Martyrs in the Last Days

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 10
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Martyrs in the Last Days

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:2. 


Every individual in our world will be arrayed under one of two banners. 

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. 

By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of
the law of God, our nation [the United States] will disconnect herself
fully from righteousness.... 

As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the
impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us
that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our
nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take
her flight, never to return. The people of God will then be plunged into
those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have described as
the time of Jacob's trouble. The cries of the faithful, persecuted ones
ascend to heaven. And as the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there
are voices also crying to God from martyrs' graves, from the sepulchers
of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convents vaults: "How long, O
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? 

When the fifth seal was opened, John the Revelator in vision saw beneath
the altar the company that were slain for the Word of God and the
testimony of Jesus Christ. After this came the scenes described in the
eighteenth of Revelation, when those who are faithful and true are
called out from Babylon. 

Christ will restore the life taken; for He is the Life-giver: He will
beautify the righteous with immortal life.

>From Maranatha - Page 199