The sealing began on September 11, 2001 when the mighty angel of chapter eighteen of Revelation descended. His descent was typified by the descent of the angel of Revelation ten on August 11, 1840, and also by the descent of the Holy Spirit at Christ’s baptism. Christ’s baptism points forward to the latter rain descending when the great buildings of New York City were brought down. The power from above began, and also at that time the power from beneath (bottomless pit) would be manifested, for God’s Word never fails.

Pečaćenje je započelo 11. rujna 2001., kada je sišao silni anđeo iz osamnaestoga poglavlja Otkrivenja. Njegov je silazak bio predoznačen silaskom anđela iz Otkrivenja desetoga poglavlja 11. kolovoza 1840., a također i silaskom Duha Svetoga prigodom Kristova krštenja. Kristovo krštenje upućuje unaprijed na kasnu kišu koja silazi kada su velike zgrade grada New Yorka bile srušene. Sila odozgo započela je djelovati, a također bi se u to vrijeme očitovala i sila odozdo (bezdan), jer Božja Riječ nikada ne zatajuje.

When Christ was baptized, He immediately went into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, after which He was tempted by Satan with three temptations. Each of those three temptations represent primary characteristics of each of the three powers who lead the world to Armageddon. Those three temptations were pride, a characteristic of the dragon; appetite, a characteristic of the beast, and presumption, a characteristic of the false prophet. Pride and self-exaltation are represented by Lucifer in the classic description of Isaiah.

Kad je Krist bio kršten, odmah je otišao u pustinju i postio četrdeset dana, nakon čega ga je Sotona iskušao s tri kušnje. Svaka od tih triju kušnji predstavlja temeljna obilježja svake od triju sila koje vode svijet u Armagedon. Te tri kušnje bile su oholost, obilježje zmaja; požuda, obilježje Zvijeri; i drskost, obilježje lažnog proroka. Oholost i samouzvisivanje prikazani su u Luciferu u klasičnom opisu kod Izaije.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms. Isaiah 14:12–16.

Kako pade s neba, o Luciferu, sine zore! Kako si oboren na zemlju, ti koji si obarao narode! Jer si govorio u srcu svome: Uzići ću na nebesa, povrh zvijezda Božjih uzvisit ću prijestolje svoje; sjest ću i na gori zbora, na krajnjem sjeveru; uzići ću nad visine oblaka, bit ću kao Svevišnji. A ipak ćeš biti strovaljen u pakao, na dno jame. Oni koji te vide pomno će te promatrati i razmišljati o tebi govoreći: Je li ovo čovjek koji je zemlju tresao, koji je kraljevstva potresao? Izaija 14:12–16.

Five times Lucifer proclaims in his heart “I will.” Satan, once named the “light bearer” (Lucifer), who now only bears darkness, is he “that did shake the nations.” Prophetically he is associated with the “nations,” for he is the leader of the evil confederacy of the nations, and the confederacy of merchants identified in Revelation chapters seventeen and eighteen.

Pet puta Lucifer u svome srcu izjavljuje: „Ja ću.“ Sotona, nekoć nazvan „svjetlonoša“ (Lucifer), koji sada nosi samo tamu, jest onaj „koji je potresao narode“. Proročki je povezan s „narodima“, jer je vođa zle konfederacije narodâ i trgovačke konfederacije koja je prepoznata u sedamnaestom i osamnaestom poglavlju Otkrivenja.

“Kings and rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of antichrist, and are represented as the dragon who goes to make war with the saints—with those who keep the commandments of God and who have the faith of Jesus.” Testimonies to Ministers, 38.

„Kraljevi i vladari i upravitelji stavili su na sebe žig antikrista te su prikazani kao zmaj koji odlazi zaratiti sa svetima — s onima koji drže Božje zapovijedi i imaju vjeru Isusovu.“ Testimonies to Ministers, 38.

At Christ’s baptism the Holy Spirit descended, typifying post-September 11, 2001. After His baptism Satan tempted Christ with the offer to give Christ the power Satan uses to rule the kingdoms of the world, for at the fall of Adam, Satan had become the ruler of the kingdoms of the world.

Na Kristovu krštenju sišao je Duh Sveti, predoznačujući razdoblje nakon 11. rujna 2001. Nakon svojega krštenja Sotona je kušao Krista ponudom da mu dade vlast kojom se on služi da vlada kraljevstvima svijeta, jer je pri Adamovu padu Sotona postao vladar kraljevstava svijeta.

