The Opposition of the EnemyIn God’s word we are shown the consequences of proclaiming the third angel’s message. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. A refusal to obey the commandments of God, and a determination to cherish hatred against those who proclaim these commandments, leads to the most determined war on the part of the dragon, whose whole energies are brought to bear against the commandment-keeping people of God. “He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16, 17. {8T 117.2}

Fjendens modstand
[I Guds ord bliver konsekvensen af at forkynde den tredje engels budskab vist os: »Og dragen vrededes på kvinden og gik bort for at føre krig mod de andre af hendes slægt, dem, der holder Guds bud og bevarer Jesu vidnesbyrd.« Åb. 12,17. Det er vægringen ved at adlyde Guds bud og beslutningen om at nære had mod dem, som forkynder disse bud, der fører til den mest afgørende krig for dragens vedkommende, hvis hele energi er sat ind på at bekæmpe Guds folk. »Og det får alle, både små og store, rige og fattige, frie og trælle, til at give sig selv et mærke på deres højre hånd eller på deres pande, for at ingen skal kunne købe og sælge uden den, som har mærket: dyrets navn eller dets navn tal.« Åb. 13,16-17.