out,
saying if thou
let this man go,
thou art not
Caesar’s friend:
whosoever
maketh himself
a King
speaketh
against Caesar.
John 19:12

14. They shall put you out of Synagogues: yea
the time cometh that whosoever killeth you
will think that he doeth God’s service. John 16:2

16. Rom 13:1-13
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the
powers that are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of
the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid;
for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute
wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually
upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom
custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled
the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other
commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

17. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the King
of Babylon my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to
serve him.
And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very
time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve
themselves in him.
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the Kingdom which will not serve
the same Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon, and that will not put their neck
under the yoke of the King of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord,
with the sword and with the famine and with the pestilence, until I have
consumed them by his hand.
Jer 27:6-8

18. Daniel 3:17-18
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor
worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19. Dan 6:10-13
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house; and his windows
being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem,
he kneeled upon his knees three times a day,
and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as
he did aforetime.
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his God.
Then they came near, and spake before the king
concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not
signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a
petition of any God or man within thirty days,
save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den
of lions? The king answered and said, The thing
is true, according to the law of the Medes and
Persians, which altereth not.
Then answered they and said before the king,
That Daniel, which is of the children of the
captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king,
nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh
his petition three times a day.

20. Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.

21. The Constitution of
the United States
guarantees liberty
of Conscience.
Nothing is more
dearer or
fundamental.
GC 564

22. And I beheld another beast
coming up out of the earth;
and he had two horns like a
lamb, and he spake as a
dragon. And he exerciseth all
the power of the first beast
before him, and causeth the
earth and them which dwell
therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound
was healed. And he doeth
great wonders, so that he
maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the
sight of men, And deceiveth
them that dwell on the earth
by the means of those
miracles which he had power
to do in the sight of the
beast;

23. saying to them that
dwell on the earth, that
they should make an
image to the beast,
which had the wound by
a sword, and did live.
And he had power to
give life unto the image
of the beast, that the
image of the beast
should both speak, and
cause that as many as
would not worship the
image of the beast
should be killed.
Revelation 13:11-15

24. But what is the "image to
the beast"? and how is it
to be formed? The image
is made by the two-
horned beast, and is an
image to the beast. It is
also called an image of
the beast. Then to learn
what the image is like and
how it is to be formed we
must study the
characteristics of the
beast itself--the papacy.
{GC 443.1}

25. Pagan
Rome
Glorious
Land
Egypt, Assyria,
Glorious Land
Alliance
161 BC
Conquers
Daniel 8:9,
Daniel 11:16
Papal
Rome
France -
Clovis
Vandals, Heruli,
Ostrogoths
Alliance
508 AD
Conquers
Daniel 7:8,
Daniel 11:30-31
Glorious
Land /
America
Papal
Rome
Egypt, America,
Atheism/King of the
South
Alliance
1989 AD
Conquers
Daniel 11:40-42
Past Histories Will Be Repeated
1 2
3
Study Revelation in
connection with Daniel for
history will be repeated…
Mar 30:4

26. The Lord has shown me clearly
that the image of the beast will
be formed before probation
closes; for it is to be the great
test for the people of God, by
which their eternal destiny will
be decided. . . . [Rev. 13:11-17
quoted.] This is the test that
the people of God must have
before they are sealed. All who
proved their loyalty to God by
observing His law, and
refusing to accept a spurious
sabbath, will rank under the
banner of the Lord God
Jehovah, and will receive the
seal of the living God. Those
who yield the truth of heavenly
origin and accept the Sunday
sabbath, will receive the mark
of the beast (Letter 11, 1890).
{7BC 976.3}

27. Character Preparation {Mar 240.4-6}
Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters
have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the
defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every
defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell
upon the disciples. . . . What are you doing, brethren, in the great
work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are
receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast.
Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before
God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth--these are receiving
the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their
foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is
impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for
eternity. Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be
placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be
placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or
woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of
false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be
without spot before God--candidates for heaven.

