the Great Controversy: The Bible and the French Revolution

November 17, 2023

…a 5 minute read

the Great Controversy
The Bible and the French Revolution
~ reformation begins in Europe ~

(internet image)

“In the sixteenth century the Reformation, presenting an open Bible to the people, had sought admission to all the countries of Europe. Some nations welcomed it with gladness, as a messenger of Heaven. In other lands the papacy succeeded to a great extent in preventing its entrance; and the light of Bible knowledge, with its elevating influences, was almost wholly excluded. In one country, though the light found entrance, it was not comprehended by the darkness. For centuries, truth and error struggled for the mastery. At last the evil triumphed, and the truth of Heaven was thrust out.”

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19 (KJV)

~ France was left to reap the results of the course which she had chosen
~ the restraint of God’s Spirit was removed from a people that had despised the gift of His grace
~ evil was permitted to come to maturity
~ all the world saw the fruit of willful rejection of the light
~ the war against the Bible, carried forward for so many centuries in France, culminated in the scenes of the Revolution
~ the terrible outbreaking was but the legitimate result of Rome’s suppression of the Scriptures
~ suppression of the Scriptures during the period of papal supremacy was foretold by the prophets, the Revelator points also to the terrible results that were to accrue especially to France from the domination of the “man of sin.” 
~  persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period of the 1260 years
~ God in mercy to His people cut short the time of their fiery trial
~ through the influence of the Reformation the persecution was brought to an end prior to 1798

Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further:

“These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
“Thy word,” said the psalmist, “is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
 Revelation 11:4; Psalm 119:105.

~ The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament.* Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament point forward to a Saviour to come. The Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy.

“They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three-score days, clothed in sackcloth.”

~ During the greater part of this period, God’s witnesses remained in a state of obscurity
~ the papal power sought to hide from the people the word of truth, and set before them false witnesses to contradict its testimony
~ when the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth – then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth
~  yet, they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years
~ in the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God’s word and were jealous for His honor
~ to these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time
~ men cannot with impunity trample upon the word of God
~ 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 pit = was to arise to make open, avowed war upon the word of God
~ 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 noble, 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

source, and to read more: The Great Controversy: The Bible and the French Revolution by E.G. White

Events found on this timeline:

• The Cross (timeline)
• The Apostles (timeline)
• Jerusalem destroyed
• Persecution (first centuries)
• An era of spiritual darkness begins
• Reformation in Europe begins
• The Mayflower

The Great Controversy Timeline: bibletimelines.com

*I almost didn’t put this in about the two witnesses and the old and new testaments, but I find it interesting and something to think about. Everyone nowadays talks about how the two witnesses are people or a group of people…why can’t it be the Bible? How can there be any other witness without the Word of God/Yahweh? Sure, the Word of God can be spread by word of mouth, but what better way to test things than by reading it. The Bible has been banned, hidden from the people, and manipulated, throughout the ages. Just something to think about…

hope you have a great day!
thanks for stopping by!!