Heartbeat of Adventism-The Great Controversy Theme in the Writtings of Ellen G. White

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Copyright © 2010 by Herbert Edgar Douglass, ThD

Printed in the United States of America

All Rights Reserved

Cover design by

Copy editing by Connie Dahlke

Inside design, layout, and Index by Ken McFarland /Page One Communications

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, copyright © 1979,

1980, 1987, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

The compiler is responsible for the accuracy of quotations and referenced material.

Compiler’s note: This compilation will always be a work in progress. Further, no author or compiler can ever promise a

book that would be free from errors. Additions and perhaps subtractions will be made in later printings. If any reader

would like to suggest additions or subtractions of any material in future printings, please contact the compiler at:

[email protected].

ISBN 13: 978-0-8163-2458-3

ISBN 10: 0-8163-2458-1



mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Contents

DEDICATION

A REVIEWER’S RESPONSE

PREFACE

SECTION I.INTRODUCTION: THE GREAT CONTROVERT THEME IS THE GR AND CENTRAL

OF THE BIBLE

SECTION II. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME EXPLAINS THE BACKGROUND FOR THE

SIN, SUFFERING, AND DEATH

SECTION III.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME RECOGNIZES “THE CHANGE IN

CONDITION, THROUGH THE COMING IN OF A KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL”

SECTION IV.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME HIGHLIGHTS THE CHAR GES THAT SATA

MADE AGAINST GOD

SECTION V.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME ILLLUMINATES HOW GOD HA S TOLD HI

OF THE STORY!

SECTION VI.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME EXPLAIN S WHY JESUS BECAME MAN

ONLY TO REVEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD, BUT TO IDENTIFY WITH HUMAN BEINGS,

GIVING CREDIBILITY TO HIS APPEAL TO US TO OVERCOME, EVEN AS HE DID

SECTION VII. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME MAKES CLEAR WHY JESUS DIED

SECTION VIII.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME UNFOLDS THE GLORIOUS SUBJECT O

ATONEMENT

SECTION IX. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SECTION X.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME REVEALS THE ROLE OF JESUS AS OUR

PRIESTSECTION

SECTION XI.THE GREAT CONTROVERY THEME UNFOLDS WHAT GOD INTENDS TO AC

WITH HIS PLAN FOR OUR SALVATIONSECTION





SECTION XII.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME DIRECTLY INFORMS ALL ASPECTS O

CHRISTIAN’S LIFESECTION

SECTION XIII. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END, AND IT

IS CLEARLY PREDICTED, WITH ITS PARTICIPANTS PLAINLY IDENTIFIEDSECTION

SECTION XIV. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME BEGINS IN HEAVEN, WHEN S

ATTEMPTED BY DECEIT AND SUBTERFUGE TO OVERTHROW THE LAW OF GOD—AND

HELLISH ENMITY CONTINUES ON EARTH, WITH HIS FINAL ATTACK BEING RATCHETED

THE END TIMES.SECTION

SECTION XV.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, IN THE END TIMES, WILL DEVELOP INTO A PE

STORM, WHEN SATAN WILL EMPLOY ALL HIS DECEPTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVEN

ELECT” WILL BE CHALLENGED (MATTHEW 24:24).SECTION

SECTION XVI.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY’S LAST-DAY ISSUES, FORECASTING SATAN’SATTEMPTS TO CONQUER THIS WORLD, ARE OUTLINED IN THE BIBLE.SECTION

SECTION XVII. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME DESCRIBES TWO GROUPS IN THE LAST

THAT DEFINE THOSE WHO HONOR GOD AND THOSE WHO REPRESENT SA

REBELLION.SECTION

SECTION XVIII.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME OUTLINES THE FINAL EVENTS

PRECEDE OUR LORD’S RETURN.SECTION

SECTION XIX.THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME PROVIDES SATAN’S PLAYBOOK FOR A

END-TIME LOYALISTS.SECTION

SECTION XX.PREACHING THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME REQUIRES SPECIAL KIN

PREACHERS AND SERMONS.SECTION

SECTION XXI. THE GREAT CONTROVERSY ENDED—ALL ISSUES SETTLED, UNIVERSE FOREVER IN

HARMONY.

INDEX





Dedication

Kenneth H. Wood, Jr., 5 November 1917 (Shanghai, China)-25 May 2008 (Potomac, Maryland), ministe

author, editor, and administrator, became associate editor of the Review and Herald (now the Adventist Review) in

1955. He served on the staff for twenty-seven years; sixteen as editor-in-chief, beginning in 1966 after the death o

Francis D. Nichol.

Since 1980 he served as Chairman of the Ellen G. White Estate Board of Trustees. For nearly forty-two year

starting in 1966, Wood served as a Trustee of the Ellen G. White Estate. In 1980 he was elected the Chairman of th

Board of Trustees, a post he filled ably until his death. Through the turbulent 1980s and beyond, his leadership helpe

increase confidence in Ellen G. White’s ministry and the White Estate, among other things supporting greater opennes

and access to Mrs. White’s unpublished manuscripts. Under his leadership eleven Ellen G. White Research Cente

were opened at major Seventh-day Adventist educational institutions around the world, and two additional branc

offices were opened in North America. Including the main office, the total number of such facilities now stands a

eighteen.

Wood’s editorial skills were beyond brilliance. His own writings were models of accuracy, clarity, and grace, and

his touch greatly improved the writings of others.

I knew him intimately since 1971 and until his death. His legacy is that of Elder Statesman, Consummate Edito

Skilled Chairman, Model Husband—Gallant and Caring, Keen Observer and Thinker, Paradigm of Ardent Adventis

and without him, the idea for this volume and its production would never have seen the light of day.





A Reviewer’s Response

“We are greatly indebted to Dr. Douglass for the many fine books and articles he

has written during a long and fruitful ministry. Now we are indebted to him again for

giving us this excellent compilation from the writings of Ellen G. White on the grea

controversy theme. As even more expectantly we approach the coming of our Lord and

see daily indications of the fulfillment of prophecy, these counsels of the Holy Spiri

provide reassurance, encouragement, and spiritual inspiration. We are truly grateful to

God for the Spirit of Prophecy, and to Dr. Douglass for preparing this compilation fo

us”

—Erwin R. Gane, Ph.D., retired.

Former editor, Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guides





Preface: “Please Read Me!”

I. This is not a typical devotional book. But it will be a deepening well from whic

you will continually draw fresh insights and personal strength—all the days for the

rest of your life! These pages cannot be read like a story book. Yet, it will be the

greatest story ever told—the drama of the Great Controversy between God an

Satan. What really are the issues? How do they affect each of us even today in ou

personal lives? What does God really want to accomplish with His Plan o

Salvation? Etc.

I have some suggestions as here outlined. We all know that few people in our

day have been as maligned as Ellen G. White. Of course, that is to be expected

that is how the Controversy works in our day!

Yet, sometimes, those who want to know the truth about her have caused their own problems in their search. So, here is what I suggest: Let Ellen White explai

herself! Read her writings with the same concern for the principles o

understanding that you utilized in reading Shakespeare or Isaiah or the Apostle

John.

II. Let EGW explain herself. Her writings span 70 years. After participating in th

rise of a small group to become a world-wide movement, issues do change. New

emphases were needed. Misunderstandings needed to be corrected as the years

passed.Ellen White clearly taught that God leads His people along as fast as they ar

able to receive further truth, beginning with her own experience. The history o

Israel is a splendid example of how He works with people where they are, not

where they will be in the future. The prophets were also part of this divine plan to

unfold truth as people are ready for it. They themselves experienced the process.

Paul not only knew more about the plan of salvation than did Joel or David, h

experienced the “unfolding” in his own life.

The simple fact is obvious: God does not capriciously conceal truth but H

does recognize human weakness and incapacity to comprehend advancing truth. He

is limited, not by His purpose but by our capacity at any given time.

Some may call this “progressive truth.” The term is helpful if it is describing

person’s progressive, deepening awareness of spiritual truths. But it misses the

mark if it is used in the context of an evolutionary development that proceeds out o

the evolving of human understanding through trial and error, through thesis and

antithesis. God’s method of teaching the human race involves both the recovery o





lost truth and the unfolding of further truth, as fast as people are ready to receive it.

(Evolutionary progression is understood as humanity’s growth from ignorance to

knowledge, without any absolutes that would put universal value on knowledge.)

This process happens to individuals as well as to groups of people. Mos

people know how this process has been working in their own lives. If we have

been growing in grace, what we knew about God’s will for us individually tenyears ago was much less than what each of us knows today. No doubt all of us

wish we could adjust what we said to others ten years ago, even though we thought

it wise at that time.

But some may say, “A prophet should be different. What prophets said when

they were twenty years old should not need ‘clarification’ or ‘expansion’ when

they are fifty-five!”This view arises out of a verbal-inspiration framework (which

we will discuss below). We must not forget that God speaks to men and women,

the sheep-herder and the empire’s prime minister, both differing widely in

occupation as well as personal mental and spiritual endowments. This “wide”spread of individual differences includes the “wide” spread of a person’s grasp of

truth between his/her youth and mature years.

Prophets in their humble way understand their indebtedness to God for fres

perspectives, “like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day”

(Prov. 4:18). The growth principle pervades all creation. Paul explains to the

Corinthians: “We all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the

Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the

Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:15). In this way, the more young Ellen Harmostudied the Bible and prayed for divine guidance as she faced life’s challenges, the

more she became “transformed” and “changed”—she grew in the knowledge o

God’s character and His ways.

Consequently, letting the growth principle inform our study of Ellen White (o

the Bible) we should expect deepening insights as she conveys God’s messages to

others. We can see the growth of her ability to convey deeper insights, especially,

when we compare her earliest descriptions of the origin of the great controversy

with that in Patriarchs and Prophets.

Thus, when readers sense a broader perspective in Patriarchs and Prophets(1890) than is found in Spiritual Gifts (1858), they are recognizing the

hermeneutical rule that a prophet will grow, as anyone else, in spiritual perception

and rhetorical skills. This increase in spiritual perception will help the prophets to

state more clearly the message that God wants conveyed. This is the principle tha

best describes the experience of Jesus on earth. Luke described His growth an

maturing ability to share spiritual things with others: “And Jesus increased i





wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

In other words, though the core of truth remains the same, its deeper

implications are expanded as a person matures. Maturing skills of insight and

communication may express the core message with more precision in later years.

When readers look at everything Ellen White has written on a given subject, the

easily see that she has no “wax nose,” talking on both sides of an issue. When proper hermeneutical principles are applied, her writings are clear, consistent, and

unambiguous.

Now let’s examine some of the reasons why some have misunderstood Ellen

White. They may be the same reasons why many misunderstand Shakespeare o

Paul.*

1. They forget that word-meanings do change through the years. e.g., “nice”—

exacting; “intercourse”—exchange of thoughts and feelings.

2. They ignore hyperboles—the use of obvious exaggeration. See John 21:25for example, “the world itself could not contain the books” written about the

acts of Jesus. Hyperbole is a literary device used throughout the Bible. Elle

White used the ratio 1 in 20 at least five times; 1 in 100 at least twenty-one

times. She did not say l in 19 or 1 in 99. Everyone gets the point.

3. They fail to understand the meaning of the phrase in which a word is used. I

1862, White wrote that Satan works through the channels of phrenology,

psychology, and mesmerism. But she was not saying that all “psychology” is

evil. In 1897, she wrote that “the true principles of psychology are found inthe Holy Scriptures.”

4. They ignore immediate context in which any statement is made. For example,

White said we “should never be taught to say, or feel, that they are saved.”

(Christ’s Object Lessons, 155). But the context was meant to warn of the

erroneous doctrine of “once saved, always saved” that was, and is, prevalent

among most evangelical Christians.

5. They may believe that every word of the Bible and thus every word in the

writings of Ellen White is exactly how God wanted it written—we call tha

verbal inspiration, a teaching that is hard to defend when we see occasional

discrepancies in the Bible, such as Stephen’s (Acts 7:14) reference to Jacob’s

family that arrived in Egypt (75) compared to Genesis 46:27 (70). Or, take

the writers of the four Gospels and how they remember the sign on top o

Christ’s cross—four different descriptions: the lesson here is that prophets

are not necessarily “authorities” on historical data; their inspirational value





lies in their messages, not in some of the details that are incidental to the Big

Picture.

Those who believe in “thought inspiration” focus on the Big Picture, th

message; possible discrepancies in historical detail are considered incidental

to the message, and of minor importance. Those who have read Ellen White’

Introduction to her The Great Controversy volume should understand this principle.

6. Writers in all ages recognize that a statement can mean different things to

different people. For example, “There are many who interpret that which

write in the light of their own preconceived opinions… . A division in

understanding and diverse opinions is the sure result.” (Selected Messages,

bk. 3, 79).

7. They may focus on a “word” or a doctrinal explanation that she said on one

occasion, not recognizing that all writers and speakers don’t say everything on

a subject every time with exactly the same words. For example, when White

sometimes focused on “justification” she didn’t immediately focus on

“sanctification,” leading many to believe that “justification” alone meant

“righteousness by faith.” For the best understanding, include all that the

prophet has said on the subject under discussion before coming to a

conclusion. Avoid personal presuppositions or personal agendas.

8. They overlook the fact that every statement must be understood within its

historical context: time, place, and circumstances must be studied to

understand its meaning. This principle is especially important when

compilations are made of Ellen White topics.

9. They forget to recognize the principle underlying each statement of counsel or

instruction in order to understand its relevance for those in different times or

places. Principles are universal but applications depend on circumstances.

For example, “If girls … could learn to harness and drive a horse, and to use

the saw and the hammer, as well as the rake and the hoe, they would be better

fitted to meet the emergencies of life.” Principle or application? It is obviou

that her advice depended on time, place, and circumstances.

10. They ignore common sense and sanctified reason in analyzing the difference

between principles and applications of principle. Every subject in an

discussion can go to extremes. Ellen White often appealed to the “middle

path” in promoting health reform or dress, avoiding the “ice of indifference”

and “the fire of fanaticism.”





11. They, at times, attribute to Ellen White, statements that sound like her bu

were not written by her. Most of the false information has traveled through

three or four or more parties, adding to the stack of apocryphal statements.

See pp. 3189-3192, Comprehensive Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White,

(Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1963).

12. Many overlook the simple truth that not everything in the Bible or in thewritings of Ellen White can be understood at first glance, or even after year

of study. Think of astrophysicists, microchip specialists, etc. Christians have

learned to practice suspended judgment. To force an interpretation because

one feels everything must be understood surely leads to misinterpretation.

III. She had a double emphasis in all her ministry: “I recommend to you, dear reader,

the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be

judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the ‘last days’; not for a

new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth.” EW 78. At times, readers will emphasize her role as

comforting, challenging inspirational writer, yet often forgetting her equally

important role as a theological truth detector, as Paul was. Truth always embraces

comfort as well as clarity of theological intent.

IV. Of course, a seventeen-year-old young lady will grow in depth of self-expression

as she matures. And we see just that in Ellen White’s 70-year ministry. But wha

we do see, to the astonishment of many, is a remarkable unity, a coherence and

integrity of thought, from start to finish. The open secret to such consistency is her emphasis on the Great Controversy Theme.

V. Ellen’s own testimony adds to Paul’s appeal to the Ephesians—what a gift tha

never stops giving: “All the paternal love which has come down from generation to

generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which

have opened in the souls of men are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean, when

compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen

cannot portray it.

“You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search theScriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and

capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and

compassion of the Heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may

study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the

breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for th

world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it.

“Yet as we study the Bible, and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan





of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and

more. And it will be ours to realize the blessing which Paul desired for the

Ephesian church, when he prayed ‘that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Fathe

of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge

of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is

the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who

believe.”’ –Signs of the Times, May 14, 1902, (Italics in quotation).

* Messenger of the Lord , (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association,

1998), pp. 386-405, for references.





The Great Controversy Theme Is the Grand Central

Theme of the Bible

Introduction:“The light that I have received, I have written out, and much of it is now shinin

forth from the printed page. There is, throughout my printed works, a harmony with

my present teaching.”1

“The plan of redemption is comprehensive, but its parts are few, each depending

on the other, and all working together in utmost simplicity and entire harmony.”2

“To the last God permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and amurderer. Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked, more glorious,

more full and complete.”3

“The controversy has waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and

ill continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly working of the

powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil men, will deceive

the whole world and the churches who receive not the love of the truth.”4

“The heavenly universe is watching with the deepest interest the conflict between

Christ in the person of His saints, and the great deceiver.”5

“We cannot appreciate the truth only in contrast with error; with the dark

background, false doctrines, and error, the truth shines forth clear and connected, link

after link, uniting in a perfect whole; it binds all that is good and true together, and

connects them with heaven.”6

“We are on the earth as combatants. This is not time or place for us to be negligent,

indifferent, or careless. We have a heaven to win and a hell to shun. There is frequently

presented to me a scene of conflict and of determined opposition. How can it be

otherwise when we are in an enemy’s country?”7

“Every Christian should understand that there is a decided warfare going o

between the chosen people of God and the powers of darkness. When men are content to





live merely for this world, the inclination of the heart unites with the suggestions of the

enemy, and his bidding is done. But when they seek to leave the black banner of the

power of darkness, and range themselves under the bloodstained banner of Prince

Emmanuel, the struggle begins, and the warfare is carried on in the sight of the

universe of heaven. Everyone who fights on the side of right, must fight hand to hand

ith the enemy. He must put on the whole armor of God, that he may be able to standagainst the wiles of the devil. Our foes are within and without. We are assailed by

temptations which are numerous and deceiving, the more perilous because not always

clearly discerned. Often Satan conquers us by our natural inclinations and appetites.

These were divinely appointed, and when given to man, were pure and holy. It was

God’s design that reason should rule the appetites, and that they should minister to our

happiness. And when they are regulated and controlled by a sanctified reason, they are

holiness unto the Lord.”8

“The working out of the great plan of salvation, as manifest in the history of this

orld, is not only to men but to angels a revelation of the Father. Here is seen the

ork of Satan in the degradation and ruin of the race by sin, and, on the other hand, the

ork of God in man’s recovery and uplifting through the grace of Christ. Every soul

that develops a righteous character and withstands the power of the wicked one is

a testimony to the falsehood of Satan’s charges against the Divine government.

Through the eternal ages the exaltation of the redeemed will be a testimony to God’s

love and mercy.”9

“The science of salvation is a grand theme, and all the glory of restoring theimage of God in man is to be laid at the feet of the Eternal.”10

“That which our people must have interwoven with their life and character is the

unfolding of the plan of redemption and more elevated conceptions of God and Hi

holiness, brought into the life. The washing of the robes of character in the blood of the

Lamb is a work that we must attend to earnestly while every defect of character is to be

put away.”11

“Between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah will come the last great

conflict of the controversy between truth and error. Upon this battle we are now

entering —a battle not between rival churches contending for the supremacy, but

between the religion of the Bible and the religions of fable and tradition… . Many have

come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars of the Christian faith. The great fact

of creation as presented by the inspired writers, the fall of man, the atonement, the

perpetuity of the law—these all are practically rejected by a large share of the





professedly Christian world. Thousands who pride themselves on their knowledge

regard it as an evidence of weakness to place implicit confidence in the Bible, and a

proof of learning to cavil at the Scriptures and to spiritualize and explain away their

most important truths.”12

“In the great controversy between good and evil, Satan must be given everyopportunity to develop his true character, that the heavenly universe, and the race for

hom Christ was giving His life, might see the righteousness of God’s purposes. Thos

under the control of the enemy must be allowed to reveal the principles of his

government.”13

“There is no warfare between Satan and his agents, between fallen angels and those

ho have yielded themselves to evil. Both possess the same attributes, both through sin

are evil. But between Christ’s followers and the powers of darkness there is anunwearied conflict, which is to have no end till Christ shall come the second time

ithout sin unto salvation, to destroy him who has destroyed so many souls through his

deceptive power.”14

“To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent

with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased

at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth

and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. Well would it be for the

church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived inthe hearts of God’s professed people. There is an alarming indifference in regard to

the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion is gaining

ground, that, after all, these are not of vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening

the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions which the

faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with

favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ.”15

“The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of theChristian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His

government in heaven and earth.”16

“In all ages, through the medium of communion with heaven, God has worked ou

His purpose for His children, by unfolding gradually to their minds the doctrines of

grace.”17





A. The Great Controversy Theme (GCT) explains the larger purpose of the pla

of salvation.

1. The entire universe needed to see all the issues in the Great Controvers

caused by rebellion.

“God, the One infinite and all-wise, sees the end from the beginning, an

in dealing with evil His plans were far-reaching and comprehensive. It wasHis purpose, not merely to put down the rebellion, but to demonstrate to

all the universe the nature of the rebellion. God’s plan was unfolding,

showing both His justice and His mercy, and fully vindicating His wisdo

and righteousness in His dealings with evil.”18

“The Christian is a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

Singular?—Yes; he has a most singular, peculiar character, because his life is

worked out after the divine similitude. The inhabitants of unfallen worlds

and of the heavenly universe are watching with an intense interest theconflict between good and evil. They rejoice as Satan’s subtleties, one after

another, are discerned and met with ‘It is written,’ as Christ met them in His

conflict with the wily foe. Every victory gained is a gem in the crown of life.

In the day of victory all the universe of heaven triumphs. The harps of the

angels send forth the most precious music, accompanying the melody of the

voice.”19

“This world is a theater. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are

preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of… . A

power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in thedrama—Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness o

unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret

societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are

working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the

effect.”20

“The controversy that began in heaven was to be continued on the earth. I

this controversy much was to be involved. Vast interests were at stake .

Before the inhabitants of the heavenly universe were to be answered thequestions: ‘Is God’s law imperfect, in need of amendment or abrogation, or is

it immutable? Is God’s government in need of change, or is it stable?’ … I

was not merely the interests of one world that were at stake. This earth was

the battle-field, but all the worlds that God has created would be affected b

the result of the conflict Satan sought to make it appear that he was

working for the liberty of the universe . He was determined to make his

arguments so varied, so deceptive, so insidious, that every one would be





convinced that God’s law was tyrannical.”21

2. The entire universe will see God’s fairness when the controversy is over.

“By the facts unfolded in the progress of the great controversy, God will

demonstrate the principles of His rules of government, which have been

falsified by Satan and by all whom he has deceived. His justice will finall

be acknowledged by the whole world, though the acknowledgment will bemade too late to save the rebellious. God carries with Him the sympathy an

approval of the whole universe as step by step His great plan advances to its

complete fulfillment. He will carry it with Him in the final eradication o

rebellion. It will be seen that all who have forsaken the divine precepts have

placed themselves on the side of Satan, in warfare against Christ. When th

prince of this world shall be judged, and all who have united with him shall

share his fate, the whole universe as witnesses to the sentence will declare,

‘Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints’ Revelation 15:3.”22

“The heavenly worlds and heaven itself were amazed at God’s long

forbearance.”23

3. The plan of salvation includes more than the salvation of men and women.

“Through the plan of salvation a larger purpose is to be wrought out

even than the salvation of man and the redemption of the earth. Through the

revelation of the character of God in Christ, the beneficence of the divine

government would be manifested before the universe, the charge of Satan

refuted, the nature and results of sin made plain, and the perpetuity of the lawfully demonstrated.”24

4. God made this world of human beings to enlarge heaven.

“God made the world to enlarge heaven. He desired a larger family. And

before man was created, God and Christ entered into a covenant that if he fell

from his allegiance, Christ would bear the penalty of transgression. Man fell,

but he was not left to the power of the destroyer. ‘God so loved the world that

He gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should no

perish, but have everlasting life.’ To the Redeemer was given all power to

impart to fallen human beings for their benefit and blessing.”25

B. The GCT gives us the dual purpose of the gospel: to reveal the true characte

of our maligned God and to restore the image of God in men and women.

1. The biblical definition of the gospel is found in Romans 1:16, 17—“For I a

not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation

for everyone who believes [Gr. “has faith”], for the Jew first and also for the





Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as

it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

“Study Christ. Study His character, feature by feature. He is our Patter

that we are required to copy in our lives and our characters, else we fail to

represent Jesus, but present to the world a spurious copy. Do not imitate an

man, for men are defective in habits, in speech, in manners, in character. I present before you the Man Christ Jesus. You must individually know Him as

your Saviour before you can study Him as your pattern and you

example…(Romans 1:16-19).”26

“Truth is inspired and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed,

although it may appear at times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ i

the law exemplified in character. The deceptions practiced against it, ever

device for vindicating falsehood, every error forged by satanic agencies, will

eventually be eternally broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the

appearing of the sun at noonday.”27

2. The plan of redemption would vindicate the character of God who ha

been so maliciously challenged.

“But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper purpose than the

salvation of man. It was not for this alone that Christ came to the earth; it wa

not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God

as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the character of God before

the universe. To this result of His great sacrifice—its influence upon the

intelligences of other worlds, as well as upon man—the Saviour lookedforward when just before His crucifixion He said: ‘Now is the judgment o

this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifte

up from the earth, will draw all unto Me.’ John 12:31, 32. The act of Christ i

dying for the salvation of man would not only make heaven accessible to men,

but before all the universe it would justify God and His Son in their dealin

with the rebellion of Satan. It would establish the perpetuity of the law of God

and would reveal the nature and the results of sin.”28

3. The plan of redemption would also restore the image of God in theredeemed.

“The central theme of the Bible, the theme about which every other in the

whole book clusters, is the redemption plan, the restoration in the human

soul of the image of God. From the first intimation of hope in the sentence

pronounced in Eden to that last glorious promise of the Revelation, ‘The

shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads’ (Revelatio





22:4), the burden of every book and every passage of the Bible is the

unfolding of this wondrous theme,—man’s uplifting,—the power of God,

‘which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1

Corinthians 15:57. He who grasps this thought has before him an infinite

field for study. He has the key that will unlock to him the whole treasure

house of God’s word.”29

“The very essence of the gospel is restoration.”30

“He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be

uplifted by its restoring power.”31

“We can see in the cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God to

bring salvation to a fallen race. As the sacrifice in behalf of man was

complete, so the restoration of man from the defilement of sin must be

thorough and complete.”32

“The restoration and uplifting of humanity begins in the home. The

work of parents underlies every other.”33

“By infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation had been devised, and a

life of probation was granted. To restore in man the image of his Maker, to

bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the

development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation

might be realized—this was to be the work of redemption.This is the object o

education, the great object of life.”34

4. God’s plan for our redemption is never forced on anyone and He never

uses coercion or capricious punishment.“After God sends light and evidence, calculated to convince any

rational, unprejudiced mind, and it is not received or acted upon, but rather

treated with contempt, resisted, and refused, the Holy Spirit is withdrawn,

and men are left in their chosen obstinacy.”35

“We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin. The

sinner brings the punishment upon himself . His own actions start a train o

circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act of transgression reacts upon

the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for himto transgress again. By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God,

cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin

and death.”36

“Unless we understand the terms of our salvation, and are willing to

be wholly obedient to the Word of God, we can never be admitted to the city

of God. Could this be possible, and those who refuse to comply with the

conditions of salvation be admitted to the home of the redeemed, they would





introduce their own unsanctified ideas into the heavenly family, and a

second rebellion would be created.”37

5. In His plan for our redemption, God has provided everything necessar

for restoring His image in men and women.

“Through the plan of redemption, God has provided means for subduing

every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.”38

“By transgression, man became his captive, and man’s kingdom also was

betrayed into the hands of the archrebel. Now the way seemed open for Sata

to establish an independent kingdom, and to defy the authority of God and Hi

Son. But the plan of salvation made it possible for man again to be brought

into harmony with God, and to render obedience to His law, and for both

man and the earth to be finally redeemed from the power of the wicked

one.”39

“The Lord’s purposes for His people have ever been the same. Hedesires to bestow on the children of men the riches of an eternal inheritance.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. When those who choose to become

obedient subjects of the Most High are finally saved in the kingdom of glory,

God’s purpose for mankind will have been fulfilled.”40

6. The plan of redemption is the center of all truth but is often buried in the

rubbish of error.

“It was the plan of redemption, which was to call forth the intellect, to

thrill the soul, and prepare it for the great power of God, which is salvation toall who believe— a truth so large, so deep, so full and complete, it could

be the center of all truth hitherto revealed, presenting in a more exalted

manner that which had been buried beneath a mass of rubbish and error.

The work of Christ was to replace old truths in the framework of the

gospel, and by bringing clearly to view neglected obligations, renovate the

world.”41

7. God always gives sufficient evidence to satisfy those who honestly seek

the truth (John 7:17).

“God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon

which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of Hi

word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this

testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt.

Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to

doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth

will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.”42





“But there came the unbelieving question, ‘What sign showest Thou then

that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work?’ Had not the Jew

just had fresh evidence in the feeding of the five thousand? What work, wha

sign, could Christ present before them to increase their faith? If evidence

should be piled upon evidence, it would not, could not, do more for them than

had the evidence which had already been given. It was not evidence thatthey wanted; it was an excuse to avoid the cross involved in the

acceptance of the Gospel.”43

“The Gospel of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, because the

required signs instead of a Saviour; but the Lord would not have His people

rest in signs and outward forms. He would not have them wait until ever

seeming objection is removed before they believe. God will never remove all

seeming difficulties from our path. Those who wish to doubt may find

opportunity; those who wish to believe will find plenty of evidence on

which to base their faith.”44

8. God had eternal purposes that allowed for both a rebellion and Hi

remedy.

“God had a knowledge of the events of the future, even before the creation

of the world. He did not make His purposes to fit circumstances, but H

allowed matters to develop and work out. He did not work to bring about a

certain condition of things, but He knew that such a condition would exist.

The plan that should be carried out upon the defection of any of the high

intelligences of heaven—this is the secret, the mystery which has been hidfrom ages. And an offering was prepared in the eternal purposes to do the

very work which God has done for fallen humanity.”45

9. Men and women are the target for both good and evil angels.

“Either the evil angels or the angels of God are controlling the mind

of men.… We must make every preparation in our power in order to resist

the enemy of souls. Every provision has been made; everything in God’s plan

has been arranged so that man should not be left to his own impulses, to his

own finite powers, to carry on the warfare against the powers of darkness inhis own finite strength; because he would certainly fail if he were thus left to

himself.”46

C. The Great Controversy Theme is revealed throughout the Bible.

1. 1. The Bible unfolds a grand central theme.

“The Bible is its own expositor. Scripture is to be compared wit

scripture. The student should learn to view the word as a whole, and to see





the relation of its parts. He should gain a knowledge of its grand central

theme, of God’s original purpose for the world, of the rise of the great

controversy, and of the work of redemption.”47

2. The Bible provides the insights of how to study history.

“[The student] should understand the nature of the two principles that are

contending for supremacy, and should learn to trace their working throughthe records of history and prophecy, to the great consummation.”48

“The Bible is the most instructive history that men possess. It came fres

from the fountain of eternal truth, and a divine hand has preserved its purity

through all the ages. It lights up the far-distant past, where human research

seeks vainly to penetrate. In God’s word we behold the power that laid the

foundation of the earth and that stretched out the heavens. Here only can we

find a history of our race unsullied by human prejudice or human pride.

Here are recorded the struggles, the defeats, and the victories of the greatesmen this world has ever known. Here the great problems of duty and destin

are unfolded. The curtain that separates the visible from the invisible world is

lifted, and we behold the conflict of the opposing forces of good and evil,

from the first entrance of sin to the final triumph of righteousness and

truth; and all is but a revelation of the character of God.”49

3. The Bible explains how each person is involved in the Great Controversy.

“[The student] should see how this controversy enters into every phase of

human experience; how in every act of life he himself reveals the one or theother of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether he will or not, he is

even now deciding upon which side of the controversy he will be found.”50

The Bible sets forth the great themes of redemption.

“In order to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, it is essential

that you meditate much upon the great themes of redemption. You should

ask yourself why Christ has taken humanity upon himself, why he suffered

upon the cross, why he bore the sins of men, why he was made sin and

righteousness for us. You should study to know why he ascended to heaven in

the nature of man, and what is his work for us today… . We think that we are

familiar with the character of Christ, and we do not realize how much is to be

gained by the study of our glorious Pattern. We take it for granted that we

know all about him, and yet we do not comprehend his character or

mission.”51

“Truth in Christ and through Christ is measureless. The student o

Scripture looks, as it were, into a fountain which deepens and broadens as he





gazes into its depths. As he searches the Word of God, the grand theme o

redemption opens to his research. What subject is so vast and mysterious as

the manifestation of God’s compassion for man?”52

4. The Bible possesses the essential elements necessary for the formation o

a perfect character.

“The Word of God should be our counselor in all difficulties, our guide inall the relations of life. In the heart, the home, the place of business, the

living oracles of God should reign supreme. When alone, when no human

eye sees, no human ear hears, the truth is to be our companion. Ever the soul

is to be subject to its control. Upon thought, word, and deed it is to stamp its

divine impress. To those who obey, the Word of God is the tree of life. It

possesses the elements necessary for the formation of a perfect character, and

on the effect which its teaching produces in us depends our destiny for

eternity.”53

5. The Bible provides our food and drink.

“By offering Himself on the cross of Calvary, Christ gave His flesh an

blood for the salvation of the world. Those who believe in Him as a personal

Saviour, those who work His works, receiving His words and practising Hi

principles, are eating the bread of life. Christ’s lessons are their food and

drink . They constantly seek to do Christ’s will. Under all circumstances the

strive to do as He would do. They look to Him who is the Author and Finisher

of their faith, inquiring earnestly, What would Jesus do? What words woulHe speak? If I speak words that He would not speak were He in my place,

am not abiding in Him, or He in me… . Christ supplies the life-blood of th

heart, and the Holy Spirit gives nerve power.”54

6. Christ’s words, believed and lived, mean eternal life.

“As our natural life is sustained by physical food, so our spiritual life is

to be sustained by spiritual food, even the words of Christ. The Gospel

believed and lived, means eternal life. It gives spiritual health and vigor. I

enables us to show in the daily life the fruits of the Spirit… . These words are

not merely to be read as a lesson. They are to be understood, believed, and

lived. They will give us spiritual life. Christ’s teachings are to be brought

into the daily experience. We have redemption through His blood, even the

forgiveness of our sins.”55

7. We converse with God when we read the Bible.

“He who converses with God thru the Scriptures will be ennobled and

sanctified. As he reads the inspired record of the Saviour’s love, his heart is





melted in tenderness and contrition. He is filled with a desire to be like the

Master, to live a life of loving service.”56

8. The Bible was not written in superhuman language.

“God committed the preparation of His divinely inspired Word to finite

man… . Simplicity and plain utterance are comprehended by the illiterate, b

the peasant, and the child as well as by the full-grown man or the giant inintellect… . We thank God that the Bible is prepared for the poor man as well

as for the learned man. It is fitted for all ages and all classes… . The writer

of the Bible had to express their ideas in human language… . These men were

inspired of the Holy Spirit… . The Scriptures were given to men, not in

continuous chain of unbroken utterances, but piece by piece through

successive generations, as God in His providence saw a fitting opportunity to

impress man at sundry times and divers places. Men wrote as they were

moved upon by the Holy Ghost… . There is not always perfect order oapparent unity in the Scriptures. The miracles of Christ are not given in exac

order, but are given just as the circumstances occurred, which called for this

divine revealing of the power of Christ… . The Bible is not given to us i

grand superhuman language. Jesus, in order to reach man where he is, too

humanity. The Bible must be given in the language of men. Everything that i

human is imperfect. Different meanings are expressed by the same word; there

is not one word for each distinct idea. The Bible was given for practica

purposes. The stamps of minds are different. All do not understand

expressions and statements alike. Some understand the statements of theScriptures to suit their own particular minds and cases. Prepossessions,

prejudices, and passions have a strong influence to darken the understanding

and confuse the mind even in reading the words of Holy Writ… . The Bible i

written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and

expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men

will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put

Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers o

the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen. Look at the different writersIt is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were

inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on

the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbue

with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The

divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human

mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the Word of God.”57

9. The Bible explains how this planet was created and how these details wil





be remembered.

“[Genesis 1:26, 27quoted] Here is clearly set forth the origin of the human

race; and the divine record is so plainly stated that there is no occasion for

erroneous conclusions. God created man in His own image. Here is n

mystery. There is no ground for the supposition that man was evolved by

slow degrees of development from the lower forms of animal or vegetablelife. Such teaching lowers the great work of the Creator to the level of man’s

narrow, earthly conceptions. Men are so intent upon excluding God fro

the sovereignty of the universe that they degrade man and defraud him of

the dignity of his origin. He who set the starry worlds on high and tinted with

delicate skill the flowers of the field, who filled the earth and the heavens

with the wonders of His power, when He came to crown His glorious work,

to place one in the midst to stand as ruler of the fair earth, did not fail to

create a being worthy of the hand that gave him life. The genealogy of our

race, as given by inspiration, traces back its origin, not to a line of developing

germs, mollusks, and quadrupeds, but to the great Creator. Though formed

from the dust, Adam was ‘the son of God.’” 58





The Great Controversy Theme Explains the Background

for the Rise of Sin, Suffering, and Death

A. God’s greatest gift to all created beings was freedom—freedom to choose,freedom of the will.

“God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that spring

from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience;

and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntar

service.”59

“It is the privilege of everyone to be wise for himself in reading the

Scriptures. No man can safely trust his soul to the minister, or to men who are

learned and talented.”60

“I have felt urged by the Spirit of God to keep before them the necessity o

being teachable, easy to be entreated; that it was entirely out of place for Christ’s

servants to be self-sufficient and independent. I have tried to impress upon the

that we are individually bound together in the web of humanity, and all that we do

has relation to others, and any one man is not a whole. It is not safe to follow one

man’s mind and one man’s judgment . We are to be helps to one another but

never to be the shadow of any man. God would have us think and act as free

moral agents, gathering light from Him to reflect upon others, while we must be

willing to be entreated of our brethren and to gain wisdom from men oexperience.”61

B. God’s moral laws existed before men and women were created.

“The law of God existed before man was created. It was adapted to the

condition of holy beings; even angels were governed by it. After the Fall, the

principles of righteousness were unchanged. Nothing was taken from the law; no

one of its holy precepts could be improved. And as it has existed from the

beginning, so will it continue to exist throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.”62

“The principles embodied in the decalogue existed before the fall, and weresuited to the condition of holy beings. After the fall, these principles were not

changed, nothing was taken from the law of God, but additional precepts were

given to meet man in his fallen state.”63

“The ten commandments, Thou shalt, and, Thou shalt not,are ten promises

secured to us if we render obedience to the law governing the universe.”64

“The law of God was the great subject of controversy in heaven. It is the grea

subject of controversy ever since the fall of Satan and will continue to be the





great test question showing the loyal and the transgressors in two parties.”65

“God, the great governor of the universe, has put everything under law.

The tiny flower and the towering oak, the grain of sand and the mighty ocean,

sunshine and shower, wind and rain, all obey nature’s laws. But man has been

placed under a higher law. He has been given an intellect to see, and a conscience

to feel, the powerful claims of God’s great moral law, the expression of what Hedesires His children to be. God has made known His will so plainly that none nee

err. He desires all to have a correct understanding of His law, to feel the power

of its principles; for their eternal interests are here involved. He who has an

understanding of the far-reaching claims of God’s law can understand something

of the heinousness of sin. And the more exalted his ideas of God’s requirements,

the greater will be his gratitude for the pardon granted him.”66

C. God’s moral government is based upon the distinction between right and

wrong.“In God’s moral government, which is a government based upon a distinction

between right and wrong, law is essential to secure right action. God’s law is the

expression of His character, and in His Word it is pronounced holy, just, and

good… . Lucifer took the position that as a result of the law of God, wrong existe

in heaven and on this earth. This brought against God’s government the charge of

being arbitrary. But this is a falsehood, framed by the author of all falsehoods.

God’s government is a government of free-will, and there is no act of rebellion or

obedience which is not an act of free-will. As Creator of all, God is governo

over all, and He is bound to enforce His law throughout the universe. To requireless from His creatures than obedience to His law would be to abandon them to

ruin. To fail to punish transgression of His law would be to place the universe in

confusion. The moral law is God’s barrier between the human agent and sin. Thu

infinite wisdom has placed before men the distinction between right and wrong,

between sin and holiness… . The Scriptures make it plain that God is Ruler, an

that man is under the highest obligation to acknowledge this, and to obey His law

with heart and mind, trusting in His power for help and protection.”67

D. Lucifer was probably the first created being.“Satan’s position in heaven had been next to the Son of God. He was first

among the angels.”68

“Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. His countenance,

like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead

was high and broad, showing great intelligence. His form was perfect; his bearing

noble and majestic.”69





. , , .

“So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there

was perfect harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the

heavenly host to fulfill the purpose of their Creator… There was no note o

discord to mar the celestial harmonies. But a change came over this happ

state. There was one who perverted the freedom that God had granted to

His creatures.”70

“The exaltation of the Son of God as equal with the Father wa

represented as an injustice to Lucifer, who, it was claimed, was also entitled

to reverence and honor. If this prince of angels could but attain to his true,

exalted position, great good would accrue to the entire host of heaven; for it

was his object to secure freedom for all.”71

“He promised those who would enter his ranks a new and better

government, under which all would enjoy freedom.”72

“What were the words Satan spoke to Eve?—‘Ye shall not surely die; foGod doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened,

and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’ The ‘evil’ was

disobedience to God’s commands. And Adam did indeed go thru the

experience of knowing evil, with all its fearful consequences.”73

2. Lucifer’s sin, by which he induces others to sin, was “to distrust God’s

love and to doubt His wisdom.”74

3. Lucifer desired to be “first.”

“Lucifer desired to be first in heaven. Thus he introduced sin into theuniverse”75

4. Lucifer indulged the desire for self-exaltation.

“Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The

Scripture says, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou has

corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’ Ezekiel 28:17. ‘Thou has

said in thine heart, … I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… . I wil

be like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:13, 14. Though all his glory was from God

this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself.”76

“There is a power in the association of man with man, and Satan uses thi

power for the carrying out of his principles. He strives to lead men to

strive, as he did, for the supremacy, for preeminence, for recognition and

power. Those who yield to these temptations will go over the same ground

that he did. He has cut himself away from God. He acts as though he wer

God to himself. He is his own king, his own ruler, his own sufficiency. Thus it

will be with those who choose, as he did, to have their own way.”77





“The Christian must lay aside all self-seeking. The hypocrisy of the

Pharisees was the product of self-seeking. The glorification of self was the

object of their lives. It was this that led them to pervert and misapply the

Scriptures, and blinded them to the purpose of Christ’s mission. This subtle

evil even the disciples were in danger of cherishing. It was this that prompted

the strife as to who would be the greatest. It was this that came between theand Christ, making them so little in sympathy with His mission of self-

sacrifice, so slow to comprehend the mystery of redemption.”78

5. Lucifer became skilled in sharing his feelings of envy.

“But though honored above all the heavenly host, Lucifer was not conten

with his position. He ventured to covet the homage due alone to the Creator.

He cherished feelings of envy, and these feelings he communicated to the

other angels. It was his endeavor to secure to himself their service and

loyalty. In so deceptive a way did he work that the sentiments that heinculcated could not be dealt with until they had developed in the minds of

those who received them…This power Satan used in his work of instillin

evil into the minds of the angels, and he made it appear that he was seeking

the good of the universe. As the anointed cherub, Lucifer had been highl

exalted; he was greatly loved by the heavenly beings, and his influence over

them was strong. Many of them listened to his suggestions and believed his

words .”79

6. Lucifer became the master of intrigue, insinuating doubts in certainangels so that they accepted such thoughts as if they were their own, thus

generating a false reason for rebellion.

“The records of some [on earth] are similar to that of the exalted angel

who was given a position next to Jesus Christ in the heavenly courts. Lucife

was enshrouded with glory as the covering cherub. Yet this angel whom God

had created, and entrusted with power, became desirous of being as God. He

gained the sympathy of some of his associates by suggesting thoughts of

criticism regarding the government of God. This evil seed was scattered in

a most seducing manner; and after it had sprung up and taken root in theminds of many, he gathered the ideas that he himself had first implanted

in the minds of others, and brought them before the highest order of

angels as the thoughts of other minds against the government of God. Thus,

by ingenious methods of his own devising, Lucifer introduced rebellion in

heaven.”80

7. Lucifer coveted Christ’s position.





“Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host,

he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking to

make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings, i

was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And coveting

the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince

of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone.”81

“Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more

determined. To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus impeaching the

wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince o

angels.”82

8. Lucifer misrepresented the truth about God and His government.

“Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer wen

forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. He worked with

mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealed his real purpose under anappearance of reverence for God. He began to insinuate doubts concerning

the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that though laws might be

necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds, angels, being more exalted,

needed no such restraint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide. The

were not beings that could bring dishonor to God; all their thoughts were holy;

it was no more possible for them than for God Himself to err.”83

“In great mercy, according to His divine character, God bore long with

Lucifer. The spirit of discontent and disaffection had never before been

known in heaven. It was a new element, strange, mysterious, unaccountable.Lucifer himself had not at first been acquainted with the real nature of his

feelings; for a time he had feared to express the workings and imaginings o

his mind; yet he did not dismiss them. He did not see whither he was drifting.

But such efforts as infinite love and wisdom only could devise, were made to

convince him of his error. His disaffection was proved to be without cause,

and he was made to see what would be the result of persisting in revolt.

Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong.”84

“A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and hisfollowers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which

they were about to plunge. But His mercy was misinterpreted.”85

9. Lucifer, well-liked by the other angels, thought by winning their support

he could also win the support of all the worlds that had already been

created.

“Lucifer, as the anointed cherub, had been highly exalted; he was greatly





loved by the heavenly beings, and his influence over them was strong. God’s

government included not only the inhabitants of heaven, but of all the worlds

that He had created; and Satan thought that if he could carry the angels of

heaven with him in rebellion, he could carry also the other worlds.”86

10. Pride prevented Lucifer and his followers from acknowledging thei

errors.“He nearly reached the decision to return, but pride forbade him. It was

too great a sacrifice for one who had been so highly honored to confess that

he had been in error, that his imaginings were false, and to yield to the

authority which he had been working to prove unjust.”87

“But pride, love for their leader, and the desire for unrestricted freedom

were permitted to bear sway, and the pleadings of divine love and mercy

were finally rejected.”88

11. God permitted Satan to continue his rebellion in order that all creatiocould see the results of perverted freedom.

“God permitted Satan to carry forward his work until the spirit o

disaffection ripened into active revolt. It was necessary for his plans to be

fully developed, that their true nature and tendency might be seen by

all… . Until fully developed, it could not be made to appear the evil thing i

was; his disaffection would not be seen to be rebellion. Even the loyal angels

could not fully discern his character or see to what his work was leading.”89

“The men of Babel had determined to establish a government that shoul be independent of God. There were some among them, however, who feared

the Lord, but who had been deceived by the pretensions of the ungodly and

drawn into their schemes. For the sake of these faithful ones the Lor

delayed His judgments and gave the people time to reveal their true

character. As this was developed, the sons of God labored to turn them fro

their purpose; but the people were fully united in their Heaven-daring

undertaking. Had they gone on unchecked, they would have demoralized

the world in its infancy.”90

“The woman had not been possessed in spirit, but the Lord had suffereSatan to exercise his will in bringing disease upon her; for God wa

demonstrating the character of his kingdom before the whole universe o

heaven. This opportunity must be given him to reveal the character o

apostasy. The inhabitants of worlds unfallen could view in this case the

attributes of Satan and the character of God. The law of God is a transcript o

his character. The rebel leader was in opposition to the law of God, and

revealed the fact that his principles were those that actuated one who is





lawless, disobedient, unholy, an accuser, a liar, and a murderer.”91

“With sorrow and indignation the angels heard the choice made by the

people and the sentence passed upon Christ. But they could not interfere; for

in the great controversy between good and evil, Satan must be given

every opportunity to develop his true character, that the heavenly universe

and the race for whom Christ was giving His life might see the righteousnesof God’s purposes. Those under the control of the enemy must be allowed

to reveal the principles of his government.”92

12. Satan is able to suggest doubts and unbelief in the minds of men and

women.

“It was Satan who instigated doubts in the mind of Peter, and led him

to presumptuously rebuke his Lord. And it is Satan who today works to

deceive humanity in the same lines. It is he who puts thoughts of unbelief

into the mind. It is he who suggests that those truths which involve a crossbe left out of the experience and belief of God’s professed children. Man

would have God’s commandments, His great moral standard of righteousness,

blotted out, because it involves a cross. ‘Speak to us of Christ’s willingness

to save the vilest of sinners,’ they say. ‘Speak to us of faith in Christ, of the

mercy of Jesus, and His promises, but do not talk of repentance and the putting

away of sin.’ Truths so unpopular as the law of God are altogether

unwelcome to the carnal heart.”93

“By the words they speak, they show that they have given themselves

over to do Satan’s work, to drop seeds which will produce tares. Therepeat words that were spoken to them in confidence, and betray their friends.

Anything that will cut the threads of union between brother and brother,

between sister and sister, is looked upon as a worthy action. Satan stands by

and laughs to think that he can so easily inspire the tongue to utter words

which will kindle a fire not easily quenched.”94

“Satan well knows that all his strength, together with that of his angels and

evil men, is but weakness when opposed to the faithful, united servants of the

great King, even though they may be few. In order to overcome the people oGod, Satan will work upon elements in the character which have not been

transformed by the grace of Christ; he will make these the controlling

power of the life… .Satan endeavors to create suspicion, envy, and jealousy,

leading men to question those things that it would be for their souls’ interest to

believe. The suspicious ones will misconstrue everything. They will call a

atom a world, and a world an atom. If this spirit is allowed to prevail, it will

demoralize our churches and institutions.”95





13. Satan is the expert in destroying harmony between God’s workers.

“Satan designs to keep the church in a state of wrangling, envy, jealousy,

and evil surmising, so that brethren cannot pray or work in harmony;

while thus at variance, they fail to bring the saving power of the truth to

bear upon the heart of unbelievers.People become disgusted with our

religion when they witness the way in which a brother treats an offending brother.”96

“Through apostasy, fallen men and fallen angels are in the same

confederacy, leagued to work against good. They are united in a desperate

companionship. Through his evil angels, Satan contrives to form an alliance

with professedly pious men, and thus he leavens the church of God. He

knows that if he can induce men, as he induced the angels, to join in rebellion,

under the guise of servants of God, he will have in them his most successful

allies in his enterprise against heaven. Under the name of godliness, he caninspire them with his own accusing spirit, and lead them to charge God’s

servants with evil and guile. They are his trained detectives; their work is

t o create feuds, to make charges which create discord and bitterness

among brethren, to set tongues in active service for Satan, to sow seeds o

dissension by watching for evil, and by speaking of that which will create

discord. I beseech all who engage in the work of murmuring and complaining

because something has been said or done that does not suit them, and that does

not, as they think, give them due consideration, to remember that they are

carrying on the very work begun in heaven by Satan. They are followingin his track, sowing unbelief, discord, and disloyalty; for no one can

entertain feelings of disaffection, and keep them to himself . He must tell

others that he is not treated as he should be. Thus they are led to murmur and

complain.This is the root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are

defiled. Thus Satan works today through his evil angels. He confederates

with men who claim to be in the faith; and those who are trying to carry

forward the work of God with fidelity, having no man’s person in admiration,

working without hypocrisy and partiality, will have just as severe trials brought against them as Satan can bring through those who claim to love God.

Proportionate to the light and knowledge these opposers have is Satan’s

success. The root of bitterness strikes deep, and is communicated to others.

Thus many are defiled. Their statements are confused and untruthful, thei

principles are unscrupulous, and Satan finds in them the very helpers he

needs.”97





14. Satan tempts us in different ways, depending on each person’s

weaknesses.

“Satan tempts men and women in many ways. On the right hand and on the

left he works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. To some he comes

in a winning garb and with a friendly air. To others he comes in garments

of darkness, to scatter and slay.By torturing fears he seeks to dishearten anddistract.”98

“God does not ask His followers to be precisely alike. Temptations

come to each one in a different way, and God reveals His power b

upholding and delivering each one. Deliverance in time of trial is prepared

for all who are tempted no maTher how diverse their temptations may be.

Strength to advance upward and forward is provided for each one. Every

soul must fight his own battles. He must himself put on the armor. He mus

pray for himself. He must commune with God for himself. He must keep hi

own soul under watchful guidance, knowing that if he does his part, God willnot fail of doing His part.”99

15. Satan is an expert in organizing sympathy for those who should be

disciplined.

“Proud scorners are not fit to be trusted; yet as Satan found in the heavenly

courts a company to sympathize with him, so these find among professed

followers of Christ those whom they can influence, who believe them honest,

who sympathize with them, plead in their behalf, and become permeated with

their spirit. Those who are at variance in almost everything else, will unite in persecuting the few who dare to pursue the straightforward path of duty. And

the same enmity which leads to contempt and derision, will, at a favorable

opportunity, inspire more violent and cruel measures, especially when

workers for God are active and successful.”100

16. Satan’s rebellion and God’s response will forever be a lesson book for all

created beings.

“Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming

ages —a perpetual testimony to the nature of sin and its terrible results. Theworking out of Satan’s rule, its effects upon both men and angels, would show

what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine authority. It would testify that

with the existence of God’s government is bound up the well-being of all the

creatures He has made. Thus the history of this terrible experiment o

rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to all holy beings, to prevent them

from being deceived as to the nature of transgression, to save them from





committing sin, and suffering its penalty.”101

17. Satan calls this world “his territory.”

“Satan has called this world his territory. Here his seat is, and he holds

in allegiance to himself all who refuse to keep God’s commandments, who

reject a plain, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ They stand under the enemy’s banner; for

there are but two parties in the world. All rank either under the banner of theobedient or under the banner of the disobedient.”102

18. Error, like floating germs, attach themselves as parasites onto truth.

“Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity o

errors that obscure the truth. Error cannot stand alone, and would soon

become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth.

Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating

germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a

part of the truth. Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, ancaptivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no

foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men;

and as traditions pass on from age to age, they acquire a power over the

human mind. But age does not make error truth, neither does its

burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite. The tree

of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature. The

parasite of error also bears its own fruit, and makes manifest that its character

is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin.”103

19. Rebellion is rarely curable.

“I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable. Study in

Patriarchs and Prophets the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Thi

rebellion was extended, including more than two men. It was led by two

hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Call rebellion

by its right name and apostasy by its right name, and then consider that the

experience of the ancient people of God with all its objectionable features

was faithfully chronicled to pass into history… . And if men and women who

have the knowledge of the truth are so far separated from their great Leader

that they will take the great leader of apostasy and name him Christ our

Righteousness, it is because they have not sunk deep into the mines of the

truth. They are not able to distinguish the precious ore from the base

material.”104

“Today souls are being tested and tried, and many are passing over the

same ground trodden by those who forsook Christ. When tested by the Word,





they reject the divine Teacher. When rebuked because their lives are not in

harmony with truth and righteousness, they turn from the Saviour; and their

decision, like that of the offended disciples, is never reversed. They wal

no more with Christ.”105

20. The GCT unfolds four core truths: to get any of these core truths wron

will poison any theological system.“In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education,

we need to consider both the [1] nature of man and the [2] purpose of God in

creating him. We need to consider also the [3] change in man’s condition

through the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and [4] God’s plan for still

fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race.”





The Great Controversy Recognizes “The Change in Man’s

Condition Through the Coming in of a Knowledge of

Evi”107

Preamble:

Inspired writers often use the same words in different contexts and thus with

different meanings:

“The Bible must be given in the language of men… . Different meanings ar

expressed by the same word; there is not one word for each distinct idea.”108

“The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as

scripture is explained by scripture.”106”109

1. For example: Ellen White uses words or phrases such as “passions,”

“propensities,” “nature,” “taint of sin,” etc. with different meanings

depending on the context of each usage.

2. Readers should look at everything an author wrote on a given subject and not

limit one’s understanding to an isolated passage that may, at first glance, be at

variance with the prevailing usage throughout a book and a host of other sites.

3. Ellen White had a maturing experience: She and husband, James, started ou

as pork-eaters, Sunday-worshippers, and anti-Trinitarians. But they followedadvancing Light.

“For half a century I have been the Lord’s messenger, and as long as my life shall

last I shall continue to bear the messages that God gives me for His people. I take n

glory to myself; in my youth the Lord made me His messenger, to communicate to Hi

people testimonies of encouragement, warning, and reproof. For sixty years I have

been in communication with heavenly messengers, and I have been constantly

learning in reference to divine things, and in reference to the way in which God is

constantly working to bring souls from the error of their ways to the light in God’s

light.”110

A. The Bible defines “sin.”

“Who ever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness

[anomia=lawbreaker]… . Whoever abides in Him does not sin… . He wh

practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous…Whoever has bee

born of God does not sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:4-9).





“To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James

4:17).

“Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now yo

say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41).

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now the

have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22).“Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man

may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be

guilty” (Leviticus 5:3).

“Those who have an opportunity to hear the truth, and yet take no pains to hear

or understand it, thinking that if they do not hear, they will not be accountable, will

be judged guilty before God the same as if they had heard and rejected. There will

be no excuse for those who choose to go in error when they might understand what

is truth. In His sufferings and death Jesus has made atonement for all sins o

ignorance, but there is no provision made for willful blindness. … We shall not

be held accountable for the light that has not reached our perception, but for

that which we have resisted and refused. A man could not apprehend the truth

which had never been presented to him, and therefore could not be condemned for

light he had never had.”111

B. Ellen White defines “sin.”

In a vision, the heavenly messenger said to her: “It is the essence of sin to

allow yourselves to become a contradiction of God’s will.”112

“There should be a clear understanding of that which constitutes sin, and weshould avoid the least approach to step over the boundaries from obedience to

disobedience.”113

“The most hopeless, the most incurable of all sins is pride, self-

sufficiency.”114

“If this great and infinite sacrifice has been made in our behalf, let us as

ourselves what we are doing. Do we say, ‘Believe on Christ, and that is all yo

have to do’? It is our privilege to ask those who tell us this, what we shall

believe. The words of Satan ever lead to disobedience, but the voice of God ihis word leads to a perfect obedience . We must have the faith that works by love

and purifies the soul from every stain of sin. What is sin? The only definition tha

is given to you in the word of God, is, ‘Sin is the transgression of the law.’ The

apostle says, ‘Where no law is, there is no transgression.’”115

“In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning. The only definition

for sin that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law. The

law is far-reaching in its claims, and we must bring our hearts into harmony with





it.”116

C. Being tempted is not sin: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by

his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to

sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14, 15).

“There are thoughts and feelings suggested and aroused by Satan that annoy

even the best of men; but if they are not cherished, if they are repulsed ashateful, the soul is not contaminated with guilt, and no other is defiled by their

influence. Oh, that we each might become a savor of life unto life to those around

us!”117

“Temptation is not sin; the sin lies in yielding . To the soul that trusts in Jesus,

temptation means victory and greater strength.”118

D. Wavering mind leads to yielding to temptation.

“The beginning of yielding to temptation is in the sin of permitting the mind to

waver, to be inconsistent in your trust in God. The wicked one is ever watchingfor a chance to misrepresent God and to attract the mind to that which is

forbidden.”119

“If he can, he will fasten the mind upon the things of the world. He will

endeavor to excite the emotions, to arouse the passions, to fasten the affections

on that which is not for your good; but it is for you to hold every emotion and

passion under control, in calm subjection to reason and conscience . Then Sata

loses his power to control the mind.”120

“The work to which Christ calls us is to thework of progressive conquest

over spiritual evil in our characters…Natural tendencies are to be overcome….

Appetite and passion must be conquered, and the will must be placed wholly on

the side of Christ.”121

E. The greatest sin is unbelief—the door to resistance to further truth.

“There is no sin greater than unbelief . And when there is unbelief in the

heart, there is danger that it will be expressed. The lips should be kept in as with

bit and bridle, lest by giving expression to this unbelief you not only exert an

injurious influence over others, but place yourselves upon the enemy’s ground.”122

“Many consider it a virtue to doubt; and they delight in finding something in the

Scriptures to puzzle the minds of others. They do not realize that they are thu

entangling themselves in the snare of the fowler. There is a bewitching power in

skepticism. Unbelief and stubbornness usually go hand in hand. When a man has

once yielded to this deception of Satan, it will be found well-nigh impossible to

break the spell.”123

“By continual resistance the sinner places himself where he knows nothing but





resistance. When he disregards the calls of God’s mercy, and continues to sow the

seeds of unbelief , the dread mark is placed over his doorway, ‘Ephraim is joined

to his idols; let him alone.’”124

“How many complain of the straitness of the way, of the trials and conflicts o

the Christian life, and say it is hard to leave sin, and practice righteousness. The

talk of the power of Satan, instead of magnifying the grace of Christ. This is thbaleful fruit of unbelief .”125

“In every soul two powers are struggling earnestly for the victory. Unbelie

marshals its forces, led by Satan, to cut us off from the Source of our strength. Fait

marshals its forces, led by Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.”126

“Unbelief is repulsive, dark, forbidding. It can only deny and destroy. Faith

lifts the head in conscious dignity and firm trust in God. True workers walk and

work by faith. Sometimes they grow weary with watching the slow advancement o

the work, when the battle wages strong between the powers of good and evil. Bu

if they refuse to fail or be discouraged, they will see the clouds breaking away andthe promise of deliverance fulfilling. Through the mist which Satan has throw

across their pathway, they will see the shining of the bright beams of the Sun o

Righteousness.”127

“Oh, there is too much arguing on the side of unbelief! When a worker loses hi

faith, he needs to take a vacation, have little or nothing to do, until the Lord shall

work in his behalf, and imbue him with the Holy Spirit. He needs to have hi

perceptive faculties sharpened that he may discern the works and ways of God. He

has received an education of an objectionable character, and he needs reshaping.The light of heaven must shine upon him.”128

“When unbelief and envy are allowed even utterance , they become agents to

expel calm, living, trusting faith. Truth is misunderstood, and perverted to mean

error. Evidence might be piled upon evidence, but Satan is close at hand to see tha

the word spoken shall be misapplied, and become a maTher of suspicion and

distrust. How careful, then, should every person be that he does no despite to the

Spirit of grace!”129

“When we speak of unbelief, we do not mean that a person believes nothing.

The mind must rest upon something; and when it does not grasp truth, it lays hold o

error. All men in one sense believe, and the effect produced upon the heart and

character is according to the things believed . Eve believed the words of Satan,

and the belief of that falsehood in regard to God’s character, changed the condition

and character of both herself and husband. They were changed from good and

obedient children into transgressors, and it was only by repentance toward God

and faith in the promised Messiah that they could hope ever to regain the lost image





of God. Paul had faith before his conversion; but it was not a correct faith. His

selfrighteousness strengthened his faith that he was doing God’s service in

rejecting Christ, and he enjoyed a restful satisfaction. False faith as well as true

faith will give peacefulness for a time. Paul verily thought that he was doing Go

service when he was persecuting the followers of Christ and putting them to death.

He was sincere in his belief; but sincerity will not make error truth, nor trutherror.”130

“The Christian must lay aside doubt. Not one that in penitence and faith has

claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. The

Saviour is by the side of His tempted ones. With Him there can be no such thing a

failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who

strengthens us. When temptations and trials come, do not wait to adjust all the

difficulties, but look to Jesus, your Helper.”131

F. While Adam’s descendants are born under the curse of death with a fullyfunctioning carnal nature (sinful propensities), sinning is a personal choice.

“By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the gospel. No man ca

be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the soul must

purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over reason or iniquity

triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for

sin…The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the

natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation.”132

“In the sermon on the mount, Christ presented before his disciples the far-

reaching principles of the law of God. He taught his hearers that the law watransgressed by the thoughts before the evil desire was carried out in actual

commission. We are under obligation to control our thoughts, and to bring them

into subjection to the law of God.”133

“It is not in the power of Satan to force anyone to sin. Sin is the sinner’s

individual act. Before sin exists in the heart, the consent of the will must be given,

and as soon as it is given, sin is triumphant, and hell rejoices. But there is no

excuse for sin, either great or little. Christ has been provided as the tempted one’s

refuge [Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:15-18]. Temptation is not sin, and is no indicationthat God is displeased with us. The Lord suffers us to be tempted, but he

measures every temptation, and apportions it according to our power to resist and

overcome evil… .Through prayer and the word of God we shall be enabled to

overcome temptation.”134

“To a large degree Satan has succeeded in the execution of his plans. Through

the medium of influence, taking advantage of the action of mind on mind, he

prevailed on Adam to sin. Thus at its very source human nature was corrupted.





And ever since then sin has continued its hateful work, reaching from mind to

mind. Every sin committed awakens the echoes of the original sin.”135

“The priests and rabbis were taking the Son of God to task for the very wor

He had been sent into the world to do. By their sins they had separated

themselves from God, and in their pride were moving independently of Him…

.So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plans for Himself. Haccepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So

should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking o

His will.”136

G. No one is punished or guilty for his/her parent’s sin, not even Adam’s sin.

“Adam was required to render perfect obedience to God, not only in his ow

behalf, but in behalf of his posterity. God promised him that if he would stand the

test of temptation, preserving his allegiance to the Creator during the great trial to

which he would be subjected, his obedience would ensure his acceptance andfavor with God. He would then be forever established in holiness and happiness,

and these blessings would extend to all his posterity. But Adam failed to bear the

test. And because he revolted against God’s law, all his descendants have

been sinners. God’s law had once been written in the hearts of men and

women. But their cherished sins dimmed and nearly effaced that writing. The

impressions made by sin gradually wore away the impressions of the law.”137

“It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental

wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, except as they

participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in thesteps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers

of the father’s sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as

well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to

son, to the third and fourth generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn

power to restrain men from following a course of sin.”138

H. Parents have awesome responsibilities in teaching obedience to their children.

“Even the babe in its mother’s arms may dwell as under the shadow of the

Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the Baptist was filled witthe Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in communion with God, we too

may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little ones, even from their earliest

moments.”139

“The book [Education] that is coming out will have much to say in regard to the

great principles that are to be carried out in training the children, from the very

baby in arms. The enemy will work right through those children, unless they





are disciplined. Someone disciplines them. If the mother or the father does not do

it, the devil does. That is how it is. He has the control.”140

“The mother’s work begins with the babe in her arms. I have often seen the

little one throw itself and scream, if its will was crossed in any way. This is the

time to rebuke the evil spirit. The enemy will try to control the minds of our

children, but shall we allow him to mold them according to his will? These littleones cannot discern what spirit is influencing them, and it is the duty of the

parents to exercise judgment and discretion for them. Their habits must be carefully

watched. Evil tendencies are to be restrained, and the mind stimulated in favor

of the right. The child should be encouraged in every effort to govern

itself .”141

“Many parents will have to render an awful account at last for their neglect

of their children. They have fostered and cherished their evil tempers by bending

to their wishes and will, when the wishes and will of the children should bend to

them… .Children are left to come up instead of being trained up. The poor littlechildren are thought not to know or understand a correction at ten or twelve

months of age, and they begin to show stubbornness very young. Parents suffer

them to indulge in evil tempers and passions without subduing or correcting them,

and by so doing they cherish and nourish these evil passions until they grow with

their growth, and strengthen with their strength.”142

“The natural heart is full of hatred to the truth, as it is to Jesus. Unless parent

shall make it the first business of their lives to guide their children’s feet into the

path of righteousness from their earliest years, the wrong path will be chosenbefore the right. I tremble especially for mothers, as I see them so blind, an

feeling so little the responsibilities that devolve upon a mother. They see Satan

working in the self-willed child of even but a few months of age. Filled with

spiteful passion, Satan seems to be taking full possession. But there may be in the

house perhaps a grandmother, an aunt, or some other relative or friend, who will

seek to make that parent believe that it would be cruelty to correct that child;

whereas just the opposite is true; and it is the greatest cruelty to let Satan have

the possession of that tender, helpless child. Satan must be rebuked . His hold

on the child must be broken. If correction is needed, be faithful, be true. The love

of God, true pity for the child, will lead to the faithful discharge of duty. The parent

is to pray that God will send divine aid to combine with human effort to drive bac

Satan. The sweet spirit of submission which Jesus alone can bestow, should be

employed; but the parent must not leave the Lord to do all the work. The Lord ha

left something for the parent to do. Let not perversity of spirit or passion

control your little ones. Place them by faith in the arms of Jesus. Watch and pray.





You will have a battle, parents, to dispossess your child of the Satanic spirit; but

you will succeed if you are persevering. Let not Satanic passion abide with you

children. Teach them that you are to be obeyed. In doing this you are educating

them to obey God. Teach your children to honor you; because the law of God lays

this duty upon children. If you allow your children to lightly esteem your wishes,

and pay no regard to the laws of the household, you are winking at sin; youare permitting the Devil to work as he will, and the same insubordination, want

of reverence, and love of self will be carried with them even into the religious life

and into the church. And the beginning of all this evil is charged in the books o

heaven to the neglect of the parents… . The great work of instruction, of weeding

out worthless and poisonous weeds, is a most important one. For if left to

themselves these weeds will grow until they choke out the precious plants of moral

principle and truth… .Parents, you fail generally to begin your work early enough.

You let Satan preoccupy the soil of the heart by putting in the first crop of seed. I

is your privilege to sow the first seed.”143

“Such [Eli’s failure] is the fearful reaping of the harvest sown when parents

neglect their God-given responsibilities,—when they allow Satan to preoccupy

the field which they themselves should carefully have sown with precious seed

of virtue, truth, and righteousness. If but one parent is neglectful of duty, the result

will be seen in the character of the children; if both fail, how great will be their

accountability before God! How can they escape the doom of those who destro

their children’s souls?”144

I. Unruly children may suffer eternal loss.“Some parents allow Satan to control their children, and their children are no

restrained but are allowed to have wicked tempers, to be passionate, selfish, and

disobedient. Should they die these children would not be taken to heaven. The

parents’ course of action is determining the future welfare of their children. I

they allow them to be disobedient and passionate, they are allowing Satan to take

them in charge and work through them as shall please his satanic majesty, and these

children, never educated to obedience and to lovely traits of character, will not be

taken to heaven, for the same temper and disposition would be revealed inthem… . This is a most delicate subject. Many unbelieving parents manage

their children with greater wisdom than many of those who claim to be

children of God.”145

J. Sinners will reap the consequences of their own thoughts and actions:

1. God will often withdraw His protection.

a. Destruction of Jerusalem





“For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and ou

among His people… . Though rewarded with evil for good, and hatre

for His love (Psalm 109:5), He had steadfastly pursued His mission o

mercy… . The waves of mercy, beaten back by those stubborn hearts,

returned in a stronger tide of pitying, inexpressible love. But Israel ha

turned from her best Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His lovhad been despised, His counsels spurned, His warnings ridiculed. Th

hour of hope and pardon was fast passing; the cup of God’s long-

deferred wrath was almost full.”146

“The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed th

Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty toward the

disciples of Jesus they rejected the last offer of mercy. Then God

withdrew His protection from them and removed His restraining

power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the

control of the leader she had chosen.”147

“The Jews had forged their own fetters; they had filled for

themselves the cup of vengeance. In the utter destruction that befell the

as a nation, and in all the woes that followed them in their dispersion,

they were but reaping the harvest which their own hands had sown. Says

the prophet: ‘O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself;’ ‘for thou hast fallen

by thine iniquity.’ Hosea 13:9; 14:1. Their sufferings are often

represented as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree

of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his owwork . By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had

caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was

permitted to rule them according to his will. The horrible cruelties

enacted in the destruction of Jerusalem are a demonstration of Satan’s

vindictive power over those who yield to his control.”148

b. Satan is the destroyer; God is the Restrainer, until He is finally,

irrevocably, rejected.

“It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind fropassing fully under the control of Satan… .But when men pass the

limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not

stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against

transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to

reap that which they have sown… . The Spirit of God, persistentl

resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no

power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from





the malice and enmity of Satan. The destruction of Jerusalem is

fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers o

divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy. Never was

there given a more decisive testimony to God’s hatred of sin and to

the certain punishment that will fall upon the guilty.”149

“God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his owimpenitence.”150

“The character revealed by Pharaoh is similar to that of all the

impenitent. God destroys no man; but after a time the wicked are

given up to the destruction they have wrought for themselves.”151

“But [from] those who have no sense of the goodness and mercy o

God, [those] who refuse His merciful warnings, who reject His counsel

to reach the highest standard of Bible requirements, who do despite to

the Spirit of grace, the Lord would remove His protecting power. I

was shown that Satan would entangle and then destroy.”152

“The wrath of God is not declared against men merely because of the

sins which they have committed, but for choosing to continue in a state

of resistance, and, although they have light and knowledge, repeating

their sins of the past. If they would submit, they would be pardoned; bu

they are determined not to yield. They defy God by their obstinacy.

These souls have given themselves to Satan, and he controls the

according to his will.”153

“The wrath of God is not declared against unrepentant sinnersmerely because of the sins they have committed, but because, when

called to repent, they choose to continue in resistance, repeating the sins

of the past in defiance of the light given them. If the Jewish leaders had

submitted to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, they would have

been pardoned; but they were determined not to yield. In the same way,

the sinner, by continued resistance, places himself where the Holy

Spirit cannot influence him.”154

“Hearts that respond to the influence of the Holy Spirit are th

channels through which God’s blessing flows. Were those who served

God removed from the earth, and His Spirit withdrawn from among

men, this world would be left to desolation and destruction, the fruit

of Satan’s dominion. Though the wicked know it not, they owe even the

blessings of this life to the presence, in the world, of God’s people

whom they despise and oppress.”155

c. Satan’s unrestrained wrath demonstrated in the destruction of





Jerusalem is a foretaste of the part he will play in the Seven Las

Plagues.

“The Saviour’s prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upo

Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation

was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the

doom of a world that has rejected God’s mercy and trampled upon Hislaw… . Terrible have been the results of rejecting the authority of

Heaven. But a scene yet darker is presented in the revelations of the

future. The records of the past,—the long procession of tumults,

conflicts, and revolutions, the “battle of the warrior … with confused

noise, and garments rolled in blood” (Isaiah 9:5),—what are these, in

contrast with the terrors of that day when the restraining Spirit of Go

shall be wholly withdrawn from the wicked, no longer to hold in check

the outburst of human passion and satanic wrath! The world will then

behold, as never before, the results of Satan’s rule.”156

“Like Israel of old the wicked destroy themselves; they fall by

their iniquity. By a life of sin, they have placed themselves so out of

harmony with God, their natures have become so debased with evil,

that the manifestation of His glory is to them a consuming fire.”157

“So when Christ shall cease His intercession for guilty men, befor

His coming in the clouds of heaven, the door of mercy will be shut. The

divine grace will no longer restrain the wicked, and Satan will have full

control of those who have rejected mercy. They will endeavor todestroy God’s people; but as Noah was shut into the ark, so the righteous

will be shielded by divine power.”158

“Already the Spirit of God, insulted, refused, abused, is bein

withdrawn from the earth. Just as fast as God’s Spirit is taken away,

Satan’s cruel work will be done upon land and sea.”159

“A terrible conflict is before us… . That which has been held in

control is to be let loose. The angel of mercy is folding her wings,

preparing to step down from the throne and leave the world to the

control of Satan.”160

“The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from

the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea

and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to

explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near

approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true

cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four





winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; bu

when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such

scene of strife as no pen can picture.”161

“When Jesus leaves the most holy His restraining Spirit is

withdrawn from rulers and people. They are left to the control of evil

angels.”162

“The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no

human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters

by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How

frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire

and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these

calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces

of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s

purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to

arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.”163

“The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from

the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers

of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state o

society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching

events of the greatest magnitude.”164

“The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and

Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. … The wicked have

passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistentlresisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, the

have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the

inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels o

God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the

elements of strife will be let loose.”165

2. God will use even nations as disciplinary instruments to teach a better

way.

“Within a few short years the king of Babylon was to be used as theinstrument of God’s wrath upon impenitent Judah. Again and again

Jerusalem was to be invested and entered by the besieging armies o

Nebuchadnezzar…. Severer and yet more severe chastisements were to

be inflicted upon the rebellious nation, until at last the entire land was to

become a desolation, Jerusalem was to be laid waste and burned with fire,

the temple that Solomon had built was to be destroyed, and the kingdom o

Judah was to fall, never again to occupy its former position among the nations





of earth… . Finally sentence was pronounced against them. They were to be

led away captive to Babylon. The Chaldeans were to be used as the

instrument by which God would chastise His disobedient people. The

sufferings of the men of Judah were to be in proportion to the light they had

had and to the warnings they had despised and rejected. Long had Go

delayed His judgments, but now He would visit His displeasure upon them aa last effort to check them in their evil course.”166

3. God may, as the Universe’s Master Surgeon, remove unrepentant sinner

from further contaminating those around them.

a. The Flood—Genesis 6.

“The men of that generation were not all, in the fullest acceptation o

the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. The

claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity, and that

through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divineBeing. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. A

they endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were

blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the holiness o

His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements. As

sin became general, it appeared less and less sinful, and they finally

declared that the divine law was no longer in force; that it was contrary

to the character of God to punish transgression; and they denied that

His judgments were to be visited upon the earth… . The world waarrayed against God’s justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as

fanatic.”167

“Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.

Guided by holy angels, they ‘went in two and two unto Noah into the

ark,’ and the clean beasts by sevens. The world looked on in wonder,

some in fear. Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular

occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom.

But men had become so hardened by their persistent rejection o

light that even this scene produced but a momentary impression. Asthe doomed race beheld the sun shining in its glory, and the earth clad in

almost Eden beauty, they banished their rising fears by boisterous

merriment, and by their deeds of violence they seemed to invite upon

themselves the visitation of the already awakened wrath of God.”168

b. Gathering sticks on the Sabbath and the stoning of the offender

Numbers 15:30-36.





“Soon after the return into the wilderness, an instance of Sabbat

violation occurred, under circumstances that rendered it a case o

peculiar guilt. The Lord’s announcement that He would disinherit Israe

had roused a spirit of rebellion. One of the people, angry at being

excluded from Canaan, and determined to show his defiance of God’s

law, ventured upon the open transgression of the fourth commandment bygoing out to gather sticks upon the Sabbath… . The act of this man was

willful and deliberate violation of the fourth commandment—a sin, not

of thoughtlessness or ignorance, but of presumption… . The sins o

blasphemy and willful Sabbathbreaking received the same punishment,

being equally an expression of contempt for the authority of God.”169

“The retribution visited upon the first offender [one who cursed the

judge and blasphemed God] would be a warning to others, that God’s

name is to be held in reverence. But had this man’s sin been permitted

to pass unpunished, others would have been demoralized; and as the

result many lives must eventually have been sacrificed.”170

c. The Golden Calf incident—Exodus 32.

“It was necessary that this sin should be punished, as a testimony to

surrounding nations of God’s displeasure against idolatry. By executing

justice upon the guilty, Moses, as God’s instrument, must leave on record

a solemn and public protest against their crime. As the Israelites should

hereafter condemn the idolatry of the neighboring tribes, their enemies

would throw back upon them the charge that the people who claimedJehovah as their God had made a calf and worshiped it in Horeb. The

though compelled to acknowledge the disgraceful truth, Israel could

point to the terrible fate of the transgressors, as evidence that their sin

had not been sanctioned or excused… . Unless punishment had been

speedily visited upon transgression, the same results would again have

been seen. The earth would have become as corrupt as in the days o

Noah. Had these transgressors been spared, evils would have followed,

greater than resulted from sparing the life of Cain. It was the mercy oGod that thousands should suffer, to prevent the necessity of visiting

judgments upon millions. In order to save the many, He must punish the

few. Furthermore, as the people had cast off their allegiance to God,

they had forfeited the divine protection, and, deprived of their

defense, the whole nation was exposed to the power of their enemies… .

And it was no less a mercy to the sinners themselves that they should be

cut short in their evil course. Had their life been spared, the same spiri





that led them to rebel against God would have been manifested in hatred

and strife among themselves, and they would eventually have

destroyed one another. It was in love to the world, in love to Israel,

and even to the transgressors, that crime was punished with swift and

terrible severity.”171

d. Achan.“The history of Achan teaches the solemn lesson, that for one man’s

sin, the displeasure of God will rest upon a people or a nation till the

transgression is searched out and punished. Sin is corrupting in its

nature. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate

the taint to thousands.”172

e. Removal from the universe all the unrepentant, unsaved men and

women with all of the evil angels, including Satan, at the end of the

Millennium.“A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. It

purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God

would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that hol

place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden fro

the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked i

fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary

with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.”173

“I was shown that the seven last plagues will be poured out after Jesus leaves the sanctuary. Said the angel, ‘It is the wrath of God and th

Lamb that causes the destruction or death of the wicked.’ At the voice o

God the saints will be mighty and terrible as an army with banners, bu

they will not then execute the judgment written. The execution of the

judgment will be at the close of the one thousand years.’”174

“Then the wicked saw what they had lost; and fire was breathed from

God upon them and consumed them. This was the execution of the

judgment. The wicked then received according as the saints, in unison

with Jesus, had meted out to them during the one thousand years. Thesame fire from God that consumed the wicked purified the whole

earth.”175

4. Our higher and lower natures are not the same as conventional notions o

body/soul dualism.

1. Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest

when I have preached to others, I myself should become





disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Peter said, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims

abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

2. Ellen White made many statements citing the difference betwee

our higher and lower natures, especially when discussing sin issues (a

few examples follow).“The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through

it. The words flesh or fleshly or carnal lusts embrace the lower,

corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of

God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and

lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; butput

to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled.

Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. All animal

propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the soul.”176

“The body is a most important medium through which the mind

and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. Hence i

is that the adversary of souls directs his temptations to the enfeebling

and degrading of the physical powers. His success here often means

the surrender of the whole being to evil. The tendencies of the

physical nature, unless under the dominion of a higher power, will

surely work ruin and death. The body is to be brought into subjection

to the higher powers of the being. The passions are to be controlled b

the will, which is itself to be under the control of God. The kingly poweof reason, sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in the life.

Intellectual power, physical stamina, and the length of life depend upon

immutable laws. Through obedience to these laws, man may stand

conqueror of himself, conqueror of his own inclinations, conqueror o

principalities and powers, of ‘the rulers of the darkness of this world,’

and of ‘spiritual wickedness in high places.’ Ephesians 6:12.”177

“Intemperance of any kind benumbs the perceptive organs and so

weakens the brain-nerve power that eternal things are not appreciated, but placed upon a level with the common. The higher powers of the

mind, designed for elevated purposes, are brought into slavery to the

baser passions. If our physical habits are not right, our mental and moral

powers cannot be strong; for great sympathy exists between the

physical and the moral.”178

“But as parents saw their children growing up with perverted

appetites and uncontrolled passions, the inquiry arose, What will the end





be? What part will these youth and children act in the great drama o

life? … The words spoken to the wife of Manoah contain a truth that the

mothers of today would do well to study. In speaking to this one mother,

the Lord spoke to all the anxious, sorrowing mothers of that time, and to

all the mothers of succeeding generations. Yes, every mother may

understand her duty. She may know that the character of her childrenwill depend vastly more upon her habits before their birth and her

personal efforts after their birth, than upon external advantages or

disadvantages. ‘Let her beware,’ the angel said. Let her stand prepared

to resist temptation. Her appetites and passions are to be controlled b

principle. Of every mother it may be said, ‘Let her beware.’ There i

something for her to shun, something for her to work against, if she fulfils

God’s purpose for her in giving her a child… . The mother who is a fi

teacher for her children must, before their birth, form habits of self-

denial and self-control; for she transmits to them her own qualities,her own strong or weak traits of character. The enemy of souls

understands this matter much better than do many parents. He will bring

temptation upon the mother, knowing that if she does not resist him, he

can through her affect her child… . He [God] will enable her to

transmit to her offspring qualities that will help them to gain success in

this life and to win eternal life.”179

3. Parental influence passes on inherited tendencies, passions, and

inclinations to sin.“What the parents are, that, to a great extent, the children will

be. The physical conditions of the parents, their dispositions and

appetites, their mental and moral tendencies, are, to a greater or

less degree, reproduced in their children. … Even before the birth o

the child, the preparation should begin that will enable it to fight

successfully the battle against evil.”180

“The effect of prenatal influences is by many parents looked upon

as a matter of little moment; but heaven does not so regard it… . Thewell-being of the child will be affected by the habits of the mother. Her

appetites and passions are to be controlled by principle. There is

something for her to shun, something for her to work against, if she

fulfills God’s purpose for her in giving her a child. If before the birth o

her child she is self-indulgent, if she is selfish, impatient, and

exacting, these traits will be reflected in the disposition of the child.

Thus many children have received as a birthright almost unconquerable





tendencies to evil.

[cont.] “But if the mother unswervingly adheres to right principles, i

she is temperate and self-denying, if she is kind, gentle, and unselfish,

she may give her child these same precious traits of character. …

Two lives are depending upon her, and her wishes should be tenderly

regarded, her needs generously supplied. But at this time above allothers she should avoid, in diet and in every other line, whatever would

lessen physical or mental strength. By the command of God Himsel

she is placed under the most solemn obligation to exercise self-

control.”181

4. God promises grace to overcome all inherited and cultivated habits

that tempt to sin.

“There are many who in their hearts murmur against God. They say,

‘We inherit the fallen nature of Adam, and are not responsible forour natural imperfections.’ They find fault with God’s requirements,

and complain that he demands what they have no power to give .

Satan made the same complaint in heaven, but such thoughts dishonor

God… . If you have any excuse to offer for your neglect to comply with

the conditions upon which your salvation is based, now make them

known. If you have any excuse for sin, for impenitence, for covetousness,

or for sensuality, you are permitted to give your reasons. Those who

would justify themselves in wrongdoing, and lay the blame of their

disobedience upon God, will be heard. They argue that they are bornwith strong passions and appetites, and are surrounded with objects

that solicit to sin, and under such circumstances how is it just to

condemn them?”182

“Those who put their trust in Christ are not to be enslaved by any

hereditary or cultivated habit or tendency. Instead of being held in

bondage to the lower nature, they are to rule every appetite and passion.

God has not left us to battle with evil in our own finite strength.

Whatever may be our inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong,we can overcome through the power that He is ready to impart.”183

“The religion of Christ changes hereditary and cultivated

tendencies to wrong. It banishes self-confidence and egotism, leading

man to see himself as he is,—weak and sinful, unable of himself to do

any good thing. It leads him to behold Jesus, and beholding, he i

changed into His likeness.”184

“On those who do not fall upon It and become broken, whose heart





are not cleansed by the mercy and forgiveness of God from hereditary

and cultivated tendencies to wrong, that Stone will fall and grind the

to powder.”185

“It is God who gives us power to overcome. Those who hear Hi

voice and obey His commandments are enabled to form righteous

characters. Those who disregard His expressed commands will for characters like the propensities that they indulge.”186

“Many have to battle against strong hereditary tendencies to evil.

Unnatural cravings, sensual impulses, were their inheritance fro

birth. These must be carefully guarded against. Within and without, good

and evil are striving for the mastery. Those who have never passed

through such experiences cannot know the almost overmastering power

of appetite or the fierceness of the conflict between habits of self-

indulgence and the determination to be temperate in all things. Over and

over again the battle must be fought.”187

“God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He

places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral

perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard o

righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated

tendencies to wrong-doing. We need to understand that imperfection of

character is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a

perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a

personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes.”188

“His [Christ’s] heart is drawn out, not only to the best-behaved

children, but to those who have by inheritance objectionable traits of

character. Many parents do not understand how much they are

responsible for these traits in their children. They have not the

tenderness and wisdom to deal with the erring ones whom they have

made what they are. But Jesus looks upon these children with pity. He

traces from cause to effect.”189

“The unhealthful practices of past generations affect the children

and youth of today. Mental inability, physical weakness, disordered

nerves, and unnatural cravings are transmitted as a legacy from

parents to children. And the same practices, continued by the children,

are increasing and perpetuating the evil results.”190

“These dear children received from Adam an inheritance of

disobedience, of guilt and death. The Lord has given to the world Jesu

Christ, and His work was to restore to the world the moral image of Go





in man, and to reshape the character.”191

“Think of the children, robbed of home comforts, education, and

training, living in terror of him who should be their pride and protection,

thrust into the world, bearing the brand of shame, often with the

hereditary curse of the drunkard’s thirst.”192

“Parents have a more serious charge than they imagine. Theinheritance of children is that of sin. Sin has separated them fro

God. Jesus gave His life that He might unite the broken links to God.As

related to the first Adam, men receive from him nothing but guilt and

the sentence of death. But Christ steps in and passes over the groun

where Adam fell, enduring every test in man’s behalf… . This places

man on vantage ground with God. It places him where through acceptin

Christ as His Saviour, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Thu

he becomes connected with God and Christ… . It is by teaching them

line upon line, precept upon precept, how to give the heart and will upto Christ, that Satan’s power is broken.”193

“I saw you were in danger from your hereditary tendencies, and

your habits of life. You are of that nature that you should fear to follow

your strong and sometimes fierce impulses. The more experience you

gain in spiritual things, the more deeply you will realize your own

weakness, and feel your need of clinging close to the Lord as your

counselor. One of the deplorable effects of the original apostasy was

the loss of man’s power to govern his own heart. When there is aseparation from the Source of your strength, when you are lifted up in

pride, you cannot but transgress the law of your moral

constitution.”194

5. Inherited tendencies to wrong are not themselves sin but could

become sin if not resisted.

“Infidelity in many specious forms will have to be met. Satan work

under disguise, and it will require a well-trained mind, sharpened by

divine enlightenment, to meet his wily devices. Men cannot now retainwith safety defects of character. If they do not make determined

efforts to overcome hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong,

these tendencies will become lusts which war against the soul.”195

6. Parents must remember that their children have rights to be

respected.

“Remember that your child has rights which should be respected.

Be very careful never to bring against him an unjust charge. Neve





punish him without giving him an opportunity to explain. Listen patientl

to his troubles and perplexities. Never tell others in his hearing of his

faults, or of his clever sayings or doings. Even in the presence of his

brothers and sisters these things should not be spoken of. By speaking o

his bright words and acts, you encourage self-confidence. By speaking o

his faults, you humiliate him without softening him. Hatred springs up inhis heart against your course, which he regards as cruel and unjust.”196

5. Ellen White uses “passions” and “propensities” (often interchangeably)

with two meanings depending on context—either to be (1) controlled or

(2) eliminated. [Webster’s Dictionary, 1928: “propensity”—“in a moral

sense; disposition to anything good or evil.”]

1. Before he sinned, Adam’s appetites and passions were under the

control of reason (higher powers).

“His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under thecontrol of reason.”197

2. Paul’s passions and practices were brought under the control of God.

“Ever he [Paul] kept before him the ideal to be attained, and thi

ideal he strove to reach by willing obedience to the law of God. Hi

words, his practices, his passions—all were brought under the control

of the Spirit of God.”198

3. Ellen White defined that our passions and the propensities of the

lower nature should be controlled by the will that is under the control

of God.

“It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for

coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means

for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation,

however strong.”199

“Men may possess capabilities given them in trust of God, but if the

are not humble men, daily converted men, as vessels of honor, they will

do the greater harm because of their capabilities. If they are not learnersof Christ Jesus, if they do not pray and keep their natural hereditary

and cultivated tendencies under control, traits of character that God

abhors will pervert the judgment of those who associate with them.”200

“The body is to be brought into subjection. The higher powers of the

being are to rule. The passions are to be controlled by the will, which

is itself to be under the control of God. The kingly power of reason,

sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in our lives.”201





“You are of that age when the will, the appetite, and the passions

clamor for indulgence. God has implanted these in your nature for

high and holy purposes. It is not necessary that they should become a

curse to you by being debased.”202

“Abstemiousness in diet, and control of all the passions, will

preserve the intellect and give mental and moral vigor, enabling men to bring all their propensities under the control of the higher powers, and

to discern between right and wrong, the sacred and the common.”203

“He brought his own family to his rigid rules, but failed to control

his own animal propensities. He failed to bring himself to the mark, and

keep his body under. If he had had a correct knowledge of the system o

health reform, he would have known that his wife was not in a condition

to give birth to healthy children. His own unsubdued passions had borne

sway without reasoning from cause to effect.”204

“All circumstances, all appetites and passions, are to be servants

to the God-fearing man, not rulers over him. The Christian is not to be

enslaved by any hereditary or cultivated habits or tendency. He is to

rule the animal passions, rather than to be held in the bondage of habit

… . The principle of self-denial and self-sacrifice, as revealed in the

example of Christ, of John the Baptist, of Daniel and the three worthies

is to pass like a plowshare through hereditary and cultivated habits

through all circumstances and surroundings.”205

“He [Christ] determined to present in the most attractive light the principles of the Gospel, that man might receive and obey them. He

desired to refine, purify, ennoble the powers He had given to man,

that they might act the part for which they were created. If permitted,

the lower passions will obtain the mastery over the whole being. Christ

would have these passions subject to the higher powers of the

mind.”206

“The natural habits and appetites must be made subservient to the

higher wants of the soul. But we can place no dependence upon

ourselves in this work. We cannot with safety follow our own guidance.

The Holy Spirit must renew and sanctify us. In God’s service there mus

be no halfway work.”207

“Those who will look long enough into the Divine Mirror to see an

despise their unlikeness to the meek and lowly Saviour, will have

strength to overcome. All who truly believe will confess and forsake

their sins. They will co-operate with Christ in the work of bringing





their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong under the

control of the Divine Will, so that sin shall not have dominion over

them.”208

4. Certain propensities, passions, etc., are to be controlled (see some o

the quotations above).

“The greatest triumph given us by the religion of Christ is controlover ourselves. Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can

never overcome as Christ overcame.”209

“A compliance with this injunction of the apostle will bind and hold

in restraint every unlawful passion, and will make self-control an

absolute necessity to the Christian. Economy, industry, energy, and

everything which will strengthen and develop noble qualities and

powers will be cultivated. The Divine power combined with huma

effort will give to all perfect and entire victory.”210

“Many professed Christians who passed before me seemed destitute

of moral restraint. They were more animal than divine. In fact, they were

about all animal. Men of this type degrade the wife whom they have

promised to nourish and cherish. She is made an instrument to minister to

the gratification of low, lustful propensities. And very many women

submit to become slaves to lustful passion; they do not possess their

bodies in sanctification and honor.”211

5. Jesus gives us his Example of how to control the passions ohumanity.

“He left the glories of heaven, and clothed his divinity with

humanity, and subjected himself to sorrow, and shame, and reproach,

abuse, denial, and crucifixion. Though he had all the strength of the

passion of humanity, never did he yield to temptation to do that which

was not pure and elevating and ennobling.”212

6. Some passions, inclinations and propensities are not to be controlled

but “cast out” because they are “evil.”

“The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace

of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil

passions that cause strife and dissension.”213

“Unholy passions must be crucified. They will clamor for

indulgence, but God has implanted in the heart high and holy purposes

and desires, and these need not be debased. It is only when we refuse

to submit to the control of reason and conscience that we are dragged





down.”214

“Judas was naturally avaricious, and he had fostered this evil

propensity until it had become the ruling motive of his life.”215

“I have been shown that they gratify their selfish propensities and do

only such things as agree with their tastes and ideas. They make

provision for indulgence in pride and sensuality and carry out their selfish ambitions and plans. They are full of self-esteem. But althoug

their evil propensities may seem to them as precious as the right hand

or the right eye, they must be separated from the worker, or he cannot be

acceptable before God.”216

“If, like Daniel, young men and young women will bring all thei

habits, appetites, and passions into conformity to the requirements o

God, they will qualify themselves for higher work. They should put fro

their minds all that is cheap and frivolous. Nonsense and amusement-

loving propensities should be discarded, as out of place in the life andexperience of those who are living by faith on the Son of God, eating hi

flesh and drinking his blood.”217

“Not through the excitement or oblivion produced by unnatural or

unhealthful stimulants; not through indulgence of the lower appetites or

passions, is to be found true healing or refreshment for the body or the

soul. Among the sick are many who are without God and without hope.

They suffer from ungratified desires, disordered passions, and the

condemnation of their own consciences; they are losing their hold uponthis life, and they have no prospect for the life to come.”218

“There is no time for engaging in trifling amusements, the

gratification of selfish propensities. It is time that you were occupied

with serious thoughts.”219

“These young men are now sowing the seed. Every act of their lives,

every word spoken, is a seed for good or evil. As is the seed, so will be

the crop. If they indulge hasty, lustful, perverted passions or give up

to the gratification of appetite or the inclination of their unsanctified

hearts; if they foster pride or wrong principles and cherish habits ounfaithfulness or dissipation, they will reap a plentiful harvest o

remorse, shame, and despair.”220

7. Ellen White, in view of the preceding quotations regarding passions,

propensities, etc., that either should be (1) controlled and those that

(2) must be overcome and crucified, said this about our Lord on

earth:





“He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He prayed,

and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciple

and for Himself , thus identifying Himself with our needs, our

weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity.

He was a mighty petitioner , not possessing the passions of our human,

fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in allpoints even as we are . Jesus endured agony which required help and

support from His Father.”221 [He was uncorrupted because He chose no

to be corrupted!]

“Our Saviour identifies Himself with our needs and weaknesses, i

that He became a suppliant, a nightly petitioner, seeking from His

Father fresh supplies of strength, to come forth invigorated and

refreshed, braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things.

He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As

the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. He endured struggles

and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a

necessity and privilege.”222

“The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable o

yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater

than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but no

corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words

of Satan in the place of the words of God. To suppose He was not

capable of yielding to temptation places Him where He cannot be perfect example for man, and the force and the power of this part o

Christ’s humiliation, which is the most eventful, is no instruction or help

to human beings.”223

“He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all point

as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen,

but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.”224

6. When Jesus became human He had no advantage not available to al

other humans.1. Jesus willingly accepted the limitations, liabilities and weaknesses

that all men and women are born with at birth.

“As one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He

took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences

[Hebrews 2:17]. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did no

endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power o





God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was ‘in all points tempte

like as we are.’ Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we

are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not

freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in

the strength given Him from God. … His life testifies that it is

possible for us also to obey the law of God.”225

“Adam was tempted by the enemy, and he fell. It was not indwelling

sin which caused him to yield; for God made him pure and upright, in

His own image. He was as faultless as the angels before the throne.

There were in him no corrupt principles, no tendencies to evil. But

when Christ came to meet the temptations of Satan, He bore ‘the

likeness of sinful flesh.’ … Christ lived a human life that He might be

man’s example in all things. He endured temptation even as every human

being must endure. He believed God, as we must believe. He learne

obedience, even as we are required to learn obedience. And Heovercame, as we must overcome. His path lay through manifold

temptations; therefore He knows how to succor those who are

tempted.”226

2. Jesus willingly accepted, not Adam’s unfallen nature, but the nature

of “every child of Adam” who must accept “the great law of

heredity” and thus the weakness and liabilities of our parents built

into our genetic stream.

“It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of Goto take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden.

But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by fou

thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the

results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results

were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such

a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the

example of a sinless life.

[cont] “Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in thcourts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned

He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into

the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son t

come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He

permitted Him to meet life’s peril in common with every human soul,

to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk

of failure and eternal loss.”227





“If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then

He would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity,

with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility

of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not

endured.”228

3. Jesus’ example helps us to distinguish between “the lower passions”and “the higher powers of the soul” (recognizing that “passions”

were God-designed and to be enjoyed when not used for selfish

purposes).

a. Jesus had “passions” common to all men and women but Hi

“higher powers” kept them in check—He did not yield.

“The lessons of Christ upon the occasion of receiving the

children, should leave a deeper impression upon our minds. The

words of Christ encourage parents to bring their little ones to Jesus.They may be wayward, and possess passions like those o

humanity, but this should not deter us from bringing them to Christ.

He blessed children that were possessed of passions like his

own.”229

b. But Jesus did not have the same sinful, corrupt propensities, o

inclinations as others because He used His “higher powers” to

remain uncorrupted.

“But here we must not become in our ideas common and earthly,and in our perverted ideas we must not think that the liability of

Christ to yield to Satan’s temptations degraded His humanity

and He possessed the same sinful, corrupt propensities as man.

… Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would

not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the

place of the words of God. To suppose He was not capable o

yielding to temptation places Him where He cannot be a perfec

example for man, and the force and the power of this part o

Christ’s humiliation, which is the most eventful, is no instruction

or help to human beings.”230

c. Jesus is our Forever Example showing us how to control ou

natural propensities and overcome as He did.

“The greatest triumph given us by the religion of Christ i

control over ourselves. Our natural propensities must be

controlled, or we can never overcome as Christ overcame.”231





d. “He was to qualify Himself for the office of Redeemer b

successfully resisting every assault of the enemy. His power of

resistance was to be an example for all who would hereafter be

placed in trying positions.”232

4. By His victory over the passions common to our fallen nature, Jesu

now offers us the gift of life, of partaking of His divine nature.“Christ’s suffering and death have placed life in and through him

upon an eternal basis of security. He took human nature. He became flesh

even as we are. He was oft hungry, thirsty, and weary. He was sustained

by food, and refreshed by sleep. He had natural affection; for we see hi

weeping in sympathy with the sorrows of others, and lamenting over the

retribution coming upon Jerusalem because of her impenitence. While i

this world, Christ lived a life of complete humanity in order that he

might stand as a representative of the human family. He was tempted inall points like as we are, that he might be able to succor them that are

tempted. As the Prince of Life in human flesh, he met the prince o

darkness, and, passing over the ground where Adam fell, he endured

every test that Adam failed to endure. Every temptation that could be

brought against fallen humanity, he met and overcame. Had he not

been fully human, Christ could not have been our substitute . He

could not have worked out in humanity that perfection of character which

it is the privilege of all to reach. He was the light and the life of the

world. He came to this earth to work in behalf of men, that they might nolonger be under the control of Satanic agencies. But while bearing huma

nature, he was dependent upon the Omnipotent for his life. In hi

humanity, he laid hold of the divinity of God; and this every member of

the human family has the privilege of doing. Christ did nothing that

human nature may not do if it partakes of the divine nature. … As

children of the first Adam, we partake of the dying nature of Adam. Bu

through the imparted life of Christ, man has been given opportunity

to win back again the lost gift of life, and to stand in his originalposition before God, a partaker of the divine nature.”233

5. Jesus took man’s nature in its fallen, sinful condition.

“Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the

level of those he wished to save. In him was no guile or sinfulness; he

was ever pure and undefiled; yet he took upon him our sinful nature.

Clothing his divinity with humanity, that he might associate with fallen





humanity, he sought to regain for man that which, by disobedience, Adam

had lost for himself and for the world.”234

“Think of Christ’s humiliation. He took upon himself fallen,

suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin. He took our

sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations

wherewith man is beset.”235

“For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical

strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon

Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He

rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation.”236

“Christ did in reality unite the offending nature of man with his

own sinless nature, because by this act of condescension he would be

enabled to pour out his blessings in behalf of the fallen race. Thus he has

made it possible for us to partake of his nature.”237

“Therefore He humbled Himself, and was made ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh’ (Romans 8:3), that He might reach the fallen race, and lif

them up.”238

“What love! What amazing condescension! The King of glor

proposed to humble himself to fallen humanity! He would place his fee

in Adam’s steps. He would take man’s fallen nature and engage to

cope with the strong foe who triumphed over Adam. He would overcome

Satan, and in thus doing he would open the way for the redemption o

those who would believe on him from the disgrace of Adam’s failureand fall.”239

6. Ellen White often had to answer letters that asserted that if Jesu

had all our propensities and passions, He could never be our Savior;

that is, He would need one for Himself.

“Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not

have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have

fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man’s nature, He

could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, Hcould not have been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible

for Him to yield to temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a

solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man’s

behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy

the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature.”240

7. One does not need an “unfallen nature” to be “holy, blameless,

undefiled,” etc. (Hebrews 7:26).





“Cherish those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and o

good report; but put away whatever is unlike our Redeemer. Selfishness

is cherished to an extent that few realize; guard against it at all times and

in all places. Do not excuse yourself in any error.… Every soul that

gains eternal life must be like Christ, “holy, blameless, undefiled,

separate from sinners.”241“The grace of Christ alone can change your heart, and then you will

reflect the image of the Lord Jesus. God calls upon us to be like Him

pure, holy, and undefiled. We are to bear the divine image.”242

8. Ellen White explains her phrase, “no sin in him.”

“Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the

power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he

can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which

his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: ‘Th prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.’ John 14:30. Sata

could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the

victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin

in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in

which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.”243

9. Ellen White refers to the “cleansing of the soul temple” as necessary

preparation for receiving “the latter rain.”

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while oucharacters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remed

the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every

defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell

upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.”244

“The stammering tongue will be unloosed, and the timid will be

made strong to bear courageous testimony to the truth. May the Lord help

His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and to

maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be

partakers of the latter rain when it shall be poured out.”245

a. The “soul temple” and “character” are what she calls our “higher

powers” that must be cleansed in order to control our “lower

nature” of passions, propensities, and inclinations. The work o

“overcoming” our carnal or sinful nature (either inherited or

acquired) will last until Jesus returns.

“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a





lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of

constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs

cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble,

intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline,

and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how

strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shalhave self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall

last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and

say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong

obedience.”246

“Satan will so shape circumstances that unless we are kept by divine

power, they will almost imperceptibly weaken the fortifications of the

soul. We need to inquire at every step, ‘Is this the way of the Lord?’ As

long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections and the

passions with a firm purpose. Not one moment can we be secure only aswe are relying upon God, the life hid with Christ in God. The safeguard

of our purity must be watchfulness and prayer. We must do nothing to

lower the standard of our religious principles.”247

b. A “cleansed temple” does not mean that struggles with sinful

temptations are over anymore than Jesus had no struggles with

temptations while He had a “cleansed temple” [note, Gethsemane].

“There are thoughts and feelings suggested and aroused by Satan that

annoy even the best of men; but if they are not cherished, if they arerepulsed as hateful, the soul is not contaminated with guilt, and no

other is defiled by their influence. Oh, that we each might become a

savor of life unto life to those around us!”248

7. Jesus was tempted “from within” as well as from without.

“Satan casts his dark shadow between them and the Lord Jesus, thei

atoning sacrifice. They say, It is useless for me to pray. My prayers are so

mingled with evil thoughts that the Lord will not hear them. These

suggestions are from Satan. In His humanity, Christ met and resisted thitemptation, and He knows how to succor those who are thus tempted. I

our behalf, He “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and

tears.”249

8. Jesus was tempted in every way that all sons of Adam could be tempted

in order to silence Satan that Jesus took Adam’s sinless nature instead o

man’s sinful nature and thus was unfair to expect the sons of Adam to be





overcomers in “sinful flesh” that He never took.

“Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the

level of those he wished to save. In him was no guile or sinfulness; he was

ever pure and undefiled; yet he took upon him our sinful nature.”250

“Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed when

He came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race, with the weaknessesof fallen man upon Him, He was to stand the temptations of Satan uponall

points wherewith man would be assailed.”251

“Since the Fall the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength,

and sinking lower in the scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ’s

advent to the earth. And in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach

him where he was. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and

degeneracy of the race. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us. He

humiliated Himself to the lowest depths of human woe, that He might be

qualified to reach man, and bring him up from the degradation in which sinhad plunged him.”252

9. Jesus learned through personal experience the “weakness of humanity.”

“He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the

Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity,

what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was

in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”253

“He would leave all his glory in Heaven, appear upon earth as a man,

become acquainted by his own experience with the various temptationswith which man would be beset; and, finally, after his mission as a teacher

should be accomplished, he would be delivered into the hands of men, and

after enduring almost every cruelty and suffering, that Satan and his angels

could inspire wicked men to inflict, he would die the cruelest of deaths, hung

up between the heavens and the earth as a guilty sinner.”254

“By experiencing in himself the strength of Satan’s temptation, and o

human sufferings and infirmities, he would know how to succor those who

should put forth efforts to help themselves.”255

“He was a child once, and had a child’s experience, a child’s trials, a

child’s temptations. As really did He meet and resist the temptations of Satan

as any of the children of humanity. In this sense alone could He be a perfec

example for man. He subjected Himself to humanity to become acquainte

with all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He took upon Him the

infirmities and bore the sorrows of the sons of Adam. He was ‘made like unto

His brethren’ (Hebrews 2:17). He felt both joy and grief as they feel. Hi





body was susceptible to weariness, as yours. His mind, like yours, could be

harassed and perplexed. If you have hardships, so had He. If you have

conflicts, so had He. If you need encouragement, so did He. Satan coul

tempt Him. His enemies could annoy Him. The ruling powers could tortur

His body; the soldiers could crucify Him; and they can do no more to us.

Jesus was exposed to hardships, to conflict and temptation, as a man… . Youhave not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon Him, not a

sorrow that His heart has not experienced. His feelings could be hurt wit

neglect, with indifference of professed friends, as easily as yours. Is your path

thorny? Christ’s was so in a tenfold sense. Are you distressed? So was He.

How well fitted was Christ to be an example! … He was in the strength o

His manhood. Jesus once stood in age just where you now stand. Your

circumstances, your cogitations at this period of your life, Jesus has had. He

cannot overlook you at this critical period. He sees your dangers. He i

acquainted with your temptations. He invites you to follow Hiexample.”256

10. In Ellen White’s phrase, “free from every taint of sin,” she referred to

our Lord’s untainted spiritual (higher power) nature; that is, Jesus never

sinned. It does not suggest that Christ’s human nature was free from the

weakness and defects inherited after 4000 years of human history.

“The human nature of Christ was like unto ours. And suffering was

really more keenly felt by Him; for His spiritual nature was free from every

taint of sin.”257

“Though He had no taint of sin upon His character, yet He

condescended to connect our fallen human nature with His divinity. By thus

taking humanity, He honored humanity. Having taken our fallen nature, he

showed what it might become, by accepting the ample provision He has

made for it, and by becoming partaker of the divine nature.”258

“One unsanctified act on the part of our Saviour, would have marred the

pattern, and he could not have been a perfect example for us; but although he

was tempted in all points like as we are, he was yet without one taint of sin.”259

“Christ, the second Adam, came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In man’s

behalf, He became subject to sorrow, to weariness, to hunger, and to thirst.

He was subject to temptation. But he yielded not to sin. No taint of sin was

upon Him. He declared, ‘I have kept my Father’s commandments [in M

earthly life]’ (John 15:10). He had infinite power only because He was

perfectly obedient to His Father’s will. The second Adam stood the test of





trial and temptation that He might become the Owner of all humanity.”260

“Not one impure word escaped His lips. Never did He do a wrong

action, for He was the Son of God. Although He possessed a human form, ye

He was without a taint of sin.”261

“Satan exulted when Christ became a human being, and he compassed Hi

path with every conceivable temptation. Human weakness and tears wereHis portion; but He sought unto God, praying with His whole soul, with strong

crying and tears; and He was heard in that He feared. The subtlety of th

enemy could not ensnare Him while He made God His trust, and was obedient

to His words. ‘The prince of this world cometh,’ He said, ‘and hath nothing i

Me.’ He can find nothing in Me which responds to his sophistry. Amid

impurity, Christ maintained His purity. Satan could not stain or corrupt

it.”262

11. Jesus was not like other children because many are misguided by parents.“It is not correct to say, as many writers have said, that Christ was like all

children. He was not like all children. Many children are misguided an

mismanaged. But Joseph, and especially Mary, kept before them the

remembrance of their child’s divine Fatherhood… . [Luke 2:40 quoted.] He

was an example of what all children may strive to be if parents will seek

the Lord most earnestly, and if children will cooperate with their parents.

In His words and actions He manifested tender sympathy for all. Hi

companionship was as a healing, soothing balm to the disheartened and

depressed.”263

12. Ellen White, in so many ways throughout her ministry, focused on the

exceedingly great purpose of our Lord’s incarnation.

“It was not a make-believe humanity that Christ took upon Himself. H

took human nature and lived human nature. Christ worked no miracles in Hi

own behalf. He was compassed with infirmities, but His divine nature kne

what was in man… . Christ’s life represents a perfect manhood. Just that

which you may be, He was in human nature. He took our infirmities. He

was not only made flesh, but He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh.His divine attributeswere withheld from relieving His soul anguish or Hi

bodily pains.”264

13. Written at the same time she wrote The Desire of Ages, Ellen White

wrote the well-known Baker letter in 1895. Herein, she helped Elder Bake

to understand, in his apparent confusion, some basic issues regarding the

humanity of Jesus. In view of her ample and clear statements in The Desire o





Ages and elsewhere already studied, readers can understand how she used

such words as “propensity,” and “corruption.”

a. Most of the Baker letter was devoted to practical ministerial counse

and encouragement. About two and a small fraction pages were

devoted to her counsels on Christ’s human nature.265

b. Ellen White stated clearly three warnings:

“Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the

human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man wit

the propensities of sin.”266

“Bro. Baker, avoid every question in relation to the humanity o

Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track

of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard

strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than

they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of Hishumanity as combined with divinity.”267

“Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human

minds, that a taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ,

or that He in any way yielded to corruption… . That which is revealed,

is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned

from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as

ourselves: for it cannot be.”268

c. She did not contrast His nature with ours but compared them.“He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all point

as human nature is tempted.”269

“He did humble Himself when He saw He was in fashion as a man

that He might understand the force of all temptations wherewith man is

beset.”270

d. She did not contrast His temptations with ours but compared them.

“He took upon himself human nature, and was tempted in all points

like as human nature is tempted.”271

“He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted.”272

e. She summed up His open secret for His successin defeating Sata

that would be exactly the same secret that His willing followers

would employ for their success.

“The first Adam fell: the second Adam held fast to God and Hi

word under the most trying circumstances, and His faith in His Father’





goodness, mercy, and love did not waver for one moment. ‘It is written’

was His weapon of resistance, and it is the sword of the Spirit which

every human being is to use.”273

f. She emphasized the heart of the Great Controversy by focusing o

God’s magnificent plan that will forever be a mystery: how Chris

could become a human being and still not sin and thus becomeman’s powerful Example as well as His Savior.

“He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He i

called that holy thing. It is a mystery that is left unexplained to

mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and

yet be without sin.”274

g. She applied the same uses in this letter of such words as

“propensity,” “inclinations,” and “taint,” as she did in her other

writings.1) “Do not set Him before the people as a man with the

propensities of sin.”275 [Why? Because Jesus chose not to yield to th

propensities of sin that arose out of His lower human nature, common to

all men and women.]

2) “The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a

taint of sin upon him.”276 [Adam had not yet sinned. “Taint”—the

defilement of sinning, the result of sinning].

3) “Because of sin, his [Adam’s] posterity was born with inheren propensities of disobedience.”277 [Since Adam, all have inherited a

weakened body and mind and without the right action of the will,

prompted by the Holy Spirit’s power, those “inherent propensities”

become propensities of disobedience—see The Desire of Ages, 49.]

4) “He [Jesus] could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for

one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.”278 [He inherited the

lower. fallen nature of His forebears but He chose not to yield, not for a

moment, to Satan’s temptations (as Adam and all Christ’s forebears had

done). Jesus did not let a propensity of man’s lower nature become an

“evil propensity.”]279

5) “We must realize that through belief in him it is our privilege to be

partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the

world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects o

character. We need not retain one sinful propensity.”280

6) “Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human





minds that a taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ,

or that He in any way yielded to corruption.”281 [Along with Elle

White’s normal usage of “taint” in regard to our Lord’s humanity, her

emphasis on how He remained free from corruption could not be clearer.

No corruption “rested” on Jesus “in any way”—that is, not by act or

by thought did He yield to the temptations of His lower nature.Propensities, inclinations, preferences are mental attributes and thus

have to do with choice and character.]

h. In this letter, Ellen White again emphasized what she repeatedly

focused on throughout her ministry: why Jesus did that mysterious

act of God by becoming a human being.

“He did humble Himself when He saw He was in fashion as a man

that He might understand the force of all temptations wherewith man

is beset.”282

i. Our own sins separate us from God, not Adam’s sin: “Your iniquities

have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden Hi

face from you” (Isaiah 59:2).

“We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin.

The sinner brings the punishment upon himself. His own actions start a

train of circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act o

transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character,

and makes it more easy for him to transgress again.By choosing to sin,

men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the

channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death.”283

“That religion which makes of sin a light matter, dwelling upon the

love of God to the sinner regardless of his actions, only encourages the

sinner to believe that God will receive him while he continues in that

which he knows to be sin. This is what some are doing who profess to

believe present truth. The truth is kept apart from the life, and that is the

reason it has no power to convict and convert the soul.”284

“By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than

was the impotent man capable of walking… . Do not wait to feel that you

are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will

on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His wor

you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the

master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and

body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the





soul that is ‘dead in trespasses.’ Ephesians 2:1. He will set free the

captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.”285

“Just as soon as we separate ourselves from God by sin, which is

the transgression of his law, Satan takes control of our minds. We

want to seek earnestly to draw near to God.”286

“By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describeour condition in such words as these: ‘Dead in trespasses and sins;’ ‘the

whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;’ ‘no soundness in it.’ We

are held fast in the snare of Satan, ‘taken captive by him at his will.’

Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to

set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a

renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.

The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The

yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle;

b ut the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in

holiness.”287

“God does not separate from his people, but his people separate

themselves from God by their own course of action.”288

j. God’s love will not belittle or excuse sin.

“The love of God will never lead to the belittling of sin; it will

never cover or excuse an unconfessed wrong. Achan learned too late

that God’s law, like its author, is unchanging. It has to do with all our

acts and thoughts and feelings. It follows us, and reaches every secrespring of action. By indulgence in sin, men are led to lightly regard the

law of God. Many conceal their transgressions from their fellow-men,

and flatter themselves that God will not be strict to mark iniquity. But his

law is the great standard of right, and with it every act of life must be

compared in that day when God shall bring every work into judgment,

with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Purity of heart will

lead to purity of life. All excuses for sin are vain. Who can plead for the

sinner when God testifies against him?”289

“There are many in this day that would designate Achan’s sin as o

little consequence, and would excuse his guilt; but it is because they

have no realization of the character of sin and its consequences, no

sense of the holiness of God and of his requirements. The statement i

often heard that God is not particular whether or not we give diligen

heed to his word, whether or not we obey all the commandments of his

holy law; but the record of his dealing with Achan should be a warning





to us. He will in no wise clear the guilty.”290





The Great Controversy Theme Highlights the Charges

That Satan Has Made Against God

A. The apostasy began in Satan’s denial of God’s love.“The great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is

plainly revealed in the Word.”291

B. The root of Satan’s rebellion grew from pride and resulted in his lust for

power.

“Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation… . he

ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator… . And coveting the glory

with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of angelsaspired

to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone.”292

“Satan fell from his high position through self-exaltation; he misused the high

capabilities with which God had so richly endowed him. He fell for the same

reason that thousands are falling today, because of an ambition to be first, an

unwillingness to be under restraint.”293

“The forms of unbelief are varied, for Satan watches every opportunity to

crowd in some of his attributes. There is in the natural heart a tendency to be

exalted or puffed up if success attends the efforts put forth. But self-

exaltation can find no place in the work of God. Whatever your intelligence,

however earnestly and zealously you may labor, unless you put away your own

tendencies to pride, and submit to be guided by the Spirit of God, you will be o

losing ground. Spiritual death in the soul is evidenced by spiritual pride and a

crippled experience; those who have such an experience seldom make straight

paths for their feet. If pride is nourished, the very qualities of the mind which

grace, if received, would make a blessing, become contaminated.”294

“Ambition for the highest position excluded Satan from heaven, and he

means to work upon every human being to lead them to sin as he has sinned.But ambition to do large things wears away the life with a great man

perplexities… . Ambition in the disciples of Christ, and thirst to be highest, make

them represent the men of the world. They are sure to lose Christ out of their heart

and they [are sure to] find disappointment following disappointment. Many in this

world who are first in privileges and count themselves in many respects talented

above others, will in the future great test find themselves far below the humble,

meek, and lowly ones. God’s estimate is accurate.”295





C. Lucifer’s strategy was to misrepresent God and thus to confuse the real issues

involved.

“Satan is constantly at work, with intense energy and under a thousand

disguises, to misrepresent the character and government of God. With

extensive, well-organized plans and marvelous power, he is working to hold the

inhabitants of the world under his deceptions.”296

“It is Satan’s constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the

nature of sin, and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His

sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men license to sin. At

the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God so that they

regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love.”297

“Selfishness has its origin in Satan, and just as far as it is indulged, so far are

Satan’s attributes cherished; but Satan charged God with these attributes, and

belief in his principles was becoming more and more widespread.”298

D. Satan, from start to finish in the Great Controversy, is clever at stirring u

discontent, misunderstandings and inciting doubts among friends.

“Since the fall, the work of Satan has been to accuse, and those who refuse the

light which God sends, pursue the same course today. They lay open to others

those things which they consider an offense. Thus it was with the Pharisees.

When they found something of which they could accuse the disciples, they did no

speak to those whom they thought to be in error. They spoke to Christ of the things

which they thought to be so grievous in His disciples. When they thought that Chris

offended, they accused Him to the disciples. It was their work to alienatehearts.”299

“There is wickedness in our world, but all the suffering is not the result of a

perverted course of life. Job is brought distinctly before us as a man whom the

Lord allowed Satan to afflict. The enemy stripped him of all he possessed; hi

family ties were broken; his children were taken from him. For a time his bod

was covered with loathsome sores, and he suffered greatly. His friends came to

comfort him, but they tried to make him see that he was responsible, by his sinful

course, for his afflictions. But he defended himself, and denied the charge,declaring, Miserable comforters are ye all. By seeking to make him guilty before

God, and deserving of His punishment, they brought a grievous test upon him, an

represented God in a false light; but Job did not swerve from his loyalty, and Go

rewarded His faithful servant.”300

E. Satan attempts to destroy God’s image in men and women.

“The Lord has commissioned us to push forward His work in the earth, bu





Satan is determined to counteract the work of redemption. He seeks to destroy

the moral image of God in man, and to unite the human race with himself and

his sympathizers who swerved from their allegiance to God and were cast out o

heaven. He has sought by every manner of deception to establish his kingdom in

the earth, and to conform all men unto his own standing. He is constantly seeking

to make men feel the same hatred toward God as he himself feels.”301

F. Satan’s many misrepresentations included:

1. God is unfair and made laws that created beings could not keep:

“Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s

commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we can not obey them.

But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience H

proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God’s

precepts.”302

“Christ came to the world to counteract Satan’s falsehood that Gohad made a law which men could not keep. Taking humanity upon Himself,

He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed that God has no

made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible for man

perfectly to obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Savior, becoming

partakers of His divine nature, are enabled to follow His example, living i

obedience to every precept of the law. Through the merits of Christ, man is to

show by his obedience that he could be trusted in heaven, that he would not

rebel.”303

2. God demands self-denial and sacrifice from His created beings but doe

not Himself exercise such unselfishness toward His created beings.

“The great contest that had been so long in progress in this world was

now decided, and Christ was conqueror. His death had answered the question

whether the Father and the Son had sufficient love for man to exercise

self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice . Satan had revealed his true character as

a liar and a murderer.”304

“The victory gained at His death on Calvary broke forever the accusin

power of Satan over the universe and silenced his charges that self-denial

was impossible with God and therefore not essential in the human family.”305

“Unselfishness, the principle of God’s kingdom, is the principle that Sata

hates; its very existence he denies. From the beginning of the grea

controversy he has endeavored to prove God’s principles of action to be

selfish, and he deals in the same way with all who serve God. To disprove

Satan’s claim is the work of Christ and of all who bear His name. It wa





to give in His own life an illustration of unselfishness that Jesus came i

the form of humanity. And all who accept this principle are to be workers

together with Him in demonstrating it in practical life.”306

3. God is “severe,” “exacting,” and “harsh.”

“Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute i

stern justice,—one who is a severe judge, a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern

the errors and mistakes of men, that He may visit judgments upon them. It wa

to remove this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of

God, that Jesus came to live among men.”307

“From the beginning it has been Satan’s studied plan to cause men to

forget God, that he might secure them to himself. Hence he has sought to

misrepresent the character of God, to lead men to cherish a false conception

of Him. The Creator has been presented to their minds as clothed with thattributes of the prince of evil himself,—as arbitrary, severe, and

unforgiving,—that He might be feared, shunned, and even hated by

men.”308

4. God is the “author of sin, and suffering, and death.”

“Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declare

that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents,

with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to

look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was tounveil this deception.”309

5. If God were fair and good, He would never have permitted create

beings to transgress His law.

“To stir up rebellion in the fallen race, he now represented God as unjust

in having permitted man to transgress His law. ‘Why,’ said the artful

tempter, ‘when God knew what would be the result, did He permit man to be

placed on trial, to sin, and bring in misery and death?’?… There are

thousands today echoing the same rebellious complaint against God. They do

not see that to deprive man of the freedom of choice would be to rob him o

his prerogative as an intelligent being, and make him a mere automaton. It is

not God’s purpose to coerce the will. Man was created a free moral agent.

Like the inhabitants of all other worlds, he must be subjected to the test o

obedience; but he is never brought into such a position that yielding to evil

becomes a matter of necessity. No temptation or trial is permitted to come to

him which he is unable to resist. God made such ample provision that man





need never have been defeated in the conflict with Satan.”310

6. God made “faulty” laws and for the good of the universe, those laws

should be changed.

“From the first the great controversy had been upon the law of God. Sata

had sought to prove that God was unjust, that His law was faulty, and that the

good of the universe required it to be changed. In attacking the law heaimed to overthrow the authority of its Author. In the controversy it was to be

shown whether the divine statutes were defective and subject to change, or

perfect and immutable.”311

“Satan has been persevering and untiring in his efforts to prosecute the

work he began in heaven, to change the law of God. He has succeeded in

making the world believe the theory he presented in heaven before his fall,

that the law of God was faulty and needed revising. A large part of the

professed Christian church, by their attitude, if not by their words, show thathey have accepted the same error.”312

7. God has no real “love.”

“Satan had worked long to efface the true impression of God, and to

represent Him as a God having no love. This is Satan’s character. He is

destitute of mercy and compassion. Overbearing and revengeful, he delights in

the misery that he brings on the human family. With these attributes he

attempted to clothe the God of heaven.”313

8. God is “arbitrary.”“Lucifer took the position that as a result of the law of God, wrong existe

in heaven and on this earth. This brought against God’s government the

charge of being arbitrary. But this is a falsehood, framed by the author of all

falsehoods. God’s government is a government of free-will, and there is no

act of rebellion or obedience which is not an act of free-will.”314

G. Satan always works through one of four disguises. [See Section XIV: THE GREA

CONTROVERSY BEGAN IN HEAVEN WHEN SATAN ATTEMPTED BY DECEIT

SUBTERFUGE TO OVERTHROW THE LAW OF GOD—AND THAT HELLISH EN

CONTINUES ON EA RTH, WITH HIS FINAL ATTACK BEING RATCHETED UP IN TH

TIMES.]





The Great Controversy Illuminates How God Has Told

His Side of the Story

A. God could not and would not use Satan’s methods in His response to Satan’lies and charges.

“God could employ only such means as were consistent with truth and

righteousness. Satan could use what God could not—flattery and deceit. He ha

sought to falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan of government,

claiming that God was not just in imposing laws upon the angels; that in requiring

submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the

exaltation of Himself.”315

B. God’s dealing with Satan’s rebellion will unmask Satan’s methods of “flatteryand deceit.”

“God’s dealings with rebellion will result in fully unmasking the work that has

so long been carried on under cover. The results of Satan’s rule, the fruits o

setting aside the divine statutes, will be laid open to the view of all created

intelligences. The law of God will stand fully vindicated. It will be seen that al

the dealings of God have been conducted with reference to the eternal good of Hi

people, and the good of all the worlds that He has created. Satan himself, in the

presence of the witnessing universe, will confess the justice of God’s government

and the righteousness of His law.”316

C. To work out His side of the controversy in proving Satan wrong. God create

a new world of intelligent beings.

1. God created this world to enlarge heaven.

“How great the love of God is! God made the world to enlarge heaven

He desired a larger family.”317

2. In Earth’s laboratory, God’s “new and distinct order” of human beings

would be His answer to Satan’s list of charges and lies.“All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world

and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made

‘in the image of God,’ and it was the Creator’s design that they should

populate the earth. They were to live in close communion with heaven,

receiving power from the Source of all power. Upheld by God, they were to

live sinless lives.”318

“When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical,





mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. ‘God created man in Hi

own image’ (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived

the more fully he should reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory o

the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and

vigor were continually to increase… . Had he remained loyal to God, all thi

would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would havecontinued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs o

happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom,

the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have

fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more fully have reflected the

Creator’s glory.”319

“The life of Christ is to be revealed in humanity. Man was the crownin

act of the creation of God, made in the image of God, and designed to be a

counterpart of God; but Satan has labored to obliterate the image of God i

man, and to imprint upon him his own image. Man is very dear to God, because he was formed in his own image.”320

3. This new order of intelligent beings would help God bring the controversy

to a final conclusion.

“Our world is a vast lazar house, a scene of misery that we dare not allow

even our thoughts to dwell upon. Did we realize it as it is, the burden would

be too terrible. Yet God feels it all. In order to destroy sin and its results He

gave His best Beloved, and H e has put it in our power, through co-

operation with Him, to bring this scene of misery to an end.”321

“It was a wonderful thing for God to create man, to make mind. The glory

of God is to be revealed in the creation of man in God’s image and in his

redemption… . God created man that every faculty might be the faculty of the

divine mind… . None can dwell with God in the holy heaven but those who

bear His likeness. Those who are to be redeemed are to be overcomers; the

are to be elevated, pure, one with Christ.”322

4. Even as heavenly angels were not forced to be loyal to God, so earth’s

“new order” was given freedom to choose between Satan’s deceptionsand God’s appeal to reason and conscience.

“The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founde

upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and

the conscience. ‘Come now, and let us reason together’ is the Creator’s

invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1:18. God does not force the

will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and





intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real

development of mind or character; it would make man a mere automaton. Such

is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work o

His creative power, shall reach the highest possible development. He sets

before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring us through Hi

grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He may work His will ius. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the

bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God.”323

“God had power to hold Adam back from touching the forbidden fruit; bu

had He done this, Satan would have been sustained in his charge agains

God’s arbitrary rule. Man would not have been a free moral agent, but a

mere machine.”324

5. The Garden of Eden became the first shot in this long war on earth.

a. God warned Adam and Eve of Satan’s designs and skills.“Our first parents were not left without a warning of the danger

that threatened them. Heavenly messengers opened to them the histor

of Satan’s fall and his plots for their destruction, unfolding more fully the

nature of the divine government, which the prince of evil was trying to

overthrow. It was by disobedience to the just commands of God tha

Satan and his host had fallen. How important, then, that Adam and Eve

should honor that law by which alone it was possible for order and

equity to be maintained.”325

b. Although freedom was God’s gift to the first couple, God set u

boundaries to test their loyalty and show the consequences of

disobedience.

“Like the angels, the dwellers in Eden had been placed upon

probation; their happy estate could be retained only on condition of

fidelity to the Creator’s law. They could obey and live, or disobey and

perish… . The tree of knowledge had been made a test of their

obedience and their love to God. The Lord had seen fit to lay upon the

but one prohibition as to the use of all that was in the garden; but if they

should disregard His will in this particular, they would incur the guilt o

transgression. Satan was not to follow them with continual temptations;

he could have access to them only at the forbidden tree. Should the

attempt to investigate its nature, they would be exposed to his wiles.

They were admonished to give careful heed to the warning which Go

had sent them and to be content with the instruction which He had seen fit





to impart.”326

“For a time the oppressors will be permitted to triumph over those

who know God’s holy commandments… . It is God’s purpose tha

everyone shall be tested and proved, to see whether he will be loyal or

disloyal to the laws which govern the kingdom of heaven. To the last

God permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and amurderer. Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked,

more glorious, more full and complete.”327

c. Although Eve really believed Satan’s dazzling lies, her sincerity di

not save her from the penalty due to her lack of trust in God’s

warnings.

“She disbelieved the words of God, and this was what led to he

fall. In the judgment men will not be condemned because they

conscientiously believed a lie, but because they did not believe thetruth, because they neglected the opportunity of learning what is truth.

Notwithstanding the sophistry of Satan to the contrary, it is always

disastrous to disobey God. We must set our hearts to know what is

truth… . Whatever contradicts God’s word, we may be sure proceeds

from Satan.”328

d. The immediate consequences of sin for the first couple prefigured

what everyone senses when in conflict with God.

“After his transgression Adamat first imagined himself entering

upon a higher state of existence. But soon the thought of his sin filled

him with terror. The air, which had hitherto been of a mild and uniform

temperature, seemed to chill the guilty pair. The love and peace which

had been theirs was gone, and in its place they felt a sense of sin, a

dread of the future, a nakedness of soul.”329

e. The first response of sinners is to justify themselves by blaming

someone else.

“The fig-leaves represent the arguments used to cover

disobedience. When the Lord calls the attention of men and women to

the truth, the making of fig-leaves into aprons will be begun, to hide the

nakedness of the soul. But the nakedness of the sinner is not covered. All

the arguments pieced together by all who have interested themselves in

this flimsy work will come to naught.”330

“Adam could neither deny nor excuse his sin; but instead o

manifesting penitence, he endeavored to cast the blame upon his wife,





and thus upon God Himself: ‘The woman whom Thou gavest to be

with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’ He who, from love to

Eve, had deliberately chosen to forfeit the approval of God, his home i

Paradise, and an eternal life of joy, could now, after his fall, endeavor to

make his companion, and even the Creator Himself, responsible for the

transgression. So terrible is the power of sin.”331

“The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies; it

was indulged by our first parents as soon as they yielded to the influence

of Satan, and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam.

Instead of humbly confessing their sins, they try to shield themselves b

casting the blame upon others, upon circumstances, or upon God—

making even His blessings an occasion of murmuring against Him.”332

f. The horrid consequence of distrusting God was more than losing

their garden home—they could make promises to never fail againbut their promises would never again be enough.

“They were told that their nature had become depraved by sin; the

had lessened their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for

Satan to gain more ready access to them. In their innocence they ha

yielded to temptation; and now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would

have less power to maintain their integrity.”333

g. Suffering on this planet was never God’s will.

“From Adam’s day to ours there has been a succession of falls, eachgreater than the last, in every species of crime. God did not create a race

of beings so devoid of health, beauty, and moral power as now exists in

the world. Disease of every kind has been fearfully increasing upon the

race. This has not been by God’s especial providence, but directly

contrary to his will. It has come by man’s disregard of the very

means which God has ordained to shield him from the terrible evils

existing. Obedience to God’s law in every respect would save men fro

intemperance, licentiousness, and disease of every type. No one can

violate natural law without suffering the penalty.”334

h. Sin created in the human race a “bent” toward sin.

“Christ is the ‘Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the

world.’ John 1:9. As through Christ every human being has life, so also

through Him every soul receives some ray of divine light. Not onl

intellectual but spiritual power, a perception of right, a desire for

goodness, exists in every heart. But against these principles there is





struggling an antagonistic power. The result of the eating of the tree o

knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience .

There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot

resist. To withstand this force, to attain that ideal which in his inmost

soul he accepts as alone worthy, he can find help in but one power. That

power is Christ. Co-operation with that power is man’s greatesneed.”335

D. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God revealed how He would assist humanit

in resisting Satan’s temptations.

1. God implanted “enmity” in each human being.

“When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the

woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his work o

depraving human nature would be interrupted; that by some means man would

be enabled to resist his power.”336

“The enmity referred to in the prophecy in Eden was not to be confine

merely to Satan and the Prince of life. It was to be universal. Satan and his

angels were to feel the enmity of all mankind.”337

“Where enmity exists between man and Satan, it is an enmity that has

been put there by the Lord Jesus Christ; for fallen men and fallen angels

are naturally in harmony.”338

“God declares, ‘I will put enmity.’ This enmity is not naturall

entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil,and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan. There exists naturall

no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became evil

through apostasy. The apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy

and support by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason fallen

angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not Go

specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance

against Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the

whole human family would have been united in opposition to God.”339

“Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heartreaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God’s

Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge o

the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have

been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Thei

acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted

the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies

contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The ‘Light which lightet





every man that cometh into the world.’ (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and

this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God.”340

“Before we loved God, He loved us. Before we turned toward Him, Hi

grace was making its impression on our hearts.”341

“He, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, became a babe i

Bethlehem, and for a time represented the helpless infant in its mother’s care.In childhood He spoke and acted as a child, honoring His parents, an

carrying out their wishes in helpful ways. But from the first dawning o

intelligence He was constantly growing in grace and in a knowledge o

truth.”342

“He even mentions the work of the heathen world, who have had no

intelligent knowledge of the law of the Lord, but who have done the ver

things the law requires, because they heeded the voice speaking to them in

the things of nature around them. The grace of God working upon thei

darkened minds, softened their savage nature, untaught by the wisdom o

men.”343

“When the Holy Spirit puts Christ’s Spirit into the savage, and h

befriends God’s servants, the quickening of the heart’s sympathy is contrary to

his nature, contrary to his education. Christ implants His grace in the hear

of the savage, and he ministers to the necessity of the missionary even before

he has heard or comprehended the words of truth and life.”344

“God’s test of the heathen, who have not the light, and of those living

where the knowledge of truth and light has been abundant, is altogether different. He accepts from those in heathen lands a phase of righteousness

which does not satisfy Him when offered by those of Christian lands. He

does not require much where much has not been bestowed.”345

2. God promised a way of escape for Adam and his descendants from the

consequences of sin.

“Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their grea

sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of Go

had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A periodof probation would be granted them, and through repentance and faith in

Christ they might again become the children of God.”346

3. Temptation is not sin.

“Temptation is not sin, and it is not an indication of the divine

displeasure. The soul that resists temptation reveals to the universe of heaven

and to the world the strength and virtue of Christian principle.”347





E. God would tell His side of the story to Adam’s descendants in ways that men

and women could understand:

“He would give his people an intelligent knowledge of his will. He does not

command men to obey him when they do not understand what he requires.

Here was displayed his wisdom, power, and love.”348

1. God speaks, He is not silent.

“Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known to u

and bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our senses withou

ceasing. The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God a

revealed through the works of His hands. The listening ear can hear an

understand the communications of God through the things of nature. The gree

fields, the lofty trees, the buds and flowers, the passing cloud, the falling rain,

the babbling brook, the glories of the heavens, speak to our hearts, and invite

us to become acquainted with Him who made them all.”349

“God is perpetually at work in nature. She is His servant, directed a

He pleases. Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active

agency of a Being who moves in all His works according to His will. It is not

by an original power inherent in nature that year by year the earth

produces its bounties and the world keeps up its continual march around

the sun. The hand of infinite power is perpetually at work guiding this planet.

It is God’s power momentarily exercised that keeps it in position in its

rotations. The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power thavegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears and every flower

blooms. It is not as the result of a mechanism, that, once set in motion,

continues its work, that the pulse beats and breath follows breath. In God we

live and move and have our being. Every breath, every throb of the heart,

is the continual evidence of the power of an ever-present God.”350

“Those who think they can obtain a knowledge of God aside from Hi

Representative, whom the Word declares is ‘the express image of his person,’

will need to become fools in their own estimation before they can be wise. I

is impossible to gain a perfect knowledge of God from nature alone; for nature itself is imperfect. In its imperfection it cannot represent God, it canno

reveal the character of God in its moral perfection.”351

2. God speaks through His interventions in history and through the

influence of His Holy Spirit.

“God speaks to us through His providential workings and through the

influence of His Spirit upon the heart. In our circumstances and surroundings,





in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious lessons i

our hearts are but open to discern them. The psalmist, tracing the work o

God’s providence, says, ‘The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.’

‘Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the

loving-kindness of the Lord.’ Psalm 33:5; 107:43.”352

“The Jewish nation was indeed a vineyard inclosed. God’s law wasmoral hedge about them. This law was altogether superior to the law of an

other nation. They were forbidden to intermarry with other peoples, and were

warned to keep from idolatry. Every facility which would enable them to

become the greatest and most righteous people on the face of the earth was

provided. God designed that they should preserve their peculiar, holy

character, and represent Him in a godless world.”353

“The only hope for the Jewish nation was in their acceptance o

Christ, in forsaking their sins, and being reconciled to God. United to Christ

they would indeed become a great nation. He would work for them as He haworked for them in the past. If they were obedient, He would lead them to the

heavenly Canaan as He had planted them in the earthly Canaan. Had they

accepted Christ, His death would have been brought about by othe

people.”354

“In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued

conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things

which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and

new theories will be continually arising.”355

3. God speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures.

“God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines th

revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work o

redemption. Here is open before us the history of patriarchs and prophets and

other holy men of old. They were men ‘subject to like passions as we are.’

James 5:17. We see how they struggled through discouragements like our

own, how they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again

and conquered through the grace of God; and, beholding, we are encouragedin our striving after righteousness.”356

“The power of Christ, the crucified Saviour, to give eternal life, should be

presented to the people. We should show them that the Old Testament is as

verily the gospel in types and shadows as the New Testament is in its

unfolding power. The New Testament does not present a new religion; the

Old Testament does not present a religion to be superseded by the New. The

New Testament is only the advancement and unfolding of the Old.”357





“Every page of the New Testament Scriptures shines with His light. Ever

text is a diamond, touched and irradiated by the divine rays. The Gospel i

Christ unfolded, and Christ is the Gospel embodied. We are not to worship

the Gospel, but Christ, the Lord of the Gospel.”358

“The Bible is the great standard of right and wrong, clearly defining si

and holiness. Its living principles, running through our lives like threads ogold, are our only safeguard in trial and temptation. The Bible is a chart,

showing us the waymarks of truth. Those who are acquainted with this char

will be enabled to tread with certainty in the path of duty, wherever they may

be called to go. The Bible contains a simple and complete system of

theology and philosophy.”359

4. God speaks to us through His “royal law, that infinite standard.”

“In the gift of God’s dear Son, a definite view of His character has bee

given to the race that is never absent from His mind. His very heart is laidopen in the royal law. That infinite standard is presented to all, that there

may be no mistake in regard to that kind of people God would have

compose His kingdom. It is only those who are obedient to all His

commandments who will become members of the royal family, children of the

heavenly King. These will be honored with a citizenship above, a life tha

measures with the life of God,—a life without sorrow, pain, or death

throughout eternal ages.”360

“In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in

awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts whicwere to govern everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard

the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with

the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon men in every age as long

as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the

moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.”361

“He did not even then trust His precepts to the memory of a people who

were prone to forget His requirements, but wrote them upon tables of stone.

He would remove from Israel all possibility of mingling heathen traditionwith His holy precepts, or of confounding His requirements with huma

ordinances or customs. But He did not stop with giving them the precepts o

the Decalogue. The people had shown themselves so easily led astray that

He would leave no door of temptation unguarded. Moses was commanded

to write, as God should bid him, judgments and laws giving minute

instruction as to what was required. These directions relating to the duty o

the people to God, to one another, and to the stranger were only the





principles of the Ten Commandments amplified and given in a specific

manner, that none need err. They were designed to guard the sacredness

of the ten precepts engraved on the tables of stone.”362

5. God speaks to us through His seventh-day Sabbath.

“The day God set apart to be kept free from secular labor He designe

should be respected in commemoration of His wisdom, power, andgoodness in creating the world and man. The Sabbath was instituted before

the Jews were distinguished as a people, and was given to all mankind to

keep holy, ‘that ye may know,’ God declares, ‘that I am the Lord which do

sanctify you.’ If the Sabbath is accepted, the rest of the commands in the

Decalogue will be obeyed; for no one can truly keep the Sabbath an

disregard one precept of the law.”363

6. God speaks to us through His chosen people.

a. “God is revealed before the world in those who practice the works

of Christ, and through his messengers he is known as a God o

mercy, goodness, and forgiveness.”364

“God cannot display the knowledge of His will, and the wonders o

His grace, among the unbelieving world, unless He has witnesses

scattered all over the earth. This is God’s plan: that men and women

who are partakers of this great salvation through Jesus Christ, should be

His missionaries, bodies of light throughout the world, to be as signs to

the people—living epistles, known and read of all men; their faith andworks testifying to the near approach of the coming Saviour, and that

they have not received the grace of God in vain.”365

b. Through the nation of Israel.

“Since the days of Adam, the Lord has had His representatives,

men who have kept alive the influences imparted to them from heaven…

. The same Christ that is at work today among all classes of people, wa

at work in the days when Adam lived… . Enoch was one of God’s

representatives… . Noah’s persevering righteousness and faith made hima representative man. The deep, earnest fidelity of Abraham cause him to

be called by God ‘the father of the faithful.’ For his self-sacrificing zeal

Moses received the testimony that he was the meekest and most humble

of all the human family. These were characters illustrious for spirituality

and moral excellence. In every age Christ has been the Way, the Truth,

and the Life… . And all the knowledge that came direct from God to

them, all the power and glory of that ancient economy, had been poured





into the treasury of the Christian church. Nothing has been lost. The

accumulated light of generations is given to the church of today, not

to be hoarded, but to be circulated. Messengers are to be sent to ever

part of the earth, proclaiming Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”366

“Through his people Israel, God designed to give to the world

knowledge of his will. His promises and threatenings, his instructionsand reproofs, the wonderful manifestations of his power among them, in

blessings for obedience, and judgment for transgression and apostasy,

— all were designed for the education and development of religious

principle among the people of God until the close of time. Therefore it

is important that we acquaint ourselves with the history of the Hebrew

host, and ponder with care the dealings of God with them.”367

“From a race of slaves the Israelites were exalted above all

peoples, to be the peculiar treasure of the King of kings. God

separated them from the world, that He might commit to them a sacredtrust. He chose them as depositaries of priceless treasures of truth. He

purposed, through them, to preserve among men a knowledge of

Himself. … God’s purpose for His people is expressed in the words that

Christ spoke to them through Moses: ‘Thou art an holy people unto th

Lord thy God… Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and th

statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them…

. Thou shalt be blessed above all people.’ … God desired to make Hi

people Israel a praise and a glory. In obedience to His law they woulfind their wisdom and understanding. He told them that the keeping o

His commandments would bring to them an elevation of life and

character that even the heathen world would recognize and commend.

But Israel did not fulfil God’s purpose. They forgot God, and lost sigh

of their high privilege as His representatives. Through disobedience,

they developed a character exactly the opposite of the character He

designed they should develop by obedience to His law… .

[cont.] “If the Jewish nation had received the Teacher sent from God,

they would have given up the traditions and maxims handed down from

rabbi to rabbi, and accumulating from age to age. If they had hidden

God’s law in their hearts, if they had given due respect to its sacred

principles, it would have exerted a corrective influence on the entire

life, and would have remodeled their selfish, avaricious dispositions

after the character of God. But instead of following the Great Teacher,

they chose to follow their own way. By sinful indulgence they expelled





from the heart the love of God and the love of the principles of His hol

law. The love of the world filled their hearts, prompting them to

disobey. With His chosen people the Lord dealt as a loving father deals

with a disobedient son. For a thousand years He gave to them blessing

and responsibilities, privileges and opportunities. But as a people the

Jews failed of fulfilling His purpose; and to others were entrusted the privileges they had abused, the opportunities they had slighted. The

glorious possibilities set before Israel could be realized only through

obedience. The same elevation of character, the same fullness o

blessing—blessing on mind and soul and body, blessing on house and

field, blessing for this life and for the life to come—is possible for us

only through obedience.

[cont.] “In all ages those who have rendered obedience to God have

been transformed in character; and in these last days, when iniquity

abounds on every hand, our wisdom and understanding before all peoplewill consist in our obedience to the standard of righteousness… . God

has committed a work to His people. Both at home and in the region

beyond, there is work to be done. The truths of the Bible have agai

become obscured by custom, tradition, and false doctrine. The erroneous

teachings of popular theology have made thousands upon thousands o

skeptics and infidels. Multitudes have been led to cherish an erroneous

conception of God, as the Jews, misled by the errors and traditions o

their time, had a false conception of Christ… . As the Israelites wereset as a light to the surrounding nations in the darkness of heathenism, so

today every follower of Christ is to be as a light to those whose

minds are darkened by sin.”368

c. Through the Christian church:

“Christ here [Paul’s Damascus experience] gives all His people an

example of the manner of His working for the salvation of men. The

Son of God identifies Himself with His organized church. His

blessings are to come through the agencies He has ordained, and Hedesires men to connect themselves with this channel of blessing.”369

“Jesus is a savor of life unto life. It is worth possessing, wort

living, worth defending. Christ calls upon us to enter the narrow

pathway, where every step means a denial of self. He calls upon us to

stand upon the platform of eternal truth, and contend, yes, contend

earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints… . The whole

treasure of heaven is at our command in the work of preparing the way o





the Lord. By giving us the co-operation of the holy angels, God has mad

it possible for our work to be a wonderful, yes, a glorious, success. Bu

success will seldom result from scattered effort. The united influence o

all the members of the church is required… . The church today needs

men who, like Enoch, walk with God, revealing Christ to the

world.”370

7. God speaks through His hard decision to forbid Moses to enter the

Promised Land.

“By saying, ‘Must we fetch you water out of this rock?’ Moses virtuall

said to the people that they were correct in believing that he himself was

doing the mighty works that had been done in their behalf. This made i

necessary for God to prove to Israel that his admission was not founded o

fact… . To dispel forever from the minds of the Israelites the idea that a

man was leading them, God found it necessary to allow their leader to diebefore they entered the land of Canaan.”371

8. By his patient endurance, Job represented God in his persona

controversy with Satan.

“To choose the right because it is right; to stand for truth at the cost of

suffering and sacrifice—‘this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and

their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.’ Isaiah 54:17. Very early in the

history of the world is given the life record of one over whom this

controversy of Satan’s was waged. Of Job, the patriarch of Uz, thtestimony of the Searcher of hearts was, ‘There is none like him in the earth,

perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.’ Against

this man, Satan brought scornful charge: ‘Doth Job fear God for nought? Has

Thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he

hath on every side? … Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath;

touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.’

[cont.] “The Lord said unto Satan, ‘All that he hath is in thy power.’

‘Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.’ Thus permitted, Satan swep

away all that Job possessed—flocks and herds, menservants and maidens,sons and daughters; and he ‘smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his

foot unto his crown.’ Job 1:8-12; 2:5-7. Still another element of bitterness

was added to his cup. His friends, seeing in adversity but the retribution o

sin, pressed on his bruised and burdened spirit their accusations o

wrongdoing.

[cont.] “Seemingly forsaken of heaven and earth, yet holding fast his faith

in God and his consciousness of integrity, in anguish and perplexity he cried:





(Job 10:1; 14:13)… . According to his faith, so was it unto Job… . By his

patient endurance he vindicated his own character, and thus the

character of Him whose representative he was.”372

9. Today, the Old Testament is as important as the New.

“The idea that the Old Testament no longer possesses vital interes

because the New Testament has been written, is an idea fatal to the soul of him who believes it. Both the Old Testament and the New are necessary. The

New Testament does not contain another Gospel, a new religion. It is bu

the unfolding of the Old. The past ages are of peculiar value to us; and those

who are ignorant of the Scriptures, and of the power of God as manifest in the

history of His people, understand but dimly the manner of His working.”373

“Adam, repentant and converted, was a Christian; Abel was a Christian

Enoch was a Christian; Noah was a Christian; Abraham was a Christian. I

types and symbols the Gospel was revealed to those of former dispensations.The Old Testament Scriptures show us the power possessed by those who

looked to Christ.”374

“Christ taught the people the principles of Christianity, speaking from the

pillar of cloud and of fire, by day and by night.”375

10. God speaks to us through the sanctuary system, both in the Ol

Testament Jewish economy and in the Heavenly Sanctuary today.

a. The earthly sanctuary opened to view the plan of redemption.

“The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work inbehalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to

view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of

time and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between

righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should

thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to

everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.”376

“The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to

human vision the glories of that heavenly temple where Christ ourforerunner ministers for us before the throne of God. The abiding-

place of the King of kings, where thousand thousands minister unto him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him (Daniel 7:10); tha

temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its

shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in the most

magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a faint reflection

of its vastness and glory. Yet important truths concerning the





heavenly sanctuary and the great work there carried forward for

man’s redemption were taught by the earthly sanctuary and its

services. The holy places of the sanctuary in Heaven are represented b

the two apartments in the sanctuary on earth.”377

b. The sanctuary system is the key hermeneutical tool for

understanding the breadth of the Great Controversy theme.“The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly

sanctuary is the foundation of our faith.”378

“In every page, whether history, or precept, or prophecy, the Old

Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God. S

far as it was of divine institution, the entire system of Judaism was a

compacted prophecy of the gospel.”379

“The subject of the sanctuary … . opened to view a complete

system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s handhad directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it

brought to light the position and work of His people… . Light from the

sanctuary illumined the past, the present, and the future.”380

“The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation

and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: ‘Unto

two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be

cleansed.’ Daniel 8:14.”381

“Those who received the light concerning the sanctuary and the

immutability of the law of God were filled with joy and wonder as thesaw the beauty and harmony of the system of truth that opened to

their understanding.”382

“The significance of the Jewish economy is not yet fully

comprehended. Truths vast and profound are shadowed forth in its

rites and symbols. The gospel is the key that unlocks its mysteries.

Through a knowledge of the plan of redemption, its truths are opened to

the understanding. Far more than we do, it is our privilege to understand

these wonderful themes.”383

“After his ascension, our Saviour was to begin his work as our hig

priest… . As Christ’s ministration was to consist of two great divisions,

each occupying a period of time and having a distinctive place in the

heavenly sanctuary, so the typical ministration consisted of two

divisions, the daily and the yearly service, and to each a department o

the tabernacle was devoted.”384





c. The primary purpose of the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries was to

teach how every created being, including men and women, could

become a temple for God’s dwelling.

“From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that every created being,

from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the

indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be atemple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longe

revealed the glory of the Divine One. But by the incarnation of the So

of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity,

and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again His

temple. God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should be a

continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul. …In

cleansing the temple from the world’s buyers and sellers, Jesus

announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,

—from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corruptthe soul.”385

“The bright future of prosperity and glory which Jerusalem migh

have enjoyed rises before Him. Had Jerusalem but known the time of he

visitation, had she accepted the world’s Redeemer, she would have

been healed of her grievous malady; she would have been exalted as

the world’s metropolis. No Roman army would have stood at her gates.

No Roman yoke would have rested upon her shoulders. As the favored

citadel of truth, the dove of peace would have gone forth from her to allthe nations of the earth. She would have been as a diadem of glory to her

God.”386

“The revelation at Sinai could only impress them with their need an

helplessness. Another lesson the tabernacle, through its service o

sacrifice, was to teach— the lesson of pardon of sin, and power

through the Saviour for obedience unto life.”387

“Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the

tabernacle was a symbol… . In all, God desired His people to rea

His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long

afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit:

‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit o

God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shal

God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’ 1

Corinthians 3:16, 17.”388

d. Everything in the Jewish sanctuary service had been misinterpreted.





“Everything in the Jewish service had been misinterpreted an

misapplied. The purpose of the sacrifice offerings had been perverted.

They were to symbolize Christ and His mission, that when He shoul

come in the flesh, the world might recognize God in Him, and accep

Him as the world’s Redeemer. But their lack of true heart service for

God had blinded the Jews to a knowledge of God. Exactions andceremonies and traditions were the sum total of their religion.”389

11. God spoke through the tithing system, especially regarding the health o

land.

“The tithing system was instituted by the Lord as the very bes

arrangement to help the people in carrying out the principles of the law. I

this law were obeyed, the people would be entrusted with the entire vineyard,

the whole earth. [Quotes Leviticus 25:18-22.] … . Men were to cooperat

with God in restoring the diseased land to health, that it might be a praiseand a glory to His name. And as the land they possessed would, if managed

with skill and earnestness, produce its treasures, so their hearts, if controlled

by God, would reflect His character… . In the laws which God gave for th

cultivation of the soil, He was giving the people opportunity to overcome

their selfishness and become heavenly-minded. Canaan would be to the

as Eden if they obeyed the Word of the Lord. Through them the Lor

designed to teach all the nations of the world how to cultivate the soil so

that it would yield healthy fruit, free from disease.”390

F. God spoke to us through His own personal intervention and presence: “‘Whe

the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.’ God could revea

Himself in no other way.”391 “It is only through a correct understanding o

Christ’s mission and work that the possibility of being complete in Him,

accepted in the Beloved, is brought within our reach.”392

1. Jesus was God’s thoughts made audible and observable.

“By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and t

angels. He was the Word of God,— God’s thought made audible. In Hi

prayer for His disciples He says, ‘I have declared unto them Th

name,’—‘merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and

truth,’—‘that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I i

them.’ But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given.

Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful purpose

of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which ‘angels

desire to look,’ and it will be their study throughout endless ages.”393





“What speech is to thought, so is Christ to the invisible Father. He is

the manifestation of the Father, and is called the Word of God. God sent Hi

Son into the world, His divinity clothed with humanity, that man might bear

the image of the invisible God. He made known in His words, Hi

character, His power and majesty, the nature and attributes of God.

Divinity flashed through humanity in softening, subduing light. He was theembodiment of the law of God, which is the transcript of His character.”394

2. Jesus came to tell the truth about God who had been terribly

misrepresented by Satan.

“With his hosts of fallen beings he [Satan] determined to urge the warfare

most vigorously; for there stood in the world One who was a perfec

representative of the Father, One whose character and practices refuted

Satan’s misrepresentation of God. Satan had charged upon God the attribute

he himself possessed. Now in Christ he saw God revealed in His trucharacter—a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should

perish, but that all should come to Him in repentance, and have eternal

life.”395

“The only way in which he could set and keep men right was to make

himself visible and familiar to their eyes. That men might have salvation he

came directly to man, and became a partaker of his nature. The Father wa

revealed in Christ as altogether a different being from that which Satan ha

represented him to be. Said Christ, ‘Neither knoweth any man the Father, sav

the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.’ The love of Jesusexpressed for the fallen race in his life of self-denial and sufferings, is the

manifestation of the Father’s love for a sinful, fallen world… . Christ exalte

the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the

credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,—to set men right

through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paterna

grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his

crucifixion, he declared, ‘I have manifested thy name.’ ‘I have glorified thee

on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.’ When theobject of his mission was attained,—the revelation of God to the world,—

the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the

character of the Father was made manifest to men.”396

3. In His life and death, Jesus manifested God’s justice in handling the si

problem—God had been fair!

“By His life on earth He honored the law of God. By His death H





established it. He gave His life as a sacrifice, not to destroy God’s law, no

to create a lower standard, but that justice might be maintained, that the law

might be shown to be immutable, that it might stand fast forever. Satan had

claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s commandments; and in

our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the

form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanityand divinity combined can obey every one of God’s precepts.”397

“The life of Christ on earth was a perfect expression of God’s law, and

when those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in character,

they will be obedient to God’s commandments. Then the Lord can trust them

to be of the number who shall compose the family of heaven. … They have

a right to join the blood-washed throng.”398

“By His life and His death, Christ proved that God’s justice did not

destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is

righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted. Godhad given man unmistakable evidence of His love.”399

4. Jesus came to be our Savior and Example.

“Christ would teach this lesson to all who will follow him. As our

Substitute and Surety, standing at the head of humanity, he is our example.

He was obedient to all the requirements of God. He, the Majesty of heaven

the King of glory, laid aside his royalty, his position as Commander in the

heavenly courts, came to our world as a man, and became subject to the law.

And all this that man might become like his Master, obedient, not to the enemof God, but obedient to his Father in heaven, that he might engage in the

service that God requires of each of his obedient children. This constitutes

the condition of salvation.”400

“Sin has almost obliterated the moral image of God in man. Thi

lamentable condition would have known no change or hope if Jesus had no

come down to our world to be man’s Saviour and Example. In the midst of a

world’s moral degradation he stands, a beautiful and spotless character, the

one model for man’s imitation. We must study, and copy, and follow the LordJesus Christ; then we shall bring the loveliness of his character into our ow

life, and weave his beauty into our daily words and actions. Thus we shall

stand before God with acceptance, and win back by conflict with the

principalities of darkness, the power of self-control, and the love of God tha

Adam lost in the fall.”401

“In the life that He lived on this earth, Christ has given usan example of

what the lives of those who believe on Him should be. God calls for a





depth of piety that many have not yet known… . This high standard Christ has

made it possible for us to reach. He will be present in His grace an

strength, to help every striving soul not to fall short of His high calling. Ou

expectations need to be elevated far above that which is seen in the piety o

many professing Christians. God calls upon us to reveal the Saviour to the

world in works of righteousness. He calls upon us to remember that weare a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.”402

5. One of Jesus’ roles was to be humanity’s Teacher.

“The great teacher came into our world, not only to atone for sin but

to be a teacher both by precept and example. He came to show man how to

keep the law in humanity, so that man might have no excuse for following his

own defective judgment. We see Christ’s obedience. His life was without sin.

His lifelong obedience is a reproach to disobedient humanity. The obedience

of Christ is not to be put aside as altogether different from the obedience Herequires of us individually. Christ has shown us that it is possible for all

humanity to obey the laws of God.”403

6. Jesus came to unmask Satan’s lies that mankind could not keep (obey)

the laws of God.

