By COGwriter
Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century?
Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution?
Jesus taught:
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20, NKJV through unless otherwise specified).
The Apostle Paul taught:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Jesus kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:14-16; cf. John 15:10). So did the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:2; cf. Acts 28:17).
Jesus told of a time of persecution that would affect Sabbath keepers:
9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. (Matthew 24:9-20)
If people were not keeping the Sabbath at the time of the tribulation, there would be no point in praying that Christians should not have to flee on the Sabbath.
Revelation 12:14-17 ties fleeing in with the end time and persecution:
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17)
Notice that those persecuted are commandment-keeping Christians (see also Revelation 14:12) and recall that the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (see also The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).
The above time of persecution (a time, times, and half-a-time is 3 1/2 years) coincides with the following from the Book of Revelation:
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:4-8)
So, we see persecution prophesied for the saints in the end time.
Seventh-day Adventists see persecution coming in the form of a National Sunday Law for the USA:
Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) teach a national Sunday law will someday occur in the United States. They believe the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution will be set aside and everyone will be forced to recognize Sunday as a holy day. Once this law is enacted, SDAs believe they will be persecuted for refusing to recognize the sacredness of the first day of the week. In some cases, they believe there will be torture and even death. ...
First, they teach the Roman Catholic Church is the first beast mentioned in Revelation 13. ...
SDAs teach the second beast in Revelation 13 is the United States. ...
The church's prophet, Ellen White (1827-1915), wrote: "As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the [Catholic Church's] false Sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.
... She also wrote: "The decree enforcing the worship of this day [Sunday] is to go forth to all the world. . . . Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to fourth commandment, refuse to worship this false Sabbath." (https://www.wake-up.org/worship/national-sunday-law-how-why-when.html accessed 11/22/17)
I do believe that persecution of Sabbath-keepers is coming, but it will not start with a USA national Sunday law. Biblical prophecy does not support that.
What the Bible does support is persecution against Sabbath-keepers, as well as tying that persecution to the coming Beast power (Revelation 13) and the Church of Seven-Hills (Revelation 17). The USA is NOT the second beast as the SDA's teach--that second beast will, for a time, be tied to the Vatican (see SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).
While the Bible shows that the Beast and False Prophet/Antichrist will persecute (Revelation 13), some Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic writings have indicated/prophesied that the final Antichrist (the Apostle John wrote of the final one as well as many antichrists in 1 John 2:18) will keep and/or promote the Sabbath.
This dates back many centuries.
Before going to those writings, perhaps it should be mentioned that the original Rheims New Testament (which is the Roman Catholic accepted translation of the Latin Vulgate into the English language) does show that the seventh-day Sabbath remains for the people of God:
4 For he said in a certain place of the seventh day, thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works ... 9 Therefore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God (Hebrews 4:4,9, Original Rheims New Testament).
9 There must still be, then, a Sabbath rest for God’s people, (Hebrews 4: 9. THE EASTERN / GREEK ORTHODOX BIBLE NEW TESTAMENT. The EOB New Testament is presented in memory of Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos † 2007 https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/assets/uploads/books/18204/Eastern_Orthodox_Bible-New_Testament.pdf)
The term "sabbatisme" means "Sabbath-keeping" or or observance of the Sabbath (Note: the Challoner Rheims New Testament changed the word from the original). Sabbatisme's French definition is “Observance du sabbat” per Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales (http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/sabbatisme viewed 03/02/11).
Yet, the Roman Catholic pope often called "Gregory the Great" (died 604) wrote the following:
Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to his most beloved sons the Roman citizens.
It has come to my ears that certain men of perverse spirit have sown among you some things that are wrong and opposed to the holy faith, so as to forbid any work being done on the Sabbath day. What else can I call these but preachers of Antichrist (Gregory I. Registrum Epistolarum, Book XIII, Letter 1).
Sadly, there are those that consider that the Sabbath is a doctrine of Antichrist!
Notice further the following Roman Catholic prophecies:
Dionysus of Luxembourg (died 1682) Antichrist ... will teach that ... Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday (Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.85).
St. Hildegard of Bingham (died 1179): Antichrist ... His doctrine of faith will be taken from the Jewish religion and seemingly will not differ much from the fundamental beliefs of Christianity, for he will teach that there is one God who created the world, who rewards the obeyers of his commands and trespassers he chastises, who will raise all from the dead in due time. This God has spoken through Moses, therefore the precepts of the Mosaic law are to be kept, especially circumcision and the keeping of the Sabbath (Culleton R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, p. 127).
Further consider that since the second resurrection does not occur until after the millennium (cf. Revelation 20:5), Jesus Himself will teach God "will raise all from the dead in due time." Thus, there seems to be some confusion among some Greco-Roman Catholic seers.
