A Predicted Power by Andrew Nelson

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 19, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 32.

A Predicted Power

By Andrew Nelson

IN Dan. 7:25 God through His inspired prophet foretells a power that would arise among the kingdoms of earth, that would speak great words against the Most High, and think to change the times and the law. This power was to manifest itself after the fourth universal earthly kingdom had been divided into ten divisions, or kingdoms; and it would subdue three of these kingdoms, and establish itself. This power would make war against the saints of God, and would assume to legislate for the God of high heaven, and make the people obey its laws or be put to death.

Here are a few words quoted from a standard work, published by this power, entitled, "A Catechism of the Catholic Religion," translated from the German of the Rev. Joseph Deharbe, S.J., edited by the Right Rev. P. N. Lynch, D.D., bishop of Charleston, published by the Catholic Publishing Society Company, 9 Barclay Street, New York, page 115, paragraph 411:

"Can the church do more than give commandments? She also has a right to see that these commandments are obeyed and to punish those who disobey them."

Thus this power declares to the world her assumption of right to legislate for the church of the living God, to compel all to obey her commandments, and to punish those who will not submit to her authority.

All this authority she exercised in her palmy days before the Reformation, when millions were proscribed and many were banished, starved, burned, buried alive, smothered, suffocated, drowned, assassinated, chained to the galleys for life, or immured within the horrid walls of the church and state prisons. All this is not because Roman Catholics are worse than or different from their fellow men; for Protestants, following the same principles of church and state union, have also persecuted and put to death those deemed guilty of heresy.

That same church, with the same principle, is now bidding for power in this country; and if that is once obtained, we may look for the same cruel oppression and persecution in our fair land. Then the import of the words attributed to the archbishop of St. Louis, will be realized. He said, "When the Catholics once, which will surely happen sometime, obtain the majority of votes, then there will be no religious liberty." But that will be too late to protest successfully. Now is the time to defend our God-given liberties, and be true to the principles of the gospel of Christ.

ANDREW NELSON.

Sanitarium, California.