“Christ came to the world to counteract Satan’s falsehood that Go

had made a law which men could not keep. Taking humanity upon Himself,

He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed that God has no

made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible for man perfectly to obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour,

becoming partakers of His divine nature, are enabled to follow His example,

living in obedience to every precept of the law. Through the merits of Christ,

man is to show by his obedience that he could be trusted in heaven, that he

would not rebel.”404

“Christ came to this world as a man, to prove to angels and to men

that man may overcome, that in every emergency he may know that the

powers of Heaven are ready to help him. Our Saviour took thenature of

man, with all its possibilities. We have nothing to endure that He has notendured.”405

“Christ came to the earth, taking humanity and standing as man’s

representative, to show in the controversy with Satan that he was a liar,

and that man, as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son

could obey every requirement of God. Speaking through His servant H

declares, ‘His commandments are not grievous.’ It was sin that separated man





from his God, and it is sin that maintains this separation.”406

“Satan, the powerful angel who had been cast out of heaven, had long

claimed dominion on earth. Christ came to conquer this foe, in order tha

through divine grace we also might obtain the victory over the enemy of our

souls. Standing at the head of humanity, Christ by perfect obedience to

God’s commandments, demonstrated to the universe that man couldwithstand Satan’s temptations. … In order to be a Saviour indeed, it wa

necessary for Him to know the power of temptation, to endure every trial

and affliction that befalls us. In all our afflictions He was afflicted. H

endured every hardship that comes to the poor and the needy. He suffered

weariness and hunger. He understands every inconvenience to which we may

be put. Under all circumstances He remained faithful to every precept o

God’s law, living in our behalf a perfect life. From childhood to manhood

He stood the test of obedience.”407

“Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan in the same manner that everytempted soul may resist, by referring him to the inspired record and saying,

‘It is written.’ Christ overcame the temptations of Satan as a man. Every man

may overcome as Christ overcame. He humbled Himself for us. He wa

tempted in all points like as we are. He redeemed Adam’s disgraceful failure

and fall, and was conqueror , thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and

to fallen humanity that man could keep the commandments of God

through the divine power granted to him of heaven. Jesus the Son of Go

humbled Himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf toshow us how we may overcome. He has thus bound up His interests wit

humanity by the closest ties, and has given the positive assurance that we

shall not be tempted above that we are able , for with the temptation He

will make a way of escape.”408

“He [Jesus] consented to meet the foe single-handed, as every human

being must do. He was provided with all the heavenly powers to aid Him i

this great conflict; and man, if he walks in the way and will of God, is

provided with the same keeping power. The same heavenly intelligences

minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation, that they may overcome

every temptation, great or small, as Christ overcame.”409

7. Jesus came to prove Satan wrong about God being “severe, exacting

revengeful, and arbitrary.”

“Christ came to save fallen man, and Satan with fiercest wrath met him o

the field of conflict; for the enemy knew that when divine strength was added

to human weakness, man was armed with power and intelligence, and could





break away from the captivity in which he had bound him… . God was

represented as severe, exacting, revengeful, and arbitrary. He was pictured as

one who could take pleasure in the sufferings of his creatures. The ver

attributes that belonged to the character of Satan, the evil one represented as

belonging to the character of God. Jesus came to teach men of the Father,

to correctly represent him before the fallen children of earth.”410

8. Jesus came to bring mankind moral power.

“Jesus came to this earth, marred and seared by the curse, for the purpose

of bringing moral power to men. He fought the battle in man’s behalf in the

wilderness of temptation, and it was the same battle that everyone of us must

fight till the close of time.”411

“The young may have moral power, for Jesus came into the world that He

might be our example and give to all youth and those of every age divine

help.”412

“Jesus came to bring moral power to combine with human effort, and in

no case are His followers to allow themselves to lose sight of Christ, who i

their example in all things. He said, ‘For their sakes I sanctify myself, tha

they also might be sanctified through the truth’ (John 17:19). Jesus presents

the truth before His children that they may look upon it, and by beholding it,

may become changed, being transformed by His grace from transgression to

obedience, from impurity to purity, from sin to heart-holiness and

righteousness of life.”413

“In the councils of heaven the Lord planned to reshape the broken, perverted characters of man, and to restore to them the moral image of

God. This work is termed the mystery of godliness. Christ, the only-begotte

of the Father, assumed human nature, came in the likeness of sinful flesh to

condemn sin in the flesh. He came to testify to the unchangeable character o

the law of God that had been impeached by Satan… . Through the plan o

salvation, power was to operate in the re-creation of man. The remedy for

the sinner was of a supernatural character.”414

“Christ left his heavenly home, and came to this world, to show that onl by being connected with divinity can man keep the law of God. In itsel

humanity is tainted and corrupted; but Christ brought moral power to man,

and those who live in communion with him overcome as he overcame. We

are not left in this world as orphans; Christ has united fallen man to the

infinite God. He has opened a way for our prayers to ascend to God, and th

fragrance of his righteousness ascends with the prayer of every repentant

sinner.”415





“Weakened through sin, we cannot of ourselves keep the law of God. Bu

Christ came to our world to restore the moral image of God in men, and to

bring them back from the path of disobedience to a path of obedience. His

mission to the world was to reveal the character of God by living the law,

which is the foundation of his government; and those who will accept him as

their personal Saviour will grow in grace, and in his strength will be enabledto obey the law of God.”416

“Christ laid aside his royal robes, and came to this earth, bringing with

him a power sufficient to overcome sin. He came to live the law of God i

humanity, that by partaking of his divine nature, we also might live that law…

. We may say that it is impossible for us to reach God’s standard; but when

Christ came as our substitute and surety, it was as a human being.”417

“Paul attained to the full moral stature of a man in Christ Jesus.”418

9. Jesus came to show the purpose of the Christian church.“The formation of the Christian church, and the union of all that it

embraces, and preserving the consecration of all its powers as the appointed

agencies of God, for the spiritual recovery of the moral image of God in man,

was the object of Christ assuming human nature. Christ was the foundation

of the whole Jewish economy, which was the symbol prescribed in type for

the religious faith and obedience of all people.”419

“In every age Christ has been the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He was the

Originator and foundation of the Jewish economy. In the pillar of cloud H

guided the children of Israel in their wanderings. Everything was adjusted anarranged by the hand of Divinity. And all the knowledge that came direct from

God to them, all the power and glory of that ancient economy, had been

poured into the treasury of the Christian church. Nothing has been lost.

The accumulated light of generations is given to the church of today, not

to be hoarded, but to be circulated.”420

“It is His desire that they shall demonstrate to the world that human

beings can live pure, upright lives. That He might ‘purify unto Himself

peculiar people,’ Christ left the royal courts and clothed His divinity withhumanity. He lived out in the world the principles of God’s law, showing

that His grace has power to redeem men and women and raise them to a

plane of moral integrity. Amid the awful confederacy of evil now existing in

the world, Christians are to stand firmly and bravely for the Redeemer,

protesting by blameless lives against the prevailing apostasy.”421

10. Jesus came as our substitute and surety so that we might be overcomers





with Him.

“Christ ventured a great deal when He came here to stand upon the

battlefield, when He came here clothed with humanity, standing as our

surety, as our substitute, that He would overcome in our behalf, that we

might be overcomers in His strength and by His merits.”422

“When Jesus came to the world it was as our substitute and surety. He passed through all the experiences of man, from the manger to Calvary, at

every step giving man an example of what he should be and what he

should do.”423

“By the power of God, man is to firmly resist every temptation. The

temptations which Christ overcame cover all the temptations that come

to man. Each of these temptations marks a special crisis in the life. If man i

overcome, Satan has gained the victory, and man has weakened his own

power of resistance. But if the tempted one will lay hold of the strength of the

Conqueror, he, too, will overcome. Christ said to His disciples, ‘In the worlye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the

world.’”424

11. Jesus answered Satan’s charge that God was not self-denying as He

asked His created intelligences to be.

“The true spirit of the Christian religion is one of self-sacrifice; self-

denial is required at every step. Jesus came down from Heaven to teach u

how to live; and his life was one of toil and self-denial.”425

12. Jesus came to give us an example of how to overcome sin.

“He came to earth to unite his divine power with our human efforts, tha

through the strength and moral power which he imparts, we may

overcome in our own behalf.”426

“As we see the condition of mankind today, the question arises in the

minds of some, ‘Is man by nature totally and wholly depraved?’ Is he

hopelessly ruined? No, he is not. The Lord Jesus left the royal courts and

taking our human nature, lived such a life as everyone may live in humanity,

through following His example. We may perfect a life in this world [which]is an example of righteousness, and overcome as Christ has given us an

example in His life, revealing that humanity may conquer as He, the grea

Pattern, [conquered]. Men have sold themselves to the enemy of all

righteousness. Christ came to our world to live the example humanity mus

live, if they [are to] secure the heavenly reward… . Christ lived the

unpolluted life in this world to reveal to human beings the power of His





grace that will be given to every soul that will accept Him as his

Saviour.”427

“Christ assumed human nature, to demonstrate to the fallen world, to

Satan and his synagogue, to the universe of heaven, and to the worlds unfallen,

that human nature, united to his divine nature, could become entirely

obedient to the law of God, that his followers by their love and unity wouldgive evidence that the power of redemption is sufficient to enable man to

overcome.”428

“Jesus has given us an example to show how we may meet and

conquer Satan. … A holy life is accessible to every repenting, believing

child of God. We are to work out that which Christ works in. Then work,

Christian brethren and sisters, ‘work out your own salvation with fear and

trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of Hi

good-pleasure.’ Every provision has been made that you shall come off more

than conquerors.”429

“But the plan of God, devised for the salvation of man, provided tha

Christ should know hunger, and poverty, and every phase of man’s

experience. He withstood the temptation, through the power that man may

command. He laid hold on the throne of God, and there is not a man o

woman who may not have access to the same help through faith in God. Ma

may become a partaker of the divine nature; not a soul lives who may not

summon the aid of Heaven in temptation and trial. Christ came to reveal the

source of His power, that man might never rely on his unaided humancapabilities. … Christ came to be our example, and to make known to us tha

we may be partakers of the divine nature. How?— By having escaped the

corruptions that are in the world through lust. Satan did not gain the victor

over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the soul of the Redeemer. He did no

touch the head though he bruised the heel. Christ, by His own example, made

it evident that man may stand in integrity. Men may have a power to

resist evil— a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a

power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame.

Divinity and humanity may be combined in them.”430

“While on this earth the Saviour was sorely tried. He was tempted i

all points like as we are. … He must live among them the life that Go

requires all His children to live.”431

13. Jesus came not to save us in our sins, but from our sins.

“Christ would not have come to this earth if the commandments had no

been broken. He came not to save us in our sins, but from our sins. There is no





true happiness in transgression, but in obedience. Our merit is in the blood o

Christ. But men think they can transgress and shun the cross, and yet

enter into the city.”432

14. Jesus came in human flesh so He could learn how to sympathize with us i

our sorrows and temptations.

“Christ knew that man could not overcome without His help. Therefor He consented to lay off His royal robes and clothe His divinity with humanit

that we might be rich. He came to this earth, suffered, and knows just how to

sympathize with us and to assist us in overcoming. He came to bring man

moral power, and He would not have man to understand that he has nothing to

do, for everyone has a work to do for himself, and through the merits of Jesus

we can overcome sin and the devil.”433

15. Jesus came to introduce the Holy Spirit as His personal representativ

after His ascension.“Jesus came to impart to the human soul the Holy Spirit, by which the

love of God is shed abroad in the heart; but it is impossible to endow men

with the Holy Spirit, who are set in their ideas, whose doctrines are all

stereotyped and unchangeable, who are walking after the traditions and

commandments of men.”434

16. Jesus came, not only to provide salvation to men and women, but also to

vindicate the character of God before the universe.

“But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper purpose than thesalvation of man. It was not for this alone that Christ came to the earth; it wa

not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God

as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the character of God

before the universe.”435

17. Jesus came to show us how divine power and human effort must work

together in living an overcoming life.

“Man never could have overcome the power of appetite unless Christ ha

overcome in his behalf; but now man may obtain the victory. Christ cameto bring divine power to unite with human effort, so that although we have

been debased by perverted appetite, we may take courage, for we are

prisoners of hope.”436

“If Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations, He will help us to resist. He cam

to bring divine power to combine with human effort.”437

18. Jesus came to show humanity what perfect sinlessness is in human flesh.





“We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of

the human nature of Christ. Our faith must be an intelligent faith, looking

unto Jesus in perfect confidence, in full and entire faith in the atoning

Sacrifice. This is essential that the soul may not be enshrouded in darkness.

This holy Substitute is able to save to the uttermost; for He presented to the

wondering universe perfect and complete humility in His human character,and perfect obedience to all the requirements of God. Divine power is place

upon man, that he may become a partaker of the divine nature , having

escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This is why repenting,

believing man can be made the righteousness of God in Christ.”438

19. Jesus came to demonstrate how to live a life of obedience and service.

“Christ came to this earth to show the human race how to obey God.

… In order that we might make no mistake, He took our nature, and in it live

a life of perfect obedience. He obeyed in humanity, ennobling and elevatinghumanity by obedience. He lived in obedience to God, that not only by wor

of mouth, but by His every action, He might honor the law. By so doing, He

not only declared that we ought to obey, but showed us how to obey… .

The obedience that Christ rendered is exactly the obedience that Go

requires from human beings today.”439

“Christ did not forget John. In the lonely prison He manifested Himself t

him, showing him that erelong He Himself was to suffer a most shameful,

ignominious death. Not only that, but He was to bear the penalty of the

transgression of the law of God, not to give men liberty to continue in sin, butto take away their inclination to sin, that they might not desire to

transgress. Those who receive Christ are obedient to His commands; for Hi

mind is given to them. He imbues them with His spirit of obedience, an

they return to their loyalty.”440

20. “It was the spirit of uncomplaining submission in which our Saviour di

His duty that made His yoke easy and His burden light. He conformed to th

law of obedience and service, and the same principle that made Him so

useful everywhere, He requires His followers to obey. In this way ever man must be educated before he can love God supremely and his neighbor as

himself.”441

“Christ came to this world to show us what God can do and what we can

do in cooperation with God.”442

“Standing at the head of humanity, serving His Father, He is an example o

what every son should and may be. The obedience that Christ rendere

God requires from human beings today.”443





“The strength given to Christ in the hour of bodily suffering and mental

anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, has been and will be given to those

who suffer for His dear name’s sake. The same grace given to Jesus, the

same comfort, the more than mortal steadfastness, will be given to every

believing child of God, who is brought into perplexity and suffering, and

threatened with imprisonment and death, by Satan’s agents. Never has a soulthat trusts in Christ been left to perish. The rack, the stake, the man

inventions of cruelty, may kill the body, but they cannot touch the life that

is hid with Christ in God.”444

“Christ conquered by divine strength, and so must every tempted soul

overcome. God was with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and by th

experience of Christ we are to learn to trust our heavenly Father; at all time

and in all places we are to believe that He is tender, true, and faithful, able to

keep that which is committed to His care. In the agonizing struggle of Christ

our Substitute and Surety, the Father was beside His son, and He is beside

every soul that struggles with discouragement and difficulty.”445

21. Jesus came to emphasize the purpose of marriage.

“Priests and popes have made laws forbidding people to marry, and

secluding them in monasteries. These laws and restrictions were devised b

Satan to place men and women in unnatural positions. Thus Satan has tempte

human beings to disregard the law of marriage as a thing unholy, but at the

same time he has opened the door for the indulgence of human passion. Thus

have come into existence some of the greatest evils which curse our world,— adultery, fornication, the murder of innocent children born out of wedlock.

[cont.] “Jesus came to our world to correct mistakes, to restore the

moral image of God in man. Wrong sentiments in regard to marriage had

found a place in the minds of the teachers in Israel. They were making of none

effect this institution. Man was becoming so hard-hearted that for the mos

trivial excuse he would separate from his wife, or, if he chose, he would

separate her from her children. This was considered a great disgrace, and

was often accompanied by the most acute suffering on the part of thediscarded one. Christ came to correct these evils and His first miracle was

wrought on the occasion of a marriage.”446

22. Jesus came to set forth the character of His kingdom.

“Christ’s work was to set before men the character of His kingdom,

showing that names and positions and titles are nothing, but that pure virtue

and a holy character is accounted as everything in the sight of heaven.”447





23. Jesus came to be our Redeemer and Restorer.

“He is the Redeemer and Restorer, and those who call upon Him in fait

will receive strength to overcome every wrong habit and practice.”448

24. Jesus, as the divine Teacher, came to reveal the Father as a

compassionate, merciful Person.

“Satan has misrepresented God’s purpose, and caused man to look uponHim in a false light; yet thru the ages God’s love for man has never ceased.

Christ, the divine Teacher, came to reveal the Father as a merciful,

compassionate Being, full of goodness and truth. The Saviour swept back th

shadow in which the enemy had enveloped the Father, declaring, ‘I and M

Father are one; look on Me and behold God.’ … Christ spoke with clearness

and in a distinct, melodious voice. His tones were natural and even. Had H

raised His voice to an unnatural key, as so many speakers today do, its pathos

and melody would have been destroyed, and much of the force of the truthwould have been lost.”449

25. Jesus became man’s Mediator when man sinned and later by taking the

nature but not the sinfulness of man.

“After the fall, Christ became Adam’s instructor. He acted in God’s stead

toward humanity, saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Hi

the work of mediator between God and man. In the fulness of time He wa

to be revealed in human form. He was to take His position at the head o

humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man.”450

26. Jesus came to be a “reconstructor of character.”

“He came to the world to be a reconstructor of character, and He

brought into all His work of building the perfection which He desired to

bring into the characters He was transforming by His divine power.”451

27. Jesus came as the Expositor of all the truths and prophecies He Himsel

gave in Old Testament times.

“Christ came as the Expositor of the prophecies that He Himself ha

given to His people through holy men of old. He separated the precepts oJehovah from the maxims and traditions of men. He taught the people that the

Ten Commandments are an expression of the truth in all its purity.”452

28. Jesus came to understand for Himself what human temptations were like

and thus to give power to overcome temptations.

“Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and clothed Hi

divinity with humanity, that He might know for Himself the sufferings and





the temptations of human beings. He came to be their Surety, to overcome in

their behalf, to live for them a sinless life, that through His power they

might obtain the victory over evil.”453

29. The truth we learn through Jesus cannot be explained, only experienced.

“The truth as it is in Jesus can be experienced, but never explained.

Its height, and breadth, and depth pass our knowledge. We must look to thesource, in the great heart of the infinite God, our Creator. We may strain our

imagination to its utmost, and then we shall only see dimly the outline of a

love that is unexplainable, that is as high as heaven, but that stooped to earth

to stamp the image of God on all mankind.”454





The Great Controversy Theme Explains Why Jesus

Became Man

NOT ONLY TO REVEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD — BUT TO IDENTIFY WITH HUMAN BEINGS,THUS GIVING CREDIBILITY TO HIS APPEAL TO US TO OVERCOME, EVEN AS HE WOULD AND DID

“The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden linke

chain which binds our souls to Christ and through Christ to God. This is to be ou

study. Christ was a real man, and He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man.

And He was God in the flesh. When we approach the subject of Christ’s divinit

clothed with the garb of humanity, we may appropriately heed the words spoken by

Christ to Moses at the burning bush, ‘Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the

place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ We must come to the study of thissubject with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the

incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, and will repay the searcher who digs deep

for hidden truth.”455

A. When becoming human, Christ’s divinity and humanity were inseparable, yet

each maintained a distinct individuality.

“But although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by Hi

assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be God when He became man. Th

human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the

mystery of godliness. The two expressions human and divine were, in Christ,

closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. Though

Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own. His Deit

could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to His loyalty.”456

B. As a free moral agent, Jesus was Himself on probation

“The temptations to which Christ was subjected were a terrible reality. As a

free agent He was placed on probation, with liberty to yield to Satan’s temptations

and work at cross-purposes with God. If this were not so, if it had not bee

possible for Him to fall, He could not have been tempted in all points as the huma

family is tempted.”457

C. Jesus was born, after nine months in Mary’s womb, into a world of “almost

infinite humiliation.”458

1. Jesus accepted all the risks of failure in a Satan-dominated world.





“Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted Hi

Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He

permitted Him to meet life’s peril in common with every human soul, to fight

the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and

eternal loss.”459

“Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemedshall stand with the Redeemer before the throne of God. Then as the glories o

the eternal home burst upon our enraptured senses we shall remember that

Jesus left all this for us, that He not only became an exile from the heavenl

courts, but for us took the risk of failure and eternal loss. Then we shall

cast our crowns at His feet, and raise the song, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was

slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and

glory, and blessing.’ Revelation 5:12.”460

“Christ was not in as favorable a position in the desolate wilderness to

endure the temptations of Satan as was Adam when he was tempted in Eden.The Son of God humbled Himself andtook man’s nature after the race had

wandered four thousand years from Eden, and from their original state o

purity and uprightness. Sin had been making its terrible marks upon the race

for ages; and physical, mental, and moral degeneracy prevailed throughout

the human family.”461

“For a period of time Christ was on probation. He took humanity on

Himself, to stand the test and trial which the first Adam failed to endure. Ha

He failed in His test and trial, He would have been disobedient to the voicof God, and the world would have been lost. Satan has asserted that men

could not keep the commandments of God. To prove that they could, Christ

became a man, and lived a life of perfect obedience, an evidence to sinful

human beings, to the worlds unfallen, and to the heavenly angels, that

man could keep God’s law through the divine power that is abundantly

provided for all that believe. In order to reveal God to the world, to

demonstrate as true that which Satan has denied, Christ volunteered to

take humanity, and in His power, humanity can obey God. ‘As many as

received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.’”462

2. Jesus became a human being in its fallen condition after approximately

4,000 years of a sin-weakened, genetic stream.

“By taking upon Himself man’s nature in its fallen condition, Christ did

not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and

weaknesses of the flesh with which humanity is encompassed, ‘that it might be

fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet Esaias, Himself took our infirmitie





and bare our sicknesses.’ He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities,

and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He was without a

spot.”463

“Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four

thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results o

the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shownin the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share

our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.”464

“Christ was to redeem Adam’s failure. But when Adam was assailed b

the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength

of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. He was

surrounded with the glories of Eden, and was in daily communion with

heavenly beings. It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness t

cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing i

physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took uponHim the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue

man from the lowest depths of his degradation.”465

“Here Christ overcame in the sinner’s behalf, four thousand years afte

Adam turned his back upon the light of his home. Separated from the presence

of God, the human family had been departing, every successive generation,

farther from the original purity, wisdom, and knowledge which Adam

possessed in Eden. Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they

existed when He came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race,with the weaknesses of fallen man upon Him, He was to stand the

temptations of Satan upon all points wherewith man would be assailed.”466

3. Gabriel told Mary that her Son, by means of the Holy Spirit, would b

“that Holy One” (Luke 1:35, NKJV).

“The humanity of Christ is called ‘that holy thing.’ The inspired record

says of Christ, ‘He did no sin,’ he ‘knew no sin,’ and ‘in him was no sin.’ He

was ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.’ He tabernacled

among men. This testimony concerning Christ plainly shows that hecondemned sin in the flesh. No man can say that he is hopelessly subject to the

bondage of sin and Satan. Christ has assumed the responsibilities of the

human race, and the sins of all that believe are charged to him. He has

engaged to be liable for them. He obeyed every jot and tittle of the law, to

testify before unfallen worlds, before holy angels, before the fallen world,

that those who believe in him, who accept of him as their sin-offering, who

rely upon him as their personal Saviour, will be advantaged by his





righteousness, and become partakers of his divine nature. He testifies tha

through his imputed righteousness the believing soul shall obey the

commandments of God.”467

4. Jesus, in human nature, possessed all the human organism,

“When Jesus took human nature, and became in fashion as a man, He

possessed all the human organism. His necessities were the necessities oa man. He had bodily wants to be supplied, bodily weariness to be relieved.

By prayer to the Father He was braced for duty and for trial.”468

D. Jesus took our human nature and our experiences, not vicariously, but

actually, even as we experience them: “For we do not have a High Priest who

cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we

are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.

1. Jesus did not want to give Satan a chance to say that human being

cannot faithfully obey God’s will—that they could not keep the law of

God.

“After the fall of man, Satan declared that human beings were proved

to be incapable of keeping the law of God, and he sought to carry the

universe with him in this belief. Satan’s words appeared to be true, and Christ

came to unmask the deceiver. The Majesty of heaven undertook the cause o

man, and with the same facilities that man may obtain, withstood the

temptations of Satan as man must withstand them. This was the only wa

in which fallen man could become a partaker of the divine nature. In takinghuman nature, Christ was fitted to understand man’s trials and sorrows

and all the temptations wherewith he is beset. Angels who were

unacquainted with sin could not sympathize with man in his peculiar trials.

Christ condescended to take man’s nature, and was tempted in all points like

as we, that He might know how to succor all who should be tempted.”469

“Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declare

that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents,

with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to

look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to

unveil this deception. As one of us He was to give an example of obedience.

For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through ou

experiences. ‘In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto Hi

brethren.’ Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did no

endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God a

insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was ‘in all points tempted like as we





are.’ Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And

He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. A

man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God

He says, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within M

heart.’ Psalm 40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were

afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God’s law and thenature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey

the law of God.”470

“He came to this world to live the law in humanity, that Satan’s charge

that man cannot keep the law might be demonstrated as false.”471

“It was the existence of sin in the human heart that led Christ to come to

this earth. He covenanted with God to lay aside His kingly crown and roya

robe, clothe His divinity with humanity, and, standing on this earth at the head

of humanity, bear testimony against the assertion of darkness that man

could not live without sin.”472

“Christ has entered the world as Satan’s destroyer, and the Redeemer o

the captives bound by his power. He would leave an example in His own

victorious life for man to follow and overcome the temptations of Satan… .

As man could not, in his human strength, resist the power of Satan’s

temptations, Jesus volunteered to undertake the work, and bear the burden for

man, and overcome the power of appetite in his behalf. He must show in

man’s behalf, self-denial and perseverance, and firmness of principle that is

paramount to the gnawing pangs of hunger. He must show a power of controlover appetite stronger than hunger and even death… . The humanity of Chris

reached to the very depths of human wretchedness, and identified itself with

the weaknesses and necessities of fallen man, while His divine nature

grasped the Eternal. His work in bearing the guilt of man’s transgression was

not to give him license to continue to violate the law of God, which made man

a debtor to the law, which debt Christ was Himself paying by His ow

suffering. The trials and sufferings of Christ were to impress man with a sense

of his great sin in breaking the law of God, and to bring him to repentance and

obedience to that law, and through obedience to acceptance with God.”473

“On all points except sin, divinity was to touch humanity. Living on this

earth as a man among men, Christ answered in the affirmative the question,

‘Can man keep the law of God?’ He was tempted in all points as man i

tempted, ‘yet without sin.’ He was tempted that he might know how to

succor those that should afterward be tempted.”474

“Man’s substitute and surety must have man’s nature, a connection





with the human family whom he was to represent, and, as God’s

ambassador, he must partake of the divine nature, have a connection with the

Infinite, in order to manifest God to the world, and be a mediator betwee

God and man.”475

“Christ was put to the closest test, requiring the strength of all Hi

faculties to resist the inclination when in danger, to use His power to deliver Himself from peril, and triumph over the power of the prince of darkness.

Satan showed his knowledge of the weak points of the human heart, and pu

forth his utmost power to take advantage of the weakness of the humanity

which Christ had assumed in order to overcome his temptations on man’s

account.”476

“The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam, throug

faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have. The

Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with

heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer,

could only keep the commandments of God in the same way that

humanity can keep them.”477

“We need not place the obedience of Christ by itself as something for

which He was particularly adapted, by His particular divine nature, for H

stood before God as man’s representative and tempted as man’s substitute

and surety. If Christ had a special power which it is not the privilege of ma

to have, Satan would have made capital of this matter. The work of Chris

was to take from the claims of Satan his control of man, and He could do thionly in the way that He came— a man, tempted as a man, rendering the

obedience of a man… .

[cont.] “Bear in mind that Christ’s overcoming and obedience is that of

a true human being. In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because o

our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord. When we give to Hi

human nature a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts

with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity. His imputed grace

and power He gives to all who receive Him by faith. The obedience o

Christ to His Father was the same obedience that is required of man. Man

cannot overcome Satan’s temptations without divine power to combine with

His instrumentality. So with Jesus Christ, He could lay hold of divine power

He came not to our world to give the obedience of a lesser God to a

greater, but as a man to obey God’s Holy Law, and in this way He is our

example. The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a Go

could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in





every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature,

and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset.”478

“Satan had made the boast that no one could withstand his devising and in

this world live a spotless life. Clothed with human nature, the Redeemer

subjected Himself to all the temptations with which human beings are

beset, and He overcame on every point. The record of His life is given tothe world, that no one need be in doubt as to the power of the grace of God.

To every soul who strives for perfection of Christian character, this world

becomes a battlefield on which is fought the controversy between good and

evil. And everyone who trusts in Christ will gain the victory.”479

“Many have no real faith in Christ. They say, ‘It was easy for Christ t

obey the will of the Father; for he was divine.’ But God’s Word declares, ‘He

was tempted in all points like as we are.’ Christ was tempted according to his

elevation of mind; but he would not weaken or cripple his divine power by

yielding to temptation. In his life on earth he was a representative o

what men may become through the privileges and opportunities granted

them in him.”480

“Thousands are inventing a gospel to take the place of the Gospel of God

They are substituting the commandments of men for the commandments o

God… . Christ came not to lessen the guilt of sin, that man may have liberty to

be disloyal. He came to live the law of God, leaving man no excuse for

violating one precept… . By keeping the law in humanity, He made it

possible for man to keep it.”481

2. Jesus took humanity with all its liabilities.

“Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome b

temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam’s position; He

could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any

sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to

succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the

nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing

to bear which He has not endured.”482

“By living a sinless life He testified that every son and daughter of

Adam can resist the temptations of the one who first brought sin into the

world. Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this

world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the liabilities

of human nature, to be proved and tried.”483

“The humanity of Christ reached to the very depths of human

wretchedness, and identified itself with the weaknesses and necessities of





fallen man, while His divine nature grasped the Eternal.”484

3. Jesus bore His trials as we must do.

“Christ was not to exercise divine power for His own benefit. He ha

come to bear trial as we must do, leaving us an example of faith and

submission.”485

“‘He was ‘in all points tempted like as we are’ [Hebrews 4:15]. Heexercised in His own behalf no power which man cannot exercise. As man he

met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him of God. He gives u

an example of perfect obedience. He has provided that we may become

partakers of the divine nature, and assures us that we may overcome as He

overcame. His life testified that by the aid of the same divine power which

Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God’s law.”486

“Those who claim that it was not possible for Christ to sin, cannot believe

that He really took upon Himself human nature. But was not Christ actualltempted, not only by Satan in the wilderness, but all through His life, from

childhood to manhood? In all points He was tempted as we are, and

because He successfully resisted temptation under every form, He gave

man the perfect example, and through the ample provision Christ has

made, we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the

corruption which is in the world through lust.”487

“Christ’s victory was as complete as had been the failure of Adam. So we

may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us. Jesus gained the

victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us,‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee fro

you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.’ James 4:7, 8.”488

“The great work of redemption could be carried out by the Redeemer onl

as He took the place of fallen man. Burdened with the sins of the world, H

must pass over the path where Adam fell, and redeem his failure. When Ada

was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him, but he

was surrounded by the glories of Eden. But it was not thus with Jesus; for,

bearing the infirmities of degenerate humanity, He entered the wilderness tocope with the mighty foe, that He might lift man up from the lowest depths o

his degradation. Alone He was to tread the path of temptation and exercise

self-control stronger than hunger, ambition, or death.”489

“The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeeme

taking the place of fallen Adam. With the sins of the world laid upon him, he

would go over the ground where Adam stumbled. He would bear the tes

which Adam failed to endure, and which would be almost infinitely more





severe than that brought to bear upon Adam. He would overcome on

man’s account, and conquer the tempter, that through his obedience, his purity

of character and steadfast integrity, his righteousness might be imputed to

man, that through his name man might overcome the foe on his own

account.”490

“The Son of God, having humanity upon him, lived in our world as ahuman agent. He passed over the ground which man must travel. He

supplicated for suffering humanity till his humanity was charged with a

heavenly current that should connect humanity with divinity.”491

“The Saviour is our substitute and surety. He stands at the head of the

human family. He has been subject to all the temptations that annoy and

oppress us. He was tempted in all points like as we are, and therefore he is

able (knows just the method) to succor those that are tempted. He was

afflicted in all our afflictions. Christ is our refuge, our source of strength. I

him all power is provided for us if his word abide in us, and it is for us tochoose whether we will serve God or Baal.”492

“The language of Christ on many occasions shows that he was placed in

the same position that we are. He had to walk by faith, as we walk by faith;

and when temptations came to him with overwhelming power, he used the

language that every child of earth must use. ‘The Son can do nothing o

himself,’ Christ declared, ‘but what he seeth the Father do: for what things

soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.’”493

“Christ’s suffering and death have placed life in and through him upon aneternal basis of security. He took human nature. He became flesh even as

we are. He was oft hungry, thirsty, and weary. He was sustained by food, and

refreshed by sleep. He had natural affection; for we see him weeping in

sympathy with the sorrows of others, and lamenting over the retribution

coming upon Jerusalem because of her impenitence. While in this world,

Christ lived a life of complete humanity in order that he might stand as a

representative of the human family. He was tempted in all points like as we

are, that he might be able to succor them that are tempted. As the Prince o

Life in human flesh, he met the prince of darkness, and, passing over the

ground where Adam fell, he endured every test that Adam failed to endure.

Every temptation that could be brought against fallen humanity, he met

and overcame. Had he not been fully human, Christ could not have bee

our substitute. He could not have worked out in humanity that perfection o

character which it is the privilege of all to reach. He was the light and the life

of the world. He came to this earth to work in behalf of men, that they migh





no longer be under the control of Satanic agencies. But while bearing huma

nature, he was dependent upon the Omnipotent for his life. In his humanity, he

laid hold of the divinity of God; and this every member of the human famil

has the privilege of doing. Christ did nothing that human nature may not do

if it partakes of the divine nature.”494

“Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed whenHe came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race, with the weaknesses

of fallen man upon Him, He was to stand the temptations of Satan upon all

points wherewith man would be assailed… . In what contrast is the second

Adam as He entered the gloomy wilderness to cope with Satan single-handed

Since the fall the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and

sinking lower in the scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ’s advent

to the earth. And in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach hi

where he was. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and degenerac

of the race. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us. He humiliated Himself tothe lowest depths of human woe, that He might be qualified to reach man,

and bring him up from the degradation in which sin had plunged him.”495

4. Jesus, by remaining surrendered to His Father’s will, gave us an Example

of how He overcame temptation.

“But the Son of God was surrendered to the Father’s will, and dependen

upon His power. So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plan

for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Fathe

unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may bethe simple outworking of His will.”496

“The glory of Christ is his character, and his character is an expression o

the law of God. He fulfilled the law in its every specification, and gave to

the world in his life a perfect pattern of what it is possible for humanity to

attain unto by cooperation with divinity. In his humanity Christ wa

dependent upon the Father, even as humanity is now dependent upon God for

divine power in attaining unto perfection of character.”497

“In the intercessory prayer of Jesus with His Father, He claimed that Hhad fulfilled the conditions which made it obligatory upon the Father to fulfill

His part of the contract made in heaven, with regard to fallen man. He prayed:

‘I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [That is, He ha

wrought out a righteous character on earth as an example for men to

follow.] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the

glory which I had with thee before the world was.’… He declares Himsel

glorified in those who believe on Him. The church, in His name, is to carr





to glorious perfection the work which He has commenced; and when tha

church shall be finally ransomed in the Paradise of God, He will look upo

the travail of His soul and be satisfied. Through all eternity the ransomed hos

will be His chief glory.”498

5. Jesus shared the same “passions” that all men and women have.

“As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels whhave never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they

seek to save. Christ took upon Himself humanity, that He might reac

humanity.”499

“He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are

our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was in

all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”500

“The words of Christ encourage parents to bring their little ones to Jesus

They may be wayward, and possess passions like those of humanity, but thisshould not deter us from bringing them to Christ. He blessed children tha

were possessed of passions like his own.”501

6. Jesus, in taking our human nature, demonstrated that prayer was a

human necessity to receive “needed grace.”

“To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the

knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily

for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He

went forth to strengthen and bless others. Behold the Son of God bowed i prayer to His Father! Though He is the Son of God, He strengthens His fait

by prayer, and by communion with heaven gathers to Himself power to resist

evil and to minister to the needs of men. As the Elder Brother of our race H

knows the necessities of those who, compassed with infirmity and living in a

world of sin and temptation, still desire to serve Him. He knows that the

messengers whom He sees fit to send are weak, erring men; but to all who

give themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid. His own

example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in

faith—faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreservedconsecration to His work—will avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit’s aid i

the battle against sin. Every worker who follows the example of Christ wil

be prepared to receive and use the power that God has promised to Hi

church for the ripening of earth’s harvest. Morning by morning, as the

heralds of the gospel kneel before the Lord and renew their vows o

consecration to Him, He will grant them the presence of His Spirit, with it

reviving, sanctifying power. As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the





assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be

“laborers together with God.”502

“Christ was the representative of the race. As our example He prayed to

the Father for strength and grace. These prayers reach down to our time.

He has identified Himself with us. Being tempted in all points like as we are

He is able to sympathize with those who are tempted. He bowed before HiFather as a suppliant, obtaining strength from on high. By communion with

God He was invigorated and refreshed for His work of helping those wh

were in need. Braced for duty and prepared for toil by intercession with the

Father, He went forth to encourage and bless others. Those who are indee

friends of Christ will often commune with Him, having implicit faith that H

will answer all the prayers offered in His name.”503

“The Son of man, Hemust brace Himself for duty and temptation. He

must have vigor of soul and body. He must leave His followers a perfec

example of how to combat the enemy. And He prayed earnestly to His Fathe

for strength to do this. For all who desire to follow Him, His example is

left on record. Prayer sanctified His ministry. Strength and vigor for dail

duty are derived from worshiping God in the beauty of holiness. The lamp

must be filled with holy oil before its light can shine amid the moral

darkness.”504

“[Mount of Transfiguration] He prays for strength to endure the test i

behalf of humanity. He must Himself gain a fresh hold on Omnipotence, fo

only thus can He contemplate the future.”505“Christ took upon himself human nature, but daily he linked it with the

divine nature. He devoted whole nights to prayer, leaving an example for all

humanity; for as he relied upon God, the Source of all strength, so are we

to be invigorated and refreshed, to be strengthened for duty and braced

for trial, through communion with God.”506

“After dismissing His disciples and the multitude, Jesus turned to th

lonely mountain for prayer. In His humanity He felt the need of strength

from God. But the burden of the divine Master was for His disciples. H

prayed that they might be braced for duty, and fortified for trial.”507

7. Jesus took our nature “where we are” that we may take His nature an

also overcome.

“But Christ reaches us where we are. He took our nature an

overcame, that we through taking His nature might overcome. Made ‘in

the likeness of sinful flesh’ (Romans 8:3), He lived a sinless life. Now by Hi

divinity He lays hold upon the throne of heaven, while by His humanity H





reaches us. He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character o

God.”508

“Satan was defeated in his object to overcome Christ upon the point o

appetite; and here in the wilderness Christ achieved a victory in behalf o

the race upon the point of appetite, making it possible for man in all

future time in His name to overcome the strength of appetite on his ownbehalf.”509

“In Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This is why, althoug

He was tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world,

from His first entrance into it, untainted by corruption, though surrounded b

it. Are we not also to become partakers of that fullness, and is it not thus,

and thus only, that we can overcome as He overcame?”510

8. Jesus was assailed by Satan with every conceivable temptation commo

to humanity.“The life of Christ was a perpetual warfare against satanic agencies.

Satan rallied the whole energies of apostasy against the Son of God. Th

conflict increased in fierceness and malignity, as again and again the prey was

taken out of his hands. Satan assailed Christ through every conceivable form

of temptation.”511

9. Jesus showed us an Example of living faith so that we too will feel secure

in life’s storms.

“When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peaceThere was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. Bu

He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the ‘Maste

of earth and sea and sky’ that He reposed in quiet… . He trusted in the

Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesu

rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of

God. As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in the

care of our Saviour… . Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea o

life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best.”512

“Christ has entered the world as Satan’s destroyer, and the Redeemer othe captives bound by his power. He would leave an example in His ow

victorious life for man to follow and overcome the temptations of

Satan.”513

“Christ was our example in all things. As we see His humiliation in the

long trial and fast in the wilderness to overcome the temptations of appetite in

our behalf, we are to take this lesson home to ourselves when we are

tempted. If the power of appetite is so strong upon the human family, and its





indulgence so fearful that the Son of God subjected Himself to such a test,

how important that we feel the necessity of having appetite under the control

of reason. Our Saviour fasted nearly six weeks, that He might gain for man th

victory upon the point of appetite. How can professed Christians with a

enlightened conscience, and Christ before them as their pattern, yield to

the indulgence of those appetites which have an enervating influenceupon the mind and heart?”514

10. Through His life and death, Jesus “earned” the right to become our Hig

Priest.

“Had they known that they were putting to torture One who had come to

save the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with

remorse and horror. But their ignorance did not remove their guilt; for it was

their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their Saviour. Some of the

would yet see their sin, and repent, and be converted. Some by their impenitence would make it an impossibility for the prayer of Christ to be

answered for them. Yet, just the same, God’s purpose was reaching its

fulfillment. Jesus was earning the right to become the advocate of men in the

Father’s presence.”515

11. Jesus “learned obedience” (Hebrews 5:8) and knowledge as all childre

may and should.

“Christ, the second Adam, came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In man’s

behalf, He became subject to sorrow, to weariness, to hunger, and to thirst.He was subject to temptation, but He yielded not to sin. No taint of sin wa

upon Him. He declared, ‘I have kept my Father’s commandments [in M

earthly life]’ (John 15:10). He had infinite power only because He wa

perfectly obedient to His Father’s will.”516

“His character was beautiful in its symmetry. The powers of mind and

body developed gradually, in keeping with the laws of childhood.”517

“Physically as well as spiritually, He was an example of what God

designed all humanity to be through obedience to His laws.”518

“Thus to Jesus the significance of the word and the works of God waunfolded, as He was trying to understand the reason of things. Heavenl

beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts and communings

was His. From the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing i

spiritual grace and knowledge of truth. Every child may gain knowledge as

Jesus did. As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through

His word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our





characters will be elevated and refined. We shall become more like our

Saviour. And as we behold the beautiful and grand in nature, our affections go

out after God. While the spirit is awed, the soul is invigorated by coming in

contact with the Infinite through His works. Communion with God throug

prayer develops the mental and moral faculties, and the spiritual powers

strengthen as we cultivate thoughts upon spiritual things.”519

12. Jesus came to reveal the spiritual nature of the laws of God.

“His mission was to ‘magnify the law, and make it honorable.’ Isaiah

42:21. He was to show the spiritual nature of the law, to present its far-

reaching principles, and to make plain its eternal obligation… . By His ow

obedience to the law, Christ testified to its immutable character and proved

that through His grace it could be perfectly obeyed by every son and

daughter of Adam.”520

“In his teachings, Christ showed how far-reaching are the principles of thelaw spoken from Sinai. He made a living application of that law whose

principles remain forever the great standard of righteousness,—the

standard by which all shall be judged in that great day when the judgment

shall sit, and the books shall be opened. He came to fulfil all righteousness,

and, as the head of humanity, to show man that he can do the samework,

meeting every specificationof the requirements of God. Through the measure

of his grace furnished to the human agent, not one need miss heaven.

Perfection of character is attainable by everyone who strives for it. This

is made the very foundation of the new covenant of the gospel. The law oJehovah is the tree; the gospel is the fragrant blossoms and fruit which i

bears.”521

13. Jesus came to reveal how necessary God’s laws are in regenerating sinful

men and women.

“So far from making arbitrary requirements, God’s law is given to men

as a hedge, a shield. Whoever accepts its principles is preserved from evil.

Fidelity to God involves fidelity to man. Thus the law guards the rights, th

individuality, of every human being. It restrains the superior from oppression,and the subordinate from disobedience. It ensures man’s well-being, both for

this world and for the world to come. To the obedient it is the pledge of

eternal life, for it expresses the principles that endure forever. Christ came

to demonstrate the value of the divine principles by revealing their power

for the regeneration of humanity. He came to teach how these principles

are to be developed and applied.”522





14. Jesus gave to men and women a Pattern that they should copy.

“He is a perfect and holy example, given for us to imitate. We cannot

equal the pattern; but we shall not be approved of God if we do not copy

it and, according to the ability which God has given, resemble it.”523

15. Jesus came to show the universe what sinful men and women may

become.“Shall any of us be as unappreciative as were the Jews, or shall we loo

upon Christ as a perfect specimen of our perfected humanity uniting in himsel

the attributes of Deity with our human nature? The only-begotten Son of Go

made manifest what humanity may become. In his sanctified human nature

he revealed what man must be.”524

“Christ came to give to the world an example of what perfect humanity

might be when united with divinity. He presented to the world a new phase

of greatness in His exhibition of mercy, compassion, and love. He gave tomen a new interpretation of God.”525

“Christ came to our world to show us how to live true, upright lives; and

all who are Christians will carry out His principles.”526

“I would point the intemperate to a power out of and beyond themselves

—the power of Jesus. Flee to your Saviour. He has overcome in behalf o

just such helpless, sinful ones as you. In His strength you may be honest,

faithful men, true to your Maker. But no half-way work will suffice. You must

be thorough. And do not think that you can do the work of abstaining

gradually. Leave the accursed thing once and forever. ‘Touch not, taste not,handle not.’”527

16. As the head of the human family, He lived the life that He required Hi

followers to live.

“As the head of the human family, He lived every precept, every jot, and

every tittle of the law. He lived in humanity the life that He required Hi

followers to live.”528

“In order that the human family might have no excuse because o

temptation, Christ became one with them. The only being who was one witGod lived the law in humanity, descended to the lowly life of a common

laborer, and toiled at the carpenter’s bench with his earthly parent. He lived

the life which he requires of all who claim to be his children. Thus was cu

off the powerful argument of Satan that God required of humanity a self-denial

and subjection that he would not himself render. The weapons that Satan

designed to use against God, were taken from his hands.”529





“He came to prove the falsity of Satan’s charge that God had made a

law which man could not keep. While possessing man’s nature, Christ kep

the Ten Commandments. Thus He proved to the inhabitants of the unfallen

worlds and to human beings that it is possible for man perfectly to obey the

law. He vindicated God’s justice in demanding obedience to His law. Those

who accept Christ as their Saviour, becoming partakers of the divine nature,are enabled to follow His example of obedience to every divine precept.”530

17. Jesus came to show men and women how to overcome.

“Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this

world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the liabilities

of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a partaker o

the divine nature.”531

18. Jesus came to give humanity moral power that He used to withstand “al

the temptations” that men and women have to face.“Leaving the royal courts of heaven Christ came to our world to represen

the character of His Father, and thus help humanity to return to their loyalty.

The image of Satan was upon men, and Christ came that He mightbring to

them moral power and efficiency… . He could not come in the form of an

angel; for unless He met man as man, and testified by His connection wit

God that divine power was not given to Him in a different way to what it

will be given to us, He could not be a perfect example for us. He came i

humility, in order that the humblest being upon the face of the earth could haveno excuse because of his poverty, or ignorance, and say, Because of these

things, I cannot obey the law of Jehovah. Christ clothed His divinity wit

humanity, that humanity might touch humanity; that He might live with

humanity and bear all the trials and afflictions of man. He was tempted in all

points like as we are, yet without sin. In His humanity He understood al

the temptations that will come to man.”532

“Christ came to give moral power to man; to elevate, ennoble, and

strengthen him. He came to prove the falsity of Satan’s charge that God

had made a law which man could not keep. While possessing man’s nature,Christ kept the Ten Commandments. Thus He proved to the inhabitants of th

unfallen worlds and to human beings that it is possible for man perfectly to

obey the law. He vindicated God’s justice in demanding obedience to His

law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour, becoming partakers of the

divine nature, are enabled to follow His example of obedience to ever

divine precept.”533





19. Jesus came to be our “Sin Bearer” in helping us overcome bad habits.

“Christ is represented as bearing the griefs and sorrows caused by sin,

and He does this, not only as our sympathizing friend, but as our substitute.

Therefore our sins of selfishness, of unamiable temper, of indolence, o

wrong habits and practices, are to be positively and firmly put away. The one

who breaks with Satan is to give no place to his temptations. Let the soulswho come to Christ consider that He is the sin bearer. … Let the repenting

soul lay hold by faith of the provision made to save him, not in his sin, but

from his sin. Christ as the sin bearer must take away the sin and rescue

the sinner from his morbid spiritual condition.”534

E. Jesus came to reveal the consequences of sin—the “wrath of God”

experience.

1. Jesus died the sinner’s death—not the “sleep of death” but the “second

death” that all who refuse God’s salvation will suffer/experience.“He felt that by sin He was being separated from His Father. The gulf wa

so broad, so black, so deep, that His spirit shuddered before it. This agony He

must not exert His divine power to escape. As man He must suffer the

consequences of man’s sin. As man He must endure the wrath of Go

against transgression.”535

2. Jesus felt that “wrath of God” that lost sinners will face and endure a

the “second death”— the hiding of the face of our Loving God—the Face

that had been rejected during one’s lifetime.“‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli

lama sabachthani?’ The wrath of God fell upon Christ. This was the hidin

of the Father’s countenance… .When the sense of the loss of His Father’s

favor was withdrawn, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup o

bitterness.”536

3. Our Lord’s greatest agony was feeling “God forsaken”—the “wrath o

God.”

“Christ went away the second time, and prayed earnestly, ‘O my Father, ithis cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.’

Again darkness pressed upon his soul with almost unbearable agony, and

again he felt a longing for companionship, for some words which would bring

relief, and break the spell of darkness that well-nigh overpowered him.… .

Again Christ went away, and prayed that if it were possible this cup migh

pass from him. His soul was filled with anoverpowering fear of separation

from God in consequence of sin. Satan told him that if he became the





substitute and surety for a sinful world, he would nevermore be one with God,

but would be under his [Satan’s] control.”537

“But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see th

Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from

the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorro

that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that Hi physical pain was hardly felt… . Christ felt the anguish which the sinner

will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense

of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute that made

the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.”538

“In His great suffering, Christ feltno pang of bitterness against His

Father. He felt no remorse for His own sins, but for the sins of the fallen

race. But those who refuse the gift of Christ will one day feel the sting o

remorse. Entire obedience to the law of God is the condition of salvation.

Those who refuse this, who refuse to accept Christ, will become embittereagainst God. When punished for transgression, they will feel despair an

hatred. This will be the experience of all who do not enter into Christ’s

suffering; for it is the sure consequence of sin.”539

4. Our Lord’s suffering was not the dread of dying but the weight of the

malignity of sin.

“It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. It was not the pai

and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the

prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity osin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become

blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the

human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew

that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitude

perishing within reach of abundant help.”540

5. Jesus revealed how evil men and women would hate goodness and

fairness.

“His love for His Father, and His pledge, made from the foundation of thworld, to become the Sin Bearer, led Him to endure uncomplainingly the

coarse treatment of those He came to save. It was a part of His mission t

bear, in His humanity, all the taunts and abuse that men could heap upon

Him. The only hope of humanity was in this submission of Christ to all tha

He could endure from the hands and hearts of men.”541

6. Forever, Jesus will be limited to time and place within a human body.





“He gave His only-begotten Son to come to earth, to take the nature o

man, not only for the brief years of life, but to retain his nature in the

heavenly courts, an everlasting pledge of the faithfulness of God.”542

“In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanityby a tie

that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us.

‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.’ John 3:16. Hgave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Hi

to the fallen race.”543

“Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God, and yet He please

not Himself. He took upon Himself human nature for no other purpose than t

place man on vantage ground before the world and the whole heavenly

universe. He carries sanctified humanity to heaven, there always to retain

humanity as it would have been if man had never violated God’s law. The

overcomers, who upon the earth were partakers of the divine nature, He

makes kings and priests unto God.”544

“By taking our nature, He bound Himself to us through eternal ages. He

is our representative and head. He represents our race before God, still an

forever bearing the humanity of the race.”545





The Great Controversy Theme Makes Clear Why Jesus

Died

[Many problems within the Christian Church since the 1st century A.D. havedeveloped over “why Jesus came” and “why He died.” Answers to these questions are

usually based on certain presuppositions that also had determined the theologian’s

understanding of the gospel. If one has a limited understanding of the gospel or a

philosophically determined picture of God based on pagan principles, then his or

her understanding of why Jesus came and died is also limited. In seeking answers to

these two core questions, one can do no better than embrace the purposes of God’s side

of the Great Controversy. Thus, the life and death of Jesus are seen as means to a

greater end, and not an end themselves. Ellen G. White has written extensively on th

many reasons why He came to earth (see in previous pages) and why He died.]

A. His death was a “means to an end.”

“The precious revelation of God’s will in the Scriptures with all thei

unfolding of glorious truth is only a means to an end. The death of Jesus Chris

was a means to an end. The most powerful and efficacious provision that He

could give to our world, was the means; the end was the glory of God in the

uplifting, refining, ennobling of the human agent.”546

B. Jesus died that His death would “pay” for our sins.“Christ died because there was no other hope for the transgressor. He might tr

to keep God’s law in the future; but the debt which he had incurred in the past

remained, and the law must condemn him to death. Christ came to pay that debt for

the sinner which it was impossible for him to pay for himself. Thus, through the

atoning sacrifice of Christ, sinful man was granted another trial.”547

“It is through the cross alone that we can estimate the worth of the human soul.

Such is the value of men for whom Christ died that the Father is satisfied with th

infinite price which He pays for the salvation of man in yielding up His own Son tdie for their redemption. What wisdom, mercy, and love in its fullness are here

manifested! The worth of man is known only by going to Calvary. In the mystery

of the cross of Christ we can place an estimate upon man.”548

C. Jesus died that He might reclaim the dominion Satan has claimed since Eden.

“It was to make an inroad on the territory of Satan, and dispute his usurpe

authority, and reclaim the kingdom unto Himself, that Christ died. With the shout o

a monarch who has clothed himself with zeal as a cloak, will He fight Hi





antagonist, the prince of darkness, and win back the kingdom Satan claims as his

own rightful dominion. And Christ will receive and pardon every rebel who

returns to his allegiance as a trophy of the might and glory of this wonderful plan o

redemption.”549

D. Jesus died that the moral image of God could be restored.

“Let those who work for Christ keep their principles pure. Let the life buntainted by any polluting practice. All heaven is interested in the restoration of the

moral image of God in man. All heaven is working to this end. God and the hol

angels have an intense desire that human beings shall reach the standard of

perfection which Christ died to make it possible for them to reach.”550

“Christ died that the moral image of God might be restored in humanity,

that men and women might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the

corruption that is in the world through lust. We are to use no power of our being

for selfish gratification; for all our powers belong to Him, and are to be used toHis glory.”551

“Christ has died that the moral image of God might be restored in ou

souls and might be reflected to those around us.”552

“When Christ gave His life for you, it was that Hemight place you on

vantage ground and impart to you moral power. By faith you may become

partakers of His divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world

through lust.”553

“Through the moral power Christ has brought to man, we may give thanks unto

God, who has made us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Through JesuChrist every man may overcome in his own behalf standing in his own

individuality of character. The word comes to him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, tha

taketh away the sin of the world.’ Our whole earthly solace hangs upon him whose

mission to earth was to give power unto men.”554

E. Jesus died that the character of God could be more fully viewed by everyone

in the universe.

“What great and wonderful effects have resulted from the crucifixion! What a

view of the character of God, Christ’s sacrifice has opened to the universe!His love for man, far surpassing all human love, has lifted the law of God to it

own eternal dignity. The attributes of God have been revealed, and the hol

requirements of His law have been vindicated. The effects of the sacrifice on the

cross are still felt; but all who would be saved must themselves have an interest in

the crucified One.”555

“The Lord our Redeemer hadnot yet demonstrated fully that love to its





completeness. After His condemnation in the judgment hall, His crucifixion on the

cross, when He cried out in a clear, loud voice, ‘It is finished,’ that love stands

forth as an exhibition of a new love—‘as I have loved you’—is demonstrated. Ca

the human mind take this in? Can we obey the commandment given?”556

“Because of the rebellion in the heavenly courts, the love of God was to be

vindicated, not only before all heaven, but before all the worlds that He had made.Everything would be done to keep the first human beings loyal, but if they should

be overcome by temptation, Christ engaged to become man’s Sacrifice, his

Substitute and Surety.”557

“The victory gained at His death on Calvary broke forever the accusing powe

of Satan over the universe, and silenced his charges that self-denial was

impossible with God and therefore not essential in the human family.”558

F. Jesus died that we could be purified from all iniquity.

“Christ came to our world to elevate humanity, to renew in man the image oGod that man might become the partaker of the divine nature. Jesus gave Himsel

for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a

peculiar people, zealous of good works. Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith

causes us to become as a branch grafted into the true Vine. The Majesty of heave

gave His life to make us individually His own by bringing back the transgressor to

his loyalty to God’s law, by turning away the sinner from his iniquity. Oh, that men

would love and fear God!”559

G. Jesus died that we might be brought back to loyalty to Him and becomeobedient to His commandments.

“Christ died that the transgressor of the law of God might be brought back to

His loyalty.… God cannot take rebels into His kingdom; therefore He make

obedience to His requirements a special requirement.”560

“Christ died in order that a way might be provided for saving the sinner, in

meeting the demands of the broken law.”561

“By dying on the cross, Christ gave His life as an offering for sin that through

His power man might turn from his sins, be converted, and become a laborer

together with God.”562

“Christ has given His life to make it possible for the human family to have

another trial, to form such characters that the Lord can make them His son

and daughters, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.”563

“He has made every provision whereby his grace and favor may come to man.

But was the great sacrifice made in order that Adam’s sin might be perpetuated,

and the flood-gates of woe be ever left open upon our world?— No, it was to





bring us back to our loyalty to God, to keep his commandments and live , and

his law as the apple of our eye. Christ says, ‘Ye are my friends if ye do

whatsoever I command you.’ Perfect obedience to the law of God is the test b

which it is known that our love is perfect toward Christ. The Father reveals hi

love to Christ by receiving and welcoming the friends of Christ as his friends. Th

Father is fully satisfied with the atonement that Christ has made. He suffered thepenalty of the law in order that man might have an opportunity to exercise

repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”564

“O, how much Christ had already suffered as the Son of man, in order t

redeem and save men! How much he had borne as their substitute! Now the time

had come when all the types and symbols pointing to his suffering and death were

to be fulfilled. Shall he fail, and come short in his work of redemption? Shall the

prince of darkness triumph? Shall his proud boast become truth? Shall the prey be

left helpless in the hands of the mighty, or shall the captives be delivered, Satan

overcome, and it be demonstrated that obedience to the law is possible; for all

have been made more than conquerors through Christ?”565

H. Jesus died to give us sufficient grace and power to remove natural defects and

tendencies.

“We hear many excuses: I cannot live up to this or that. What do you mean b

this or that? Do you mean that it was an imperfect sacrifice that was made for the

fallen race upon Calvary, that there is not sufficient grace and power granted us

that we may work away from our own natural defects and tendencies, that it was

not a whole Saviour that was given us?”566

“Believers are to represent in their lives, its power to sanctify and ennoble… .

They are to show forth the power of the grace that Christ died to give men. …

They are to be men of faith, men of courage, whole-souled men, who, withou

questioning, trust in God and His promises.”567

“The repentance of those who truly seek forgiveness will lead them to work for

Christ. It will be a living, working, transforming grace. Those who feel this

repentance will reveal it in their lives. Every power of mind and soul and bod

will be brought into obedience to Christ. The sincerity of their prayers will be proved by their endeavors to serve God. This change, from unrighteousness to

righteousness, is wrought by co-operation with God.”568

“As Satan tempted Christ, so he will tempt Christ’s followers… . The strengt

given to Christ in the hour of bodily suffering and mental anguish in the Garden o

Gethsemane, has been and will be given to those who suffer for his dear name’s

sake. The same grace given to Jesus, the same comfort, the more than mortal

steadfastness, will be given to every believing child of God, who is brought into





perplexity and suffering, and threatened with imprisonment and death, by Satan’s

agents.”569

“He prays, he believes. When tempted and tried, he claims the power that

Christ died to give, and overcomes through His grace. This every sinner needs

to understand. He must repent of his sin, he must believe in the power of Christ,

and accept that power to save and to keep him from sin.”570

I. Jesus died so that we would understand that the law of God is unchangeable

and eternal.

“He [the sinner] sees, in the plan of salvation, that the death of Christ is an

unanswerable argument as to the immutable character of the law. The law o

God is as unchangeable as its author; and because not one precept could be

changed or altered to meet man in his fallen condition, the Son of God had to die,

the just for the unjust. He bore the penalty of man’s disobedience, that man might

be re-instated in the favor of God, and by a life of humble obedience might for such a character as would be accounted worthy of a place in the kingdom o

God.”571

“In order for man to be saved, and for the honor of the law to be maintained, i

was necessary for the Son of God to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin. He wh

knew no sin became sin for us. He died for us on Calvary. His death shows the

wonderful love of God for man, and the immutability of His law.”572

J. Jesus died so that His life may be lived in us.

“It is your privilege to become meek and lowly in heart; then angels of Gowill co-operate with you in your revival efforts. Christ died that His life migh

be lived in you, and in all who make Him their example. In the strength of your

Redeemer you can reveal the character of Christ, and you can work in wisdom an

in power to make the crooked places straight.”573

“As a divine Saviour, Jesus died for us that we might live His life of purity,

truth, and righteousness. He teaches us how to live. Our prayer should be,

‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’”574

K. Jesus died so that men and women can reach their full potential.

“But men have been satisfied with small attainments. They have not sought wit

all their might to rise in mental, moral, and physical capabilities. They have not felt

that God required this of them, they have not realized that Christ died that they

might do this very work. As the result they are far behind what they might be in

intelligence and in the ability to think and plan.”575

“Study the instruction given in the first chapter of First Peter. It points out to u

the source of our strength. By the sacrifice of Christ every provision has been made





for believers to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. God calls upon

us to reach the highest standard of glory and virtue. The perfection of Christ’s

character makes it possible for us to gain perfection.”576

“In the cross all influence centers, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the

great center of attraction; for on it Christ gave up His life for the human race. Thi

sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his originalperfection. Yea, more, it was offered to give him an entire transformation of

character, making him more than a conqueror.”577

L. Jesus died so that power would be available for men and women to for

characters “after the divine image.”

“He took the case of fallen man upon himself. He became the Redeemer, the

Intercessor. When death was proclaimed as the penalty of sin, he offered to give

his life for the life of the world, in order that man might have a second probation,

and that individually he might enjoy the privileges that would come to us throughthis divine provision, and receive power to form a character after the divine

image.”578

M. Jesus died vindicating the justice of God, settling the controversy betwee

Satan and God.

“Jesus was bearing the sin of the world; he was enduring the curse of the law;

he was vindicating the justice of God. Separation from his Father, the

punishment for transgression, was to fall upon him, in order to magnify God’s

law and testify to its immutability. And this wasforever to settle the controversy

between Satan and the Prince of heaven in regard to the changeless characte

of that law.”579

N. Jesus died to expose Satan’s lie that God’s law could not be perfectly obeyed.

“By His life and His death, Christ proved that God’s justice did not destro

His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can

be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted. God had given man

unmistakable evidence of His love.”580

“It was not alone by dying on the cross that Christ accomplished His wor

of saving men. The ignominy and suffering and humiliation was a part of Hi

mission. ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our

iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are

healed.’ This penalty Christ bore for the sins of the transgressor; He has borne the

punishment for every man and for this reason He can ransom every soul, however

fallen his condition, if he will accept the law of God as his standard o

righteousness.”581





O. He died so that all those watching in the heavenly universe (unfallen worlds)

would have no lingering doubts about the justice and mercy of God; the issue

would be “forever settled.”

“It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the

covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race.

The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth. By the sacrifice Christ wa

about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would

be saved if they would return to their allegiance. Christ alone could restore

honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the

unfallen worlds, by the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race,

and every mouth would be stopped. In making His infinite sacrifice Christ woul

exalt and honor the law. He would make known the exalted character of God’s

government, which could not in any way be changed to meet man in his sinfulcondition.”582

P. Jesus died, ransoming every person who has ever lived.

“Christ died for every man. He has ransomed every man by giving His life

on the cross. This He did that man might no longer live an aimless, selfish life, bu

that he might live unto Jesus Christ, who died for his salvation.”583

Q. Jesus died to make an atonement and to become a pattern for all men and

women.

“He died to make an atonement, and to become a pattern for everyone whowould be His disciple.”584





The Great Controversy Theme Unfolds the Glorious

Subject of the Atonement

[Atonement is an English word (used often in the Old Testament but found onlyonce in Romans 5:11, KJV) that is used to describe what God has done for men an

women in the life and death of Jesus on earth and in his High Priestly ministry i

Heaven. The English word, “atonement,” originally meant “at-one-ment”—the

state of being in agreement, harmony of relationship, a state of reconciliation that

terminated the state of estrangement.]

A. Without the atonement, sin would have been immortalized.

“There could have been no pardon for sin had this atonement not been

made. Had God pardoned Adam’s sin without an atonement, sin would havebeen immortalized, and would have been perpetuated with a boldness that would

have been without restraint.”585

B. The right understanding of the atonement helps us to fully realize the value

and cost of Christ’s sacrifice.

“In order to fully realize the value of salvation, it is necessary to understand

what it cost. In consequence of limited ideas of the sufferings of Christ, many

place a low estimate upon the great work of the atonement. The glorious plan

of man’s salvation was brought about through the infinite love of God the Father. Inthis divine plan is seen the most marvelous manifestation of the love of God to the

fallen race. Such love as is manifested in the gift of God’s beloved Son amazed the

holy angels. ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, tha

whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’”586

“When men and women can more fully comprehend the magnitude of the

great sacrifice which was made by the Majesty of Heaven in dying in man’s stead,

then will the plan of salvation be magnified, and reflections of Calvary will

awaken sacred and living emotions in the Christian’s heart. Praises to God anthe Lamb will be in their hearts and upon their lips. Pride and self-worship canno

flourish in the hearts that keep fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary. This world

will appear of but little value to those who appreciate the great price of man’s

redemption.”587

C. Jesus died for the whole human race—the world. Yet His gift of salvation

must be individually accepted.

“He has paid the ransom money for the whole world. All may be save





through Him. He will present those who believe on Him to God as loyal subject

of His kingdom. He will be their Mediator as well as their Redeemer.”588

“Christ has made an ample sacrifice for all! What justice required, Christ ha

rendered in the offering of himself, and ‘how shall we escape if we neglect so

great salvation?’ Those who reject the gift of life will be without excuse; ‘for

God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoeve believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’”589

“With His own blood He has signed the emancipation papers of the race.”590

“On the cross of Christ the Saviour made an atonement for the fallen race.

Holiness is the fruit of this sacrifice. It is because He has died for us that we ar

promised this great gift. And Christ longs to bestow this gift on us. He longs to

make us partakers of His nature. He longs to save those who by sin have separate

themselves from God. He calls upon them to choose His service, to giv

themselves wholly into His control, to learn from Him how to do God’s will.”591

D. The atonement joined justice and mercy.

“As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower,

so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and

justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the

glory of the rainbow of promise above the throne; man could see only the penalty

of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the

government of God. It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvatio

full and complete… . If we were defective in character, we could not pass the

gates that mercy has opened to the obedient; for justice stands at the entrance, anddemands holiness, purity, in all who would see God. Were justice extinct, and

were it possible for divine mercy to open the gates to the whole race, irrespective

of character, there would be a worse condition of disaffection and rebellion in

heaven than before Satan was expelled. The peace, happiness, and harmony o

heaven would be broken up. The change from earth to heaven will not change

men’s characters; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the

characters formed in this life, after the image of Christ. The saints in heaven

will first have been saints on earth. The salvation that Christ made such a sacrificeto gain for man, is that which is alone of value, that which saves from sin —the

cause of all the misery and woe in our world. Mercy extended to the sinner is

constantly drawing him to Jesus.… Thus the law of God is not weakened, but th

power of sin is broken, and the scepter of mercy is extended to the penitent

sinner.”592

“His [Christ’s] object was to reconcile the prerogatives of Justice and Mercy,

and let each stand separate in its dignity, yet united. His mercy was not weakness,





but a terrible power to punish sin because it is sin; yet a power to draw to it the

love of humanity. Through Christ, Justice is enabled to forgive without sacrificin

one jot of its exalted holiness. Justice and Mercy stood apart, in opposition to

each other, separated by a wide gulf. The Lord our Redeemer clothed His divinit

with humanity, and wrought out in behalf of man a character that was without spot

or blemish. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth, and made ithe object of attraction which reached both ways, drawing both Justice and

Mercy across the gulf. Justice moved from its exalted throne, and with all the

armies of heaven approached the cross. There it saw One equal with God bearin

the penalty for all injustice and sin. With perfect satisfaction Justice bowed in

reverence at the cross, saying, It is enough.”593

E. Atonement describes God’s remedy to restore what sin has damaged—that is,

what God has done and is doing to restore the sinner to the right relationship

with God.1. Atonement includes not only pardon, but transformation of character.

“The atonement of Christ is not a mere skillful way to have our sins

pardoned; it is a divine remedy for the cure of transgression and the

restoration of spiritual health. It is the Heaven-ordained means by which the

righteousness of Christ may be not only upon us but in our hearts and

characters.”594

“Men may comprehend the spirituality of the law, they may realize its

power as a detector of sin, but they arehelpless to withstand Satan’s power

and deceptions, unless they accept the atonement provided for them in the

remedial sacrifice of Christ, who is our Atonement—our At-one-ment—

with God.”595

“The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it

means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the

Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a hear

emptied of self, and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Chris

reigns in the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, the fullness,

the completeness of the gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. The acceptanceof the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance.

The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life

testifies that God has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour.”596

2. The atonement was not made in order to appease an offended God bu

made out of His love for His erring children; it did not change God but i

did provide the means whereby the sinner would be changed.





“The atonement of Christ was not made in order to induce God t

love those whom he otherwise hated; it was not made to produce a love that

was not in existence; but it was made as a manifestation of the love that was

already in God’s heart, an exponent of the divine favor in the sight o

heavenly intelligences, in the sight of worlds unfallen, and in the sight of a

fallen race… . We are not to entertain the idea that God loves us becauseChrist has died for us, but that he so loved us that he gave his only-

begotten Son to die for us. The death of Christ was expedient in order tha

mercy might reach us with its full pardoning power, and at the same time that

justice might be satisfied in the righteous substitute. The glory of God wa

revealed in the rich mercy that he poured out upon a race of rebels, who

through repentance and faith might be pardoned through the merits o

Christ, for God will by no means clear the guilty who refuse to acknowledge

the merit of a crucified and risen Saviour.”597

“As the Saviour is lifted up before the people, they will see hihumiliation, his self-denial, his self-sacrifice, his goodness, his tender

compassion, his sufferings to save fallen man, and will realize that the

atonement of Christ was not the cause of God’s love, but the result o

that love. Jesus died because God loved the world. The channel had to b

made whereby the love of God should be recognized by man, and flow into

the sinner’s heart in perfect harmony with truth and justice.”598

3. God the Father was “crucified” with Jesus.

“Christ submitted to crucifixion, although the heavenly host could havedelivered Him. The angels suffered with Christ. God Himself was crucifie

with Christ; for Christ was one with the Father.”599

“As the disciples comprehended it, as their perception took hold of God’s

divine compassion, they realized that there is a sense in which the sufferings

of the Son were the sufferings of the Father. From eternity there was a

complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little shor

of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and

character.”600

4. Understanding the atonement and Christ’s sacrifice transforms sinners

into disciples.

“It is growth in knowledge of the character of Christ that sanctifies the

soul. To discern and appreciate the wonderful work of the atonement,

transforms him who contemplates the plan of salvation. By beholding Christ,

he becomes changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the





Spirit of the Lord.”601

“By perfect obedience to the requirements of the law, man is justified.

Only through faith in Christ is such obedience possible. Men ma

comprehend the spirituality of the law, they may realize its power as a

detector of sin, but they are helpless to withstand Satan’s power and

deceptions, unless they accept the atonement provided for them in theremedial sacrifice of Christ, who is our Atonement—our At-one-ment —

with God.”602

5. Christ’s atonement, more than a legal transaction, was a great means to

a great end—preparing people to live forever.

“The precious revelation of God’s will in the Scriptures with all thei

unfolding of glorious truth is only a means to an end. The death of Jesu

Christ was a means to an end. The most powerful and efficacious provision

that He could give to our world, was the means; the end was the glory oGod in the uplifting, refining, ennobling of the human agent.”603

“On the cross of Christ the Saviour madean atonement for the fallen

race. Holiness is the fruit of this sacrifice. It is because He has died for u

that we are promised this great gift. And Christ longs to bestow this gift on

us. He longs to make us partakers of His nature. He longs to save those wh

by sin have separated themselves from God. He calls upon them to choose

His service, to give themselves wholly into His control, to learn from Hi

how to do God’s will.”604

“Through the death of Christ a door of hope was opened for fallen man.Man was under sentence of death for the transgression of the law of God. H

was under condemnation as a traitor, as a rebel; but Christ came to be his

substitute, to die as a malefactor, to suffer the penalty of the traitors, bearing

the weight of their sins upon his divine soul. He descended lower and lower

till there was no lower depths of humiliation to sound in order that he might

lift up those who would believe in him, and cleanse the guilty from moral

defilement, and impart to them his own righteousness. He died to make an

atonement, to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at hisright hand.”605

“The whole world needs to be instructed in the oracles of God, to

understand the object of the atonement, the at-one-ment, with God. The

object of this atonement was that the divine law and government might

be maintained. The sinner is pardoned through repentance toward God an

faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is forgiveness of sin, and ye

the law of God stands immutable, eternal as His throne. There is no such thin





as weakening or strengthening the law of Jehovah. As it has always been, so i

is. It cannot be repealed or changed in one principle. It is eternal, immutable

as God Himself.”606

6. Jesus as the Crucified Savior is the “one great central truth” to be kep

before the Bible student.

“There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in thesearching of the Scriptures—Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth i

invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme.

It is only in the light of the cross that we can discern the exalted character o

the law of God.”607

7. Along with all other blessings, the Cross was a demonstration of the

dimensions of God’s love for sinners and His hatred for sin.

“As we study the sufferings of Christ, the results of sin are so distressin

to us that we cry out to the Lord to take away our sins. As we continue tolook, we become more capable of enduring the sight of what Christ

suffered, and we realize more and more clearly His love for us. The cross

of Christ is invested with a wonderful attraction and unlimited power; for in

the suffering connected with the crucifixion scene, God’s love becomes to us

more and more impressive.”608

“In the grave Christ was the captive of divine justice. To the Judge of the

universe He had made Himself responsible for the transgression of the law. I

was necessary that there be given to the worlda stern manifestation of the

wrath of God against all who reject light and evidence and stubbornly remain

in unbelief. In the crucifixion of His Son is revealed God’s hatred for sin.”609

“The Son of God clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity migh

touch humanity, and divinity lay hold of the throne of the Infinite. He desired

t o demonstrate to man that humanity connected with divinity, by faith in

Christ, might partake of the divine nature. The death of Christ reveals that

not one jot or tittle of the law of God can be altered to meet man in his fallen

condition.”610

“The cross stands alone, a great center in the world. It does not findfriends, but it makes them. It creates its own agencies. Christ proposes tha

men shall become laborers together with God. He makes human beings Hi

instrumentalities for drawing all men unto Himself. A divine agency is

sufficient only through its operation on human hearts with its transforming

power, making men colaborers with God.”611

“When he sees in Christ the embodiment of infinite and disinterested love

and benevolence, there is awakened in the heart of the sinner a thankful





disposition to follow where Christ is drawing.”612

“The Gospel is the hope of the world. The cross is God’s agency fo

counterworking Satan’s plans, and restoring man to his original purity. The

plan of salvation devised by the Father and the Son will be a grand success.

Christ’s atoning sacrifice will arouse the sluggish mind, quickening into

activity man’s mental and spiritual powers.”613

8. The “atoning sacrifice” revealed both the “sacred dignity” of God’s law

and His love.

“Today Satan endeavors to keep hidden from the world the great atoning

sacrifice, which reveals the love of God and the binding claims of Hi

law.”614

“Satan endeavored to keep hidden from the world the great atoning

sacrifice which reveals the law in all its sacred dignity, and impresses

hearts with the force of its binding claims. He was warring against the wor of Christ, and united all his evil angels with human instrumentalities in

opposition to that work. But while he was carrying on this work, heavenl

intelligences were combining with human instrumentalities in the work o

restoration. The cross stands as the great center of the world, bearing a

certain testimony that the cross of Christ will be the condemnation of ever

transgressor of the law of God.”615

9. Understanding the meaning of “atoning blood” produces a genuine

“change of heart.”“The true believer chooses Christ as first, and last, and best in everything.

But this union costs us something. It is a relation of utter dependence to be

entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need

of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. The

must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle wit

outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment,

as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin

in all its forms—must be overcome, if we would enter into a union with

Christ. The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, whthey are so fickle, so variable, is, they try to attach themselves to Chris

without detaching themselves from these cherished idols.”616

10. Christ’s blood became the metaphor representing His life that bore

humanity’s flesh and blood.

“The life is in the living, vital current of blood, which blood was given

for the life of the world. Christ made a full atonement, giving His life as





ransom for us. He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in

like manner as the human family. He did not have a mere semblance of a

body, but He took human nature, participating in the life of humanity.”617

11. The contract between Jesus and God the Father focused on the Cros

and reconciling those who are repentant and obedient.

“Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He knew that Hisacrifice had been accepted by the Father, and until He had received the

assurance from God Himself that His atonement for the sins of His people

had been full and ample, that through His blood they might gain eternal life…

. He also had a request to prefer concerning His chosen ones upon earth. H

wished to have the relation clearly defined that His redeemed should

hereafter sustain to heaven, and to His Father. His church must be justifie

and accepted before He could accept heavenly honor. He declared it to be

His will that where He was, there His church should be; if He was to havglory, His people must share it with Him. They who suffer with Him on eart

must finally reign with Him in His kingdom. In the most explicit manner Christ

pleaded for His church, identifying His interest with theirs, and advocating,

with love and constancy stronger than death, their rights and titles gained

through Him. God’s answer to this appeal goes forth in the proclamation:

‘Let all the angels of God worship him.’… The request of Christ is granted;

the church is justified through Him, its representative and head. Here the

Father ratifies the contract with His Son, that He will be reconciled t

repentant and obedient men, and take them into divine favor through themerits of Christ. Christ guarantees that He will make a man ‘more precious

than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.’”618

F. The atonement/reconciliation is both sacrificial and beneficial when viewed

within the Great Controversy Theme. (Ellen White transcended th

conventional box of a limited gospel wherein the Cross was the total focus o

Christ’s work as mankind’s Savior. In many ways she emphasized that

Christ’s Sacrifice was one phase of the atonement in the gospel plan; the

second phase that completed His work as Savior is fulfilled in His Hig Priestly ministry. She understood the ellipse of salvation: Cross + Heavenl

Ministry; Pardon + Power.)

1. The Atonement embraces two phases, an indivisible, double emphasis: the

death of Christ on the Cross and also His High Priestly Role.

“The Son of God … has fulfilled His pledge, and has passed into th

heavens, to take upon Himself the government of the heavenly host. He





fulfilled one phase of His priesthood by dying on the cross for the fallen

race. He is now fulfilling another phase by pleading before the Father the

case of the repenting, believing sinner, presenting to God the offerings o

His people.”619

“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they ma

not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. Thearchdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning

sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything

depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.”620

2. The Cross and His High Priestly Role are equally important i

understanding His Redemption plan.

“The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is

as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. B

His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended tcomplete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, ‘whither the

forerunner is for us entered.’ Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross o

Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries o

redemption.”621

“The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the

sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been

strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity

was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty

agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with nomodified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that

makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. I

is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believe

becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as

divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil,

and to impress His own character upon His church.”622

“Of what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son o

God had humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, anwrestled with him during His entire life on earth, and died the Just for the

unjust that humanity might not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a

constant, working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases

what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer?”623

“The acceptance of Christ’s atonement is the ground-work of true

faith. To those who repent and confess their sins, the Holy Spirit, the Author

of all sanctification, will give grace to speak kind, tender, respectful words.





Those who will look long enough into the Divine Mirror to see and despis

their unlikeness to the meek and lowly Saviour, will have strength to

overcome. All who truly believe will confess and forsake their sins. The

will co-operate with Christ in the work of bringing their hereditary and

cultivated tendencies to wrong under the control of the Divine Will, so tha

sin shall not have dominion over them. Looking to Jesus, the Author anFinisher of their faith, they will be changed into His likeness. They will gro

up to the full stature of men and women in Christ.”624

“As the sacrifice in our behalf was complete, so our restoration from

the defilement of sin is to be complete.”625

3. We are now living in the second phase of the Atonement—the

investigative judgment prior to our Lord’s return.

“Jesus is our great High Priest in heaven. And what is He doing? He is

making intercession and atonement for his people who believe in Him.Through His imputed righteousness, they are accepted of God as those wh

are manifesting to the world that they acknowledge allegiance to God, keeping

all His commandments.”626

“When we become children of God, our names are written in the Lamb’

book of life, and they remain there until the time of the investigative judgment.