Notice the following Roman Catholic writings related to the Antichrist:
Roman Catholic writer and priest P. Huchedé (19th century): “After having weakened the faith of Christ in the minds and hearts of many, he will proceed to show that the law of Moses still prevails; he will re-establish the Sabbath and all the legal observances; and he will invite the Jews to re-establish their nationality, after which he will declare himself the true messiah; he will endeavor to prove the truth of his assertion from Scripture—he will declare his design of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple and of bringing the whole world under his dominion…
According to St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Cath. 15), he will win the esteem and attachment of mankind by his urbane and unbounded kindness … he will work all kinds of miracles ... He will therefore appear as performing miracles similar to all those wrought by Jesus Christ ... Antichrist being a Jew, will be circumcised; he will observe the Mosaic law ... Then by order of the tyrant the continual sacrifice shall be abolished (Dan. 9:27). The holy sacrifice of the Mass shall no longer be offered up publicly on the altars. The Church shall be devastated; the sacred vessels desecrated; the priests shall be scattered ... It appears certain, then, that the Roman empire will be completely demolished by Antichrist and that he will substitute another in its place (Huchedé, P. Translated by JBD. History of Antichrist. Imprimatur Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal. English edition 1884, Reprint 1976. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 17,18,26,54).
Jesus observed the Saturday Sabbath and would be expected to do so when He returns.
Those who think that the Sabbath is a doctrine of the Antichrist will want to persecute Sabbath keepers!
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus kept the Sabbath that the Jews did:
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read (Luke 4:14-16, NKJV throughout unless otherwise indicated).
Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Bible (The Rheims New Testament is the Roman Catholic accepted translation of the Latin Vulgate into the English language) does show that the seventh-day Sabbath remains for the people of God:
For he said in a certain place of the seventh day, thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works...Therefore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God (Hebrews 4:4,9, Rheims New Testament).
The term "sabbatisme" means "Sabbath-keeping" or or observance of the Sabbath. Its French definition is “Observance du sabbat” per Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales (http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/sabbatisme viewed 03/02/11).
Former Roman Catholics who teach contrary to the Church of Rome are considered to be heretics. Notice the following Roman Catholic warning:
St. Hildegard of Bingham (died 1179): After the birth of Anti-Christ heretics will preach their false doctrines undisturbed, resulting in 'Christians having doubts about their Holy Catholic faith.' (Culleton R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Imprimatur +Philip G. Scher, November 15, 1941. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, p. 139).
This is the same Hildegard who tied Sabbath-keeping in with the Antichrist. And she warns that teaching the truth will result in Roman Catholics having doubts. But if the Roman Catholics would actually believe the original catholic faith, they would still be keeping the Sabbath (for some details, please see the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church).
Another "approved" Roman Catholic prophetess declared:
Jeanne le Royer (18th century, Sister of the Nativity). "One day the Lord said to me: 'A few years before the coming of my enemy, Satan will raise up false prophets who will announce Antichrist as the true Messiah, and they will try to destroy all our Christian beliefs. And I shall make the children and the old people prophesy. The closer we get to the reign of Antichrist, the more will the darkness of Satan spread over the earth, and the more will his satellites increase their efforts to trap the faithful in their nets." (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.57)
But is that completely the case? Or could the "prophetess" be confused about who the Antichrist is, what real Christian beliefs are, and who the true Messiah is? The Bible shows that the two witnesses will be around before Jesus returns (Revelation 11:3-10) and will be teaching things like that (see also Who Are The Two Witnesses?).
Essentially, there are a lot of Greco-Roman Catholic writings warning that some will be successful teaching against their changed, non-Sabbath-keeping, faith. This seemingly begins in the 20th century according to some of them:
Ven. Sor Marianne de Jesus Torres (17th century): During this epoch the Church will find herself attacked by waves of the secret sect...Know, beloved daughter, that when your name is made known in the 20th Century, there will be many who do not believe, claiming this devotion is not pleasing to God... (Birch, DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 317,326)
Notice also:
Jeanne le Royer(died 1798): My Father, God has manifested to me the malice of Lucifer, and the perverse and diabolical intentions of his emissaries (secret societies) and the Holy Church of Jesus Christ. At the command of their master these wicked men have traversed the earth like furies, with the intention to prepare the way and place for Anti-Christ whose reign is approaching…They have succeeded in confounding all sound principles, and spreading everywhere such darkness as to obscure the light both of faith and of reason… ( Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 179)
Anna-Katarina Emmerick (19th century): I saw a great renewal, and the Church rose high in the sky...I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church…Very bad times will come when non-Catholics will lead many people astray. (Dupont, pp.60,62,71)
Anne Catherine Emmerich (19th century): I saw again the present Pope and the dark church of his time in Rome. It seemed to be a large, old house like a town-hall with columns in front. I saw no altar in it, but only benches, and in the middle of it something like a pulpit. They had preaching and singing, but nothing else, and only very few attended it...The whole church was draped in black, and all that took place in it was shrouded in gloom...I saw the fatal consequences of this counterfeit church ; I saw it increase ; I saw heretics of all kinds flocking to the city. I saw the ever-increasing trepidity of the clergy , the circle of darkness ever widening...Again I saw in vision St. Peter's undermined according to a plan devised by the secret sect whilst, at the same time, it was damaged by storms; but it was delivered at the moment of greatest distress.…Then I saw the church speedily rebuilt and more magnificent than before, for its defenders brought stones from all parts of the earth. (Emmerich, The Life and Revelations, Vol. II, pp. 77,279-281,290-291)
Notice the warning about what certain Roman Catholics consider to be 'bad books:
Anne Catherine Emmerich January 27, 1822 'The non-Catholics will mislead many. They will use every possible means to entice them from the Church, and great disturbances will follow.' (Schmöger, p. 348)
Nursing Nun of Bellay (died 1820): "All these things shall come to pass once the wicked have succeeded in circulating large numbers of bad books." (Dupont, p.51)
Trappistine Nun of Notre Dame des Gardes. "Chastisement will come when a very large number of bad books have been spread" (Dupont, p 114).