28. Lamb Like Beast…
I believe in an America where the
separation of church and state is
absolute--where no Catholic prelate
would tell the President (should he
be Catholic) how to act, and no
Protestant minister would tell his
parishioners for whom to vote--
where no church or church school is
granted any public funds or political
preference--and where no man is
denied public office merely because
his religion differs from the President
who might appoint him or the people
who might elect him.
September 12th 1960

29. To the Dragon
"One of his
earliest goals as
President, Reagan
says, was to
recognize the
Vatican as a state
'and make them
an ally'" [emphasis
added].

30. God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His people may
be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who
have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm
expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will
shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble. We are to be as men waiting for
their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering
faith. It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of
minor importance. While men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging
matters so that the Lord's people may not have mercy or justice. The Sunday
movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are
concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not
themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are
mild and apparently Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit
of the dragon. It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened
danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a
proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question
at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to
restrict liberty of conscience. We should search the Scriptures and be able to
give the reason for our faith. Says the prophet: "The wicked shall do wickedly:
and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." {5T
452.1}

31. Catholic 155; Baptist 67; Methodist 61; Presbyterian 44; Jewish 43; Episcopal 37;
Protestant nondenominational 26; Christian nondenominational 18; Lutheran 17;
Mormon 15; United Church of Christ 7 (Jan 3 2007)
Catholicism Top Faith in congress

34. Pope: Sunday Worship a “Necessity” For All
“Sine dominico non possumus!”
“Without Sunday [worship] we
cannot live!” Pope Benedict XVI
declared during a mass on
September 9 at St. Stephen’s
Cathedral in Vienna.
“Give the soul its Sunday, give
Sunday its soul,” he chanted before
a rain-soaked crowd of 40,000
pope has been very vocal about Europe’s Christian—or Catholic—roots, and is
pushing to have them included in the European Constitution.
Sunday worship, he warned, was not just a “precept” to be casually adhered to,
but a “necessity” for all people.
September 17, 2007 | From theTrumpet.com

35. German Roman Catholics Back Pope’s Sacred Sunday
The pope recently called Sunday a critical
day of worship. German Christians have
immediately taken on the pope’s battle cry
for Sunday observance, launching a
campaign against shopping on the first day
of the week.
Pope Benedict XVI chanted for Christians to
“give the soul its Sunday, give Sunday its
soul” in his mass on September 9 during a
visit to Austria. Three days later, Christian
churches in Germany started their campaign
with the slogan “Thank God we have
Sunday.”
The campaign, which prepared posters and
brochures for parishes and launched its own
website, highlighted the meaning of Sunday
for the spiritual life of Christians. The drive’s
Catholic organizers have also collected
365,000 signatures on a petition to stop
Sunday shopping.
The pope’s call for faithful Sunday
worship was not only answered by
Germany’s Catholic masses, but was
even embraced by some German
Protestant churches.
September 18, 2007 | From
theTrumpet.com

36. World's future hinges on peace between
faiths, Islamic scholars tell Pope
The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and
Christianity, Islamic scholars told pope today.
138 prominent Muslims scholars said that finding common ground
between the worlds biggest two religions was not simply a matter of
polite ecumenical dialogue
Guardian – Thursday October 11th 2007
To reach such a lofty goal, the letter compares certain Bible verses
with similar passages in the Koran in an attempt to show the
similarities between the two religions.
United Press international October 13

37. Ten Commandment Commission
The Ten Commandments
Commission was formed
in the spring of 2005. The
main purpose behind the
organization is to create
of a global think tank with
the world’s leaders who
have already recognized
the power behind the
TCC. We are a grass root
movement joined by
some of the nation's
largest ministries.

39. The Impending Conflict
{5T 711}
A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most momentous
struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events which for more than forty years we have
upon the authority of the prophetic word declared to be impending are now taking place
before our eyes. Already the question of an amendment to the Constitution restricting
liberty of conscience has been urged upon the legislators of the nation. The question of
enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national interest and importance. We
well know what the result of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have
we faithfully discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving the people
warning of the danger before them? There are many, even of those engaged in this
movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this
action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are
many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false
foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious
legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has
steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday observance owes its existence as
a so-called Christian institution to "the mystery of iniquity;" and its enforcement will be a
virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When
our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law,
Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life
to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into
active despotism.