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Luke 4:5–8.

I đavao ga, odvevši ga na visoku goru, pokaza mu u trenutku vremena sva kraljevstva svijeta. I reče mu đavao: Tebi ću dati svu ovu vlast i slavu njihovu, jer je meni predana, i dajem je komu god hoću. Ako se, dakle, meni pokloniš, sve će biti tvoje. A Isus odgovori i reče mu: Odlazi od mene, Sotono, jer je pisano: Gospodinu Bogu svojemu klanjaj se i njemu jedinomu služi. Luka 4:5–8.

Two primary characteristics of papal Rome (the beast), is her fornication and the poisoned “food” and drink she distributes.

Dvije glavne značajke papinskoga Rima (Zvijeri) jesu njezino bludničenje i otrovana „hrana” te piće koje dijeli.

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Revelation 2:14.

Ali imam nekoliko toga protiv tebe: trpiš onu ženu Jezabelu, koja samu sebe naziva proročicom, da naučava i zavodi moje sluge da čine blud i da jedu ono što je žrtvovano idolima. Otkrivenje 2,14.

The “food” and drink she provides is her false doctrines.

„Hrana” i piće koje ona pruža jesu njezini lažni nauci.

“The great sin charged against Babylon is that she ‘made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth.” The Great Controversy, 388.

„Veliki grijeh koji se stavlja na teret Babilonu jest to što je ‘napojila sve narode vinom gnjeva svojega bluda’. Ova čaša opojnosti koju ona pruža svijetu predstavlja lažne nauke koje je prihvatila kao posljedicu svoje nezakonite veze s velikašima zemlje.“ The Great Controversy, 388.

The beast of Catholicism also deceives the world by her sorceries, which is once again something that is taken internally.

Zvijer katolicizma također obmanjuje svijet svojim vračanjima, što je ponovno nešto što se uzima iznutra.

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. Revelation 18:23.

I svjetlost svjetiljke neće više nipošto zasjati u tebi; i glas zaručnika i zaručnice neće se više nipošto čuti u tebi; jer tvoji trgovci bijahu velikaši zemlje; jer su tvojim čaranjima svi narodi bili zavedeni. Otkrivenje 18:23.

The Greek word translated as “sorceries,” is pharmakeia, meaning medications. The golden cup in her hand, represents not only a cup to drink wine from, but also the cup where her magical medical potions are prepared and delivered. In the modern world today, those magical potions are delivered in needles, not so much in a cup. When Satan appears after the soon-coming Sunday law, he will perform miracles of healing. The miracles associated with the potions and false doctrines of the papacy, was represented by Satan telling Christ to perform a miracle in turning the stone into bread.

Grčka riječ prevedena kao „čaranja” jest pharmakeia, što znači lijekovi. Zlatna čaša u njezinoj ruci ne predstavlja samo čašu iz koje se pije vino, nego i čašu u kojoj se pripravljaju i dijele njezini čarobni ljekoviti napitci. U današnjem suvremenom svijetu ti se čarobni napitci isporučuju iglama, a ne toliko čašom. Kada se Sotona pojavi nakon uskoro nadolazećega nedjeljnog zakona, činit će čuda iscjeljenja. Čuda povezana s napitcima i lažnim naukama papinstva bila su predočena time što je Sotona rekao Kristu da učini čudo pretvarajući kamen u kruh.

The prophetic history before and after the Sunday law possesses the same characteristics. The image of the beast testing period for Adventism leading to the Sunday law in the United States typifies the image of the beast testing period for the entire world. This is why we are informed that, “the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.”

Proročanska povijest prije i poslije nedjeljnoga zakona posjeduje ista obilježja. Razdoblje kušnje u vezi sa slikom zvijeri za adventizam, koje vodi do nedjeljnoga zakona u Sjedinjenim Državama, predstavlja tipološku sliku razdoblja kušnje u vezi sa slikom zvijeri za cijeli svijet. Zato smo obaviješteni da će „ista kriza doći na naš narod u svim dijelovima svijeta.”

The miracles of satanic healings that are accomplished by Satan after the Sunday law, represent the “sorceries” of so-called medicine that are pawned off during the history beginning on September 11, 2001. Jesus stated that, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Rome’s “food” is traditions and customs which she places above the Word of God.

