As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world; and this delineation has already begun to be fulfilled. By a variety of images the Lord Jesus represented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of God’s people. All need wisdom carefully to search out the mystery of iniquity that figures so largely in the winding up of this earth’s history.... In the very time in which we live, the Lord has called His people and has given them a message to bear. He has called them to expose the wickedness of the man of sin who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who has thought to change times and laws, and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to honor Him by keeping the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of creation, as holy unto the Lord. {TM 117.5}

Som vi nærmer os tidens ende, vil der blive større og endnu større ydre opvisning af hedensk kraft; hedenske guddomme vil signalere deres kraft, og (118) vil vise dem selv frem for verdens byer; og dette er allerede begyndt at tegne sig. Ved en forandring af billederne beskrev Herren Jesus for Johannes den onde karakter og forførerne indflydelse af dem som har været kendetegnet for deres forfølgelse af Guds folk. Alle behøver visdom til omhyggeligt at finde ud af det syndens mysterium der figurerer så omfattene under afslutningen af denne jords historie.... I denne tid hvor vi lever, har Herren kaldt hans folk, og givet dem et budskab at bringe. Han har kaldt dem for at fremvise det syndige menneskes ondskab, som har gjort søndags loven til en særlig kraft, som har tænkt sig at ændre tider og love, og undertrykker Guds folk der står fast i at ære ham med overholdelsen af den eneste sande sabbat, skabelsens sabbat, hellig for Herren.