Abbe Voclin: Horrible books will be freely available. Intellectuals will argue fiercely among themselves. Then war will break out that will see the rise of the Great Monarch.(Dupont, p. 114)
So there are predictions that people who circulate certain books after the 18th century will be called wicked. And since the Great Monarch is expected to rise up in the 21st century, there are concerns about books available now!
Will this lead to persecution?
Does persection sound too much of a stretch from Greco-Roman writings about the Antichrist, Sabbath, and bad books?
Well, consider the following prophecy from a Roman Catholic nun:
Anne Catherine Emmerich (Purification day 1822) "I saw during the last few days marvelous things connected with the Church. St. Peter's was almost entirely destroyed by the sect, but their labors were, in turn, rendered fruitless and all that belonged to them, their aprons and tools, burned by the executioners on the public place of infamy. They were made of horse-leather, and the stench from them was so offensive that it made me quite sick ..." (Schmöger Carl E. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourgh Peter Joseph. TAN Books, reprint 1976, p.292)
So, some sect that is not part of the Church of Rome is prophesied by a nun to be persecuted and burned by public executioners.
Notice also the following prophecy from the Bible:
33 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered (Daniel 11:33, NIV).
Hence, that burning sadly is a "Catholic" private prophecy that will, to some degree, come to pass.
Furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox have a prophecy that various Sabbath-keepers will be publicly executed and the time period is supposed to be when the "Great Monarch" rises up:
Blessed Hieronymus Agathaghelos (1279): ... young man ... now it is not the end; I see you are being duped ... you are hoping in vain; Sabbatism is against the Divine Law ... you promote the Hebrew Sabbath at the expense of Christian Sunday, and yet, you will not succeed ... before you become an apostate on behalf of the Sabbath ...
And lo and behold, an evil assembly of the crafty evening leader, dressed in black mourning apparel, was measuring its strength ... taking in a hypocritical manner the most holy name of Christ, by means of their flowering and dissembling speech; these were the men who were concealing their impiety under a mask of virtue; those were the most filthy citizens of Pentapolis...these are semi-godless men, they despise the Divine Law, they are rapacious wolves in sheep's clothing...they will have to pay the due price before the Public Executioner of the Sabbatians ... you, the inventors of the distorted heresies ... (Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. The Verenika Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 127, 132-135, with a partial translation from page 240)
There are several points to make related to the above. Note “public executioner of the Sabbatians” is how that portion of the phrase is shown as a translation on page 240 and seems to make the most historical sense of the Greek being translated. Sabbatians means Sabbath-keepers. The fact that there is a "public executioner" for them, supports the idea that people like us in the genuine Church of God will be subject to execution and other likely forms of persecution. Notice that it is warning that someone who was part of a Sunday church (probably a one "born Catholic" as he becomes an "apostate" according to the mystic because of the Sabbath) will believe in and teach the Sabbath as well as believe that it is the time of the end.
The leader is, for at least some while, a citizen of the Pentapolis, which in English means "five cities."
Black mourning apparel sounds like sackcloth as biblically, sackcloth is black (cf. Isaiah 50:3; Revelation 6:12). A major point to emphasize is that Agathaghelos is indicating that these men will seem pious and he does not want anyone to listen to them. Thus, the above Orthodox prediction is directed against Sabbath keepers.
The Book of Revelation teaches:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
The above teaches the millennium and shows that people who believe God are subject to persecutions including beheadings.
The Sabbath, itself, helps picture the millennial reign, and this is confirmed by early church writings. Because of teachings and various scriptures, Jews (Psalm 90:4; Psalm 92) and early Christians (2 Peter 3:8; Hebrews 4:6-8; Revelation 20:4-6) believed that the Sabbath helped picture the millennium.
Essentially, they taught that the six days of physical creation represented six one-thousand year days, followed by the Sabbath, representing the millennial rest. Jewish tradition also attributes supporting statements, not recorded in the Bible, given by the prophet Elijah (Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin 97a).
So, did early Christiansas Dr. N. West: confirmed:
John, six times, in six consecutive verses of the same chapter, emphasizes the Kingdom as the reign of " a thousand years," … Christian Chiliasm was the orthodox faith of the primitive Church in its purest days. (West N. HISTORY OF THE PRE-MILLENNARIAN DOCTRINE. The Prophetic Conference: New-York, October 30, 31, and November 1, 1878 : Christ's second coming. Issue 46 of New York Tribune, 1878, p. 81)
A book blessed by Pope Paul VI had the following:
IS THERE TO BE A MILLENNIUM?
In chapter 20 of the Apocalyse it is said … The saints are then to reign with Christ a thousand years … Many early Christians took this as a literal description … Millenarians, i.e., believers in the reign of a thousand years. This belief was common in the early Church ... It appeared from time to time in the Middle Ages, and is still advocated by some of the more obscure sects ...