Then the name of every individual will be called, and his record examined,

by Him who declares, ‘I know thy works.’ If in that day it shall appear that all

our wicked deeds have not been fully repented of, our names will be

blotted from the book of life, and our sins will stand against us.”627

“Christ died for the sins of the world that we might have an opportunity o

showing to the universe loyalty to God and His law. Today He is making an

atonement for us before the Father.”628

“The great plan of redemption, as revealed in the closing work o

these last days, should receive close examination. The scenes connected

with the sanctuary above should make such an impression upon the minds and

hearts of all that they may be able to impress others. All need to become

more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going onin the sanctuary above. When this grand truth is seen and understood, those

who hold it will work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in

the great day of God, and their efforts will be successful.”629

“Everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will

stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel, will be kept by

Christ’s intercessions. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the

Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us





by His intercessions as that He should redeem us with His blood. If He let

go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy. Those

purchased by His blood, He now keeps by His intercession.”630

“When our eyes look by faith into the sanctuary, and take in the reality,

the importance and holiness, of the work there being done, everything of a

selfish nature will be abhorred by us. Sin will appear as it is,—thetransgression of God’s holy law. The atonement will be better understood;

and by living, active faith, we shall see that whatever of virtue humanity

possesses, it exists only in Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer.”631

G. Ellen White used the word “atonement” in various ways, depending o

whether the context was our Lord’s death on the Cross or His mediatoria

work in Heaven—the two phases being equally essential.

1. When focused on the Cross, she often described it as “atoning sacrifice,”

“sacrificial atonement,” “vicarious atonement,” etc.“Christ gave Himself, an atoning sacrifice, for the saving of a lost

world.”632

“The sacrificial offerings which had been instituted to teach men

concerning the vicarious atonement of Christ, to teach them that without the

shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, had become to them a

stumbling-block.”633

“Christ’s words on the mountainside [Matt. 28:19-20] were the

announcement that His sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete.The conditions of the atonement had been fulfilled; the work for which He

came to this world had been accomplished.”634

“By His spotless life, His obedience, His death on the cross o

Calvary, Christ interceded for the lost race. And now, not as a mere

petitioner does the Captain of our salvation intercede for us, but as a

Conqueror claiming His victory. His offering is complete, and as our

Intercessor He executes His self-appointed work , holding before God the

censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and

thanksgiving of His people.”635

“And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid ou

ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ’s friends as Hi

friends. He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the

incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His Son.”636

[Notice in the above statements how Ellen White transcend

conventional theology with its limited understanding of Christ’s two-





phased atonement by fusing our Lord’s life of obedience with His death as

the basis for claiming His victory and with His right to be our Intercesso

in His High Priestly work. Further, she clearly links the sacrificia

atonement with the final atonement that completes the purpose of His wor

as our Redeemer.]

2. When speaking of Christ’s High Priestly ministry, she emphasized the“benefits” of His “sacrificial atonement.”

“The great Sacrifice had been offered and had been accepted, and the

Holy Spirit which descended on the day of Pentecost carried the minds of th

disciples from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly, where Jesus had entered

by His own blood, to shed upon His disciples the benefits of His

atonement. But the Jews were left in total darkness. They lost all the ligh

which they might have had upon the plan of salvation, and still trusted in their

useless sacrifices and offerings. The heavenly sanctuary had taken the placeof the earthly, yet they had no knowledge of the change. Therefore they could

not be benefited by the mediation of Christ in the holy place.”637

“As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of

the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed

there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary… .

But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the

books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in

Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the

sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation —a work of judgment.This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem Hi

people; for when He comes, His reward is with Him to give to every ma

according to his works. Revelation 22:12.”638

“This is the great day of atonement, and our Advocate is standing

before the Father, pleading as our intercessor. In place of wrapping about us

the garments of self-righteousness, we should be found daily humbling

ourselves before God, confessing our own individual sins, seeking the pardon

of our transgressions, and cooperating with Christ in the work of preparingour souls to reflect the divine image. Unless we enter the sanctuary above,

and unite with Christ in working out our own salvation with fear and

trembling, we shall be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and shall be

pronounced wanting.”639

a. Ellen White explains what she meant by “the benefits of Hi

atonement.”





In reviewing the context of Early Writings, page 260, we get her

complete understanding. The larger context of “benefits of the

atonement” begins on page 251: “Jesus sent His angels to direct the

minds of the disappointed ones [Adventist Millerites] to the most hol

place, where He had gone to cleanse the sanctuary and make a special

atonement for Israel.” [emphasis supplied].Then on page 253: “As the priest entered the most holy once a yea

to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the

sanctuary, at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a

final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation, and

thus to cleanse the sanctuary.” [emphasis supplied).

Finally, page 254: “The third angel closes his message thus: ‘Here i

the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments o

God, and the faith of Jesus.’ As he repeated these words, he pointed to

the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message aredirected to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark,

making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers

and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. This

atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous

living. It includes all who died trusting in Christ, but who, not havin

received the light upon God’s commandments, had sinned ignorantly in

transgressing its precepts.”640

b. One of the “benefits of the atonement” is Christ’ssanctifying/cleansing work through the Holy Spirit to help those wit

genuine faith overcome their sins.

“One part of his ministration had closed, only to give place to

another. There was still an “open door” to the heavenly sanctuary where

Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf. It is those who by fait

follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who receive the

benefits of His mediation in their behalf, while those who reject the

light which brings to view this work of ministration are not benefitedthereby.”641

“Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the hol

of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last

acts of His ministration in behalf of man —to perform the work o

investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are

shown to be entitled to its benefits. In the typical service only those

who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose





sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the

sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the

great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases

considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment o

the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later

period.”642

H. The “benefits of the atonement” guards against future apostasy in unfallen

worlds and among unfallen angels as well as by the redeemed from this earth.

“When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement

will never need to be repeated; and there will be no danger of another rebellion

in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in thi

world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death o

Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the

paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall wnot then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for

even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son o

God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded

from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil

than were the angels before the fall of Satan. …

[cont.]“If men would contemplate the love of Christ, displayed in the cross,

their faith would be strengthened to appropriate the merits of his shed blood, and

they would be cleansed and saved from sin. There are many who will be lost,

because they depend on legal religion, or mere repentance for sin. Butrepentance for sin alone cannot work the salvation of any soul. Man cannot be

saved by his own works. Without Christ it is impossible for him to render

perfect obedience to the law of God; and heaven can never be gained by an

imperfect obedience; for this would place all heaven in jeopardy, and make

possible a second rebellion. …

[cont.] “Those who will be saved in the kingdom of God will be those who

have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The image

of Christ will be perfected in every soul who accepts the gift of his grace, andthose who are perfected through his grace, will stand before God equal in

elevation, in power and purity, to the angels, and will be honored with them before

the eternal throne… . The attention of all the inhabitants of all worlds will be

directed to the cross of Christ, around which will cluster the exceeding and eternal

weight of glory. The imagination becomes exhausted in its stretch to comprehend

the wonderful work of redemption. The plan of salvation is too high to be full

reached by human thought. It is too grand to be fully embraced by finite





comprehension.”643

I. Understanding the atonement correctly calls for sober self-examination today

and throughout eternity.

“Too late in the day, brethren, too late in the day. We are in the great day of

atonement, a time when a man must be afflicting his soul, confessing his sins,

humbling his heart before God, and getting ready for the great conflict.”644

J. Christ’s atonement, rightly understood provides moral power to genuine,

willing followers.

“Christ has pledged Himself to be our substitute and surety, and He neglects no

one. He who could not see human beings exposed to eternal ruin without pouring

out His soul unto death in their behalf, will look with pity and compassion upon

every soul who realizes that he cannot save himself. He will look upon no

trembling suppliant without raising him up. He who through His own atonemen

provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ thispower in our behalf. We may take our sins and sorrows to His feet; for He loves

us. His every look and word invites our confidence. He will shape and mold our

characters according to His own will.”645

“Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be uplifted

Beware of any theory that would lead men to look for salvation from any other

source than that pointed out in the Word. Only through Christ can men sunken in sin

and degradation be led to a higher life. Theories that do not recognize the

atonement that has been made for sin, and the work that the Holy Spirit is to

do in the hearts of human beings, are powerless to save.”646

“In all our acts of true devotion, we fix our eye of faith upon our Advocate,

who is standing between man and the eternal throne, waiting to meet our every

effort, and by His Spirit assist us to a more perfect knowledge of God.”647

K. Understanding the breadth of the atonement explains why Christ’s saving

mission was not completed on the Cross.

1. At the Cross even the angels did not see all that was involved in the

Great Controversy.“Satan saw that his disguise was torn away… . The last link of sympath

between Satan and the heavenly world was broken. Yet Satan was not then

destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved

in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more fully

revealed.”648

2. And surely for men and women more time would be needed to understand





the implications of Christ’s death in terms of the Great Controversy.

“And for the sake of man, Satan’s existence must be continued. Man as

well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of light and the

prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve.”649

3. The issues in the Great Controversy must be more clearly seen before

the Controversy could be concluded.

a. The main point of the Great Controversy has always been the

fairness of God’s law.

“In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that

the law of God could not be obeyed, that justice was inconsistent

with mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible

for the sinner to be pardoned.”650

“The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final

struggle of the long-standing controversy concerning the law of God.Upon this battle we are now entering—a battle between the laws of men

and the precepts of Jehovah, between the religion of the Bible and the

religion of fable and tradition.”651

b. The life and death of Jesus proved that God was right and Sata

wrong.

“By His life and His death, Christ proved that God’s justice did no

destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is

righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted.”652

c. For all that humanity, other than the disciples, could see, the death

of Jesus was only another insignificant event. It had to be seen fo

what it really was—the death of the world’s Savior. But God was

not defeated.

“In the lives of God’s people the truths of His word are to reveal

their glory and excellence. Through His people Christ is to manifes

His character and the principles of His kingdom. Satan seeks to

counterwork the work of God, and he is constantly urging men to accephis principles. He represents the chosen people of God as a delude

people. He is an accuser of the brethren, and his accusing power is

employed against those who work righteousness. The Lord desires

through His people to answer Satan’s charges by showing the results

of obedience to right principles.”653

d. In the Great Controversy, God’s professed people are on tria





before the world and the heavenly universe.

“The professed followers of Christ are on trial before the

heavenly universe; but the coldness of their zeal and the feebleness o

their efforts in God’s service mark them as unfaithful. If what they are

doing were the best they could do, condemnation would not rest upon

them; but were their hearts enlisted in the work, they could do muchmore.”654

e. Jesus gave this assignment to His loyal followers to complete Hi

plan for ending the Great Controversy: “As You sent Me into the

world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).

“Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We

are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to

reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order t

become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright.We must know Him as He reveals Himself.”655

“That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, th

chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church on earth

today.”656

“All are to be symbols of what can be done for the world. They are

to be types of the saving power of the truths of the gospel. All are

agencies in the fulfillment of God’s great purpose for the human

race.”657

“God has given His subjects a work to perform. By helpful wordand kindly actions they are to reveal Christ to the world. By self-denial,

by sacrificing that which would be obtained at the loss of another, they

are to show the power of the truth to restrain evil inclinations. Those

who do this are ‘the salt of the earth,’ preserving it from decay.”658

f. God waits for His people to honor and vindicate His honor an

fairness.

“The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of Hi

love; so the Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to theworld. The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The

honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the

character of His people.”659

“In the church militant, men will be ever in need of restoration fro

the results of sin. The one who in some respects is superior to another is

in other respects inferior to him. Every human being is subject to





temptation, and in need of brotherly interest and sympathy. The exercise

of mercy in our daily relations with one another is one of the most

effective means of attaining perfection of character; for only those

who walk with Christ can be truly merciful.”660

“If there was ever a people in need of constantly increasing ligh

from heaven, it is the people that, in this time of peril, God has calledto be the depositaries of His holy law and to vindicate His characte

before the world.”661

“And in humanity this same love is to be revealed. In the fallen

race the very image of God is to be reflected. The cold heart is to be

quickened and glow with divine love. It is to beat in unison with the

heart of the Redeemer. The honor of Christ must stand complete in the

perfection of the character of his chosen people. He desires that the

shall represent his character to the world. In the work of redemption,

in the sufferings which Christ was called upon to endure, you are to co-operate with him, that you may be complete in him. In being united to him

by faith, believing and receiving him, you become part of himself. Your

character is his glory revealed in you.”662

“Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise.

It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can

magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace.”663

“We must as workers be united in frowning down and condemning

anything that bears the least approach to evil, in our associations withone another. Our faith is holy; our work is to vindicate the honor of

God’s law, and is not of a character to bring anyone down to a low level

in thought or in deportment.”664

“The Lord has sent to our world a message of warning, even the

Third Angel’s Message. All heaven is waiting to hear us vindicate

God’s law, declaring it to be holy, just, and good. Where are those who

will do this work? God calls upon His people to gain a deeper insigh

into His plans and His law. His law is the transcript of His character.

It is unchangeable; for God will not alter the thing that has gone out o

His lips. Christ has declared that the law is perfect; and with David w

may say, ‘It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void th

law.’”665

g. God works through leaders He can trust. Unprincipled leaders wh

partake of the same spirit that is stirring the ungodly, after a time of

probation and testing, will be removed.





“For the good of His church God has intrusted to men of Hi

appointment the work of representing Him by their well-chosen words

and their firm resistance of evil. The hearts of these men are to be

tender and their characters symmetrical, that they may rightly represent

the Saviour. But many in God’s service are harsh and discourteous.

Their spirits are loveless; for they are filled with selfishness andcovetousness… . If, after testing them, God sees that they will not repent,

He removes them, and gives their place to men who will better represen

Him. If those who are thus raised up by the Lord remain true and loyal

the Lord will work through them in a remarkable manner. The confusion

which weakens the church of God is a result of the work o

unconsecrated men, whose narrowness of vision prevents them from

seeing the loving-kindness shown them by God. They fail to see that Go

gives to them in order that they may impart to others… . When God’s

people become so blind that they lose sight of principle, when they partake of the same spirit that is stirring the hearts of the ungodly, they

cannot bear God’s sign or seal.”666

h. God’s last-day message to this world will be delivered by people who

really know and live the gospel—perhaps for the first time, really.

“It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the

world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has bee

misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God i

to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving inits power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of

the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His

goodness, mercy, and truth. [ Isaiah 40:9,10]. Those who wait for the

Bridegroom’s coming are to say to the people, ‘Behold your God.’ The

last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to

the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of Go

are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to

reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light of the Suof Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and

deeds of holiness.”667

“It is God’s purpose that His people shall be a sanctified,

purified, holy people, communicating light to all around them. It is

His purpose that, by exemplifying the truth in their lives, they shall be a

praise in the earth. The grace of Christ is sufficient to bring this about.

But let God’s people remember that only as they believe and work out





the principles of the gospel can He make them a praise in the earth.

Only as they use their God-given capabilities in His service will the

enjoy the fullness and power of the promise whereon the church has been

called to stand. If those who profess to believe in Christ as their Saviou

reach only the low standard of worldly measurement, the church fails to

bear the rich harvest that God expects. ‘Found wanting’ is written uponher record.”668





The Great Controversy Theme Explains the Role of the

Holy Spirit

A. The Holy Spirit is one of the Three Persons in the Godhead.“We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making u

workers together with God.”669

“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,the three holy dignitaries o

heaven, have declared that they will strengthen men to overcome the powers o

darkness. All the facilities of heaven are pledged to those who by their baptismal

vows have entered into a covenant with God.”670

“The Holy Spirit has apersonality, else He could not bear witness to our

spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be

divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the

mind of God. ‘For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of ma

which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit o

God.’”671

B. The Holy Spirit was active in the world during Old Testament times.

“Daniel was beloved of God. He who brought in everlasting righteousness, th

Anointed, the Holy One of God, gladly accepted the consecrated agency of hi

servant, through whom he worked by imbuing him with his Holy Spirit an

imparting to him grace for grace .”672

C. The Holy Spirit, forever eternal, became Christ’s representative after ou

Lord returned to heaven.

“By faith they were to look to the sanctuary above, where Jesus wa

ministering for them; they were to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, His

representative, and to rejoice in the light of His presence.”673

“All the intelligences of heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in

the ranks. The Holy Spirit, therepresentative of the Captain of the Lord’s host,comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our sins and

mistakes grievous; but the grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition. The

power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust in God.”674

“Before this the Spirit had been in the world; from the very beginning o

the work of redemption He had been moving upon men’s hearts. But while

Christ was on earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were





deprived of His presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then H

would come. The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of th

personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christ

could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He

should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one

could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact withChrist. By the Spirit the Saviour would beaccessible to all. In this sense He

would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high.”675

“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which issent to all men to give them

sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him. The Lord ha

provided that we should always be under the teaching and influence of the Hol

Spirit.”676

D. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Convictor of sin and righteousness.

“‘When He [the Spirit of truth] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, anof righteousness, and of judgment.’ The preaching of the word will be of no avail

without the continual presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the only

effectual teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth is accompanied to the

heart by the Spirit will it quicken the conscience or transform the life. One

might be able to present the letter of the word of God, he might be familiar with all

its commands and promises; but unless the Holy Spirit sets home the truth, no soul

will fall on the Rock and be broken. No amount of education, no advantages,

however great, can make one a channel of light without the co-operation of the

Spirit of God.”677

“As Saul yielded himself fully to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, he

saw the mistakes of his life and recognized the far-reaching claims of the law o

God.”678

“The great object of the advent of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified b

Christ. ‘When He is come,’ He said, ‘He will reprove the world of sin, and o

righteousness, and of judgment.’ This light has been kept before our people for

years. The power of the Holy Spirit has been largely manifested at Battle Creek

the great heart of the work, to be communicated to those in the highways andhedges, that the mass of human beings under Satan’s sway of sin and death might be

reformed and renovated by the Spirit’s power. But when light has come to those at

the center of the work, they have not known how to treat it. The testimonies Go

has given His people are in harmony with His word.”679

E. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Comforter.”

“At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the

outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the





Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances ma

separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can

separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go,

He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.”680

“We do not honor God if , when oppressed and afflicted, we doubt His

goodness, if we cherish sadness, and mourn and repine. We dishonor God whenwe permit our souls to be cast down. Even when in trouble our faith should no

fail. None need to feel that God has forsaken them. There should be no expression

of unbelief; for unbelief, when cherished, shuts from us the richest manifestations

of the grace of God. Our lack of faith keeps from us the working of the Holy

Spirit. On the part of those who are chosen of God to be His people and Hi

representatives, it is a grievous mistake to dwell upon trying experiences, as tho

the Way, the Truth, and the Life were a disagreeable companion. This pleases and

glorifies the enemy, and reveals to the world that they do not recognize in Jesus a

very present help in time of need.”681

F. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Christian’s Teacher.

“Jesus had opened before His disciples a vast tract of truth. But it was mos

difficult for them to keep His lessons distinct from the traditions and maxims of the

scribes and Pharisees. They had been educated to accept the teaching of the rabbi

as the voice of God … . Jesus saw that they did not lay hold of the real meaning o

His words. He compassionately promised that the Holy Spirit should recal

these sayings to their minds. And He had left unsaid many things that could not be

comprehended by the disciples. These also would be opened to them by the Spirit.The Spirit was to quicken their understanding, that they might have an appreciation

of heavenly things. ‘When He, the Spirit of truth, is come,’ said Jesus, ‘He wil

guide you into all truth.’”682

“The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted a soul who is looking to Jesus. I

takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to the seeker. And if the eye is

kept fixed upon Jesus, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conforme

to His image. Through the gracious influence of the Spirit the sinner is changed in

spirit and purpose, till he becomes one with Christ. His affection for Goincreases; he hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and by beholding Christ he is

changed from glory to glory, from character to character, and becomes more

and more like his Master.”683

G. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth.”

“The Comforter is called ‘the Spirit of truth.’ His work is to define an

maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus H





becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace

or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions tha

Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he

misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind

and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from

the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Chrissubdues His chosen people to Himself.”684

“The Comforter is promised only as the Spirit of truth. There isno comfort in

a lie. The work of the Comforter is to define and maintain the truth; and there

should be no worry lest the comfort will not follow. The Holy Spirit first dwells i

the heart as the truth, and this He does through the truth.”685 (emphasis in original).

H. Jesus called the Holy Spirit a “regenerating agent”—a necessary complemen

to make His death effective.

“The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this thesacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been

strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was

amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the

Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the

fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been

wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made

pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature.

Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and

cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon Hichurch.”686

“The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling fo

victory, in demonstration of all mightiness, endowing the human agent with

supernatural powers, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom o

God. That the Holy Spirit is to be the grand helper, is a wonderful promise. O

what avail would it have been to us that the only begotten Son of God had humble

Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during Hi

entire life on earth, and died the Just for the unjust that humanity might not perish, ithe Spirit had not been given as a constant, working, regenerating agent to

make effectual in our cases what has been wrought out by the world’s

Redeemer?”687

“He has given his Holy Spirit as apower sufficient to overcome all man’s

hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. By yielding his capabilities to

the control of this Spirit, man will be impressed with God’s perfect character, and

will become an instrument through which he can reveal his mercy, his goodness,





and his love.”688

“‘The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in

three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.’ By this parable Christ seeks

to illustrate the work of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart. The process is

invisible by which the leaven changes the meal into which it has been introduced;

but it continues to work until the meal is converted into bread. So the leaven otruth, working inwardly, produces a complete change in the human heart. The

natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new

motives, are implanted. But while every faculty is regenerated, man does not lose

his identity. New faculties are not supplied, but a thorough change is made in

the employment of those faculties. The heart is cleansed from all impurity, and

man is fitted with traits of character that will enable him to do service for God.”689

“Christ has made provision for all to receive His Spirit; for He desires to se

human nature released from the bondage of sin, and, by the power which God

gives, renewed, restored, raised to a holy rivalry with the angels.”690

“It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into th

world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is

accomplished, we reflect, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord. That is, the

character of the one who thus beholds Christ is so like His, that one looking at him

sees Christ’s own character shining out as from a mirror. Imperceptibly to

ourselves we are changed day by day from our own ways and will into the ways

and will of Christ, into the loveliness of His character. Thus we grow up into

Christ, and unconsciously reflect His image.”691

I. The Holy Spirit helps men and women to be overcomers.

“It is God’s pleasure and will that the blessings bestowed on man shall be

given in perfect completeness. He has made provision that every difficulty may

be overcome, every want supplied through the Holy Spirit. Thus He designs tha

man shall perfect a Christian character.”692

J. The Holy Spirit leads men to cooperate with God.

“The Holy Spirit leads men to co-operate with God. This is the design in

divine help. And in our turn we are to lead others to Christ, the Way, the Truth, andthe Life. As we engage in this work with heart and soul, we are blessed and

strengthened. God stands ready to co-operate with us, but this He cannot do till

we do our duty.”693

K. The Holy Spirit will lead Christians to recognize and stand against variou

kinds of idolatry.

“The imparted Holy Spirit enabled His disciples, the apostles, to stand firml





against every species of idolatry and to exalt the Lord and Him alone. Who, bu

Jesus Christ by His Spirit and divine power, guided the pens of the sacred

historians that to the world might be presented the precious record of the sayings

and works of Jesus Christ?”694

L. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are conditional.

“Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promis belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is

given on conditions. There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord’s

promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit.

They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies.

We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit Go

works in His people ‘to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Philippians 2:13.

But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is wh

they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God,who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of Go

awaits their demand and reception.”695

“They are convicted, but not converted… . The Holy Spirit’s power is workin

upon mind and heart; the understanding is convinced, the conscience is aroused,

and yet Christ says of them, ‘Ye will not come unto Me, that ye might have

life.’”696

M. The overarching goal of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to keep the focus o

Jesus.

“Of the Spirit Jesus said, ‘He shall glorify Me.’ The Saviour came to glorif

the Father by the demonstration of His love; so the Spirit was toglorify Christ by

revealing His grace to the world. The very image of God is to be reproduced i

humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection o

the character of His people.”697

“Everything good in men and women is the fruit of the working of the Hol

Spirit. The Spirit teaches us to reveal righteousness in our lives. The greatest

work that can be done in our world is to glorify God by living the character o

Christ. God will make perfect only those who will die to self.”698

N. The Christian should beware of following impulse, thinking it is the voice o

the Holy Spirit.

“I am instructed to say to our people: Let us follow Christ. Do not forget tha

He is to be our pattern in all things. We may safely discard those ideas that are not

found in His teaching. I appeal to our ministers to be sure that their feet are place

on the platform of eternal truth. Beware how you follow impulse, calling it the





Holy Spirit. Some are in danger in this respect. I call upon them to be sound in

the faith, able to give to everyone who asks a reason of the hope that is in them.”699

O. The coming of the Spirit in His fullness depends on the readiness of God’

professed people.

“He calls upon every human being to be pure, holy, sanctified, in order that

the work for this time may be accomplished. When God’s people placethemselves in proper relation to Him and to one another, there will be a full

impartation of the Holy Spirit for the harmonious combination of the whole

body.”700

P. Persistent rejection of truth leads to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

“To speak against Christ, charging His work to satanic agencies, and attributing

the manifestations of the Spirit to fanaticism, is not of itself a damning sin, but the

spirit that leads men to make these assertions places them in a position of stubborn

resistance, where they cannot see spiritual light… . They think they are followingsound reason, but they are following another leader. They have placed

themselves under the control of a power which in their blindness they are wholly

ignorant of. They have resisted the only Spirit that could lead them, enlighten them,

save them. They are following in the path of guilt for which there can be no

forgiveness, in this life or in the life to come. Not that any degree of guilt would

exhaust the mercy of God, but because pride and persistent stubbornness leads

them to do despite to the Spirit of God, to occupy a place where no

manifestation of the Spirit can convince them of their error. They will not yieldtheir stubborn wills. In this our day men have placed themselves where they are

wholly unable to fulfill the conditions of repentance and confession: therefore they

cannot find mercy and pardon. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does

not lie in any sudden word or deed; it is the firm, determined resistance of

truth and evidence.”701

Q. The Holy Spirit keeps evil under the control of conscience.

“The Spirit of God keeps evil under the control of conscience. When man

exalts himself above the influence of the Spirit, he reaps a harvest of iniquity… .

The harvest of the seed that he himself has sown, is ripening. He has a contempt fo

God’s holy commandments. His heart of flesh becomes a heart of stone. Resistance

to truth confirms him in iniquity. It is because men sowed seeds of evil, that

lawlessness, crime, and violence prevailed in the antediluvian world.”702

R. The Holy Spirit “executes the divine purpose.”

“The Holy Spirit is His representative in our world, toexecute the divine

purpose of bringing to fallen man power from above, that he may be an





overcomer. All who enter into a covenant with Jesus Christ become by adoptio

the children of God. They are cleansed by the regenerating power of the Word,

and angels are commissioned to minister unto them.”703

S. The Holy Spirit will lead the church to unity only when characters are

transformed by His grace.

“We have need of divine illumination. Every individual is striving to become acenter of influence; and until God works for his people, they will not see tha

subordination to God is the only safety for any soul. His transforming grace upon

human hearts will lead to unity that has not yet been realized; for all who are

assimilated to Christ will be in harmony with one another. The Holy Spirit wil

create unity. ‘He shall glorify me.’ … The Holy Spirit glorifies God by s

revealing his character to his people that he becomes the object of their supreme

affections, and by making manifest his character in them… . When the Spirit wa

poured out from on high, the church was flooded with light, but Christ was thesource of that light; his name was on every tongue, his love filled every heart. So it

will be when the angel that comes down from heaven having great power, shall

lighten the whole earth with his glory. May the Lord help his people to see an

understand what is truth.”704





The Great Controversy Theme Reveals the Role of Jesus

As Our High Priest

A. Jesus retained His humanity after He returned to heaven.“We see in the midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the

marks of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God.”705

“He gave His only-begotten Son to come to earth, to take the nature of man, no

only for the brief years of life, but to retain his nature in the heavenly courts, an

everlasting pledge of the faithfulness of God.”706

“By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery fro

the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan’s purpose to bring about an eternal

separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to

God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has boun

Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages

He is linked with us. ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotte

Son.’ John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice

He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace,

God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to

retain His human nature.”707

“As the Son of God He gives security to God in our behalf, and as the eterna

Word, as one equal with the Father, He assures us of the Father’s love to uswardwho believe His pledged word. When God would assure us of His immutabl

counsel of peace, He gives His only begotten Son to become one of the huma

family, forever to retain His human nature as a pledge that God will fulfil Hi

word.”708

B. Jesus earned the right to be our merciful and powerful High Priest.

“Some by their impenitence would make it an impossibility for the prayer o

Christ to be answered for them. Yet, just the same, God’s purpose was reaching its

fulfillment. Jesus was earning the right to become the advocate of men in theFather’s presence.”709

C. How did Jesus earn the right to be our High Priest?

1. [Paul set the parameters in His explanation of how Jesus became ou

surety and substitute. He first established our Lord’s divinity (Hebrews 1:3)

as well as the kind of humanity He took (2:14-16): Jesus “had to” become

human “in every respect” (RSV).]





2. [For Paul, Jesus “had to” become human “in every respect” so that H

would through personal experience, not vicariously, understand all the

pressures, stresses, heartaches, that men and women since Eden have had to

endure so that He could earn the right to be our High Priest: “Seeing the

that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesu

the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a HigPriest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points

tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne

of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

(Heb. 4:14-16, NKJV).]

3. “It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to tak

man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepte

humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like

every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law

of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthlancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations,

and to give us the example of a sinless life. Satan in heaven had hated Christ fo

His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself wa

dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Ye

into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come,

helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to

meet life’s peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every

child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.”710

D. How does Jesus today fulfill His role as our High Priest in the Heavenl

Sanctuary?

“The Lord of heaven is not regardless of us and our concerns, but is in

communication with the fallen inhabitants of this world. Christ has not laid

aside His human nature. He stands in the presence of God as our substitute

and surety, our living intercessor. To Him is given all power in behalf o

humanity, and all things have been committed into His hands, that He may

complete the work of redemption, which was begun in such humiliation and atsuch an immense sacrifice. The Lord is in active communication with every part o

His vast dominions. He is represented as bending toward the earth and its

inhabitants. He is listening to every word that is uttered. He hears every

groan; He listens to every prayer; He observes the movements of every one;

He approves or condemns every action. The hand of Christ draws aside the vail

which conceals from our eyes the glory of heaven; and we behold Him in His hig

and holy place, not in a state of silence and indifference to His subjects in a





fallen world, but surrounded by all the heavenly host,—ten thousand times ten

thousand, and thousands of thousands, all waiting to go at His bidding on errands

of mercy and love.”711

“Christ had such an experience in His humanity that He desires to be close

beside everyone who passes through suffering for the truth’s sake,— those

who are tortured, imprisoned in dungeons, and bound in chains. He ministers to allsuch. He is the friend of all who love and fear Him, and He will punish those wh

dare to lead them from safe paths, or put them in positions of distress as they

conscientiously endeavor to keep the way of the Lord.”712

“The enemy is well pleased to have souls depressed, downcast, mourning and

groaning; he wants just such impressions made as to the effect of our faith. But Go

designs that the mind shall take no low level. He desires every soul to triumph in

the keeping power of the Redeemer.”713

E. As a child, youth and young man, how did Jesus “earn the right” to be ouHigh Priest?

1. Jesus grew from a child to manhood as every other child would develop.

“The powers of mind and body developed gradually, in keeping with the

laws of childhood.”714

“Since He gained knowledge as we may do, His intimate acquaintance

with the Scriptures shows how diligently His early years were given to the

study of God’s word.”715

2. Jesus faced life’s problems and issues that all men and women face fromchildhood to adulthood, not vicariously, but experientially.

“Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted Hi

Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He

permitted Him to meet life’s peril in common with every human soul, to fight

the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and

eternal loss.”716

“He tasted the cup of human sorrow, He was afflicted in all our

afflictions, He was made perfect through suffering, tempted in all points like

as humanity is tempted, in order that He might succor those who are in

temptation.”717

“He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what

are their wants, and where lies the strength of their temptations. The

weakness of our human nature will not bar our access to the heavenly Father;

for Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, ‘yet without sin.’”718

“Christ knows the sinner’s trials. He knows his temptations. He has





taken upon Himself our nature. He was tempted in [all] points like as we are,

and He knows how to succor those who shall be tempted. He has wept, an

He knows your sorrows, He has witnessed all your griefs. To all who believe

and trust in him He will be as a hiding place from the wind and a covert fro

the tempest.”719

“Christ knows that it is not possible for us to resist Satan’s temptationsin our own strength. We can do this only by receiving divine help. In our

own strength we should surely fail. Provision has been made that in every

emergency and trial we may flee to the stronghold. When in faith we as

for help, it will be given us. We have the assurance of this from lips that can

not lie. His word is Yea and Amen.”720

“But He [Jesus] put off His crown, and divested Himself of His roya

robe, to take upon Him human nature, that humanity might touch humanity. As

the world’s Redeemer, He passed through all the experiences through

which we must pass. He found Himself in fashion as a man. He humbleHimself to do the greatest work that could be done for the human race.”721

3. Jesus, as a teenager, knew by experience the stresses and temptations

that all young men or women are faced with. The following is from a

letter to her teen-age nephew:

“You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon

Him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced… . Jesus once stood in

age just where you now stand. Your circumstances, your cogitations at this

period of your life, Jesus has had. He cannot overlook you at this critical period. He sees your dangers. He is acquainted with your temptations. He

invites you to follow His example.”722

4. Jesus faced all of Satan’s temptations and pressures with the same

personal help from the Holy Spirit that all men and women may have.

“The positiveness and energy, the solidity and strength of character,

manifested in Christ are to be developed in us, through the same discipline

that He endured. And the grace that He received is for us.”723

“Jesus humbled himself, clothing his divinity with humanity, in order thathe might stand as the head and representative of the human family, and by both

precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie to Satan’s

charges. He was subjected to the fiercest temptations that human nature

can know, yet he sinned not; for sin is the transgression of the law. By faith he

laid hold upon divinity, even as humanity may lay hold upon infinite power

through him. Altho tempted upon all points even as men are tempted, he

sinned not. He did not surrender his allegiance to God, as did Adam.”724





“At the age of twelve the Holy Spirit was abiding upon Jesus, and he fel

something of the burden of the mission for which he had come to our world.

His soul was stirred into action. As one who would learn, he asked

questions of no ordinary character, by which he flashed light into the minds

of his hearers, and brought them to an understanding of the prophecies and the

true mission and work of the Messiah they were expecting… . He himself hagiven these prophecies before his incarnation in humanity, and as the Holy

Spirit brought these things to his mind, and impressed him with regard to

the great work that he was to accomplish, he imparted light and knowledge to

those around him.”725

“But he was our example in all things, and therefore he must do that

which he would have us do. Christ fasted and prayed, bracing himself for the

blood-stained path which he must travel. He was the Son of the eternal God

but as man’s surety he must meet and resist every temptation with which man

is assailed.”726

“[Romans 5:12, 18, 19 quoted.] The apostle contrasts the disobedience o

Adam and the full, entire obedience of Christ. Think of what Christ’s

obedience means to us! It means that in His strength we too may obey.

Christ was a human being. He served His heavenly Father with all the strength

of His human nature. He has a twofold nature, at once human and divine. He is

both God and man. Christ came to this world to show us what God can do

and what we can do in cooperation with God. In human flesh He went into

the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy. He knows what it is to hunger andthirst. He knows the weakness and the infirmities of the flesh. He was tempte

in all points like as we are tempted.”727

5. Jesus lived a life of prayer, not merely to chat with God in heaven, but as

a daily necessity.

[Paul had inside information about how Jesus could say, “I can do

nothing on my own authority” (John 5:30, RSV): “In the days of his flesh

when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries

and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was hearbecause of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7, NKJV).]

“Stepping a little aside from them, the Man of Sorrows pours out Hi

supplications with strong crying and tears. He prays for strength to endure

the test in behalf of humanity. He must Himself gain a fresh hold on

Omnipotence, for only thus can He contemplate the future.”728

“It was not on the cross only that Christ sacrificed Himself for humanity.

As He ‘went about doing good’ (Acts 10:38), every day’s experience was an





outpouring of His life. In one way only could such a life be sustained. Jesus

lived in dependence upon God and communion with Him. To the secret

place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty, men now and then

repair; they abide for a season, and the result is manifest in noble deeds; then

their faith fails, the communion is interrupted, and the lifework marred. Bu

the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continualcommunion; and His service for heaven and earth was without failure or

faltering. As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanit

was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity with

divinity. Receiving life from God, He imparted life to men.”729

“While the city was hushed in silence, and the disciples had returned to

their homes to obtain refreshment in sleep, Jesus slept not. His divine

pleadings were ascending to His Father from the Mount of Olives that Hi

disciples might be kept from the evil influences which they would daily

encounter in the world, and that His own soul might be strengthened and

braced for the duties and trials of the coming day. All night, while His

followers were sleeping, was their divine Teacher praying. The dew and

frost of night fell upon His head bowed in prayer. His example is left for Hi

followers.”730

F. Jesus knew, in the hour of His greatest temptations, that all the universe was

watching and that the vindication of God’s character was at stake.

1. In vindicating God, the age-old controversy between God and Satan wasettled.

“With what intense interest was this controversy watched by the heavenly

angels and the unfallen worlds, as the honor of the law was being

vindicated. Not merely for this world, but for the universe of heaven, was the

controversy to be forever settled. … Christ’s humanity would

demonstrate for eternal ages the question which settled the

controversy.”731

2. Also, our Lord’s “vindicating” of God’s law and character would be

reflected in the same kind of honoring and vindicating of God’s law by

God’s loyalists before Jesus would return.

“Satan saw that his disguise was torn away… . By shedding the blood o

the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenl

beings… .Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then

understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at

stake were to be more fully revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan’s





existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the contrast

between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He must choose who

he will serve.”732

“Just before us is the closing struggle of the great controversy when,

with ‘all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness o

unrighteousness,’ Satan is to work to misrepresent the character of God, thahe may ‘seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.’ If there was ever a

people in need of constantly increasing light from heaven, it is the people

that, in this time of peril, God has called to be the depositaries of His holy

law and to vindicate His character before the world. Those to whom has

been committed a trust so sacred must be spiritualized, elevated, vitalized, by

the truths they profess to believe.”733

“The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of

God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character o

His people.”734

G. Jesus endured, for all the universe to observe and for us today to contemplate,

what it means to experience “the wrath of God against transgression.”735

1. Jesus suffered “the consequences of man’s sin.”736

2. Jesus sensed “God’s wrath against sin.”737

“Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all.

He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the

condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressingupon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation o

His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son wit

consternation. All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the

good news of the Father’s mercy and pardoning love. Salvation for the chie

of sinners was His theme. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears

He cannot see the Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divin

countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced Hi

heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was

this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt… . He feared that sin was

so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the

anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the

guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him a

man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of

the Son of God.”738

“The Captain of our salvation was perfected through suffering. His sou





was made an offering for sin. It was necessary for the awful darkness to

gather about His soul because of the withdrawal of the Father’s love and

favor; for He was standing in the sinner’s place, and this darkness every

sinner must experience. The righteous One must suffer the condemnation an

wrath of God, not in vindictiveness; for the heart of God yearned with

greatest sorrow when His Son, the guiltless, was suffering the penalty of sin.This sundering of the divine powers will never again occur throughout the

eternal ages.”739

“In surrendering his spotless soul a living sacrifice, Jesus was bearing the

sin of the world; he was enduring the curse of the law; he was vindicating the

justice of God. Separation from his Father, the punishment for

transgression, was to fall upon him, in order to magnify God’s law and

testify to its immutability. And this was forever to settle the controversy

between Satan and the Prince of heaven in regard to the changeless characte

of that law.”740

3. Jesus “paid the price” for the human soul.

“The world’s Redeemer estimates the value of the human soul by the price

which he has paid for it on Calvary’s cross.”741

4. God the Father suffered with Jesus.

“But God suffered with His Son. Angels beheld the Saviour’s agony.

They saw their Lord enclosed by legions of satanic forces, His natur

weighed down with a shuddering, mysterious dread. There was silence inheaven. No harp was touched. Could mortals have viewed the amazement o

the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His

beams of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son, they would better

understand how offensive in His sight is sin.”742

“The dark cloud of human transgression came between the Father and the

Son. The interruption of the communion between God and His Son caused

condition of things in the heavenly courts which cannot be described by

human language. Nature could not witness such a scene as Christ dying i

agony while bearing the penalty of man’s transgression. God and the angelsclothed themselves with darkness, and hid the Saviour from the gaze of the

curious multitude while He drank the last dregs of the cup of God’s wrath.”743

5. Jesus won the victory of faith because he relied on the evidence of Hi

Father’s character heretofore given Him.

“Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained

the last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He had relie





upon the evidence of His Father’s acceptance heretofore given Him. He wa

acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, Hi

mercy, and His great love. By faith He rested in Him whom it had ever bee

His joy to obey. And as in submission He committed Himself to God, th

sense of the loss of His Father’s favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christ wa

victor.”744





The Great Controversy Theme Unfold What God Intends

to Achieve With His Plan for Our Salvation

A. Paul emphatically wrote to the Corinthians: “Awake to righteousness and donot sin, for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to you

shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34). To the Ephesians: “For by grace you have bee

saved through faith” (2:8). To the Hebrews: “Let us come boldly to the throne

of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

(4:16). The actionable words in these quotations are “grace,” “faith,” and

“righteousness.”

B. God is able to fulfill His purpose in creating and then redeeming willing me

and women.“God is our creator, benefactor, preserver. The author of all good, He is able

to fulfill the purpose that He had in the creation of human beings. … Chris

gave His life to save the sinner from the death sentence. He died that we migh

live. To those who receive Him He gives power that enables them to separate fro

that which, unless they return to their loyalty, will place them where they must be

condemned and punished.”745

“What does God accomplish, and what does He demand of us individually

in the work of saving ourselves? God works in us by the light of His truth, whic

lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. The Scriptures refer to the work of God as they are revealed in our world, as so many teachers whose voices have

gone out through the whole earth, proclaiming the attributes of God. The mind mus

see the truth, and the will bend to its claims, when it is presented to us based upon

scriptural evidence.”746

“Just as a good tree will bear good fruit, so will the tree that is actually planted

in the Lord’s garden produce good fruit unto eternal life. Besetting sins are

overcome; evil thoughts are not allowed in the mind; evil habits are purged from

the soul temple. The tendencies which have been biased in a wrong direction areturned in a right direction. Wrong dispositions and feelings are changed, new

principles of action supplied, and there is a new standard of character. Holy

tempers and sanctified emotions are now the fruit borne upon the Christian tree. An

entire transformation has taken place. This is the work to be wrought.”747

1. Grace, unmerited favor, is a word that embraces everything that God

thinks and acts in our behalf as He implements His plan to rescue me





and women from the clutches of satanic evil. Grace is God’s personal

outreach through the Holy Spirit to rebellious sons and daughters.

“Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made

known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working

upon the human soul.”748

“God’s inexhaustible supply of grace is awaiting the demand of everysoul. It will heal every spiritual disease. By it hearts may be cleansed fro

all defilement. It unites human beings with Christ, enabling them to walk in the

path of willing obedience. Through the influence of the Spirit of God, man i

transformed; his taste is refined, his judgment sanctified, his heart cleansed;

he becomes complete in Christ. The love that was manifested in the death o

Christ awakens in his heart a thankful response. The understanding takes hol

of Christ. The beauty and fragrance of His character is revealed in the life

testifying that God has indeed sent His Son into the world. No other power

could bring about so wonderful a change. The words of Christ will fall witliving power upon obedient hearts; the perfect image of God will be

reproduced, and in heaven it will be said, ‘Ye are complete in Him.’

Realizing that he lacks wisdom and experience, the Christian places himsel

under the training of the great Teacher, knowing that only thus can he attain

perfection. And the indwelling of the Spirit enables him to reveal

Christlikeness. Daily he becomes better able to comprehend spiritual things.

Each day of diligent labor finds him at its close better fitted to help others.

Abiding in Christ, he bears much fruit.”749

2. Grace is not something to be earned—it is God’s free gift to all men and

women anywhere in the world.

“The truth of God’s free grace had been almost lost sight of by the

Jews.”750

“It is only through the unmerited grace of Christ that any man can find

entrance into the city of God.”751

“The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of

grace. … He who grudges the reward to another forgets that he himself issaved by grace alone. … He who makes self-glorification his aim will find

himself destitute of that grace which alone can make him efficient in Christ’s

service.”752

3. Grace may be the best word to describe the character of God.

“To learn of Christ means to receive His grace, which is His

character.”753





4. Grace is God’s power to help men and women “in time of need”

(Hebrews 4:16).

“Through the grace of Christ we may accomplish everything that Go

requires.”754

“Only through the blood of the crucified One is there cleansing from sin.

His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature.”755

“We may receive grace whereby we may be overcomers, and inherit the

life that measures with the life of God. We must have an experience so that

when affliction comes upon us, we shall not depart from our faith, and choose

fables.”756

“Without the saving grace of God, man can not endure the test o

temptation. He is fit for no good work.”757

“Amidst the snares to which all are exposed, they need strong and

trustworthy defenses on which to rely. Many in this corrupt age have so small

a supply of the grace of God, that in many instances their defense is

broken down by the first assault, and fierce temptations take them captives.

The shield of grace can preserve all unconquered by the temptations of

the enemy, though surrounded with the most corrupting influences. By fir

principle, and unwavering trust in God, their virtue and nobleness o

character can shine, and, although surrounded with evil, no taint need be left

upon their virtue and integrity. And if like Joseph they suffer calumny and

false accusations, Providence will overrule all the enemy’s devices for good,and God will in His own time exalt as much higher, as for a while they were

debased by wicked revenge.”758

5. Grace is God’s gift of power to complete the gospel’s purpose—the

restoration of all that sin has damaged.

“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago—a

revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only

through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental,

and spiritual, can be accomplished.”759

“While we yield ourselves as instruments for the Holy Spirit’s working,

the grace of God works in us to deny old inclinations, to overcome powerful

propensities, and to form new habits. As we cherish and obey the promptings

of the Spirit, our hearts are enlarged to receive more and more of His power,

and to do more and better work. Dormant energies are aroused, and palsied

faculties receive new life.”760

“A defective character shows that the grace of God has not been





allowed to work in the heart. Wrong habits are a constant hindrance to

usefulness. Those who cherish them cannot be Christians; for to be a Christia

is to be Christlike. We must comply with the conditions laid down in God’s

Word. We must grasp in confidence the rich promises of God; then we shall

be overcomers.”761

“Before the foundations of the earth were laid the covenant was made thaall who were obedient, all who should through the abundant grace provided

become holy in character and without blame before God by appropriating

that grace, should be children of God. This covenant, made from eternity,

was given to Abraham nineteen hundred years before Christ came. With wha

interest and what intensity did Christ in humanity study the human race to see

if they would avail themselves of the provision offered.”762

C. The word “faith” describes the mental process by which we believe something

on the basis of evidence or authority; we place value on that which webelieve: “Faith is the medium through which truth or error finds a lodging

place in the mind. It is by the same act of mind that truth or error is received,

but it makes a decided difference whether we believe the Word of God or the

sayings of men.”763

1. Biblical faith is our experiential “Yes” to whatever God has said is best

for us.

“Thus through faith they come to know God by an experimental

knowledge . They have proved for themselves the reality of His word, thetruth of His promises. They have tasted, and they know that the Lord i

good.”764

“Experience is knowledge derived from experiment. Experimenta

religion is what is needed now. ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Some

—yes, a large number—have a theoretical knowledge of religious truth, but

have never felt the renewing power of divine grace upon their own hearts.

These persons are ever slow to heed the testimonies of warning, reproof, and

instruction indited by the Holy Spirit. They believe in the wrath of God, bu

put forth no earnest efforts to escape it. They believe in heaven, but make nosacrifice to obtain it. They believe in the value of the soul and that erelong its

redemption ceaseth forever. Yet they neglect the most precious opportunities

to make their peace with God.”765

“To have faith means to find and accept the gospel treasure, with all

the obligations which it imposes.”766

2. Biblical faith increases, “faith to faith,” by practicing faith.





“The righteousness of Christ is revealed from faith to faith; that is, fro

your present faith to an increased understanding of the faith which works by

love and purifies the soul.”767

3. Biblical faith sums up our complete commitment to God as our Redeemer.

“Faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer calls for an acknowledgment o

the enlightened intellect controlled by a heart that can discern and appreciatethe heavenly treasure. This faith is inseparable from repentance and

transformation of character.”768

4. Biblical faith “sees” and “appreciates” the holiness of Christ.

“It is by a living, ever-increasing faith that the soul sees and

appreciates the holiness of Christ. This is the glory that pure faith receives,

and it awakens in the soul the decided action which demonstrates the power

of God.”769

5. Biblical faith is more than an intellectual belief or assent to truth.

“A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour o

the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation

i s not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire

knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. I

is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only fait

that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; whic

appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving

faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves incovenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an

increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a

conquering power.”770

“Many concede that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world,but at the

same time they hold themselves away from Him, and fail to repent o

their sins, fail to accept of Jesus as their personal Saviour. Their faith i

simply the assent of the mind and judgment to the truth; but the truth is not

brought into the heart, that it might sanctify the soul and transform the

character.”771

“‘For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation.’ This means more than an assent to the

truth that Christ came into the world and died for the salvation of the

race. The understanding may be convinced, but the text means more than this.

It means entire sincerity. It means faith, intelligent faith, that will cling to the

Saviour as the only hope of a fallen world. It means a faith that will grasp the





wonderful provision made, and will engage the affections and control the

life, resting upon the merit of a crucified and risen Saviour. It means a faith

that works by love and purifies the soul.”772

“But there is a serious question for each one to answer: Have you

personally accepted that salvation? A mere assent to the theory of truth

is of no value to you. Your name may be enrolled on the church books, butdo you love the truth of God’s Word? Do you regard it as a privilege to be

able to gain an experimental knowledge of the truth? Do you associate with

those who are faithful and true, who believe and practise the truth?”773

“ A mere profession of doctrine, however sound and scriptural, will

never avail in the work of restoring man to happiness and to God. The

evil in man’s heart must be eradicated; for it is of the satanic character which

brought rebellion into heaven. Unless this change is wrought in the heart, man

fails to bear the Lord’s proving, and against his name is written, ‘Unfaithful

servant.’”774

“It is possible to be in Christ’s presence, and even to press close to Him,

and yet receive no blessing, because we touch Him only with the casual

touch of the multitude. There are hundreds and thousands who think they have

faith in Christ; but they do not touch Him with the faith manifested by the

suffering woman. Why do we not show more faith? … To exercise faith it is

not necessary to become worked up into an ecstasy of feeling.…

Exercising faith means taking God at His word, believing in His power t

save to the uttermost all who come to Him, relying on His word because He is behind the promise and can do all things… . ‘If ye ask anything in My name,’

He says, ‘I will do it.’ Then comes the condition: ‘If ye love Me, keep M

commandments.’ Obedience makes us witnesses for God. We need to take in

the real meaning of Christ’s words. We may read them over and over

again, and yet miss their true significance. … Many today are doing this.

They think that they are trusting in the Saviour, but their faith resembles that o

the multitude, who touched Him with only a casual touch.”775

“It is not enough to have a theory of the truth. The mind must receive

enlightenment from the Holy Spirit regarding the will of God. Then by hi

service man must bear witness to the light, according to his knowledge of God

and of Christ. The Lord must be honored. His followers must trust in Him

believing that He is working in their behalf to bring them through trying

places. In this God consults His own glory and their highest good. He seeks t

give them an experience that will be of the greatest value to them. Our

knowledge of God and of Christ is altogether too meager. True





knowledge of God is genuine and practical. Those who have thi

knowledge will not keep silent. … Our knowledge of God is to steadil

increase. Christ says, ‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ The leaven o

righteousness in the life of believers is revealed by the words, the spirit, the

deportment. True virtue is manifested in the daily life.”776

“The reason why the great and grand truths which have been presented tous do not accomplish more is that we do not live these truths; therefore

they are powerless to influence us. We need a deeper appreciation of

truth.”777

“It is one thing to passively assent to the truth, and another to apply

the truth to the practical life . There are many hearers, but few doers.”778

“A mere profession of godliness is worthless. … A nominal acceptance

of truth is good as far as it goes, and the ability to give a reason for our faith

is a good accomplishment, but if the truth does not go deeper than this, the

soul will never be saved. The heart must be purified from all moraldefilement.”779

6. Biblical faith is more than an emotional thrill.

“But, you say, if I could only know that he is my Saviour! Well, what kind

of evidence do you want? Do you want a special feeling or emotion to

prove that Christ is yours? Is this more reliable than pure faith in God’s

promises? Would it not be better to take the blessed promises of God and

apply them to yourself, bearing your whole weight upon them? This is

faith.”780

“Love for God is not a mere sentiment; it is a living, working

power.”781

“We can see the importance, then, of having true faith, for it is the motive

power of the Christian’s life and action; but feeling is not faith; emotion is

not faith. We must bring our very work and thought and emotions to the

test of the word, and true faith will be profoundly impressed by the voice o

God, and will act accordingly.”782

“We cannot trust to a fluctuating, haphazard faith. We must be able tosay that we have not followed cunningly-devised fables. Christ must be our

personal Saviour; and He can not be this unless we have anexperimental

knowledge of Him. A casual knowledge of Him will not avail. Ou

knowledge must be practical; it must make us like Him.”783

“There are many who speak of coming to Christ who will leave the

matter indistinct and indefinite. The question is asked ‘What shall I do to b

saved?’ And Christ answers the question positively. He asks, ‘What is written





in the Law?’ And the answer comes to this, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy Go

with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all

thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself.’ Luke 10:25-27. Now we can see that

the conditions are not made on emotions but it is by taking a distinct

course that is laid out for us. It is a very important question with every one o

us what we shall do in order to be saved.”784

“The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ is anintelligent faith. The service o

God is a work of self-denial, of soberness, of thoughtfulness, of decided

purpose to obey all the requirements of God, even if they take away tha

which is as dear to us as the right eye or the right arm. Christ would have Hi

followers use their intellect in spiritual matters as in business transactions,

conscientiously weighing evidence irrespective of results. He desires the

to think deeply. …Christ is truth, and those who hesitate to obey the truth,

deny Christ.”785

7. Biblical faith is a personal transaction with God that becomes a

conquering power to overcome evil.

“Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join

themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith

means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a

conquering power.”786

“Through Jesus Christ moral power may be imparted to man, and when i

is combined with human effort, we may reach the divine standard. The faith

that works by love is an active agent, and purifies the soul, separating fromthe character everything that is out of harmony with the standard o


“David was a representative man. His history is of interest to every soul

who is striving for eternal victories. In his life two powers struggled for the

mastery. Unbelief marshalled its forces, and tried to eclipse the light shining

upon him from the throne of God. Day by day the battle went on in his heart,

Satan disputing every step of advance made by the forces of righteousness.

David understood what it meant to fight against principalities and powers,against the rulers of the darkness of this world. At times it seemed that the

enemy must gain the victory. But in the end, faith conquered, and Davi

rejoiced in the saving power of Jehovah. The struggle that David wen

through, every other follower of Christ must go through. Satan has come dow

with great power, knowing that his time is short. The controversy is being

waged in full view of the heavenly universe, and angels stand ready to lift

up for God’s hard pressed soldiers a standard against the enemy, and to put





into their lips songs of victory and rejoicing.”788

“Genuine faith always works by love. When you look to Calvary it is not

to quiet your soul in the non-performance of duty, not to compose yoursel

to sleep, but to create faith in Jesus, faith that will work, purifying the soul

from the slime of selfishness. When we lay hold of Christ by faith, ou

work has just begun. Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must beovercome by vigorous warfare. Every soul is required to fight the fight o

faith.”789

“Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God’s commandment

will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his

transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all Hi

precepts.”790

“The Lord desires us to be strong in His strength and joyful in His love

Thus we reveal the power of redeeming grace. We may triumph in the

keeping power of the Redeemer. Through faith in Him we may gain victoryafter victory over self .”791

8. Biblical faith finds power in the truth.

“These promises are the assurance that through the influence of the Hol

Spirit we are strengthened to become like God in character. By beholding Hi

purity and holiness, we become partakers of His nature, overcoming the

selfishness of the natural heart. There is a power in truth that will always

work if the human agent will heartily co-operate, allowing himself to be

brought by faith into captivity to Jesus Christ. The Saviour’s virtues anexcellencies then become the savor of the whole being.”792

9. Biblical faith is grounded in the Bible, not on personal experience.

“Genuine faith is founded on the Scriptures; but Satan uses so man

devices to wrest the Scriptures and bring in error, that great care is needed i

one would know what they really do teach. It is one of the great delusions of

this time to dwell much upon feeling, and to claim honesty while ignoring

the plain utterances of the word of God because that word does not

coincide with feeling. Many have no foundation for their faith but emotion.Their religion consists in excitement; when that ceases, their faith is gone.

Feeling may be chaff, but the word of God is the wheat. And ‘what,’ says the

prophet, ‘is the chaff to the wheat?’”793

“We are to find the assurance of our acceptance with God in his

written promise, not in a happy flight of feeling. Were we to ground our

hope upon joyful emotions, there are many of God’s true people who would

be without assurance. There are in the fold of Christ not only the sheep, tha





he leads into green pastures, but the lambs, that the Shepherd gathers in his

arms and carries in his bosom. Jesus cares for the weak and feeble in their

simplicity, and would quicken their life by his own heart beats. If all had

strong assurance, in what would the babe differ from those of more advanced

experience? The word of God is rich in pearls of promises; but there are

weak and trembling souls, who dare not venture to think that they are bringingforth fruit meet for repentance, and who fail to appropriate the promise; yet

they are precious in the sight of the Lord.”794

“Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience… .

Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obe

His commands… . Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and

provisions of the Scriptures.”795

10. Genuine faith practices the principles of Christ.

“All disunion, all selfish thoughts, words, and actions, are the fruit of theworking of an unholy spirit upon the mind. Under the influence of this spirit,

words are spoken which do not reveal the Saviour. Christ is not formed

within, the hope of glory. Those who live thus are sinners, tho they may be

counted as saints. They are without faith. They do not practise the

principles of Christ. Many who claim to be Christians commit grievous sin

because they do not eat the bread that came down from heaven.”796

11. Faith is not certainty of knowledge.

“Faith is not certainty of knowledge; it is ‘the substance of things hopedfor, the evidence of things not seen.’”797

12. Faith appreciates what it cost Jesus to die for us.

“You may say that you believe in Jesus, when you have an appreciation

of the cost of salvation. You may make this claim, when you feel that Jesus

died for you on the cruel cross of Calvary; when you have an intelligent,

understanding faith that his death makes it possible for you to cease from

sin, and to perfect a righteous character through the grace of God, bestowed

upon you as the purchase of Christ’s blood.”798

13. Faith is what gave courage and clear vision to Caleb when he and Joshu

stood with Moses, almost alone.

“Caleb saw the difficulties just as plainly as did the other spies, but he

stood firmly at the post God had assigned him. He would not shirk an

disagreeable responsibility; and now, in the face of his cowardly companions

who were threatening to stone him, he cried with a ringing voice, ‘Let us go

up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’ It was





Caleb’s faith in God that gave him courage, that kept him from the fear

of man, and enabled him to stand boldly and unflinchingly in the defense

of the right. Through reliance on the same power, the mighty General of the

armies of heaven, every true soldier of the cross may receive strength and

courage to overcome the obstacles that seem insurmountable.”799

14. Genuine faith is love in action.“Love is not simply an impulse, a transitory emotion, dependent upon

circumstances; it is a living principle, a permanent power. The soul is fed by

the streams of pure love that flow from the heart of Christ, as a well-spring

that never fails.”800

15. One can have an “erroneous faith.”

“Saul had an abundance of energy and zeal to work out an erroneous

faith in persecuting the saints of God, confining them in prisons and putting

them to death.”801

16. Faith makes obedience possible; the law is our “faithful mirror.”

“The law of God is the mirror to show man the defects in hi

character. … Should the discovery of these defects lead them to hate the

mirror, or to hate themselves? Should they put away the mirror which

discovers these defects? No; the sins which they cherish, which the faithful

mirror shows them as existing in their characters, will close before them the

portals of heaven, unless they are put away, and they become perfect before

God… . Through faith in Christ obedience to every principle of the law imade possible.”802

17. Genuine faith cooperates with God in subduing every evil and resisting

temptation.

“It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping

with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for

subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however

strong.”803

18. Faith has a proper fear of God.

“The Lord would have His people trust in Him and abide in His love,but

that does not mean that we shall have no fear or misgivings. Some seem to

think that if a man has a wholesome fear of the judgments of God, it is a proo

that he is destitute of faith; but this is not so. A proper fear of God, in

believing His threatenings, works the peaceable fruits of righteousness, b

causing the trembling soul to flee to Jesus. Many ought to have this spiri





today, and turn to the Lord with humble contrition, for the Lord has not given

so many terrible threatenings, pronounced so severe judgments in His Word,

simply to have them recorded, but He means what He says.”804

19. Genuine faith is more than easy believism.

“The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the

law of God of no effect; that by ‘believing’ we are released from thenecessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the

Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned.”805

20. More than mere belief, faith trusts that God can transform one’s

character.

“Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained, and

faith includes not only belief but trust. Many have a nominal faith in Christ,

but they know nothing of that vital dependence upon Him which appropriates

the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Of this nominal faith James says:‘Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also

believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith withou

works is dead?’ (James 2:19, 20). Many concede that Jesus Christ is th

Saviour of the world, but at the same time they hold themselves away fro

Him, and fail to repent of their sins, fail to accept of Jesus as their personal

Saviour. Their faith is simply the assent of the mind and judgment to the truth;

but the truth is not brought into the heart, that it might sanctify the soul

and transform the character.”806

21. Faith is an active, living principle, always expressed in word and action.

“The faith mentioned in God’s Word calls for a life in which faith in

Christ is an active, living principle. It is God’s will that faith in Christ shall

be made perfect by works; he connects the salvation and eternal life of those

who believe, with these works, and through them provides for the light o

truth to go to all countries and peoples. This is the fruit of the workings o

God’s Spirit. We show our faith in God by obeying his commands. Faith i

always expressed in words and actions. It produces practical results; for it

is a vital element in the life. The life that is molded by faith develops a

determination to advance, to go forward, following in the footsteps of Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, the One who pardons our sin

and transgressions, the One who is able to keep us from sin and lead us in his

footsteps, is set forth in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Here are presente

the fruits of a faith that works by love and purifies the soul from selfishness.

Faith and works are here combined.”807





D. Righteousness sums up our loyalty to God’s law and likeness to His character.

1. “Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and ‘God is love.’ 1 John 4:16.

It is conformity to the law of God, for ‘all Thy commandments ar

righteousness’ (Psalm 119:172), and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’

(Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life oGod. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive

righteousness by receiving Him.”808

“Love is not simply an impulse, a transitory emotion, dependent upon

circumstances; it is a living principle, a permanent power. The soul is fed b

the streams of pure love that flow from the heart of Christ, as a well-spring

that never fails.”809

2. Righteousness is conformity of heart and life to the will of God.

“The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of heart and life to

the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have

faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godlines

will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms o

religion accordwith theChristian’s internal purity. Then the ceremonies

required in the service of God are not meaningless rites, like those of the

hypocritical Pharisees.”810

“The law requires righteousness—a righteous life, a perfect character;

and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law.

But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive

them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins tha

are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men

with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the

similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and

beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in

Christ.”811

“Let us realize the weakness of humanity, and see where man fails in his

self-sufficiency. We shall then be filled with a desire to be just what God

desires us to be,—pure, noble, sanctified. We shall hunger and thirst after

the righteousness of Christ. To be like God will be the one desire of the

soul.”812

3. Righteousness in mankind embraces a transformed character.

“As Christians we are to have a righteousness that shall be developed

and seen —a righteousness that represents the character of Jesus Christ whe





He was in our world.”813

“In order to obtain the righteousness of Christ, it is necessary for the

sinner to know what that repentance is which works a radical change of

mind and spirit and action. The work of transformation must begin in the

heart, and manifest its power through every faculty of the being; but man is not

capable of originating such a repentance as this, and can experience it alonethrough Christ, who ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts

unto men.”814

“Divine power is placed upon man, that he may become a partaker o

the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through

lust. This is why repenting, believing man can be made the righteousness

of God in Christ.”815

“These converted ones are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

‘Ye are my witnesses,’ God says. By looking to Me you are to become

transformed in character; and by the manifestation of Christlike forbearanceand love you are to reveal this transformation.”816

4. Righteousness is loyalty to God and right doing.

“The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will

lead us to do right because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to

God.”817

“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be

judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whethe

the faith is genuine.”818

5. The only condition to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness is obedience.

“The Gospel of Christ is a blessing which all may possess. It takes men a

they are, poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. The only condition

Christ presents to those who come to Him to be clothed with Hi

righteousness is obedience to His commandments. And by the obedient soul

the law is found to be a law of perfect liberty, liberty to lay hold by faith on

the hope that is sure and steadfast. When we render back to God His own

when we wash our robes of character, and make them white in the blood othe Lamb, then we shall be entitled to a celestial crown.”819

“Satan comes to God’s people with temptation, the temptation gains the

victory, and those claiming to follow Christ fall a prey to the devices of the

enemy, giving him an excuse to point at God’s people as clothed with

filthy garments. He points to the defects of such ones as a sample of what is

done by God’s commandment-keeping people… . But God has not forgotten.

Nothing in this world is so dear to the heart of God as His church… . Go





does not leave His people to be overcome by Satan’s temptations. He will

chastise those who misrepresent Him. But He will begracious to all who

sincerely repent. … Standing before God in filthy garments, Joshua wel

represented the condition of God’s ministers and the lay members of the

church. They need to be revived and reformed… . Those who continue in

the service of God will, through the revival of God’s appointed agencies,return to whole-hearted obedience, depending on the merits of a crucified

Saviour, and trusting in His atonement for salvation. The righteous will

continually follow righteousness, because Christ, who is formed within, is

righteousness and truth. They will be imbued with a pure, fervent love, a

love begotten by the love of God… . He will give all needed help to those

who call upon Him for strength for the development of Christlike character.

But His love is not weakness. He will not serve with their sins, nor give the

prosperity while they continue to follow a wrong course of action. Only

through faithful repentance will their sins be forgiven; for God will not

cover evil with the robe of His righteousness. He will honor faithful

service… . Let those who are engaged in His service walk before Him in tru

humility, following faithfully in His footsteps, cherishing the holy principles

which will live through the eternal ages. Let them in word and action show

that they obey the laws which are obeyed in heaven.”820

6. Mere assent to the truth about righteousness is the greatest deception.

“The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was that a

mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experiencea theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the

saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. A jealous

regard for what is termed theological truth often accompanies a hatred o

genuine truth as made manifest in life. The darkest chapters of history are

burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religionists. The

Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession

of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them fro

selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. They thoughtthemselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so-called orthodoxy

led them to crucify the Lord of glory. The same danger still exists. Many take

it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to

certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical

life. They have not believed and loved it, therefore they have not received the

power and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men ma

profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient,





forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their

influence it is a curse to the world.”821

7. Hypocrisy often is pious pretention and acts like leaven throughout the

mind.

“Our Saviour presented before the people of that time the character o

their sins. His plain words aroused the consciences of the hearers, but Satan’scounter-working agencies were seeking for a place for their theories, to

attract minds from the plainly spoken truth. As the great Teacher would speak

impressive truth, the scribes and Pharisees, under pretense of being

interested, would assemble around the disciples and Christ, and divert the

minds of the disciples by starting questions to create controversy. The

pretended that they wanted to know the truth. Christ was interrupted on this

occasion as on many similar occasions. And He wished His disciples to

listen to the words He had to say, and not allow anything to attract and holdtheir attention. Therefore He warned them, ‘Beware of the leaven of th

Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’ They feigned a desire to get as close as

possible to the inner circle. As the Lord Jesus presented truth in contrast to

error, the Pharisees pretended to be desirous of understanding the truth, yet

they were trying to lead His mind in other channels. Hypocrisy is like leaven

or yeast. Leaven may be hidden in the flour, and its presence is not known

until it produces its effect. By insinuating itself, it soon pervades the whole

mass. Hypocrisy works secretly, and if indulged, it will fill the mind with

pride and vanity. There are deceptions practiced now similar to those practiced by the Pharisees. When the Saviour gave this caution, it was t

warn all who believe in Him to be on guard. Watch against imbibing this

spirit, and becoming like those who tried to ensnare the Saviour.”822

E. Righteousness by faith includes both justification by faith and sanctification by

faith.

“The true worker in the cause of God will banish from the mind, as impious,

every thought of inherent merit. … No man has the least cause for boasting or

self-exaltation, even when he does his very best. Man often fails of doing his duty,leaving undone a vast amount that a close connection with God would have

enabled him to do.”823

“Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and

in that wrought by His Spirit working in and through us.”824

“Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is

righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows

into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is bein





sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps o

Christ until grace is lost in glory. The righteousness by which we are justified is

imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is

our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.”825

“The parable of the lost sheep places man in the position of one who is

helpless and undone. All are lost unless they are transformed in character.”826“Encircling the throne of God is the rainbow of the covenant, a symbol of the

pledged word of God that he will receive every sinner who gives up all hope o

eternal life on the ground of his own righteousness, and accepts the righteousness

of the world’s Redeemer, believing that Christ is his personal Saviour, able to

save him from his sin, and to keep him from falling. Unless Christ is the groun

of our hope, we shall not inherit eternal life… . The apostle declares, ‘The law i

holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.’ Then for what reason should

the Lord set aside his law to provide an escape for the sinner, or to make it

possible for him to transgress with impunity? There is no reason, and the law of the

Lord ‘endureth forever.’ … Under the covenant of grace God requires from man

just what he required in Eden,—perfect obedience. The believing sinner, through

his divine Substitute and Surety, renders obedience to the law of God. …

[Titus 4:3-8] Good works will follow as the blossoms and fruit of faith.

Appropriation of the righteousness of Christ will be manifested in a well-

ordered life and godly conversation.”827

1. There is danger in trying to make minutely distinct differences between

justification and sanctification.“Many commit the error of trying to define minutely the fine points of

distinction between justification and sanctification. Into the definitions o

these two terms they often bring their own ideas and speculations. Why try to

be more minute than is Inspiration on the vital question of righteousness b

faith?”828

2. “There are conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification,

and the righteousness of Christ.”829

a. Faith is the only condition for receiving justification.

“Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained,

and faith includes not only belief but trust.”830

“The faith that is unto salvation is not a casual faith, it is not the

mere consent of the intellect, it is belief rooted in the heart, that

embraces Christ as a personal Saviour, assured that He can save unto

the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. To believe that He will





save others, but will not save you is not genuine faith; but when the soul

lays hold upon Christ as the only hope of salvation, then genuine faith is

manifested. This faith leads its possessor to place all the affections o

the soul upon Christ; his understanding is under the control of the Hol

Spirit, and his character is molded after the divine likeness. His faith is

not a dead faith, but a faith that works by love, and leads him tobehold the beauty of Christ, and to become assimilated to the divine

character.”831

b. Justification by faith does not cover unconfessed known sins.

“But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the

merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s

righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known

duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification

can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must becontinual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and

purifies the soul.”832

“The gospel of the New Testament is not the Old Testament standard

lowered to meet the sinner and save him in his sins. God requires of all

his subjects obedience, entire obedience to all his commandments. He

demands now as ever perfect righteousness as the only title to heaven.

Christ is our hope and our refuge. His righteousness only is imputed to

the obedient.”833

“Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it.We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn

away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life.”834

“God does not forgive sin to encourage us to continue in sin. It is

to bring sin to a close, that the divine nature may take possession of the

being, and the riches of heaven be poured into mind and heart. God has

made every provision that the divine resources may flow freely, and

we are to deem no sacrifice too costly in order that the treasures of truth

may be given to the world. To fall short of this is a betrayal of sacredtrust.”835

“But there are conditions to the fulfillment of these promises. ‘I

ye love Me,’ He says, ‘keep My commandments.’ … Those who brin

their petitions to God, claiming that His promise has been made for them,

while they do not comply with the conditions, insult Jehovah… . Man

have forfeited, and are forfeiting, their conditions of acceptance with

the Father. We need to closely examine the deed of trust wherewith we





approach God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be

cashed, when we have not fulfilled our part of the contract. We

complain that our check is not honored, when it is a forged check . We

approach God with His promises, and ask Him to fulfill them, when b

so doing He would dishonor His name.”836

“Their constant stumbling and falling reveal that they have nomaintained a stern conflict with their besetting sins. They have no

depended wholly upon Christ, because they have not realized that the

are in peril of being overcome by these sins… . It is the inclination to

excuse our moral defects that leads to the cultivation of sin. We must

never forget that God ascribes sin to the one who transgresses; it is no

registered against Satan, but against the sinner. God never accepts the

agency of Satan as an excuse for the committal of one sin. When there i

any excuse for a seemingly wrong act, it is not sin. Satan triumphs when

he hears the professed follower of Christ offering excuses for his defectsof character. Sin unrepented of, unconfessed, can never be blotted

from the books of God’s record… . There must be a forsaking of the

sins the Lord has reproved, before the soul can stand acquitted before

God, humbled and repentant, realizing that he has served Satan, please

him, glorified him, and dishonored his Lord.”837

“Only for those who return to their allegiance to God, only for those

who obey the law that they have violated, will the blood of Christ avail.

Christ will never become a party to sin. Bearing the penalty of the law,He gives the sinner another chance, a second trial. He opens a wa

whereby the sinner can be reinstated in God’s favor. Christ bears the

penalty of man’s past transgressions, and by imparting to man His

righteousness, makes it possible for man to keep God’s holy law.”838

c. Justification (conversion) means a change of character.

“Individual conversion means a change of character. The human

agent must place himself in personal relation to Christ, that in the place

of following his own hereditary and cultivated tendencies, he may havethe mind of Christ, placing himself under the moulding influence of the

Holy Spirit.”839

“Justification by faith in Christ will be made manifest i

transformation of character. This is the sign to the world of the truth o

the doctrines we profess.”840

“The choice we make in this life will be our choice through all

eternity… . There is no middle ground, no second probation. We are





called upon to overcome in this life as Christ overcame. Heaven has

provided us with abundant opportunities and privileges, so that we may

overcome as Christ overcame, and sit down with Him on His throne. Bu

in order to be overcomers, there must be in our lives no petting of

fleshly inclinations. All selfishness must be cut out by the roots.”841

d. Justification happens when God responds to genuine repentance.“John exhorted these men to ‘bring forth therefore fruits meet for

repentance.’ That is, Show that you are converted, that your characters

are transformed… . Neither words nor profession, but fruits—the

forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God—show

the reality of genuine repentance and true conversion.”842

“As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s

atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in

this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification byfaith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God’s

will, and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising

faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer and advancing fro

strength to strength, from glory to glory.

[cont.] “Pardon and justification are one and the same thing.

Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child o

sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, no

because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as

His child by adoption. … The sinner may err, but he is not cast of without mercy. His only hope, however, is repentance toward God

and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”843

e. Justification, or “new birth,” is more than a change of feelings.

“The youth especially stumble over this phrase, ‘a new heart.’ The

do not know what it means. They look for a special change to take

place in their feelings. This they term conversion. Over this erro

thousands have stumbled to ruin, not understanding the expression, ‘Ye

must be born again.’ Satan leads people to think that because they havefelt a rapture of feeling, they are converted. But their experience does

not change. Their actions are the same as before. Their lives show no

good fruit. They pray often and long, and are constantly referring to the

feelings they had at such and such a time. But they do not live the new

life. They are deceived. Their experience goes no deeper than feeling.

They build upon the sand, and when adverse winds come, their house is





swept away… . When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind

the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the

affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new

heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the

sign of a new heart?—a changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to

selfishness and pride.”844

“The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be

given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having

new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten

unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine

nature, and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence o

their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retai

all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their

position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the

truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again.”845

“The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the condemnation o

the defilement of sin. He must exercise repentance toward God, whose

law has been transgressed; and faith in Christ, his atoning sacrifice. Thu

he obtains ‘remission of sins that are past’ and becomes a partaker of the

divine nature. He is a child of God… . In the new birth the heart is

brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with Hi

law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has

passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgressionand rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from

God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has

begun. Then ‘the righteousness of the law’ will ‘be fulfilled in us, who

walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ Romans 8:4. And the

language of the soul will be: ‘O how love I Thy law! it is my meditatio

all the day.’ Psalm 119:97.”846

f. We do not sense the need to repent, and cannot, before we “come to

Christ.”“The Bible does not teach that man must repent before he comes to

Christ. Repentance must precede forgiveness; but the sinner does not

repent till he has faith in Christ as his mediator. Christ is the author

and finisher of our faith. His love, shining from the cross, speaks

eloquently of the sufferings of the only-begotten Son of God for falle

man. This love draws sinners to Him. The transgressor may resist this

love; he may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist,





he will be led to the foot of the cross, in repentance for the sins that

caused the death of the Son of God. …It is true that great reformations

in outward conduct are made by those who have never expressed faith in

Christ, and who may not have even a knowledge of Him. But it is none

the less true that it is the influence of His grace that put into their

hearts the desire to reform. The change in their life is the result of a blind faith. Ignorantly they worship that which leads them to respect true

manhood. If they continue to walk toward the light, increased light will

shine upon them; and they will bow in adoration before God, filled

with gratitude for the love that led Him to give His only-begotten Son a

a sacrifice for the lost race.”847

g. If we do not resist the wooing appeal of the Holy Spirit (John 1:9)

we will be drawn to Jesus as our Savior.

“The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ;but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; a knowledge of the

plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for

his sins, which have caused the sufferings of God’s dear Son.”848

h. Jesus forgives the repentant but removes His favor from those who

go on sinning.

“He willingly forgives those who repent, but He will remove Hi

favor from those who go on sinning, exalting self, and mingling the

sacred with the common. Terrible judgments will destroy those whohave misrepresented Him, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, The templ

of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these,’ [Jeremiah 7:4] whe

their example is misleading.”849

“Genuine repentance springs from a sense of the offensive character

of sin. These general confessions are not the fruit of true humiliation o

soul before God. They leave the sinner with a self-complacent spirit to

go on as before, until his conscience becomes hardened, and warnings

that once aroused him produce hardly a feeling of danger and after a time

his sinful course appears right. All too late his sins will find him out, inthat day when they shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering

forever. There is a vast difference between admitting facts after they

are proved, and confessing sins known only to ourselves and God.”850

i. Justification by faith means “pardon.”

“No one who truly loves and fears God will continue to transgres

the law in any particular. When man transgresses he is under the





condemnation of the law, and it becomes to him a yoke of bondage.

Whatever his profession may be he is not justified, which means

pardoned.”851

j. Although “imputed” is often used to describe God’s part in

“righteousness by faith,” New Testament “righteousness by faith”

always recognizes that faith (man’s part) is a transactionalexperience, a change in a sinner’s life made possible by the

indwelling Christ.

“He testifies that through his imputed righteousness the believing

soul shall obey the commandments of God.”852

“Man may become elevated, ennobled through obedience to the

commandments of God, and become loyal and true subjects of his

kingdom. We may become one with Christ in spirit and character, and

testify to the world that God loves us as he loves his Son. Wha possibilities are there before the fallen human agent! Let perfect

obedience be rendered to God through the imputed righteousness o

Christ, and we shall reveal to the world the fact that God loves us as he

loves Jesus.”853

k. Justification by faith involves the symbolic placing of Christ’s

righteousness to the sinner’s account. Glorious good news!

“Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands

righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable orendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is

through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and th

Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’

righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives,

pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he

were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith i

accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to

grace, from light to a greater light.”854

“We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claimsof the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He live

on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a

sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give

us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him a

your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you

are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your

character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not





sinned.”855 [To complete this thought, see 3.a—following]

l. New Testament “righteousness by faith” cannot exist without

corresponding “works.”

“The apostle James saw that dangers would arise in presenting the

subject of justification by faith, and he labored to show that genuine

faith cannot exist without corresponding works. The experience oAbraham is presented. ‘Seest thou,’ he says, ‘how faith wrought with his

works, and by works was faith made perfect?’ Thus genuine faith does

a genuine work in the believer. Faith and obedience bring a solid,

valuable experience. … Abraham believed God. How do we know tha

he believed? His works testified to the character of his faith, and his

faith was accounted to him for righteousness. We need the faith of

Abraham in our day, to lighten the darkness that gathers around us,

shutting out the sweet sunlight of God’s love, and dwarfing spiritualgrowth. Our faith should be prolific of good works; for faith withou

works is dead. Every duty performed, every sacrifice made in the name

of Jesus, brings an exceeding great reward. In the very act of duty, Go

speaks and gives His blessing.”856

m. No Christian should be confused regarding personal assurance as to

whether “he or she is saved!”