Čudesa sotonskih iscjeljenja koja Sotona ostvaruje nakon nedjeljnoga zakona predstavljaju „čaranja“ takozvane medicine koja se podvaljuje tijekom povijesti što započinje 11. rujna 2001. Isus je izjavio da „čovjek neće živjeti samo o kruhu, nego o svakoj riječi Božjoj“. „Hrana“ Rima jesu predaje i običaji koje ona uzdiže iznad Riječi Božje.

“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 following 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. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance—a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as the sign of her authority. It is the spirit of the papacy—the spirit of conformity to worldly customs, the veneration for human traditions above the commandments of God—that is permeating the Protestant churches and leading them on to do the same work of Sunday exaltation which the papacy has done before them.” The Great Controversy, 573.

„U pokretima koji su sada u tijeku u Sjedinjenim Državama, a kojima se nastoji osigurati potpora države ustanovama i običajima crkve, protestanti slijede stopama papista. Štoviše, oni otvaraju vrata da papinstvo ponovno zadobije u protestantskoj Americi onu prevlast koju je izgubilo u Starome svijetu. A ono što ovom pokretu daje još veće značenje jest činjenica da je glavni predviđeni cilj nametanje svetkovanja nedjelje — običaja koji potječe iz Rima i za koji ona tvrdi da je znak njezine vlasti. Duh papinstva — duh prilagođavanja svjetovnim običajima, poštovanja ljudskih predaja iznad Božjih zapovijedi — prožima protestantske crkve i vodi ih da obavljaju isto djelo uzdizanja nedjelje koje je papinstvo već prije njih učinilo.” Velika borba, 573.

Tradition and custom are the doctrinal “food” which the beast replaces for the Word of God, in order that it might lift up its pagan idolatry.

Predaja i običaj jesu doktrinarna „hrana“ kojom zvijer zamjenjuje Riječ Božju kako bi uzvisila svoje pogansko idolopoklonstvo.

“How the Roman Church can clear herself from the charge of idolatry we cannot see. True, she professes to worship God through these images; so did the Israelites when they bowed before the golden calf. But the Lord’s wrath was kindled against them, and many were slain. God pronounced them impious idolaters, and the same record is made today in the books of heaven against those who adore images of saints and so-called holy men.

„Kako se Rimska crkva može osloboditi optužbe za idolopoklonstvo, ne možemo vidjeti. Istina, ona tvrdi da štuje Boga posredstvom tih slika; tako su činili i Izraelci kada su se klanjali pred zlatnim teletom. Ali se Gospodinov gnjev raspalio protiv njih, i mnogi su bili pobijeni. Bog ih je proglasio bezbožnim idolopoklonicima, a isti se zapis danas vodi u nebeskim knjigama protiv onih koji štuju slike svetaca i takozvanih svetih ljudi.“

“And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look upon with so much favor, and which will eventually be united with Protestantism. This union will not, however, be effected by a change in Catholicism; for Rome never changes. She claims infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism. ‘The Bible, the Bible, is the foundation of our faith,’ was the cry of Protestants in Luther’s time, while the Catholics cried, ‘The Fathers, custom, tradition.’ Now many Protestants find it difficult to prove their doctrines from the Bible, and yet they have not the moral courage to accept the truth which involves a cross; therefore they are fast coming to the ground of Catholics, and, using the best arguments they have to evade the truth, cite the testimony of the Fathers, and the customs and precepts of men. Yes, the Protestants of the nineteenth century are fast approaching the Catholics in their infidelity concerning the Scriptures. But there is just as wide a gulf today between Rome and the Protestantism of Luther, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and the noble army of martyrs, as there was when these men made the protest which gave them the name of Protestants.

„I ovo je religija na koju protestanti počinju gledati s tolikom naklonošću i koja će se naposljetku sjediniti s protestantizmom. To sjedinjenje, međutim, neće se ostvariti promjenom u katolicizmu; jer Rim se nikada ne mijenja. On polaže pravo na nepogrešivost. Protestantska će se strana promijeniti. Prihvaćanje liberalnih ideja s njezine strane dovest će je onamo gdje će moći stisnuti ruku katolicizmu. ‘Biblija, Biblija, temelj je naše vjere’, bio je poklič protestanata u Lutherovo vrijeme, dok su katolici vikali: ‘Oci, običaj, predaja.’ Sada je mnogim protestantima teško dokazati svoja učenja iz Biblije, a ipak nemaju moralne hrabrosti prihvatiti istinu koja uključuje križ; stoga ubrzano dolaze na tlo katolika i, služeći se najboljim argumentima koje imaju kako bi izbjegli istinu, navode svjedočanstvo Otaca te običaje i propise ljudi. Da, protestanti devetnaestoga stoljeća ubrzano se približavaju katolicima u svojoj nevjeri glede Pisma. Ali danas između Rima i protestantizma Luthera, Cranmera, Ridleya, Hoopera i plemenite vojske mučenika zjapi jednako širok jaz kao što je bio onda kada su ti ljudi iznijeli prosvjed koji im je dao ime protestanata.“

