Former Brethren Worst Persecutors

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 7
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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Former Brethren Worst Persecutors

Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall
hate one another. Matt. 24:10. 


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 Sabbathkeepers 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. 

The season of distress before God's people will call for a faith that
will not falter. His children must make it manifest that He is the only
object of their worship, and that no consideration, not even that of
life itself, can induce them to make the least concession to false
worship. 

At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. . . . Many a
star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in
darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are
not clothed with Christ's righteousness, will then appear in the shame
of their own nakedness. 

Among earth's inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who
have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear
only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers
the earth and gross darkness the people. . . . In the hour of deepest
apostasy, when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause "all, both small
and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive, under penalty of
death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones .
. . will "shine as lights in the world." . . . Philippians 2:15. The
darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine.

>From Maranatha - Page 196