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“That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution which has ever existed among mankind will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history.

It is sometimes urged on the other side that ‘the Protestants were as bad.’ If this means that there was a time when many Protestants still believed that it was right for the church to suppress a false teachings by force, and even to call on the State to execute the heretic, the saying is true. But its force is turned by two considerations. The first is that the Protestants had not unlearned all the false doctrines with which they had been familiar in Catholicism. The whole of the new truth which had been shut up in the Gospel was not at once made plain to them. Some of it, indeed, remained undiscovered for three centuries or more. The fact that slavery is in utter contradiction to the will of God is an exact parallel. But Protestants discovered the duty of toleration long before they discovered the iniquity of slaveholding. The second consideration is that, whereas Protestants long ago repented and do still repent of such persecution as must be laid to the charge of their forefathers, no Catholic authority, corporate or individual, has ever expressed repentance or remorse for the Church’s part in instigating massacres and maintaining the Inquisition.” (C. Anderson Scott, Romanism and the Gospel, 1946, p.170-171)

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“….[N]otice how Christ- centered this sanctuary doctrine is: It focuses on what Jesus Christ is doing right now (not only on what happened at the cross about 2000 years ago); it takes into account the breath of the plan of salvation-He is not only the Sacrificial Victim, but also the High Priest, the Mediator, the Judge, the Advocate, and the coming King! Salvation history is still in progress, how exciting! God is still active with in world history, leading to the establishment of his Kingdom.

And practically, in your life, and in mine, this biblical sanctuary teaching indicates that human decisions have a cosmic impact. What we are, what we think, and what we do, is preserved in the heavenly records. And this ought not to be a cause for stress, worry, or fear; rather it should be cause for joy! Every prayer, every kind deed, every encouraging word, or expression of love is preserved as a witness to the manifold wisdom of God, Who is able to transform sinful human beings into new and holy creatures.” (Ron du Preez, No Fear for the Future, 2006, p.15)

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“I do not pretend to understand all of the ways of God all his particular timetable for grappling with evil. Perhaps if God dealt with evil and the overbearing way that we wish, he would defeat his ultimate purpose. We are responsible human beings, not blind automatons; persons, not puppets. By endowing us with freedom, God relinquished a measure of his own sovereignty and imposed certain limitations upon himself. If his children are free, they must do his will by a voluntary choice. Therefore, God cannot at the same time impose his will upon his children and also maintain his purpose for man. If through sheer omnipotence God were to defeat his purpose, he would express weakness rather than power. Power is the ability to fulfill purpose; action which defeats purpose is weakness.”(Martin Luther King, Strength to Love, 1981, p.83-84)

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“But what was the connection between the French Revolution and Communism? The same as between a mother and her child, which is widely recognized as in the following statement: ‘French materialist philosophy, social theory and socialist ideas were significant influences on the development of Communism and major contributors to Marxist ideas.’

In 1903, before the terrible regimes arose, Ellen White -with astonishing accuracy- pointed out the forces that would shape the 20th century and drench it with blood. She emphasized how these influences would contradict the Scriptures and remove all restraints from society. Amongst others, she mentioned ‘evolution and its kindred errors.’ which tend to infidelity; so- called higher criticism ‘destroying faith in the Bible as a divine revelation… robbing God’s word of power to control, uplift, and inspire human lives’, Spiritualist assertions that we are ‘unfolding demigods,’ unfettered by any law except our own desires; and anarchy, ‘seeking to sweep away all law not only divine but human.’

At the time when she wrote these words, on the doorstep of the new century, the learned West was generally looking forward to a brave new world. Progressive thinkers thought they were entering an era in which science and technology would rid the world of war and want. Goodwill, abundance for all, and universal peace were about to prevail. But that little woman presented a completely different vision of the future.” (Edwin de Kock, 7 Heads & 10 Horns, 2012, p.43-44)

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“A war of words as sharp as daggers have split evangelical Christians into two hostile camps. Ironically, what is fueling the civil war are two grand delusions about the nature of the Kingdom of God and the manner of its establishment -delusions that have captivated the imaginations of millions of Christians today and have marshalled them into rival religious camps… [T]he first grand delusion, which has been embraced by many Christians, is the belief that the true church will be secure secretly raptured out of this earth, opening the way for the Jews to set up at Jerusalem, a Jewish messianic Kingdom of God from which they will ruled the world for a thousand years. This belief is variously called the Rapture theory, premillennialism and dispensationalism… [T]he second grand delusion is the inverse of the first and it it's exact opposite. It is the belief that the Christian Church, revived, militant and politically savvy, will set up an earthly Kingdom of God and rule the world for a thousand years before Christ returns. This doctrine is fundamental to the teachings of a group of Christians called Reconstructionists. The teaching is also variously called Postmillennialism and Dominion Now theology, and is the derisively called the Religious Right by the Religious Left which has compromised Christianity with Marxism.” (James Henderson, Evangelical Civil War, 2017, p.1-2)

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“Some readers may be puzzled by the exclusion from king Nebuchadnezzar's dream of any reference to countries outside the Middle East and Europe. What, for instance, about the mighty Mongol empire of Genghis Khan, modern China or the United States? Bible prophecy does not overlook the extra -European nations, as we shall see more clearly when we study the Dragon, the Beast and the two horned creature of Revelation 13.