“Christ was a protestant. He protested against the formal worship of the Jewish nation, who rejected the counsel of God against themselves. He told them that they taught for doctrines the commandments of men, and that they were pretenders and hypocrites. Like whited sepulchers they were beautiful without, but within full of impurity and corruption. The Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They came out and separated themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and his followers did not invent the reformed religion. They simply accepted it as presented by Christ and the apostles. The Bible is presented to us as a sufficient guide; but the pope and his workers remove it from the people as if it were a curse, because it exposes their pretensions and rebukes their idolatry.” Review and Herald, June 1, 1886.

„Krist je bio protestant. On je prosvjedovao protiv formalnog bogoštovlja židovskog naroda, koji je odbacio Božji savjet na vlastitu štetu. Rekao im je da kao nauke naučavaju zapovijedi ljudske te da su prijetvorni i licemjeri. Poput okrečenih grobova izvana su bili lijepi, a iznutra puni nečistoće i raspadljivosti. Reformatori sežu unatrag do Krista i apostola. Izašli su i odvojili se od religije oblika i obreda. Luther i njegovi sljedbenici nisu izmislili reformiranu vjeru. Oni su je jednostavno prihvatili onako kako su je iznijeli Krist i apostoli. Biblija nam je predstavljena kao dostatan vodič; ali papa i njegovi djelatnici uklanjaju je od naroda kao da je prokletstvo, jer razotkriva njihova pretvaranja i ukorava njihovo idolopoklonstvo.” Review and Herald, 1. lipnja 1886.

Miracles of healing, that form the basis of spiritualism, are her stock and trade.

Čudesa iscjeljenja, koja čine temelj spiritizma, njegova su glavna roba.

“Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing them wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium. But while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions of supernatural power. The mysterious rapping with which modern spiritualism began was not the result of human trickery or cunning, but was the direct work of evil angels, who thus introduced one of the most successful of soul-destroying delusions. Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God.

„Mnogi nastoje objasniti duhovne pojave pripisujući ih u cijelosti prijevari i lakrdijaštvu od strane medija. No, premda je istina da su se rezultati varke često podmetali kao istinske pojave, bilo je također i izrazitih očitovanja nadnaravne sile. Tajanstveno kucanje kojim je započeo moderni spiritizam nije bilo posljedica ljudske prijevare ni lukavstva, nego izravno djelo zlih anđela, koji su tako uveli jednu od najuspješnijih dušepogubnih zabluda. Mnogi će biti uhvaćeni u zamku zbog uvjerenja da je spiritizam tek ljudska prijevara; kada budu dovedeni licem u lice s pojavama koje će morati smatrati nadnaravnima, bit će obmanuti i navedeni da ih prihvate kao veliku Božju silu.“

“These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the wonders wrought by Satan and his agents. It was by satanic aid that Pharaoh’s magicians were enabled to counterfeit the work of God. Paul testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar manifestations of satanic power. The coming of the Lord is to be preceded by ‘the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10. And the apostle John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last days, declares: ‘He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.’ Revelation 13:13, 14. No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.” The Great Controversy, 553.

„Te osobe zanemaruju svjedočanstvo Svetoga pisma o čudesima što ih je Sotona učinio preko svojih oruđa. Uz sotonsku pomoć faraonovi su vračari bili osposobljeni oponašati Božje djelo. Pavao svjedoči da će se prije drugoga Kristova dolaska pojaviti slična očitovanja sotonske sile. Gospodnji dolazak treba prethoditi ‘djelovanje sotonsko sa svakom silom i znacima i lažnim čudesima, i sa svakom prijevarom nepravde’. 2 Solunjanima 2:9,10. A apostol Ivan, opisujući čudotvornu silu koja će se očitovati u posljednjim danima, izjavljuje: ‘I čini velika čudesa, da i oganj spušta s neba na zemlju pred ljudima, i zavodi one koji prebivaju na zemlji pomoću onih čudesa koja mu je dano činiti.’ Otkrivenje 13:13, 14. Ovdje nisu pretkazana puka podmetanja. Ljudi su zavedeni čudesima koja Sotonina oruđa imaju moć činiti, a ne onima za koja se samo pretvaraju da ih čine.” Velika borba, 553.