... the time of the First Resurrection will end ... It is the time when the Seventh Millennium will set in, and will be the day of Sabbath in the plan of creation ...It has been the common opinion among Jews, Gentiles, and Latin and Greek Christians, that the present evil world will last no more than 6,000 years ... Christians and Jews, from the beginning of Christianity, and before, have taught that 6,000 years after the creation of Adam and Eve, the consummation will occur. The period after the consummation is to be the seventh day of creation--the Sabbath ... St. Jerome said, "It is a common belief that the world will last 6,000 years."
... I believe that as the last days come to an end so will the sixth day of creation (Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 67, 113-115).
Yes, original catholics taught the millennial kingdom.
There is one other teaching that the Roman Catholics officially now have which suggests that those of us in the faithful Church of God are supporters of Antichrist. The Roman Catholic Church, in spite of the fact that it admits in other writings that many of its early saints taught the millennium (please see the article Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism and a 6000 Year Plan?), now strongly condemns this belief.
Notice:
676 The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the "intrinsically perverse" political form of a secular messianism. (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 194).
It should be noted that the millennial teaching appears to be the only doctrine associated with Antichrist that is condemned in the current official Catechism of the Catholic Church (which is the first new one in hundreds of years). The one that has the imprimatur of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who is now called Pope Benedict XVI.
Notice something else that Joseph Ratzinger wrote in a paper titled The Theology of History in St. Bonaventure prior to becoming pope:
"...both Chiliasm [the teaching of the Millennium] and Montanism were declared heretical and were excluded from the universal church; for they both denied this vision [the "Christ is the end of the ages" vision] and awaited still another period of more definitive salvation to follow after the age of Christ" (as cited in Birch, D. Trial Tribulation & Triumph. Queenship Publishing, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 515-516; note the comments within [] were from the Catholic writer Birch).
This is an odd statement for several reasons. It was the leaders in Asia Minor who stood for the Millennium and were the first to oppose Montanism--whom the Roman Catholics originally tolerated--hence the belief in one is NOT necessarily related to the other. But those who do not know history will not know this.
The other reason this condemnation is odd, is that even though Origen was opposed to the millennium, Origen also taught that there was definitive salvation after what then Cardinal Ratzinger calls "the age of Christ". Yet the current pontiff Benedict XVI has publicly praised Origin as a "true teacher". And despite the view first being condemned by an Imperial Council in 381, many Catholics and Orthodox have believed in some version of it throughout the ages (see Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism and a 6000 Year Plan?).
It appears to me that the millennial view is being so definitely condemned again now, because we are getting so close to that time, that the top leadership of Roman Church intends to warn against following any (like the faithful Church of God and the actual two witnesses) who will be teaching it.
Teaching the millennium, as many Sabbatarians do, will be a factor in persecution--particularly since it is identified by the Church of Rome as a doctrine of Antichrist.
Remember that Jesus taught:
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also (John 15:20).
Sadly, many of those who claim to be Christian do not keep Jesus' word, have persecuted in the past, and will persecute in the future.
Some of the persecution may come from hidden or secret sources, such as governmental surveillance. Notice God's people are to pray for protection from that:
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words,
4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. (Psalms 64:2-4)
The Book of Daniel shows a two-part persecution coming (I added the a and b below for emphasis):
25 a He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. b Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
First of all (a), he shall persecute certain of the saints, which is consistent with what Jesus said was coming (Matthew 24:9-14)
Much of the intial end-time persecution will affect the Philadelphian Christians (cf. Revelation 12:13), but they will later be protected (Revelation 3:8-10) in the wilderness for a time, times, and half a time (Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra). Part of why they will be persecuted is for proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and probably also for identifying the coming King of the North, who will not wish to be identified that way. This will likely result in internet and other restrictions on getting the truth of God out to the world (cf. Amos 8:11-12).
Note that the saints will be persecuted before they are "given into his hand"; perhaps that particular persecution means all of God's people, or more likely at least many of the Philadelphians, will be persecuted before the period "time and times and half a time" begins (Daniel 7:25a ). Then the Philadelphians will flee and escape the sword:
50 0 You who have escaped the sword,
Get away! Do not stand still!
Remember the Lord afar off,
And let Jerusalem come to your mind. (Jeremiah 51:50)
So, the above talks about God's people who escape (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
Getting back to Daniel, the expressions "completely shattered" and "Then the saints shall be given into his hand" seem to show that most of the saints will be in the tribulation (Daniel 7:25b). We know this cannot mean all because the book of Revelation says the Philadelphians will be kept from the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10)--protected "from the presence of the serpent" (cf. Revelation 12:14). God will in some way separate Christians then living when these terrible calamities finally come to be. The Philadelphia Christians will be protected from the Tribulation--most of the rest of the real Christians, however, will not be! (Revelation 3:16).
Daniel 7:25 a, which are consistent with the persecutions in Daniel 11:28-35, are a factor in the opening of the fifth seal in Revelation, which is the start of the Great Tribulation:
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:9-11)
Notice that this is consistent with Daniel 7:25 a and b. There were those who were martyred/persecuted (a) then there were to be more who were to be martyred/persecuted (b).