40. We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We
are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is
our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit
in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must
go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter His people. We are
not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of
conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity
may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected.
Let there be most earnest prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers. It
may appear that Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and
error; the people over whom God has spread His shield, and the country which has been
an asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth,
may be placed in jeopardy. But God would have us recall His dealings with His
people in the past to save them from their enemies. He has always chosen
extremities, when there seemed no possible chance for deliverance from Satan's
workings, for the manifestation of His power. Man's necessity is God's opportunity. It
may be that a respite may yet be granted for God's people to awake and let their light
shine. If the presence of ten righteous persons would have saved the wicked cities of the
plain, is it not possible that God will yet, in answer to the prayers of His people, hold in
check the workings of those who are making void His law? Shall we not humble our
hearts greatly before God, flee to the mercy seat, and plead with Him to reveal His
mighty power?

41. If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God cannot
pour upon them His Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with Him. They are not
awake to the situation and do not realize the threatened danger. They should feel
now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted action. The peculiar
work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His
people should be far
in advance of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come
for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National
Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men
should have been alive to the situation and should have labored earnestly to
counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from
our people--the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our
ministers who are giving the third angel's message really understand what constitutes
that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so
little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it
and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct
from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting
the very message for this time. The people need to be aroused in regard to the
dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the
chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose
the opportunities given them to see the dangers.

42. We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and,
now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in the
matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the front those who
have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when
those who choose to obey God rather than man will be made to feel the hand of
oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy
commandments are trodden underfoot? While the Protestant world is by her attitude
making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view
the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice
and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people
where we are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true
Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of
religious liberty so long enjoyed.
God calls upon us to awake, for the end is near. Every passing hour is one of activity
in the heavenly courts to make ready a people upon the earth to act a part in the great
scenes that are soon to open upon us. These passing moments, that seem of so little
value to us, are weighty with eternal interests. They are molding the destiny of souls for
everlasting life or eternal death. The words we utter today in the ears of the people, the
works we are doing, the spirit of the message we are bearing, will be a savor of life unto
life or of death unto death. My brethren, do you realize that your own salvation, as well
as the destiny of other souls, depends upon the preparation you now make for the trial
before us? Have you that intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which will enable you
to stand when opposition shall be brought against you?

43. It does not seem possible
to us now that any should
have to stand alone, but if
God has ever spoken by
me, the time will come
when we shall be brought
before councils and before
thousands for His name's
sake, and each one will
have to give the reason of
his faith. Then will come
the severest criticism upon
every position that has
been taken for the truth. We
need, then, to study the
Word of God, that we may
know why we believe the
doctrines we advocate.--RH
Dec. 18, 1888. {LDE 209.1}

44. Many will have to stand in the
legislative courts; some will
have to stand before kings and
before the learned of the earth
to answer for their faith. Those
who have only a superficial
understanding of truth will not
be able clearly to expound the
Scriptures and give definite
reasons for their faith. They
will become confused and will
not be workmen that need not
to be ashamed. Let no one
imagine that he has no need to
study because he is not to
preach in the sacred desk. You
know not what God may
require of you.
{LDE 209.2}

46. In connection with a recent consultative
meeting of secretaries of World
Confessional Families held in Rome, B
Bert Beach, secretary of the Northern
Europe-West Africa Division, one of the
15 participants and the only Adventist in
the group, presented a book and a
medallion to Pope Paul VI on May 18.