Daniel 2 is only one of several prophecies which it introduces. It presents an outline. Other chapters fill in the details. We believe, moreover that the feet and toes include some nations outside, but descended from Europe.

Nebuchadnezzar's dream does not predict future events in general but only those concerned with salvation history. It is also interesting to note that the Holy Land was ruled by each power depicted, from Babylon right down to the Crusaders who maintained their Kingdom of Jerusalem for almost a century, from 1099 to 1187.

The prophetic statue is demolished by the Second Coming at a time when history will again find its focus in Western Europe. We therefore think that Japan and other Asian ‘Tigers,’ apart- perhaps- from China, will fail to realize their optimistic dreams of becoming super powers early in the new Millennium.”

(Edwin de Kock, Christ and Antichrist in Prophecy and History, 2013, p.47)

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“A recent writer beautifully explains the real cause of Laodicea’s self- satisfaction: Is Laodicea then a victim of spiritual hallucinations? We think not... What, then, is the reason that God contemplating, the condition of the Church of Laodicea, sees one thing, while Laodicea, considering her own status, beholds an entirely different condition? The reason lies in the fact that God and Laodicea are really looking at two different things. Laodicea gazes upon material things. She tends to observe her achievements, which are not inconsiderable. She thinks of her missionaries at the ends of the earth. She recalls the hospitals and dispensaries which her wealth has erected, and which her generosity maintains. She surveys the schools, academies, and colleges in which she purposes to lead her young people in the way that is right. She counts her printing presses and publishing houses, established to enlighten the world. She remembers her stately houses of worship, erected in many cities of many lands. She counts her membership and analyzes her offerings. Her mind goes back to her humble beginnings and traverses with a subtle and unconscious pride, the years of growth, of progress, of attainment. It is a splendid showing. Laodicea is happy, is complacent. She has a flawless doctrine, a competent organization, a triumphant message. Who can deny these things?-Gwynne Dalrymple, ‘The Church of Laodicea’, in Signs of the Times, Nov. 14, 1933.” (Taylor Bunch, The Seven Epistles of Christ, 1947, 232-233)

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“But our bodies are not disconnected from our minds. Not surprisingly, then, as our consumption has affected our bodies, it has affected all our minds as well. American children have the overwhelmingly highest rate of attention deficit disorder, perhaps as high as 80% of the world's cases. Given all our choices, it would seem we have become easily distracted.

The United states also handily wins the competition for the country with the highest rates of depressive illness, with 9.6% of the population experiencing bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or chronic minor depression over the course of a year. As the song goes, money can't buy me love, and it appears it cannot buy our nation mental health either.

That is not to say we have not tried. This year American buyers of self-help tools- books, audiotapes, seminars, personal coaching -will spend an estimated $11 billion. We spend more than 100 billion a year on mental health services and nearly double that on prescription drugs. How is that working out?

We are not well physically, and we are not well mentally. Our wealth, status, and privilege have not translated into a culture that is whole.
(Will Samson, Enough-Contentment in an Age of Excess, 2009, p. 103)

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“The national Sunday law will be called for by the people as an attempt to return to temporal prosperity. ‘It will be declared that men are offending God by violation of the Sunday Sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the 4th commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine faver and temporal prosperity’. Great controversy, 590 Emphasis added.

The tragedy of natural calamities will eventually require funds we do not have. People’s losses will not be covered by the insurance upon which they depend. Hurricane Andrew swept through South Florida at a cost of billions of dollars. Just a year later, the Northridge earthquake required $20 billion for rebuilding. If these natural disasters occur more frequent and disastrous, it will cost our government more and more money until there is none left. People will lose their homes and possessions and there will be no money to rebuild. This could lead to a severe depression. Then the nation will become spiritually concerned and think to please an offended God, however, it is not God but the devil who brings these miseries to us.

The world will be tempted to think that God's people are preventing them from gaining divine favor and economic prosperity. For this reason, we must be urgent in our preparation. ‘The Protestant world have set up an idol Sabbath in the place where God Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country places, where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis. Country Living, 21” (Jere Franklin, You Can Survive, 2002, p.124-125)