“A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy o

feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is notin yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your

ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might… . We

should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to

whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the

Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, an

trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put awa

all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, ‘I live; yet not I

but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live b

the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me’(Galatians 2:20). Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you hav

committed to Him. If you will leave yourself in His hands, He will brin

you off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you.”857

“If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ shoul

come today.”858

“The message [in 1894 to a dear friend, an elderly Christian in grea





physical pain] from God to me for you is ‘Him that cometh unto me,

will in no wise cast out’ (John 6:37). If you have nothing else to plead

before God but this one promise from your Lord and Saviour,you have

the assurance that you will never, never be turned away. It may see

to you that you are hanging upon a single promise, but appropriate that

one promise, and it will open to you the whole treasure house of theriches of the grace of Christ. Cling to that promise and you are safe.

‘Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.’ Present thi

assurance to Jesus, and you are as safe as though inside the city of God.

You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your

emotions, for they may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart

this one promise and you will find it a passport to all the rich treasures

of heaven. You are precious to the heart of Christ and He speaks, saying

unto you, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and

will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). There is no perhaps or maybeabout this promise. The ‘I will’ of Christ is an assurance that canno

be made any stronger. He speaks further, saying, ‘Take My yoke upon

you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall fin

rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’

(Matthew 11:29, 30).”859

“Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove

to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim Hi

blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They mushave His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or the

cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are,

sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our

folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It is His glory to

encircle us in the arms of His love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse

us from all impurity.”860

“The assurance of God’s approval will promote physical health. I

fortifies the soul against doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief, that so

often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a mostdebilitating and distressing character. The Lord has pledged his unfailing

word that his eye shall be over the righteous, and his ear open to their

prayer, while he is against all them that do evil. We make very hard

work for ourselves in this world when we take such a course that the

Lord is against us.”861

“When we are true to our vows, He says, ‘I will receive you.’”862





n. Jesus offers salvation to those who choose to be obedient and accept

Him as their Ruler.

“Christ offers life eternal to those who choose to be obedient and

submissive to God’s will. By bearing the yoke of willing obedience,

men and women testify to worlds unfallen, to angels, and to men that they

have accepted Christ as their Ruler, and are conforming their lives toHis will.”863

3. Sanctification by faith is immediately united to justification by faith

—“faith to faith” (Romans 1:17).

a. The following quotation appears immediately after the preceding

selection [2.k] showing how clearly Ellen White understood the

fullness of “righteousness by faith.”

“More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in you

heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faithand the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do

this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His goo

pleasure. So you may say, ‘The life which I now live in the flesh I liv

by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’

Galatians 2:20. So Jesus said to His disciples, ‘It is not ye that speak

but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.’ Matthew 10:20.

Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spiri

and do the same good works—works of righteousness,obedience.”864

b. Sanctification and justification are two sides of the gospel coin.

“The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the

righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our

title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.”865

“Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth

the believer becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works

within us, and His righteousness is upon us. Without this no soul will

be entitled to heaven.”866

c. Probably the clearest definition of the fullness of righteousness by

faith is: “So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have

no ground for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the

righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by Hi

Spirit working in and through us.”867





d. Genuine sanctification involves reflecting the spirit and work o

Christ made known to us through the Word of God.

“True sanctification will be evidenced by a conscientious regard

for all the commandments of God, by a careful improvement of ever

talent, by a circumspect conversation, by revealing in every act the

meekness of Christ.”868

“‘This is the will of God concerning you, even your sanctification.’

Great possibilities, high and holy attainments, are within our reach.

Sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, entire

conformity to God’s will. It means an unreserved surrender to Him. I

means to be pure and unselfish, without spot or blemish. From eternit

God has chosen us to be His obedient children. He gave His Son to di

for us, that we might be sanctified through His grace. Continual

progress in knowledge and virtue is His purpose for us. His law is the

echo of His own voice, giving to all the invitation, ‘Come up higher. Beholy, holier still.’ Every day we may advance in perfection o

Christian character. For this Christ clothed His divinity with humanity.

For this He came to the earth, and lived a life of suffering an

privation.”869

“The word of God must be interwoven with the living character o

those who believe it. The only vital faith is that faith which receives

and assimilates the truth till it is a part of the being, and the motive

power of the life and action. Jesus is called the word of God. Haccepted his Father’s law, wrought out its principles in his life,

manifested its spirit, and showed its beneficent power in the heart. Says

John, ‘The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld

his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace

and truth.’ The followers of Christ must be partakers of hi

experience. They must assimilate the word of God. They must b

changed into its likeness by the power of Christ, and reflect the divine

attributes. They must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God

or there is no life in them. The spirit and work of Christ must become the

spirit and work of his disciples. This is genuine sanctification.”870

“The truth must sanctify the whole man —his mind, his thoughts, his

heart, his strength. His vital powers will not be consumed upon his own

lustful practices. These must be overcome, or they will overcome him…

. Sanctification—how many understand its full meaning? The mind i

befogged by sensual malaria. The thoughts need purifying. What migh





not men and women have been had they realized that the treatment of the

body has everything to do with the vigor and purity of mind and heart.

[cont.] “The true Christian obtains an experience which brings

holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint o

corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its

limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiateshis understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away

the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God. The will o

God has become his will, pure, elevated, refined, and sanctified. Hi

countenance reveals the light of heaven. His body is a fit temple for the

Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his character. God can commune with him

for soul and body are in harmony with God.”871

e. Sanctification is the implanting/imparting of Christ’s nature and

righteousness in humanity.“The sanctification of the soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit i

the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity. It is the grace of our

Lord Jesus Christ revealed in character, and the grace of Christ brough

into active exercise in good works. Thus the character is transformed

more and more perfectly after the image of Christ in righteousness

and true holiness. There are broad requirements in divine truth

stretching out into one line after another of good works.”872

“The result of a vital union with Christ should make all willing to

give up everything if only we may be united with him. As thenourishment of the vine is carried to every true branch, so Christ’s

righteousness is imparted to everyone who unites with him.”873

“Through Christ, and Christ alone, the springs of life can vitaliz

man’s nature, transform his tastes, and set his affections flowing toward

heaven. Through the union of the divine with the human nature, Chris

could enlighten the understanding and infuse His life-giving properties

through the soul dead in trespasses and sins.”874

“Man gains everything by obeying the covenant-keeping God. God’sattributes are imparted to man, enabling him to exercise mercy and

compassion. God’s covenant assures us of His unchangeable

character.”875

“The sense of sin, urged home by the law, drives the sinner to the

Saviour. In his need man may present the mighty arguments furnished b

the cross of Calvary. He may claim the righteousness of Christ; for it is

imparted to every repentant sinner.”876





“There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. I

is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ

has made ready for those who obey His commandments.”877

“The only hope of any man lies through Jesus Christ who brought the

robe of his righteousness to put upon the sinner who would lay off hisfilthy garments. There are very many who cling to their filthy garments,

which Christ stands ready to remove, choosing the spots and stains

of sin rather than the pure robe of Christ’s righteousness. The pure and

holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has

entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe o

Christ’s righteousness and the name of God will be seen in their

foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and

signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all

of God’s commandments. There will be no covering up of sins and

faults to hide the deformity of character; no robes will be half

washed; but all will be pure and spotless.”878

“Those who claim modern sanctification would have come

boastingly forward, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, do you not know us? Have w

not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy

name done many wonderful works?’ The people here described, who

make these pretentious claims, apparently weaving Jesus into all their

doings, fitly represent those who claim modern sanctification, but whoare at war with the law of God. Christ calls them workers of iniquity,

because they are deceivers, having on the garments of righteousness to

hide the deformity of their characters, the inward wickedness of their

unholy hearts. Satan has come down in these last days, to work with

all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. His Satanic

majesty works miracles in the sight of false prophets, in the sight of men,

claiming that he is indeed Christ himself. Satan gives his power to those

who are aiding him in his deceptions; therefore those who claim to have

the great power of God can only be discerned by the great detector, the

law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible they would deceiv

the very elect. The sheep’s clothing seems so real, so genuine, that the

wolf cannot be discerned only as we go to God’s great moral

standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law o

Jehovah.”879

f. True sanctification involves one’s daily habits of eating, drinking,





dressing, working, etc.

“God’s people are to learn the meaning of temperance in all things.

They are to practice temperance in eating and drinking and dressing. All

self-indulgence is to be cut away from their lives. Before they can reall

understand the meaning of true sanctification and of conformity to the

will of Christ, they must, by co-operating with God, obtain the master over wrong habits and practices.”880

“Every indulgence in wrongdoing makes an eternal impression

upon our characters.”881

“Christians, is Christ revealed in us? Are we doing all in our powe

to gain a body that is not easily enfeebled, a mind that looks beyond sel

to the cause and effect of every movement, that can wrestle with hard

problems and conquer them, a will that is firm to resist evil and defend

the right? Are we crucifying self? Are we growing up unto the full

stature of men and women in Christ, preparing to endure hardness asgood soldiers of the cross?”882

“The very first step in the path to life is to keep the mind stayed on

God, to have his fear continually before the eyes. A single departure

from moral integrity blunts the conscience, and opens the door to the

next temptation.”883

“There will be some terrible falls by those who think they stand fir

because they have the truth; but they have it not as it is in Jesus. A

moment’s carelessness may plunge a soul into irretrievable ruin. One sinleads to the second, and the second prepares the way for a third and so

on. We must as faithful messengers of God, plead with Him constantly

to be kept by His power. If we swerve a single inch from duty we are

in danger of following on in a course of sin that ends in perdition. There

is hope for every one of us, but only in one way—by fastening ourselves

to Christ, and exerting every energy to attain to the perfection of Hi

character. This goody-goody religion that makes light of sin and that

is forever dwelling upon the love of God to the sinner, encourages

the sinner to believe that God will save him while he continues in sin

and he knows it to be sin. This is the way that many are doing who

profess to believe present truth. The truth is kept apart from their life,

and that is the reason it has no more power to convict and convert the

soul. There must be a straining of every nerve and spirit and muscle to

leave the world, its customs, its practices, and its fashions.”884

g. Sanctification is falsely claimed by those who honor a spurious





sabbath.

“Sanctification is claimed by professed Christians who ignore

God’s holy rest day for a spurious sabbath. But God declares that the

sanctification coming from Him is bestowed on those only who honor

Him by obeying His commands. The sanctification claimed by those wh

continue in transgression is a spurious sanctification. Thus the religiousworld is deceived by the enemy of God and man.”885

“The sign of God is sanctification through obedience to the truth.

This sanctification makes the loyal subject like his great Head, Jesu

Christ. He is brought into peculiar and eternal relations to the Saviour on

condition that he maintains his allegiance to the end. When we are thus

sanctified, we shall not have a spurious faith, a spurious doctrine, a

spurious experience. In coming out from the world and accepting the

Sabbath of creation, which God has blessed and sanctified, we give

evidence of true conversion.”886

h. Growth in sanctification protects us from lowering the standards to

meet our own attainments.

“Alas, are there not many like the doomed fig-tree which bore no

fruit,—mere cumberers of the ground? They seem to think that to profess

Christ constitutes the sum of Christianity. Many live in the hope of some

day growing better, but they do not advance a step. They dishonor the

religion of the Bible by lowering the standard to meet their own

attainments. They do not prepare to meet the assaults of Satan. They dnot realize that God calls upon them to engage in a constant warfare

against the selfishness and pride of their own hearts… . Every day and

every hour we need the sanctification of the Spirit, else we shall be

taken unawares.”887

i. Sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spiri

—the great threefold Power.

“Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with thosewho bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, an

with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have yo

become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three

great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you

will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness.”888

j. The practical demonstration of the purity of the gospel is God’s





purpose for the Christian church.

“The Lord requires of all who profess to be His people, far mor

than they give Him. He expects believers in Christ Jesus to reveal t

the world, in word and deed, the Christianity that was exemplified in

the life and character of the Redeemer. If the Word of God is

enshrined in their hearts, they will give a practical demonstration of the power and purity of the gospel. The testimony thus borne to the

world is of much more value than sermons, or professions of godliness

that do not reveal good works. Let those who name the name of Chris

remember that individually they are making an impression favorable or

unfavorable to Bible religion, on the minds of all with whom they come

in contact.”889

k. Sanctification is knowing “the truth as it is in Jesus.”

“The truth as it is in Jesus is obedience to every precept oJehovah. It is heart work. Bible sanctification is not the spuriou

sanctification of today, which will not search the Scriptures, but trusts

to good feelings and impulses rather than to the seeking for truth as for

hidden treasure. Bible sanctification is to know the requirements of Go

and to obey them. There is a pure and holy heaven in store for those who

keep God’s commandments. It is worth lifelong, persevering, untiring

effort. Satan is on your right hand and on your left; he is before and

behind; he has a dish of fables cooked up for every soul who is not

cherishing the truth as it is in Jesus.”890

l. Sanctification is the result of “obedience to the truth.”

“True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect

conformity to the will of God. We are to be sanctified to God through

obedience to the truth. Our conscience must be purged from dead

works to serve the living God. We are not yet perfect; but it is our

privilege to cut away from the entanglements of self and sin, and advance

to perfection. Great possibilities, high and holy attainments, are placed

within the reach of all.”891

“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a

lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result o

constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs canno

be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble,

intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline,

and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how





strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall

have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last,

there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I

have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong

obedience.”892

m. Christians wanting to be Christlike will sense a “strange power” thaopposes the idea.

“Beholding Christ for the purpose of becoming like Him, the seeke

after truth sees the perfection of the principles of God’s law, and he

becomes dissatisfied with everything but perfection… . A warfare may

be expected at any time, for the tempter sees that he is losing one of his

subjects. A battle must be fought with the attributes which Satan has been

strengthening for his own use. The human agent sees what he has to

contend with—a strange power opposed to the idea of attaining the perfection that Christ holds out. Butwith Christ there is saving power

that will gain for him victory in the conflict. The Saviour will strengthe

and help him as he comes pleading for grace and efficiency.”893

n. The life of a Christian is one of constant repentance and humility.

“The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility.

We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious.

When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take

out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises.If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible

to divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the

understanding.”894

o. The life of a Christian, by conversion and transformation, is to

exercise his individuality by receiving the “mind of Christ.”

“God gives the invitation, ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also

in Christ Jesus.’ By conversion and transformation, men are to receive

the mind of Christ. Everyone is to stand before God with an individual

faith, an individual experience , knowing for himself that Christ is

formed within, the hope of glory. For us to imitate the example of any

man,—even one whom we might regard as nearly perfect in character,—

would be to put our trust in a defective human being, one who is unable

to impart a jot or tittle of perfection.”895

F. Those who limit “righteousness by faith” to “justification only” possess a

limited view of what God intends to accomplish with His Plan of Salvation.





“All [those professed Christians] expect to be saved by Christ’s death, while

they refuse to live His self-sacrificing life. They extol the riches of free grace, an

attempt to cover themselves with an appearance of righteousness, hoping to screen

their defects of character; but their efforts will be of no avail in the day of God… .

Those who reject the gift of Christ’s righteousness are rejecting the

attributes of character which would constitute them the sons and daughters of God. They are rejecting that which alone could give them a fitness for a place

at the marriage feast.”896

1. Righteousness by faith involves the entire ellipse of salvation: from the

grace of pardon to the grace of transforming power.

“True sorrow for sin brings the penitent soul near to the side of Jesus.

There he may effectually plead for pardon, and obtain grace to conquer.

There his darkened understanding may be enlightened, and the stony hear

transformed into a heart of flesh. There the rebellious sinner is subdued, andhis will is brought into conformity to the will of God.”897

2. The goal of righteousness by faith is to prepare people to live forever.

“By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure,

spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. To the

church it is given ‘that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,’

‘not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ Revelation 19:8; Ephesians

5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints.’

Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemishecharacter, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their

personal Saviour.”898

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart

the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the

thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it

means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.”899

“Only those who are sanctified through the truth will be accepted as heirs

of eternal life. The sanctification that God intends his children should have, i

not of that character which leads men to boast of their holiness and reject thelaw of God, which is ‘holy, and just, and good.’ Bible sanctification is

implicit obedience to the requirements of God. Christ did not die to save

anyone in the pollution of sin. He came to ‘save his people from their sins,’

that ‘the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled’ in his followers.”900

“Satan will work to quench the light God has for every soul, by casting his

shadow across the pathway to intercept every ray of heavenly light. He knows





that his time is short. The people of God must cleave to God, else they wil

lose their bearings. If they cherish hereditary and cultivated traits of character

that misrepresent Christ, while professedly His disciples, they are

represented by the man coming to the gospel feast without having on the

wedding garment, and by the foolish virgins which had no oil in their vessels

with their lamps. We must cleave to that which God pronounces to be truth,though the whole world may be arrayed against it.”901

G. The goal of righteousness by faith is reached by means of a joint co-operation

between God and human beings.

“The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint operation.

There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is

necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make

earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. Bu

he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is nosufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man

works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his

power from God. On the one side there is infinite wisdom, compassion, and

power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness. God wishes us to

have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our consent and

co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given to

man. Of ourselves, we are not able to bring the purposes and desires and

inclinations into harmony with the will of God; but if we are ‘willing to be made

willing,’ the Saviour will accomplish this for us.”902

“The influence of the Spirit upon the human mind will regulate it after the

divine order. But the Spirit does not work in a manner and power beyond the

human agent’s power of resistance.”903

“John bears testimony of Christ, the giver of the Word, saying, ‘For thi

purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of th

devil.’ [1John 3:8] In the simplest language John sets before us true practical

godliness. This simplicity does not show shallowness, but depth. John is speakin

to real men and women, and the Holy Spirit directed him to write in such a wathat they would be brought in contact with a real, living God. He shows us what

God is doing, and what man must do to meet God’s requirements.”904

H. We will advance in knowing the truth as soon as we embrace the truth already

learned.

“Christ had many truths to give to His disciples, of which He could not speak

because they did not advance with the light that was flashed upon the Levitical

laws and the sacrificial offerings. They did not embrace the light, advance with





the light, and follow on to still greater brightness as Providence should lead the

way. And for the same reason Christ’s disciples of 1897 do not comprehend

important matters of truth. So dull has been the comprehension of even those

who teach the truth to others that many things cannot be opened to them until

they reach heaven. It ought not to be so. But as men’s minds become narrow,

they think they know it all, and set one stake after another in points of truths owhich they have only a glimpse. They close their minds as though there were no

more for them to learn, and should the Lord attempt to lead them on, they would

not take up with the increased light. They cling to the spot where they think they see

a glimmer of light, when it is only a link in the living chain of truths and promises

to be studied. They know very little of what it means to follow in the footsteps

of Christ.The harmonious relation of truth, like links in a chain, will, just as fast as

the mind is quickened by the Spirit of God to comprehend light and in humblenes

of mind appropriate it, be dispensed to others, and give the glory back to God. The

development of truth will be the reward to the humble-hearted seeker, who

will fear God and walk with Him. The truth which the mind grasps as truth i

capable of constant expansion and new developments. While beholding it, the

truth is seen in all its bearings in the life and character, and becomes more clear

and certain and beauteous. As the mind grasps it in its preciousness, it becomes

elevated, ennobled, sanctified.”905

I. Righteousness by faith to those who believe in Christ is a primary objective o

the outworking of the Great Controversy.

“Satan sought to intercept every ray of light from the throne of God… . He hacaused truth of vital importance to be so mingled with error that it had lost its

significance. The law of Jehovah was burdened with needless exactions an

traditions, and God was represented as severe, exacting, revengeful, and arbitrary.

He was pictured as one who could take pleasure in the sufferings of his creatures.

The very attributes that belonged to the character of Satan, the evil one represente

as belonging to the character of God. Jesus came to teach men of the Father, to

correctly represent him before the fallen children of earth. Angels could not fully

portray the character of God, but Christ, who was a living impersonation of Godcould not fail to accomplish the work. The only way in which he could set

[justification] and keep men right [sanctification] was to make himself visible

and familiar to their eyes. That men might have salvation he came directly to man,

and became a partaker of his nature.”906

J. Understanding righteousness by faith includes understanding the two

covenants.





“A covenant is an agreement by which parties bind themselves and each

other to the fulfillment of certain conditions. Thus the human agent enters into

agreement with God to comply with the conditions specified in His Word. Hi

conduct shows whether or not he respects these conditions.”907

1. The Bible presents two covenants, one made after Adam’s sin in Eden,

the other, at Sinai.

a. The first, made to Adam and renewed to Abraham, had a double

emphasis.

“As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the

other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The

covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall

there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should

bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and

the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith inChrist. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to

God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.”908

b. The second covenant (in time) was offered to the Israelites at Sinai.

“Another compact—called in Scripture the ‘old’ covenant—was

formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the

blood of a sacrifice. The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood

of Christ, and it is called the ‘second,’ or ‘new,’ covenant, because

the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the firstcovenant. That the new covenant was valid in the days of Abraham is

evident from the fact that it was then confirmed both by the promise and

by the oath of God—the ‘two immutable things, in which it was

impossible for God to lie’ Hebrews 6:18.”909

c. The second covenant (commonly called the “old”) was needed

because the Israelites had virtually lost knowledge of the Edenic an

Abrahamic covenant.

“But if the Abrahamic covenant contained the promise of redemption,why was another covenant formed at Sinai? In their bondage the people

had to a great extent lost the knowledge of God and of the principles

of the Abrahamic covenant. In delivering them from Egypt, God sough

to reveal to them His power and His mercy, that they might be led to

love and trust Him.”910

d. Further, after their hundreds of years in Egypt, the Israelites had no





conception of holiness and their need for a Savior.

“But there was a still greater truth to be impressed upon their

minds. Living in the midst of idolatry and corruption, they had no true

conception of the holiness of God, of the exceeding sinfulness of their

own hearts, their utter inability, in themselves, to render obedience to

God’s law, and their need of a Saviour. All this they must be taught.”911

e. The Israelites at Sinai needed to realize the sinfulness of their ow

hearts.

“God brought them to Sinai; He manifested His glory; He gave the

His law, with the promise of great blessings on condition of obedience:

‘If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then … y

shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.’ Exodus 19:5,

6. The people did not realize the sinfulness of their own hearts, and

that without Christ it was impossible for them to keep God’s law;and they readily entered into covenant with God. Feeling that they were

able to establish their own righteousness, they declared, ‘All that the

Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.’ Exodus 24:7.”912

2. The terms of the two covenants recognized the two attitudes or

responses men and women make to God’s call to holiness.

a. “The terms of the ‘old covenant’ were, Obey and live: ‘If a man do,

he shall even live in them’ (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but ‘cursed

be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.’Deuteronomy 27:26. The ‘new covenant’ was established upon

‘better promises’ —the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace

of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles

of God’s law.”913

b. The “old covenant” represents the impulsiveness of trying to be

obedient on one’s own terms: “All that the Lord hath said we will

do” (Exodus 24:7).

“Yet only a few weeks passed before they broke their covenant withGod, and bowed down to worship a graven image. They could not hope

for the favor of God through a covenant which they had broken; and now,

seeing their sinfulness and their need of pardon, they were brought to

feel their need of the Saviour revealed in the Abrahamic covenant and

shadowed forth in the sacrificial offerings. Now by faith and love the

were bound to God as their deliverer from the bondage of sin. Now they

were prepared to appreciate the blessings of the new covenant.”914





c. The new covenant experience, recognizing the weakness and flaw in

the old covenant experience, accepts the grace of Christ for

forgiveness and power to live the obedient life. (God’s law does not

change but obedience is empowered by God’s promises of His

Spirit’s power, not by man’s promises.)

“The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone is written by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart. Instead of going about t

establish our own righteousness we accept the righteousness of Christ.

His blood atones for our sins. His obedience is accepted for us. Then

the heart renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring forth ‘the fruits o

the Spirit.’ Through the grace of Christ we shall live in obedience to

the law of God written upon our hearts.”915

“If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love

is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the

life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man isrenewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenan

promise is fulfilled, ‘I will put My laws into their hearts, and in thei

minds will I write them.’ Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the

heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience—the service and

allegiance of love—is the true sign of discipleship.”916

“Christians are to show that the law of God is not only to be

believed theoretically, but is to be acted out in the life as a living

principle. They are to show by their lives that the law is written in their hearts. Thus they may represent the Redeemer. Thus they may show tha

they have the mind of Christ and are doing the works of Christ.”917

“If it were not possible for human beings under the Abrahamic

covenant to keep the commandments of God, every soul of us is lost. The

Abrahamic covenant is the covenant of grace. ‘By grace ye are saved.’

[John 1:11, 12 quoted.] Disobedient children? No, obedient to all Hi

commandments. If it were not possible for us to be commandment-

keepers, then why does He make the obedience to Hi

commandments the proof that we love Him?”918

K. Righteousness by faith embraces a proper relation between faith and works.

1. James was primarily concerned with a prevailing misunderstanding o

faith.

“The apostle James saw that dangers would arise in presenting the subjec

of justification by faith, and he labored to show that genuine faith can not





exist without corresponding works. The experience of Abraham is

presented. ‘Seest thou,’ he says, ‘how faith wrought with his works, and by

works was faith made perfect?’ Thus genuine faith does a genuine work in the

believer. Faith and obedience bring a solid, valuable experience. There is a

belief that is not a saving faith. The word declares that the devils believe and

tremble. The so-called faith that does not work by love and purify the soulwill not justify any man.”919

2. Paul was clear on the misuse of law (legalism), calling its misuse

“bondage.”

“No one who believes in Jesus Christ is under bondage to the law of God

for His law is a law of life, not of death, to those who obey its precepts. All

who comprehend the spirituality of the law, all who realize its power as a

detector of sin, are in just as helpless a condition as is Satan himself, unless

they accept the atonement provided for them in the remedial sacrifice of JesusChrist, who is our atonement—at-one-ment with God. Through faith in

Christ obedience to every principle of the law is made possible.”920

“The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance

with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our

own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic

covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospe

preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is

preached to us today through which we have hope.”921

3. Another type of “bondage” is “manufactured religion.”

“The truth, the life, the light, which should characterize true godliness,

could not be united with the manufactured religion of the Pharisees.”922

4. Paul understood the precise meaning of all law being our “schoolmaster”

leading us to Christ as our Savior.

“‘The law was our schoolmaster [tutor or disciplinarian] to bring us unto

Christ, that we might be justified by faith’ (Galatians 3:24). In this Scripture

the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking especially of the moral law.

The law reveals sin to us, and causes us to feel our need of Christ, and to flee

unto Him for pardon and peace by exercising repentance toward God an

faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ… . The law of ten commandments is not t

be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side, as from the mercy side. Its

prohibitions are the sure guarantee of happiness in obedience… . To the

obedient it is a wall of protection. We behold in it the goodness of God, who

by revealing to men the immutable principles of righteousness, seeks to shield





them from the evils that result from transgression.”923

5. Abraham was called “righteous” because He obeyed God, even under the

supreme test.

“Abraham obeyed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. B

their works the Jews showed that they bore no real relationship to

Abraham.”924

6. “Pretended righteousness” makes sin even more enormous.

“Many who profess to be serving God are in the same position as Saul,

covering over ambitious projects, pride of display, with a garment of

pretended righteousness. The Lord’s cause is made a cloak to hide the

deformity of injustice, but it makes the sin of tenfold greater enormity.”925

7. Our own “good works” are not the basis of righteousness by faith.

“Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, an

good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love.

They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good

works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls… . But are

good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with

impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in

Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, ‘We are hi

workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hat

before ordained that we should walk in them.’ In His divine arrangement,

through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall berewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of

mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith ; and

they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their

works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good

works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works

for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit.

When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to coun

ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God. We have

only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been

performed in the strength of our own sinful natures. The Lord has bidde

us to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us; and drawing nigh to Him

we receive the grace by which to do those works which will be rewarded

at His hands.”926

L. Righteousness by faith assumes a joint partnership between God and loya

Christians.





1. God does not substitute His power for our responsibilities.

“While these youth [Daniel and his companions] were working out thei

own salvation, God was working in them to will and to do of His goo

pleasure. Here are revealed the conditions of success. To make God’s grace

our own, we must act our part. The Lord does not propose to perform fo

us either the willing or the doing. His grace is given to work in us to willand to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be

aroused to co-operate. The Holy Spirit works in us, that we may work out ou

own salvation. This is the practical lesson the Holy Spirit is striving to teac

us. ‘It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His goo

pleasure.’”927

“We shall meet with opposition of every description, as did the builders

of the walls of Jerusalem; but if we watch and pray, and work as they did,

God will fight our battles for us, and give us precious victories.”928

“The salvation of the soul requires the blending of divine and human

strength. God does not propose to do the work that man can do to meet

the standard of righteousness. Man has a part to act… . But in order to receive

this, man must unite with his divine Helper. Unless of his own accord man

consents to renounce his sinful practises, Christ can not take away his sin.

Man must heartily co-operate with God, willingly obeying His laws, showin

that he appreciates the great gift of grace. Feeling his dependence upon God,

having faith in Christ as his personal Saviour, expecting efficiency and

success only as he keeps the Lord ever before him,—it is thus that mancomplies with the injunction, ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and

trembling.’ But human effort is not sufficient. It avails nothing without divine

power. Of himself man has not strength to wrestle with the powers o

darkness. Therefore Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to

this earth that He might co-operate with man. To those who will receive Him

and trust in His power to save, He imparts the virtue of Hi

righteousness. He gives them power to become the sons of God. ‘The Wor

was made flesh, and dwelt among us, … full of grace and truth… . And of His

fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.’”929

“Brethren, we are far behind. Many of the things which the church shoul

do in order to be a living church are not done. Through the indulgence of

perverted appetite many place themselves in such a condition of health

that there is a constant warring against the soul’s highest interests. The

truth, though presented in clear lines, is not accepted. I wish to set this matter

before every member of our churches. Our habits must be brought into





conformity to the will of God. We are assured, ‘It is God which worketh i

you,’ but man must do his part in controlling appetite and passion. The

religious life requires the action of mind and heart in harmony with the divine

forces. No man can of himself work out his own salvation, and God cannot

do this work for him without his co-operation. But when man works

earnestly, God works with him, giving him power to become a son oGod.”930

“Man had become so degraded by sin that it was impossible for him, in

himself, to come into harmony with Him whose nature is purity and goodness.

But Christ, after having redeemed man from the condemnation of the law,

could impart divine power to unite with human effort. Thus by repentance

toward God and faith in Christ the fallen children of Adam might once more

become ‘sons of God.’ 1 John 3:2.”931

2. God designs that this joint partnership should reach its goal oovercoming sin.

“Mark this point. The Lord did not place in Adam fallen and disobedien

the confidence which He placed in Adam loyal and true, living by every word

that proceeded out of the mouth of God. God’s plan was to give man clear-

sightedness in all his work. This was arranged for Adam by his heavenl

Father. There was to be co-operation between God and man. But this plan

was interfered with by Adam’s transgression. Satan led Adam into sin, and

the Lord could not communicate with him after he had sinned as He did when

he was without sin.”932

“Humanity and divinity must be linked together in the experience o

every overcomer. In our weakness we are to accept Christ’s power.”933

“It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping

with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing

every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.”934

“Man is allotted a part in the great struggle for everlasting life. He

must respond to the working of the Holy Spirit. It will require a struggle t

break through the powers of darkness, but the Spirit that works in him can andwill accomplish this. Man is no passive instrument, to be saved in

indolence. He is called upon to strain every muscle in the struggle for

immortality, yet it is God that supplies the efficiency. No human being can be

saved in indolence.”935

“When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from u

the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers

and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished





before that time. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be hol

still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in

sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of

immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so

forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give

them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refinin process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in

these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished

for us. We embrace the truth of God with our different faculties, and as we

come under the influence of that truth, it will accomplish the work for us

which is necessary to give us a moral fitness for the kingdom of glory and for

the society of the heavenly angels. We are now in God’s workshop. Many o

us are rough stones from the quarry. But as we lay hold upon the truth of

God, its influence affects us. It elevates us and removes from us every

imperfection and sin, of what ever nature. Thus we are prepared to see theKing in His beauty and finally to unite with the pure and heavenly angels in

the kingdom of glory. It is here that this work is to be accomplished for us,

here that our bodies and spirits are to be fitted for immortality.”936

“The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. Today

the Lord tries men to see what characters they will develop. He tried the

Israelites, that it might be seen what was in their hearts. Paul’s character was

perfected by trial. God is today trying the faith of every soul who claims to

be in His service. When passing through trials, we may know that thus God istriving to lead us to know Him and place our trust in Him.”937

“Let us strive with earnestness for the victory over sin. Let us be

determined not to give place to the enemy by criticizing, by picking flaws, by

disparaging others, and seeking to be first. Let us study the prayer made in our

behalf, and work for its fulfilment. Let us keep our eyes fixed upon the perfec

Pattern.”938

“Let me say to him who is struggling to overcome, God presents before

you a strong hope that you may lay hold on eternal life. Lose not your

opportunity for becoming a man. When you look at yourself, and think of the

strength of temptation, you say, ‘I cannot resist.’ I tell you that you can

resist. Tho you are weak and degraded, you may be a child of God. Tho self

indulgence has marked your path, it need not always be thus. You can resist

temptation. Jesus is your Helper. In His strength you can overcome the

power of appetite. Summon will-power to your aid; for unless your will is

placed on the Lord’s side, you can never be successful in overcoming, in





trying to elevate yourself. Do not think that you can not say, I can and

will. God has pledged Himself to help you in every determined effort yo

make to regain your manhood. If you accept His help, you will become a

bright and shining light in the world, and will at last hear the benediction,

‘Well done.’”939

“Take the Word of God, and search its pages as never before, that youmay learn what it means to be a Christian. You need not be discouraged;

for the One who died to save you declares, ‘Ye shall receive power,’ [Acts

1:8]— power to overcome self and selfishness, power to reveal Christ as

He is, full of grace and truth.”940

3. This joint partnership has been working successfully in every generation

since Adam and is not a special expectation for those in the last

generation prior to the Second Advent.

“Some few in every generation from Adam resisted his [Satan’s]every artifice and stood forth as noble representatives of what it was in the

power of man to do and to be— Christ working with human efforts, helping

man in overcoming the power of Satan. Enoch and Elijah are the correc

representatives of what the race might be through faith in Jesus Christ i

they chose to be. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy

men stood untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfected

righteous characters, and were accounted worthy for translation to

Heaven.”941

“We need an abiding Christ with us, as Enoch had when he walked withGod three hundred years. We can have what Enoch had. We can have Chris

as our constant companion. Enoch walked with God, and when assailed by the

tempter, he could talk with God about it. He had no ‘It is written,’ as we have,

but he had a knowledge of his heavenly Companion. He made God hi

counselor, and was closely bound up with Jesus. And Enoch was honored in

his course. He was translated to heaven without seeing death. And those

who will be translated at the close of time will be those who commune

with God on earth. Those who make manifest that their life is hid with Chrisin God will ever be representing him in all their life practices.”942

4. Peter emphasized that being “partakers of the divine nature” meant

being overcomers of all inherited and cultivated tendencies to sin.

“We must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has

ransomed. We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be

partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the





world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects o

character. We need not retain one sinful propensity… . [Ephesians 2:1-6

quoted.] … . As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and

cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we

are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily

partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ a

Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places

The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus.”943

5. Prayer is our mightiest defense.

“There is a mighty power in prayer. Our great adversary is constantl

seeking to keep the troubled soul away from God. An appeal to Heaven by the

humblest saint is more to be dreaded by Satan than the decrees of cabinets or

the mandates of kings.”944

6. Baptism is the public declaration that we no longer live in pride and self-

indulgence.

“Those who receive the ordinance of baptism thereby make a public

declaration that they have renounced the world, and have become members o

the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Those who do this are to

make all worldly considerations secondary to their new relations. Publicl

they have declared that they will no longer live in pride and self-indulgence .

Christ enjoins those who receive this ordinance to remember that they are bound by a solemn covenant to live to the Lord. They are to use for Him al

their entrusted capabilities, never losing the realization that they bear God’s

sign of obedience to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, that they are

subjects of Christ’s kingdom, partakers of the divine nature. They are to

surrender all they have and are to God, employing all their gifts to His name’s

glory.”945

“The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the

reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so

many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore the

did not rise to newness of life in Christ.”946

“As you openly renounced sin and Satan, the three great powers of

heaven pledged themselves to help you to overcome. You were raised in

newness of life by the power that raised Christ from the dead. You came forth

from the watery grave pledged to devote your life to the Master’s service.

You are henceforth to live a new life, as if reason, knowledge, affection,





speech, property, and all else you have, had been anew entrusted to you, with

a distinct intimation from heaven that they are to be used for God. You are to

live a life of cross-bearing and self-denial, a life bound up with the life o

Christ. The character of the Christian is to be a reproduction of the

character of Christ.”947

“Those who submit to the solemn rite of baptism pledge themselves todevote their lives to God’s service; and the three great powers of

heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledge themselves to

cooperate with them, to work in and through them. As men and women thus

enter into covenant relation with God, they take the name of Christian.

Henceforth they are to live the life of Christ. They have been buried wit

Him, and they are to ‘seek those things which are above, where Christ sittet

on the right hand of God.’”948

7. The trials of life are disciplinary and designed as God’s means of enablingus to gain victory over self.

“Life is disciplinary. While in the world, the Christian will meet wit

adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is b

meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed… . Ho

could we reach this standard if there were no difficulties to meet, no

obstacles to surmount, nothing to develop patience and endurance? Trials are

not the smallest blessings that come to us. They are designed to nerve us to

determination to succeed. Instead of allowing them to hinder, oppress, and

destroy us, we are to use them as God’s means of enabling us to gain thevictory over self.”949

M. Righteousness by faith is the antidote for legalism.

1. No safety in a legal religion.

“He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the

law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has

merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian’s life is not a

modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature.”950

2. Legalism is a Christless religion.

“A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless,

Christless religion. Fasting or prayer that is actuated by a self-justifying

spirit is an abomination in the sight of God. The solemn assembly fo

worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the

imposing sacrifice, proclaim that the doer of these things regards himself as

righteous, and as entitled to heaven; but it is all a deception. Our own works





can never purchase salvation.”951

“When men who profess to keep God’s commandments, often dwelling on

the importance of obeying the law of God, fail to work righteousness and

walk against the law of God, He sends messengers to warn them and turn

them to the paths of righteousness. But many who have not that faith tha

works by love and purifies the soul will refuse to heed God’s warnings.”952

3. Legalism is the spirit of bondage.

“The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance

with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our

own strength.”953

N. The goal of righteousness by faith is to wear the “wedding garment” in

Christ’s great parable—“a lesson of the highest consequence.”954

1. The wedding guests are examined before the return of Jesus.

“Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to

share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior

to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes,

His reward is with Him, ‘to give every man according as his work shall be.’

Revelation 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man’

work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ’s followers the

reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.”955

2. The wedding garment represents Christ’s character that all true

followers will possess.

“The wedding garment represents the character which all must possess

who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.”956

“By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless

character which Christ’s true followers will possess. To the church it is given

‘that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,’ ‘not having spot, or

wrinkle, or any such thing.’ Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen,

says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints.’ Revelation 19:8. It is the

righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that throughfaith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.”957

“Those who reject the gift of Christ’s righteousness are rejecting the

attributes of character which would constitute them the sons and daughters

of God. They are rejecting that which alone could give them a fitness for a

place at the marriage feast.”958

“Take my forgiveness, my peace which I freely give you. I will clothe you

with my own righteousness,— the wedding garment,—and make you fit for





the marriage supper of the Lamb. When clothed in my righteousness, throug

prayer, through watchfulness, through diligent study of my Word, you will be

able to reach a high standard. You will understand the truth, and your

character will be molded by a divine influence; for this is the will of God,

even your sanctification.”959

3. The wedding garment is being imparted to us when we make a life habitof submitting to Christ.

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart,

the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the

thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it

means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the

Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness an

deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect

obedience to the law of Jehovah.”960

4. Those clothed with the wedding garment can be trusted with eternal life.

“The life of Christ on earth was a perfect expression of God’s law, and

when those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in character,

they will be obedient to God’s commandments. Then the Lord can trus

them to be of the number who shall compose the family of heaven.

Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness, they have a place a

the King’s feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed throng.”961

“Those who refuse to co-operate with God on earth would not co-operatewith Him in heaven. It would not be safe to take them to heaven.”962

“Those who make it evident that the love of Christ controls their spirit and

actuates their service, will be deemed fit subjects for the family above . We

are all to be tested here in this life to prove whether, if admitted to heaven,

we shall repeat the same course that Satan pursued there. But if the characte

which we develop during our probation is according to the divine Pattern, i

qualifies us to receive the welcome, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful

servant: … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord’ (Matthew 25:21).”963

“What a scene will this be upon which the whole universe will gaze! Howthe love of God is here displayed through His Son to all who have prove

true and faithful! In that day Christ does not present before men the great wor

He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents

before them the faithful work they have done for Him.”964

5. Those clothed with the wedding garment have cooperated with God i

transformation of character.





“The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the

condition of many in our world today. They profess to be Christians, and la

claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a

transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. The

do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him. They have not

overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yetthey think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their

own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the

banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.”965

“He desires us to seek for a pure, clean soul, a soul washed and made

white in the blood of the Lamb. It is the white robe of Christ’s righteousness

that gives the sinner admittance into the presence of the heavenly angels.

Not the color of his hair, but his perfect obedience to all God’s

commandments, opens to him the gates of the Holy City.”966

6. We are in our “washing and ironing time” when God is cleaning our

“robes of character.”

“This is our washing and ironing time—the time when we are to

cleanse our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. John says,

‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ … Shal

we not let Him take them away? Shall we not let our sins go?”967

O. The experience of righteousness by faith is likened to the development of seed

that is perfect as long as it keeps growing.1. We have definite responsibilities in cooperating with God as He grow

the gospel seed in our lives.

“The seed has in itself a germinating principle, a principle that Go

Himself has implanted; yet if left to itself the seed would have no power to

spring up. Man has his part to act in promoting the growth of the grain. He

must prepare and enrich the soil and cast in the seed. He must till the fields.

But there is a point beyond which he can accomplish nothing. No strength o

wisdom of man can bring forth from the seed the living plant. Let man pu

forth his efforts to the utmost limit, he must still depend upon One who has

connected the sowing and the reaping by wonderful links of His own

omnipotent power.”968

“The teachings of Christ, in precept and example, were the sowing o

the seed, to be afterward cultivated by His disciples.”969

2. Growing seed, and Christians that continue to develop into maturity, are

perfect at every stage.





“The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and

the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As

in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant mus

either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous,

so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development

our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there willbe continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.”970

3. In planting gospel seed, Jesus is seeking to reproduce Himself in the live

of men and women.

“So the divine Husbandman looks for a harvest as the reward of His

labor and sacrifice. Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the heart

of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of

the Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character

in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others.”971

“Everyone who professes the name of Christ is required to grow up to

the full stature of Christ, the Christian’s living head.”972

“When farmers seek to recommend their products, they do not exhibit the

poorest specimens. The women bring in their best lumps of golden butter. The

men bring the best fruit and vegetables of every kind, and their

appearance does the skilful workers credit. No dwarfed specimens, but

the very choicest that the land can produce, are brought. And why should

not Christians reveal the most attractive fruit in unselfish actions? Why shoul

not the fruit of the commandment-keeping people of God appear in goodworks? Their words, their deportment, their dress, should be as fruit o

the very best quality. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’”973

4. The gospel harvest is what all heaven is waiting for.

“‘When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle,

because the harvest is come.’ Christ is waiting with longing desire for the

manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shal

be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them a

His own. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but tohasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were al

who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole

world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great

harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious

grain.”974

“Heavenly intelligences are waiting to co-operate with human





instrumentalities, that they may reveal to the world what human beings may

become and what, through their influence, they may accomplish for the saving

of souls that are ready to perish.”975

“Heavenly angels have long been waiting for human agents—the

members of the church—to co-operate with them in the great work to be

done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive thedesign, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an

instrument of divine power.”976

P. The experience of righteousness by faith is a process of building habits that

eventually become “natural” and “spontaneous;” that is, forever predictable.

1. A righteous character is produced by right actions, constantly repeated.

“We build on Christ by obeying His word. It is not he who merely enjoy

righteousness, that is righteous, but he who does righteousness. Holiness is

not rapture; it is the result of surrendering all to God; it is doing the will oour Heavenly Father.… Religion consists in doing the words of Christ; no

doing to earn God’s favor, but because, all undeserving, we have received

the gift of His love. Christ places the salvation of man, not upon professio

merely, but upon faith that is made manifest in works of righteousness. Doing,

not saying merely, is expected of the followers of Christ. It is through

action that character is built. ‘As many as are led by the Spirit of God, the

are the sons of God.’ Romans 8:14. Not those whose hearts are touched by the

Spirit, not those who now and then yield to its power, but they that are led bythe Spirit, are the sons of God.”977

“The power of self-restraint strengthens by exercise. That which at firs

seems difficult, by constant repetition grows easy, until right thoughts and

actions become habitual.”978

“Let the tempted soul remember that he is a representative of Christ. It i

only by coming in contact with obstacles and difficulties and overcoming

them that we become strong. Our necessity is God’s opportunity. If we will

hold fast to Christ, every trial will work out for our good.”979

“God’s children are always being tested in the furnace of affliction. If theyendure the first trial, it is not necessary for them to pass through a similar

ordeal the second time; but if they fail, the trial is brought to them again and

again, each time being still more trying and severe. Thus opportunity after

opportunity is placed before them of gaining the victory and proving

themselves true to God. But if they continue to manifest rebellion, God i

compelled at last to remove His Spirit and light from them.”980





2. Sinful habits are most difficult to eradicate and can be overcome only by

building new habits.

“And let none flatter themselves that sins cherished for a time can easil

be given up by and by. This is not so. Every sin cherished weakens the

character and strengthens habit; and physical, mental, and moral

depravity is the result. You may repent of the wrong you have done, and setyour feet in right paths; but the mold of your mind and your familiarity with

evil will make it difficult for you to distinguish between right and wrong.

Through the wrong habits formed, Satan will assail you again and again.”981

“There are few who form evil habits deliberately. By frequent repetition

of wrong acts, habits are formed unconsciously and become so firmly

established that the most persistent effort is required to effect a change.

We should never be slow in breaking up a sinful habit. Unless evil habits are

conquered, they will conquer us and destroy our happiness.”982

“Satan knows that if he can persuade human beings to venture out of the path of obedience, he can lead them on and still on in his way. He knows that

then he can induce them to follow his plans by presenting something to be

gained by disobedience.”983

“The work of restoration can never be thorough unless the roots of evil

are reached. Again and again the shoots have been clipped, while the root

of bitterness has been left to spring up and defile many; but the very depth

of the hidden evil must be reached, the moral senses must be judged, and

judged again, in the light of the divine presence. The daily life will testif whether or not the work is genuine.”984

“Before the foundations of the earth were laid the covenant was made tha

all who were obedient, all who should through the abundant grace provided

become holy in character and without blame before God by appropriating tha

grace, should be children of God. This covenant, made from eternity, was

given to Abraham nineteen hundred years before Christ came. With wha

interest and what intensity did Christ in humanity study the human race to

see if they would avail themselves of the provision offered.”985

“Before the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the professing Christia

pledges himself to overcome pride, covetousness, unbelief. And as he seeks

to fulfil this pledge, he grows in self-distrust, placing entire dependence on

God.”986

3. The “seal of God” will be placed on those whose life habits have become

habitually, naturally, and spontaneously “settled into the truth,” never

again to say “No” to the will of God.





“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is

not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both

intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved— just as soon as

God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, i

has begun already.”987

“The principles of God’s law will dwell in the heart, and control theactions. It will then be as natural for us to seek purity and holiness, to shun

the spirit and example of the world, and to seek to benefit all around us, as it

is for the angels of glory to execute the mission of love assigned them. None

will enter the city of God but those who have been doers of the word.”988

“Christ did not forget John. In the lonely prison He manifested Himself t

him, showing him that erelong He Himself was to suffer a most shameful,

ignominious death. Not only that, but He was to bear the penalty of the

transgression of the law of God, not to give men liberty to continue in sin, but

to take away their inclination to sin, that they might not desire to

transgress. Those who receive Christ are obedient to His commands; for Hi

mind is given to them. He imbues them with His spirit of obedience, and the

return to their loyalty.”989

4. Those truly growing in sanctified living will never claim sinlessness.

“We shall not boast of our holiness. As we have clearer views of Christ’s

spotlessness and infinite purity, we shall feel as did Daniel, when he beheld

the glory of the Lord, and said, ‘My comeliness was turned in me into

corruption.’ We cannot say, ‘I am sinless,’ till this vile body is changed andfashioned like unto His glorious body. But if we constantly seek to follow

Jesus, the blessed hope is ours of standing before the throne of God withou

spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; complete in Christ, robed in Hi

righteousness and perfection.”990

5. Those growing in sanctified living will know what it is to serve God.

“What is it to serve God?—It is to resemble Him in character, to

imitate Him. To serve God is to obey Him, to keep His commandments, to

make an open confession of standing, not under the black banner of the greatapostate, but under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Those wh

serve God strive earnestly to obey His will. Thus they show to what arm

they belong.”991

“True religion is the imitation of Christ. Those who follow Christ will

deny self, take up the cross, and walk in His footsteps. Following Chris

means obedience to all His commandments. No soldier can be said to follo





his commander unless he obeys orders. Christ is our model. To copy Jesus,

full of love and tenderness and compassion, will require that we draw near to

Him daily. O how God has been dishonored by His professe

representatives.”992

6. Loyal Christians are daily overcoming, constantly gaining more insigh

and strength.“The Potter cannot mold and fashion unto honor that which has never bee

placed in His hands. The Christian life is one ofdaily surrender, submission

and continual overcoming. Every day fresh victories will be gained. Sel

must be lost sight of, and the love of God must be constantly cultivated. Thu

we grow up into Christ. Thus the life is fashioned according to the divine

model.”993

“To ‘walk in the light’ means to resolve to exercise thought to exert

will-power, in an earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character. It means to put away all gloom. Let no one rest satisfied simply i

saying, ‘I am a child of God.’ Are you beholding Jesus, and by beholding,

becoming changed into His likeness? To ‘walk in the light’ means

advancement and progress in spiritual attainments. Paul declared, ‘Not as tho

I had already attained, neither were already perfect: but … forgetting those

things which are behind,’ constantly beholding the Pattern, I reach ‘forth unto

those things which are before.’ To ‘walk in the light’ means to ‘walk

uprightly,’ to walk ‘in the way of the Lord,’ to ‘walk by faith,’ to ‘walk in the

Spirit,’ to ‘walk in the truth,’ to ‘walk in love,’ to ‘walk in newness of life.’ Itis ‘perfecting holiness in the fear of God.’”994

7. Genuine Christians fix their eyes on the “Model.”

“To be a Christian means to be Christlike, to follow the Saviour.

Following implies obedience. No soldier can follow his leader unless he

obeys orders. Following means imitation. ‘Learn of Me,’ the great Teacher

says to those who have taken the name of Christian. Keep your eyes fixed on

the Model. … He who fails to correct the mistakes shown him in the divine

mirror, presents before the world a miserable representation of Christ. Angelsveil their faces in sorrow. The world sees that he is not what he professes to

be, and they turn from him as a counterfeit. Christians are either under

Christ’s rule or under the control of the enemy.”995

“God help us to be true Christians, consistent today, consistent

tomorrow, upright in action, kindly in word, pure in thought. The true

Christian lives the Christ-life. In all his transactions he lifts the banner of th

cross. If he is misunderstood, he takes no offense, but pursues the even





tenor of his way. He is kind, thoughtful, and forbearing. He closely examine

himself, lest in word or deed he shall deny his Lord. He chooses God’s way.

Each day of his life he unselfishly ministers to others. The light that is in hi

shines forth, and he stills the strife of tongues. Day by day, tho unconsciously

to himself, he is working out before men and angels a vast, sublime

experiment. He is showing what the Gospel can do for fallen humabeings.”996

8. Genuine Christians know that daily spiritual battles can be won by

cooperating with God.

“Temptation must be met and resisted. Day by day the spiritual battle goes

on. Day by day we are to work out our own salvation with fear and

trembling. It is God that works in us, to will and to do of His goo

pleasure.”997

9. Christians understand why Jesus called His commandment to love a “necommandment.”

“Why did Christ call this a new commandment?— Because He was yet to

give, in the sacrifice of His life, the crowning evidence of His love. When

this offering should have been made, the gift would be complete, and the

disciples would understand more fully the meaning of the new commandment.

‘As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’”998

10. Genuine Christians learn that a new life in Christ comes only i

constantly beholding Him who promises to change sinners into saints.“Those only who constantly behold Him —the One full of grace and truth

— can live this life. Beholding Him, they are changed into the same image,

from glory to glory. As they behold Him, He gives them power to become

the sons of God. With love and compassion, without a trace of harshness,

the Saviour meets them in their necessity. With sympathetic helpfulness, by

the gentle touch of grace, He changes the sinner into a saint. With unwearying

patience, He works to expel from the soul all disturbing elements, changing

enmity to love, and unbelief to confidence… . Constantly they must receive power from Him. This is necessary, in order that the new life in Christ may be

lived. No part of the diseased life of sin is to remain. Christ diffuses

sanctified activity through all parts of the being, and there is developed

unselfishness in the service of God… . Those who receive His grace impart i

to others, making known His virtue of character by self-denial and sacrifice,

by meekness and lowliness, by good words and works. In the life there is

seen no deception, no falsehood. The words spoken are faithful, trustworth





words, which mean all that they express. The life is not a falsehood— a claim

to represent Christ, and at the same time a denial of Him.”999

11. The purpose of God’s plan for our salvation is to restore us to the place

where we can be trusted to say “yes” to God’s will, always and forever.

“Those who refuse to co-operate with God on earth would not co-operate

with Him in heaven. It would not be safe to take them to heaven.”1000

Q. The plan of redemption goes beyond the pardoning of forgiven culprits, to

welcoming children into the family of God as sons and daughters who have

committed themselves to be obedient to their Father’s moral boundaries.

“The plan of redemption is not merely a way of escape from the penalty o

transgression, but through it the sinner is forgiven his sins, and will be finally

received into heaven,—not as a forgiven culprit pardoned and released from

captivity, yet looked upon with suspicion and not admitted to friendship and trust;

but welcomed as a child, and taken back into fullest confidence… . If by livingfaith we accept this wonderful salvation, we shall never perish as guilty

transgressors of God’s holy immutable law. Believing on the Son, we shall be

obedient to all of the Father’s commandments, and have life through Jesus Christ

But many fail to act upon this faith, and therefore God is dishonored… . But th

gospel of good news was not to be interpreted as allowing men to live in continued

rebellion against God by transgressing his just and holy law. Why cannot those

who claim to understand the Scriptures, see that God’s requirement under grace is

just the same he made in Eden,—perfect obedience to his law… . The gospel othe New Testament is not the Old Testament standard lowered to meet the

sinner and save him in his sins. God requires of all his subjects obedience, entire

obedience to all his commandments. He demands now as ever perfec

righteousness as the only title to heaven. Christ is our hope and our refuge. His

righteousness only is imputed to the obedient. Let us accept it through faith,

that the Father shall find in us no sin. But those who have trampled on the hol

law will have no right to claim that righteousness. Oh that we might view the

immensity of the plan of salvation as obedient children to all God’s requirements,

believing that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ, our atoninsacrifice!”1001

R. The goal of righteousness by faith is to reflect in our sphere our Lord’s call for

perfection in His followers.

“Those who serve God should aim at perfection. Wrong habits must be

overcome. Right habits must be formed. Under the discipline of the greates

Teacher the world has ever known, Christians must move onward and upward





toward perfection. This is God’s command, and no one should say, I cannot do

it. He should say instead, God requires me to be perfect, and He will give me

strength to overcome all that stands in the way of perfection. He is the source

of all wisdom, all power… . The world has set up a standard to suit the

inclinations of unsanctified hearts, but this is not the standard for those who love

Christ. The Redeemer has chosen them out of the world, and has left them Hissinless life as a standard. He wants them to rise above all cheapness of word

or action. …Overcoming, means much more than we realize. It means resisting the

enemy and drawing nigh to God. It means taking up the cross and following Christ

doing cheerfully those things that are contrary to natural inclination. Christ came

from heaven to show us how to live a life of self-sacrifice. In His strength we

are to gain perfection. He has made it possible for us to do this, and when He

comes the second time, He will ask us why we have not fulfilled His purpose for

us. Day by day, hour by hour, we are preparing for the judgment, deciding our

eternal destiny… . No compromise with sin can ever be accepted by a pure

and holy God. No conversion is genuine that does not radically change the

heart, the character, every line of conduct. … This present life is only our

training-school. Here we are to be purified that at Christ’s coming we may be

without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, —prepared to receive the inheritance

of the saints in light.”1002

“It is Christ’s desire that His children shall reach this place. He longs to revea

through them the treasures of His grace. He says to them, ‘Be ye therefore perfect

even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ And He says this because Heknows that it is possible for them to reach perfection. He lived in this world

the life that they must live . He met the foe single-handed, as they must meet him.

He asked and received power to enable Him to overcome in the conflict. An

those who walk in God’s way may have the same power.”1003

S. The full meaning of righteousness by faith, the essence of the Three Angels’

Messages (Revelation 14) not clearly evident in general Protestantism, wa

presented at the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference.

“The Lord in His great mercy sent amost precious message to His peoplethrough Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominentl

before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to

receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all

the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. … This is the

message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s

message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the





outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure… . The message of the gospel of Hi

grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world

should no longer say that Seventh-day Adventists talk the law, the law, but do not

teach or believe Christ… . This is the testimony that must go throughout the lengt

and breadth of the world. It presents the law and the gospel, binding up the two in a

perfect whole. (See Romans 5 and 1 John 3:9 to the close of the chapter.) Thes precious scriptures will be impressed upon every heart that is opened to receive

them… .

[cont.] “‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the son

of God, even to them that believe on His name.’ These have not a mere nominal

faith, a theory of truth, a legal religion, but they believe to a purpose, appropriating

to themselves the richest gifts of God… . This is the very work which the Lor

designs that the message He has given His servants shall perform in the heart an

mind of every human agent… . The Lord would have these grand themes studied i

our churches, and if every church member shall give entrance to the word of God,it will give light and understanding to the simple… .

[cont.] “I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years

resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate

and despise the messengers of God’s righteousness? God has given them Hi

message. They bear the word of the Lord. There is salvation for you, but onl

through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offere

you again and again. Light and power from on high have been shed abundantly in

the midst of you. Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lor recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the

message they bore. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists, and

enthusiasts. Let me prophesy unto you: Unless you speedily humble your heart

before God, and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late,

see that you have been fighting against God… .

[cont.] “I have no smooth message to bear to those who have been so long as

false guideposts, pointing the wrong way. If you reject Christ’s delegated

messengers, you reject Christ. Neglect this great salvation, kept before you for

years, despise this glorious offer of justification through the blood of Christ and

sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and there

remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment

and fiery indignation. I entreat you now to humble yourselves and cease your

stubborn resistance of light and evidence.”1004

“In Minneapolis God gaveprecious gems of truth to His people in new

settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness





the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing b

the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks

were… . The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to

our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having

decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’

messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, ‘Thecommandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ One of the landmarks under thi

message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the

ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandmen

flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The

nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more

that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the

old landmarks is all imaginary.”1005





The Great Controversy Theme Directly Informs All

Aspects of the Christian Life

A. Correct health principles help us to cooperate with God in restoring all thasin has damaged.

1. Living since 1844, during the antitypical Day of Atonement, God’

loyalists have special responsibilities.

“We are in the day of atonement, and we are to work in harmony with

Christ’s work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Let

no man who desires to be found with the wedding garment on, resist our

Lord in his office work. As he is, so will his followers be in this world. We

must now set before the people the work which by faith we see our greatHigh-priest accomplishing in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who do no

sympathize with Jesus in his work in the heavenly courts, who do not cleanse

the soul temple of every defilement, but who engage in some enterprise not

in harmony with this work, are joining with the enemy of God and man in

leading minds away from the truth and work for this time.”1006

2. Because of what God is calling for in this special time, we need to kno

how to care for ourselves physically.

“Anything that lessens physical strength enfeebles the mind andmakes it less capable of discriminating between right and wrong. We

become less capable of choosing the good and have less strength of will to do

that which we know to be right.”1007

“The brain nerves that connect with the whole system are the mediu

through which heaven communicates with man and affects the inmost life.

Whatever hinders the circulation of the electric current in the nervous

system, thus weakening the vital powers and lessening mental

susceptibility, makes it more difficult to arouse the moral nature.”1008

3. The Adventist health message is designed to prepare a people for the

return of Jesus.

“Health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people

for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel’s

message as the hand is with the body. Had men ever been obedient to the law

of Ten Commandments, carrying out in their lives the principles of those

precepts, the curse of disease now flooding the world would not be… . He





has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us, that we may see our

sin in violating the laws which He has established in our being.”1009

“He who cherishes the light which God has given him upon health refor

has an important aid in the work of becoming sanctified through the truth,

and fitted for immortality.”1010

4. The health message is as closely linked to the biblical message as “thehand is with the body.”

“God has shown that health reform is as closely connected with the

third angel’s message as the hand is with the body.”1011

“Get some of these young men and young women to work in the churches.

Combine medical missionary work with the proclamation of the third

angel’s message. Make regular, organized efforts to lift the churches out o

the dead level in which they have been for years. Send out into the churches

workers who will set the principles of health reform, connected with thethird angel’s message , before every church in Michigan. See if the breath o

life will not then come into these churches.”1012

5. Health reform principles will prepare God’s loyalists for the “loud cry.”

“The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the third angel’s message

and is just as closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the

human body. I saw that we as a people must make an advance move in this

great work. Ministers and people must act in concert. God’s people are not

prepared for the loud cry of the third angel. They have a work to do for themselves which they should not leave for God to do for them. He has lef

this work for them to do. It is an individual work; one cannot do it for another.

‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves

from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear o

God.’ Gluttony is the prevailing sin of this age. Lustful appetite makes

slaves of men and women, and beclouds their intellects and stupefies their

moral sensibilities to such a degree that the sacred, elevated truths of God’s

word are not appreciated. The lower propensities have ruled men and

women.”1013

6. Adventist health principles involve three specific levels in relating to

others.

a. Humanitarian principle:

“As a people we have been given the work of making known the

principles of health reform. There are some who think that the question

of diet is not of sufficient importance to be included in their evangelistic





work. But such make a great mistake… . The work of health reform is

the Lord’s means for lessening suffering in our world and for

purifying His church.”1014

b. Evangelism principle:

“Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel. It i

necessary to the advancement of the cause of God. As through it menand women are led to see the importance of right habits of living, the

saving power of the truth will be made known. Every city is to be

entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As the right

hand of the third angel’s message, God’s methods of treating disease

will open doors for the entrance of present truth.”1015

“When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge,

making a way for other truths to reach the heart. When the third angel’s

message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its placein the councils of the conference, in the work of the church, in the home,

at the table, and in all the household arrangements. Then the right ar

will serve and protect the body. But while the health work has its place

in the promulgation of the third angel’s message, its advocates must not

in any way strive to make it take the place of the message.”1016

c. Salvation principle:

“To make plain natural law, and urge the obedience of it, is the work

that accompanies the third angel’s message to prepare a people for thecoming of the Lord.”1017

“If it were not possible for us to be commandment keepers, then why

does He make the obedience to His commandments the proof that we

love Him?”1018

“A diseased body and disordered intellect, because of continual

indulgence in hurtful lust, make sanctification of the body and spirit

impossible.”1019

“Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use

of flesh foods, tea, and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God b

sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they

know to be unhealthful. God demands that the appetite be cleansed, and

that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good.

This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stan

before Him a perfected people.”1020





7. Understanding advanced health principles helps to prepare for

participation in last-day events.

“The health reform … is a part of the third angel’s message and is just as

closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the human body… . We

as a people must make an advance move in this great work. Ministers and

people must act in concert. God’s people are not prepared for the loud cryof the third angel. They have a work to do for themselves which they should

not leave for God to do for them. He has left this work for them to do. It is a

individual work; one cannot do it for another… . In order to be fitted for

translation, the people of God must know themselves. They mus

understand in regard to their own physical frames that they may be able with

the psalmist to exclaim: ‘I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully an

wonderfully made.’ They should ever have the appetite in subjection to

the moral and intellectual organs. The body should be servant to the mind,

and not the mind to the body.”1021

8. Correcting health habits is our privilege and responsibility before

probation closes.

“We believe without a doubt that Christ is soon coming. This is not a

fable to us; it is a reality. We have no doubt, neither have we had a doubt for

years, that the doctrines we hold today are present truth, and that we are

nearing the judgment… . When He comes He is not to cleanse us of ou

sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the

infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, thiswork will all be accomplished before that time. When the Lord comes, those

who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and

spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing

touch of immortality.”1022

9. Joint cooperation between ministers and physicians is God’s plan.

“We are to be one in the faith. I want to tell you that when the gospel

ministers and the medical missionary workers are not united, there is placed

on our churches the worst evil that can be placed there. Our medicalmissionaries ought to be interested in the work of our conferences, and our

conference workers ought to be as much interested in the work of our medical

missionaries.”1023

10. Carelessness regarding health principles leads to carelessness with other

truths.

“If we could be benefited by indulging the desire for flesh foods, I woul





not make this appeal to you; but I know we cannot. Flesh foods are injuriou

to the physical well-being, and we should learn to do without them. Those

who are in a position where it is possible to secure a vegetarian diet, but who

choose to follow their own preferences in this matter, eating and drinking

as they please, will gradually grow careless of the instruction the Lord

has given regarding other phases of the present truth and will lose their perception of what is truth; they will surely reap as they have sown.”1024

“Greater reforms should be seen among the people who claim to be

looking for the soon appearing of Christ. Health reform is to do among our

people a work which it has not yet done. There are those who ought to be

awake to the danger of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of animals,

thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are

now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from

God’s people, to walk no more with them.”1025

B. Correct educational principles help us to cooperate with God in restoring al

that sin has damaged.

1. The Adventist educational system’s mission statement is exactly the

same as understanding the Great Controversy.

“To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the

perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body,

mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized— this

was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the

great object of life.”1026

2. The Adventist student’s main task is to understand the many aspects of

the Great Controversy.

“The student should learn to view the word as a whole, and to see the

relation of its parts. He should gain a knowledge of its grand central

theme, of God’s original purpose for the world, of the rise of the great

controversy, and of the work of redemption. He should understand the

nature of the two principles that are contending for supremacy, and should

learn to trace their working through the records of history and prophecy, to the

great consummation. He should see how this controversy enters into every

phase of human experience; how in every act of life he himself reveals

the one or the other of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether

he will or not, he is even now deciding upon which side of the controversy

he will be found.”1027

“In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education,





we need to consider both the nature of man and the purpose of God in

creating him. We need to consider also the change in man’s condition

through the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and God’s plan for still

fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race.”1028

“The highest class of education is that which will give such knowledge

and discipline as will lead to the best development of character, and will fitthe soul for that life which measures with the life of God. Eternity is not to

be lost out of our reckoning. The highest education will be that which will

teach our children and youth, our teachers and educators, the science of

Christianity, that will give them an experimental knowledge of God’s ways,

impart to them the lessons which Christ gave to his disciples of the paternal

character of God.”1029

3. Because one of the fundamental principles of the Great Controversy i

freedom, Adventist education focuses on training students to be thinkers,taking responsibility seriously.

“Every human being, created in the image of God, is endowed with

power akin to that of the Creator—individuality, power to think and to do.

The men in whom this power is developed are the men who bear

responsibilities, who are leaders in enterprise, and who influence character.

It is the work of true education to develop this power, to train the youth

to be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s thought. Instead o

confining their study to that which men have said or written, let students be

directed to the sources of truth, to the vast fields opened for research in natureand revelation. Let them contemplate the great facts of duty and destiny, and

the mind will expand and strengthen. Instead of educated weaklings,

institutions of learning may send forth men strong to think and to act, men who

are masters and not slaves of circumstances, men who possess breadth o

mind, clearness of thought, and the courage of their convictions.”1030

“Let the youth and the little children be taught to choose for themselves

that royal robe woven in heaven’s loom—the ‘fine linen, clean and white’

(Revelation 19:8), which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This robe,Christ’s own spotless character, is freely offered to every human being. But

all who receive it will receive and wear it here. Let the children be taught that

as they open their minds to pure, loving thoughts and do loving and helpful

deeds, they are clothing themselves with His beautiful garment o

character. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will

hereafter be their title of admission to the palace of the King. His promise i

‘They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.’ Revelation 3:4.”1031





4. The teacher’s constant aim should be to keep the principles of God’s

character in front of the students.

“To aid the student in comprehending these principles, and in entering into

that relation with Christ which will make them a controlling power in the life,

should be the teacher’s first effort and his constant aim. The teacher who

accepts this aim is in truth a co-worker with Christ, a laborer together withGod.”1032

5. The highest purpose of education should be service to others.

“We should cultivate every faculty to the highest degree of perfection, that

we may do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable… . God will

accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places every human

agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is required of all.

Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to

accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing… . And thosewho would be workers together with God must strive for perfection of ever

organ of the body and quality of the mind. True education is the preparation

of the physical, mental, and moral powers for the performance of every

duty; it is the training of body, mind, and soul for divine service.”1033

“In the attainment of a perfect Christian character, the culture of the

intellect is necessary, in order that we may understand the revelation of the

will of God to us. This can not be neglected by those who are obedient to

God’s commandments. In our intellectual faculties, we possess God’s

endowment. These faculties were not given us for the service of self, butfor the service of God; and they are to be treated as a higher power, to rule

the things of the body. They are derived from God, not self-created, and

should be consecrated to his work.”1034

6. Students should strive to reach the highest levels of intellectual

greatness.

“God will accept the youth with their talent, and their wealth of affection,

if they will consecrate themselves to Him. They may reach to the highest

point of intellectual greatness; and if balanced by religious principle theycan carry forward the work which Christ came from Heaven to accomplish,

and in thus doing be co-workers with the Master.”1035

“A thorough education, which will fit young men and women for service,

is to be given in our schools. In order to secure such an education the wisdo

that comes from God must be made first and most important. All who engage

in the acquisition of knowledge should strive to reach the highest round of





the ladder. Let students advance as fast and as far as they can; let the field o

their study be as broad as their powers can compass; but let them make God

their wisdom, clinging to Him who is infinite in knowledge, who can reveal

secrets hidden for ages, and who can solve the most difficult problems for

minds that believe in Him.”1036

“God requires the training of the mental faculties. He designs that Hiservants shall possess more intelligence and clearer discernment than the

worldling, and He is displeased with those who are too careless or too

indolent to become efficient, well-informed workers. The Lord bids us love

Him with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and

with all the mind. This lays upon us the obligation of developing the intellec

to its fullest capacity, that with all the mind we may know and love our

Creator.”1037

“Man cannot conceive what he may be and what he may become.

Through the grace of Christ he is capable of constant mental progress. Let thlight of truth shine into his mind and the love of God be shed abroad in his

heart and he may, through the grace Christ has died to impart to him, be a

man of power—a child of earth but an heir of immortality.”1038

7. The Apostle Paul gives us an example of a balanced lifelong education.

“Paul was highly educated, and was admired for his genius and

eloquence. He was chosen by his countrymen as a member of the Sanhedri

[sic], and was a rabbi of distinguished ability; yet his education had not

been considered complete until he had served an apprenticeship at someuseful trade. He rejoiced that he was able to support himself by manual

labor, and frequently declared that his own hands had ministered to his

necessities. While in a city of strangers, he would not be chargeable to

anyone. When his means had been expended to advance the cause of Christ, he

resorted to his trade in order to gain a livelihood.”1039

8. The personal habits and spiritual experience of teachers are more

important than literary qualifications.

“The teacher of truth can impart effectively only that which he himself knows by experience.”1040

“The habits and principles of a teacher should be considered of even

greater importance than his literary qualifications. If he is a sincere

Christian, he will feel the necessity of having an equal interest in the physical,

mental, moral, and spiritual education of his scholars.”1041

9. In keeping with the goals that God holds up for His loyalists in the Grea





Controversy, Christian education should avoid selfish ambition and

rivalry.

“In true education the selfish ambition, the greed for power, the disregard

for the rights and needs of humanity, that are the curse of our world, find a

counterinfluence. God’s plan of life has a place for every human being. Each

is to improve his talents to the utmost; and faithfulness in doing this, be thegifts few or many, entitles one to honor. In God’s plan there is no place for

selfish rivalry… . But how widely different is much of the education now

given! From the child’s earliest years it is an appeal to emulation and

rivalry; it fosters selfishness, the root of all evil. Thus is created strife for

supremacy; and there is encouraged the system of ‘cramming,’ which in so

many cases destroys health and unfits for usefulness. In many others,

emulation leads to dishonesty; and by fostering ambition and discontent, it

embitters the life and helps to fill the world with those restless, turbulent

spirits that are a continual menace to society.”1042

10. Teaching methods are as important as the lessons to be learned.

“Faithful teachers should be placed in charge of the Bible classes,

teachers who will strive to make the students understand their lessons, not by

explaining everything to them, but by requiring them to explain clearly

every passage they read. Let these teachers remember that little good is

accomplished by skimming over the surface of the word. Thoughtful

investigation and earnest, taxing study are necessary to an understanding o

this word.”1043

“Students should be led to think for themselves, to see the force of truth

for themselves, and to speak every word from a heart full of love and

tenderness. Urge upon their minds the vital truths of the Bible. Let them repea

these truths in their own language, that you may be sure that they clearly

comprehend them. Be sure that every point is fastened upon the mind. This

may be a slow process, but it is of ten times more value than rushing over

important subjects without giving them due consideration. It is not enough tha

the student believe the truth for himself. He must be drawn out to state thistruth clearly in his own words, that it may be evident that he sees the

force of the lesson and makes its application.”1044

11. The biblical schools of the prophets should be a template in the last days.

“If conducted as God designs they should be, our schools in these closin

days of the message will do a work similar to that done by the schools of the

prophets.”1045





12. Amidst confusion in educational and spiritual goals, God will have Hi

“Christian patriots” who will not mar the work of God with “erroneou

methods and practices.”

“The children of Israel were taken captive to Babylon because the

separated from God, and no longer maintained the principles that had been

given to keep them free from the methods and practises of the nations whodishonored God. The Lord could not give them prosperity, he could not fulfil

his covenant with them, while they were untrue to the principles he had given

them zealously to maintain. By their spirit and their actions the

misrepresented his character, and he permitted them to be taken captive.

Because of their separation from him, he humbled them. He left them to thei

own ways, and the innocent suffered with the guilty.

[cont.] “The Lord’s chosen people proved themselves untrustworthy. They

showed themselves to be selfish, scheming, dishonorable. But among the

children of Israel there were Christian patriots, who were as true as steel to principle, and upon these loyal men the Lord looked with great pleasure.

These were men who would not be corrupted by selfishness, who would not

mar the work of God by following erroneous methods and practices, men

who would honor God at the loss of all things. They had to suffer with the

guilty, but in the providence of God their captivity at Babylon was the means

of bringing them to the front, and their example of untarnished integrity shines

with heaven’s luster.”1046

C. Correct sociological principles will help church members relate properly to thegeneral public.

1. Heavenly principles will help church members be a “corrective

influence.”

“It is not God’s will that we should seclude ourselves from the world. Bu

while in the world we should sanctify ourselves to God. We should not

pattern after the world. We are to be in the world as a corrective influence,

as salt that retains its savor. Among an unholy, impure, idolatrous generation

we are to be pure and holy, showing that the grace of Christ has power torestore in man the divine likeness. We are to exert a saving influence upon

these in the world.”1047

2. The general public will see that church members are not selfishly narrow

and tied to exclusive church interests.

“If we would reach high attainments in moral and spiritual excellence we

must live for it. We are under personal obligation to society to do this, in





order continually to exert an influence in favor of God’s law. We should let

our light so shine that all may see that the sacred gospel is having an influence

upon our hearts and lives, that we walk in obedience to its commandments

and violate none of its principles. We are in a great degree accountable to

the world for the souls of those around us. Our words and deeds are

constantly telling for or against Christ and that law which He came to earth tovindicate. Let the world see that we are not selfishly narrowed up to our

own exclusive interests and religious joys, but that we are liberal and

desire them to share our blessings and privileges through the

sanctification of the truth. Let them see that the religion which we profess

does not close up nor freeze over the avenues to the soul, making us

unsympathizing and exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ,

minister as He did to the benefit of man, cherishing a spirit of wise

benevolence. We shall then see many souls following the light that shines

from our precept and example.”1048

3. Church work for the needs of society is more effective before the general

public than preaching.

“The good works of the children of God are the most effectual preaching

that the unbeliever has. He thinks that there must be strong motives tha

actuate the Christian to deny self, and use his possessions in trying to save his

fellow men. It is unlike the spirit of the world. Such fruits testify that the

possessors are genuine Christians. They seem to be constantly reachin

upward to a treasure that is imperishable.”1049

4. Loving involvement in social troubles allays prejudice.

“Whatever the difference in religious belief, a call from suffering

humanity must be heard and answered. Where bitterness of feeling exists

because of difference in religion, much good may be done by personal

service. Loving ministry will break down prejudice, and win souls to

God.”1050

5. Everyone is connected to other human beings in the “web of humanity,”

with responsibilities from which we cannot free ourselves.

“We are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and whatever

we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessing upon ourselves.

The law of mutual dependence runs through all classes of society. The poor

are not more dependent upon the rich than are the rich upon the poor. While

the one class ask a share in the blessings which God has bestowed upon their

wealthier neighbors, the other need the faithful service, the strength of brain





and bone and muscle, that are the capital of the poor.”1051

“Through Christ, God has invested man with an influence that makes i

impossible for him to live to himself. Individually we are connected with our

fellow men, a part of God’s great whole, and we stand under mutual

obligations. No man can be independent of his fellow men; for the well-being

of each affects others. It is God’s purpose that each shall feel himselnecessary to others’ welfare, and seek to promote their happiness.”1052

“Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own—an atmosphere, it

may be, charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and

sweet with the fragrance of love. Or it may be heavy and chill with the gloo

of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of cherished

sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in

contact is consciously or unconsciously affected. This is a responsibility

from which we cannot free ourselves. Our words, our acts, our dress, our

deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. Uponthe impression thus made there hang results for good or evil which no man can

measure. Every impulse thus imparted is seed sown which will produce its

harvest. It is a link in the long chain of human events, extending we know

not whither. If by our example we aid others in the development of good

principles, we give them power to do good. In their turn they exert the same

influence upon others, and they upon still others. Thus by our unconscious

influence thousands may be blessed.”1053

“All Heaven looks on to see how we deal with those who need our help.The way in which we relate ourselves to them shows whether the fire o

divine love is burning in our hearts. Every one who names the name of Chris

is called, so far as lies in his power, to help every other soul in the

heavenward way. The Saviour records all such efforts as put forth for

Himself; for He has identified Himself with suffering human beings.”1054

6. Jesus gave us in His earthly ministry an example of the essence o

Christian service as He ministered to the needs of humanity.

“Jesus did not gratify their curiosity. He sadly said, ‘Ye seek Me, no because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were

filled.’ They did not seek Him from any worthy motive; but as they had been

fed with the loaves, they hoped still to receive temporal benefit by attaching

themselves to Him. The Saviour bade them, ‘Labor not for the meat whic

perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.’ Seek not

merely for material benefit. Let it not be the chief effort to provide for the

life that now is, but seek for spiritual food, even that wisdom which will





endure unto everlasting life.”1055

“Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are

here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Hi

to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like

Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must

know Him as He reveals Himself.”1056





The Great Controversy Has a Beginning and an End, and

Its End Is Clearly Predicted, With its Participants Plainly

Identified

A. In describing the Big Picture of how the Great Controversy will close o

earth, the New Testament uses the analogy of sowing and reaping in relation

to the global harvest of the saved and wicked: Mark 4:26-29; Revelatio

14:14-20, et al.

“The object of the husbandman in the sowing of the seed and the culture of the

growing plant is the production of grain. He desires bread for the hungry, and seed

for future harvests. So the divine Husbandman looks for a harvest as the reward o

His labor and sacrifice. Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts omen; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the

Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character in the

believer, that it may be reproduced in others… . ‘When the fruit is brought forth,

immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvestis come.’ Christ is waiting

with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When th

character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will com

to claim them as His own. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look fo

but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were al

who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole worldwould be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be

ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.”1057

1. Jesus will not return for a “premature” church.

“It is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the early

days of this message. Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we hoped. Bu

has the word of the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembered that the

promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. God had

committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The thir angel’s message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed

to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His

people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the la

of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice,

that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of Go

must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand





without fault before Him at His coming. Had Adventists, after the grea

disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith, and followed on unitedly in the

opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in

the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have

seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their

efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have comeere this to receive His people to their reward.”1058

“It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thu

delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander fort

years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land o

Canaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to

whom it was first preached, went not in ‘because of unbelief’ (Hebrews

3:19). Their hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He

could not fulfill His covenant with them. For forty years did unbelief,

murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. Thesame sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly

Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is th

unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s

professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so

many years.”1059

2. It is not only the church’s privilege to look for the harvest but also its

duty to “hasten” the Advent.