47. "We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our
churches to become corrupted, and filled with every foul spirit, and cage
of every unclean and hateful bird." Letter 51, 9/6/1886

48. "I saw the nominal church and
nominal Adventists, like
Judas, would betray us to the
Catholics to obtain their
influence to come against the
truth. The saints then will be an
obscure people, little known to
the Catholics; but the churches
and nominal Adventists who
know of our faith and customs
(for they hated us on account of
the Sabbath, for they could not
refute it) will betray the saints
and report them to the
Catholics as those who
disregard the institutions of the
people; that is, that they keep the
Sabbath and disregard Sunday.“
E.G. White, Spalding--Magan
Unpublished Testimonies, p. 1.

49. 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. 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. 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.
{GC 608.2}

50. {5T 81.}
In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient,
independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful
servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed
to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to
Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated
blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure
brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we
look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the
firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their
genuine luster. The time is not far distant when the test will come to every
soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by
step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find
it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to
derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between
the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the
gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be
clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we
have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will
be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich
wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with
Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness.

51. When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when
multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden
ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of
Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare
themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and
hesitating in the church will be as David--willing to do and dare. The
deeper the night for God's people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will
sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more
than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear "fair as the moon,
clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." {5T 81.2}

53. Of those who boast of their light, and yet fail to walk in it, Christ
says, "But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and
Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum
[Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art
exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down
to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had
been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I
say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." At that time Jesus
answered and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent [in their own estimation], and hast revealed them unto
babes." "And now, because ye have done all these works, saith
the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but
ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will
I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye
trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers,
as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I
have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of
Ephraim.“…

54. Will not those to whom have been committed the treasures of truth, consider the
superior advantages of light and privilege that have been purchased for us by the
sacrifice of the Son of God on Calvary's cross? We are to be judged by the light
that has been given us, and we can find no excuse by which to extenuate our
course. The Way, the Truth, and the Life has been set before us. Many seek to
excuse themselves by saying, "You must not judge me by some weak trait of
character, but consider my character as a whole." We always feel deep pain at
heart when the sinner seeks to apologize for his sin, to smooth it over, and fails to
realize the danger of cherishing one un-Christlike attribute of character. We are to
place our will on the side of the Lord's will, and firmly determine that by his grace
we will be free from sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, and it is not the
magnitude of the action in iniquity that stamps it as sin. Adam and Eve were
prohibited from eating of the tree of good and evil. The test was a slight one, but
the act of disobedience to God was the transgression of his law. The little sins
that men think are of so trivial a character that on their account they will not be
brought into condemnation, are very offensive in the sight of God. Says one, "You
are too severe, a man must be allowed these little defects of character." Let us
hear the words of Christ. He says, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all." People venture to commit sins that are
grievous in the sight of God, and think that they are not to be called to task for
them, because they say they are due to nervousness, to a peculiar temperament;
but this is simply soothing the conscience, and crying, "Peace, peace, when there
is no peace." Sin is sin, and it is the delusion of Satan to look upon it in any other
light than that it is grievous.

55. We may flatter ourselves that we are free from many things of which others are
guilty; but if we have some strong points of character, and but one weak point,
there is yet a communion between sin and the soul. The heart is divided in its
service, and says, "Some of self and some of thee." The child of God must
search out the sin which he has petted and indulged himself in, and permit God
to cut it out of his heart. He must overcome that one sin; for it is not a trifling
matter in the sight of God. One says, "I am not the least jealous, but then I do
get provoked and say mean things, although I am always sorry after giving way
to temper." Another says, "I have this fault or that, but then I just despise such
and such meanness as is manifested by a certain person of my acquaintance."
The Lord has not given us a list of graded sins, so that we may reckon some as
of little consequence, and say that they will do but little harm, while others are
of greater magnitude and will do much harm. A chain is no stronger than is its
weakest link. We might pronounce such a chain good on the whole, but if one
link is weak, the chain cannot be depended on. The work of overcoming is to be
the study of every soul who enters the kingdom of God. That impatient word
quivering on your lips must be left unspoken. That thought that your character
is not rightly estimated must be put from you; for it weakens your influence, and
works out the sure result, making you of light estimation in the minds of others.
You should overcome the idea that you are a martyr, and lay claim to the
promise of Christ, who says, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
RH, AUGUST 1, 1893