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.
God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled. 29
3. An Era of Darkness The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ should not come, "except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work." 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7. Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy. Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, "the mystery of iniquity" carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power--a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will. Satan once endeavoured to form a compromise with Christ. He came to the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered to give all into His hands if He would but acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater success in presenting the same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains and 30
- Page 3 and 4: America in Prophecy “I beheld ano
- Page 5 and 6: 31. Evil Spirits ..................
- Page 7 and 8: must fall the horror of great darkn
- Page 9 and 10: and blessed of God would be ended.
- Page 11 and 12: shall be greater than of the former
- Page 13 and 14: the city walls, then the followers
- Page 15 and 16: Uncontrolled passions made them tyr
- Page 17 and 18: Terrible were the calamities that f
- Page 19 and 20: adiant with gold, which shone dazzl
- Page 21 and 22: tumults, conflicts, and revolutions
- Page 23 and 24: 2. Ignited Fires of Persecution Whe
- Page 25 and 26: persecution: You may "kill us, tort
- Page 27 and 28: themselves. The Spirit of truth rev
- Page 29: The mysterious providence which per
- Page 33 and 34: The detector of error having been r
- Page 35 and 36: ecome firmly established. Its seat
- Page 37 and 38: The darkness seemed to grow moreden
- Page 39 and 40: with the leaders of the papal hiera
- Page 41 and 42: When the Saxons invaded Britain, he
- Page 43 and 44: papacy were early compelled to hono
- Page 45 and 46: their increase. Economy and severe
- Page 47 and 48: and faithfully performed it. Conver
- Page 49 and 50: held to be based upon falsehood. Re
- Page 51 and 52: his bones were whitening on the spo
- Page 53 and 54: 5. Champion of Truth Before the Ref
- Page 55 and 56: Wycliffe; but the papal leaders wer
- Page 57 and 58: men were directed to the Source of
- Page 59 and 60: name, may the more easily overcome
- Page 61: his writings heretical, and, winnin
- Page 64 and 65: the people to acknowledge. Instead
- Page 66 and 67: 6. Two Heroes The gospel had been p
- Page 68 and 69: preachers, they proceeded to exerci
- Page 70 and 71: that God speaking in the Bible, and
- Page 72 and 73: In a letter addressed to his friend
- Page 74 and 75: expecting my sentence of death tomo
- Page 76 and 77: Huss was no more, but the truths fo
- Page 79 and 80: spirit; but I cannot but express my
3. An Era of Darkness<br />
The apostle Paul, <strong>in</strong> his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy<br />
which would result <strong>in</strong> the establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ<br />
should not come, "except there come a fall<strong>in</strong>g away first, and that man of s<strong>in</strong> be revealed, the<br />
son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is<br />
worshiped; so that he as God sitteth <strong>in</strong> the temple of God, show<strong>in</strong>g himself that he is God."<br />
And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that "the mystery of <strong>in</strong>iquity doth already<br />
work." 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7. Even at that early date he saw, creep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the church,<br />
errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy.<br />
Little <strong>by</strong> little, at first <strong>in</strong> stealth and silence, and then more openly as it <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>in</strong><br />
strength and ga<strong>in</strong>ed control of the m<strong>in</strong>ds of men, "the mystery of <strong>in</strong>iquity" carried forward its<br />
deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found<br />
their way <strong>in</strong>to the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restra<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
for a time <strong>by</strong> the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as<br />
persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of k<strong>in</strong>gs, she laid aside<br />
the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and<br />
rulers; and <strong>in</strong> place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions.<br />
The nom<strong>in</strong>al conversion of Constant<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>in</strong> the early part of the fourth century, caused great<br />
rejoic<strong>in</strong>g; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked <strong>in</strong>to the church. Now<br />
the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appear<strong>in</strong>g to be vanquished,<br />
became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctr<strong>in</strong>es, ceremonies, and<br />
superstitions were <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong>to the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.<br />
This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted <strong>in</strong> the development of<br />
"the man of s<strong>in</strong>" foretold <strong>in</strong> prophecy as oppos<strong>in</strong>g and exalt<strong>in</strong>g himself above God. That<br />
gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power--a monument of his efforts<br />
to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth accord<strong>in</strong>g to his will. Satan once<br />
endeavoured to form a compromise with Christ. He came to the Son of God <strong>in</strong> the wilderness<br />
of temptation, and show<strong>in</strong>g Him all the k<strong>in</strong>gdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered<br />
to give all <strong>in</strong>to His hands if He would but acknowledge the supremacy of the pr<strong>in</strong>ce of darkness.<br />
Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with<br />
greater success <strong>in</strong> present<strong>in</strong>g the same temptations to man. To secure worldly ga<strong>in</strong>s and<br />
30