“By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten ourLord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the

day of God. 2 Peter 3:12, margin. Had the church of Christ done he

appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this

have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in powe

and great glory.”1060

“When as a people our works correspond with our profession, we shall

see very much more accomplished than now… . We must have a converted

ministry, and then we shall see the light of God and His power aiding all our efforts.”1061

3. The church’s responsibility involves giving evidence that our characters

reflect the transforming power of our message.

“While the angels hold the four winds, we are to work with all our

capabilities. We must bear our message without any delay. We must give

evidence to the heavenly universe, and to men in this degenerate age,

that our religion is a faith and a power of which Christ is the Author and





His word the divine oracle. Human souls are hanging in the balance. The

will either be subjects for the kingdom of God or slaves to the despotism o

Satan. All are to have the privilege of laying hold of the hope set before the

in the gospel, and how can they hear without a preacher? The human family is

in need of a moral renovation, a preparation of character, that they may stand

in God’s presence. There are souls ready to perish because of the theoreticalerrors which are prevailing, and which are calculated to counterwork the

gospel message. Who will now fully consecrate themselves to become

laborers together with God?”1062

“The world watches to see what fruit is borne by professed

Christians. It has a right to look for self-denial and self-sacrifice from those

who claim to believe advanced truth. God designs that those who believe in

His name shall show to the world an unmistakable representation of His

own character, manifesting goodness, mercy, and love. These attributes all

who belong to Christ’s kingdom must possess.”1063

4. The church’s highest responsibility for which God waits is to be the wheat

in His harvest—the “constant progress toward perfection of character.”

“There is opened before all Christians a path of continual

advancement. They have an object to reach, a standard to gain, which

includes everything good, and pure, and noble, and elevating; and they should

make constant progress toward perfection of character. The ideal o

Christian character is Christlikeness.”1064

“He came to fulfill all righteousness, and, as the head of humanity, toshow man that he can do the same work, meeting every specification of the

requirements of God. Through the measure of His grace furnished to th

human agent, not one need miss heaven. Perfection of character is

attainable by everyone who strives for it. This is made the very foundation

of the new covenant of the gospel. The law of Jehovah is the tree; the gospel

is the fragrant blossoms and fruit which it bears.”1065

“Obedience through Jesus Christ gives to man perfection o

character and a right to that tree of life .”1066

“Man is to be perfect in his sphere, even as God is perfect in His sphere

How can such a lofty standard be reached? … He gave the comman

requiring perfection, He who was by birth a human being, though allied to

divinity. He has passed over the road we are to tread, and He says, ‘Withou

Me ye can do nothing.’ But with Him we can do everything. Thus a perfect

character can be obtained. God never issues a command without furnishing

the grace sufficient for its fulfilment. Ample provision has been made that man





shall be a partaker of the divine nature… . When such possibilities are

presented to us; when we see that it is our privilege to attain Christian

perfection, should we not strive to reach the standard? Should not our one

purpose be to appreciate and understand the high honor conferred upon us?

Christ has shown us how the heavenly universe values the beings for who

He made so great a sacrifice. Men and women are God’s by creation and bredemption, and those who receive Christ He invests with His strength. The

are bound up with Him, and are fully capable of reaching the highest elevation

of character.… When Christ said, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as you

Father which is in heaven is perfect,’ He had in view purity of purpose and

action. It is essential for every soul who desires increased knowledge, to

possess this purity. There is great need of purity as well as of knowledge.

Perfection can be attained only through the grace given by God. He will

be the efficiency of every soul who strives for clear, far-seeing moral

faculties. But He requires the co-operation of the human agent.”1067

“Through His inspired apostle, Christ has shown us what the characte

will be when imbued with the love of Christ [1 Corinthians 13:4-7 quoted].

This example is given us that we may know the heights we may reach in and

through Christ. The standard He presents is perfection, and through Hi

merits we may attain to this. We come short because we are content to look

at earthly things rather than at heavenly.”1068

5. The church is God’s agency to represent His character to the world.

“The church is Christ’s instrumentality in this world. By it He seeks torepresent the divine character.”1069

“Everything good in men and women is the fruit of the working of the

Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us to reveal righteousness in our lives. Th

greatest work that can be done in our world is to glorify God by living the

character of Christ. God will make perfect only those who will die to

self.”1070

“The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin, o

righteousness, and of judgment. The world can only be warned by seeingthose who believe the truth sanctified through the truth, acting upon high

and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation

between those who keep the commandments of God and whose who trample

them under their feet. The sanctification of the Spirit signalizes the

difference between those who have the seal of God and those who keep a

spurious rest day.”1071

6. Character determines each person’s destiny.





“Parents have a most important part to act in this matter. On them rests the

responsibility of training their children for God, of helping their little ones to

form characters which will gain for them entrance to the courts

above.”1072

“Christ lifts the veil from the future and bids all to behold that it is

character, not position, which decides man’s destiny.”1073“Christ Himself will decide who are worthy to dwell with the family o

heaven. He will judge every man according to his words and his works.

Profession is as nothing in the scale. It is character that decides

destiny.”1074

“The defects cherished in dealing with life’s minor details pass into more

important affairs. He acts on the principles to which he has accustomed

himself. Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by

the character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided.”1075

“The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny ,

both for this life and for the life to come.”1076

B. Last-day events will surpass what anybody now expects.

“You will need much of the rich grace of the Saviour, and a deep, settled

conviction that 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.”1077

“A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it?”1078

“Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human

beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for whatis soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.”1079

C. Today we see many evidences of Satan’s fury as predicted for those living in

the last days.

“The judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them

but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects

reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then if those who have been the

objects of His special care will follow their own course independent of the Spiri

of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does notcommission His angels to prevent Satan’s decided attacks upon them. It i

Satan’s power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and

distress, and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey. And storm and

tempest both by sea and land will be, for Satan has come down in great wrath.

He is at work. He knows his time is short and, if he is not restrained, we shall

see more terrible manifestations of his power than we have ever dreamed





of.”1080

D. Christ likened the days of Noah and the Flood to the last generation (Mat

24:37-39).

“Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning Hi

second coming. As the people of Noah’s day ‘knew not until the Flood came,

and took them all away; so,’ in the words of our Saviour, ‘shall also the comingof the Son of man be.’ Matthew 24:39. When the professed people of God ar

uniting with the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden

pleasures; when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the

marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of worldly

prosperity—then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will come the

end of their bright visions and delusive hopes.”1081

E. John the Revelator foretold the great religious awakening that would proclaim

God’s last-day messages as unfolded in Revelation 14:6-12.“The fact that an angel is said to be the herald of this warning is significant. B

the purity, the glory, and the power of the heavenly messenger, divine wisdom has

been pleased to represent the exalted character of the work to be accomplished by

the message and the power and glory that were to attend it. And the angel’s flight

‘in the midst of heaven,’ ‘the ‘loud voice’ with which the warning is uttered, and

its promulgation to all ‘that dwell on the earth,’—‘to every nation, and kindred,

and tongue, and people,’—give evidence of the rapidity and world-wide extent o

the movement. The message itself sheds light as to the time when thismovement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the ‘everlasting

gospel;’ and it announces the opening of the judgment.”1082

“This message [the third angel’s] embraces the two preceding messages. It is

represented as being given with a loud voice; that is, with the power of the Holy

Spirit. Everything is now at stake. The third angel’s message is to be regarded as

of the highest importance. It is a life and death question. The impression made b

this message will be proportionate to the earnestness and solemnity with which it

is proclaimed.”1083

“The third angel’s message increases in importance as we near the close of thisearth’s history… . God has presented to me the dangers that are threatening those

who have been given the sacred work of proclaiming the third angel’s message.

They are to remember that this message is of the utmost consequence to the

whole world. They need to search the Scriptures diligently, that they may

learn how to guard against the mystery of iniquity, which plays so large a part

in the closing scenes of this earth’s history.”1084





F. This message was a judgment-hour call that had never been preached before;

it was a prophetically timed event.

“These truths, as presented in Revelation 14 in connection with ‘the everlastin

gospel,’ will distinguish the church of Christ at the time of His appearing. For a

the result of the threefold message it is announced: ‘Here are they that keep the

commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ And this message is the last to begiven before the coming of the Lord. Immediately following its proclamation the

Son of man is seen by the prophet, coming in glory to reap the harvest of the

earth.”1085

G. The foundation and central pillar of this last-day message was declared in

Daniel 8:14.

“The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and

the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: ‘Unto two thousand

and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ Daniel 8:14.These had been familiar words to all believers in the Lord’s soon coming. By the

lips of thousands was this prophecy repeated as the watchword of their faith. All

felt that upon the events therein foretold depended their brightest expectations and

most cherished hopes. These prophetic days had been shown to terminate in the

autumn of 1844.”1086

“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the firs

apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of peniten

believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins stillremained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work o

atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of

men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the

sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that

time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy,

to perform the last division of His solemn work—to cleanse the

sanctuary.”1087

H. The sanctuary doctrine provided the key to a complete system of truth that

unlocked the past, present, and the future.

“The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery o

the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth,

connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great

advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and

work of His people… . Light from the sanctuary illumined the past, the

present, and the future.”1088





“Those who received the light concerning the sanctuary and the immutability o

the law of God were filled with joy and wonder as they saw the beauty and

harmony of the system of truth that opened to their understanding.”1089

I. One of the special features of the sanctuary doctrine is the Grand Review

the investigative judgment of everyone’s record who has ever professed a

commitment to God.“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ a

their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books o

heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their

characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be

blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life… .

The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through fait

in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Ede

home.”1090

“The Lord is doing a great work in the earth. With intense interest He is

examining every man’s fitness to associate with the sinless angels and with the

redeemed family in heaven. Not one of the ransomed host will be disposed to

begin a rebellion similar to the one that Satan began before the creation of our

race. The Lord gives men and women probationary time in which to acquain

themselves with His terms of salvation. They are given opportunity to unite with

Him, as ‘laborers together with God,’ to mould their characters after the similitude

of the divine character. By improving this opportunity, they heed His words o

counsel: ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is Godwhich worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’”1091

J. Knowing that the sanctuary doctrine is so fundamental for earnest Christians,

Satan is doing his best to confuse and belittle its importance.

“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may

not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The

archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and

an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his

diverting minds from Jesus and His truth. Those who would share the benefits othe Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfec

holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure,

to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of

the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment

should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for

themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will b





impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy

the position which God designs them to fill.”1092

1. To understand the sanctuary doctrine is to understand the very center of

Christ’s work for us; it thus should be thoroughly understood by

everyone.

“The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the pla

of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the

triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the

utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects

and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of

the hope that is in them.”1093

2. The sanctuary service highlights magnificent aspects of the atonement.

“Those only who acknowledge the binding claim of the moral law canexplain the nature of the atonement. Christ came to mediate between Go

and man, to make man one with God by bringing him into allegiance to Hi

law. There was no power in the law to pardon its transgressor. Jesus alone

could pay the sinner’s debt. But the fact that Jesus has paid the indebtednes

of the repentant sinner does not give him license to continue in transgression

of the law of God; but he must henceforth live in obedience to that law.” 1094

“Christ does not release the sinner from his obligation to keep that law.

By His death Christ makes it possible for us to keep that law. The sinner iheld under obligation to the law. Altho Christ died in the sinner’s stead, the

sinner is liable to all the penalty of the law if he does not comply with the

conditions of the Gospel; and these prescribe obedience, if he would be

benefited by the obedience offered. The atonement was made to take away

the sin of the world.”1095

“The atonement in the offering of Christ for the sin of the world is the

great argument that the law of God is binding upon every human being…

. He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to live the law of Jehovah. Th

law, revealed in the character of Christ, was a perfect manifestation of theFather. And by His perfect obedience and the sacrifice of Himself, which

He through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, He has fully satisfied

the justice of the Father, and purchased not only reconciliation, but an

everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father

has given him.”1096

3. The sanctuary doctrine explains why Christ’s High Priestly Ministry is a





important as His death upon the Cross.

“The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as

essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By Hi

death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to

complete in heaven.”1097

4. A close relationship exists between God’s loyalist on earth and what isgoing on in the heavenly judgment.

“Now Christ is in the heavenly sanctuary. And what is He doing? Making

atonement for us, cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people.

Then we must enter by faith into the sanctuary with Him, we mus

commence the work in the sanctuary of our souls. We are to cleanse

ourselves from all defilement. We must ‘cleanse ourselves from all

filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of

God.’”1098

“Everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will

stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel will be kept by

Christ’s intercessions. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the

Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us

by His intercessions as that He should redeem us with His blood. If H

lets go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy. Those

purchased by His blood, He now keeps by His intercession.”1099

“Light from the heavenly sanctuary shines upon us, and we are enabled to

exert an influence which is a savor of life unto life. By a union with Christ, bliving faith, we are privileged to enjoy the efficacy of His mediation. We

are crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, risen with Christ, to walk i

newness of life.”1100

“Christ Jesus is represented as continually standing at the altar,

momentarily offering up the sacrifice for the sins of the world… . Christ, our

Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf,

but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ who presents His blood, shed

from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawingout prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving… .The religious services,

the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true

believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary; but passing through the corrupt

channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they

can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and

unless the Intercessor who is at God’s right hand presents and purifies all b

His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God… . O, that all may see tha





everything in obedience, in penitence, in praise and thanksgiving must be

placed upon the glowing fire of the righteousness of Christ. The fragrance o

this righteousness ascends like a cloud around the mercy seat.”1101

5. God’s loyalists on earth are the “true tabernacle” (Hebrews 8:1) in

which Jesus as High Priest ministers today.

“The Jewish tabernacle was a type of the Christian church. It waswonderful structure, made in two parts, the outer and the inner, one open to

the ministration of all the priests, the other to the high priest alone, who

represented Christ. The church on earth, composed of those who are

faithful and loyal to God, is the ‘true tabernacle,’ whereof the Redeemer is

the minister. God, and not man, pitched this tabernacle on a high, elevated

platform. This tabernacle is Christ’s body, and from north, south, east, and

west, He gathers those who shall help to compose it. Through Christ the tru

believers are represented as being built together for an habitation of Godthrough the Spirit… .

[cont.] “A holy tabernacle is built up of those who receive Christ as

their personal Saviour… . By receiving Christ and being conformed to Hi

will, man goes on to perfection. This building up of individual characters,

which are renewed, constitutes a structure more noble than any mortal

workmanship. Thus the great work of God goes forward from point to point.

Those who desire a place in His church show this by their willingness to be

so conformed to His will that they can be trusted with grace to impart to

others. Divine ministration is needed to give power and efficiency to thechurch in this world… . Christ is the Minister of the true tabernacle, the High

Priest of all who believe in Him as a personal Saviour: and His office no

other can take. He is the High Priest of the church, and He has a work to do

which no other can perform. By His grace He is able to keep every man fro

transgression.”1102

K. The investigative (or pre-advent) judgment will end shortly before the

Plagues and the return of Jesus.

“When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of allwill have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before

the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ in the Revelation,lookin

forward to that time, declares: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he

which is filthy, let himbe filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous

still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and M

reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ Revelation





22:11, 12.”1103





The Great Controversy Began in Heaven, When Satan

Attempted By Deceit and Subterfuge to Overthrow the

Law of God

AND THAT HELLISH ENIMITY CONTINUES ON

EARTH, WITH HIS FINAL ATTACK BEING

RATCHETED UP IN THE END TIMES

“The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final struggle of the

long-standing controversy concerning the law of God. Upon this battle we are now

entering—a battle between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah, between thereligion of the Bible and the religion of fable and tradition. The agencies which will

unite against truth and righteousness in this contest are now actively at work. God’s holy

ord, which has been handed down to us at such a cost of suffering and blood, is but

little valued.”1104

“No error accepted by the Christian world strikes more boldly against the authorit

of Heaven, none is more directly opposed to the dictates of reason, none is more

pernicious in its results, than the modern doctrine, so rapidly gaining ground, that

God’s law is no longer binding upon men.”1105

A. One of Satan’s modern strategies is to destroy faith in the Bible.

“Now that Satan can no longer keep the world under his control by withholdin

the Scriptures, he resorts to other means to accomplish the same object. To

destroy faith in the Bible serves his purpose as well as to destroy the Bible itself.

By introducing the belief that God’s law is not binding, he as effectually leads men

to transgress as if they were wholly ignorant of its precepts.”1106

B. The Seventh-day Sabbath will be rejected in the modern reinterpretation o

the Bible with high emphasis on church tradition.“As the claims of the fourth commandment are urged upon the people, it is

found that the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is enjoined; and as the onl

way to free themselves from a duty which they are unwilling to perform, many

popular teachers declare that the law of God is no longer binding. Thus they cas

away the law and the Sabbath together. As the work of Sabbath reform extends,

this rejection of the divine law to avoid the claims of the fourth commandment

will become well-nigh universal.”1107





The Great Controversy in the End Times Will Develop

Into a Perfect Storm

SATAN WILL EMPLOY ALL HIS DECEPTIONS INSUCH A WAY THAT EVEN “THE ELECT” WILL BE

CHALLENGED (MATTHEW 24:24)

“The great deceiver has many agents ready to present any and every kind of error to

ensnare souls— heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and capacities of those

whom he would ruin. It is his plan to bring into the church insincere, unregenerate

elements that will encourage doubt and unbelief, and hinder all who desire to see the

ork of God advance and to advance with it. Many who have no real faith in God or i

His word assent to some principles of truth and pass as Christians, and thus they

are enabled to introduce their errors as Scriptural doctrines.”1108

“The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to the

very close of time. … But as the church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to

ork with greater power. He comes down ‘having great wrath, because he knoweth that

he hath but a short time.’ Revelation 12:12… . And all the depths of satanic skill and

subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will

be brought to bear against God’s people in the final conflict.”1109

A. Satan’s policy in the end time will be a repetition of his methods since the

beginning of the Great Controversy.

“Satan’s policy in this final conflict with God’s people is the same that he

employed in the opening of the great controversy in heaven.”1110

“From the very beginning of the great controversy in heaven it has been Satan’s

purpose to overthrow the law of God. It was to accomplish this that he entere

upon his rebellion against the Creator, and though he was cast out of heaven he has

continued the same warfare upon the earth. To deceive men, and thus lead them

to transgress God’s law, is the object which he has steadfastly pursued. Whether

this be accomplished by casting aside the law altogether, or by rejecting one of its

precepts, the result will be ultimately the same… . In seeking to cast contempt upon

the divine statutes, Satan has perverted the doctrines of the Bible, and errors

have thus become incorporated into the faith of thousands who profess to

believe the Scriptures.”1111





1. Satan is a master of pretence.

“He professed to be seeking to promote the stability of the divine

government, while secretly bending every effort to secure its

overthrow.”1112

2. Satan is a master of scapegoating (blaming others for what he is doing).“And the very work which he was thus endeavoring to accomplish he

charged upon the loyal angels. The same policy of deception has marked the

history of the Roman Church. It has professed to act as the vicegerent o

Heaven, while seeking to exalt itself above God and to change His law.

Under the rule of Rome, those who suffered death for their fidelity to the

gospel were denounced as evildoers; they were declared to be in league with

Satan; and every possible means was employed to cover them with reproach,

to cause them to appear in the eyes of the people and even to themselves

as the vilest of criminals. So it will be now.”1113

3. Satan is a master of confusion.

“While Satan seeks to destroy those who honor God’s law, he will cause

them to be accused as lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and

bringing judgments upon the world.”1114

“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of

law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing

anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the

earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy,stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused o

disaffection toward the government… . In legislative halls and courts o

justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A

false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put

upon their motives.”1115

4. Satan is a master of coercion.

“God never forces the will or the conscience; but Satan’s constant

resort—to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce—iscompulsion by cruelty. Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the

conscience and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this, he works

through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to the

enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God.”1116

“The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or

compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be

supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love o





justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators,

in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law

enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so grea

a sacrifice, will no longer be respected.”1117

B. Satan deceives leaders into acting, step by step, in the false way.

“If Satan can impress the mind and stir up the passions of those who claim to believe the truth, and thus lead them to unite with the forces of evil, he is well

pleased. If once he can get them to commit themselves on the wrong side, he has

laid his plans to lead them on a long journey. Through his deceptive wiles he

will cause them to act upon the same principles he adopted in his disaffection in

heaven. They take step after step in the false way, until there seems to be no

other course for them except to go on, believing they are right in their

bitterness of feeling toward their brethren. … When men listen to the Lord’s

message, but through temptation allow prejudice to bar the mind and heart againstthe reception of truth, the enemy has power to present the most precious things in a

distorted light. Looking through the medium of prejudice and passion, they feel too

indignant to search the Scriptures in a Christlike spirit, but repudiate the whole

matter because points are presented that are not in accordance with their own

ideas.”1118

C. One of the leading deceptions is that there are no consequences in what one

believes.

“The position that it is ofno consequence what men believe is one of

Satan’s most successful deceptions. He knows that the truth, received in the love

of it, sanctifies the soul of the receiver; therefore he is constantly seeking to

substitute false theories, fables, another gospel… . That liberality which regards

a correct religious faith as unimportant found no favor with these holy

defenders of the truth. The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, an

the many conflicting theories concerning religious faith, that are found in the

Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds so that the

shall not discern the truth.”1119

1. Only those planted on “the principles of eternal truth” will “stand”

amidst satanic pressures of the end times.

“[Ephesians 6:10-12 quoted.] Every one who has enlisted under the

bloodstained banner of Christ has entered upona warfare that demands

constant vigilance. Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end.

Coming as an angel of light, claiming to be the Christ, he will deceive the

world. But his triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move those





whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be

able to stand in this time of almost universal apostasy.”1120

“The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to preach

the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and

tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase,

and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with thewhole armor on. In this conflict we do not meet men only, but

principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Let

Ephesians 6:10-18 be read carefully and impressively in our churches.

Those who apostatize are voicing the words of the dragon. We have to

meet the satanic agencies who went to make war with the saints. …

Those who apostatize leave the true and faithful people of God, and fraternize

with those who represent Barabbas. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them’

(Matthew 7:20). I write this because many in the church are represented to

me as seeing men like trees walking. They must have another and deeper

experience before they discern the snares spread to take them in the net o

the deceiver. There must be no halfway work done now. The Lord calls for

stanch, decided, whole-souled men and women to stand in the gap, and make

up the hedge. [Isaiah 58:12-14 quoted].”1121

“There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can

be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan

gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he

misshapes the character.”1122

D. Another last-day phenomenon is the modern interest in spiritualism.

“The doctrine of natural immortality, first borrowed from the pagan

philosophy, and in the darkness of the great apostasy incorporated into the

Christian faith, has supplanted the truth, so plainly taught in Scripture, that ‘the

dead know not anything.’”1123

E. Spiritualism and Sunday sacredness (linkage of Protestants, Catholics an

spiritualists) will be dominant deceptions that will unite the world in trampling

the conscience of those who disagree.“Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunda

sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former

lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with

Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching thei

hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over

the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence o





this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling

on the rights of conscience.”1124

F. The modern emphasis that Satan is not a personal being will confuse many

when he impersonates Christ.

“Another subtle and mischievous error is the fast-spreading belief that Satan

has no existence as a personal being; that the name is used in Scripture merely torepresent men’s evil thoughts and desires.”1125

“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will

personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s adven

as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear tha

Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself amon

men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the

Son of God given by John in the Revelation (Revelation 1:13-15)… . But th

people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not iaccordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers o

the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s

unmingled wrath shall be poured out. And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to

counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent.”1126

G. The Second Advent will be trivialized by “rapture” confusion.

“It is one of Satan’s devices to combine with falsehood just enough truth to

give it plausibility.”1127

H. The re-emergence of the papacy as a world power fulfills biblical predictions.“The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy o

the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the

character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable

appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent… .

Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the

saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ? It is not withou

reason that the claim has beenput forth inProtestant countries that Catholicism

differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a

change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much

of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly

degenerated since the days of the Reformers.”1128

“The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She i

employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in

preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world,

to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done… .





Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made

compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see,

and fail to understand.”1129

1. The Catholic Church appeals to two classes of people the world over.

“They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they see

that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method oforgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him. The

papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two

classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world—those who would

be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here

is the secret of its power.”1130

“The Romanist feels at liberty to sin, because the church claims the

right to pardon. To him who loves self-indulgence, it is more pleasing to

confess to a fellow-mortal than to open the soul to God. It is more palatable to human nature to do penance than to renounce sin.”1131

“Conscientious souls are kept in constant terror, fearing the wrath of

an offended God, while many of the dignitaries of the church are living in

luxury and sensual pleasure.”1132

2. Protestants, especially in the United States, are opening the door fo

Catholic power.

“In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for th

institutions and usages of the church the support of the state,Protestants are

following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for

the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has los

in the Old World. And that which gives greater significance to this movement

is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunda

observance—a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as

the sign of her authority.”1133

“When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as

to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with the

Papacy; it will be giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerlywatching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism. As this struggle

progresses, it may appear to human sight that Satan is triumphant and that

truth is overborne with falsehood and error. In the country which has been an

asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of Hi

truth, religious freedom may be placed in jeopardy, and the people over

whom God has spread His shield, may meet suffering and trial… . While th

Protestant world is making concessions to Rome, and danger is increasing





on every hand, let us arouse to comprehend the situation, and to see the

contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen lift up the voice, and

give with clearness the message which is present truth for this time.”1134

“Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accep

the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation… . Let the principle once b

established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular

laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the

conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.”1135

“We must soon wrestle with the powers of the land, and we have every

reason to fear that falsehood will gain the mastery. We shall call upon our

churches in the name of the Lord to view this struggle in its true light. It is

contest between the Christianity of the Old and New Testaments, and the

Christianity of human tradition and corrupt fables. This contest is to decide

whether the pure gospel shall have the field in our nation, or whether the

popery of past ages shall receive the right hand of fellowship from

Protestantism, and this power prevail to restrict religious liberty… . The

message must go broadcast, that those who have been imperceptibly

tampering with popery, not knowing what they were doing, may hear.

They are fraternizing with popery by compromises and by concessions which

surprise the adherents of the papacy.”1136

3. When Catholics and Protestants, especially in the United States, ar

united on influencing the government to enforce the implementation of common doctrines, then the “image to the beast” (Revelation 13: 14, 15)

will have been formed.

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points

of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to

enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant

America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the

infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.”1137

“The enforcement of Sundaykeeping on the part of Protestant churches ian enforcement of the worship of the papacy—of the beast. Those who,

understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the

false instead of the true Sabbath are thereby paying homage to that power b

which alone it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious

duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to

the beast; hence the enforcement of Sundaykeeping in the United State

would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image.”1138





“When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the

hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands

with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our

country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestan

and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation

of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has comefor the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”1139

4. Sunday laws will become a universal challenge to Seventh-day Adventist

everywhere.

“As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in

forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the

people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her

example.”1140

“They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them; thaangels from heaven talked with them and walked with them, that great power

and signs and wonders were performed among them, and that this was the

temporal millennium they had been expecting so long. The whole world was

converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people

stood out in defiance of the laws of the land and the law of God, and claimed

to be the only ones right on the earth.”1141

5. Protestantism’s concessions to Rome should arouse those who value

religious liberty.“While the Protestant world is making concessions to Rome, and

danger is increasing on every hand, let us arouse to comprehend the situation,

and to see the contest before us in its true bearings… . Let us show the people

where we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true

Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the religious

liberty they have so long enjoyed.”1142

6. The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is symbolized in Daniel 2.

“We have come to a time when God’s sacred work is represented by the

feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. …Bu

statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious

faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the

Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to

keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations.

The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and

the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. Thi





investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men

have almost passed the point of God’s forbearance. They have invested their

strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come

when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil

work will recoil upon themselves.”1143

7. The Papacy will assume the posture that best accomplishes her purpose.“The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the

apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy

to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but

beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable

venom of the serpent. ‘Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, nor persons

suspected of heresy’ (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516), she declares.”1144

“And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look upo

with so much favor, and which will eventually be united with Protestantism.This union will not, however, be effected by a change in Catholicism; for

Rome never changes. She claims infallibility. It is Protestantism that wil

change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can

clasp the hand of Catholicism. ‘The Bible, the Bible, is the foundation of ou

faith,’ was the cry of Protestants in Luther’s time, while the Catholics cried,

‘The Fathers, custom, tradition.’ Now many Protestants find it difficult t

prove their doctrines from the Bible, and yet they have not the moral courage

to accept the truth which involves a cross; therefore they are fast coming to

the ground of Catholics, and, using the best arguments they have to evade thetruth, cite the testimony of the Fathers, and the customs and precepts of men.

Yes, the Protestants of the nineteenth century are fast approaching the

Catholics in their infidelity concerning the Scriptures. But there is just as

wide a gulf today between Rome and the Protestantism of Luther,

Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and the noble army of martyrs, as there was

when these men made the protest which gave them the name o

Protestants.”1145

I. Sunday laws in the United States will lead to national ruin.“When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the

consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunda

observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the

seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made

void in our land, and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin.”1146

“Our land is in jeopardy. The time is drawing on when its legislators shall so

abjure the principles of Protestantism as to give countenance to Romish apostasy.





The people for whom God has so marvelously wrought, strengthening them to

throw off the galling yoke of popery, will, by a national act, give vigor to the

corrupt faith of Rome, and thus arouse the tyranny which only waits for a touch to

start again into cruelty and despotism. With rapid steps are we already

approaching this period. When Protestant churches shall seek the support of the

secular power, thus following the example of that apostate church, for opposingwhich their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will there be a

national apostasy which will end only in national ruin.”1147

J. God’s loyalists will reflect their Lord’s example in responding to all last-day

encroachments on everyone’s freedom to worship and honor God.

1. Sunday becomes the “mark of the beast” only after people are faced with

the truth about the seventh-day Sabbath.

“Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so

doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now trueChristians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholi

communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine

appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before

Him… . And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people,

and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and

the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will

receive ‘the mark of the beast.’”1148

“All are given the same opportunity that was granted to the first greatrebel to demonstrate the spirit that moves them to action. It is God’s purpose

that everyone shall be tested and proved, to see whether he will be loyal or

disloyal to the laws which govern the kingdom of heaven. To the last God

permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer.

Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked, more glorious,

more full and complete.”1149

2. Courtesy and kindness must guard all doctrinal thrusts that appear

disagreeable to others.“Decided proclamations are to be made. But in regard to this line o

work, I am instructed to say to our people: Be guarded. In bearing the

message, make no personal thrusts at other churches, not even the

Roman Catholic Church. Angels of God see in the different denominations

many who can be reached only by the greatest caution. Therefore let us be

careful of our words. Let not our ministers follow their own impulses in

denouncing and exposing the ‘mysteries of iniquity.’ Upon these themes





silence is eloquence. Many are deceived. Speak the truth in tones and

words of love. Let Christ Jesus be exalted. Keep to the affirmative o

truth. Never leave the straight path God has marked out, for the purpose o

giving someone a thrust. That thrust may do much harm and no good. It ma

quench conviction in many minds. Let the Word of God, which is the truth, tell

the story of the inconsistency of those in error.”1150

“[We are] not to provoke those who have accepted the spurious sabbath,

an institution of the Papacy, in the place of God’s holy Sabbath. Their no

having the Bible arguments in their favor makes them all the more angry and

determined to supply the place of arguments that are wanting in the Word of

God by the power of their might. The force of persecution follows the steps o

the dragon. Therefore great care should be exercised to give no

provocation. And again, let us as a people, as far as possible, cleanse the

camp of moral defilement and aggravating sins.”1151

“Those who compose our churches have traits of character that will leadthem, if they are not very careful, to feel indignant, because on account o

misrepresentation their liberty in regard to working on Sunday is taken away.

Do not fly into a passion over this matter but take everything in prayer to

God. He alone can restrain the power of rulers. Walk not rashly. Let none

boast unwisely of their liberty, using it for a cloak of maliciousness… . This

advice is to be of real value to all who are to be brought into strait places.

Nothing that shows defiance or that could be interpreted as maliciousness

must be shown.”1152

“Let not anyone make any proud boast, either by precept or example, to

show that he is defying the laws of the land. Make no resolutions as to wha

persons in different states may do, or may not do. Let nothing be done to

lessen individual responsibility. To their God they must stand or fall. Let

none feel it is his duty to make speeches in the presence of our own

people, or of our enemies, that will arouse their combativeness , and they

take your words and construe them in such a way that you are charged with

being rebellious to the government, for this will close the door of access to

the people.”1153

“There are strong statements often made by our brethren who bear the

message of mercy and warning to our world, that would better be repressed…

. Let not one word be expressed to stir up the spirit of retaliation in opposers

of the truth. Let nothing be done to arouse the dragonlike spirit, for it will

reveal itself soon enough, and in all its dragon character, against those who

keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.”1154





“God has jewels in all the churches, and it is not for us to make

sweeping denunciation of the professed religious world, but in humility and

love, present to all the truth as it is in Jesus. Let men see piety and devotion,

let them behold Christlikeness of character, and they will be drawn to the

truth. He who loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself, will be

light in the world. Those who have a knowledge of the truth are tocommunicate the same. They are to lift up Jesus, the world’s Redeemer; the

are to hold forth the Word of life.”1155

K. Jews the world over are not to be ignored.

“The work for the Jews, as outlined in the eleventh chapter of Romans, is

work that is to be treated with special wisdom. It is a work that must not be

ignored. The wisdom of God must come to our people. In all wisdom an

righteousness we must clear the King’s highway. The Jews are to be given ever

opportunity of coming to the light.”1156

L. Perhaps the most subtle deception of all will be the amazing rise of the

Emerging Church (New Spirituality), a phenomenon that is reshapin

Protestantism in the 21st Century.

1. God’s end-time people have been given Satan’s “plan of the battle.”

“Our Lord is cognizant of the conflict of His people in these last days with

the satanic agencies combined with evil men who neglect and refuse this great

salvation. With the greatest simplicity and candor, our Saviour, the mighty

General of the armies of heaven, does not conceal the stern conflict whichthey will experience. He points out the dangers, He shows us the plan of the

battle, and the hard and hazardous work to be done, and then lifts His voice

before entering the conflict to count the cost while at the same time He

encourages all to take up the weapons of their warfare and expect the

heavenly host to compose the armies to war in defense of truth and


2. End-time revivals and religious movements will be in stark contrast to

those in earlier times.

a. Most nineteenth-century revivals produced transformed lives that

shrank not from self-denial.

“Revivals … . were characterized by solemn, earnest appeals to

the sinner, by yearning compassion for the purchase of the blood of

Christ… . The fruits of such revivals were seen in souls who shrank

not at self-denial and sacrifice, but rejoiced that they were counted





worthy to suffer reproach and trial for the sake of Christ. Men beheld

transformation in the lives of those who had professed the name of Jesus.

The community was benefited by their influence.”1158

b. As time passed, popular revivals, though not losing their audience,

changed their methods.

“Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to theimagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what

is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to

Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles.

Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it

has no attractions for them. A message which appeals to

unimpassioned reason awakens no response. The plain warnings o

God’s word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are

unheeded.[cont.] “With every truly converted soul the relation to God and to

eternal things will be the great topic of life. But where, in the popular

churches of today, is the spirit of consecration to God? The converts

do not renounce their pride and love of the world. They are no more

willing to deny self, to take up the cross, and follow the meek and lowly

Jesus, than before their conversion. Religion has become the sport o

infidels and skeptics because so many who bear its name are

ignorant of its principles.”1159

c. Before the end of time, a revival of godliness will appear among

God’s people not seen since apostolic days.

“I saw that God has honest children among the nominal

Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be

poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches

and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud

cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these

religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think

that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them tothink that God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine,

and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their

stand with the remnant.”1160

“Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there

are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the fina

visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the

people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not





been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of Go

will be poured out upon His children.”1161

d. At that time, many in these popular churches will turn and gladly

accept those special truths being proclaimed by God’s loyalists.

“At that time many will separate themselves from those churches

in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and Hiword. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those

great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to

prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming.”1162

e. Satan will respond with a counterfeit religious movement that will

strongly compete with God’s last-day messengers.

“The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the

time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it

by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bringunder his deceptive power he will make it appear that God’s special

blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great

religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working

marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under

a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the

Christian world.”1163

“The more nearly we approach the closing scenes of this earth’s

history, the more pronounced will be the work of Satan. Everyspecies of deception will take the lead to divert the mind from God

through Satan’s devices.”1164

“What is soon coming upon us? Seducing spirits are coming in. I

God has ever spoken by me, you will before long hear of a wonderful

science—a science of the devil. Its aim will be to make of no account

God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Some will exalt this false

science, and through them Satan will seek to make void the law of God.

Great miracles will be performed in the sight of men in behalf of this

wonderful science.”1165

f. Satan’s last-day revivals will be everywhere more emotionally

intense and appealing.

“In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last hal

century, the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less

degree, that will be manifest in the more extensive movements of

the future.”1166





g. Key markers will be emotional excitement and truth mingled with

falsehood.

“There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with

the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived.

In the light of God’s word it is not difficult to determine the nature o

these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible,turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-

denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s

blessing is not bestowed.”1167

“Every conceivable message is coming to counterfeit the work o

God, and always bearing the inscription of truth upon its banner. And

those who are prepared for anything new and sensational, will handle

these things in such a manner that our enemies will charge all that is

inconsistent and overdone upon Mrs. E. G. White, the prophetess.”1168

h. Satan’s last-day counterfeit that will sweep the Christian world will

emphasize many commonly accepted errors.

1. The foundation of all error is a wrong conception of God an

the character of His law.

“In the truths of His word, God has given to men arevelation

of Himself; and to all who accept them they are a shield against

the deceptions of Satan. It is a neglect of these truths that has

opened the door to the evils which are now becoming sowidespread in the religious world. The nature and the importance

of the law of God have been, to a great extent, lost sight of. A

wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the

obligation of the divine law has led to errors in relation to

conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the

standard of piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the

lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time.”1169

2. Confusion over God’s justice leads to a grave misunderstanding

of the gospel.

“‘Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of

underestimating the justice of God. The tendency of the modern

pulpit is to strain out the divine justice from the divine

benevolence, to sink benevolence into a sentiment rather than

exalt it into a principle. The new theological prism puts asunder

what God has joined together. Is the divine law a good or an evil?





It is a good. Then justice is good; for it is a disposition to execute

the law. From the habit of underrating the divine law and justice,

the extent and demerit of human disobedience, men easily slide into

the habit of underestimating the grace which has provided an

atonement for sin.’ Thus the gospel loses its value and importance

in the minds of men, and soon they are ready practically to castaside the Bible itself.”1170

3. Believing that Christ’s death abolished the law makes possible

the fallacy that the Christian’s freedom is liberty from

commandment-keeping.

“Many religious teachers assert that Christ by His deat

abolished the law, and men are henceforth free from its

requirements. There are some who represent it as a grievous yoke,

and in contrast to the bondage of the law they present the libertyto be enjoyed under the gospel.”1171

4. Misunderstanding the place of God’s law jeopardizes all other

truths.

“Erroneous theories of sanctification, also, springing from

neglect or rejection of the divine law, have a prominent place in

the religious movements of the day. These theories are both false in

doctrine and dangerous in practical results; and the fact that they are

so generally finding favor, renders it doubly essential that all havea clear understanding of what the Scriptures teach upon this

point.”1172

“The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no

self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made

the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine. … The

testimony of the word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine o

faith without works. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heave

without complying with the conditions upon which mercy is to be

granted, it is presumption; for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.”1173

“The sanctification set forth in the Scriptures embraces the

entire being—spirit, soul, and body. Paul prayed for the

Thessalonians that their ‘whole spirit and soul and body be

preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1

Thessalonians 5:23… . Every practice that weakens physical o

mental strength unfits man for the service of his Creator. And will





God be pleased with anything less than the best we can offer? Sai

Christ: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.’ Thos

who do love God with all the heart will desire to give Him the bes

service of their life, and they will be constantly seeking to bring

every power of their being into harmony with the laws that will

promote their ability to do His will.”1174“It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightfu

position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness

among His professed people.”1175

5. Successful deception mingles the good with evil: entertaining

presentations often mingle falsehoods and corruptions in

appealing formats.

“We are in as great danger from contact with infidelity as were

the Israelites from intercourse with idolaters. The productions of genius and talent too often conceal the deadly poison. Under an

attractive guise, themes are presented and thoughts expressed that

attract, interest, and corrupt the mind and heart. Thus, in our

Christian land, piety wanes, and skepticism and ungodliness are

triumphant.”1176

i. Satan is the expert in dressing in sheep’s clothing.

“Satan has come down in these last days to work with all

deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish… . Satan gives his power to those who are aiding him in his deceptions; therefore those

who claim to have the great power of God can only be discerned by the

great detector, the law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible

they would deceive the very elect. The sheep’s clothing seems so real,

so genuine, that the wolf can be discerned only as we go to God’s great

moral standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law o

Jehovah.”1177

j. In the last days, Satan’s attacks will be “more delusive andensnaring.”

“The nearer we come to the close of this earth’s history, the more

delusive and ensnaring will be the attacks of the enemy. His attacks

will grow fiercer and more frequent. Those who resist light and truth

will become more hardened and unimpressible, and more bitter against

those who love God and keep His commandments.”1178

M. The historic Alpha (in SDA history) will not only be duplicated but greatl





expanded in the predicted Omega.

1. Between 1903 and 1904, Ellen White warned about the “pretentiou

sophistries” that she labeled the “alpha” and then predicted greater

dangers yet to come that she called the “omega”—the most deceptive

temptations ever to face God’s loyalists in the end time.

“No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.Unmask the pretentious sophistries which, if received, will lead ministers and

physicians and medical missionary workers to ignore the truth… . The

cannot listen to charming philosophical speculations, and at the same time

keep the word of the living God clearly in mind.… Be not deceived; man

will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines o

devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will

be of a most startling nature.”1179

“Living Temple [Dr. John Kellogg’s contentious book] contains thealpha of these theories. I knew that the omega would follow in a little

while; and I trembled for our people. … The scripture used to substantiate

the doctrine there set forth, is scripture misapplied.”1180

“The difficulties that have arisen have been very hard to meet, and

they are far from being settled yet. One,and another, and still another are

presented to me as having been led to accept the pleasing fables that mean the

sanctification of sin. Living Temple contains the alpha of a train of

heresies. … We have a most solemn work to do. I have been instructed that

some of our ministering brethren are working with clouded vision. They seemen as trees walking. Unless Brethren Jones, Tenney, Waggoner, and others

who have been flattered by the leaders of the medical work are especially

worked by the Holy Spirit, they will never see things as they are. It is hard fo

those who have been charmed by seductive, flattering, soul-destroying

theories to see where these theories will lead, or to discern, wherein their

spiritual eyesight has been defective. Dr. Kellogg has been beguiled by

beautiful, philosophical theories that are contrary to the truth.”1181

“The doctrine of a wonderful experience of holiness and sanctificationthat has been taught in Battle Creek and other places has been as leaven pu

into meal. I fear greatly for the results of this fanaticism. The experiences we

passed through in the early days of the message have always led me to feel,

when I see men professing to occupy a high platform of righteousness, that

something will follow of which we should be ashamed, something that will

work harm. We certainly need clear spiritual eyesight. When I hear o

theories being presented relating to my Father and my God, I am afraid





lest the Lord shall be presented by finite man in a manner to belittle and

dishonor Him.”1182

2. The Alpha introduced a line of thinking that captured many leaders in the

beginning of the 20th century.

“There are some things upon which we must reason, and there are other

things that we must not discuss. In regard to God—what He is and where His—silence is eloquence. When you are tempted to speak of what God is,

keep silence, because as surely as you begin to speak of this, you will

disparage Him… . This is a subject that they are not to touch. It is a mystery,

and the enemy will surely lead astray those who enter into it. We know that

Christ came in person to reveal God to the world. God is a person and Chris

is a person.… And I was instructed that certain sentiments in Living Temple

were the Alpha of a long list of deceptive theories.”1183

“During the General Conference of 1901, the Lord warned me againssentiments that were being gathered and then held by Brethren Prescott an

[E. J.] Waggoner. Instruction was given me that these sentiments received

have been as leaven put into meal. Many minds have received them. The ideas

of some regarding a great experience called and supposed to be

sanctification, have been the alpha of a train of deception which will

deceive and ruin the souls of those who receive them.”1184

“The work of advancement in the proclamation of truth has at such times

been greatly hindered [by] specious workings, which are the Alpha of the

Omega, which means very much to the people who are in any way connectedwith parties who have received the warnings of the Lord, but refused to heed

them.”1185

“One and another come to me, asking me to explain the positions taken in

Living Temple. I reply, ‘They are unexplainable.’ The sentiments expressed

do not give a true knowledge of God. All through the book are passages o

Scripture. These scriptures are brought in in such a way that error is

made to appear as truth. Erroneous theories are presented in so pleasing a

way that unless care is taken, many will be misled. We need not themysticism that is in this book . Those who entertain these sophistries will

soon find themselves in a position where the enemy can talk with them, and

lead them away from God… . The track of truth lies close beside the track o

error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked

by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to discern the

difference between truth and error.”1186

“Satan’s angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which some





will claim to be advanced light, and will proclaim it as new and wonderful;

yet while in some respects the message may be truth, it will be mingled

with human inventions, and will teach for doctrine the commandments o

men… . Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered

with much prayer; for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls

in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcelydistinguishable from it. But the eye of faith may discern that it is diverging,

though almost imperceptibly, from the right path. At first it may be

thought positively right, but after a while it is seen to be widely divergent

from the way which leads to holiness and heaven.”1187

“A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to

pattern after other churches and simplicity and humility are almost

unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new

ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this

means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over,where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not

seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, withou

regard to his past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There i

no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the

Rock, Christ Jesus.”1188

“He [Satan] works today as he worked in heaven, to divide the people of

God in the very last state of this earth’s history. He seeks to create

dissension, and to arouse contention and discussion, and to remove if possible the old landmarks of truth committed to God’s people. He tries to

make it appear as if the Lord contradicts Himself.… Men who pretend to

have been taught of God will adopt fallacious theories, and in their teaching

will so adorn these fallacies as to bring in satanic delusions… . These false

prophets will have to be met. They will make an effort to deceive many,

by leading them to accept false theories. Many scriptures will be

misapplied in such a way that deceptive theories will apparently be based

upon the words that God has spoken. Precious truth will be appropriated to

substantiate and establish error… . And even some of those who in times past

the Lord has honored, will depart so far from the truth as to advocate

misleading theories regarding many phases of truth, including the sanctuary

question.”1189

“Before leaving Washington for Berrien Springs, I was instructed upo

some points regarding the work at Battle Creek. In the night season I was in

large meeting. Dr. Kellogg was speaking, and he was filled with enthusias





regarding his subject. His associate physicians and ministers of the gospel

were present. The subject upon which he was speaking was life, and the

relation of God to all living things. In his presentation he cloaked the matte

somewhat, but in reality he was presenting scientific theories which are

akin to pantheism, as of the highest value… . One by my side told me that the

evil angels had taken captive the mind of the speaker… . Dr. Kellogg has been studying these matters for a long time, and has been preparing himself to

present his ideas and to lead souls to adopt them.—Manuscript 64, 1904, pp.

1, 2. (“A Warning Against Deceptive Teaching,” June 23, 1907.)1190

3. The Omega (the last letter in the Greek alphabet, Alpha being the first

will be the full bloom of the “long list of deceptive theories,”1191 following

in the “train of deception”1192 begun in the Alpha experience.

“The omega will be of a most startling nature.”1193

“The omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for oupeople.”1194

“We are now to be on guard, and not drawn away from the all-important

message given of God for this time. Satan is not ignorant of the result of tryin

to define God and Jesus Christ in a spiritualistic way that sets God and Chris

as a nonentity. The moments occupied in this kind of science are, in the place

of preparing the way of the Lord, making a way for Satan to come in an

confuse the minds with mysticisms of his own devising… . Men have los

tract of Christ and the Lord God, and have been obtainingan experience that

is Omega to one of the most subtle delusions that will ever captivate theminds of men. We are forbidden to … . set the imagination in a train of

conjecture.”1195

“His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies o

our fallen nature. This power the spiritualistic theories concerning Go

make of no effect. If God is an essence pervading all nature, then He dwell

in all men; and in order to attain holiness, man has only to develop the

power that is within him. These theories, followed to their logical

conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They do away withthe necessity for the atonement and make man his own savior. These

theories regarding God make His word of no effect, and those who accep

them are in great danger of being led finally to look upon the whole Bible as a

fiction. They may regard virtue as better than vice; but God being remove

from His position of sovereignty, they place their dependence upon human

power, which, without God, is worthless. The unaided human will has no

real power to resist and overcome evil. The defenses of the soul are





broken down. Man has no barrier against sin. When once the restraints o

God’s word and His Spirit are rejected, we know not to what depths one

may sink .”1196

4. A spurious attempt would arise to “reform” the church with new methods

of organization and new books to prop up this new look.

“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a greatreformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this

reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the

pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this

reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that Go

in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our

religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained

the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new

organization would be established. Books of a new order would bewritten. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The

founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work.

The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God wh

created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new

movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but

God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power,

which, without God, is worthless.”1197

5. One of the issues will be a redesigning of the nature of God and how Herelates to men and women.

“Those who have a true knowledge of God will not become so

infatuated with the laws of matter or the operations of nature as to

overlook, or refuse to acknowledge, the continual working of God in

nature. Nature is not God, nor was it ever God. The voice of nature testifie

of God, but nature is not God. As His created work, it simply bears

testimony to God’s power. Deity is the author of nature. The natural world

has, in itself, no power but that which God supplies. There is a personal

God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son.”1198

6. One of Satan’s remarkable twistings of reality is to either emphasize the

Father rather than Jesus or vice versa.

“Since then it has been Satan’s special effort to separate the Father and

the Son. He led the Jews to cry, ‘The law, the law! the Father, the

Father! Away with the Son! We will not acknowledge the Son or have

anything to do with Him. We will not recognize the power of God in the





mighty miracles He performs, for it is through Satan that He does thes

works.’ But when multitudes began to believe on the Son and to receive

divine truth from the lips of the disciples of Jesus, Satan saw that he must

do something else to counter the work that the disciples were doing. So

he determined to lead men to reject the Father and His law, as the Jew

had rejected Christ. As he had blinded the eyes of the Jewish nation so thewere unable to recognize and acknowledge Jesus, the only one who had

power to give them life, so he would blind the eyes of the Christian world

to the claims of the law, making professed Christians cry, ‘Christ, Christ!

Away with the law!’ Because of his [Satan’s] deceptions men would fail o

glorifying God by obeying His law, the foundation of His government i

heaven and on earth.”1199

7. The Omega will be Satan’s opportunity to snare the curious with hi

special kind of hypnosis.“We have reached the perils of the last days, when some, yes, many,

‘shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines o

devils.’ Be cautious in regard to what you read and how you hear. Take not a

particle of interest in Spiritualistic theories. Satan is waiting to steal a march

upon everyone who allows himself to be deceived by his hypnotism. He

begins to exert his power over them just as soon as they begin to

investigate his theories.”1200

“I have been shown that we are not to enter into controversy over these

Spiritualistic theories, because such controversy will only confuse minds.These things are not to be brought into our meetings. We are not to labor to

refute them. If our ministers and teachers give themselves to study of these

erroneous theories, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing

spirits and doctrines of devils. It is not the work of the gospel minister to

voice Satan’s theories… . Present the truth, sacred, sanctifying truth, and le

the seducing theories of the enemy alone. Give him no ground on which to

plant the seeds of these theories. I was warned to enter into no controvers

over these matters. Let not our ministers or teachers or students give theirlips to the repeating of the enemy’s sophistry.”1201

“Cut away from yourselves everything that savors of hypnotism, the

science by which satanic agencies work.”1202

“Corruptions of every type, similar to those existing among the

antediluvians, will be brought in to take minds captive. The exaltation of

nature as God, the unrestrained license of the human will, the counsel o

the ungodly—these Satan uses as agencies to bring about certain ends.





He will employ the power of mind over mind to carry out his designs. The

most sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will

have a form of godliness without having a real connection with God. Like

Adam and Eve, who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of goo

and evil, many are even now feeding upon the deceptive morsels of

error.”1203

“For thousands of years Satan has been experimenting upon the properties

of the human mind, and he has learned to know it well. By his subtle

workings in these last days, he is linking the human mind with his own,

imbuing it with his thoughts; and he is doing this work in so deceptive a

manner that those who accept his guidance know not that they are being

led by him at his will. The great deceiver hopes so to confuse the minds o

men and women, that none but his voice will be heard.”1204

8. Ellen White warned in many ways of serious and profound satanicmeasures that would face the Adventist church in the last days.

“There is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people , and it

will undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give

heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Errors will be presented in a

pleasing and flattering manner. The enemy desires to divert the minds of our

brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in

these last days. I am instructed to warn our brethren and sisters not to discuss

the nature of our God. Many of the curious who attempted to open the ark o

the testament, to see what was inside, were punished for their presumption.We are not to say that the Lord God of heaven is in a leaf, or in a tree; for He

is not there. He sitteth upon His throne in the heavens.”1205

“I have been shown that evil angels in the form of believers will work in

our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief. Let not even this discourage

you; but bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against the powers of satanic

agencies.”1206

“Satan contrives through evil angels to form an alliance with professedl

pious men, and thus to leaven the church of God… . Satan knows that if he cainduce men, as he induced the angels, to join in rebellion under the guise o

servants of God, he will have in them his most successful allies in his

enterprise against heaven.”1207

“I am charged to tell our people, that do not realize, that the devil has

device after device, and he carries them out in ways that they do not expect.

Satan’s agencies will invent ways to make sinners out of saints. I tell you

now, that when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place. I do not know





when I shall be taken; and I desire to warn all against the devices of the devil.

I want the people to know that I warned them fully before my death.”1208

“Let the son of deceit and false witness be entertained by a church that has

had great light, great evidence, and that church will discard the message the

Lord has sent, and receive the most unreasonable assertions and false

suppositions and false theories. Satan laughs at their folly, for he knowswhat truth is. Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophec

in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan.”1209

“We are living in a time when every wind of doctrine is blowing, and

when those who think they stand are liable to fall. We are living in a time

when Satan is striving to implant seeds of scepticism and infidelity in every

mind. We are living in a time when error is taught so insidiously that the

faith of many is being rapidly undermined.”1210

“In these days of delusion, everyone who is established in the truth will

have to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Every variety oerror will be brought out in the mysterious working of Satan, which would, i

it were possible, deceive the very elect, and turn them from the truth… .

There will be false dreams and false visions, which have some truth, but

lead away from the original faith… . If they belittle the law of God, if the

pay no heed to His will as revealed in the testimonies of His Spirit, they ar

deceivers. They are controlled by impulse and impressions which they

believe to be from the Holy Spirit and consider more reliable than the

Inspired Word. They claim that every thought and feeling is an impression othe Spirit; and when they are reasoned with out of the Scriptures, they declare

that they have something more reliable. But while they think that they are led

by the Spirit of God, they are in realityfollowing an imagination wrought

upon by Satan.”1211

“Human reasoning and the imaginings of the human heart are

undermining the inspiration of the Word of God, and that which should be

received as granted, is surrounded with a cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands

out in clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom. This is one of the marked

signs of the last days.”1212

“The form Satan assumed in Eden when leading our first parents t

transgress, was of a character to bewilder and confuse the mind. He will

work in as subtle a manner as we near the end of earth’s history. All his

deceiving power will be brought to bear upon human subjects, to complete the

work of deluding the human family… . Misrepresentation and false witness

will grow to open rebellion. The eye being evil, the whole body will be full





of darkness. Those who give their affections to any leader but Christ will fin

themselves under the control, body, soul, and spirit, of an infatuation that is so

entrancing that under its power souls turn away from hearing the truth to

believe a lie. They are ensnared and taken, and by their every action they cry,

Release unto us Barabbas, but crucify Christ.”1213

9. Church leaders may at times not realize that a rich command of biblicalknowledge will not compensate for dead formality and lack of growth.

“The church [Battle Creek] has backslidden from God. It is ofno avail

for them to say, ‘I accept of the Testimonies,’ as they have said the last

years of their experience, and pay no heed to their teachings. Some even

despise them in their hearts. The leading men in Battle Creek have no

walked in the light God has given. The teachers of the people have erred. The

Lord has witnessed their backsliding. They have not kept their garment

white, nor retained the purity and simplicity of their first faith and first love inthe truth. This people who profess to keep all the commandments of God,

have inclined downward, bending under the influence of the world’s

attractions. As soon as they began to receive favor and friendship of the

world, their connection with God was weakened; their strength began to

diminish, faith and zeal began to expire, and dead formality to take their

place. The branches have extended far and wide, yet they bear but little fruit.

Where much is given, much will be required. Men may be well acquainted

with the doctrines of the Bible, and be able to defend them by apt

arguments. Their minds and memories may be stored with texts, and they maygive the impression that they are prepared to do a good and great work; but

year after year their deficiencies of Christian character will be more

apparent. They do not advance. They go over the same ground, making no

growth in the divine life, like wood carved in the form of a tree, but having no

living production of natural growth. There are no fresh shoots, no new foliage

to be seen. There is the same superficial work, the same limited ideas and

sentiments upon most points. They have not advanced in Christia

knowledge.”1214

“There will be apostasies from our own ranks, because men and

women, even those who are teachers of the truth, have not brought the truth

into their lives; and have not become sanctified through it. They have no

living connection with God; and so slight is their hold upon the doctrine for

the present time, that when trials come upon them, they depart from the faith,

thinking that error is preferable to the truth.”1215

“No superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in sacred





office, will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to their own

deceitful hearts. Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous

prove to be ring-leaders in apostasy and examples in indifference and in the

abuse of God’s mercies.… It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws Hi

presence from those who have been blessed with great light and who have felt

the power of the word in ministering to others. They were once His faithfulservants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed fro

Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the divine

displeasure.”1216

“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and

confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very

elect. … Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendere

supreme homage to ‘science falsely so called’ will not be the leaders then.

Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the

head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those whohave proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In

the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-

sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithfu

servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.”1217

10. Omega deceptions appeal to those searching for something “original,”

and the “sensational.”

“There are those who know the truth but do not practice it. These greatly

long for some new, strange thing to present. In their great zeal to becomeoriginal some will bring in fanciful ideas which are but chaff. Even now there

is a descending from the sublime and living issues for this time to the

ridiculous and fanciful, and sensational. Minds stand ready to catch up

suppositions and guesses and human theories and false science as truth to be

accepted and taught. These put the test of salvation on speculation without

one plain, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ …This will not stand the test of fire, bu

will be consumed, and if the ones who have made themselves believe these

theories are so self-deceived and know not the truth yet are converted, their life is saved as by fire through repentance and humiliation before God.”1218

“Never, never was there a time when the truth will suffer more from

being misrepresented, belittled, demerited through the perverse

disputings of men than in these last days. Men have brought themselves in

with their heterogeneous mass of heresies which they represent as oracles for

the people. The people are charmed with some strange, new thing, and are

not wise in experience to discern the character of ideas that men may frame up





as something. But to call it something of great consequence and tie it to the

oracles of God does not make it truth. Oh, how this rebukes the low standar

of piety in the churches. Men who want to present something original will

conjure up things new and strange, and without consideration will step

forward on these unstable theories that have been woven together as a

precious theory, and present it as a life and death question… . We have thetruth, the solid truth in the Word of God, and all these speculations and

theories would better be strangled in the cradle rather than nourished and

brought to prominence.”1219

11. Youth who are not well-informed will be misled by confused leaders.

“Youth who are not established, rooted and grounded in the truth, will be

corrupted and drawn away by the blind leaders of the blind; and the

ungodly, the despisers that wonder and perish, who despise the sovereignty of

the Ancient of Days, and place on the throne a false god, a being of theirown defining, a being altogether such an one as themselves —these agents

will be in Satan’s hands to corrupt the faith of the unwary. Those who have

been self-indulgent and ready to yield to pride and fashion and display, will

sneer at the conscientious, truth-loving, God-fearing people, and will in

this work sneer at the God of heaven Himself.”1220

12. Those who do not think carefully will unknowingly be deceived and

change their theological leaders.

“Today, Satan works with deceptive guile to captivate human beings byhis deceptive theories. The warning to beware of allowing him to enter comes

sounding down along the line to our time. Let none suppose that because

they have been used as the Lord’s instrumentalities, they are all-

sufficient. The Lord uses men and honors them by giving them His wisdom

as long as they are true to Him, and do not gather glory to themselves. Those

who take themselves out of the Lord’s hands, and think themselves capable o

managing the work, are not led by His Spirit, but by ‘another spirit.’ Satan

steps in, and they change leaders. Then comes the crookedness and subtlet

of the serpent’s guile.”1221

“The multitude of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will

encircle you, and you will change leaders, and not know that you have

done so.”1222

13. Those who understand last-day issues will remain firm in their loyalty to

last-day truths.

“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is





doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a

religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very

worst type of hostility against God.”1223

“To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake

us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our

test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, couragefrom their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.”1224

14. Leaders in the end times must avoid Aaron’s sin of pacifying wrong, and

instead be firm for truth and right, like Nehemiah.

“We repeat the sin of Aaron, pacifying, when the eyesight should be clear

to discern evil and state it plainly, even if it places us in an unpleasant

position, because our motives may be misapprehended. We must not suffer

wrong upon a brother or any soul with whom we are connected. This neglect

to stand up firmly for truth was the sin of Aaron. Had he spoken the truth plainly, that golden calf would never have been made. The same spirit that led

him to shun to declare the whole truth for fear of offending, led him to act a

falsehood in pointing to the golden calf as a representation of the One who

brought them from Egypt. Thus one unfaithfulness leads to another.”1225

“When he [Nehemiah] saw wrong principles being acted upon, he did not

stand by as an onlooker, and by his silence give consent. He did not leave

the people to conclude that he was standing on the wrong side. He took a firm,

unyielding stand for the right. He would not lend one jot of influence to the

perversion of the principles that God has established. Whatever the courseothers might pursue, he could say, ‘So did not I, because of the fear o

God.’”1226

15. Events arise when church discipline is necessary.

“Those who refuse to hear the admonitions and warnings given by God’s

faithful messengers are not to be retained in the church. They are to be

disfellowshiped; for they will be as Achan in the camp of Israel—deceived

and deceiving. Who, after reading the record of Achan’s sin and punishment,

can think it according to the will of God that those who do wickedly, refusingto repent, are to be retained in the church? To retain them would be an insult

to the God of heaven.”1227

N. False theories and false teachers will arise within, not only come from without.

“Jude bears this message to guard believers against the seductive influences o

false teachers, men who have a form of godliness, but who are not safe leaders. In

these last days, false teachers will arise and become actively zealous. All kinds





of theories will be presented to divert the minds of men and women from the

very truth that defines the position we can occupy with safety in this time when

Satan is working with power upon religionists, leading them to make a pretense o

being righteous, but to fail of placing themselves under the guidance of the Hol

Spirit. False theories will be mingled with every phase of experience, and

advocated with satanic earnestness in order to captivate the mind of every soulwho is not rooted and grounded in a full knowledge of the sacred principles of the

Word. In the very midst of us will arise false teachers, giving heed to seducing

spirits whose doctrines are of satanic origin. These teachers will draw awa

disciples after themselves. Creeping in unawares, they will use flattering words,

and make skilful misrepresentations with seductive tact.”1228

O. End-time loyalists will have a “special message of truth appropriate for this

time.”

“Amid the confusing cries, ‘Lo, here is Christ! Lo, there is Christ!’ will b borne a special testimony, a special message of truth appropriate for this time,

which message is to be received, believed, and acted upon. It is the truth, not

fanciful ideas, that is efficacious. The eternal truth of the Word will stand forth

free from all seductive errors and spiritualistic interpretations, free from all

fancifully drawn, alluring pictures. Falsehoods will be urged upon the attention o

God’s people, but the truth is to stand clothed in its beautiful, pure garments. The

Word, precious in its holy, uplifting influence, is not to be degraded to a level with

common, ordinary matters. It is always to remain uncontaminated by the fallacies

by which Satan seeks to deceive, if possible, the very elect. The proclamation othe gospel is the only means in which God can employ human beings as Hi

instrumentalities for the salvation of souls. As men, women, and children proclaim

the gospel, the Lord will open the eyes of the blind to see His statutes, and will

write upon the hearts of the truly penitent His law. The animating Spirit of God

working through human agencies, leads the believers to be of one mind, one soul,

unitedly loving God and keeping His commandments— preparing here below for

translation.”1229





The Great Controversy’s Last-Day Issues Forecasting

Satan’s Final Attempts to Conquer This World Are

Outlined in the Bible

A. A world religious power will captivate and enthrall the people of the world: “I

saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound

was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast… . And all who

dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the

Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelatio

13:3, 8, NKJV).

“In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage in the

honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of theRoman Church.”1230

B. Another world power will arise that eventually will support the authority o

the first beast that had been mortally wounded but was healed: “And he [the

beast that developed out of the earth, not out of a populated area] exercises

all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and

those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was

healed.” (Revelation 13:12).

“Both the appearance of this beast and the manner of its rise indicate that thenation which it represents is unlike those presented under the preceding symbols.

The great kingdoms that have ruled the world were presented to the prophet Daniel

as beasts of prey, rising when ‘the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great

sea.’ Daniel 7:2… . But the beast with lamblike horns was seen ‘coming up out o

the earth.’ Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus

represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied and grow up gradually

and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling

nationalities of the Old World—that turbulent sea of ‘peoples, and multitudes, and

nations, and tongues.’ It must be sought in the Western Continent.”1231

C. This second beast that arises from an unpopulated part of the earth “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. 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).

“With Protestant teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for Sunda

keeping, and the same lack of Scriptural evidence, as with the papal leaders who

fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command from God. The assertion

that God’s judgments are visited upon men for their violation of the Sunday-

sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning to be urged. And a movement toenforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground.”1232

“The prediction that it will speak ‘as a dragon’ and exercise ‘all the power o

the first beast’ plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and

persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the

leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns ‘causeth the

earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast’ indicates that the

authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which

shall be an act of homage to the papacy.”1233

“The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many adecisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be made. Bu

there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, a strong and growing

sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of doctrine. To secure

such a union, the discussion of subjects upon which all were not agreed—however

important they might be from a Bible standpoint—must necessarily be waived… .

When this shall be gained, then, in the effort to secure complete uniformity, it will

be only a step to the resort to force.”1234

D. This second beast will become a persecuting power, shadowing and replayingthe first beast: “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, 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.” (Revelation 13:16, 17).

“When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be

enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall

transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authorit

than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage tRome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He i

worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God

has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome

has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of

allegiance to Rome—‘the mark of the beast.’ And it is not until the issue is thus

plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the

commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in





transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast.’”1235

E. These two beasts will have universal influence, leading the world to think with

“one mind”—last-day globalists (Revelation 17:13).

“‘These have one mind.’ [Rev. 17:13]. There will be a universal bond of

union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. ‘And shall give

their power and strength unto the beast.’ Thus is manifested the same arbitrary,oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to

the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it

persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and

ceremonies of Romanists. In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be

united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have

apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbat

of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue, for in the Sabbath

commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavenand the earth.”1236

“Satan is diverting minds with unimportant questions, in order that they shall

not with clear and distinct vision see matters of vast importance. The enemy is

planning to ensnare the world. The so-called Christian world is to be the theater

of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the

conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink o

the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this

time John the Revelator declares: [Revelation18:3-7; 17:13. 14, quoted].”1237

F. The glue that sets the stage for Protestant/Catholic union on Sunda

legislation is their agreement on “common points of doctrine” and on

“common values” that promote the “common good.”1238

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of

doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their

decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed

an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon

dissenters will inevitably result.”1239

G. With all other areas of emerging consensus, the Sunday law issue is the

underlying goal for both Protestants and Catholics.

“The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are

concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves

see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild and apparentl

Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. It is ou

duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger.”1240





H. The core issue at stake in the Sabbath-Sunday controversy is the fundamenta

principle of freedom—freedom of conscience.

“We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper

light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue,

thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty

of conscience.”1241

I. Increasing crises, such as natural disasters and international tensions, will be

driving forces for Sunday-law legislation.

“Satan puts his interpretation upon events, and they think, as he would have

them, that the calamities which fill the land are a result of Sundaybreaking.

Thinking to appease the wrath of God these influential men make laws enforcin

Sunday observance.”1242

“As the work of Sabbath reform extends, this rejection of the divine law to

avoid the claims of the fourth commandment will become well-nigh universal. Theteachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity, to spiritualism,

and to contempt for God’s holy law; and upon these leaders rests a fearful

responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian world. Yet this very

class put forth the claim that the fast-spreading corruption is largely attributable

to the desecration of the so-called ‘Christian sabbath,’ and that the

enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly improve the morals o

society. This claim is especially urged in America, where the doctrine of the true

Sabbath has been most widely preached.”1243

“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced asenemies of law

and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy

and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their

conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt

of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.

Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpi

the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. I

legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be

misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; theworst construction will be put upon their motives.”1244

J. Satan will plunge the world into a global financial crisis.

“The great controversy between good and evil is being waged. Under the

leadership of Satan there are men who today are doing all in their power to

plunge the world into commercial strife. Thus Satan is trying to bring about

condition of things that will make the world uncivilized.”1245





K. America can become the place of “greatest peril.”

“America, … where the greatest light from heaven has been shining upon the

people, can become the place of greatest peril and darkness because the people

do not continue to practice the truth and walk in the light.”1246





The Great Controversy Theme Describes Two Groups in

the Last Days That Define Those Who Honor God and

Those Who Represent Satan’s Rebellion

“There can be only two classes. Each party is distinctly stamped, either wit

the seal of the living God, or with the mark of the beast or his image.”1247

“We are nearing the close of this earth’s history, when two parties alone can

exist, and every man, woman, and child will be in one of these armies. Jesus will be

the General of one army; of the opposing army, Satan will be the leader. All who

are breaking, and teaching others to break, the law of God, the foundation of Hi

government in heaven and in earth, are marshaled under one superior chief, who

directs them in opposition to the government of God.”1248

A. No place for those who call themselves “moderates” or “neutrals.”

“In the great conflict between faith and unbelief the whole Christian world will

be involved. All will take sides. Some apparently may not engage in the conflict

on either side. They may not appear to take sides against the truth, but they will not

come out boldly for Christ through fear of losing property or suffering reproach.

All such are numbered with the enemies of Christ.”1249

“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is

doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religiouscrisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type o

hostility against God.”1250

“When Christ shall come the second time, the whole world will be represente

by two classes, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous.”1251

“The greatest insult we can inflict upon Him, is to pretend to be His disciple

while manifesting the spirit of Satan in our words, our dispositions and our

actions.”1252

B. God’s loyalists are those who receive His sign of authority—His seal oapproval.

“[Another angel] saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we

have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ And I heard the number o

those who were sealed, One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the

children of Israel were sealed” (Revelation 7:3, 4).

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him on

hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their





foreheads … These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Thes

were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And i

their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne o

God” (Revelation 14:1, 4, 5).

“All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the name of

God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostlesaw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal

obedience to all of God’s commandments. There will be no covering up of sins

and faults to hide the deformity of character; no robes will be half washed; but all

will be pure and spotless.”1253

C. God’s loyalists will see the face of God: “They shall see His face, and Hi

name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).

1. God’s loyalists are described as those who are committed to

commandment-keeping and to the testimony of Jesus.“And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman, and he went to

make war with the rest of her offspring [remnant], who keep the

commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ

(Revelation 12:17).

2. The seal of God is placed on those who “conscientiously” keep the

seventh-day Sabbath.

“The seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously

keep the Sabbath of the Lord.”1254

“We are not merely to observe the Sabbath as a legal matter; we are to

be intelligent in regard to its spiritual bearing upon all the transactions o

life.”1255

“Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed.”1256

3. The seal of God is placed on those who have fulfilled the purpose of the

gospel.

“[Revelation 14:1-4 quoted.] This scripture represents the character of the

people of God for these last days.”1257

“[Revelation 14:1-3 quoted.] Why were they so specially singled out?

Because they had to stand with a wonderful truth right before the whole

world, and receive their opposition, and while receiving this opposition they

were to remember that they were sons and daughters of God, that they mus

have Christ formed within them the hope of glory.”1258

“The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure

man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious,





world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead o

men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal

must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.”1259

“Love is expressed in obedience, and perfect love casteth out all fear.

Those who love God, have the seal of God in their foreheads, andwork the

works of God.”1260

“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the

favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God.”1261

“One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in

their mouth there was found no guile… . They are prefigured before us as

standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which i

the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will

first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience,

followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as

the flock follows the shepherd.”1262

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the

time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. … Those who refuse

to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole

truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than

it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see

that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be

no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the

Father.”1263

“Our institutions need converted, devoted men, who will make the Lor

their dependence. God will reveal through such workers the power of His

grace. His servants are to be distinguished from the world by the seal o

the living God; their words and their works are to reveal that they are

laborers together with God. God can use the human agent just to the

extent that he will be worked by the Holy Spirit.”1264

“The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a

likeness to Christ in character… . As wax takes the impression of the seal,

so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the imageof Christ… . Many will not receive the seal of God because they do not kee

His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness.”1265

“We need not wait till we are translated to follow Christ. God’s

people may do this here below. We shall follow the Lamb of God in the

courts above only if we follow Him here. Following Him in heaven depend

on our keeping His commandments now. We are not to follow Christ fitfully





or capriciously, only when it is for our advantage. We must choose to follow

Him. In daily life we must follow His example, as a flock trustfully follow

its shepherd. We are to follow Him by suffering for His sake, saying, at ever

step, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’ His life practice must be

our life practice. And as we thus seek to be like Him, and to bring our

wills into conformity to His will, we shall reveal Him.”1266

“The only hope of any man lies through Jesus Christ… . The pure and hol

garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the

gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness,

and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol

which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to

intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God’s commandments.”1267

4. The seal of God is more than something a person can buy or do or eve

know.“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not

any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both

intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved —just as soon as

God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, i

has begun already.”1268

“Are we striving with all our God-given powers to reach the measure o

the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, eve

reaching higher and higher, trying to attain to the perfection of His character?

When God’s servants reach this point, they will be sealed in theirforeheads. The recording angel will declare, ‘It is done.’ They will be

complete in Him whose they are by creation and by redemption.”1269

“Enoch walked with God three hundred years previous to his translation

to heaven, and the state of the world was not then more favorable for the

perfection of Christian character than it is today. And how did Enoch wal

with God? He educated his mind and heart to ever feel that he was in the

presence of God, and when in perplexity his prayers would ascend to God to

keep him… . Thus he was constantly shaping his way and course inaccordance with God’s commandments, and he had perfect confidence and

trust in his heavenly Father, that He would help him. He had no thought o

will of his own. It was all submerged in the will of his Father. Now Enoc

was a representative of those who will be upon the earth when Christ

shall come, who will be translated to heaven without seeing death… . He

was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may

we remain pure and uncorrupted.”1270





“The childhood, youth, and manhood of John, who came in the spirit and

power of Elijah to do a special work in preparing the way for the world’s

Redeemer, was marked with firmness and moral power. Satan could not

move him from his integrity.”1271

5. Many professed Sabbath keepers will not receive the seal of Go

because their lives do not reflect our Lord’s character.“The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a

likeness to Christ in character.”1272

“Many are holding the truth only with the tips of their fingers. The

have had great light and many privileges. Like Capernaum they have bee

exalted to heaven in this respect. In the time of test and trial that is

approaching, they will become apostates unless they put away their pride

and self-confidence, unless they have an entire transformation of

character.”1273

6. A large number of professed Sabbath keepers will be sifted out as

adversity arises.

“Something will arise to test everyone. The great sifting time is just

before us. The jealous and the faultfinding, who are watching for evil, will

be shaken out. They hate reproof and despise correction.”1274

“We have far more to fear from within than from without. The

hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than

from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will do more

than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their

godly example and their active influence, the cause which they represent. Bu

how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest

obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed,

the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil angels, and open the

way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices.”1275

“But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. Go

will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place weshall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the

time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and H

will thoroughly purge His floor.”1276

“Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as

supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. I

remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated





from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it mus

take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the

Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true,

without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths… . The remnant tha

purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying

process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy.”1277

“Much so-called Christianity passes for genuine, faithful soundness, but i

is because those who profess it have no persecution to endure for the truth’s

sake. When the day comes when the law of God is made void, and the church

is sifted by the fiery trials that are to try all that live upon the earth, a great

proportion of those who are supposed to be genuine will give heed to

seducing spirits, and will turn traitors and betray sacred trusts. They will

prove our very worst persecutors.”1278

7. Decision time, sifting time, becomes more intense for honest men andwomen everywhere and will result in “the shaking time.”

“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that i

would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of

the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the hear

of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the

straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up

against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people. The

testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimon

upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if notentirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance, and all tha

truly receive it will obey it and be purified.”1279

“God makes no compromise with sin. A genuine conversion changes

hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. The religion of God is a fir

fabric, composed of innumerable threads, and woven together with tact and

skill… . When the warp and woof of character will not stand the test of trial,

the material of which it is composed is worthless. The efforts made to patch

the old with a new piece do not better the condition of things; for the old,flimsy material breaks away from the new, leaving the rent much larger than

before. Patching will not do. The only way is to discard the old garmen

altogether, and procure one entirely new. Christ’s plan is the only safe one.

He declares, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ ‘If any man be in Christ, he is

new creature.’ Christ gives man no encouragement to think that He wil

accept a patchwork character, made up mostly of self, with a little of

Christ. This is the condition of the Laodicean church. …Those with such a





character have a connection with Christ so frail that it is utterl

worthless.”1280

“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and

confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the ver

elect… . Those who have rendered supreme homage to ‘science falsely so

called’ will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect,genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did no

keep pace with the light… . In the last solemn work few great men will be

engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot us

them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time wil

be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have no

bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining i

a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting

exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be

revealed.”1281

“God’s Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are those

upon whom it makes little impression, because it is imperfectly understood.

When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these

surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into

any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.”1282

“I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and wa

shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed

Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not always appear. Ievery religious crisis some fall under temptation. The shaking of God blow

away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors.

Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their spirits are not

steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; for whe

tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, many are offended.”1283

8. Before probation closes, intense persecution will happen in many parts o

the world through which the stalwart for God will prove faithful.

“The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of the truth will come on the

side of God’s commandment-keeping people. When this grand work is to take

place in the battle, prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned,

many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be

martyrs for Christ’s sake in standing in defense of the truth… . You will not

be tempted above what you are able to bear. Jesus bore all this and far

more.”1284





9. Labor unions, once deemed necessary, will become a source of great

oppression leading into the last “time of trouble.”

“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. … A

few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines o

business. Trades unions will be formed, and those who refuse to join theseunions will be marked men. … The time is fast coming when the controlling

power of the labor unions will be very oppressive.”1285

10. After receiving the power of the latter rain, God’s people will be

prepared for their “trying hour.”

“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the

guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished thei

work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence

of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them.”1286

11. After the close of probation, there will be no deaths among God’s

loyalists.

“After Jesus rises up from the mediatorial throne, every case will be

decided, and oppression and death coming to God’s people will not then be

a testimony in favor of the truth.”1287

“If the blood of Christ’s faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would

not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God.

Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth;for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no

more. If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would

be a triumph for the prince of darkness.”1288

12. After the close of probation, after the restraint God placed on Satan an

the wicked is removed, and Satan will have full control of the finally

impenitent.

“The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has

entire control of the finally impenitent. God’s long-suffering has ended. The

world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law.

The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God,

persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine

grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the

inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God

cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements

of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more





terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.”1289

13. Satan places a boundary of defense around his servants, beyond which

Satan cannot go.

“There is a marked contrast between those who bear the seal of God

and those who worship the beast and his image. The Lord’s faithful servants

will receive the bitterest persecution from false teachers, who will nothear the Word of God, and who prepare stumbling blocks to put in the way o

those who would hear. But God’s people are not to fear. Satan cannot go

beyond his limit. The Lord will be the defense of His people. He regards th

injury done to His servants for the truth’s sake as done to Himself. When the

last decision has been made, when all have taken sides, either for Christ and

the commandments or for the great apostate, God will arise in His power, and

the mouths of those who have blasphemed against Him will be forever

stopped. Every opposing power will receive its punishment.”1290

14. Peace and harmony are not to be obtained by compromising God’s

expressed will.