The false doctrines built upon customs and traditions, the spiritualistic manifestations of miracles, the counterfeit medical-industrial industry and the combination of churchcraft with statecraft are all the attributes of the beast of Catholicism. Pride is a characteristic of the dragon power. Presumption is the characteristic of the false prophet of apostate Protestantism.

Lažni nauci izgrađeni na običajima i predajama, spiritistička očitovanja čudesa, krivotvorena medicinsko-industrijska industrija te spoj crkvene i državne vlasti — sve su to obilježja zvijeri katolicizma. Oholost je obilježje zmajeve sile. Drska samouvjerenost obilježje je lažnoga proroka otpaloga protestantizma.

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:1–4.

A Isus, pun Duha Svetoga, vrati se s Jordana te ga je Duh vodio u pustinju, gdje ga je đavao iskušavao četrdeset dana. I u te dane nije ništa jeo; a kad oni prođoše, naposljetku ogladnje. Tada mu đavao reče: Ako si Sin Božji, reci ovomu kamenu da postane kruhom. A Isus mu odgovori govoreći: Pisano je: Ne živi čovjek samo o kruhu, nego o svakoj riječi Božjoj. Luka 4,1–4.

Presumption is a noun that refers to the act or instance of assuming something to be true without sufficient evidence or proof. It involves making a judgment or drawing a conclusion based on incomplete or insufficient information. Presumption can also imply a certain level of confidence in one’s assumption, even when it may not be entirely justified.

Preuzetnost je imenica koja se odnosi na čin ili slučaj pretpostavljanja da je nešto istinito bez dostatnih dokaza ili potvrde. Ona uključuje donošenje suda ili izvođenje zaključka na temelju nepotpunih ili nedostatnih informacija. Preuzetnost također može podrazumijevati određenu razinu pouzdanja u vlastitu pretpostavku, čak i kada ona možda nije posve opravdana.

Apostate Protestantism has accepted Sunday as God’s day of worship without any evidence to support that flawed idea from God’s Word, and they do so while knowingly professing that they are Protestants, whose motto is “God’s word alone,” or as Martin Luther proclaimed, “Sola Scriptura!” They choose to accept it based upon the traditions and customs of the Roman church, or perhaps as simply an accepted inheritance from their forefathers. At the loud cry of the third angel the truth that there is absolutely no justification for worshipping the sun that can be provided from the Bible will be clearly revealed, and then those who continue in their flawed presumption will receive the mark of the beast.

Otpadnički protestantizam prihvatio je nedjelju kao Božji dan bogoslužja bez ikakva dokaza iz Božje Riječi koji bi podupro tu pogrešnu zamisao, i to čini dok svjesno ispovijeda da je protestantski, čije je geslo „samo Božja riječ“, ili kako je Martin Luther proglasio: „Sola Scriptura!“ Oni odlučuju to prihvatiti na temelju predaja i običaja Rimske crkve, ili možda jednostavno kao prihvaćenu baštinu svojih otaca. Pri glasnom pokliču trećega anđela jasno će se razotkriti istina da iz Biblije ne može biti pruženo apsolutno nikakvo opravdanje za štovanje sunca, a tada će oni koji ustraju u svojoj pogrešnoj preuzetnosti primiti žig zvijeri.

“If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls ‘my holy day,’ you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place?—When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working-day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast, and refuse the seal of God. If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgments pronounced against the disobedient must fall upon us. But the seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.” Review and Herald, April 27, 1911.

