WHEN MERCY IS TESTED A Great Controversy Song—Chapter 2 – Persecution in the First Centuries by Zeres Vitto Verse 1 — The First Persecution They bowed to none but Christ alone, No crown, no sword, no earthly throne. The empire roared, “Your faith betray,” But saints stood fast and would not sway. The dragon spoke through Caesar’s breath, With chains and fire and threat of death, Yet seeds were sown where martyrs fell— Truth rose where Rome’s cruel shadows dwelt. Pre-Chorus — The Pattern Force could not break what love had sealed, The church grew strong, the lie revealed. So violence failed, the tactic changed— The sword grew soft, the mask arranged. Chorus — The Great Controversy When mercy’s voice is cast aside, And power claims what God denied, The test returns in law and name— Same ancient war, new dress, same flame. The beast may rule, the courts may bind, But heaven weighs the heart and mind; Two kingdoms clash—one truth, one lie: Who do you serve, and who defines? Verse 2 — Daniel’s Vision The fourth beast rose in dreadful might, Devouring all, exalting force as right. Then from its ranks a horn appeared, With sacred words the nations feared. It spoke as God, it ruled as law, It changed God’s holy law of sacred time, And saints were worn beneath its claim— Religion fused with power’s name. Verse 3 — The Dragon’s Strategy The woman fled, the dragon raged, His open war could not be waged. So faith was crowned with civil seal, And worship bent to state appeal. No idols carved, no pagan flame— Just laws enforced in Jesus’ name. Conscience bowed, or paid the cost: The quiet test, the faithful lost. Chorus — The Great Controversy When mercy’s voice is cast aside, And power claims what God denied, The test returns in law and name— Same ancient war, new dress, same flame. The beast may rule, the courts may bind, But heaven weighs the heart and mind; Two kingdoms clash—one truth, one lie: Who do you serve, and who defines? Verse 4 — The Final Law Sunday is raised above God’s sign, By human word, not law divine. “Submit,” they cry, “for peace and good,” But peace is forced, not understood. No sword is drawn, no fire is seen, Yet bread is weighed, the lines grow mean. And loyalty is proved at last When worship’s choice is tightly cast. Bridge — The Heavenly Court But see—above the clash below, The courts convene, the records show. Mount Zion sings, the books unseal, The Judge is just, the wounds still real. A Mediator speaks our name, His blood outcries the world’s false claim. Not force, but faith the test will be— Heaven judges loyalty. Verse 5 — The Final Call “Refuse not Him who speaks from high, Though earth may shake and systems die.” The dragon wars with remnant few Who keep God’s law and trust Him true. No mark can buy what grace has sealed, No law undo what Christ revealed. They stand unmoved, though worlds deride— Their rest is Christ, their Judge their Guide. Final Chorus — Victory When mercy’s voice is lifted high, And truth stands firm though powers cry, The kingdom comes, the beast is gone, The night dissolves before the dawn. The war is won, the books are closed, The faithful stand, the truth disclosed— Not by the sword, not human might, But by the Lamb who won the fight. Outro Same ancient war, same ancient foe— But heaven reigns, and truth will show. Same ancient war, same ancient foe— But heaven reigns, and truth will show.