Second of all (Daniel 7:25 b), the remaining saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. This is the portion of the COG, the non-Philadelphians, who are NOT protested in the wilderness as Revelation 12:17 shows this separation:
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
There are persecutions just before the Great Tribulation starts per Daniel 7:25a, 11:28-35; Revelation 12:13, and then during the time of the Great Tribulation per Daniel 7:25b, Revelation 12:17; 14:12-13.
The late Pastor General of the old Radio and then Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, taught:
It was for obeying God's FOURTH Commandment — keeping the Sabbath- -that millions were put to death. The local Council of Laodicea, about A.D. 363, passed this decree: "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, resting rather on Sunday. But, if any be found to be Judaizing, let them be declared anathema from Christ."
The church caused them to be killed. When the church branded one "anathema" (a heretic), the state police of the Empire began torturing him. Unless he recanted, he was tortured until he died!
Laws became so strict no man could hold a job, or engage in business, unless he worked on Saturday and rested on Sunday. And the world will be so geared that it will be almost impossible for one to "buy or sell" except he receive this MARK OF THE BEAST! ...
In Daniel 7:25 we read the prophecy of this BEAST and the little horn (the political government of the church) rising up, which was to think to CHANGE "times and laws." That is, change God's LAW in respect to TIME — the time for the Sabbath! (Armstrong HW. Who or What Is the PROPHETIC BEAST? Radio Church of God, 1960)
AND WHEN THE CHURCH CALLED THEM "ANATHEMA FROM CHRIST," THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE TORTURED THEM OR PUT THEM TO DEATH if they didn't obey and start to worship on Sunday. There is no question about it, brethren. And that has happened. It is the only commandment that they have altered. They haven't altered the others, but they did try to alter this one.
Now I'd like to have you notice back in Daniel the 7th chapter and verse 25. And this is speaking of the Roman Catholic Church, among Daniel's four beasts here. And there was to be a small horn that was to come among them, which was the papacy.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High [Isn't that just like I read in Revelation?], and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws...You change the law in respect of time, and they changed the Sabbath into Sunday. And they changed the day from beginning at sunset, to beginning at midnight. And they changed the months from the new moons to the way it is. They've changed times all along, and it all came through the Roman Catholic Church.
Daniel 7:25 ... think to change time and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Armstrong HW. Mark of the Beast. Sermon, December 11, 1982)
Although throughout recent history many in the Church of God have experienced economic and social persecution in their walk with Christ, future severe persecution, beginning first with the Philadelphia remnant of Christians, is expected, it is then followed by persecution on all Christians once the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) begins.
While many like to focus on the idea that the Philadelphians will flee to a place of protection, it needs to be understood that there will apparently be a time of severe persecution just prior to the fleeing and the start of the Great Tribulation. Specifically, for another example, Sabbath-keeping evangelist Richard Ames has taught that the 45 day period (the 1335-1290 days) begins intense persecution against the true Philadelphian Church, and this will fulfill Matthew 24:9 (Ames R. Welcome the King, Feast of Trumpets sermon for 9/13/07).
It seems that part of this persecuting time, the one mainly involving the Philadelphians, is also discussed in Daniel 11:28-36 (information of the persecution just prior to Daniel 11:31 can also be found in the article Who is the King of the North?).
But let's start with Daniel 11:27 which specifically shows that the King of the South (a confederation of peoples in North Africa and the Middle East per Daniel 11:40-43; cf. Ezekiel 30:1-9) will make a deceptive deal with the King of the North:
27 Both these kings' hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27).
Then we learn, somewhat oddly, something upsets the King of the North even though he feels that he made a very good deal:
28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land (Daniel 11:28).
This verse about his heart being "moved against the holy covenant" could be referring to the fact that some of God's people are warning against what the deal in verse 27 means. Notice verse 28 from a different translation:
28 Then the king of the north will return to his country with great treasures. But on the way, he will attack the religion of God's people and do whatever else he pleases (Daniel 11:28, CEV--Contemporary English Version).
Since it is the Church of God religion that historically is the "religion of God's people" (for many details, see Continuing History of the Church of God) and its members are the ones who fulfill the new covenant by having the law written into their hearts, it seems likely that the literal expression "holy covenant" refers to the most faithful of the true Christians (cf. Luke 1:72-75; Hebrews 8:8-12; Daniel 12:7). It appears that God's people are teaching something publicly that the King of the North does not want taught--otherwise he would have little reason to bother to attack such a "little flock" (Luke 12:32). This is about the time that the "one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days" days (1335 days) mentioned in Daniel 12:12 begin--although it may not be until the next verse or two.
Continuing in the NKJV:
29 At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant (Daniel 11:29-30).
A term referring to western lands, not Cyprus, is a better translation related to verse 30:
30 For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. (Daniel 11:30, New Living Translation 1996 Greg Laurie)
30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. (Daniel 11:30, NIV)
30 Ships from the west will come to attack him, and he will be discouraged. Then he will start back to his own country and take out his anger on the religion of God's faithful people, while showing kindness to those who are unfaithful. (Daniel 11:30, CEV)
30 Ships will come from the west to attack him, and he will be discouraged and turn back. Angry at the holy promise, he will return, take action, and favor those who abandon the holy promise. (Daniel 11:30, GWT)
Notice that after suffering at least a naval embarrassment, the King of the North seems more upset with God's people than the power that confronted it militarily (watch also A US naval conflict with Europe is prophesied). This angers him to further persecute:
31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:31-35, NKJV).
