All who exalt their own opinions above divine revelation； all who would
change the plain meaning of Scripture to suit their own convenience； or for
the sake of conforming to the world； are taking upon themselves a fearful
responsibility。 The written word； the law of God； will measure the character
of every man and condemn all whom this unerring test shall declare wanting。
〃When they shall have finished ＇are finishing＇ their testimony。〃 The period
when the two witnesses were to prophesy clothed in sackcloth； ended in 1798。
As they were approaching the termination of their work in obscurity； war was
to be made upon them by the power represented as 〃the beast that ascendeth
out of the bottomless pit。〃 In many of the nations of Europe the powers that
ruled in church and state had for centuries been controlled by Satan through
the
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medium of the papacy。 But here is brought to view a new manifestation of
satanic power。
It had been Rome's policy； under a profession of reverence for the Bible； to
keep it locked up in an unknown tongue and hidden away from the people。
Under her rule the witnesses prophesied 〃clothed in sackcloth。〃 But another
power the beast from the bottomless pitwas to arise to make open； avowed
war upon the word of God。
〃The great city〃 in whose streets the witnesses are slain； and where their
dead bodies lie； is 〃spiritually〃 Egypt。 Of all nations presented in Bible
history； Egypt most boldly denied the existence of the living God and
resisted His commands。 No monarch ever ventured upon more open and
highhanded rebellion against the authority of Heaven than did the king of
Egypt。 When the message was brought him by Moses； in the name of the Lord；
Pharaoh proudly answered： 〃Who is Jehovah； that I should hearken unto His
voice to let Israel go？ I know not Jehovah； and moreover I will not let
Israel go。〃 Exodus 5：2； A。R。V。 This is atheism； and the nation represented
by Egypt would give voice to a similar denial of the claims of the living
God and would manifest a like spirit of unbelief and defiance。 〃The great
city〃 is also compared； 〃spiritually；〃 to Sodom。 The corruption of Sodom in
breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness。 And
this sin was also to be a pre…eminent characteristic of the nation that
should fulfill the specifications of this scripture。
According to the words of the prophet； then； a little before the year 1798
some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the
Bible。 And in the land where the testimony of God's two witnesses should
thus be silenced； there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the
licentiousness of Sodom。
This prophecy has received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the
history of France。 During the Revolution； in
1793； 〃the world for the first time heard an assembly of men；
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born and educated in civilization； and assuming the right to govern one of
the finest of the European nations； uplift their united voice to deny the
most solemn truth which man's soul receives； and renounce unanimously the
belief and worship of a Deity。〃Sir Walter Scott； Life of Napoleon； vol。 1；
ch。
17。 〃France is the only nation in the world concerning which
the authentic record survives； that as a nation she lifted her hand in open
rebellion against the Author of the universe。 Plenty of blasphemers； plenty
of infidels； there have been； and still continue to be； in England； Germany；
Spain； and elsewhere； but France stands apart in the world's history as the
single state which； by the decree of her Legislative Assembly； pronounced
that there was no God； and of which the entire population of the capital；
and a vast majority elsewhere； women as well as men； danced and sang with
joy in accepting the announcement。〃Blackwood's Magazine； November； 1870。
France presented also the characteristics which especially distinguished
Sodom。 During the Revolution there was manifest a state of moral debasement
and corruption similar to that which brought destruction upon the cities of
the plain。 And the historian presents together the atheism and the
licentiousness of France； as given in the prophecy： 〃Intimately connected
with these laws affecting religion； was that which reduced the union of
marriagethe most sacred engagement which human beings can form； and the
permanence of which leads most strongly to the consolidation of societyto
the state of a mere civil contract of a transitory character； which any two
persons might engage in and cast loose at pleasure。 。 。 。 If fiends had set
themselves to work to discover a mode of most effectually destroying
whatever is venerable； graceful； or permanent in domestic life； and of
obtaining at the same time an assurance that the mischief which it was their
object to create should be perpetuated from one generation to another； they
could not have invented a more effectual plan that the degradation of
marriage。 。 。 。 Sophie Arnoult； an
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actress famous for the witty things she said； described the republican
marriage as 'the sacrament of adultery。'〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
〃Where also our Lord was crucified。〃 This specification of the prophecy was
also fulfilled by France。 In no land had the spirit of enmity against Christ
been more strikingly displayed。 In no country had the truth encountered more
bitter and cruel opposition。 In the persecution which France had visited
upon the confessors of the gospel； she had crucified Christ in the person of
His disciples。
Century after century the blood of the saints had been shed。 While the
Waldenses laid down their lives upon the mountains of Piedmont 〃for the word
of God； and for the testimony of Jesus Christ；〃 similar witness to the truth
had been borne by their brethren； the Albigenses of France。 In the days of
the Reformation its disciples had been put to death with horrible tortures。
King and nobles； highborn women and delicate maidens； the pride and chivalry
of the nation； had feasted their eyes upon the agonies of the martyrs of
Jesus。 The brave Huguenots； battling for those rights which the human heart
holds most sacred； had poured out their blood on many a hard…fought field。
The Protestants were counted as outlaws； a price was set upon their heads；
and they were hunted down like wild beasts。
The 〃Church in the Desert；〃 the few descendants of the ancient Christians
that still lingered in France in the eighteenth century； hiding away in the
mountains of the south； still cherished the faith of their fathers。 As they
ventured to meet by night on mountainside or lonely moor； they were chased
by dragoons and dragged away to lifelong slavery in the galleys。 The purest；
the most refined； and the most intelligent of the French were chained； in
horrible torture； amidst robbers and assassins。 （See Wylie； b。 22； ch。
6。） Others； more mercifully dealt with； were shot down in
cold blood； as； unarmed and helpless； they fell upon their
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knees in prayer。 Hundreds of aged men； defenseless women； and innocent
children were left dead upon the earth at their place of meeting。 In
traversing the mountainside or the forest； where they had been accustomed to
assemble； it was not unusual to find 〃at every four paces； dead bodies
dotting the sward； and corpses hanging suspended from the trees。〃 Their
country； laid waste with the sword； the ax； the fagot； 〃was converted into
one vast； gloomy wilderness。〃 〃These atrocities were enacted 。 。 。 in no
dark age； but in the brilliant era of Louis XIV。 Science was then
cultivated； letters flourished； the divines of the court and of the capital
were learned and eloquent men； and greatly affected the graces of meekness
and charity。〃Ibid。； b。 22； ch。 7。
But blackest in the black catalogue of crime； most horrible among the
fiendish deeds of all the dreadful centuries； was the St。 Bartholomew
Massacre。 The world still recalls with shuddering horror the scenes of that
most cowardly and cruel onslaught。 The king of France； urged on by Romish
priests and prelates； lent his sanction to the dreadful work。 A bell；
tolling at dead of night； was a signal for the slaughter。 Protestants by
thousands； sleeping quietly in their homes； trusting to the plighted honor
of their king； were dragged forth without a warning and murdered in cold
blood。
As Christ was the invisible leader of His people from Egyptian bondage； so
was Satan the unseen leader of his subjects in this horrible work of
multiplying martyrs。 For seven days the massacre was continued in Paris； the
first three with inconceivable fury。 And it was not confined to the city
itself； but by special order of the king was extended to all the provinces
and towns where Protestants were found。 Neither age nor sex was respected。
Neither the innocent babe nor the man of gray hairs was spared。 Noble and
peasant； old and young； mother and child； were cut down together。 Throughout
France the butchery continued for two months。 Seventy thousand of the very
flower of the nation perished。
〃When the news of the massacre reached Rom