„Ako vam je predočeno svjetlo istine, otkrivajući subotu iz četvrte zapovijedi i pokazujući da u Božjoj Riječi nema nikakva temelja za svetkovanje nedjelje, a vi se ipak i dalje držite lažne subote, odbijajući svetkovati subotu koju Bog naziva ‘mojim svetim danom’, primate žig zvijeri. Kada se to događa? — Kada se pokoravate uredbi koja vam nalaže da prestanete raditi u nedjelju i štovati Boga, premda znate da u Bibliji nema ni riječi koja bi pokazivala da je nedjelja išta drugo osim običnoga radnog dana, pristajete primiti žig zvijeri i odbijate Božji pečat. Ako primimo taj žig na svoja čela ili na svoje ruke, sudovi izrečeni nad neposlušnima moraju pasti na nas. Ali pečat živoga Boga stavlja se na one koji savjesno svetkuju Gospodnju subotu.“ Review and Herald, 27. travnja 1911.

The commonly understood weakness of the Republican party is their willingness to assume their political opponents are fair and honest, when the fruits of the Democratic party clearly reveal that they are the children of the father of lies. Repeatedly and consistently the Republicans take their political opponents at their word, when they have been shown over and over that their opponents never keep their word. They project honest motivations upon those who repeatedly have manifested no rational justification to support the Republicans flawed projections of expected honesty and integrity. It is true also that many Republicans refuse to uphold principle for personal financial gain, or because of secret immoral circumstances that allow them to be easily manipulated, but the primary prophetic attribute of the Republican party is presumption.

Općeprihvaćena slabost Republikanske stranke jest njihova spremnost pretpostaviti da su njihovi politički protivnici pošteni i iskreni, premda plodovi Demokratske stranke jasno otkrivaju da su oni djeca oca laži. Republikanci opetovano i dosljedno uzimaju svoje političke protivnike za riječ, premda im je uvijek iznova pokazano da njihovi protivnici nikada ne drže svoju riječ. Oni pripisuju poštene motive onima koji su opetovano očitovali da ne postoji nikakvo razumno opravdanje koje bi poduprlo manjkave republikanske predodžbe o očekivanoj poštenosti i čestitosti. Također je istina da mnogi republikanci odbijaju zastupati načelo radi osobne financijske koristi, ili zbog tajnih nemoralnih okolnosti koje omogućuju da se njima lako manipulira, ali primarno proročko obilježje Republikanske stranke jest preuzetnost.

It is the attribute of presumption which is prophetically marked in apostate Protestants, that allows them to pretend they have taken the higher moral and political ground, when in reality they have abdicated their civil responsibilities under the empty expectation that their political opponents will keep their word. The very common definition of insanity is to try and do the same thing over and over, while expecting a different outcome, yet the Republicans argue that it is the Democrats that have been infected with insanity as manifested in their hatred of Trump.

Obilježje drske samouvjerenosti, koje je proročki označeno kod otpale protestantske zajednice, dopušta joj da se pretvara kako je zauzela viši moralni i politički položaj, dok je u stvarnosti napustila svoje građanske odgovornosti pod ispraznim očekivanjem da će njezini politički protivnici održati svoju riječ. Vrlo raširena definicija ludila glasi da je to pokušavati činiti isto iznova i iznova, a pritom očekivati drukčiji ishod, no republikanci tvrde da su demokrati ti koji su zaraženi ludilom, što se očituje u njihovoj mržnji prema Trumpu.

Yet the insanity of the Republicans is repeatedly illustrated as they agree to compromises, under the premise of compromise being the work of the legislative process, while their political compromises, which they claim are based upon the principle of “the legislative process,” is made with a class who never compromise. Democrats only give ground in the political process when they are fully restrained by the numbers against them. They have never provided evidence of truly working for a middle ground with the political process. The insanity of Republicans is their repeated optimistic expectations of others that are fully unwarranted.

Ipak, ludost republikanaca opetovano se očituje u tome što pristaju na kompromise, pod pretpostavkom da je kompromis dio zakonodavnoga procesa, dok se njihovi politički kompromisi, za koje tvrde da se temelje na načelu „zakonodavnoga procesa”, sklapaju s grupom koja nikada ne pravi kompromise. Demokrati popuštaju u političkom procesu samo kada su brojčano posve sputani onima koji su protiv njih. Nikada nisu pružili dokaz da u političkom procesu doista rade na pronalaženju srednjega puta. Ludost republikanaca jest u njihovim opetovanim optimističnim očekivanjima od drugih, koja su posve neopravdana.

By far and away the majority of those who are supportive of Donald Trump will testify to the fact that the worst attribute of Trump is his willingness to accept men as supporters of his agenda, when the available evidence identifies that it was totally presumption on Trump’s part to make that choice. Presumption is the prophetic attribute of apostate Protestantism. Satan tempted Christ by quoting the Bible, but in so doing, Satan twisted the passage into an unwarranted and unscriptural test.