(The words in italics are NOT in the original Hebrew.) As far as WHO will instruct many, see the article Philadelphian Christians Will Instruct Many and/or watch the sermonette video: Will YOU Instruct Many?
The persecutions in Daniel 11 above are by one called the King of the North (Daniel 11:40; 7:25a)--the King of the North will NOT like the message that the Philadelphians are proclaiming at least of part of which will likely be the Continuing Church of God identifying him to the world as the prophesied King of the North. The persecuted Christians will instruct many--probably explaining more perfectly things related to Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20!
While it is apparently the Philadelphia Christians that are targeted for this particular persecution, it is likely that some Laodicean and other Sabbath-keeping Christians will be affected at least to some degree. The Laodiceans will mainly misunderstand what is happening and not realize that their persecution is coming! This is also consistent with the persecution, accomplishments, and problems in Matthew 24:9-20 that will mainly affect the Philadelphians, but will lead to problems then for the Laodiceans in Matthew 24:21-22.
The 19th century Methodist theologian Adam Clarke, in his commentary, identifies the people as follows:
But the people that do know their God
The genuine Christians.Shall be strong
Shall be strengthened by his grace and Spirit (Clarke A. The Adam Clarke Commentary, Daniel Chapter 11.)
Those associated with the 'synagogue of Satan' (Revelation 3:9), will apparently betray and assist in this persecution (see also What is the Synagogue of Satan?) which is consistent with Daniel 11:32. Daniel 8:24 shows that this same leader persecutes "the holy people," thus that is further proof that Christians in the end time are who are being persecuted.
The old Radio Church of God realized that Daniel 11:32-35 was talking about what happens to the faithful just before 'the end' (the start of the Great Tribulation). Notice the following:
A Prophecy for Today
Daniel prophesied: "The people that do KNOW their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32). Such a statement could refer only to God's people. Now notice what follows: "And they THAT UNDERSTAND among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days" (verse 33). ...
This prophecy concerns GOD'S CHURCH. Continuing "Now when they [God's people] shall fall, they shall be holpen [helped] with a little help: BUT MANY SHALL CLEAVE TO THEM WITH FLATTERIES" (verse 34). Here is the point that most people have missed. Many individuals who assemble with us on God's Sabbath, or in God's Feasts, are prophesied to cleave to us with flatteries!
Other translations make this even clearer. The Moffatt Translation states: "Many shall join them under FALSE PRETENSE." Yes, some do JOIN THEMSELVES to God's Church, with false pretenses, claiming to be true brethren, claiming to obey God, claiming to have God's Holy Spirit, and yet they are not a part of the body of Christ. God has not JOINED them to His Church!
In "The Complete Bible", AN AMERICAN TRANSLATION by Gordon-Goodspeed we read: "Many shall attach themselves in HYPOCRISY." These people who attach themselves to God's Church assemble under false pretense. They are inwardly hypocritical, and flatter or deceive others.
If you have the idea that all who come to God's Church are truly converted Christians, this scripture ought to dispel this delusion! There are some among us who are not converted. They are not a real spiritually LIVING part of the body of Christ. They are not letting Christ do His work in them. They have not truly and completely surrendered their lives to Christ in full repentance.
Notice that this prophecy continues right up to the time of the end (verse 35), to the return of Jesus Christ. Here is a prophecy which concerns us today! (Neff L. Beware of False Brethren! Good News, January 1960)
Even the Greco-Roman Catholic saint Jerome understood that these passages in Daniel 11 were referring to the persecution of God's people as his commentary on them included the following:
But these events were typically prefigured under Antiochus Epiphanes, so that this abominable king who persecuted God's people foreshadows the Antichrist, who is to persecute the people of Christ. (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, Ipswich, UK, 2004. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/pearse/morefathers/files/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 06/05/11)
This King of the North seems to be the same one that certain Greco-Roman Catholic "prophecies" call the Great Monarch who will rule a revised Roman Empire.
Notice that Catholic prophets have indicated that heretics will be eliminated by their Great Monarch, and that a small "sect" will have their possessions (and probably some of their bodies) burnt:
St. Francis of Paola (Born in Italy, 15th century). "By the grace of the Almighty, the Great Monarch will annihilate heretics and unbelievers. He will have a great army, and angels will fight at his side. He will be like the sun among the stars. His influence will spread over the whole earth. All in all, there will be on earth twelve Kings, one Emperor, one Pope and a few Princes. They will all lead holy lives." (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.38).
Capuchin Friar (18th century)..."A scion of the Carolingian race, by all considered extinct, will come to Rome and behold and admire the piety and clemency of this Pontiff. who will crown him, and declare him to be the legitimate Emperor of the Romans. He shall destroy the Ottoman Empire and all heresies" (Dupont, p. 34).
David Poreus (17th century): The Great Monarch...will crush the enemies of the Pope…(Dupont, p. 31).
