America in Prophecy by Ellen White [Modern Version]
America’s peculiar origins and hegemonic impact in world affairs stand undisputed. As a superpower birthed from Europe, her eminent history has been celebrated. Foretold since antiquity, a myriad of repressions, revolutions and reforms inspired the first band of pilgrims to settle on a new promised land of liberty. This book enables the reader to understand America’s unique destiny and commanding role while besieged by gross spiritual and political machinations. Clearly, this reading lifts the veil from past events molding America and presaging her cooperation to undermine the very values once cherished. America’s peculiar origins and hegemonic impact in world affairs stand undisputed. As a superpower birthed from Europe, her eminent history has been celebrated. Foretold since antiquity, a myriad of repressions, revolutions and reforms inspired the first band of pilgrims to settle on a new promised land of liberty. This book enables the reader to understand America’s unique destiny and commanding role while besieged by gross spiritual and political machinations. Clearly, this reading lifts the veil from past events molding America and presaging her cooperation to undermine the very values once cherished.
The Reformation had presented to the world an open Bible, unsealing the precepts of the law of God and urging its claims upon the consciences of the people. Infinite Love had unfolded to men the statutes and principles of heaven. God had said: "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 4:6. When France rejected the gift of heaven, she sowed the seeds of anarchy and ruin; and the inevitable outworking of cause and effect resulted in the Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Long before the persecution excited by the placards, the bold and ardent Farel had been forced to flee from the land of his birth. He repaired to Switzerland, and by his labors, seconding the work of Zwingli, he helped to turn the scale in favor of the Reformation. His later years were to be spent here, yet he continued to exert a decided influence upon the reform in France. During the first years of his exile, his efforts were especially directed to spreading the gospel in his native country. He spent considerable time in preaching among his countrymen near the frontier, where with tireless vigilance he watched the conflict and aided by his words of encouragement and counsel. With the assistance of other exiles, the writings of the German Reformers were translated into the French language and, together with the French Bible, were printed in large quantities. By colporteurs these works were sold extensively in France. They were furnished to the colporteurs at a low price, and thus the profits of the work enabled them to continue it. Farel entered upon his work in Switzerland in the humble guise of a schoolmaster. Repairing to a secluded parish, he devoted himself to the instruction of children. Besides the usual branches of learning, he cautiously introduced the truths of the Bible, hoping through the children to reach the parents. There were some who believed, but the priests came forward to stop the work, and the superstitious country people were roused to oppose it. "That cannot be the gospel of Christ," urged the priest, "seeing the preaching of it does not bring peace, but war."--Wylie, b. 14, ch. 3. Like the first disciples, when persecuted in one city he fled to another. From village to village, from city to city, he went, traveling on foot, enduring hunger, cold, and weariness, and everywhere in peril of his life. He preached in the market places, in the churches, sometimes in the pulpits of the cathedrals. Sometimes he found the church empty of hearers; at times his preaching was interrupted by shouts and jeers; again he was pulled violently out of the pulpit. More than once he was set upon by the 167
abble and beaten almost to death. Yet he pressed forward. Though often repulsed, with unwearying persistence he returned to the attack; and, one after another, he saw towns and cities which had been strongholds of popery, opening their gates to the gospel. The little parish where he had first labored soon accepted the reformed faith. The cities of Morat and Neuchatel also renounced the Romish rites and removed the idolatrous images from their churches. Farel had long desired to plant the Protestant standard in Geneva. If this city could be won, it would be a center for the Reformation in France, in Switzerland, and in Italy. With this object before him, he had continued his labors until many of the surrounding towns and hamlets had been gained. Then with a single companion he entered Geneva. But only two sermons was he permitted to preach. The priests, having vainly endeavoured to secure his condemnation by the civil authorities, summoned him before an ecclesiastical council, to which they came with arms concealed under their robes, determined to take his life. Outside the hall, a furious mob, with clubs and swords, was gathered to make sure of his death if he should succeed in escaping the council. The presence of magistrates and an armed force, however, saved him. Early