I was shown that God’s people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith. In the army they cannot obey the truth and at the same time obey the requirements of their officers. There would be a continual violation of conscience. Worldly men are governed by worldly principles. They can appreciate no other. Worldly policy and public opinion comprise the principle of action that governs them and leads them to practice the form of rightdoing. But God’s people cannot be governed by these motives. The words and commands of God, written in the soul, are spirit and life, and there is power in them to bring into subjection and enforce obedience. The ten precepts of Jehovah are the foundation of all righteous and good laws. Those who love God’s commandments will conform to every good law of the land. But if the requirements of the rulers are such as conflict with the laws of God, the only question to be settled is: Shall we obey God, or man? {1T 361.2}

[Det blev vist mig, at Guds folk, som er hans særlige skat, ikke kan deltage i denne indviklede krig, fordi den er i modstrid med alle deres trosprincipper. I hæren kan de ikke adlyde sandheden og samtidig adlyde deres officerers krav. Det vil til stadighed stride imod deres samvittighed. Verdslige mennesker styres af verdslige principper. De forstår ikke noget andet. Verdslig politik og den offentlige mening er grundlaget for det princip, som ligger til grund for deres handlinger. Men Guds børn kan ikke lade sig styre af sådanne motiver. Guds ord og befalinger, som er indskrevet i sjælen, er ånd og liv og har magt til at frembringe underkastelse og lydighed. Jehovas ti bud er grundlaget for alle retfærdige og (362) gode love. Men hvis myndighedernes krav er i modstrid med Guds love, er der kun ét spørgsmål at tage stilling til: Skal vi adlyde Gud eller mennesker? Tank o åb side 116]