“Christ never purchased peace and friendship by compromise with evil…

. Because He loved men and women, He was a stern reprover of their vices

His life of suffering, the humiliation to which He was subjected by a perverse

nation, show His followers that there must be no sacrifice of principle.

God’s tried people must maintain watchfulness, with fervent prayer, lest, in

their eagerness to prevent discord, they surrender truth, and thus dishonor theGod of truth. Peace is too dearly obtained if purchased by the smallest

concession to Satan’s agencies. The least surrender of principle entangles us

in the snare of the enemy.”1291

“Factions also were beginning to rise through the influence of Judaizin

teachers, who urged that the converts to Christianity should observe the

ceremonial law in the matter of circumcision… . They sincerely thought tha

in taking this medium ground between Jew and Christian, they would

succeed in removing the odium which attached to Christianity, and would

gather in large numbers of the Jews. They vindicated their position,which was in opposition to that of Paul, by showing that the course of the

apostle, in receiving the Gentiles into the church without circumcision,

prevented more Jews from accepting the faith than there were

accessions from the Gentiles. … After the decision of the council at

Jerusalem concerning this question, many were still of this opinion, but did

not then push their opposition any farther. The council had, on that occasion,

decided that the converts from the Jewish church might observe the





ordinances of the Mosaic law if they chose, while those ordinances should not

be made obligatory upon converts from the Gentiles. The opposing class now

took advantage of this, to urge a distinction between the observers of the

ceremonial law and those who did not observe it, holding that the latter

were farther from God than the former. … Holding that the end would

justify the means, they circulated false charges against the apostle, andendeavored to bring him into disrepute. As Paul, in visiting the churches,

followed after these zealous and unscrupulous opposers, he met many who

viewed him with distrust, and some who even despised his labors.”1292

15. In the end, as well as any time, church membership will not be evidence

that members “believe the truth.”

“Our position in the world is not what it should be. We are far from

where we should have been had our Christian experience been in harmon

with the light and the opportunities given us, had we from the beginningconstantly pressed onward and upward. Had we walked in the light that has

been given us, had we followed on to know the Lord, our path would have

grown brighter and brighter. But many of those who have had special light are

so conformed to the world that they can scarcely be distinguished from

worldlings. They do not stand forth as God’s peculiar people, chosen and

precious. It is difficult to discern between him that serveth God and him tha

serveth Him not. In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day

Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privilege

and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does nocorrespond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her,

if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to

her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: ‘Found wanting.’ By the light

bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.”1293

“Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great

proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be

base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition,

threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is: ‘Them that honor Me I will honor.’ Shall we be less firml

attached to God’s law because the world at large have attempted to make it

void?”1294

“Victory will attend the third angel’s message . As the Captain of the

Lord’s host tore down the walls of Jericho, so will the Lord’s commandment-

keeping people triumph, and all opposing elements be defeated. Let no soul

complain of the servants of God who have come to them with a heaven-sen





message. Do not any longer pick flaws in them, saying, ‘They are too positive;

they talk too strongly.’ They may talk strongly; but is it not needed? God will

make the ears of the hearers tingle if they will not heed His voice or Hi

message. He will denounce those who resist the word of God. Satan has lai

every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to

reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God. Some will go out from among us who

will bear the ark no longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the

truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.”1295

D. Satan’s loyalists will receive his mark of authority—the “mark of the beast.”

“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. And he causes all, both small and great,

rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on theirforeheads, 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.” (Revelation 13:15-17).

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone

worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on

his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is

poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.” (Revelation 14:9, 10).

1. Antichrist is more than a person.

“Antichrist,meaning all who exalt themselves against the will and

work of God, will at the appointed time feel the wrath of Him who gave

Himself that they might not perish but have eternal life.”1296

2. The “image to the beast” applies when Protestant churches see

legislation to enforce their dogmas.

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such point

of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce

their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will

have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil

penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.… ‘The beast’ mentioned in

this message, whose worship is enforced by the two-horned beast, is the first,

or leopardlike beast of Revelation 13—the papacy. The ‘image to the beast’

represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed

when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the

enforcement of their dogmas.”1297

3. Specifically, “the mark of the beast” is allegiance to the papal Sunday.





“The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath.”1298

“When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the

beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday.”1299

“The light we have received upon the third angel’s message is the true

light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be.

Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understooduntil the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished

in our world… . [Isaiah 58:1 quoted.]

“There is to be no change in the general features of our work. It is to stan

as clear and distinct as prophecy has made it. We are to enter into no

confederacy with the world, supposing that by so doing we could

accomplish more. If any stand in the way, to hinder the advancement of the

work in the lines that God has appointed, they will displease God. No line o

truth that has made the Seventh-day Adventist people what they are is to

be weakened. We have the old landmarks of truth, experience, and duty, andwe are to stand firmly in defense of our principles, in full view of the

world.”1300

4. Unfortunately, many current Seventh-day Adventists will not receive the

seal of God, regardless of their nominal commitment to the seventh-day

Sabbath.

“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the

third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to

the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. Buniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view

matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are

prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing

address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive

and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former

brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer fo

their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to

misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations tostir up the rulers against them.”1301

“Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great

proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to

be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition,

threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers.”1302

“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The

mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step





yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find

it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject

themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The

contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men.

In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True

godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it.Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in

darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even fro

places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments

of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear

in the shame of their own nakedness.”1303

5. Rejection of the sanctuary teachings will be one of the reasons why many

Sabbathkeepers will depart.

“The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there isno sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing

from the faith.”1304

6. When nominal Adventists no longer are loyal to the seventh-day Sabbath,

a large group replaces them and join the ripening wheat, in response to

the final invitation—the “eleventh-hour workers.”

“The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ a

coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God

is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the

Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand is still stretche

out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter… .

Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust as company after

company from the Lord’s army joined the foe and tribe after tribe from

the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of

God.”1305

“At the eleventh hour the Lord will gather a company out of the

world to serve Him. There will be a converted ministry. Those who have had privileges and opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth, and

yet who continue to counterwork the work God would have accomplished,

will be purged out, for God accepts the service of no man whose interest is

divided. He accepts the whole heart, or none.”1306

“Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exis

in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true





followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these

who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are

dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light.

They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are

connected. As these bodies depart further and further from the truth, and ally

themselves more closely with the world, the difference between the twoclasses will widen, and it will finally result in separation. The time will

come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in

connection with such as are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of

God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”1307

“I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and

the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers

and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive

the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is

given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who

have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to

deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the

churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the

fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant.”1308

“It is a solemn time for God’s people, but if they stand close by the

bleeding side of Jesus, He will be their defense. He will open ways that th

message of light may come to the great men, to authors and lawmakers.

They will have opportunities of which you do not now dream, and some othem will boldly advocate the claims of God’s downtrodden law.”1309

“Many who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the

great Shepherd.”1310

7. In the last days, people receive the “mark of the beast” when they have

fully understood the Sabbath-Sunday issues and choose to remain loyal to

the Sunday-sabbath.

“With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample

upon God’s law to obey a human enactment receives the mark of the beast; heaccepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead

of God… . But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth

has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been

rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the

special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has

never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries

every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be





deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged

upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his

decision intelligently.”1311

“After God sends light and evidence, calculated to convince any

rational, unprejudiced mind, and it is not received or acted upon, but rather

treated with contempt, resisted, and refused, the Holy Spirit is withdrawn,and men are left in their chosen obstinacy.”1312

“Jesus would have the fathers and mothers teach their children of this

beauty of character. He would have them teach their children that God loves

them, that their natures may be changed, and brought into harmony with God.

Do not teach your children that God does not love them when they do

wrong; teach them that he loves them so that it grieves his tender Spirit to see

them in transgression, because he knows they are doing injury to their souls.

Do not terrify your children by telling them of the wrath of God, but rather

seek to impress them with his unspeakable love and goodness, and thus let theglory of the Lord be revealed before them.”1313

E. Satan is the master of deception as he seeks to confuse, if possible, even the

very elect.

“Through his deception and delusion, Satan would, if possible, deceive the

very elect. His is no minor deception. He will seek to annoy, to harass, to falsify,

to accuse, and misrepresent all whom he cannot compel to give him honor and help

him in his work. His great success lies in keeping men’s minds confused, and

ignorant of his devices, for then he can lead the unwary as it were, blindfolded.”1314

“Through the non-observance of the Sabbath God instituted, I [Satan] wil

bring his law into contempt. The words, ‘A sign between me and you throughou

your generations,’ I will make to serve on the side of my sabbath. Thus the world

will become mine. I will be ruler of the earth, prince of the world. I will so control

the minds under my power that God’s Sabbath shall be an object of contempt. A

sign? I will make the observance of the seventh day a sign of disloyalty to the

authorities of earth. Human laws shall be made so stringent that men andwomen will not dare to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. For fear of wanting

food and clothing, they will join with the world in transgressing God’s law; and

the earth will be wholly under my dominion.”1315

F. God is waiting for His last-day church to get serious as to why He delays Hi

return.

1. God’s last-day church has not yet reached the place where God can trust





them with the Loud Cry of the Latter Rain.

“The Lord God is a jealous God, yet He bears long with the sins an

transgressions of His people in this generation. If the people of God ha

walked in His counsel, the work of God would have advanced, the message

of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell on the face of the

whole earth. Had the people of God believed Him and been doers of Hiword, had they kept His commandments, the angel would not have come flying

through heaven with the message to the four angels that were to let loose the

winds that they should blow upon the earth crying, Hold, hold the four winds

that they blow not upon the earth until I have sealed the servants of God i

their foreheads. But because the people are disobedient, unthankful,

unholy, as were ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all may hear the last

message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The Lord’s work has

been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have not heard the truth. Bu

the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be converted, and the great wor of God will go forward.”1316

“There are many who are not purifying their souls by obeying the truth. As

great light has been given them, God expects proportionate zeal, devotion, and

faithfulness upon the part of his people. But there will be proportionate

darkness, unbelief, and blindness as the truth is not appreciated and acted

upon… . If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have

been, God cannot pour upon them his Spirit. They are unprepared to co

operate with him. They do not realize the threatened danger, and are notawake to the situation. They should feel now as never before their need o

vigilance and well-concerted action… . The third angel’s message

comprehends more than many suppose. What interpretation do they give

to the passage which says an angel descended from heaven, and the earth

was lightened with his glory? This is not a time when we can be excused for

inactivity. If this work, which was so essential, had been taken up by our

ministers, there would be today a far different state of things in all our

churches.”1317

2. On many occasions, Ellen White emphasized her great disappointmen

that Christ’s return had been delayed. Here is one sample of many similar

comments:

“It is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the

early days of this message. Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we

hoped. But has the word of the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembere

that the promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. God had





committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The thir

angel’s message was to be given; the minds of believers were to be directed

to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His

people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the la

of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice,

that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of Gomust purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand

without fault before Him at His coming.

[cont.] “Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fas

their faith, and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God,

receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spiri

proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the

Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would

have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive Hi

people to their reward… .[cont.] “It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be

thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander fort

years in the wilderness.… The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern

Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God a

fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among

the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and

sorrow so many years.”1318

“The agency of the Holy Spirit is tocombine with human effort and allheaven is engaged in the work of preparing a people to stand in these last

days. The end is near and we want to keep the future world in view.”1319

“We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination

many more years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ’s sake Hi

people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence o

their own wrong course of action.”1320

3. We are not to “wait” for a future time for the outpouring of the latter

rain.“We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will

recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us.

When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure

mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be

fulfilled. [Isaiah 61:11 quoted.] The whole earth is to be filled with the glor

of God.”1321

“I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but





wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and

correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from

filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of

the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power of Go

comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work

which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of theflesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”1322

4. The Latter Rain falls only on prepared people; it is the gift of the Spiri

given to those who have “grown” the fruits of the Spirit.

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing,’ unless they obtain the

victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world,

and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing

nearer and nearer to the Lord, and be earnestly seeking that preparation

necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.”1323

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our character

have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our

characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter

rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day o

Pentecost.”1324

“Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. The

have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They

expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the riches

abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts toreceive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begu

in the human heart in giving his light and knowledge, must be continually

going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The hear

must be emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the

Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer an

consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only

in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to asfor the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. I

is God who began the work, and he will finish his work, making man

complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace

represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light

they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the

exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the

manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts





all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.”1325

5. In referring to the Minneapolis General Conference in 1888, Ellen Whit

wrote that the Latter Rain was “shut” away, “resisted,” and “kept away

from the world.”

“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has

already begun [1888] in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin- pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose

glory shall fill the whole earth.”1326

“An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this

truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at

Minneapolis against the Lord’s message through Brethren [E. J.] Waggone

and [A. T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting

away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy

Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them froobtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to

the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The ligh

that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the

action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from

the world.”1327

6. God postpones the close of probation, awaiting a “more distinctly

proclaimed” last-day message.

“The Lord God of heaven will not send upon the world His judgments fodisobedience and transgression until He has sent His watchmen to give the

warning. He will not close up the period of probation until the message

shall be more distinctly proclaimed. The law of God is to be magnified; it

claims must be presented in their true, sacred character, that the people may

be brought to decide for or against the truth. Yet the work will be cut short in

righteousness. The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end

of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory o

God, which closes the work of the third angel.”1328





The Great Controversy Theme Outlines the Final Events

That Precede Our Lord’s Return

A. The Latter Rain precedes the Loud Cry and the Close of Probation.

1. The Latter Rain completes the character growth nourished by the Earl

Rain.

“In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary i

order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing

showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close o

the season, ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employ

these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew

and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen theharvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to

another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain

represents the completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the

power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the

character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of

Christ.”1329

“In the day of judgment, the course of the man who has retained the frailt

and imperfection of humanity will not be vindicated. For him there will be no

place in heaven. He could not enjoy the perfection of the saints in light. He

who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep hi

from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the

kingdom of God.”1330

2. Before receiving the Latter Rain, God will test His people.

“Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father

will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him.”1331

“God is now testing and proving His people. Character is being

developed. Angels are weighing moral worth, and keeping a faithful record oall the acts of the children of men. Among God’s professed people are corrupt

hearts; but they will be tested and proved. That God who reads the hearts o

everyone, will bring to light hidden things of darkness where they are often

least suspected, that stumbling blocks which have hindered the progress o

truth may be removed, and God have a clean and holy people to declare Hi

statutes and judgments.”1332





.

among its manifestation.

“There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain.

Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light.

Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christia

virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the

latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern

or receive it.”1333

4. The Latter Rain experience falls on “sealed” people.

“This is the work that the Lord would have every soul prepared to do a

this time, when the four angels are holding the four winds that they shall not

blow until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. There is no

time now for self-pleasing. The lamps of the soul must be trimmed. They mus

be supplied with the oil of grace. Every precaution must be taken to preven

spiritual declension, lest the great day of the Lord overtake us as a thief in thenight. Every witness for God is now to work intelligently in the lines whic

God has appointed. We should daily obtain a deep and living experience in

the work of perfecting Christian character. We should daily receive the holy

oil, that we may impart to others. All may be light bearers to the world if they

will.”1334

“The latter rain will never refresh and invigorate the indolent, who do

not use the powers God has given them. Is Christ always to be

disappointed in the beings he has redeemed at an infinite cost?”1335

“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has no

appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the

latter rain.”1336

5. The Latter Rain prepares God’s loyalists for translation.

“Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome,

be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and

they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.”1337

B. pThe Loud Cry, the culmination of the messages of the three angel(Revelation 14:6-12) and the fourth angel, is foretold in Revelation 18.

“I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the

earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice,

saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place o

demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated

bird!’” (Revelation 18:1, 2).





.

to others God’s last invitation to join with those who value freedom and

render loyalty to their Creator and Savior.

“As foretold in the eighteenth of Revelation, the third angel’s message is

to be proclaimed with great power by those who give the final warning

against the beast and his image: [Revelation 18:1-6, quoted]. This is the

message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third

angel.”1338

“As the end approaches, the testimonies of God’s servants will become

more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the

systems of error and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The

Lord has sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an

eternal basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own

wisdom, but in God; and raise up the foundation of many generations… . As

we near the close of this earth’s history, we advance more and more rapidlyin Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly.”1339

“As the third message swells to a loud cry and as great power and glory

attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory.

It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through

the time of trouble.”1340

“This message embraces the two preceding messages. It is represented a

being given with a loud voice; that is, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Everything is now at stake. The third angel’s message is to be regarded as o

the highest importance. It is a life and death question. The impression made bythis message will be proportionate to the earnestness and solemnity with

which it is proclaimed.”1341

“When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the temple from it

sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of His ministry was the second

cleansing of the temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two

distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is,

‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink

of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ [Rev. 14:8] And in the loud cryof the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying, ‘Come ou

of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not

of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hat

remembered her iniquities’ [Rev. 18:4-5]… . The three angels’ messages are

to be combined, giving their threefold light to the world. In the Revelation,

John says, ‘I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power;

and the earth was lightened with his glory.’ [Revelation 18:2-5 quoted.] This





represents the giving of the last and threefold message of warning to the

world.”1342

2. The Loud Cry creates the environment for rapid conversions and removal

of long-held indecisions.

“Thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth… .

These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprisethe church, and God’s name alone will be glorified… . There will be

thousands converted to the truth in a day who at the eleventh hour see and

acknowledge the truth and the movements of the Spirit of God… . The time i

coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the

Day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit… . A goo

many do not see it now, to take their position, but these things are influencing

their lives, and when the message goes with a loud voice they will be

ready for it. They will not hesitate long; they will come out and take theirposition. …Soon the last test is to come to all inhabitants of the earth. At tha

time prompt decisions will be made . Those who have been convicted under

the presentation of the Word will range themselves under the bloodstained

banner of Prince Emmanuel.”1343

“The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep

conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The see

has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications

distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many

whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehendingthe truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate

everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of

God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church

relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all

besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large

number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.”1344

3. With great power, the sins of Babylon will be unmasked.

“Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the timecomes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through

humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to

His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spiri

than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be

constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives

them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results o





enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of

spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will

be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred.

Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these.

In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, falle

because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.”1345

“I saw the mercy and goodness of God in sending a warning to the people

of the earth, and repeated messages to lead them to a diligent searching o

heart, and study of the Scriptures, that they might divest themselves of

errors which have been handed down from the heathen and papists.

Through these messages God has been bringing out His people where He ca

work for them in greater power, and where they can keep all His

commandments.”1346

4. Some business leaders, statesmen, legislators and persons in the judiciary

will recognize the validity and truthfulness of religious liberty as set forth

by last-day commandment keepers.

“Some who are numbered among merchants and princes will take their

position to obey the truth. God’s eye has been upon such as they have acted

according to the light they have had, maintaining their integrity.”1347

“But so long as Jesus remains man’s intercessor in the sanctuary above,

the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. I

still controls to some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws,the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While man

of our rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among th

leading men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose

measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who

fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions

with unanswerable arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a

powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will be

restrained that the third angel’s message may do its work. When the finalwarning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men

through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and

will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble.”1348

5. Many long-standing Adventists will resist the end-time messages and

therefore will not receive the “latter rain” outpouring.

“There is to be in the [Seventh-day Adventist] churches a wonderful





manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who

have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door o

the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power

which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something

which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will

arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because theLord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will

oppose the work. ‘Why,’ they say, ‘should we not know the Spirit of God,

when we have been in the work so many years?’ Because they did not

respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, bu

persistently said, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need o

nothing.’”1349

“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The

mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded

to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard

matter to yield to the powers that be , rather than subject themselves to

derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between

the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the

gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be

clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that

we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a

cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only

floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but arenot clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own

nakedness.”1350

6. Though many professed Adventists leave, many more take their places.

“But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take the

places made vacant by those who become offended and leave the truth.

… The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from the

true and loyal ones… . The ranks will not be diminished. Those who are

firm and true will close up the vacancies that are made by those who becomeoffended and apostatize.”1351

“The third angel’s message will not be comprehended, the light which

will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who

refuse to walk in its advancing glory.”1352

“The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those

who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look

upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to





save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers

will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.”1353

7. Those who will stand during the Seven Last Plagues have becom

reflectors of their Savior’s character.

“Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we

should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in huma

hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is

cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Chris

declared of Himself: ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing i

Me.’ John 14:30. Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that woul

enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, an

there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the

condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble. It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith

in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to joi

ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to Hi

wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God’s providence is the school in

which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is eve

setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and

pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate with

the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our

characters to the divine model.”1354

8. Satan will foment a spurious loud cry to divert the mind from the true

message.

“God is raising up a class to give the loud cry of the third angel’s

message… . It is Satan’s object now to get up new theories to divert the

mind from the true work and genuine message for this time. He stirs up

minds to give false interpretation of Scripture, a spurious loud cry, that the

real message may not have its effect when it does come. This is one of the

greatest evidences that the loud cry will soon be heard and the earth will belightened with the glory of God.”1355

9. Secret societies will become an increasing problem for God’s loyalists.

“[Revelation 18:1-8 quoted.] This terrible picture, drawn by John to show

how completely the powers of earth will give themselves over to evil, should

show those who have received the truth how dangerous it is to link up with

secret societies or to join themselves in any way with those who do not keep





God’s commandments.”1356

“There are those who question whether it is right for Christians to belon

to the Free Masons and other secret societies. Let all such consider the

scriptures just quoted. If we are Christians at all, we must be Christian

everywhere, and must consider and heed the counsel given to make us

Christians according to the standard of God’s Word.”1357

10. Labor unions will contribute to last-day stress.

“The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor

unions will be very oppressive. Again and again the Lord has instructed tha

our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country,

where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem o

buying and selling will be a very serious one… . 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… . Trades unions will be formed,and those who refuse to join these unions will be marked men… . These

unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles

ready to be burned… . ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart

and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy

neighbour as thyself’ (Luke 10:27). These words sum up the whole duty o

man. They mean the consecration of the whole being, body, soul, and spirit, to

God’s service. How can men obey these words, and at the same time pledge

themselves to support that which deprives their neighbors of freedom of

action? And how can men obey these words, and form combinations that robthe poorer classes of the advantages which justly belong to them, preventing

them from buying or selling, except under certain conditions?”1358

11. Last-day inventions will greatly assist where the living messenger cannot

go (possibly, perhaps, something like the Internet!)

“I was shown … that the warning must go where the living messenger

could not go, and that it would call the attention of many to the important

events to occur in the closing scenes of this world’s history.”1359

12. Attempts will be made to introduce “futuristic” principles as a new way

of interpreting Bible prophecies, thus nullifying time-tested conclusions

with personal interpretations.

“There have been one and another who in studying their Bibles though

they discovered great light, and new theories, but these have not been correct.

The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying the Scripture men arrive a

wrong conclusions… . Some will take the truth applicable to their time, and





place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that had their

fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories

the faith of some is undermined. From the light that the Lord has bee

pleased to give me, you are in danger of doing the same work, presenting

before others truths which have had their place and done their specific work

for the time, in the history of the faith of the people of God. You recognizethese facts in Bible history as true, but apply them to the future. They have

their force still in their proper place, in the chain of events that have made us

as a people what we are today, and as such, they are to be presented to those

who are in the darkness of error.”1360

“It is true that there are prophecies yet to be fulfilled. But ver

erroneous work has been done again and again, and will continue to be done

by those who seek to find new light in the prophecies, and who begin by

turning away from the light that God has already given. The messages o

Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they are theeverlasting gospel, and are to be sounded everywhere. But the Lord does no

lay upon those who have not had an experience in His work the burden o

making a new exposition of those prophecies which He has, by His Hol

Spirit, moved upon His chosen servants to explain.”1361

13. Loyalists living in the last days should expect unfair treatment in the

courts of law.

“Those who live during the last days of this earth’s history will know

what it means to be persecuted for the truth’s sake. In the courts injustice will prevail. The judges will refuse to listen to the reasons of those who are loyal

to the commandments of God, because they know that arguments in favor o

the fourth commandment are unanswerable. They will say, ‘We have a law,

and by our law he ought to die.’ God’s law is nothing to them. ‘Our law’

with them is supreme. Those who respect this human law will be favored,

but those who will not bow to the idol sabbath will have no favors shown

them.”1362

14. Loyal leaders, like the Apostle Paul, may find their ministry and even lifeitself cut short by misunderstandings among fellow workers.

“God had not in his providence ordained that Paul’s labors should so

soon end; but he did not work a miracle to counteract the train o

circumstances to which their own course gave rise. The same spirit is still

leading to the same results. A neglect to appreciate and improve the

provisions of divine grace, has deprived the church of many a blessing. How





often would the Lord have prolonged the life of some faithful minister,

had his labors been appreciated. But if the church permit the enemy of souls

to pervert their understanding, so that they misrepresent and misinterpret the

words and acts of the servant of Christ; if they allow themselves to stand in

his way and hinder his usefulness, the Lord removes from them the blessing

which he gave. Satan is constantly working through his agents todishearten and destroy those whom God has chosen to accomplish a great

and good work. They may be ready to sacrifice even their own life for the

advancement of the cause of Christ, yet the great deceiver will suggest doubts,

distrust, jealousy, concerning them, that if entertained will undermine

confidence in their integrity of character, and thus cripple their usefulness.

Too often he succeeds in working through their own brethren, to bring

upon them such sorrow and anguish of heart that God graciously interposes to

give his persecuted servants rest. After the hands are folded upon the

pulseless breast, after the voice of warning and encouragement is silent, thendeath may accomplish that which life has failed to do; then the obdurate may

be aroused to see and prize the blessings they have cast from them.”1363

15. In the most stressful of last-day events, loyalists will remain unflinching

when champions are few.

“When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law i

most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and

firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness

when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when championsare few —this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the

coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their

treason.”1364

16. Among the last thrusts of Satan will be to organize a widespread attac

on the messages of the Spirit of Prophecy.

“Satan is … constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the

truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the

testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’(Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through

different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the

true testimony… . There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies

which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the

churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring

in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and





reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.”1365

C. Probation will close, as in Noah’s day, amidst the air of complacency and

optimism on one hand, and ridicule, on the other that the world is about to be

destroyed.

“The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were the

Jews to receive the Saviour’s warning concerning Jerusalem. Come when it maythe day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its

unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in

money-making; when religious leaders are magnifying the world’s progress

and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security —then, as the

midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction

come upon the careless and ungodly, ‘and they shall not escape.’”1366

“Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His secon

coming. As the people of Noah’s day ‘knew not until the Flood came, and toothem all away; so,’ in the words of our Saviour, ‘shall also the coming of the Son

of man be.’” Matthew 24:39. When the professed people of God are uniting with

the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden pleasures;

when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the

marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of

worldly prosperity— then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will

come the end of their bright visions and delusive hopes.”1367

“The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal

state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious thatthe final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above.

Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodl

out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed,

continued their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings o

impending judgment. ‘So,’ says the Saviour, ‘shall also the coming of the Son o

man be.’ Matthew 24:39. Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the

decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal

of mercy’s offer to guilty men. ‘Watch ye therefore: … lest coming suddenly Hefind you sleeping.’ Mark 13:35, 36. Perilous is the condition of those who,

growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man

of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is

seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her

adornments —it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the

sentence: ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.’ Daniel

5:27.”1368





D. The Seven Last Plagues immediately follow the end of probationary time.

1. The Seven Last Plagues are delayed until the sealing work is finished an

probation has closed.

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners o

the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not

blow on the earth, … saying, ‘Do not harm the earth… till we have sealed

the servants of our God on their foreheads’” (Revelation 7:1, 3).

“As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be

sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces

for the last great battle. Satan is busily laying his plans for the last might

conflict, when all will take sides.”1369

“Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse

seeking to break loose, and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing

destruction and death in its path.… I tell you in the name of the Lord God oIsrael that all injurious, discouraging influences are held in control by unseen

angel hands, until everyone that works in the fear and love of God is

sealed in his forehead.”1370

2. Prior to the close of probation, to some degree, restraints on Satan wil

continue.

“Already sprinklings from the vials of God’s wrath have been let fall

upon land and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these

unusual conditions are being searched for, but in vain. God has notrestrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly

work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly

miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected, but man suffers fro

pestilence.”1371

“It is very natural for human beings to think that great calamities are a sure

index of great crimes and enormous sins; but men often make a mistake in thus

measuring character. We are not living in the time of retributive judgment.

Good and evil are mingled, and calamities come upon all. Sometimes men do

pass the boundary line beyond God’s protecting care, and then Satan

exercises his power upon them, and God does not interpose. Job was sorel

afflicted, and his friends sought to make him acknowledge that his suffering

was the result of sin, and cause him to feel under condemnation. The

represented his case as that of a great sinner; but the Lord rebuked them for

their judgment of His faithful servant.”1372

3. No second probations.





“All will be tested and tried according to the light they have had. Those

who turn from the truth to fables can look for no second probation. There will

be no temporal millennium. If, after the Holy Spirit has brought conviction t

their hearts, they resist the truth and use their influence to block the way so

that others will not receive it, they will never be convinced. They did not

seek for transformation of character in the probation given them, andChrist will not give them opportunity to pass over the ground again. The

decision is a final one.”1373

“Vengeance will be executed against those who sit in the gate, deciding

what the people should have, and what they should not have. These take

away the key of knowledge. They refuse to enter in themselves, and those tha

would enter, they hinder. These bear not the seal of the living God. All

who now occupy responsible positions should be solemnly and terribly

afraid lest in this time they shall be found as unfaithful stewards.”1374

“When light comes to the soul through God’s appointed agencies, and it isnot received and acted upon, there is manifest a contempt of God, and

stubborn resistance increases as additional light comes to convince of

error, and manifest truth. The case of Pharaoh stands forth in Bible histor

to warn men off the ground that he took. He set himself in stubborn resistance

against the messages and warnings God sent. Every ray of light that come

from heaven to men, when resisted by the ungodly, increases their power of

resistance, and finally sets the heart in rebellion against God. He who

sows rebellion reaps rebellion.”1375

“In the day of judgment, when the question is asked, ‘Why did you

intercept yourself, your judgment and influence, between the people and the

message of God?’ they will have nothing to answer. If they open their lips

then, it will only be to say that they now see truth as God sees it. They will

confess that they were full of pride of opinion, trusted in their own judgment,

and strengthened the hands that sought to tear down that which God had

commanded to be built up. They will say, ‘Although the evidence was strong

that God was working, I would not acknowledge it; for it was not in

harmony with what I had taught. I was not in the habit of confessing any

error in the past in my experience; I was too stubborn to fall upon the Roc

and be broken. I determined to resist, and not be converted to the truth. I

would not reveal the fact that I thought my course was wrong in any degree,

and my light went out in darkness.’”1376

4. God restrains Satan’s malignant powers until the last person has decided

either to join God’s loyalists or to remain self-centered and committed to





Satan’s deceptions.

“Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants

of God are sealed in their foreheads.”1377

“Shall but little be done, when the curse of sin has grown to such

proportions that already the Spirit of God, insulted, rejected, and abused, i

being withdrawn from the earth? Just as fast as God’s Spirit is taken away,Satan’s cruel work will be done upon land and sea. Judgments by fire and

flood will increase in fearfulness; for Satan claims his harvest of souls in the

destruction.”1378

“Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final

trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds o

human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world

will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem o

old.”1379

“The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit oGod, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine

grace, they have no protection from the wicked one.”1380

5. Evil unrestrained reveals what men and women can become when the

Holy Spirit is rejected.

“Those who choose Satan as their ruler will reveal the spirit of their

chosen master, who caused the fall of our first parents. By rejecting the

divine Son of God … the people showed what human nature can and will do,

when the restraining Spirit of God is removed, and men are under the greatapostate. Just to that degree that light is refused and rejected will there be

misconception and misunderstanding… . Misrepresentation, the bearing o

false witness, will grow under open rebellion.”1381

“The forces of the powers of darkness will unite with human agents who

have given themselves unto the control of Satan, and the same scenes tha

were exhibited at the trial, rejection and crucifixion of Christ will be revived.

Through yielding to satanic influences men will be merged into fiends, and

those who were created in the image of God, who were formed to honor andglorify their Creator, will become the habitation of dragons, and Satan will

see in an apostate race his masterpiece of evil—men who reflect his own

image.”1382

“Christ shows that without the controlling power of the Spirit of Go

humanity is a terrible power for evil. Unbelief, hatred of reproof, will stir

up satanic influences. Principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness o

this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places, will unite in a desperate





companionship. They will be leagued against God in the person of His saints

By misrepresentation and falsehood they will demoralize both men and

women who to all appearances believe the truth. False witnesses will no

be wanting in this terrible work.”1383

6. Armageddon is the last battle of evil forces against God and His loyalists.

a. Opposition to the Loud Cry is preparatory to the Battle o

Armageddon; the final Battle between good and evil begins wit

earth’s last struggle between the Loud Cry and those who reject it.

“We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers o

evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But Providence has

a part to act in the battle of Armageddon. When the earth is lighted

with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious

elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies o

the living God will take the field.”1384

b. The final message separates all humanity into two groups: those

loyal and obedient to God; and the disloyal, disobedient, rebellious

ones who follow Satan’s deceptions—no “centrists” or “moderates”

any longer.

“There are only two parties in our world, those who are loyal to

God, and those who stand under the banner of the prince of darkness.

Satan and his angels will come down with power and signs and lying

wonders to deceive those who dwell on the earth, and if possible thevery elect. The crisis is right upon us… . The battle of Armageddon is

soon to be fought… . Every form of evil is to spring into intense

activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil men, and as they have

been in constant conflict and attained an experience in the best modes of

deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries, they

will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All

the world will be on one side or the other of the question… . Trumpet

after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after

another upon the inhabitants of the earth… . On one side stands the

Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They ar

obedient to His commands. On the other side stands the prince o

darkness, with those who have chosen apostasy and rebellion… .

Destroying angels are taking up the work of vengeance; for the Spirit o

God is gradually withdrawing from the world. Satan is also mustering

his forces of evil, going forth ‘unto the kings of the earth and of the





whole world,’ togather them under his banner, to be trained for ‘the

battle of that great day of God Almighty.’ Satan is to make most powerful

efforts for the mastery in the last great conflict. Fundamental principles

will be brought out, and decisions made in regard to them. Skepticism is

prevailing everywhere. Ungodliness abounds. The faith of individual

members of the church will be tested as though there were notanother person in the world.”1385

E. Terrible will be the results of Satan’s last chance to rule this earth.

1. Many grand buildings admired by all will be destroyed even before the

destruction of the Seven Plagues.

“The flattering monuments of men’s greatness will be crumbled in the

dust, even before the last great destruction comes upon the world.”1386

2. The Plagues will be short but terrible.

“The last great conflict will be short, but terrible.”1387

“The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while

persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want o

food they will not be left to perish. That God who cared for Elijah will no

pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs o

their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied.

While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence, angels will shield

the righteous and supply their wants.”1388

3. The time of “Jacob’s trouble” will replay the night of Jacob’s anguish as

he feared the rage of his brother Esau (Genesis 32:24-30).

a. The governments of the world will give their people liberty to put to

death those who steadfastly maintain their loyalty to the seventh-

day Sabbath according to the fourth commandment.

“As the Sabbath has become the special point of controvers

throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have

combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent

refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make

them objects of universal execration. … A decree will finally be

issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment,

denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the

people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death… . The people

of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress

described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble.”1389





b. God’s people will have made every effort to disarm prejudice and

any sense of guilt that they were indeed law-breakers.

“So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time o

trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light

before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which

threatens liberty of conscience.”1390

“Satan endeavored to force upon him a sense of his guilt in order to

discourage him and break his hold upon God. Jacob was driven almos

to despair; but he knew that without help from heaven he must perish. He

had sincerely repented of his great sin, and he appealed to the mercy o

God… . As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will sti

up the wicked to destroy God’s people in the time of trouble… . As

Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins, the Lord

permits him to try them to the uttermost. Their confidence in God,

their faith and firmness, will be severely tested. As they review the past,their hopes sink; for in their whole lives they can see little good. The

are fully conscious of their weakness and unworthiness. Satan

endeavors to terrify them with the thought that their cases are

hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away…

. Though God’s people will be surrounded by enemies who are ben

upon their destruction, yet the anguish which they suffer is not a dread o

persecution for the truth’s sake; they fear that every sin has not been

repented of, and that through some fault in themselves they will fail torealize the fulfillment of the Saviour’s promise: I ‘will keep thee fro

the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world.’ Revelation

3:10. If they could have the assurance of pardon they would not shrin

from torture or death; but should they prove unworthy, and lose their

lives because of their own defects of character, then God’s holy name

would be reproached… . They afflict their souls before God, pointing to

their past repentance of their many sins, and pleading the Saviour’s

promise: ‘Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace wit

Me; and he shall make peace with Me.’ Isaiah 27:5. Their faith does

not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though

suffering the keenest anxiety, terror, and distress, they do not cease their

intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God as Jacob laid hold o

the Angel; and the language of their souls is: ‘I will not let Thee go,

except Thou bless me.’ Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin i

obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have heard his prayer





and mercifully preserved his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the

people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while

tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair

would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead

with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their

unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sinshave gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they

cannot bring them to remembrance.”1391

c. Jacob’s experience assures God’s people that He will protect the

in the hour of their peril.

“Jacob’s history is also an assurance that God will not cast off those

who have been deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin, but who

have returned unto Him with true repentance. While Satan seeks t

destroy this class, God will send His angels to comfort and protect thein the time of peril.”1392

d. While others are suffering the privations and agony of the Plagues,

God’s people will be provided for.

“Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies

of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept

the word of Christ’s patience. … The very delay, so painful to them, is

the best answer to their petitions. As they endeavor to wait trustingly for

the Lord to work they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience,which have been too little exercised during their religious

experience.”1393

4. All who died since 1844 and were faithful to the messages of the three

angels of Revelation 14 will arise in the special resurrection to witness

the return of Jesus.

“All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth

from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have

kept His law.”1394

5. The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 will be replicated, but worse.

“As His prophetic eye rested upon Jerusalem, He sees that as she wa

given up to destruction, the world will be given up to its doom. The scenes

that transpired at the destruction of Jerusalem will be repeated at the great and

terrible day of the Lord, but in a more fearful manner.”1395

6. At the end of the thousand years, the unsaved will be resurrected with





the same thoughts and appearance each had when they died.

“At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal bloom, but at the

second, the marks of the curse are visible upon all. All come up as they

went down into their graves. Those who lived before the Flood, come fort

with their giant-like stature, more than twice as tall as men now living upon

the earth, and well proportioned. The generations after the Flood were less istature.”1396

F. God’s faithful will have much to rest their confidence and peace on as they

know God’s hand “is on the wheel.”

“What a wonderful thought it is that the great controversy is nearing its end!

In the closing work we shall meet with perils that we know not how to deal with;

but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine

hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass. He will

gather from the world a people who will serve Him in righteousness.”1397





The Great Controversy Theme Provides Satan’s Playbook

for Alert, End-Time Loyalists

A. Jesus has left us with many clues as He describes the kind of people who wilbe faithful commandment-keepers in the last days.

1. In His message to the Laodiceans, Jesus said: “To him who overcomes

will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat dow

with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

“The message to the Laodicean church is highly applicable to us as a

people. It has been placed before us for a long time, but has not been

heeded as it should have been. When the work of repentance is earnest and

deep, the individual members of the church will buy the rich goods of heaven.[Revelation 3:18 quoted.] Oh, how many behold things in a perverted light,

in the light in which Satan would have them see. You may manifest great

zeal in missionary effort, and yet because it is corrupted with selfishness, and

tastes strongly of self, it is nought in the sight of God; for it is a tainted,

corrupted offering. Unless the door of the heart is open to Jesus, unless H

occupies the soul temple, unless the heart is imbued with His divine

attributes, human actions when weighed in the heavenly balances, will be

pronounced ‘Wanting.’ …

[cont.] “Do you believe this message? Have you hearts that feel? Or ar you constantly saying, We are rich and increased in goods, and have need of

nothing? Is it in vain that the declaration of eternal truth has been given to this

nation to be carried to all the nations of the world? God has chosen a people

and made them the repositories of truth weighty with eternal results. To them

has been given the light that must illuminate the world. Has God made a

mistake? Are we indeed His chosen instrumentalities? Are we the men and

women who are to bear to the world the messages of Revelation fourteen, to

proclaim the message of salvation to those who are standing on the brink oruin? Do we act as if we were? …

[cont.] “The Laodicean message applies to all who profess to keep the

law of God, and yet are not doers of it. … The message to the Laodicea

church applies most decidedly to those whose religious experience is insipid,

who do not bear decided witness in favor of the truth… . The design of the

message to the Laodiceans was to rid the church of … fanatical influences;

but the effort of Satan has been to corrupt the message, and destroy its





influence. He would be better pleased to have fanatical persons embrace the

testimony, and use it in his cause, than to have them remain in a lukewarm

state… . Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. The

clothe themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining

themselves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when

they need daily to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness, else they findthemselves bankrupt, their whole life being a lie… . Love of self excludes

the love of Christ. Those who live for self are ranged under the head of the

Laodicean church who are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. The ardor of the

first love has lapsed into a selfish egotism. The love of Christ in the heart i

expressed in the actions. If love for Christ is dull, the love for those for who

Christ has died will degenerate. There may be a wonderful appearance for

zeal and ceremonies, but this is the substance of their self-inflated religion.

Christ represents them as nauseating to His taste… .

[cont.] “Those who are in this condition are willfully ignorant. They donot discern the real character of sin. By their wrongdoing they constantl

misrepresent the character of Christ and put Him to open shame. Professing t

have a knowledge of the truth, they act in spirit as novices. They do not see

to understand the truth that must be expressed in word and deed to show a

decided difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth Hi

not. They are false claimants of every Christian blessing and privilege,

when, as Christ’s representatives, they are not rich in spiritual grace or in

good works. They are wretched, poor, blind, maimed. What a position to bein! They stand in their own light. But notwithstanding their willful ignorance,

they are not left by the Lord without added warning and counsel… .

[cont.] “Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their

deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel

shows his colors. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He i

neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a wor

that no one else can do… . There are those who, though professedly serving

God, are witnessing against Him… . To those who do not practice it, the

Word of God is a dead letter. Christ says of such, ‘I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue

thee out of my mouth.’ He cannot present their case to the Father. If they

realized that they were sinners, He could plead in their behalf, and the

Lord would arouse them by His Holy Spirit. But they are worse than dead i

trespasses and sins. They hear the Word, but make no application of it to

themselves; instead, they apply the Word spoken to their neighbors.”1398





2. In His awesome prophetic insight in Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus describe

with much clarity what we should expect and what kind of people will

represent His side of the Great Controversy in the last generation.

a. One encouraging promise is that “he who endures to the end shall be

saved” (Matthew 24:13).

b. His loyalists will “witness” to the clarity and power of the “gospel”

(Matthew 24:14).

c. His witnesses will be “faithful and wise servants” who know how to

“give food in due season” as their Master directed (Matthew 24:45).

d. Then Jesus proceeded to describe who those “faithful and wise

servants” would be with His four picture stories in Matthew 25.

3. These four character portraits describe those who will be ready for

probationary time to close: they are prepared for Jesus to come, and they

are busy helping others to be ready.

4. The common thread running through these four portraits is that they

answer our Lord’s question in Matthew 24:45—“Who then is a faithfu

and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household to give

them food in due season?”

5. We note that although urgency is always a part of a committed

Adventist’s life, readiness for the advent is more a matter of a maturingcharacter than emergency activity.

B. Faithful and wise servants know what men and women really need “in due

season.”

1. All men and women everywhere need peace of mind and a calm look at

the future, something only a “true, lovable Christian” can provide.

“A true, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument that can be

advanced in favor of Bible truth. Such a man is Christ’s representative. Hi

life is the most convincing evidence that can be borne to the power of divinegrace. When God’s people bring the righteousness of Christ into the daily life,

sinners will be converted, and victories over the enemy will be gained.”1399

2. The kind of nourishment most needed is a clear picture of the gospel (see

Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20).

“The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living

force to change the life . God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be





witnesses to its power. Those whose course has been most offensive to Hi

He freely accepts; when they repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit

places them in the highest positions of trust, and sends them forth into the

camp of the disloyal to proclaim His boundless mercy. He would have Hi

servants bear testimony to the fact that through His grace men may

possess Christlikeness of character, and may rejoice in the assurance of His great love. He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He cannot be

satisfied until the human race are reclaimed and reinstated in their holy

privileges as His sons and daughters.”1400

3. The gospel is best preached by those who are “witnesses” to its power

(Matthew 24:14).

“The world watches to see what fruit is borne by professed Christians. I

has a right to look for self-denial and self-sacrifice from those who claim to

believe advanced truth.… God has ordained that his work shall be presentedto the world in distinct, holy lines. He desires his people to show by their

lives the advantage of Christianity over worldliness. By his grace ever

provision has been made for us in all our transaction of business to

demonstrate the superiority of heaven’s principles over the principles of the

world.”1401

4. Throughout the closing events of the end times, God is looking for people

who will not embarrass Him (2 Peter 3:10-14).

“Character is power. The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly lifecarries an almost irresistible influence. By revealing in our own life the

character of Christ we co-operate with Him in the work of saving souls. It i

only by revealing in our life His character that we can co-operate with Him.

And the wider the sphere of our influence, the more good we may do. When

those who profess to serve God follow Christ’s example, practicing the

principles of the law in their daily life; when every act bears witness that

they love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, then will the

church have power to move the world.”1402

“The world can only be warned by seeing those who believe the truthsanctified through the truth, acting upon high and holy principles, showing

in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation between those who keep

the commandments of God and whose who trample them under their feet.”1403

“The only evidence the world can have that God’s people believe His

Word is to see them practising that Word and following Christ’s example

in all things. Those who do not practise the truth in true piety and godliness,

who shun the reproach that always comes to the true believer, will never





enter the kingdom of heaven.”1404

5. Unfortunately the “wicked servant” excuses his rebellion and ill

treatment of his fellow servants by declaring that his master, for some

unknown reason, has not returned (Matthew 24:42-51).

“We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination

many more years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ’s sake, Hispeople should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence o

their own wrong course of action.”1405

6. The “wicked servant” should have been encouraging “his household” that

they had a responsibility to “hasten” their master’s return.

“By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our

Lord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day

of God. 2 Peter 3:12, margin. Had the church of Christ done her appointe

work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have beenwarned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and

great glory.”1406

C. The second snapshot of the “faithful and wise servant” is known as the

Bridegoom and His Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13).

1. This parable has particular application for the last-day church.

“As Christ sat looking upon the party that waited for the bridegroom, H

told His disciples the story of the ten virgins, by their experience illustrating

the experience of the church that shall live just before His second

coming.”1407

2. The element of the “delay” is built into our Lord’s prediction—“while the

Bridegroom was delayed” (Matthew 25:5).

3. The light that the bridesmaids were to display in the wedding party was

not the lamp nor the oil, although without the oil there would be no light.

“So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the

world. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomestransforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the

principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God

The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers

Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the Bridegroom’

home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”1408

4. The five “foolish” bridesmaids are not lost because they did not know





enough Bible texts.

“All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no

difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ’s

second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the

message of Christ’s near approach, and confidently expect His

appearing… . Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of navail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, canno

quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the

commands and promises of the Bible; but unless the Spirit of God sets th

truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the

enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth fro

error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan.”1409

“It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and tha

the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that

the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved,and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is no

enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession o

faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He tha

keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby w

know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ [1 Joh

3:24]… . This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our

profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works o


5. The five foolish bridesmaids made a habit of saying “No” to God, an

their characters reflected their habits.

“Character is not transferable. No man can believe for another. No man

can receive the Spirit for another. No man can impart to another the character

which is the fruit of the Spirit’s working… . It is in a crisis that character is

revealed… . Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those words

of doom, ‘I know you not.’ … You are shut out from heaven by your own

unfitness for its companionship.”1411

“Actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the

character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided.”1412

D. Jesus’ third portrait of the “faithful and wise servant” was of the business

man who left his business in the hands of his servants (Matthew 25:14-30).

1. In this parable. Jesus “showed what it means to watch for Hi

coming,”1413 — a snapshot of the end times.





2. This parable supplements the previous two portraits—it explains how

men and women become light-producing, Christ-reflecting “faithful and

wise servants.”

“The question that most concerns us is not, How much have I received

but, What am I doing with that which I have? … No one who is no

growing daily in capability and usefulness is fulfilling the purpose of life.”1414

3. The sobering theme of the parable becomes the driving impulse o

“faithful and wise servants.”

“The development of all our powers is the first duty we owe to God and

to our fellow men.”1415

“In making a profession of faith in Christ we pledge ourselves to become

all that it is possible for us to be as workers for the Master, and we should

cultivate every faculty to the highest degree of perfection, that we may dothe greatest amount of good of which we are capable.”1416

“He desires us to remember that we are His, and that by the right use of

our endowments we are to make of ourselves all that it is possible for us

to be.”1417

4. The workers were given different amounts of money to invest according

to their individual experiences and aptitudes.

“To every man God has given ‘according to his several ability.’ The

talents are not apportioned capriciously. He who has ability to use five

talents receives five. He who can improve but two, receives two. He who ca

wisely use only one, receives one. None need lament that they have no

received larger gifts; for He who has apportioned to every man is equall

honored by the improvement of each trust, whether it be great or small. The

one to whom five talents have been committed is to render the improvement o

five; he who has but one, the improvement of one. God expects returns

‘according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.’ 2

Corinthians 8:12.”1418

5. Whatever our natural abilities, “faithful and wise servants” are given

opportunities to improve what they have, to be able to give to someone

else’s need.

“God requires the training of the mental faculties. He designs that Hi

servants shall possess more intelligence and clearer discernment than the

worldling, and He is displeased with those who are too careless or too

indolent to become efficient, well-informed workers. The Lord bids u





love Him with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength,

and with all the mind. This lays upon us the obligation of developing the

intellect to its fullest capacity, that with all the mind we may know and

love our Creator.”1419

6. “Faithful and wise servants” are those who are determined to aim high

and do not look for excuses.“God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places

every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is

required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order

to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. We need

to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All righteous attributes

of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who

receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these

attributes.”1420

7. Jesus came to this world to give us an example of how to be a “faithful

and wise servant.”

“He came to our world to give us an example of how we should work,

and what spirit we should bring into our labor. He desires us to study how

we can best advance His work and glorify His name in the world,

crowning with honor, with the greatest love and devotion, the Father who ‘so

loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoeve

believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16.”1421

8. “Faithful and wise servants” learn how to battle with self in their duty to

improve their “talents.”

“But Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of characte

is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not

come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort

through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers o

the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with

self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies.

We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable

trait to remain uncorrected.”1422

9. “Faithful and wise servants” look for no excuses.

“Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to

this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The

impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you can no

overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified





heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.”1423

10. “Faithful and wise servants” know exactly how they can fulfill their

responsibilities.

“As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it become

omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in

His strength. All His biddings are enablings.”1424

11. “Faithful and wise servants” keep their Christian mission in front of al

they do.

“By precept and example we are to teach others that through the grace o

Christ they may be obedient to all God’s commandments, and be clothed with

Christ’s righteousness. This is the work God requires His servants t

do.”1425

12. “Faithful and wise servants” soon learn that few of their efforts are

lasting unless they are following Christ’s example and reflecting His

character.

“Character is power. The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life

carries an almost irresistible influence. By revealing in our own life the

character of Christ we co-operate with Him in the work of saving souls. It i

only by revealing in our life His character that we can co-operate with

Him. And the wider the sphere of our influence, the more good we may do.

When those who profess to serve God follow Christ’s example, practicing

the principles of the law in their daily life; when every act bears witness thatthey love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, then will the

church have power to move the world.”1426

13. “Faithful and wise servants” are constantly aware that their health

directly affects their ability to be useful.

“Health is a blessing of which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the

efficiency of our mental and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses

and passions have their seat in the body, and it must be kept in the best

condition physically and under the most spiritual influences in order that our talents may be put to the highest use. Anything that lessens physical strength

enfeebles the mind and makes it less capable of discriminating between

right and wrong. We become less capable of choosing the good and have

less strength of will to do that which we know to be right.”1427

14. “Faithful and wise servants” discover new abilities to be useful as they

continue to use the faculties they have.





“Talents [opportunities] used are talents multiplied. Success is not the

result of chance or of destiny; it is the outworking of God’s own providence,

the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and persevering effort. The Lor

desires us to use every gift we have; and if we do this, we shall have

greater gifts to use. He does not supernaturally endow us with the

qualifications we lack; but while we use that which we have, He will work with us to increase and strengthen every faculty. By every wholehearted,

earnest sacrifice for the Master’s service our powers will increase. While we

yield ourselves as instruments for the Holy Spirit’s working, the grace of Go

works in us to deny old inclinations, to overcome powerful propensities, and

to form new habits. As we cherish and obey the promptings of the Spirit,

our hearts are enlarged to receive more and more of His power, and to do

more and better work . Dormant energies are aroused, and palsied faculties

receive new life.”1428

15. “Faithful and wise servants” include women who add their “refining,

softening influence” to “the great work of preaching the truth.”

“Women can be the instruments of righteousness, rendering holy service.

It was Mary that first preached a risen Jesus… . If there were twenty wome

where now there is one, who would make this holy mission their cherished

work, we should see many more converted to the truth. The refining,

softening influence of Christian women is needed in the great work o

preaching the truth. The Lord of the Vineyard is saying to many women who

are now doing nothing, ‘Why stand ye here all day idle?’ Zealous andcontinued diligence in our sisters toiling for the spread of the truth would

be wholly successful, and would astonish us with its results.”1429

“Women who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service

of the Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and

minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work

by prayer and laying on of hands.…This is another means of strengthening

and building up the church. We need to branch out more in our methods of

labor. Not a hand should be bound, not a soul discouraged, not a voiceshould be hushed; let every individual labor, privately or publicly to help

forward this grand work. Place the burdens upon men and women of the

church, that they may grow by reason of the exercise, and thus become

effective agents in the hand of the Lord for the enlightenment of those who si

in darkness.”1430

“The Lord has a work for women as well as for men… . They can do i

families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They





can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach.”1431

16. “Faithful and wise servants,” through their daily duties and constant

reliance on God, are unconsciously developing the fruit of sanctification.

“Let a living faith run like threads of gold through the performance of even

the smallest duties. Then all the daily work will promote Christian growth.

There will be a continual looking unto Jesus. Love for Him will give vitaforce to everything that is undertaken. Thus through the right use of our

talents, we may link ourselves by a golden chain to the higher world. This is

true sanctification; for sanctification consists in the cheerful performance

of daily duties in perfect obedience to the will of God.”1432

17. The “unfaithful servants” have misused their opportunities to grow and

be useful because they refused to expend their time and faculties for

others.

“Our heavenly Father requires no more nor less than He has given usability to do. He lays upon His servants no burdens that they are not able to

bear… . We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than

we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility fo

service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those

that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our

talents God holds us responsible. We shall be judged according to what we

ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our

powers to glorify God. Even if we do not lose our souls, we shall realize ineternity the result of our unused talents. For all the knowledge and ability tha

we might have gained and did not, there will be an eternal loss.”1433

“The only way to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the ver

work which Christ has enjoined upon us—to engage, to the extent of our

ability, in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them.

Strength comes by exercise; activity is the very condition of life. Those who

endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the blessings that

come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for Christ, are

simply trying to live by eating without working. And in the spiritual as inthe natural world, this always results in degeneration and decay. A man

who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use

them. Thus the Christian who will not exercise his God-given powers not only

fails to grow up into Christ, but he loses the strength that he already

had.”1434

18. Judas became the sad example of the “unfaithful servant.”





“The love of money in the heart of Judas was growing with the

exercise of his shrewd abilities. His practical financiering ability i

exercised and enlightened and moulded by the Holy Spirit, would have bee

of great service to the little church, and by the sanctification of his spirit he

would have had a clear insight, a correct discernment to appreciate heavenly

things. But worldly policy plans were constantly cherished by Judas. Therewas no outbreaking sin on his part, but his sharp scheming, the selfish,

parsimonious spirit that took possession of him, finally led him to sell his

Lord for a small sum of money… .

[cont.] “There are two kinds of experience—the outside showing and

the inward working. The divine and human were at work in the character o

Judas. Satan was working the human, Christ the divine. The Lord Jesus longed

to see Judas rise to his appointed privileges. But the human side of Judas’

character was confused with his religious sentiments, and treated by him as

essential attributes. By taking this view of things, he left an open door for Satan to enter and take possession of the entire man. If Judas had practiced th

lessons of Christ, he would have surrendered to Christ, he would have

consecrated his heart fully to God; but his confused experience was

misleading him. …

[cont.] “The case of Judas has been presented to me as a lesson for all.

Judas was with Christ through the entire period of the Saviour’s publi

ministry. He had all that Christ could give him. Had he used his capabilities

with earnest diligence, he could have accumulated talents. Had he sought to be a blessing, instead of a questioning, criticizing, selfish man, the Lord

would have used him to advance His kingdom. But Judas was a speculator.

He thought that he could manage the finances of the church, and by his

sharpness in business get gain. He was divided in heart. He loved the praise

of the world. He refused to give up the world for Christ. He never committe

his eternal interests to Christ. He had a superficial religion, and therefore

he speculated upon his Master and betrayed Him to the priests, being full

persuaded that Christ would not allow Himself to be taken. Judas was a

religious fraud. He held up a high standard for others, but he himself utterl

failed to reach the Bible standard. He did not bring the religion of Christ int

his life… . Those who follow dishonest practices in business, sacrifice Chris

for gain and reveal a wisdom that is after Satan’s order. Speculation for

selfish gain will not be brought into the life of the man who has that faith

which works by love and purifies the soul.”1435

“Those who trample under their unholy feet the law of God have the same





spirit as had the men who insulted and betrayed Jesus. Without an

compunction of conscience, they will do the deeds of their father, the devil.

They will ask the question that came from the traitorous lips of Judas,

What will you give me if I betray unto you Jesus the Christ?Even now Chris

is being betrayed in the person of His saints.”1436

19. “Unfaithful servants” are lost, not blindly opposing truth, but becausethey are determined not to see the evidence.

“The scribes, Pharisees, and rulers were determined that they would

not see the evidences of truth, and they evaded the most manifest

conclusions. To justify their course of stubborn unbelief, they lost no possible

opportunity of seizing upon anything in the teaching of Jesus that they could

misconstrue, misapply, or falsify. When there was no possibility of

misapplying the truth of Christ’s words, these men who rejected the counsel

of God against themselves, started questions that had no reference to thematter in hand, so as to attract the attention of the people away from the lesson

that Jesus sought to teach, and adroitly evade the truth. The Pharisees were

not blindly opposing the doctrines of Christ; for the truth made deep

impressions upon their minds; but they resisted truth, and went contrary to

their convictions, closing their eyes lest they should see, hardening the heart,

lest they should perceive, and be converted, and Christ should heal them.”1437

20. The “slothful” and “unfaithful servants” will suffer eternal loss.

“In the great judgment day those who have not worked for Christ, thosewho have drifted along, carrying no responsibility, thinking of themselves,

pleasing themselves, will be placed by the Judge of all the earth with those

who did evil. They receive the same condemnation. Many who profess to

be Christians neglect the claims of God, and yet they do not feel that in thi

there is any wrong. They know that the blasphemer, the murderer, the

adulterer, deserves punishment; but as for them, they enjoy the services of

religion. They love to hear the gospel preached, and therefore they think

themselves Christians. Though they have spent their lives in caring for

themselves, they will be as much surprised as was the unfaithful servant inthe parable to hear the sentence, ‘Take the talent from him.’ Like the

Jews, they mistake the enjoyment of their blessings for the use they should

make of them.”1438

“There must be no burying of our talents in the earth, to corrode through

inaction. A persistent indulgence of self, a refusal to exercise our God-given

abilities, will insure our eternal separation from God, the loss of an

eternity of bliss.”1439





E. The fourth portrait of the sheep and the goats throws the garment of love

around the first three (Matthew 25:31-46).

1. Here Jesus emphasized that those on “His right hand” are more than the

faithful scholar and diligent church worker—although most commendable.

“‘When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angelwith Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shal

be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another.’ Thus

Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the grea

judgment day. And He represented its decision as turning upon one point.

When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and

their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have

neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering.”1440

2. In a remarkable demonstration of His own love and humility Jesu

commends those who have done His work on earth.

“In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He ha

done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents the

faithful work they have done for Him. To those whom He sets upon His

right hand He will say, ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdo

prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and

ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, an

ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was

in prison, and ye came unto Me.’ But those whom Christ commends know nothat they have been ministering unto Him. To their perplexed inquiries He

answers, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these M

brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’”1441

3. Becoming safe to be entrusted with eternal life depends, not only on what

Jesus has done for us, but includes what we permit Jesus through the

Holy Spirit to do in and through us.

“Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure

love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is

the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love spring

forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained

when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from

within —when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the

countenance.”1442

“So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground





for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Chris

imputed to us, and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and throug

us.”1443

4. Those on the “right hand” will shine as never before as our Lord’s

revelation of love shines brighter in a world growing dark with fear and

ignorance.“It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the

world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has bee

misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to

be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its

power. His character is to be made known. …[Isaiah 40:9, 10, quoted].

Those who wait for the Bridegroom’s coming are to say to the people,

‘Behold your God.’ The last rays of merciful light, the last message o

mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. Thechildren of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character

they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light o

the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of trut

and deeds of holiness.”1444

5. Those on the “right hand” will have demonstrated that they have

understood and lived out our Lord’s command and example regarding the

responsibility to help the homeless, the destitute, the discouraged.

“Those who have the Spirit of Christwill not selfishly spend on self thatwhich would provide homes for the homeless, and give the destitute food

and clothing. They will not lay up their money for the sake of increasing gain.

Those who do this are controlled by covetousness. They love neither God no

man. Their fellow-beings are perishing all around them, and yet, tho it is in

their power to be a blessing to them, they shut their eyes to their wants… .

Talents are of value only as they are used to accomplish the design of the

Giver. God has given human beings opportunities and privileges that they ma

make the most of themselves from a Bible standpoint. If we use our talent

wisely, our improvement will be a blessing to ourselves and to others; butwhen we look upon our talents as of value from the standpoint of

accumulating gain for selfish purposes, we fail to carry out the Lord’s

purpose, and serious loss to the Master follows. Those who might have bee

benefited fail to receive the help the Lord designed them to have. In the day o

judgment no one will be accepted because through clever schemes and

sharp dealing he became rich.





[cont.] “To such a one Christ will say, ‘I gave you talents of skill, talents

of worldly treasure, that you might co-operate with Me. I was willing to teac

you how to impart aright. I could have made you a channel of communication.

I could have helped you to reveal My attributes by imparting to others the

wisdom and understanding imparted to you. You could have used My gifts to

My glory and for the uplifting of those around you. But you allowed thetempter to corrupt your senses; and under his guidance you have robbed Me o

the glory I should have received, had you used your talents to relieve the

suffering of My children. You were a receiver, but not a producer. Had you

used My money to advance My kingdom, I could now recognize you as

faithful servant. But you withheld the means you should have imparted. I gave

you My goods to dispense, but you did not feed the hungry or clothe the naked.

You neglected the widow and the fatherless. In their destitution they cried for

help, but you heeded them not. Their cries have ascended to Me. Their tear

are registered in My book. The time has now come for Me to deal with M

unfaithful servants. Wherein do your riches help you now? What peace,

what happiness do you find from your transactions? ‘What shall it profit a

man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a

man give in exchange for his soul?’

[cont.] “Let us remember that there will be no second probation. Some

flatter themselves with the thought that the Lord will give them another

opportunity. Fatal delusion! Just now, day by day, we are preparing for the

judgment. We are trading on our Lord’s goods, and at His coming He willreckon with us. And from each one He will expect a return. Let us d

faithful, unselfish work.”1445





Preaching the Great Controversy Theme Requires Special

Kinds of Preachers and Sermons

A. Everyone should grasp for himself the fullness of the gospel message for theselast days.

“What a loss it is to the soul who understands the strong claims of the law, and

who yet fails to understand the grace of Christ which doth much more

abound.”1446

“The gospel that is to be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and

peoples presents the truth in clear lines, showing that obedience is the condition o

gaining eternal life. Christ imparts His righteousness to those who consent to le

Him take away their sins. We are indebted to Christ for the grace which makes us

complete in Him.”1447

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world a

watchmen and light-bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a

perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. The

have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first,

second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great

importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. The mos

solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the

world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to bewarned, and God’s people are to be true to the trust committed to them… . Shall

we wait until God’s judgments fall upon the transgressor before we tell him how to

avoid them? Where is our faith in the Word of God? Must we see things foretol

come to pass before we will believe what He has said? In clear, distinct rays ligh

has come to us, showing us that the great day of the Lord is near at hand, ‘even a

the door.’”1448

B. Simplicity should best describe the preacher’s life and work.

“He who will observe simplicity in all his habits, restricting the appetite andcontrolling the passions, may preserve his mental powers strong, active, and

vigorous, quick to perceive everything which demands thought or action, keen to

discriminate between the holy and the unholy, and ready to engage in every

enterprise for the glory of God and the benefit of humanity.”1449

C. Preach Christ’s favorite themes.

“Christ, the Great Teacher, had an infinite variety of subjects from which to





choose, but the one upon which He dwelt most largely was the endowment o

the Holy Spirit. What great things He predicted for the church because of thi

endowment. Yet what subject is less dwelt upon now? What promise is less

fulfilled? An occasional discourse is given upon the Holy Spirit, and then the

subject is left for after consideration.”1450

“Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant graceof God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; H

presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let these be

the themes of Christ’s ministers. Present the truth as it is in Jesus. Make plain th

requirements of the law and the gospel. Tell the people of Christ’s life of self-

denial and sacrifice; of His humiliation and death; of His resurrection an

ascension; of His intercession for them in the courts of God; of His promise, ‘I will

come again, and receive you unto Myself.’ John 14:3.”1451

“Dwell upon the lessons that Christ dwelt upon. Present them to the

people as He presented them. Dwell upon questions that concern our eternalwelfare. Anything that the enemy can devise to divert the mind from God’s Word,

anything new and strange that he can originate to create a diversity of sentiment, he

will introduce as something wonderfully important… .We are to teach the people

the lessons that Christ brought into His teachings from the Old Testamen

Scriptures. The language of divine truth is exceedingly plain.”1452

D. Preach the plan of salvation more fully.

“Ministers need to have a more clear, simple manner in presenting the truth as

it is in Jesus. Their own minds need to comprehend the great plan of salvationmore fully. Then they can carry the minds of the hearers away from earthly things

to the spiritual and eternal. There are many who want to know what they must do to

be saved. They want a plain and clear explanation of the steps requisite in

conversion, and there should not a sermon be given unless a portion of that

discourse is to especially make plain the way that sinners may come to Christ

and be saved. They should point them to Christ, as did John, and with touchin

simplicity, their hearts aglow with the love of Christ, say, ‘Behold the Lamb o

God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ Strong and earnest appeals should be made to the sinner to repent and be converted. Those who neglect this part o

the work need to be converted themselves before venturing to give a discourse… .

They will not find time to relate anecdotes; they will not strain to become orators,

soaring so high that they cannot carry the people with them; but in simple language,

with touching earnestness, they will present the truth as it is in Jesus.”1453

“A failure to appreciate the value of the offering of Christ, has a debasing

influence; it blights our expectations, and makes us fall short of our privileges; it





leads us to receive unsound and perilous theories concerning the salvation that has

been purchased for us at infinite cost. The plan of salvation is not understood to

be that through which divine power is brought to man in order that his human effort

may be wholly successful… . Without the transforming process which can come

alone through divine power, the original propensities to sin are left in the

heart in all their strength, to forge new chains, to impose a slavery that can never be broken by human power.”1454

“What is the work of the minister of the gospel? It is to rightly divide the

word of truth; not to invent a new gospel, but to rightly divide the gospel

already committed to them. They cannot rely upon old sermons to present to

their congregations; for these set discourses may not be appropriate to meet

the occasion, or the wants of the people. There are subjects that are sadl

neglected, that should be largely dwelt upon. The burden of our message should

be the mission and life of Jesus Christ. Let there be a dwelling upon the

humiliation, self-denial, meekness, and lowliness of Christ, that proud andselfish hearts may see the difference between themselves and the Pattern,

and may be humbled. Show to your hearers Jesus in his condescension to save

fallen man. Show them that He who was their surety had to take human nature, an

carry it through the darkness and the fearfulness of the malediction of his Father,

because of man’s transgression of his law; for the Saviour was found in fashion as

a man… . The deepest joy of the heart springs from the deepest humiliation. Let no

one of us make the mistake that will prove fatal to the Christian life, and evade

the demands of duty, because we may see others doing so. We must takecounsel of God, and build up a strong, symmetrical character, by meeting the

demands of truth and duty, and by shirking no responsibilities that come to us.”1455

E. Revive and recount the history of God’s people, past and present.

“There is a work of sacred importance for ministers and people to do. They are

to study the history of the cause and people of God. They are not to forget the pas

dealing of God with His people. They are to revive and recount the truths that

have come to seem of little value to those who do not know by personal

experience of the power and brightness that accompanied them when theywere first seen and understood. In all their original freshness and power these

truths are to be given to the world.”1456

“When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stan

forever as the truth… . One will arise, and still another, with new light, which

contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit

A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the

establishment of this truth. God has graciously spared their lives to repeat, and





repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which they passed even

as did John the apostle till the very close of his life… . We are not to receive the

words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of

our faith. They gather together a mass of Scripture, and pile it as proof aroun

their asserted theories. This has been done over and over again during the past fift

years. And while the Scriptures are God’s word, and are to be respected, theapplication of them, if such application moves one pillar from the foundation that

God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake.”1457

F. Emphasize the ministry of angels.

“Over every man good and evil angels strive. It is the man himself who

determines which shall win. I call upon the ministers of Christ to press home

upon the understanding of all who come within the reach of their voice, the

truth of the ministration of angels. Do not indulge in fanciful speculations. The

written Word is our only safety. We must pray as did Daniel, that we may beguarded by heavenly intelligences.”1458

G. How and what preachers in the last days should avoid.

1. Avoid argumentative sermons.

“The many argumentative sermons preached, seldom soften and subdue

the soul… . It should be the burden of every messenger to set forth the fullness

of Christ. When the free gift of Christ’s righteousness is not presented, the

discourses are dry and spiritless; the sheep and lambs are not fed.”1459

2. Avoid being boastful or using words that arouse either bitterness or

exasperation.

“Speak no boastful, self-exalting words. Let the Word of God come

forth from lips that are sanctified by the truth… . It is when men speak their

own words in their own strength, instead of preaching the Word of God in the

power of the Spirit, that they are hurt and offended when their words are no

received with enthusiasm. It is then that they are tempted to speak words that

will arouse a spirit of bitterness and opposition in their hearers… .

Sanctified lips will speak words that reform, but do not exasperate.”1460

3. Avoid speculations and suppositions.

“The world is full of false theories and seductive spiritualistic ideas,

which tend to destroy clear spiritual perception, and to lead away from truth

and holiness. Especially at this time do we need to heed the warning, ‘Let no

man deceive you with vain words’ (Ephesians 5:6). We must be careful lest

we misinterpret the Scriptures. The plain teachings of the Word of Go





are not to be so spiritualized that the reality is lost sight of. Do no

overstrain the meaning of sentences in the Bible in an effort to bring forth

something odd in order to please the fancy. Take the Scriptures as they

read. Avoid idle speculation concerning what will be in the kingdom of

heaven.”1461

“Christ says that there will be those in the church who will present fablesand suppositions, when God has given grand, elevating, ennobling truths

which should ever be kept in the treasure house of the mind. When men pic

up this theory and that theory, when they are curious to know something it is

not necessary for them to know, God is not leading them. It is not His plan

that His people shall present something which they have to suppose,

which is not taught in the Word. It is not His will that they shall get into

controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually. … Spend

not your time in seeking to know that which will be no spiritual help. ‘What

shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ (Luke 10:25). This is the all-importanquestion, and it has been clearly answered. ‘What is written in the law? how

readest thou?’”1462

“Let no one present beautiful, scientific sophistries to lull the people o

God to sleep. Clothe not the solemn, sacred truth for this time in any fantastic

dress of man’s wisdom. Let those who have been doing this stop and cry unto

God to save their souls from deceiving fables. It is the living energy of the

Holy Spirit that will move hearts, not pleasing, deceptive theories… . Le

those who want the bread of life go to the Scriptures, not to the teaching ofinite, erring man. Give the people the bread of life that Christ came fro

heaven to bring to us. Do not mix with your teaching human suppositions and

conjectures.”1463

“We shall meet those who allow their minds to wander into idle

speculations about things of which nothing is said in the Word of God.

God has spoken in the plainest language upon every subject that affects the

salvation of the soul. But He desires us to avoid all day dreaming, and He

says, Go work today in my vineyard. The night cometh wherein no man ca

work. Cease all idle curiosity; watch, and work, and pray. Study the truths

that have been revealed. Christ desires to break up all vacant reveries, and

He points us to the fields ripe for the harvest. Unless we work earnestly,

eternity will overwhelm us with its burden of responsibility… . In the days o

the apostles the most foolish heresies were presented as truth. History has

been and will be repeated. There will always be those who, though

apparently conscientious, will grasp at the shadow, preferring it to the





substance. They take error in the place of truth, because error is clothed

with a new garment, which they think covers something wonderful. But let the

covering be removed, and nothingness appears.”1464

“In the commission to His disciples, Christ not only outlined their work

but gave them their message. Teach the people, He said, ‘to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you.’ The disciples were to teach whatChrist had taught. That which He had spoken, not only in person, bu

through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here

included. Human teaching is shut out. There is no place for tradition, for

man’s theories and conclusions, or for church legislation. No laws ordained

by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission. None of these are

Christ’s servants to teach. ‘The law and the prophets,’ with the record of His

own words and deeds, are the treasure committed to the disciples to be given

to the world. Christ’s name is their watchword, their badge of distinction,

their bond of union, the authority for their course of action, and the source otheir success. Nothing that does not bear His superscription is to be

recognized in His kingdom.”1465

4. Avoid long, complicated reasoning.

“In Christ’s teaching there is no long, far-fetched, complicated

reasoning. He comes right to the point. In His ministry He read every hear

as an open book, and from the inexhaustible store of His treasure house He

drew things both new and old to illustrate and enforce His teachings. He

touched the heart, and awakened the sympathies.”1466

“A few forcible remarks upon some point of doctrine will fasten it in

the mind much more firmly than if such a mass of matter were presented

that nothing lies out clear and distinct in the mind of those ignorant of our

faith. There should be interspersed with the prophecies practical lessons o

the teachings of Christ.”1467

“The preacher should endeavor to carry the understanding and sympathies

of the people with them. Do not soar too high, where they cannot follow,

but give the truth point after point, slowly and distinctly, making a fewessential points, then it will be as a nail fastened in a sure place by the

Master of assemblies. If you stop when you should, giving them no more at

once than they can comprehend and profit by, they will be eager to hear more,

and thus the interest will be sustained.”1468

5. Avoid attacking government authorities

“Our work is not to make a raid on the Government but to prepare a





people to stand in the great day of the Lord. The fewer attacks we make o

authorities and powers, the more work will we do for God… . While the trut

must be defended, this work is to be done in the spirit of Jesus. If God’

people work without peace and love, they work at a great loss, an

irretrievable loss. Souls are driven from Christ even after they have bee

connected with His work. We are not to pass judgment on those who havenot had the opportunities and privileges we have had. Some of these will

go into heaven before those who have had great light but have not lived up to

the light. If we wish to convince unbelievers that we have the truth tha

sanctifies the soul and transforms the character, we must not vehemently

charge them with their errors. … Let Seventh-day Adventists do nothin

that will mark them as lawless and disobedient. Let them keep all

inconsistency out of their lives. Our work is to proclaim the truth, leaving the

issues with the Lord.”1469

6. Avoid pessimism and unsureness.

“Put into your work all the enthusiasm that you can. Let your discourses

be short. There are two reasons why you should do this. One is that you ma

gain the reputation of being an interesting speaker. Another is that you may

preserve your health… . Now, just now, we are to proclaim present truth,

with assurance and with power. Do not strike one dolorous note; do not

sing funeral hymns.”1470

7.Avoid the temptation to be eloquent.

“The minister may make a high range into the heavens, by poetical

descriptions and fanciful presentations which please the senses and feed the

imagination, but which do not touch the common life experience, the daily

necessities; bringing home to the heart the very truths which are of vital

interest. The immediate requirements, the present trials, need present help

and strength—the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, not words

which have no real influence upon the living daily walk in practical

Christianity. The minister may think that with his fanciful eloquence he has

done great things in feeding the flock of God; the hearers may suppose thathey never before heard such beautiful themes, they have never seen the truth

dressed up in such beautiful language, and as God was represented before

them in His greatness, they felt a glow of emotion. But trace from cause to

effect all this ecstasy of feeling caused by these fanciful representations.

There may be truths, but too often they are not the food that will fortify the

for the daily battles of life.”1471





8. Avoid teaching devices that are theatrical performances.

“The use of charts is most effective in explaining the prophecies relating

to the past, the present, and the future. But we are to make our work as simple

and inexpensive as possible. The truth is to be explained in simplicity. In no

case are we to follow the example of outward display set by the

world.”1472

“By the use of charts, symbols, and representations of various kinds,

the minister can make the truth stand out clearly and distinctly. This is a help,

and in harmony with the Word of God. But when the worker makes his labors

so expensive that others are unable to secure from the treasury sufficient

means to support them in the field, he is not working in harmony with God’s

plan. The work in the large cities is to be done after Christ’s order, not after

the order of a theatrical performance. It is not a theatrical performance

that glorifies God, but the presentation of the truth in the love of Christ.”1473

9. Avoid the temptation to be witty; weed out story-telling.

“The minister of the gospel who is a laborer together with God, will lear

daily in the school of Christ… . No light, trifling words will fall from his

lips; for is he not an ambassador for Christ, bearing a divine message to

perishing souls? All jesting and joking, all lightness and trifling, is painful

to the cross-bearing disciple of Christ.”1474

“The object of your ministerial labors is not to amuse . It is not to

convey information alone, not merely to convince the intellect. The preaching

of the Word should appeal to the intellect and impart knowledge, but itcomprises much more than this. The heart of the minister must reach the

hearts of the hearers. Some have adopted a style of preaching that does no

have a right influence… . The minister is using strange fire when he mixes

storytelling with his discourses… . You have men of all classes of minds to

meet, and as you deal with the Sacred Word, you should manifest earnestness,

respect, reverence. Let not the impression be made upon any mind that you

are a cheap, surface speaker. Weed out storytelling from your discourses.

Preach the Word. You would have had more sheaves to bring to the Master if you had constantly preached the Word. You little understand the soul’s great

need and longing. Some are wrestling with doubt, almost in despair, almost

hopeless… . God is offended when His representatives descend to the use

of cheap, trifling words. The cause of truth is dishonored. Men judge of the

whole ministry by the man whom they hear, and the enemies of the truth will

make the most of his errors.”1475

“Then if he is a frivolous, joking man, he is not prepared to perform the





duty laid upon him by the Lord… . The flippant words that fall from his lips,

the trifling anecdotes, the words spoken to create a laugh, are all condemned

by the Word of God and are entirely out of place in the sacred desk.”1476

10. Avoid the temptation to belittle or depreciate those who have served the

Lord most valiantly, in spite of their weaknesses.

“It is possible to relate that which has happened in connection with the past experience of the people of God, and so relate it as to make their

experience assume a ludicrous and objectionable appearance. It is not fair

to take certain features of the work and set them apart from the great whole. A

mixture of truth and error may be presented in so doing, which our enemies

would handle greatly to the disadvantage of the truth and to the hindrance o

the work and cause of God… .

[cont.] “Let none of our brethren imagine that they are doing God’s

service in presenting the deficiencies of men who have done good, grand,acceptable work in laboring to unfold the message of mercy to fallen men,

for the salvation of perishing souls. Suppose that these brethren have wea

traits of character which they have inherited from their deficient ancestors,

shall these deficiencies be hunted up and made prominent?

