The recent “Right to work bill” passed and signed into law in the state of Michigan (birthplace of the United Autoworkers union) and the opposition and protest by labor unions is truly a sign that we are in the last days and that there “is a prophet in Israel”. ” “These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions, they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God; for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue.” – {CL 11.4}
Several months ago, we had a similar labor law passed and a prolonged union protest in the state of Wisconsin. We were told by the servant of the Lord, “The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive.” .—Letter 5, 1904. – {CL 9.5} We are just about there, Michigan became the 24th state to adopt the “right to work” law. The unions see these laws as anti labor unions, and vowed to fight them in which ever state they are proposed. The unions are suffering defeat, after defeat (Wisconsin. Indiana, Michigan, etc.) and many more states may decide to follow. The unions are not going to sit idly by and watch their “bargaining rights” taken away, they will definitely strike back.
“The trades unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began.”—Letter 200, 1903. – {CL 10.2} As the economy continues to deteriorate, and companies through the government demand changes in the “labor laws”, these will lead to even more protest and trouble than we have even seen or think of. “But erelong there will be such strife and confusion in the cities, that those who wish to leave them will not be able. We must be preparing for these issues. This is the light that is given me.”—The General Conference Bulletin, April 6, 1903. – {CL 11.1}
What should God’s people be doing at this time?
The work of the people of God is to prepare for the events of the future, which will soon come upon them with blinding force. In the world gigantic monopolies will be formed. Men will bind themselves together in unions that will wrap them in the folds of the enemy. A few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines of business. Trades unions will be formed, and those who refuse to join these unions will be marked men.—Letter 26, 1903. – {CL 10.3}
The trades unions and confederacies of the world are a snare. Keep out of them, and away from them, brethren. Have nothing to do with them. Because of these unions and confederacies, it will soon be very difficult for our institutions to carry on their work in the cities. My warning is: Keep out of the cities. Build no sanitariums in the cities. Educate our people to get out of the cities into the country, where they can obtain a small piece of land, and make a home for themselves and their children…. – {CL 10.4}
James 5:1-9 sums up the world’s condition very well:
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
The Lord is watching the movements taking place in the world, he knows of the unjust employees, He hears the cries of the workers. He has set a limit to all the unfairness in this world. What we are witnessing in this generation, are end times events, that are leading up to the “time of trouble”. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh, let us make our calling and election sure, seek a closer walk with the Lord, establish our hearts. …”prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12
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