Prepare To Stand Before Church And State

Prophesy Again
Pastor Andrew Henriques
www.prophesyagain.com
Prepare To Stand Before Church and State
1. Let us read Revelation 13:1-10.
2. What does a beast represent in Bible prophecy? Daniel 7:17,23_________________________________________________________
3. Which nation is likened unto the leopard in Revelation 13:1-10? This nation blasphemes God and persecutes God’s saints.
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In chapter 13 (verses 1-10) is described another beast, "like unto a leopard," to which the dragon gave "his power, and his seat,
and great authority." This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and
authority once held by the ancient Roman empire...This prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of
Daniel 7, unquestionably points to the papacy. {GC 439.1}
4. Revelation 13:3 and 10 state that the Papacy would be led into captivity and receive a deadly would. In order to comprehend this
scripture read the following.
"Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." And, says the prophet, "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded
to death." And again: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." The
forty and two months are the same as the "time and times and the dividing of time," three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7 - the time during which the papal power was to oppress God's people. This period, as stated in preceding chapters, began with the
supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power
received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity." {GC 439.2}
5. Who is the lamb-like beast with two horns that began to rise to prominence in the time period of 1798?__________________________
What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention
of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it
points unmistakably to the United States of America. {GC 440.2}
6a. What is meant by the fact that the United States will speak as a dragon (Revelation 13:11)? Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 4:8,9;
Revelation 12:17_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6b. When the United States speaks, what will she say? Revelation 13:15_____________________________________________________
The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of
the nation thus represented. The "speaking" of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the
lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak "as a dragon"
and exercise "all the power of the first beast" plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested
by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns "causeth the earth and
them which dwell therein to worship the first beast" indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some
observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy. {GC 442.1}
7a. Once the National Sunday Law, the Mark of the Beast, is enforced what will happen to some of God’s faithful people?
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The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of truth
will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping people. When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing
conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in
defense of the truth. They will be brought before kings and rulers, and before councils to meet the false, absurd, and lying accusations
brought against them, but they must stand firm as a rock to principle, and the promise is, "As thy days so shall thy strength
be." (Deuteronomy 33:25). You will not be tempted above what you are able to bear. Jesus bore all this and far more. The express
command of God must be obeyed, for God has been working. Luke 21:8-19. {1888 484.1} or {3SM 397.4}
7b. What does Jesus foretell? John 16:1-6____________________________________________________________________________
8a. At which point will there be no more martyrs, according to the sequence of end time events?__________________________________
The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet, when earthly powers shall be
arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they will be in fear of death by starvation or by violence...If the blood of Christ's faithful
witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their
fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return
no more. If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist: "In
the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me." Psalm 27:5. {GC 634.1}
8b.
It was an hour of fearful, terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God for deliverance. To outward appearance,
there was no possibility of their escape. The wicked had already begun to triumph, crying out, "Why doesn't your God deliver you out of our
hands? Why don't you go up and save your lives?" But the saints heeded them not, Like Jacob, they were wrestling with God. The
angels longed to deliver them, but they must wait a little longer; the people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism.
So I saw that the people of God, who had faithfully warned the world of His coming wrath, would be delivered. God would not suffer the
wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if
the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a
triumph it would be for his satanic majesty to have power, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long waited to behold Him
whom they loved! Those who have mocked at the idea of the saints' going up will witness the care of God for His people and behold their
glorious deliverance. {EW 284.1}
9a. The following statements show that there will be martyrs before the general close of probation.
Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing scenes of
the great day of atonement. The remnant church will then be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. {PK 587.2}
Those who are true to God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed. They will be "betrayed both by parents, and
brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends," even unto death. Luke 21:16. {PK 588.1}
9b. Meditate upon Luke 21:12-16 and write your thoughts_________________________________________________________________
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. {5T 81.1}
10. What are the words of Jesus to us in these last days, as the devil and his agents will use fear, so that many people will receive the Mark
of the Beast? Matthew 10:28________________________________________________________________________________________
11. Note: Jesus had twelve apostles. Eleven of them died as martyrs, except one. Will you still choose to follow Jesus, with the
understanding that you may be martyred for God’s truth?__________________________________________________________________
12. Note: Ninety-nine percent of all the leading Protestant Reformers died as martyrs. Will you still choose to follow Jesus, with the
understanding that you may be martyred for God’s truth?__________________________________________________________________
13. What will be said of the faithful who are saved in these last days? Revelation 12:11__________________________________________
14. Meditate upon the following words of Martin Luther, protestant reformer, and write your thoughts.______________________________
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“It is not for me to decide whether my life or my death will contribute most to the salvation of all. . . . You may expect
everything from me. . . except flight and recantation. Fly I cannot, and still less retract." {GC 146.1}
15. What was Paul’s testimony which should also be ours? Philippians 1:20-24_______________________________________________
16. Meditate upon the following words and write your thoughts._____________________________________________________________
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“There is a picture representing a bullock standing between a plow and an altar, with the inscription, ‘Ready for either,’ ready
to toil in the furrow or to be offered on the altar of sacrifice. This is the position of the true child of God--willing to go where duty calls,
to deny self, to sacrifice for the Redeemer's cause.” {MH 502.5}
17. What is the Lord’s promise to us?_________________________________________________________________________________
We will not be able to meet the trials of this time without God. We are not to have the courage and fortitude of martyrs of old
until brought into the position they were in. . . . We are to receive daily supplies of grace for each daily emergency. Thus we grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and if persecution comes upon us, if we must be enclosed in prison walls for the faith
of Jesus and the keeping of God's holy law, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Should there be a return of persecution there would
be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show a true heroism.... {OHC 125.4}
18a. Before the group of saints are martyred in these last days, what does Jesus say will happen? This will be a repetition of history?
Luke 21:12-16_________________________________________________________________________________________________
18b. Meditate upon the following words and write your thoughts.____________________________________________________________
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}
18c. Consider the fact that the closing scenes of Jesus’ earthly ministry will be repeated in these last days. Jesus was brought before the
false union of church and state; Pilate, the Roman governor, was presiding over the trial. Before Jesus was brought before Pilate, He
defended the truth before apostate church leaders. God’s saints in these last days will have to do the same. Jesus’ name, character, and
ministry were brought before the high priest (Caiphas) and the chief priests and elders, before His crucifixion; His character was defamed in
the council of the leaders who professed to be His people. As it was then, so shall it be in these last days.
19. Meditate upon the following words and write your thoughts._____________________________________________________________
I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. They do not
understand the evidences of their faith. They have no just appreciation of the work for the present time. When the time of trial shall come,
there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can
give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted
that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of
like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what
they had accepted as truth. Certain it is that there has been among us a departure from the living God and a turning to men, putting human
in place of divine wisdom. {5T 707.2}
20. What caution does the Lord give?_________________________________________________________________________________
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.--FE 217 (1893). {LDE 209.2}
21. If we have not prepared ourselves for the coming crisis, what instruction will we not be able to carry out? 1 Peter 3:15_______________
22. The following are topics and doctrines that we should be able to teach from the Scriptures. Bear in mind that we may have or may not
have our Bibles during the crisis hour. The following doctrines are not in sequential order. The objective is not to explain them here.
23a. We should be able to teach the Sabbath from the Scriptures, for we shall be challenged on this point in the time of crisis.
23b. We should be able to teach the truth that God’s Ten Commandments are still binding, and that they were not nailed to the cross. Many
people will hold on to Sunday worship because they have an erroneous understanding of many scriptures, especially Colossians 2:14-17.
23c. We should be able to teach the truth that Jesus began the work of investigative judgment on October 22, 1844 from the Bible. Due to
the fact that we believe this, we have to honor the Lord’s Sabbath. See Revelation 14:6,7; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
23d. We should be able to teach the true relation between God’s Law and His grace. Show that God’s grace does not cancel our obedience
to His Ten Commandments.
23e. We should be able to explain Romans 13:1 and 2. The Lord states that this scripture is one of the scriptures that will be used to deceive
and compel many people to disobey God’s Law.
“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of
society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be
pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers
who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as
ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring
will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives.” {GC 592.1}
23f. We should be able to show different accounts in scripture that prove the principles of liberty of conscience, and that one should never
accept the word of man or of any council above the written word of God. This point was a significant issue during the days of the Protestant
Reformers.
"The principles contained in this celebrated Protest . . . constitute the very essence of Protestantism. Now this Protest opposes two
abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and the second the arbitrary authority of the church. Instead
of these abuses, Protestantism sets the power of conscience above the magistrate, and the authority of the word of God above the visible
church. In the first place, it rejects the civil power in divine things, and says with the prophets and apostles, 'We must obey God rather than
man.' In presence of the crown of Charles the Fifth, it uplifts the crown of Jesus Christ. But it goes farther: it lays down the principle that all
human teaching should be subordinate to the oracles of God.” {GC 203.4}
We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within
its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God's word must be
recognized as above all human legislation. A "Thus saith the Lord" is not to be set aside for a "Thus saith the church" or a "Thus saith the
state." The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the diadems of earthly potentates. {AA 68.2}
23g. We should be able to prove from the Bible the necessity of the Spirit of Prophecy; we should be able to show its fulfillment in the
writings of Ellen G. White. You might ask why this point is important. During the Protestant Reformation, the Papacy forced the reformers to
denounce the writings of the previous reformers that protested the abuses of the church and state.
