ManassehConcluding Remarks

Part 22 Chronicles 33:1–20

2 Kings 21:1–20

1

2

During Manasseh’s reign:

violence prevailed

3

Time magazine named Hitler “Man of the Year” for 1938 but

called his leadership audacious, defiant, ruthless, and striding

“over a cringing Europe.”

4

Time called him “the greatest threatening force that the

democratic, freedom-loving world faces today.”

5

“What Adolf Hitler & Co. did to Germany in less than six years was

applauded wildly and ecstatically by most Germans. He lifted the nation

from post-War defeatism. Under the swastika Germany was unified. His was no ordinary dictatorship,

but rather one of great energy and magnificent planning.”

6

“What Adolf Hitler & Co. did to the German people in that time left civilized men and women aghast. Civil rights and liberties have disappeared. Opposition to the Nazi regime has become tantamount to suicide or worse. Free speech and free

assembly are anachronisms. The reputations of the once-vaunted German

centres of learning have vanished. Education has been reduced to a National

Socialist catechism.”

7

“Germany’s 700,000 Jews have been tortured physically, robbed of homes and

properties, denied a chance to earn a living, chased off the streets. Now they are being

held for “ransom,” a gangster trick through the ages. But not only Jews have suffered. Out of Germany has come a steady, ever-

swelling stream of refugees, Jews and Gentiles, liberals and conservatives,

Catholics as well as Protestants, who could stand Naziism no longer.”

8

The 1940 German Morning Watch book (a devotional) for SDA young people has this entry for April 20,

translated by Erwin Sicher, professor of history at

Southwestern Adventist University:

9

“Trust in his people has given the Fuhrer the strength to carry through the fight for

freedom and honor of Germany. The unshakable faith of Adolf Hitler allowed him to do great deeds, which decorate

him today before the whole world. Selflessly and faithfully he has struggled for his people; courageously and proudly he has defended the honor of his nation.

10

“In Christian humility, at importanttimes when he could celebrate with his people, he gave God in Heaven

honor and recognized his dependence upon God’s blessings. This humility has made him great, and this greatness was the source of blessing, from which he always

gave for his people.

11

“Only very few statesmen stand so brilliantly in the sun of a blessed life, and are so praised by his own

people as our Fuhrer. He has sacrificed much in the years of his

struggle and has thought little about himself in the difficult work

for his people.

12

“We compare the unnumbered words, which he has issued to the people from

a warm heart, with seeds which have ripened and now

carry wonderful fruit.”

13

Remember the date for this Morning Watch page.

April 20, 1940

The United States declared war on Germany on December 11, 1941

14

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near

any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my

sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were

before the house. (Ezekiel 9:6)

15

The leaders were to be destroyed. Why does God

does this?

16

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is

exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of

perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD

seeth not. (Ezekiel 9:9)

17

Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who

virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who

murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! (3T 267)

18

But that which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had

the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated by the

prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold and are borne down by the strong current of evil. (5T 209)

19

The universal scorn thrown upon true piety and holiness leads those

who do not connect closely with God to lose their reverence for His law. If

they were following the light and obeying the truth from the heart, this

holy law would seem even more precious to them when thus despised

and set aside. {5T 209.1}

20

“The principles of Satan were present in the Church [of Acts 15] and had manifested themselves in the exaltation of man to the headship of the Church, in the choosing of

a leader [James] on the basis of his ‘connections’, rather than his spirituality,

and in the maintaining of the system of the law, to co-exist along with the faith of Jesus Christ. This was the mysterious working of

the mystery of iniquity . . .” (Author not stated, Open Face, July 2014, p. 9)

21

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that

keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

(Revelation 14:12)

. . . Manasseh had dared set aside these statutes; and during his reign the temple copy of the

book of the law, through careless neglect, had become lost. Thus

for many years the people generally were deprived of its

instruction. (Prophets and Kings, pp. 392, 393)

22

Yet those evil times were not without witnesses for God and the right. The

trying experiences through which Judah had safely passed during

Hezekiah’s reign had developed, in the hearts of many, a sturdiness of

character that now served as a bulwark against the prevailing

iniquity. (PK 381)

23

Their testimony in behalf of truth and righteousness aroused the anger of

Manasseh and his associates in authority, who endeavored to establish themselves in evil-doing by silencing every voice of disapproval. “Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to

another.” 2 Kings 21:16. (PK 381)

24

25

One of the first to fall was Isaiah, who for over half a

century had stood before Judah as the appointed messenger of

Jehovah. (PK 382)

2 Chronicles 33:10–11

26

The LORD Deals with Manasseh

But the Lord would not utterly forsake those who in a strange land should acknowledge Him as their

Ruler; they might suffer great tribulation, yet He would bring

deliverance to them in His appointed time and way. Those who should put their trust wholly in Him would find

a sure refuge. (PK 382) 27

28

In the case of Manasseh the Lord gives us an instance of the way in which He

works. (2 Chronicles 33:9–13 quoted.)(3BC 1132)

2 Chronicles 33:12–13

29

Manasseh Repents

2 Chronicles 33:14–20

30

Manasseh’s Revival

31

Spiritualism

Spiritualism is any communication with

evil spirits.

32

33

The obvious is supposed communication with the dead,

but cherished false ideas of any kind is communication with Satan because he inspires them.

Ouija boards, fortune telling, etc.

Satan watches eagerly to find Christians off their guard. O that the followers of Christ would remember that eternal vigilance is the price of eternal life. Many have a slumbering faith. Unless they are invigorated, revived, quickened into action, their souls will be lost (UL 200)

34

In this time [EGW’s day] evil angels in the form of men will talk with those who know the truth. They will misinterpret and misconstrue the statements of the messengers of God. (RH, August 11, 1903 par. 12)

35

36

Spiritualism is more dangerous today than before because it is a

more subtle deception. Spiritualism earlier denied Christ and the Bible, but today professes

to accept both. It is assuming a Christian guise. (See GC 558)

37

Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making

little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, His

denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all

kept out of sight. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a

dead letter. (GC 558)

38

The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to

perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit

resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between

them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must

be tested. {GC 593.1}

39

Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and

derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must

understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a

right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in

accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the

Bible will stand through the last great conflict. (GC 593)

40

But the teachings of Christ must previously have been stored in the mind in order

for the Spirit of God to bring them to our remembrance in

the time of peril. (GC 600)

41

Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles

before His strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole

host trembles. He continues to call legions of evil angels to accomplish his object. And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is

lost. (1T 345)

42

That is how Manasseh overcame at the last, and it is how we will overcome also—

through fervent prayer!