Anne Catherine Emmerich (Purification day 1822) "I saw during the last few days marvellous things connected with the Church. St. Peter's was almost entirely destroyed by the sect, but their labors were, in turn, rendered fruitless and all that belonged to them, their aprons and tools, burned by the executioners on the public place of infamy. They were made of horse-leather, and the stench from them was so offensive that it made me quite sick..." (Schmöger Carl E. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourgh Peter Joseph. TAN Books, reprint 1976, p.292)
Annihilation and burning certainly are forms of persecution.
We can expect to see that Sabbath-keeping will be outlawed in Europe and probably elsewhere.
Some believe that this will be a combination of a Sunday law as well as some type of calendar change. Perhaps a change that makes it nearly impossible to buy and sell (Revelation 13:15-18) if one keeps the seventh-day Sabbath.
Regarding crosses, the Seventh-day Adventist prophetess Ellen White wrote:
Papists place crosses upon their churches, upon their altars, and upon their garments. Everywhere is seen the insignia of the cross. Everywhere it is outwardly honored and exalted. But the teachings of Christ are buried beneath a mass of senseless traditions, false interpretations, and rigorous exactions. … The worship of images and relics, the invocation of saints, and the exaltation of the pope, are devices of Satan to attract the minds of the people from God and from His Son. (White EG. The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan. Guttenberg Project edition, p. 590)
How was that interpreted?
Historically our Adventist church viewed the cross as a pagan symbol (Bacchiochi S. Is the Cross a Pagan Symbol? Endtime Issues Newsletter, 124, 2005, p. 17)
But that changed and since no later than 1997 a cross containing logo has been in use by the official SDA church. Some have indicated part of the reason was to make the SDAs more acceptable to other Protestants and Rome (cf. Nyazika P. The Final Call. Lulu.com, pp. 131, 176).
However, in the Church of God, we have NOT adopted crosses.
Why mention that in an article about Sabbatarian persecution?
Partially, because Sabbath-keeping Christians have been called "secret Jews" and have long been hated by some Greco-Romans. Notice the following
The secret Jews organised and controlled in secret manner the movements, which were the creative and driving force of wicked false teachings, such as those of the Iconoclasts, the Cathars, the Patarines, the Albigensians, the Hussites, the Alumbrados and others. (Pinay, Maurice. The Plot Against the Church, Part Four Chapter One. Translated from the German and Spanish editions of the same work. 1962)
The above book is still recommended by and for many Roman Catholics (though others wisely distance themselves from it).
Iconoclasts are against Christians having idols. As far as the Cathari go, the faithful among them were Sabbath-keepers. Here is something about them:
...the Cathari also renounced priestly vestments, altars, and crosses as idolatrous. They called the cross the mark of the beast, and declared it had no more virtue than a ribbon for binding the hair (Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Chapter X).
We know there will be persecution against those without the mark of the Beast:
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)
Another reason to discuss crosses is because persecution is expected by certain Greco-Roman seers against those who do not wear crosses, by those that do.
Here is something from the Latin Tiburine Sibyl:
Then will arise a king ... He will be king of the Romans and the Greeks. He will be tall of stature, of handsome appearance with shining face, and well put together in all parts of his body. His reign will be ended after one hundred and twelve years. In those days there will be great riches and the earth will give fruit abundantly so that a measure of wheat will be sold for a denarius, a measure of wine for a denarius, and a measure of oil for a denarius. The king will have a text before his eyes that says:
"The king of the Romans will claim the whole Christian empire for himself."
He will devastate all the islands and the cities of the pagans and will destroy all idolatrous temples; he will call all pagans to baptism and in every temple the Cross of Christ will be erected. ...
Whoever does not adore the Cross of Jesus Christ will be punished by the sword.
(Latin Tiburtine Sibyl. Translated from the edition of E. Sackur, Sibyllinische Texte und Forschungen. pp. 185-186; cited in McGinn B. Visions of the End: Apocalyptic Traditions in the Middle Ages. Columbia University Press, 1998, pp. 49-50)
Much of the above will not happen (like a reign of 112 years). But some parts, like the cross and forced conversion, are consistent with Greco-Roman Catholic writings on the Great Monarch, such as:
St. Francis de Paul (1470):...From your lordship shall be born the great leader of the holy militia...These devout men shall wear on their breasts, and much more in their hearts, the sign of the living God, namely the cross...members of this holy order...
...the Great Monarch...He shall be a great captain and prince of holy men, who shall be called 'the holy Cross-bearers of Jesus Christ,' with whom he will destroy the Mahometan sect and the rest of the infidels. He shall annihilate all the heresies and tyrannies of the world. He shall reform the Church of God by means of his followers, who shall be the best men upon the earth in holiness, in arms, in science, and in every virtue...They shall obtain dominion over the whole world, both temporal and spiritual...
God Almighty will exalt a very poor man of the blood of Emperor Constantine...who shall on his breast wear a sign which you have seen at the beginning of this letter (a red Cross)...He will gather a grand army, and the angels shall fight for them...
This religious order shall be the last and best in the Church: it shall proceed with arms...Woe to tyrants, to heretics, and to infidels to whom no pity will be shown...An infinite number of wicked men shall perish through the hands of the Cross-bearers...most holy Crossbearers elected by the Most High, who, not succeeding in converting heretics with science, shall make vigorous use of their arms...These holy Cross-bearers shall reign and dominate holily over the whole world until the end of time...
