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Thought #018
Something I received in my mail recently
from Russ Matthews
Sunday-keeping Union of the World
…. And lastly, the really thought-stirring part; 6 weeks ago, the Master started dealing with me about something I have never thought of much. It doesn't seem to be too prominently spoken of these days in Adventist circles, not even much in print since after Sister White has been laid to rest. Ok, I'll start out methodically; we are all familiar with this text:
Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. 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 threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.--The Great Controversy, p. 588.
Now I know we don't generally talk much about this field amongst us, at least not since I've been around: we focus on our mission, which is "Christ in you, the Hope of glory", which is the proper and fitting handle to lay hold unto….
The Master posed a few questions to me a while ago; "Since 'all the world will wonder after the Beast' and his image, how do you suppose this will come about, seeing that three quarters of the world have no love for any form of any Christian church? How will Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans of all types, atheists, and hedonists alike suddenly willingly or unwillingly feign an allegiance to a Sunday God?"
Well, I had to think a bit; the whole economic strangle-hold theory doesn't really hold water too well as a primary reason. World wide disasters will have their impact, too, but mankind has weathered them before, and they have not created any mass conversions that I know of. It has to be something more than hunger or pain to cause ALL of the world's vastly diverse cultures to bend the knee in homage. But what?
While Satan has benumbed the planet with scenes of death, genocide and mayhem, he has also built up everyone with a perverse appetite for..... well read this first:
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord, Satan will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness;" and they that "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved," will be left to receive "strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." [2 THESSALONIANS. 2:9-11.] Not until this condition shall be reached, and the union of the church with the world shall be fully accomplished, throughout Christendom, will the fall of Babylon be complete. The change is a progressive one, and the perfect fulfillment of Revelation. 14:8 is yet future. {GC 389.3}
It was urged on me that the folks NOT in Christendom (a term EGW uses when speaking of western cultural churchianity), the rest of the world will feel the effects of Satanic "lying wonders" geared TO THEIR CULTURES specifically. Chinese will be terrified by Chinese dragons and angry ancestors, not Christian false doctrines. Arabs will sicken under fears of jins (genies) and angry dead "saints". Maori their spirits and "fathers". Every atheist will have some ghost or irate dead Uncle George haunting him. And none of their shamans, shrinks, holy men or gurus can rid them of their terror; they are helpless...
In desperation they turn to the only deliverer that they have been programmed to think could give them deliverance; an exorcist, clerical collar, crucifix and all the trappings. By then, these false saviors will be part catholic, part pentecostal, part new age; a "union of the church". And Satan WILL stop his harassments to "prove" their worth to those who would never, ever would have turned to them before, even if bruised and starving.
Now, this may not be any big insight to you fellows, but being outside of "Christendom" just now while in Asia, it was a whale of a message to me!! I don't suggest any soap-box plan of action or anything Elijah would blush at. Just thought it a neglected subject of interest to be pondered amongst us.
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