General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7

THE EVENING SERVICE

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson

Monday, May 19

Elder W. W. Prescott occupied the pulpit and read as a Scripture lesson the song of Moses recorded in Exodus 15. After the opening song and prayer, the speaker began his discourse by setting forth the truth that history is a unit, that God’s purpose runs unbroken through the ages. Our age is to witness the culmination of all history and the final decision as to whether God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. Beneath and throughout this human crisis is the controversy between Christianity and the Papacy strikingly illustrated by Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.9

This mighty controversy is clearly set forth in Daniel and the Revelation, and as such it constitutes the outstanding prophecy of all revelation. And in this prophecy the “little horn,” the Papacy is central. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.10

The prophetic picture in Revelation follows closely the one given in Daniel, but with this exception—the prophecy in the Revelation adds with great vividness the last chapter of papal activity in the world—that enacted in our time in America. This is a special decisive feature, being the culmination of the entire prophecy. This is the final phase of the world struggle, and means the final crisis in human history. Hence the prophet Daniel could say, Blessed is he that cometh to the end of the 1335 days. At this point the speaker showed from leading Catholic writers that the hope of Rome in our day is that her strength may be rejuvenated in the Anglo-Saxon world, and especially in the United States. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.11

In view of this, we face a most thrilling situation. The long controversy is drawing to a close. One has well said we must Americanize Rome or she will Romanize America. Rome is forcing the battle, especially in the United States, while Protestantism is weak and apologetic. The speaker instanced the surrender of Protestant principles in the Edinburgh World’s Missionary Conference, where all Roman Catholic countries were counted out of the foreign missionary class. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.12

The protest against Rome must be made all over the world, and the one trumpet voice against the rising power of the Papacy is that found in the three-fold message. As in the sixteenth century, the standard must be raised on the power of God’s all-conquering Word. The final issue is clouded with no uncertainty. The mighty power of the Babe of Bethlehem will bring full and decisive victory. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.13

The call is to us—we have the light. We must arouse and see our duty. Our eyes seem holden, but we must awaken and labor faithfully in this the time of the world’s crisis. GCB May 20, 1913, page 64.14