But when shall this take place? When crosses with the stigmas shall be seen, and the crucifix shall be carried as the standard. The time is coming when the Divine Majesty will visit the world with a new religious order of holy Cross-bearers, who will carry a crucifix, or the image of our crucified Lord, lifted up upon the principal standard in view of all. This standard will be admired by all good Catholics; but at the beginning it will be derided by bad Christians and by infidels...You shall destroy the sect of the Mahomet, and all infidels of every sect. You shall put an end to all the heresies of the world...
He shall be the great founder of a new religious order different from all the others (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 157-161).
Josefa von Bourg (d. 1807): God will choose a descendant of Constantine, Pepin, and St. Louis, who has been tried by a long period of exile to rule over Europe. He will have the sign of the cross on his breast ... Under him the Catholic religion will spread as never before (Culleton, pp. 181-182).
Even common people are prophesied to wear crosses and persecuteL
Anne Catherine Emmerich (October, 1820): warriors, led by a rider on a white horse; and … citizens and peasants, many of whom were marked on the forehead with a red cross. As this army drew near, the captives and oppressed were delivered and swelled the ranks whilst the demolishers and conspirators were put to flight on all sides (Emmerich AC. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich. Schmöger edition, Vol. II. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourg Peter Joseph. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1976, pp. 290-291).
Of course, Jesus (e.g. Matthew 5:11-12; 10:23) taught that Christians would be the persecuted, not the persecutors (see also Persecutions by Church and State).
The Bible warns about the rider of the white horse (Revelation 6:1-2; Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse), who represents the final Antichrist.The Bible also warns that those who refuse the ‘mark of the beast’ (Revelation 13:16-17) are subject to be being killed by those with a mark on their forehead (Revelation 14:9) through the direction of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11-15). The fact that Catholic prophecy points to people who are persecuting wearing a cross and going against “Jewish” sects (which Catholics tend to consider the COG to be) and “heretics” is consistent with the view that a cross may well be a mark or image of the Beast and Antichrist.
Furthermore, notice what one claimed to be “Mary” allegedly stated in an apparition Pfaffenhofen, Germany on June 25, 1946:
I am the great Mediatrix of Grace. The Father wants the world to recognize His handmaid…My sign is about to appear. God wills it…I cannot reveal my power to the world as yet…Then I will be able to reveal myself…Chose a sign for yourself so that the Trinity may soon be adored by all! Pray and sacrifice through me!…I will impose crosses on my children that will be as heavy and as deep as the sea because I love them in my sacrificed Son. I pray, be prepared to bear the cross in order that the Trinity may be honored (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, pp. 217-218).
Real Christians would not pray and sacrifice through Mary as the Bible only shows such practices as appropriate for God.
In 1958, Matous Losuta of Czechoslovakia claimed that “Mary” stated:
All my children will receive and carry the sign of the cross on their foreheads (Flynn, Ted & Flynn, Maureen. Thunder of Justice: The Warning, the Miracle, the Chastisement, the Era of Peace. Signs of the Times Illustrated by Kaleidoscope Graphics Staff Contributor Malachi Martin Published by Maxkol Communications, 1992, p. 331).
But this is not something that the Bible advocates. (More on Mary can be found in the article Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions.)
Thus, according to various Catholic mystics and writers, those that follow a persecuting power will wear some type of cross. And according to at least one Catholic priest, it is similar to the type of cross that Emperor Constantine used, and according to that same priest, it may be an important symbol for the beasts of Revelation 13 and their followers:
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed...(Revelation 13:14-15).
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (Revelation 18:4-5).
There is no place in the Bible that says that Christians should have or bow down before any idol, statue, or "holy icon" (nor is the term "holy icon" ever used in the Bible). Instead, we see warnings throughout the Bible NOT to be part of those that participate in those practices. Whether or not any type of cross will be one of the icons of the Beast can be debated, but the fact that the Bible warns against worshiping images cannot be. The Bible suggests that even the appearance of worshiping before statues is wrong (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:10).
Real Christians would not follow the Beast and False Prophet and hence should not wear crosses nor bow down before any statues or icons now. (For more information, and even a picture, please see Persecutions by Church and State.)
The Adventist acceptance of crosses, as well as the adoption of trinitarianism, may reduce, for a time, some of the SDAs being targets at the end. However, just being Sabbath-keepers still may be enough.
More on crosses can be found in the article: What is the Origin of the Cross as a 'Christian' Symbol?
Persecution is coming to those who hold to the original Chrisitian faith.
But finally this will end.
Jesus will return and the Sabbath will be kept:
2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lord Speak, saying,"The Lord has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say,"Here I am, a dry tree." 4 For thus says the Lord: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters;I will give them an everlasting nameThat shall not be cut off.
6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants — Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant — 7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,"Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him." (Isaiah 56:2-8)
So, although there is prophesied persecution, Sabbath-keepers are promised blessings thereafter.
But have no doubt about it: persecution for Saabbath-keepers is prophesied and will happen.
Thiel B. http://www.cogwriter.com/sabbath-persecution-prophecies.htm (c) COGwriter 2017, 2021 0524