Notes on: Great controversy, page 607 par. 1 |
This is s key prophetic paragraph in chapter 38 - 'The Final Warning'
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As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God's downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: "Show us from the word of God our error"-- the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths. {Great Controversy, page 607.1} |
Note: See Luke 21: 11-18
Original Great Controversy was published in 1884 in this book, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4. This paragraph appears in Chapter 33 titled, 'The Loud Cry'
| As the controversy extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to God’s down-trodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message only maddens those who oppose it. The clergy put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light, lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists are solicited to come to the help of Protestants. The movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided. The law is invoked against commandment-keepers. They are threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some are offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is, “Show us from the word of God our error,”—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light is brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths. { 4SP 425.1 } |
Let's compare this with page 607.1 in The Great Controversy (both the 1888 edition and the 1911 edition are the same). However, the version published in 1884 says, 'The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists are solicited to come to the help of Protestants."
Which is different that the 1911 and 1888 versions, "The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite."
Do you think this difference is important?
In my opinion it is certainly worth noting and discussing. We know that the four volumes of Spirit of Prophecy was written for the church and the 1911 edition of The Great Controversy was written for wide-spread distribution to everyone. EGW was alive and she approved this change, but did she make a mistake?
What we see happening now is the Catholic Church is happy to step back and let the churches that reject the Bible Sabbath lead the movement for Sunday enforcement. The Pope is pushing for climate change and recently for a new world order ( see article March 16, 2021 ) and Sunday observance is part of the agenda. But Sunday enforcement is left to the daughter churches, to set up the image of the beast in America. The 1884 edition is more in harmony with setting up the image of the beast by the Protestant churches.
The Protestant churches have even given up the protest 500 years after Martin Luther nailed his protest to the church door, they even declare the protest is over. So the difference is subtle but the 1911 edition implies they both work together and the original version says the Protestants lead out at first and then asks the Catholic Church for help, which I am sure that they are very willing to do.
As the actual events unfold, I think the 1884 version will prove more accurate and this means the revised version results in a missed opportunuity to show the world how accurate the inspired writings in Spirit of Prophecy actually are. Also the harmony of the inspired writing. I will start a discussion of this on several social media websites and post some of the comments on this page.
A very minor differences between the two versions is found in the next sentance. The 1884 edition says, " The movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided. The law is invoked against commandment-keepers." and the 1911 edition has, "As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers." Is this change for the sake of grammer, or do you see any significance in it? I look forward to your comments.
Additional Note: This paragraph also appears in Chapter 10 of Last Day Events - Little Time of Trouble page 145 paragraph 4
Return to Great Controversy, Chapter 38 - Final Warning - - Return to Last Day Events - Chapter 13
