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.
As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on the polished plate of the artist, so the character is faithfully delineated in the books above. Yet how little solicitude is felt concerning that record which is to meet the gaze of heavenly beings. Could the veil which separates the visible from the invisible world be swept back, and the children of men behold an angel recording every word and deed, which they must meet again in the judgment, how many words that are daily uttered would remain unspoken, how many deeds would remain undone. In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven? Will the Lord at His coming receive His own with usury? Have we improved the powers entrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of God and the blessing of the world? How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? God has made us the depositaries of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto salvation? No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ; only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine. Yet it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value. Whatever is done from love, however small it may appear in the estimation of men, is accepted and rewarded of God. The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven. There is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellow men, of forgetfulness of the Saviour's claims. There they will see how often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ. Sad is the record which angels bear to heaven. Intelligent beings, professed followers of Christ, are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin. Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth. 371
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days. All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to them. The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13. If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would 372
- Page 322 and 323: one like the Son of man came with t
- Page 324 and 325: Says the prophet: "Who may abide th
- Page 326 and 327: In the parable it was those that ha
- Page 328 and 329: It is those who by faith follow Jes
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- Page 332 and 333: of this chapter constitute a threef
- Page 334 and 335: In contrast to those who keep the c
- Page 336 and 337: conquest, . . . they have borne the
- Page 338 and 339: It was apostasy that led the early
- Page 340 and 341: Sabbath. But papists urge, as a rea
- Page 342 and 343: would themselves form an image to t
- Page 344 and 345: 26. A Work of Reform The work of Sa
- Page 346 and 347: These truths, as presented in Revel
- Page 348 and 349: The majority of Adventists rejected
- Page 350 and 351: this, those who would be loyal to t
- Page 352 and 353: 27. Revival Wherever the word of Go
- Page 354 and 355: its name are ignorant of its princi
- Page 356 and 357: James 2:8; 1:25. And the revelator,
- Page 358 and 359: Scriptures teach upon this point. T
- Page 360 and 361: time they deny the authority of the
- Page 362 and 363: Notwithstanding these inspired decl
- Page 364 and 365: knowledge." But the prayer of the a
- Page 366 and 367: 28. Facing Life's Record "I beheld,
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- Page 370 and 371: has dishonoured their Redeemer, to
- Page 374 and 375: make haste to confess their sins an
- Page 376 and 377: 29. Why So Much Suffering? To many
- Page 378 and 379: plan, awakened forebodings of evil
- Page 380 and 381: was strong. God's government includ
- Page 382 and 383: With one accord, Satan and his host
- Page 384 and 385: made the greatest sacrifice which l
- Page 386 and 387: 30. Infernal Enmity "I will put enm
- Page 388 and 389: the exceeding evil and malignity of
- Page 390 and 391: Christian imitates the divine Patte
- Page 392 and 393: Angels are sent on missions of merc
- Page 394 and 395: of their loss upon Jesus, he arouse
- Page 396 and 397: 32. Deadly Tricks and Snares Expose
- Page 398 and 399: division which exist among the chur
- Page 400 and 401: Those who are unwilling to accept t
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- Page 416 and 417: But a distinction is made between t
- Page 418 and 419: The martyr Tyndale, referring to th
- Page 420 and 421: classed it with the "monstrous fabl
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to <strong>in</strong>terfere with their duty to perfect hol<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> the fear of God. The precious hours, <strong>in</strong>stead<br />
of be<strong>in</strong>g given to pleasure, to display, or to ga<strong>in</strong> seek<strong>in</strong>g, should be devoted to an earnest,<br />
prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the <strong>in</strong>vestigative<br />
judgment should be clearly understood <strong>by</strong> the people of God. All need a knowledge for<br />
themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible<br />
for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which<br />
God designs them to fill. Every <strong>in</strong>dividual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pend<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that<br />
every m<strong>in</strong>d contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books<br />
shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every <strong>in</strong>dividual must stand <strong>in</strong> his lot, at the end of the<br />
days.<br />
All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great<br />
truths which God has committed to them. The sanctuary <strong>in</strong> heaven is the very center of<br />
Christ's work <strong>in</strong> behalf of men. It concerns every soul liv<strong>in</strong>g upon the earth. It opens to view<br />
the plan of redemption, br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g us down to the very close of time and reveal<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and s<strong>in</strong>. It is of the utmost importance<br />
that all should thoroughly <strong>in</strong>vestigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to<br />
everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is <strong>in</strong> them.<br />
The <strong>in</strong>tercession of Christ <strong>in</strong> man's behalf <strong>in</strong> the sanctuary above is as essential to the<br />
plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which<br />
after His resurrection He ascended to complete <strong>in</strong> heaven. We must <strong>by</strong> faith enter with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross<br />
of Calvary is reflected. There we may ga<strong>in</strong> a clearer <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to the mysteries of redemption.<br />
The salvation of man is accomplished at an <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is<br />
equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the<br />
Father's throne, and through His mediation the s<strong>in</strong>cere desire of all who come to Him <strong>in</strong> faith<br />
may be presented before God.<br />
"He that covereth his s<strong>in</strong>s shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them<br />
shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13. If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how<br />
Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would<br />
372