next morning he was conducted, with his companion, across the lake to a place of safety. Thus ended his first effort to evangelize Geneva. For the next trial a lowlier instrument was chosen--a young man, so humble in appearance that he was coldly treated even by the professed friends of reform. But what could such a one do where Farel had been rejected? How could one of little courage and experience withstand the tempest before which the strongest and bravest had been forced to flee? "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Zechariah 4:6. "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:27, 25. Froment began his work as a schoolmaster. The truths which he taught the children at school they repeated at their homes. Soon the parents came to hear the Bible explained, until the schoolroom was filled with attentive listeners. New Testaments and tracts were freely distributed, and they reached many who dared not come openly to listen to the new doctrines. After a time this laborer also was forced to flee; but the truths he taught had taken hold upon the minds of the people. The Reformation had been planted, and it continued to strengthen 168
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The Reformation had presented to the world an open Bible, unseal<strong>in</strong>g the precepts of<br />
the law of God and urg<strong>in</strong>g its claims upon the consciences of the people. Inf<strong>in</strong>ite Love had<br />
unfolded to men the statutes and pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of heaven. God had said: "Keep therefore and do<br />
them; for this is your wisdom and your understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the sight of the nations, which shall<br />
hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understand<strong>in</strong>g people."<br />
Deuteronomy 4:6. When France rejected the gift of heaven, she sowed the seeds of anarchy<br />
and ru<strong>in</strong>; and the <strong>in</strong>evitable outwork<strong>in</strong>g of cause and effect resulted <strong>in</strong> the Revolution and the<br />
Reign of Terror.<br />
Long before the persecution excited <strong>by</strong> the placards, the bold and ardent Farel had been<br />
forced to flee from the land of his birth. He repaired to Switzerland, and <strong>by</strong> his labors,<br />
second<strong>in</strong>g the work of Zw<strong>in</strong>gli, he helped to turn the scale <strong>in</strong> favor of the Reformation. His<br />
later years were to be spent here, yet he cont<strong>in</strong>ued to exert a decided <strong>in</strong>fluence upon the<br />
reform <strong>in</strong> France. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the first years of his exile, his efforts were especially directed to<br />
spread<strong>in</strong>g the gospel <strong>in</strong> his native country. He spent considerable time <strong>in</strong> preach<strong>in</strong>g among<br />
his countrymen near the frontier, where with tireless vigilance he watched the conflict and<br />
aided <strong>by</strong> his words of encouragement and counsel. With the assistance of other exiles, the<br />
writ<strong>in</strong>gs of the German Reformers were translated <strong>in</strong>to the French language and, together<br />
with the French Bible, were pr<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> large quantities. By colporteurs these works were sold<br />
extensively <strong>in</strong> France. They were furnished to the colporteurs at a low price, and thus the<br />
profits of the work enabled them to cont<strong>in</strong>ue it.<br />
Farel entered upon his work <strong>in</strong> Switzerland <strong>in</strong> the humble guise of a schoolmaster.<br />
Repair<strong>in</strong>g to a secluded parish, he devoted himself to the <strong>in</strong>struction of children. Besides the<br />
usual branches of learn<strong>in</strong>g, he cautiously <strong>in</strong>troduced the truths of the Bible, hop<strong>in</strong>g through<br />
the children to reach the parents. There were some who believed, but the priests came<br />
forward to stop the work, and the superstitious country people were roused to oppose it.<br />
"That cannot be the gospel of Christ," urged the priest, "see<strong>in</strong>g the preach<strong>in</strong>g of it does not<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g peace, but war."--Wylie, b. 14, ch. 3. Like the first disciples, when persecuted <strong>in</strong> one city<br />
he fled to another. From village to village, from city to city, he went, travel<strong>in</strong>g on foot,<br />
endur<strong>in</strong>g hunger, cold, and wear<strong>in</strong>ess, and everywhere <strong>in</strong> peril of his life. He preached <strong>in</strong> the<br />
market places, <strong>in</strong> the churches, sometimes <strong>in</strong> the pulpits of the cathedrals. Sometimes he<br />
found the church empty of hearers; at times his preach<strong>in</strong>g was <strong>in</strong>terrupted <strong>by</strong> shouts and<br />
jeers; aga<strong>in</strong> he was pulled violently out of the pulpit. More than once he was set upon <strong>by</strong> the<br />
167