“In self-reproach for his own denial of the truth, Jerome continued: "Of all the sins that I have committed since my youth, none weigh
so heavily on my mind, and cause me such poignant remorse, as that which I committed in this fatal place, when I approved of the iniquitous
sentence rendered against Wycliffe, and against the holy martyr, John Huss, my master and my friend. Yes! I confess it from my heart, and
declare with horror that I disgracefully quailed when, through a dread of death, I condemned their doctrines." {GC 113.2}
23h. We should be able to show from the Bible who the Lord acknowledge as being in the church. This point was a significant issue during
the Protestant Reformation. The Papacy silenced the voices of many who wanted to protest against her by threatening them with
excommunication, stating that if a person’s name was not chronicled on the record of the church, that person is lost.
The deputies had admonished the councilors to continue in the church, out of which, they declared, there was no salvation. Zwingli
responded: "Let not this accusation move you. The foundation of the church is the same Rock, the same Christ, that gave Peter his name
because he confessed Him faithfully. In every nation whosoever believes with all his heart in the Lord Jesus is accepted of God. Here, truly, is
the church, out of which no one can be saved."--D'Aubigne, London ed., b. 8, ch. 11. As a result of the conference, one of the bishop's
deputies accepted the reformed faith. {GC 181.1}
Wycliffe began to write and publish tracts against the friars, not, however, seeking so much to enter into dispute with them as to call
the minds of the people to the teachings of the Bible and its Author. He declared that the power of pardon or of excommunication is
possessed by the pope in no greater degree than by common priests, and that no man can be truly excommunicated unless he has first
brought upon himself the condemnation of God. In no more effectual way could he have undertaken the overthrow of that mammoth fabric of
spiritual and temporal dominion which the pope had erected and in which the souls and bodies of millions were held captive. {GC 84.2}
23i. We should be able to show from the scriptures the steps to conversion, since our testimony at that time will lead some to the truth.
24a. What are some things that we should do to be prepared? Meditate upon Matthew 10:16-21____________________________________
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24b. Why is this point important?____________________________________________________________________________________
But like his Master when offered the glory of the world, Jerome remained steadfast. {GC 114.3}
"Prove to me from the Holy Writings that I am in error," he said, "and I will abjure it." {GC 114.4}
"The Holy Writings!" exclaimed one of his tempters, "is everything then to be judged by them? Who can understand them till the church
has interpreted them?" {GC 114.5}
"Are the traditions of men more worthy of faith than the gospel of our Saviour?" replied Jerome. "Paul did not exhort those to whom he
wrote to listen to the traditions of men, but said, 'Search the Scriptures.'" {GC 114.6}
24c. The time will come when many will be deprived of the written Word. But if this Word is printed in the memory, no one can take it from
us.--20MR 64 (1906). {LDE 67.5}
Study the Word of God. Commit its precious promises to memory so that, when we shall be deprived of our Bibles, we may still be in
possession of the Word of God.--10MR 298 (1909). {LDE 67.6}
None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.--GC 593, 594 (1911). {LDE
66.3}
Keep a pocket Bible with you as you work, and improve every opportunity to commit to memory its precious promises.--RH April 27, 1905.
{LDE 67.4}
Several times each day precious, golden moments should be consecrated to prayer and the study of the Scriptures, if it is only to commit a
text to memory, that spiritual life may exist in the soul.--4T 459 (1880). {LDE 66.6}
God's precious Word is the standard for youth who would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study the Scriptures. Let them commit
text after text to memory and acquire a knowledge of what the Lord has said.--ML 315 (1887). {LDE 67.1}
Build a wall of scriptures around you, and you will see that the world cannot break it down. Commit the Scriptures to memory, and then throw
right back upon Satan when he comes with his temptations, "It is written." This is the way that our Lord met the temptations of Satan, and
resisted them.--RH April 10, 1888. {LDE 67.2}
25. Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should
make by diligently studying the Word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.--PK 626 (c. 1914). {LDE 66.2}