VII - THE THREE MAIN ACTORS IN THIS DRAMA OF THE AGES

1. ROME [ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH]
"The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, "his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Paul states plainly that the "man of sin" will continue until the second advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. To the very close of time he will carry forward the work of deception... The people need to be aroused to resist the ad¬vances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty."
Great Controversy, p 579, 566.

How and where will the papacy regain its lost supremacy? :
"The scriptures declare that popery is to regain its lost supremacy and that the fires of persecution will be rekindled through the time serving concessions of the so-called Protestant world.”
Letter 3, 1890.

"Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the Re¬formers."
Great Controversy, p 571.

"In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the state, Protestants are follow¬ing in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World.”
Great Controversy, p 573.

“Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to domi¬nate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured… Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her."
Great Controversy, p 581.

Will Rome regain its power openly or in disguise?
"When error in one garb has been detected, Satan only masks it in a different disguise, and multitudes receive it as eagerly as at the first... When Satan wrought through the Roman Church to lead men away from obedience, his agency was concealed, and his work was so disguised that the degradation and misery which resulted were not seen to be the fruit of transgression."
Great Controversy, p 285.

"And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself and accomplishing his work through the leaders of the church…"
Great Controversy, p 570.

“The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apos¬tasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent."
Great Controversy, p 571.

"Church and state are now making preparations for the future conflict. Prot¬estants are working in disguise to bring Sunday to the front, as did the Romanists…The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending."
Testimonies, vol 5, p 449, 452.

Who will be Rome's agents in this deceptive camouflage?
"To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume... It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but com¬mendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of
kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites."
Great Controversy, p 234-235.

Why these disguise and concealment?
"Error requires disguise and concealment. It clothes itself in angel robes, and every manifestation of its real character lessens its chance of success.”
Testimonies, vol 5, p 454.

2. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
“Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States, Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world."
Testimonies, vol 6, p 395.

3. PROTESTANT CHURCHES
"The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this three¬fold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”
Great Controversy, p 588.

All these three (the Roman Catholic Church, the United States of America, and the Protestant Churches) will play the most important role in the last crisis.

IMPORTANT things to know to be firmly established that the Beast of Revelation 17 is the United States of America!!!
If France, the beast in Revelation 11 is atheistical or infidel (GC 273,274) and the French Revolution to be globalized, is there a word from the Inspiration that the United States of America being the beast of Revelation 17, also atheistical or infidel?
"Wm. Miller said: "It is true, but not wonderful, when we become acquainted with the state and corruption of the present age… that I have met with great opposition from the pulpit and professed religious press; and I have been instrumen¬tal, through the preaching of the Advent doctrine, of making it quite manifest that not a few of our theological teachers are infidels in disguise. I cannot for a moment believe that denying the resurrection of the body, or the return of Christ to this earth, or a judgment day yet future, is any the less infidelity now than it was in the days of infidel France.”
Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 220.

"Infidelity prevails to an alarming extent, not in the world merely, but in the church... In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Law-giver."
Great Controversy, p 583.

This declaration is plain infidelity, spiritualism and atheism.

"The teachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity, to spiritualism, and to contempt for God's holy law; and upon these leaders rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian world... This claim is especially urged in America.”
Great Controversy, p 587.

What will infidel or atheistical America do in this great crisis?
"Yet this very class put forth the claim that the fast-spreading corruption is largely attributable to the desecration of the so-called "Christian sabbath," and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly improve the morals of society."
Great Controversy, p 587.

Since the Protestant Churches in America will be foremost in enforcing this decree (SUNDAY LAW) what particular Protestant denomination will be prominent in enforcing this law?
"Here the temperance work, one of the most prominent and important of moral reforms, is often combined with the Sunday movement, and the advocates of the latter represent themselves as laboring to promote the highest interest of society, and those who refuse to unite with them are denounced as the enemies of temperance and reform."
Great Controversy, p 587.

Of course, the whole world is involved in this conspiracy and deception.

No doubt, that it is the Seventh-day Adventist Church under the banner of the General Conference Corporation of America who is the leading advocate of temperance work.
“Of all who claim to be numbered among the friends of temperance, Seventh-day Adventists should stand in the front ranks.”
Gospel Workers, p 384.

This also includes all the so-called health reformers, fanatics, time setters, those who love excitement, those who have no message, those who suppress some or part of the message, those who pervert the message, those who use worldly policy, those who pattern their organization after the Babylonian Churches, those who have no Gospel Order, those who have no Church Discipline, those who are independent atoms, those who claim God's prerogative as the director of this work or their ministry, who profess to keep the Sabbath and teach the truth but will not receive the seal of God.

But do we have a scriptural proof that the SDA (Seventh-day Adventist Church) will also teach and advocate Sunday keeping?
"There is need of Sabbath reform among us, who profess to observe God's holy rest day... The Lord has controversy with His professed people in these last days. In this controversy men in responsible position will take a course directly opposite to that pursued by Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from others by burying it beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large gatherings in the open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week."
Review and Herald, vol 1, p 405, March 18, 1884.

“Men in responsible positions wilt not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but from the sacred desk will urge upon the people the observance of the first day of the week, pleading tradition and custom in behalf of this man-made institution."
Southern Watchman, June 4, 1906.
(also found in ChS 155)

What is God's warning to His servants in this great crisis?
"The leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms which the people need, principles which are in harmony with the Bible; yet while there is with these a requirement which is contrary to God's law, His servants cannot unite with them.”
Great Controversy, p 587-588.

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