Daleko najveći dio onih koji podupiru Donalda Trumpa posvjedočit će o činjenici da je najgora Trumpova osobina njegova spremnost da prihvati ljude kao podupiratelje svojega programa, premda dostupni dokazi pokazuju da je s Trumpove strane bilo posve drsko i neosnovano donijeti takav izbor. Drskost i samouvjereno prisvajanje prava bez ovlasti proročko je obilježje otpaloga protestantizma. Sotona je kušao Krista citirajući Bibliju, ali je pritom izokrenuo taj odlomak u neopravdanu i nebiblijsku kušnju.

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Luke 4:9–12.

I odvede ga u Jeruzalem, i postavi ga na vrh Hrama te mu reče: Ako si Sin Božji, baci se odavde dolje. Jer pisano je: Anđelima će svojim zapovjediti za tebe da te čuvaju; i na rukama će te nositi da se gdje ne spotakneš nogom o kamen. A Isus mu odgovori i reče: Rečeno je: Ne iskušavaj Gospodina, Boga svojega. Luka 4,9–12.

At the soon-coming Sunday law it will be the Protestants of the United States who will take the biblical mandate to cease from labor on the Sabbath day, and twist the commandment to worship God on the seventh-day Sabbath into a fabricated command that it is actually paganism’s day of the sun that men are required to worship upon. They will twist a biblical passage into an unwarranted and unscriptural test.

Pri uskoro dolazećem nedjeljnom zakonu upravo će protestanti Sjedinjenih Država uzeti biblijsku zapovijed da se na subotnji dan prestane od rada te izvrnuti zapovijed da se Bogu iskazuje štovanje u subotu sedmoga dana u izmišljenu zapovijed prema kojoj se od ljudi zapravo zahtijeva da štuju na poganskom danu sunca. Oni će izvrnuti biblijski odlomak u neopravdan i nebiblijski ispit.

We will continue this study in the next article.

Nastavit ćemo ovo proučavanje u sljedećem članku.

“I saw that the two-horned beast had a dragon’s mouth, and that his power was in his head, and that the decree would go out of his mouth. Then I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. I saw that as the mother has been declining in power, the daughters had been growing, and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother.

„Vidjela sam da je zvijer s dva roga imala zmajeva usta i da je njezina moć bila u njezinoj glavi te da će odredba izaći iz njezinih usta. Zatim sam vidjela Majku Bludnica; da majka nisu bile kćeri, nego je bila od njih odvojena i različita. Ona je imala svoj dan, i on je prošao, a njezine kćeri, protestantske sekte, bile su sljedeće koje su stupile na pozornicu i pokazale isti duh koji je imala majka kada je progonila svete. Vidjela sam da su, kako je majka opadala u moći, kćeri rasle, i uskoro će vršiti moć koju je nekoć vršila majka.“

“I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday.

„Vidjela sam da će nazovcrkva i nazovni adventisti, poput Jude, izdati nas katolicima kako bi zadobili njihov utjecaj da ustanu protiv istine. Sveti će tada biti neznatan narod, malo poznat katolicima; ali crkve i nazovni adventisti koji znaju za našu vjeru i naše običaje (jer su nas mrzili zbog subote, budući da je nisu mogli pobiti) izdat će svete i prijaviti ih katolicima kao one koji ne mare za ustanove naroda; to jest, da drže subotu, a ne mare za nedjelju.“

“Then the Catholics bid the Protestants to go forward, and issue a decree that all who will not observe the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day, shall be slain. And the Catholics, whose numbers are large, will stand by the Protestants. The Catholics will give their power to the image of the beast. And the Protestants will work as their mother worked before them to destroy the saints. But before their decree bring or bear fruit, the saints will be delivered by the Voice of God.” Spalding and Magan, 1, 2.

„Tada će katolici pozvati protestante da pođu naprijed i izdati dekret da svi koji ne budu svetkovali prvi dan u tjednu umjesto sedmoga dana, budu pogubljeni. A katolici, kojih je mnogo, stat će uz protestante. Katolici će dati svoju moć slici zvijeri. A protestanti će djelovati kao što je njihova majka djelovala prije njih da uništi svete. No prije nego što njihov dekret donese ili urodi plodom, sveti će biti izbavljeni Glasom Božjim.” Spalding and Magan, 1, 2.