[cont.] “Shall men whom God has chosen to carry out the reformatio

against the papacy and idolatry be presented in an objectionable light? The

banner of the ruler of the synagogue of Satan was lifted high, and error

apparently marched in triumph, and the reformers through the grace given

them of God, waged a successful warfare against the host of darkness. Eventin the history of the reformers have been presented before me. I know that the

Lord Jesus and His angels have with intense interest watched the battl

against the power of Satan, who combined his hosts with evil men for the

purpose of extinguishing the divine light, the fire of God’s kingdom. The

suffered for Christ’s sake scorn, derision, and the hatred of men who knew not

God. They were maligned and persecuted even unto death, because the

would not renounce their faith. If anyone presumes to take these men in

hand, and to lay before the world their errors and mistakes, let himremember that he is dealing with Christ in the person of His saints.”1477

11. Avoid being “moral icebergs” through muting vital truths of Scripture.

“At this time the church should not be diverted from the object o

vital interest to things that will not bring health and courage, faith and

power. They must see, and by their actions testify, that the gospel is

aggressive. But the light which is given to shine brighter and brighter unto the





perfect day, burns dimly. The church no longer sends out the clear, bright rays

of light amidst the moral darkness that is enveloping the world as a funeral

pall. The light of many does not burn or shine. They are moral icebergs.”1478

“We are not to inquire, What is the practice of men? or, What is the

custom of the world? We are not to ask, How shall I act in order to have the

approval of men? or, What will the world tolerate? The question of intenseinterest to every soul is, What hath God said? We are to read his word and

obey it, not swerving one jot or tittle from its requirements, but acting

irrespective of human traditions and jurisdiction.”1479

12. Avoid being known for fallacious logic and confusion between right and

wrong.

“The class here represented, in order to exalt their own opinions, emplo

a reasoning which is not authorized by the word of God. They walk in the

sparks of their own kindling. By their specious reasoning, they confuse thedistinction that God desires to have drawn between good and evil. The

sacred is brought down on a level with common things. Avarice and

selfishness are called by false names; they are called prudence. Their rising

up in independence and rebellion, their revenge and stubbornness, in their

eyes are proofs of dignity, evidences of a noble mind. They act as though

ignorance of divine things were not dangerous and even fatal to the soul;

and they prefer their own reasoning to divine revelation, their own plans

and human wisdom to the admonitions and commands of God. The piety and

conscientiousness of others are called, fanaticism, and those who practicetruth and holiness are watched and criticized. They deride those who teach

and believe the mystery of godliness, ‘Christ in you the hope of glory.’ The

principles underlying these things are not discerned by them; and they go

on in wrongdoing, leaving the bars open for Satan to find ready access to

the soul.”1480

13. Avoid “mock humility.”

“Thus when the servant of God is permitted to behold the glory of the Go

of heaven, as he is unveiled to humanity, and realizes to a slight degree the purity of the Holy One of Israel, he will make startling confessions of th

pollution of his soul, rather than proud boasts of his holiness. In deep

humiliation Isaiah exclaimed, ‘Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am

man of unclean lips: … for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.’

This is not that voluntary humility and servile self-reproach that so many

seem to consider it a virtue to display. This vague mockery of humility is

prompted by hearts full of pride and self-esteem. There are many who





demerit themselves in words, who would be disappointed if this course did

not call forth expressions of praise and appreciation from others.”1481

14. Avoid focusing on outward display.

“Good and evil angels are taking a part in the planning of God in Hi

earthly kingdom. It is God’s purpose to carry forward His work in correc

lines, in ways that will advance His glory. But Satan is ever trying tocounterwork God’s purpose. Only by humbling themselves before God ca

God’s servants advance His work. Never are they to depend on their own

efforts or on outward display for success.”1482

15. Avoid substituting anger for reason.

“We look upon the Jews as inexcusable because they rejected and

crucified Christ. But today the messages that the Lord sends are ofte

received in a manner similar to the way in which the Jews received Christ’s

message. If the instruction of the Lord does not harmonize with the opinions omen, anger takes control of reason, and men play into the enemy’s hands

by opposing the message that God sends. Satan uses them as sharp instrument

to oppose the progress of truth.”1483

16. Avoid the illusion that simplicity is dull and something original will lift the

experience of church members.

“We are in continual danger of getting above the simplicity of the gospel.

There is an intense desire on the part of many to startle the world with

something original that shall lift the people into a state of spiritual ecstasy,and change the present order of experience. There is certainly great need of a

change in the present order of experience; for the sacredness of present truth

is not realized as it should be, but the change we need is a change of heart,

and can only be obtained by seeking God individually for His blessing, b

pleading with Him for His power, by fervently praying that His grace ma

come upon us, and that our characters may be transformed.”1484

“The natural stubbornness of the human heart resists the light of truth. Its

natural pride of opinion leads to independence of judgment and a clinging tohuman ideas and philosophy. There is with some a constant danger of

becoming unsettled in the faith by the desire for originality. They wish to

find some new and strange truth to present, to have a new message to bring to

the people; but such a desire is a snare of the enemy to captivate the mind and

lead away from the truth. In our experience we shall see one and another star

up with new theories in regard to what is truth, and, irrespective of what the

influence of the advocacy of such theories may be on the mind of the





hearers, they will launch out into the work of advocating their ideas, even

though these teachings may be in opposition to the belief that has called out

Seventh-day Adventists from the world, and made them what they are. The

Lord would have those who understand the reasons for their faith rest in their

belief of that which they have been convinced is truth, and not be turned from

the faith by the presentation of human sophistries… . [Colossians 2:8quoted].”g1485

17. Avoid baptizing those who decide in favor of the truth, yet are not

converted.

“It is a sad fact that the reason why manydwell so much on theory and so

little on practical godliness is that Christ is not abiding in their hearts. The

do not have a living connection with God. Many souls decide in favor of the

truth from the weight of evidence, without being converted. Practical

discourses were not given in connection with the doctrinal, that as the hearersshould see the beautiful chain of truth they might fall in love with its Author

and be sanctified through obedience. The minister’s work is not done until

he has urged home upon his hearers the necessity of a change of

character in accordance with the pure principles of the truth which they

have received.”1486

18. Avoid thinking that praise is success.

“But if the people, while they praise the minister, have little interest in

the word preached, he may know that the truth is not sanctifying his ownsoul. He does not speak to his hearers in such a manner that Jesus is honore

and His love magnified… . If the praise comes to you, well may you tremble

and be ashamed, for the great object is defeated; it is not God, but the servant,

that is magnified. Let your light so shine; be careful, minister of Christ, i

what manner your light shines. If it flashes heavenward, revealing the

excellence of Christ, it shines aright. If it is turned upon yourself, if you

exhibit yourself, and attract the people to admire you, it would be better

for you to hold your peace altogether: for your light shines in the wrong

way.”1487

19. Avoid being a policy man and a crowd pleaser.

“Those who are controlled by policy rather than by principle are not

to be trusted. They will pervert the truth, conceal facts, and construe the

words of others to mean that which was never intended. They will emplo

flattering words, while the poison of asps is under their tongue. He who does

not earnestly seek the divine guidance will be deceived by their smooth





words and their artful plans.”1488

“We are doing a work for the judgment. Let us be learners of Jesus. We

need His guidance every moment. At every step we should inquire, ‘Is this the

way of the Lord?’ not, ‘Is this the way of the man who is over me?’”1489

“There are many who would scorn the appellation of policy men, yet

who will stoop to concealment, evasion, and even misrepresentation, toaccomplish their purposes. He who, in a matter of right and wrong, remains

noncommittal that he may retain the friendship of all; he who seeks to secure

by evasion of truth what should be won by courage; he who waits for others to

take the lead, when he should go forward himself, and then feels at liberty to

censure their course,—all these are in God’s sight numbered as

deceivers.”1490

“Honesty and policy will not harmonize; either policy will be subdued,

and truth and honesty hold the lines of control, or policy will take the lines,

and honesty cease to direct. Both cannot act together; they can never be inagreement. When God makes up His jewels, the true, the frank, the honest

will be His chosen ones, His treasures.”1491

“God always has men to whom He entrusts His message. His Spirit moves

upon their hearts and constrains them to speak. Stimulated by holy zeal, and

with the divine impulse strong upon them, they enter upon the performance o

their duty without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the

people the word which the Lord has given them. But the servant of God i

soon made aware that he has risked something. He finds himself and hismessage made the subject of criticism. His manners, his life, his property,

are all inspected and commented upon. His message is picked to pieces and

rejected in the most illiberal and unsanctified spirit, as men in their finite

judgment see fit. Has that message done the work that God designed it shoul

accomplish? No; it has signally failed because the hearts of the hearers were

unsanctified. If the minister’s face is not flint, if he has not indomitable

faith and courage, if his heart is not made strong by constant communion

with God, he will begin to shape his testimony to please the unsanctified

ears and hearts of those he is addressing. In endeavoring to avoid thecriticism to which he is exposed, he separates from God and loses the sense

of divine favor, and his testimony becomes tame and lifeless. He finds that his

courage and faith are gone and his labors powerless. The world is full o

flatterers and dissemblers who have yielded to the desire to please; but

the faithful men, who do not study self-interest, but love their brethren too

well to suffer sin upon them, are few indeed.”1492





“It is the desire and plan of Satan to bring in among us those who will go

to great extremes—people of narrow minds, who are critical and sharp, and

very tenacious in holding their own conceptions of what the truth means. The

will be exacting, and will seek to enforce rigorous duties, and go to great

lengths in matters of minor importance, while they neglect the weightier

matters of the law—judgment and mercy and the love of God. Through thework of a few of this class of persons, the whole body of Sabbathkeepers

will be designated as bigoted, Pharisaical, and fanatical. The work of the

truth, because of these workers, will be thought to be unworthy of notice.”1493

20. Avoid long, “eloquent” prayers.

“He who strives for eloquent language when praying is entirely out of

place. The eloquence that God accepts is the earnest, longing cry of the soul

which feels that it must have help. Long prayers are not essential. Those

who labor in the right spirit will pray in the right spirit. He who labors asChrist labored will be in earnest when he prays.”1494

21. Avoid misusing Scripture to prove a point.

“Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures fo

the purpose of proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning

of God’s Word to suit their own opinions. And thus they do also with the

testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the othe

half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be false. God has a

controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform totheir preconceived ideas.”1495

H. Preachers should be assured of what they preach.

“Every minister is to preach the truth as it is in Jesus. He should be assured of

that which he affirms, and should handle the Word of God under the direction o

the Holy Spirit of God. Walk and work carefully before God, my brethren, that n

soul may be led into deception by your example. It had been better for you never to

have been born than that you should lead one soul astray.”1496

“Be waiting, watching for every opportunity to present the truth familiar with

the prophecies, familiar with the lessons of Christ. But do not trust in well

prepared arguments. Argument alone is not enough. God must be sought on your

knees; you must go forth to meet the people through the power and influence of his

Spirit.”1497

I. Preachers should clearly show why Jesus came to reveal the love of God, ou

Heavenly Father.

“Satan is determined that men shall not see the love of God which led Him t





give His only-begotten Son to save a lost race; for it is the goodness of God tha

leads men to repentance… . By presenting Jesus as the representative of the

Father, we shall be able to dispel the shadow that Satan has cast upon our

pathway, in order that we shall not see the mercy and inexpressible love of God as

manifested in Jesus Christ. Look at the cross of Calvary. It is a standing pledge o

the boundless love, the measureless mercy of the heavenly Father.”1498

J. Preachers should emphasize the “special truths” for these times.

“We are to pray for divine enlightenment, but at the same time we should be

careful how we receive everything termed new light. We must beware lest,

under cover of searching for new truth, Satan shall divert our minds from Christ

and the special truths for this time. I have been shown that it is the device of the

enemy to lead minds to dwell upon some obscure or unimportant point, something

that is not fully revealed or is not essential to our salvation. This is made the

absorbing theme, the ‘present truth,’ when all their investigations andsuppositions only serve to make matters more obscure than before, and to confuse

the minds of some who ought to be seeking for oneness through sanctification of the

truth.”1499

“The work that the Lord has given us at this time is to present to the people the

true light in regard to the testing questions of obedience and salvation—the

commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”1500

“A noble, devoted, spiritual worker will see in the great testing truths that

constitute the solemn message to be given to the world, sufficient reason for

keeping all minor differences concealed, rather than to bring them forth to becomesubjects of contention. Let the mind dwell upon the great work of redemption, the

soon coming of Christ, and the commandments of God; and it will be found tha

there is enough food for thought in these subjects to take up the entire attention.”1501

“As the end approaches, the testimonies of God’s servants will become more

decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of error

and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has sent us

messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all

who believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God; andraise up the foundation of many generations.”1502

“For more than a half a century the different points of present truth have been

questioned and opposed. New theories have been advanced as truth, which were

not truth, and the Spirit of God revealed their error. As the great pillars of our faith

have been presented, the Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is

this so regarding the truths of the sanctuary question. Over and over again the

Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. Bu





today, as in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truths

upon which the Spirit of God has placed His approval.Any man who seeks to

present theories which would lead us from the light that has come to us on the

ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, should not be accepted as a teacher . A

true understanding of the sanctuary question means much to us as a people.”1503

“Our people, who are expecting such great and important events soon totranspire, should know the reasons of their faith, that they may be able to give an

answer to every man that shall ask them a reason for the hope which is in them with

meekness and fear… . As a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we

should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the

sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. This subjec

sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us unmistakable proo

that God has led us in our past experience… . We can learn much, and should be

constantly searching the Scriptures to see if these things are so. God’s people are

now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where the finalministration of our great High Priest in the work of the judgment is going forward,

—where he is interceding for his people.”1504

K. Preachers should understand the importance of the manner in which the

message is presented.

“The manner in which the truth is presented often has much to do in

determining whether it will be accepted or rejected… . It is to be regretted tha

many do not realize that the manner in which Bible truth is presented has much to

do with the impressions made upon minds, and with the Christian character afterward developed by those who receive the truth. Instead of imitating Christ i

His manner of labor, many are severe, critical, and dictatorial. They repulse

instead of winning souls. Such will never know how many weak ones their

harsh words have wounded and discouraged.”1505

“The Saviour of the world would have His colaborers represent Him; and th

more closely a man walks with God, the more faultless will be his manner of

address, his deportment, his attitude, and his gestures. Coarse and uncouth

manners were never seen in our Pattern, Christ Jesus. He was a representative oheaven, and His followers must be like Him.”1506

“Some of our most talented ministers are doing themselves great injury by their

defective manner of speaking. While teaching the people their duty to obe

God’s moral law, they should not be found violating the laws of God in regard to

health and life. Ministers should stand erect and speak slowly, firmly, and

distinctly, taking a full inspiration of air at every sentence and throwing out the

words by exercising the abdominal muscles. If they will observe this simple rule,





giving attention to the laws of health in other respects, they may preserve their life

and usefulness much longer than men in any other profession.”1507

“It is not excitement we wish to create, but deep, earnest consideration, tha

those who hear shall do solid work, real, sound, genuine work that will be

enduring as eternity. We hunger not for excitement, for the sensational; the less

we have of this, the better. The calm, earnest reasoning from the Scriptures i precious and fruitful. Here is the secret of success, in preaching a living personal

Saviour in so simple and earnest a manner that the people may be able to lay hold

by faith of the power of the Word of life.”1508

“Do not lay one pebble for a soul that is weak in the faith to stumble over, in

overwrought presentations or expressions. Be ever consistent, calm, deep, and

solid. Do not go to any extreme in anything, but keep your feet on solid rock.”1509

“Those who would teach God’s Word must themselves receive the divine

treasures. They must not be satisfied with repeating set discourses, depending

on notes. They are to add to their treasure, constantly improving in their manner o presenting the truth. They are not to be dwarfs in religious knowledge.”1510

“Some reason that the Lord will by His Spirit qualify a man to speak as H

would have him; but the Lord does not propose to do the work which He ha

given man to do. He has given us reasoning powers and opportunities to educate

the mind and manners. And after we have done all we can for ourselves, making

the best use of the advantages within our reach, then we may look to God with

earnest prayer to do by His Spirit that which we cannot do for ourselves, and we

shall ever find in our Saviour power and efficiency.”1511

L. The preacher should always make Jesus the Center of his message.

“The object of all ministry is to keep self out of sight, and to let Christ appear.

The exaltation of Christ is the great truth that all who labor in word and doctrine

are to reveal.”1512

“The third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the

fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the

great Center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the thir

angel’s message.”1513

“More people than we think are longing to find the way to Christ. Those wh

preach the last message of mercy should bear in mind that Christ is to be exalted as

the sinner’s refuge. Some ministers think that it is not necessary to preach

repentance and faith; they take it for granted that their hearers are acquainted with

the gospel, and that matters of a different nature must be presented in order to hold

their attention. But many people are sadly ignorant in regard to the plan o

salvation; they need more instruction upon this all-important subject than





upon any other. Theoretical discourses are essential, that people may see the

chain of truth, link after link, uniting in a perfect whole; but no discourse should

ever be preached without presenting Christ and Him crucified as the

foundation of the gospel. Ministers would reach more hearts if they would dwell

more upon practical godliness.”1514

“The last message of warning to the world is to lead men to see theimportance that God attaches to His law. So plainly is the truth to be presented

that no transgressor, hearing it, shall be excusable in failing to discern the

importance of obedience to God’s commands.”1515

“In every discourse fervent appeals should be made to the people to forsake

their sins and turn to Christ. The popular sins and indulgences of our day should be

condemned and practical godliness enforced. The minister should be deeply in

earnest himself, feeling from the heart the words he utters and unable to repress his

feeling of concern for the souls of men and women for whom Christ died.”1516

“The sinner is constantly being drawn to Jesus by the wonderful manifestatioof His love in that He humiliated Himself to die a shameful death upon the cross

What a study is this! Angels have striven, earnestly longed, to look into the

wonderful mystery. It is a study that can tax the highest human intelligence, that

man, fallen, deceived by Satan, taking Satan’s side of the question, can be

conformed to the image of the Son of the infinite God. That man shall be like Him

that, because of the righteousness of Christ given to man, God will love man

fallen but redeemed—even as He loved His Son. Read it right out of the livin

oracles. This is the mystery of godliness. This picture is of the highest value tobe placed in every discourse, to be hung in memory’s hall, to be uttered by human

lips, to be traced by human beings who have tasted and known that the Lord is

good, to be meditated upon, to be the groundwork of every discourse.”1517

“The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of His example is

to be kept before the people in every discourse.”1518

M. Preachers should clearly and boldly unite the theory with the practical

instruction that shows the theory in action.

“After the theory of truth has been presented, then comes the laborious part othe work. The people should not be left with out instruction in the practical truths

which relate to their everyday life. They must see and feel that they are sinners and

need to be converted to God. What Christ said, what He did, and what He taugh

should be brought before them in the most impressive manner.”1519

“The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living force to

change the life. God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to it

power.”1520





N. The preacher will be greatly strengthened by the cooperation of physicians

and other health workers.

“Medical missionary work is in no case to be divorced from the gospel

ministry. The Lord has specified that the two shall be as closely connected as the

arm is with the body. Without this union neither part of the work is complete. The

medical missionary work is the gospel in illustration.”1521

“I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines

but medical missionary work . The work of a minister is to minister. Our ministers

are to work on the gospel plan of ministering… . You will never be ministers after

the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical missionary work, the

gospel of healing and blessing and strengthening.”1522

O. In spite of their hard work, preachers will fail if they do not join a converted

heart with their messages.

“Many present the doctrines and theories of our faith; but their presentation isas salt without savor; for the Holy Spirit is not working through their faithles

ministry. They have not opened the heart to receive the grace of Christ; they

know not the operation of the Spirit; they are as meal without leaven; for there is

no working principle in all their labor, and they fail to win souls to Christ. The

do not appropriate the righteousness of Christ; it is a robe unworn by them, a

fullness unknown, a fountain untouched.”1523

“The truth of the third angel’s message has been proclaimed by some as a dry

theory. But we must all place in that message Christ, as the first and the last, the

AM, the bright and morning Star. The message must be given, ‘Behold the Lamb o

God, that taketh away the sin of the world.’ … God’s people must give to the

world a representation of the character of God in Jesus Christ. The Christia

churches are fast losing their knowledge of God. His character has been

misunderstood and misinterpreted.”1524

“What a responsible position, to unite with the Redeemer of the world in the

salvation of men! This work calls for self-denial, sacrifice, and benevolence; for

perseverance, courage, and faith. Why there are so little results seen of those who

minister in word and doctrine, is, they have not the fruit of the grace of God in their hearts and lives. They have not faith. Many who profess to be ministers of Jesu

Christ, manifest a wonderful submission in seeing the unconverted all around the

going to perdition. A minister of Christ has no right to be at ease, and sit down

submissively to the fact that the truth is powerless, and souls are not stirred

by its presentation. They should resort to prayer, and should work and pray

without ceasing. Those who submit to remain destitute of spiritual blessings,

without an earnest wrestling for those blessings, consent to have Satan triumph.





Persistent, prevailing faith is necessary. God’s ministers must come into close

companionship with Christ, and follow His example in all things—in purity of life,

in self-denial, in benevolence, in diligence, in perseverance. They should

remember that a record will one day appear in evidence against them for the least

omission of duty.”1525

P. The preacher preaches what God’s requires.“By precept and example we are to teach others that through the grace of

Christ they may be obedient to all God’s commandments, and be clothed with

Christ’s righteousness. This is the work God requires His servants to do.”1526

Q. Preachers must often live with the lack of appreciation for their best efforts.

“The most useful men are seldom appreciated. Those who have labored mos

actively and unselfishly for their fellow-men, and who have been instrumental in

achieving the greatest results, are often repaid with ingratitude and neglect. When

such men find themselves set aside, their counsels slighted and despised, they mayfeel that they are suffering great injustice. But let them learn from the example o

Samuel not to justify or vindicate themselves, unless the Spirit of Go

unmistakably prompts to such a course. Those who despise and reject the faithful

servant of God, not merely show contempt for the man, but for the Master who sen

him.”1527

R. Preachers should lead the way with cultivated intellects in combining biblical

truth with a living experience of a living Savior.

“Those who embrace the truth should seek a clear understanding of theScriptures and an experimental knowledge of a living Saviour. The intellec

should be cultivated, the memory taxed. All intellectual laziness is sin, and

spiritual lethargy is death.”1528

S. Preachers should make health principles and practice a very important part o

their daily schedule.

“The reason why many of our ministers complain of sickness is that they fail

to take sufficient exercise and indulge in overeating. They do not realize that such a

course endangers the strongest constitution. Those who, like yourself, are sluggishin temperament, should eat very sparingly and not shun physical taxation. Many o

our ministers are digging their graves with their teeth. The system, in taking care o

the burden placed upon the digestive organs, suffers, and a severe draft is made

upon the brain. For every offense committed against the laws of health, the

transgressor must pay the penalty in his own body.”1529

“Our preachers are not particular enough in regard to their habits o

eating. They partake of too large quantities of food and of too great a variety a





one meal. Some are reformers only in name. They have no rules by which to

regulate their diet, but indulge in eating fruit or nuts between their meals, and thus

impose too heavy burdens upon the digestive organs. Some eat three meals a day,

when two would be more conducive to physical and spiritual health. If the laws

which God has made to govern the physical system are violated, the penalty mus

surely follow. Because of imprudence in eating, the senses of some seem to behalf paralyzed, and they are sluggish and sleepy. These pale-faced ministers

who are suffering in consequence of selfish indulgence of the appetite are no

recommendation of health reform… . Our laborers could do more by their

example to advance health reform than by preaching it. … Some are now

suffering in consequence of transgressing the laws of life, thus causing a stigma to

rest on the cause of health reform. Excessive indulgence in eating, drinking,

sleeping, or seeing, is sin. The harmonious healthy action of all the powers o

body and mind results in happiness; and the more elevated and refined the powers,

the more pure and unalloyed the happiness. An aimless life is a living death.”1530

“Send out into the churches workers who will live the principles of health

reform. Let those be sent who can see the necessity of self-denial in appetite, or

they will be a snare to the church. See if the breath of life will not then come into

our churches.”1531

T. Preachers should learn and diligently apply habits of order and regularity.

“Men of God must be diligent in study, earnest in the acquirement o

knowledge, never wasting an hour. Through persevering exertion they may rise to

almost any degree of eminence as Christians, as men of power and influence. Butmany will never attain superior rank in the pulpit or in business because of

their unfixedness of purpose and the laxness of habits contracted in their

youth. Careless inattention is seen in everything they undertake. A sudden impulse

now and then is not sufficient to accomplish a reformation in these ease-loving,

indolent ones; this is a work which requires patient continuance in well-doing.

Men of business can be truly successful only by having regular hours for rising, for

prayer, for meals, and for retirement. If order and regularity are essential in

worldly business, how much more so in doing work for God.”1532

U. Preachers should place high premium on mental culture.

“Mental culture is what we as a people need, and what we must have in

order to meet the demands of the time. Poverty, humble origin, and unfavorable

surroundings need not prevent the cultivation of the mind. The mental faculties must

be kept under the control of the will and the mind not allowed to wander or

become distracted with a variety of subjects at a time, being thorough in none.

Difficulties will be met in all studies; but never cease through discouragement… .





The cause of God needs men of intellect, men of thought, men well versed i

the Scriptures, to meet the inflowing tide of opposition. We should give no

sanction to arrogance, narrow-mindedness, and inconsistencies, although the

garment of professed piety may be thrown over them. Those who have the

sanctifying power of the truth upon their hearts will exert a persuasive influence.

Knowing that the advocates of error cannot create or destroy truth, they can affordto be calm and considerate.”1533

V. Preachers should be trained to understand “the wants of the people.”

“Men are needed for this time who can understand the wants of the people

and minister to their necessities. The faithful minister of Christ watches at ever

outpost to warn, to reprove, to counsel, to entreat, and to encourage his fellow

men, laboring with the Spirit of God which worketh in him mightily, that he ma

present every man perfect in Christ.”1534

W. Preachers will make the messages of the three angels the “burden” of theirwork.

“The great message, combining the first, second, and third angels’ messages, is

to be given to the world. This is to be the burden of our work .”1535

“Our lesson for the present time is, How may we most clearly comprehend

and present the gospel that Christ came in person to present to John on the

Isle of Patmos,— the gospel that is termed ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’? We

are to present to our people a clear explanation of Revelation. … Christ is the

great teacher, and that which He revealed to John, we are to tax our minds tounderstand and clearly to define. We are facing the most important issues that men

have ever been called upon to meet. The theme of greatest importance is the third

angel’s message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should

understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily

life, for this is essential to salvation. We shall have to study earnestly, prayerfully,

in order to understand these grand truths.”1536

X. Preachers should be gentlemen, not censuring or denouncing their opponents.

“Our ministers and teachers are to represent the love of God to a fallen world.With hearts melted in tenderness let the word of truth be spoken. Let all who are in

error be treated with the gentleness of Christ. If those for whom you labor do no

immediately grasp the truth, do not censure, do not criticize or condemn.

Remember that you are to represent Christ in His meekness and gentleness an

love. We must expect to meet unbelief and opposition. The truth has always had to

meet these elements. But though you should meet the bitterest opposition, do not

denounce your opponents. They may think, as did Paul, that they are doing God’





service, and to such we must manifest patience, meekness, and long-suffering… .

The Lord wants His people to follow other methods than that of condemnin

wrong, even though the condemnation be just. He wants us to do something

more than to hurl at our adversaries charges that only drive them further from the

truth.

[cont.] “The work which Christ came to do in our world was not to erec barriers and constantly thrust upon the people the fact that they were wrong. He

who expects to enlighten a deceived people must come near to them and labor for

them in love. He must become a center of holy influence. In the advocacy of the

truth the bitterest opponents should be treated with respect and deference .

Some will not respond to our efforts, but will make light of the gospel invitation.

Others—even those whom we suppose to have passed the boundary of God’s

mercy—will be won to Christ.

[cont.] “The very last work in the controversy may be the enlightenment o

those who have not rejected light and evidence, but who have been in midnightdarkness and have in ignorance worked against the truth. Therefore treat every

man as honest. Speak no word, do no deed, that will confirm any in unbelief. I

anyone shall seek to draw the workers into debate or controversy on political or

other questions, take no heed to either persuasion or challenge. Carry forward the

work of God firmly and strongly, but in the meekness of Christ and as quietly as

possible. Let no human boasting be heard. Let no sign of self-sufficiency be made.

Let it be seen that God has called us to handle sacred trusts; preach the word, be

diligent, earnest, and fervent.”1537

“There is to be no compromise with those who make void the law of God. It i

not safe to rely upon them as counselors. Our testimony is not to be less decided

now than formerly; our real position is not to be cloaked in order to please the

world’s great men. They may desire us to unite with them and accept their plans,

and may make propositions in regard to our course of action which may give the

enemy an advantage over us. ‘Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this

people shall say, A confederacy’ (Isaiah 8:12). While we should not seek for

controversy, and should not needlessly offend, we must present the truth

clearly and decidedly, and stand firm to what God has taught us in His Word.You are not to look to the world in order to learn what you shall write and

publish or what you shall speak. Let all your words and works testify, ‘We have

not followed cunningly devised fables’ (2 Peter 1:16).”1538

Y. Preachers should not lower the standards to avoid hurt feelings but leave the

results with God.

“Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud an





spare not, who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not

shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw

that individuals would rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their

natural feelings. They would choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and

have peace cried in their ears. I view the church in a more dangerous condition

than they ever have been. Experimental religion is known but by a few. Theshaking must soon take place to purify the church. Preachers should have no

scruples to preach the truth as it is found in God’s word. Let the truth cut. I have

been shown that why ministers have not more success is, they are afraid of

hurting feelings, fearful of not being courteous, and they lower the standard o

truth, and conceal if possible the peculiarity of our faith. I saw that God could no

make such successful. The truth must be made pointed, and the necessity of a

decision urged. And as false shepherds are crying, Peace, and are preaching

smooth things, the servants of God must cry aloud, and spare not, and leave the

result with God.”1539

Z. Preachers often will need to use extraordinary efforts to arrest the attention

of the general public.

“In the cities of today, where there is so much to attract and please, the people

can be interested by no ordinary efforts. Ministers of God’s appointment will find

it necessary to put forth extraordinary efforts in order to arrest the attention o

the multitudes. And when they succeed in bringing together a large number o

people, they must bear messages of a character so out of the usual order that the

people will be aroused and warned. They must make use of every means that can possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand out clearly and distinctly. The

testing message for this time is to be borne so plainly and decidedly as to startle

the hearers and lead them to desire to study the Scriptures.”1540





The Great Controversy Ended—All Issues Settled; the

Universe Forever in Harmony

A. The lost finally see what they have forfeited and that their exclusion froheaven is just.

“The wicked see what they have forfeited by their life of rebellion… . ‘All

this,’ cries the lost soul, ‘I might have had; but I chose to put these things far fro

me. Oh, strange infatuation! I have exchanged peace, happiness, and honor fo

wretchedness, infamy, and despair.’ All see that their exclusion from heaven is

just. By their lives they have declared: ‘We will not have this Man [Jesus] to reig

over us.’ As if entranced, the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son

of God… . and, falling prostrate, they worship the Prince of life.”1541

B. Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven, that Go

has been right and he, wrong.

“Satan seems paralyzed as he beholds the glory and majesty of Christ. He wh

was once a covering cherub remembers whence he has fallen… . The aim of the

great rebel has ever been to justify himself and to prove the divine government

responsible for the rebellion. To this end he has bent all the power of his giant

intellect. He has worked deliberately and systematically, and with marvelous

success, leading vast multitudes to accept his version of the great controversy

which has been so long in progress. For thousands of years this chief of conspirachas palmed off falsehood for truth. But the time has now come when the rebellion

is to be finally defeated and the history and character of Satan disclosed. In his las

great effort to dethrone Christ, destroy His people, and take possession of the Cit

of God, the archdeceiver has been fully unmasked. Those who have united wit

him see the total failure of his cause. Christ’s followers and the loyal angels

behold the full extent of his machinations against the government of God. He is the

object of universal abhorrence. Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has

unfitted him for heaven… . And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.”1542

C. The real end to the controversy comes when all of Satan’s followers turn on

him and those who supported him.

“Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God’

justice and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged.

The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy,





he determines not to yield the great controversy… . He rushes into the midst o

his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to

instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion,

there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The

wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see tha

their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage iskindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and

with the fury of demons they turn upon them.”1543

D. The entire universe is clean, one pulse of harmony throughout creation.

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. Theentire

universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vas

creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughou

the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all

things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declarethat God is love.”1544

E. The Plan of Redemption will be the study of the redeemed forever.

“There are mysteries in the plan of redemption— the humiliation of the Son

of God, that He might be found in fashion as a man, the wonderful love an

condescension of the Father in yielding up His Son—that are to the heavenly angels

subjects of continual amazement… . And these will be the study of the redeemed

through eternal ages. As they contemplate the work of God in creation and

redemption, new truth will continually unfold to the wondering and delightedmind. As they learn more and more of the wisdom, the love, and the power of God,

their minds will be constantly expanding, and their joy will continually

increase.”1545

“And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more

glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so wil

love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greate

will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches o

redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan,

the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with morerapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and

thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise.”1546

“Then will be opened before him the course of the great conflict that had its

birth before time began, and that ends only when time shall cease. The histor

of the inception of sin; of fatal falsehood in its crooked working; of truth that,

swerving not from its own straight lines, has met and conquered error—all will be





made manifest. The veil that interposes between the visible and the invisible world

will be drawn aside, and wonderful things will be revealed.”1547

“The continual progress of the soul in divine knowledge and virtue is God’s

purpose.”1548

F. All of life’s perplexities in each person’s role in the Great Controversy will be

explained.“All the perplexities of life’s experience will then be made plain. Where to

us have appeared only confusion and disappointment, broken purposes and

thwarted plans, will be seen a grand, overruling, victorious purpose, a divine

harmony.”1549

“In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know no

how to deal with; but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are

working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His promise

to pass… . Soon we shall be in our promised home. There Jesus will lead ubeside the living stream flowing from the throne of God and will explain to us

the dark providences through which on this earth He brought us in order to perfec

our characters.”1550

G. The Redeemed will ever behold the cost of their redemption.

“In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme o

redemption. With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the

shame and the glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in

the cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp its fullsignificance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of redeeming

love are but dimly comprehended. The plan of redemption will not be full

understood, even when the ransomed see as they are seen and know as they are

known; but through the eternal ages new truth will continually unfold to the

wondering and delighted mind. Though the griefs and pains and temptations o

earth are ended and the cause removed, the people of God will ever have a

distinct, intelligent knowledge of what their salvation has cost.”1551

“One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His

crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are thonly traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought.”1552

H. The Redeemed will be God’s witnesses throughout the unfallen, but vastly

interested worlds.

“‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.’ Matthew

20:28. Christ’s work below is His work above, and our reward for working with

Him in this world will be the greater power and wider privilege of working with





Him in the world to come. ‘Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

Isaiah 43:12. This also we shall be in eternity. For what was the grea

controversy permitted to continue throughout the ages? Why was it that Satan’s

existence was not cut short at the outset of his rebellion? It was that the universe

might be convinced of God’s justice in His dealing with evil; that sin might

receive eternal condemnation. In the plan of redemption there are heights anddepths that eternity itself can never exhaust, marvels into which the angels desire to

look. The redeemed only, of all created beings, have in their own experience

known the actual conflict with sin; they have wrought with Christ, and, as even

the angels could not do, have entered into the fellowship of His sufferings; will

they have no testimony as to the science of redemption— nothing that will be of

worth to unfallen beings?”1553

I. Everyone’s identity will be carefully, faithfully preserved without the scars of

earthly life.“Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same

particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The wondrous

works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the character of man, is returned

to God, there to be preserved. In the resurrection every man will have his ow

character. God in His own time will call forth the dead, giving again the breath o

life, and bidding the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be

free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality

of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature

which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter whichcomposed the body before death. God shall give the righteous dead a body tha

will please Him.”1554

“The resurrection of Jesus was a type of the final resurrection of all who sleep

in Him. The countenance of the risen Saviour, His manner, His speech, were al

familiar to His disciples. As Jesus arose from the dead, so those who sleep in Hi

are to rise again. We shall know our friends, even as the disciples knew Jesus.

They may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, in this mortal life, and the

rise in perfect health and symmetry; yet in the glorified body their identity will be perfectly preserved.”1555

J. Our characters will not be changed by either death or by the resurrection.

“If you would be a saint in heaven you must first be a saint on earth. The traits

of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the

resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you

manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His

coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are





determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome

through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in

this probationary state, that we may be fitted for the mansions above.”1556

K. The redeemed will have forever fellowship with the Three Members of the

Godhead

“The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son.… We shall see Him face to face, without a dimming veil between.

We shall stand in His presence and behold the glory of His countenance.”1557

“There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three

great powers —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Chris

by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient

subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.”1558

“If, during this life, they are loyal to God, they will at last ‘see His face; an

His name shall be in their foreheads.’ Revelation 22:4. And what is the happinessof heaven but to see God? What greater joy could come to the sinner saved by the

grace of Christ than to look upon the face of God and know Him as Father?”1559

L. Sin will never arise again because everyone has been tested and will never

again doubt God’s wisdom and justice.

“The whole universe will have become witnesses to the nature and results o

sin. And its utter extermination, which in the beginning would have brought fear to

angels and dishonor to God, will now vindicate His love and establish His hono

before the universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is Hilaw. Never will evil again be manifest. Says the word of God: ‘Affliction shall no

rise up the second time.’ Nahum 1:9. The law of God, which Satan has reproache

as the yoke of bondage, will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and

proved creation will never again be turned from allegiance to Him whose

character has been fully manifested before them as fathomless love and infinite

wisdom.”1560





Index

Numbers

144,000 294, 2951844 143, 227, 229, 244, 249, 250, 309, 330

1888, General Conference session of 29, 32, 64, 127, 158, 179, 195, 202, 222, 226,

252, 282, 308, 311, 351, 358

Light of, resisted by brethren, and thus kept from world 311

Message of, called a most precious message 226

Power of Holy Spirit shut out in great measure during, by opposition to message of

Christ’s righteousness 311

2300-day prophecy 87

Foundation and central pillar of early advent faith 2492300 days 143, 249

Christ entered Most Holy Place of heavenly sanctuary at end of 143





A

Adoption

We are Christ’s by 188

Adventist Church

See also, Adventist(s), Seventh-day Adventist(s), Seventh-day Adventist Church;

God’s people, loyal and trueApostasies will occur from our own ranks 282

In last solemn work of, few great men will be engaged 282

Adventist(s) 227, 244, 264, 269, 278, 304-306, 309, 318, 349, 355, 359

See also Adventist Church, Seventh-day Adventist(s); Seventh-day Adventist Church

Nominal 269, 305, 306

Alpha heresy 274, 275

See also Omega heresy

Alpha of the Omega 275

Ambition 65, 66, 111, 237

As thirst to be highest 66

America 2, 259, 262-264, 290, 291, 303

How place of greatest light can become place of greatest darkness 291

How, will form image to the beast 303

Angel(s) 2-4, 10, 16-24, 35, 38, 39, 41, 51, 57, 65, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 84, 89, 91, 92,

104, 106, 113, 116, 124, 128, 131, 134, 137, 138, 143-146, 152, 155, 158, 164,

165, 167, 177, 182, 194, 211, 212, 218, 220, 222, 224, 227, 245, 248, 250, 258,

264, 276, 280, 298, 301, 308, 314-316, 318, 324, 326-328, 330, 346, 349, 352,357, 359, 370, 374, 376, 377

Destroying 327

Evil 10, 22, 23, 38, 41, 137, 276, 280, 298, 352, 359

Fallen 3, 22, 76, 77

Gabriel, the 106

Heavenly 73, 104, 143, 164, 211, 218, 374

Satan’s 276

Ten thousand times ten thousand in number 86, 161, 375

Unfallen 144

Anger 359

When, takes control of reason 359

Antichrist, the 303

Appetite 30, 44, 45, 47, 50, 98, 107, 115, 116, 210, 212, 231, 232, 350, 369

Christ fasted nearly six weeks to gain for us victory over 115

Appetites 2, 33, 42-44, 46-49, 116





Armageddon, Battle of 327

See also, Last great battle

Armor of God 2

Assurance of salvation

We may have 192, 193

Atonement 3, 28, 126, 130-136, 138-145, 183, 188, 208, 229, 244, 249, 251, 252,272, 277, 309, 319

Accepting, is ground-work of true faith 140

All need to become more intelligent about work of 141

Archdeceiver hates truths, brings to view 139

Because of, Christ can give us gift of holiness 135

Benefits of, Christ gives us in His High Priestly ministry in heaven 142

Christ now making final, in heaven 143

Includes Christ’s death and His High Priestly ministry for us 139

Includes not only pardon but transformation of character 133Is the great argument that the law of God is binding on every human being 252

Means “at-one-ment” 131, 133, 135, 136, 208

Not made to appease an offended God 134

Not made to produce love in God’s heart but to manifest it 134

Object of, was to maintain God’s law and government 136

Of Christ, was complete and full 138, 141

Once Satan is destroyed, will never need to be repeated 144

Only through accepting, can we withstand Satan’s power and deceptions 135Reveals God’s love and the binding claims of His law 137

Right understanding of, helps us realize the value and cost of Christ’s sacrifice 131

Satan endeavors to keep hidden from the world 137

Spiritualistic theories do away with necessity for 277

This is the great day of 142

Those who follow by faith Christ’s work of, receive benefits of 143

Through, Christ provided for us an infinite fund of moral power 145

Vicarious, of Christ 141

Was made to take away the sin of the world 251

Without, sin would have been immortalized 131

Without, there could have been no pardon for sin 131





B

Babylon 38, 39, 238, 289, 306, 315-317

Fourth angel of Revelation 18 announces fall of 315

Israel’s captivity in 238

Is fallen 315, 316

Makes all nations drink of the wine of wrath of her fornication 289Baker letter 59, 60

Baptism 213, 214, 314

Many are buried alive in, as self did not die 214

Battle Creek 153, 274, 276, 281, 282

Battlefield

Earth as, of great controversy 5, 109

Beast 261, 263, 264, 266, 287-289, 293, 301, 303-306, 315, 318

See also, Mark of the beast

And his image 261, 264, 289, 301, 303, 315

Image to 263, 264, 288, 303

How Protestant America will form 289

With lamblike horns 287

With two horns 288

Leopardlike 288, 303

Number of his name 288, 303

Two-horned 303

Beholding Christ 200, 223, 224, 367We are changed by 135, 155

Berrien Springs 276

Besetting sins 56, 170, 187, 200

Bible 1-4, 6, 7, 9-13, 19, 21, 24, 27-30, 36, 44, 47, 48, 59, 67, 73, 78-81, 83, 84, 88,

89, 94, 98, 99, 101, 103, 106, 108, 111, 113, 115, 119, 120, 125, 128-130, 132,

133, 136-138, 143, 145, 146, 151, 155, 157, 158, 163, 166, 167, 169, 171, 172,

175, 177-182, 185-188, 190, 193, 195, 196, 199, 200-204, 207-209, 213, 214,

216, 218, 221, 223, 224, 236, 237, 245, 246, 249, 252, 253, 255, 256, 258, 260,

261, 265-269, 271, 272, 274, 277, 281-288, 290, 294-296, 298, 299, 302, 304,

309, 316, 320, 321, 324-327, 330, 334, 335, 337, 338, 345, 348, 349, 353, 359,

361, 362, 364, 366, 370, 376

See also, Scriptures; Word of God, the

Christ and Him crucified, the great central truth of 136

Contains complete system of theology and philosophy 80

Given for practical purposes 13





Inspiration of 13

Many study, to prove their own ideas correct 362

Not written in superhuman language 12

Our food and drink 12

Reading the 12

Regenerating power of 158Some present, passages out of context 362

Spiritualistic theories lead to regarding, as a fiction 277

Writers of, God’s penmen, not His pen 13

Writers of, inspired by the Holy Spirit 12

Bible, characters noted in

Aaron 284

Abraham 82, 85, 172, 184, 192, 204, 205, 207, 208, 221

Obedience of, counted to him for righteousness 208

Achan 41, 63, 64, 285Adam 13, 17, 31, 32, 44-46, 50, 51, 53, 54, 57-59, 61, 62, 72-76, 78, 82, 85, 91, 92,

100, 104, 105, 108-112, 116, 117, 126, 131, 160, 163, 166, 177, 204, 210-212,

279

After fall, blamed Eve and then God 75

Christ passed over the ground where, fell 110, 111

Disobedience of, contrasted with perfect obedience of Christ 163

Fall of 32

First 45, 53, 61, 104Adam and Eve 50, 73, 76, 279

After fall of, God revealed His plan to save them 76, 78

God tested loyalty of 74

God warned, of Satan’s plots against them 73

Barabbas 260, 281

Caleb 179

Daniel 48, 49, 86, 87, 143, 151, 209, 222, 249, 250, 265, 287, 323, 352, 364

David 5, 148, 177

Elijah 212, 297, 328

Enoch 82, 84, 85, 212, 213, 297

A representative of those who will be translated at second coming 297

Esau 328, 329

Gabriel 106

Jacob 7, 328-330

Job 67, 84, 85, 324





By patient endurance of, vindicated his own character and God’s 85

Never swerved from his loyalty to God 67

Represented God in the Great Controversy

John, the apostle 5, 7, 9, 28, 33, 48, 55, 59, 76, 77, 93, 98, 116, 122, 147, 159, 164,

181, 188, 190, 193, 195, 203, 207, 210, 218, 222, 227, 248, 261, 274, 289, 297,

316, 319, 320, 338, 341, 350, 352, 364, 370John the Baptist 33, 48, 84

Joseph 59, 171

Joshua 179, 183

Judas 49, 344, 345

Case of, presented as lesson for all 344

Divine and human were at work in character of 344

Was a religious fraud, divided in heart 345

Mary Magdalene 343

Mary, mother of Jesus 106Moses 40, 81-84, 103, 179

Nehemiah 284, 285

Noah 37, 39, 40, 82, 85, 248, 323

Ark of 39

Preaching of 39

Paul 5-7, 9, 31, 42, 47, 84, 88, 94, 160, 164, 169, 192, 208, 212, 223, 236, 273, 302,

322, 370

Pharaoh 36, 325Samuel 368

Saul 153, 179, 209

Big Picture, the 8, 243

Body, physical

See also, Mind, the

Brain, nervous system, and spirituality 230

Relation of, to mind and soul 42

To be servant to the mind, not mind to the body 232

Whatever lessens physical strength enfeebles mind 229

Book of Life 140, 287

Books of a new order 278

Books of heaven 34, 250

Books of record 142, 249

Born again 189, 199





C

Calvary 7, 12, 68, 95, 124, 125, 127-129, 132, 139, 141, 166, 177, 179, 196, 362

Capernaum 297

Carnal nature 31

Catholic Church 262, 267

See also, Roman Catholic(s), Roman Catholic Church, Roman ChurchCatholicism 261, 262, 265

Ceremonial law 301, 302

Character(s), our 6, 30, 44, 55, 82, 93, 101, 116, 126, 128, 133, 145, 149, 158, 179,

183, 188, 196-198, 211-213, 232, 245, 247, 250, 253, 310, 319, 338, 359, 375,

377

Are not transferable 338

Are to be transformed, by looking to Jesus 182

Christlike 183

Completeness of, attained when impulse to help and bless others springs constantly

from within 347

To be a Christian means having a 223

Defects of 46, 62, 187, 189, 201, 213, 329, 341

Formed by hard, stern battles with self 341

Must be clean for latter rain to fall on us 55

Not inherited; does not come to us by accident 341

Patchwork 299

Made up mostly of self, with a little of Christ 299Perfect 11, 155, 182, 246

Perfection of 109, 117, 148, 195, 245, 297

Christ’s honor to stand complete in, of His people 148

Honor of God and Christ involved in, of God’s people 148, 157, 165

In attainment of, culture of intellect is necessary 235

Righteous 2, 112, 179, 220

Transformation of 128, 133, 173, 188, 217, 218, 297, 325

We are to wash robes of 183

We may advance every day in perfection of 195

Children

May gain knowledge as Jesus did 116

Christ

Accepted working of the great law of heredity 105, 160

A mighty petitioner 50

As our Example in prayer 113, 114





Became acquainted with all our temptations 58

Became sin for us 57, 112, 127

Being crucified with 134, 252

Blood of 97, 137, 138, 144, 165, 171, 179, 183, 187, 195, 205, 207, 218, 227, 249,

250, 252, 269, 300, 319

With, He signed emancipation papers of the human race 132Without shedding of, no remission of sins 141

Bore human infirmities as they existed when He came 57

Bound to us by a tie never to be broken 122, 159

By sinless life of, proved that all can resist temptation 109

Came in the likeness of sinful flesh 51, 54, 58, 59, 93, 114, 116

Character of 6, 11, 128, 134, 135, 157, 202, 214, 219, 243, 246, 252, 334, 336, 342

Beautiful in its symmetry 116

Robe of 235

To be manifest through His people 146We are to reproduce 214, 219, 243

Cleansed the temple 316

Condemned sin in the flesh 106

Condescension of, to reach us 54, 58, 112, 135, 162, 351

Could have sinned 51, 104, 110

Could have yielded to temptation 52, 54

Crucifixion of 326

Desires to be close to all who suffer for truth’s sake 161Did not exercise His divine power for His own benefit 110

Did nothing we may not do if we partake of the divine nature 112

Did not yield to sin or temptation 58-60, 62

Draws us to Himself by His love 190

Exercised on His own behalf no power not freely offered to us 107, 108

Exercised self-control stronger than hunger, ambition, or death 111

Followers of

May overcome as He overcame 48, 53, 92-94, 96, 99, 188

Following 296

Gained knowledge as we may do, through study of the Word 161

Greatest insult we can inflict on, is to pretend being His disciples while manifesting

spirit of Satan 294

Had to walk by faith, as we walk by faith 111

Has a two-fold nature, at once human and divine 163

Human “in every respect” 160





Humanity of

Accepted that of human race after 4,000 years of sin 51, 54, 104, 105

Accepted working of law of heredity 51

Clothed with divinity 49, 54, 95, 101, 119, 133, 136, 195, 210

Inseparable with His divinity, yet distinct from it 103

Is everything to us 103Laid hold of God’s divinity 53

Reached to the very depths of human wretchedness 107

To be retained forever 121, 159

Took upon Him our, with all its liabilities 52, 109, 110

Was actual, not vicarious 106

Was full and complete 53

Was not a make-believe humanity 59

Was sinless 98

We make many mistakes because of erroneous views of 108Human nature of

He has not laid aside, in heaven 161

He took upon Him our, 54

He took upon him our, but not our sinfulness 54, 57, 58, 100, 105

Like ours, but spiritual nature was without one taint of sin 58

Recoiled from evil 50

If we do not resist, we will be drawn to 190

Incarnation of 103In, dwelt fullness of the Godhead bodily 115

Intercession(s) of 37, 114, 139, 140, 141, 143, 252, 329, 350

As essential fo our salvation as His death on the cross 139, 141, 252

In storm, rested not in possession of almighty power 115

Is God’s thought made audible 89

Is representative of the Father 362

Knew hunger, poverty, and temptation 96

Laid hold of divinity, even as we may do 163

Learned obedience 51, 116

Life of, was one of constant trust and communion 164

Love of, draws sinners to Himself 190

Loves to have us come to Him just as we are 193

Made no plans for Himself, but accepted God’s plans for Him 112

Miracles of 13

Names of





Advocate 142, 145

Anointed 151

Author and Finisher of our faith 12, 30, 140, 190

Bread of life 12, 353

Bridegroom 149, 337, 338, 347

Captain 152, 303Captain of our salvation 142, 166, 212

Christ our Righteousness 24

Conqueror 95, 142

Creator 13, 16-20, 32, 65, 68, 72-75, 87, 101, 107, 169, 234, 236, 257, 273, 289,

315, 326, 327, 340

Example, our 49, 51-54, 58, 59, 61, 90, 91, 96, 107, 109, 110, 112, 114-116, 118,

119, 160, 162, 163, 340, 342

General 63, 226, 275, 293, 311

General of the armies of heaven 179, 268Helper 31, 35, 210, 212

High Priest, Our 87, 106, 116, 139, 140, 142, 143, 159, 160, 229, 250, 253, 319, 364

Husbandman 219, 243

Intercessor 128, 142, 161, 250, 253, 317

King of kings 83, 86

Lamb, the 3, 41, 104, 125, 132, 140, 144, 183, 216, 218, 287, 294-296, 298, 338,

351, 367

Lord of the Vineyard 343Man of Sorrows 164

Master, the 12, 214, 236, 339, 342, 348, 354, 356, 368

Mediator 100, 108, 132, 139, 141, 190, 251, 252, 296

Model 223

Pattern, our 6, 11, 55, 58, 118, 157, 212, 217, 223, 351, 364

We cannot equal, but should copy 118

Prince of Heaven 129, 166

Prince of Life 53, 76, 111, 373

Prince of Light 146, 165

Prince Emmanuel 2, 223, 316

Prince Immanuel 141, 252

Redeemer 6, 53, 55, 87, 88, 95, 96, 100, 104, 107-111, 115, 125, 128, 132, 133,

139-142, 148, 154, 155, 161, 162, 166, 173, 177, 183, 185, 188, 196, 199, 207,

226, 253, 268, 297, 311, 367, 376

Refiner 211





Rock, the 152, 276, 325

Saviour 6, 9, 12, 25, 31, 37, 45, 48, 50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 80, 82, 87, 88, 91, 92, 94, 96,

99, 100, 106, 109, 111, 115, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 127, 128, 132, 134-136,

140, 145, 147, 149, 150, 152, 157, 159, 166, 167, 173-178, 180, 181, 183-186,

192, 193, 196, 199, 201-203, 205, 206, 210, 216, 223, 224, 226, 240, 241, 243,

247, 248, 251, 253, 261, 268, 308, 319, 323, 329, 338, 340, 344, 351, 364, 365,368, 376

Second Adam 58, 59, 61, 112, 116

Sin Bearer 120, 121

Substitute 90, 95, 98, 99, 125, 185

Shepherd 178, 306

Son 6-9, 17, 19, 32, 38, 49, 51, 52, 54, 55, 57, 59, 65, 68, 78, 80, 84, 86-90, 92, 103,

104, 106, 111-115, 118, 121, 122, 124, 126, 127, 131, 132, 134-140, 142, 144,

151, 155, 159-161, 163, 165-167, 170, 190-192, 194, 195, 199, 203, 209, 214,

217, 222, 225, 248, 249, 252, 261, 278, 319, 323, 326, 341, 346, 362, 366, 373,374, 376, 377

Son of God 7, 17, 19, 32, 38, 49, 51, 54, 55, 57, 59, 78, 84, 86, 87, 90, 92, 103, 104,

111-113, 115, 118, 121, 127, 136, 139, 140, 144, 155, 159, 160, 165, 166, 190,

192, 194, 195, 203, 261, 319, 326, 373, 374

Substitute 53, 90, 94, 95, 98, 99, 108, 111, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134, 135, 145, 160,

161, 165, 166, 185, 209, 259

Sun of Righteousness 30, 149, 347

Surety 90, 94, 95, 99, 101, 108, 111, 121, 125, 145, 160, 161, 163, 165, 185, 226,351

Teacher 25, 83, 91, 100, 153, 164, 170, 184, 213, 223, 226, 350

True Vine 125

Way, the Truth, and the Life 82, 94, 153, 156, 350

No sin in 55, 58-60, 319

Not even by a thought did, yield to temptation 55, 319

Obedience of 91, 108, 163

Once stood in age just where you now stand 58, 162

Only the power of, can withstand force of evil 76

Overcame as we must overcome 51, 53

Possessed all the human organism 106

Proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey God’s law 67

Righteousness of

Clothed with the garment of 217

Fine linen is 202, 216, 235





Imputed and imparted, our only ground of hope 347

Message of, to sound from one end of earth to the other 311

Opposition to message of, in 1888 shut away power of the Holy Spirit 311

Robe of 196, 197, 218, 294, 296

Teach others that they may be clothed with 368

Those who reject, are rejecting fitness for the marriage feast 216Risked failure and eternal loss 104, 160, 162

Spent whole nights in prayer 114

Teachings of, were sowing of the seed 218

Tempted in all points like as we are 50, 51, 53, 57, 58, 60, 61, 76, 92, 96, 105, 106,

108-111, 114, 115, 119, 160, 162, 163

How He could be, is a mystery 61

Tempted to use His divine power to deliver Himself 108

Test of, infinitely more severe than that brought to bear on Adam 111

True followers of Great body of, are still to be found in other churches 306

Was found in fashion as a man 351, 374

Was on probation in being tried and tested 104

Was subject to weakness of humanity 52, 160, 162

Will ever bear marks of His crucifixion, through eternity 375

Within, our hope of glory 178, 201, 295, 358

World needs revelation of today 172

Christian character 109, 156, 195, 235, 245, 282, 297, 299, 314, 347, 364Christian churches 367

Christianity 85, 199, 234, 263, 298, 301, 302, 315, 336, 355, 363

Christian life 30, 138, 219, 223, 243, 344, 351

Is a warfare that demands constant vigilance 260

Object of, is fruit-bearing; reproduction of Christ’s character 243

Christians 7, 9, 48, 91, 95, 116, 118, 156, 172, 178, 182, 184, 189, 198, 200, 201,

207, 209, 217, 219, 223, 224, 226, 239, 245, 251, 257, 266, 279, 299, 320, 334,

336, 346, 369

Are either under Christ’s rule or under control of the enemy 224

Before, is opened a path of continual advancement 245

Evangelical 7

Halfhearted, are worse than infidels 334

Loving others springs from Christ, not from “trying” (will-power) 347

Many take for granted that they are 184

True, description of 224





Will help provide homes for homeless; food and clothing for destitute 347

Will clothe the naked 348

Will feed the hungry 348

Church, the 3, 22, 34, 82, 84, 94, 138, 148-150, 158, 174, 183, 202, 210, 216, 220,

227, 231, 244, 248, 249, 253, 257, 260-263, 265, 271, 276, 278, 280, 285, 298,

299, 302, 305, 316-318, 322, 323, 328, 333, 334, 336-338, 342, 343, 345, 350,353, 357, 369, 372

Accumulated light of generations given to 94

As body of Christ 157

By it, Christ seeks to represent the divine character 246

Christ pleaded for 138

Good and bad leaders in 149

Holy Spirit promised to 156

Is Christ’s instrumentality in the world 246

Is to reveal Christ to the world 84Let world see that God’s, is not selfish but liberal in sharing blessings 239

Many a star in, admired for its brilliancy, will go out in darkness at the end 318

Near the end, gold will be separated from dross in 305, 318

Near the end, may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall 298

Not enough to have our names on roll of 338

Nothing so dear to God’s heart as 183

On earth, is God’s “true tabernacle” 252

On earth today, God will accomplish through, what He purposed to do for the worldthrough Israel 147

When, practices principles of the law, will have power to move world 342

Church and state 265

Mingling of churchcraft and statecraft 265

Circumcision 302

Cities

Families counseled to move away from, into the country 320

In, people can be interested in truth by no ordinary efforts 372

Close of probation

See Probation, Close of

Commandment keepers 207, 232, 258, 291, 317, 333

Commandment-keeping people 183, 219, 300, 303, 305

Commandments of God 92, 104, 106, 108, 109, 143, 188, 191, 195, 207, 226, 227,

246, 249, 266, 268, 282, 289, 294, 298, 305, 318, 321, 337, 363

See also, Law of God





Commandments of men 24, 97, 109, 266, 276, 289, 305, 318

Compromise 3, 226, 299, 301, 371

Conflict between good and evil 4

Conscience 16, 29, 31, 49, 73, 116, 152, 156, 158, 190, 195, 198, 200, 259-261,

263, 264, 289, 290, 306, 329, 345

Controlling the 289Constitution, U.S. 264

Controlled by impulse 281

Conversion 31, 188, 189, 199, 201, 226, 269, 271, 299, 338, 350

Converted 47, 85, 116, 126, 155, 156, 182, 188, 189, 233, 244, 264, 269, 276, 283,

296, 305, 308, 316, 325, 336, 343, 345, 351, 360, 366, 367

Covenant(s)

Abrahamic 205-208, 221

New 117, 205-207, 245

Based on “better promises” 117, 205, 206, 245Of grace 185, 204, 207, 208

Old 205, 206

Israel’s failure to keep, prepared them to appreciate blessings of new covenant 206

Terms of were: “Obey and live” 206

Two 204, 206

Cranmer, Thomas (Protestant Reformation) 265

Cross, the 7, 9, 11, 12, 97, 121, 124-126, 128-130, 132, 133, 135-137, 139, 141,

144, 164, 179, 190, 196, 198, 223, 224, 226, 252, 269, 356, 362, 366, 375By His sacrifice on, Christ has fully satisfied the justice of the Father 252

Christ drained last dregs of human woe on 167

Christ felt forsaken of God on 167

Christ’s suffering on, from sense of sin’s malignity 121

Does not find friends but makes them 137

Even at, angels did not understand all that was involved in great controversy 145

God’s agency for counterworking Satan’s plans 137

Guilt of every descendant of Adam pressed on Christ’s heart on 166

Helps us realize more clearly Christ’s love for us 136

Is God’s agency for restoring man to his original purity 137

Is invested with a wonderful attraction and unlimited power 136

Is standing pledge of Father’s boundless love and mercy 362

Is the great center of attraction 128

Only by, can we place an estimate on man 124

Only in light of, can we discern exalted character of God’s law 136





Reveals God’s hatred for sin 136

Silence in heaven as Christ suffered on 166

Stands alone as great center in the world 137

Through efficacy of, heaven’s angels guarded from apostasy 144

We should exalt 144





D

Day of Atonement 142, 144, 145, 229

Day of judgment 313, 325, 345, 346, 348

No one will be accepted in, because by clever schemes and sharp dealing, he became

rich 348

Day of Pentecost 55, 310, 316Time is coming when as many will be converted in a day as on 316

Deadly wound 287

Deception(s) 6, 30, 66-68, 73, 107, 133, 135, 184, 197, 215, 225, 258, 259-261,

268, 270, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 283, 284, 307, 322, 323, 326, 327, 334, 362,

374

Destiny 10, 11, 41, 87, 226, 234, 247, 253, 298, 323, 339, 342, 346, 377

Character decides 247

Eternal 226, 346

Disfellowshiped 285

Divine power and human effort 209-212, 309

See also, Human effort

God does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing 209, 210

God’s grace not a substitute for our effort 209

Relationship between 203

We are not passive instruments, to be saved in indolence 211

We have a part in the struggle for everlasting life 211

Doctrine(s)Blown about by every wind of 281, 282

False 2, 24

Doubt(s) 6, 9, 17, 19, 21, 30, 31, 66, 109, 129, 153, 192, 193, 232, 257, 298, 322,

356, 377





E

Early Rain 55, 310, 313

See also, Former Rain, Latter Rain

Easy religion 272

Eden 7, 39, 51, 73, 74, 76, 88, 104, 105, 110, 124, 160, 185, 204, 205, 225, 250, 281

EducationChristian, contrasted with secular 237

Highest class of, described 234

In, wisdom of God must be made first and most important 236

Object of, to restore in man image of his Maker 233

True, is preparation of physical, mental, and moral powers for performance of every

duty 235

True, is training of body, mind, and soul for divine service 235

Work of, is to develop power to think and to do 234

Eleventh hour

At, near end, many will join ranks of enemy, but many from enemies ranks will join

God’s people 305

Thousands converted in a day, who at, see and acknowledge the truth 316

Ellipse of truth 139, 202

Emerging Church 268

Enmity 23, 36, 76, 77, 224

Erroneous theories 272, 275, 279

Error 2, 3, 6, 9, 20, 24, 28, 31, 55, 66, 69, 80, 146, 154, 158, 172, 178, 184, 186,189, 204, 255, 257, 261, 263, 267, 271, 275, 276, 278, 279, 281, 282, 315, 321,

325, 338, 354, 357, 363, 370, 375

Evil

God gives opportunity for true character of to be revealed 21

Evolution 13

Experimental knowledge of God 172, 174, 176, 234, 368

Experimental religion 173, 372





F

Faith

Appreciates what it cost Jesus to die for us 179

Brings strength to cope with powers of darkness 180

Connects us with heaven 180

Connects us with heaven and brings us strength to resist evil 211Does not believe Christ will save others but not you 186

Does not require becoming worked up into an ecstasy of feeling 174

Feeling is not, nor is emotion 176

Founded on Bible, not on our feelings 178

Founded on promises and provisions of the Bible 178, 272

Grows from faith to an increased faith 173

He who has not sufficient, to believe Christ can keep him from sinning, has not

enough to give him entrance to kingdom of God 313

Includes not only belief but trust 180, 186

Is always expressed in words and actions 181, 220

Is an active, living principle 181

Is inseparable from repentance and transformation of character 173

Is intelligent and requires thinking deeply 176

Is living and vigorous 174, 176

Is more than “only believe” 180

Is not an opinion or mere intellectual assent to the truth 173, 174, 186

Is not certainty of knowledge 178Is not the erroneous faith of a persecuting Saul 179

Level of, that leads to obedience, the only condition upon which justification can be

obtained 180

Means taking God at His word and believing in His power to save 174

Means to find and accept the gospel treasure, with its obligations 173

Nominal 173, 180, 227

Not a special feeling, emotion, or mere sentiment 175

Not a transitory impulse but a permanent power 179

Not enough to believe Jesus not an imposter or Bible not a fable 338

Obedience to law possible through, in Christ 180

Of Jesus 143, 227, 249, 268, 298

Only condition on which justification can be obtained 180

Sees and appreciates holiness of Christ 173

Sufficient evidence on which to base 9

That works by love 29, 174, 176, 181, 186, 215, 355





Through, we come to know God by an experimental knowledge 172

To be combined with works 181, 192, 207

We maintain connection with Christ by, and continual surrender of the will 193

We must fight the fight of 177

Without works 180, 192, 272

Is an ensnaring doctrine 272Works by love and purifies the soul 174, 176, 177

Faithful and wise servants 335, 340-343

Are determined to aim high and do not look for excuses 340

Are to do greatest amount of good of which we are capable 338

Are true and lovable Christians 335

Are unconsciously developing fruit of sanctification 343

Are witnesses to power of the Gospel 336

As seen in parable of sheep and goats 346

As seen in parable of the Bridegroom 335As seen in parable of the businessman 338

First duty of, is development of all our powers 338

Have a clear picture of the Gospel 336

Jesus came to give us example of 340

Keep their Christian mission in front of all they do 341

Know exactly how they can fulfill their responsibilities 341

Know what men and women need “in due season” 335

Learn how to battle self in duty to improve talents 341Will not embarrass God 336

Fallen churches 269, 270, 306

Fall of man 16, 57, 75, 205

After, Satan said humans were proven incapable of keeping God’s law 106

Brought disease and weakened moral power 76

Brought dread of the future 75

Brought efforts at self-justification 75

Brought less strength to resist evil 75

False christ 261

Falsehood 2, 6, 16, 31, 67, 70, 91, 154, 225, 260, 261, 263, 271, 284, 327, 373, 375

False prophets 197, 276

False theories 4, 154, 259, 260, 276, 280, 299, 305, 353

False visions 281

Fanaticism 8, 157, 274, 358

Fear





We have more to, from within than from without 298

Filthy garments 183, 197

Final events

Bringing a storm, relentless in its fury 247

Soon to break upon world with overwhelming surprise 247

Soon to come with blinding force 247Final triumph 1, 11, 74, 266

Flesh foods 232, 233

Flesh, the 42, 88, 93, 103, 105, 106, 163, 189, 192, 194, 195, 231, 233, 252, 295,

309, 310

Flood, the 39, 248, 323, 331

Men before, were more than twice as tall as men now on earth 331

Force

And fear are Satan’s tools to rule conscience of human beings 259

God never uses, but Satan does constantly 259Foreheads 7, 197, 222, 288, 294-297, 303, 308, 314, 324, 326, 377

Father’s name written on, of 144,000 294

Father’s name written on, of saints 294

God’s servants sealed in 324

Mark of beast received in 303

Seal of God only placed on, of those without spot before God 295

Servants of God sealed in 314

Forgiveness 12, 44, 82, 127, 133, 136, 158, 190, 206, 216 Not to encourage us to continue in sin 187

Former Rain 310, 313, 314

See also, Early Rain, Latter Rain

Many fail to receive and expect lack to be supplied by latter rain 310

Fourth commandment 40, 214, 228, 256, 264, 289, 290, 307, 321, 328, 365

See also, Law of God; Sabbath; Ten Commandments

Four winds

See Winds of strife

Freedom of choice 69

God’s greatest gift to His created beings 15

Human beings given, to choose between God or Satan 73

Free Masons 320

Free moral agent(s) 15, 69, 73, 104

Futurism

Warning against, as applied to prophecies 321





G

GCT

See Great Controversy Theme

General Conference (of Seventh-day Adventists) 63, 226, 275, 311

Session of 1888 311

Session of 1901 275Gentiles 302

Gethsemane 56, 99, 127

Gluttony 231

God

Accepts whole heart, or none at all 306

All His biddings are enablings 341

Character of 5, 6, 11, 21, 39, 66, 68, 79, 83, 90, 93, 94, 97, 107, 114, 125, 130, 155,

165, 171, 204, 234, 367

Character of 6, 31, 164, 235

Fully manifested in eternity as one of fathomless love and infinite wisdom 378

Is to be made known 149

Is to be revealed in our characters 149

Last message to world is revelation of 149

Law is transcript of 148

Misapprehension of, enshrouds world in darkness 149

Christ dwelt much on holiness of character and law of 350

Constantly seeks to reveal Himself to us 78Continual working of, in nature 278

Co-operating with 48, 128, 140, 148, 151, 156, 177, 199, 209, 210, 217, 220, 225,

308, 319, 336, 342, 348, 377

Co-operation with 73, 84, 127, 152, 203, 210, 211, 246

Could and would not use Satan’s methods 71

Destroys no one 36

Divine government of 5, 73, 258, 373

Every breath and heartbeat is evidence of His immediate power 79

Fear of 180, 223, 231, 251, 252, 285, 310

We should have a proper 180

Glory of 7, 41, 73, 78, 123, 134, 135, 149, 309, 311, 318, 319, 350

Is His character 338

Is to be revealed in our characters 148

We are to manifest, in our own life and character 149

Government of 5, 16, 19, 20, 24, 66, 70, 71, 73, 129, 130, 132, 293, 374





Principles of 5

Has jewels in all the churches 268

Honor of, vindicated before universe when great controversy ends 377

In regard to what He is and where He is, silence is eloquence 275

Is not nature, nor is nature God 278

Judgments of 180, 248, 258, 270, 288, 290, 319, 349Knowledge of 6, 79, 88, 145, 169, 175, 205, 234, 275, 278, 367

And of Christ, is altogether too meager 175

Law of

See Law of God

Love of 2, 17, 63, 65, 100, 115, 134, 136, 192

All declare, when great controversy ends 374

As expressed in gift of God’s Son, amazed angels 131

As shown in 1 Corinthians 13, is standard of perfection we may reach through Christ

246 Never covers or excuses unconfessed wrong 63

Satan determined men shall not see 362

Makes no compromise with sin 299

Means what He says 180

Names of

Ancient of Days 283

Father 2, 9, 17, 19, 32, 68, 89, 90, 92, 93, 99, 100, 106, 109, 111, 112, 114-116,

120, 121, 124, 131, 134, 137-142, 147, 151, 152, 157, 159, 160, 166, 167, 187,195, 199, 204, 214, 222, 225, 249, 252, 278, 296, 334, 341, 362, 374, 377

Judge 136, 323, 345

Promises of 175, 178, 206

Religion of, is a firm fabric 299

Righteousness of 3, 6, 21, 98, 181, 182

Is embodied in Christ 181

Is to be made known 347

Men losing knowledge of 347

Revelation of 5

Shows His people the last-day plan of battle 268

Speaks to us through

His chosen people 82

His law 80

Nature 78

Providential workings and the Spirit 79





The Bible 80

The Church 83

The gift of His Son 88

The Sabbath 81

The tithing system 88

Throne of 86, 96, 104, 164, 177, 185, 204, 222, 294, 375Warning against curious discussion of nature of 280

We belong to, by creation and redemption 246

We should have wholesome fear of His judgments 180

Will fight our battles for us, if we watch, pray, and work 210

Will of 6, 28, 75, 106, 123, 132, 135, 138, 140, 175, 181, 188, 194, 195, 202, 210,

225, 235, 238

Those who serve God stive earnestly to obey 223

Will unmask Satan’s methods to the universe 71

Works in us to will and to do 96, 156, 194, 209, 210, 224, 250Wrath of 36, 39, 41, 120, 121, 136, 165-167, 173, 290, 303, 306, 307, 324

Seventh vial of 327

Vials of 324

Godhead, the 103, 115, 139, 151, 154, 377

Three members of 377

Godliness 22, 93, 103, 128, 175, 181, 199, 203, 208, 215, 269, 270, 273, 279, 285,

305, 306, 318, 337, 347, 358, 360, 365, 366

Love is the basis of 347Mere profession of, is worthless 175

God’s people, loyal and true

After Christ’s mediation completed, no death among 300

Are in this world to do service for God 147

Are never to depend on own efforts or outward display for success in doing God’s

work 359

Are on trial before heavenly universe 147

Are to be a praise in the earth 149

Are to become like God in character 147

Are to be sanctified, purified, and holy 149

Are to care for the widow and the fatherless 348

Are to reveal Christ to the world 147

Are to reveal His character 147, 148

Are to show power of truth to restrain evil inclincations 147

Are to show world an unmistakable representation of His character 245





Are to vindicate His character before the world 148

Called to defend truth and righteousness when majority forsake them 284

Called to fight Lord’s battles when champions are few 284, 322

Clean and holy 314

Expected to reveal life and character of Christ to the world 199

God has chosen to give light that must illuminate the world 333God is now testing and proving 314

Greatest work of, in world, is to glorify God by living the character of Christ 157

May gather warmth from coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, loyalty

from their treason 284, 322

May have to remain here in this world many more years, because of insubordination

309

Must be prepared to stand before Christ without fault at His second coming 244

Must give to world a representation of character of God 367

Near the end, large class of, join ranks of opposition 304 Near the end, many a star admired for its brilliancy will go out in darkness from

among 305

Near the end, some of, apostatize and become most bitter enemies of their former

brethren 304

Only evidence world has that, believe His Word is that they practice Word and

follow Christ’s example 337

Responsibility of, to rest of humanity 240

Some will go out from among 303Through, Christ is to manifest His character 146

To be in world as a corrective influence 239

To be judged according to what they ought to have done but did not 344

To be without spot or wrinkle 222, 226

When tested, great proportion of, will take side of opposers 302, 304

Who have not bowed the knee to Baal 299

Will soon be tested by fiery trials 302

God’s purpose for mankind 8

God the Father 131, 134, 138, 166

Satan’s special effort to have us make a separation between, and God the Son 278

So one with Christ as to be little short of identical 135

Suffered with the Son, on the cross 134, 166

Was crucified with Christ 134

Golden calf 40

Good and evil 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 21, 30, 44, 76, 109, 257, 279, 291, 327, 352, 358





Good fruit 170, 189

Good works 125, 149, 192, 194, 196, 199, 209, 219, 239, 334, 347

Are the fruits of faith 209

Are to unbelievers our most effective preaching 239

Cannot be performed in strength of our own sinful natures 209

Grace only enables us to do, for which God rewards us 209 Nothing accorded to us for, by which we may claim a part in our salvation 209

Our own, can never purchase salvation 215

Result of God’s love and are not credit to us 209

Trying to reach heaven by, is attempting an impossibility 215

We are rewarded according to our 209

Goody-goody religion 198

Some have, that makes light of sin yet presumes God will save nonetheless 198

Gospel 9, 12, 48, 49, 80, 85, 109, 128, 137, 183, 224, 251

And the law 227Conditions of, prescribe obedience 251

Danger of getting above simplicity of 359

Definition of 6

Dual purpose of 6

Everlasting 248, 249, 321

Foundation of, is Christ and Him crucified 365

Is blossoms and fruit; law is tree 245

Is power of God to salvation 6Is the hope of the world 137

Is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living force to change the life 336,

366

Proclamation of, is only means in which God can use us for the salvation of souls 286

To be preached to world shows that obedience is condition of gaining eternal life

349

We are to give practical demonstration of its purity and power 199

Gospel ministry 367

Grace 2, 4, 6, 11, 22, 30, 31, 36-38, 42, 44, 47, 49, 55, 66, 73, 77, 80, 82, 87, 89-96,

99, 108, 109, 113, 114, 116, 117, 126, 127, 140, 144, 147-149, 151-153, 156-158,

160, 163, 169-173, 177, 179, 184, 185, 189-191, 193, 195, 196, 201, 202, 204-

210, 212, 219, 221, 224-227, 236, 239, 245-247, 253, 272, 277, 296, 301, 309,

310, 313, 314, 322, 326, 334-336, 341, 342, 344, 347, 349, 350, 357, 359, 366-

368, 377

Brings a complete transformation to the life 170





Christ’s, doth much more abound, than the law 349

Christ’s favorite theme was paternal tenderness and abundant, of God 350

Covenant of 172

God’s, is free 170

God’s supply of, is inexhaustible 170

Is the character of Christ 171Is unmerited 170

Of God, is for all who seek it 152

Shield of, can preserve us from temptations of the enemy 171

Through God’s, we may accomplish all that He requires 171

Through God’s, we may possess Christlikeness of character 336

Through, of Christ, obedience to commandments possible 368

To grow in, is to be disinterestedly doing work God has given us 344

We are saved by, alone 171

Without saving, of God, we cannot endure test of temptation 171Great advent movement 86, 250

Great Commission

Includes only what Christ taught; all human teaching excluded 354

Great conflict 3, 92, 145, 146, 255, 293, 328, 375

See also, Great Controversy

Great Controversy, the 1, 3, 4, 5, 8-11, 13, 15, 20, 21, 27, 35, 37, 38, 41, 55, 61, 65,

66, 71, 77, 86, 103, 123, 131, 139, 142, 143, 145-147, 151, 159, 169, 189, 204,

229, 233, 234, 237, 243, 248, 249, 251, 252, 254, 255, 257, 259, 260, 262, 263,265, 266, 269-271, 287, 290, 291, 293, 300, 304, 306, 307, 313, 317-319, 323,

326, 328, 331, 333, 335, 349, 373, 375-378

At closing of, at issue is Satan’s charges concerning God’s law 146

At opening of, at issue is Satan’s charges concerning God’s law 146

Choosing sides in 11

Closing struggle of 165

End of 374

Enters into every phase of human experience 234

Four core truths of 25

Is being waged in full view of the heavenly universe 177

Is grand central theme of scripture 10, 234

Satan has led vast multitudes to accept his version of 373

Two principles; two antagonistic motives of 234

Universe after ending of, described 374

We can help bring to an end 72





Will increase in intensity to the very close of time 257

Great Controversy Theme 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 65, 86, 103, 123, 131, 139, 151, 159,

169, 229, 293, 313, 333, 349

Great disappointment 244, 250, 308, 309





H

Habits 6, 33, 42-46, 48-50, 87, 120, 170, 172, 177, 189, 197, 210, 220-222, 226,

231, 232, 237, 247, 338, 339, 342, 350, 369

Evil 87, 170, 221

Form character; character decides destiny 247

Inherited and cultivated 44 New 172, 221, 342

Simplicity in, to be observed 350

Sinful 221

Wrong 120, 172, 197, 221, 226

Harvest, principle of the 34, 35, 50, 113, 150, 158, 219, 220, 240, 243-245, 247,

249, 300, 313, 326, 354

Health 8, 12, 47, 76, 88, 133, 193, 210, 229-233, 237, 342, 355, 357, 364, 367-369,

377

A blessing of which few appreciate the value 342

Health reform 8, 47, 230-233, 369

As closely connected to third angel’s message as hand is with body 230, 232

Is an entering wedge for truth 231

Lord’s means for lessening suffering in world and for purifying church 231

Heart

Of flesh 158, 202

New 189

Heaven 2, 4-7, 10, 11, 16-22, 31, 34, 37, 41, 43, 44, 47, 49, 52, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72-74, 77-79, 82, 84-86, 90, 92, 93, 96, 100, 101, 106, 108, 112-114, 117, 119, 122,

124, 125, 129, 133, 138-140, 144, 148, 151, 152, 155, 158-161, 164-166, 170,

173, 174, 178-180, 184-187, 193, 194, 196, 199, 200, 203, 211, 213-217, 219,

225-227, 230, 235, 238, 245-248, 250-253, 257, 259, 264, 266, 268, 276, 279,

280, 283, 285, 287, 291, 293, 295-297, 303, 308, 309, 311, 313, 315-317, 325,

327, 329, 331, 333, 336-339, 347, 353, 355, 358, 364, 373-375, 377

What is happiness of, but to see God? 377

Heavenly trio 377

See also, Godhead, the; Three Great Powers of heaven

Heavenly universe 2-5, 21, 122, 129, 147, 177, 245, 246

Hereditary (traits) 44-48, 140, 154, 155, 188, 189, 202, 213, 218, 299, 341

See also, Inclinations, Impulses, Tendencies

Heresies 257, 274, 283, 354

Hermeneutics 86

Holiness 2, 3, 17, 32, 39, 41, 63, 64, 80, 93, 114, 132, 133, 135, 141, 149, 173, 177,





181, 189, 195, 196, 202, 205, 206, 211, 220, 222, 223, 231, 232, 251, 252, 274,

276, 277, 298, 310, 347, 350, 353, 358

Is not rapture, but surrendering all to God 132, 135, 196, 220

Holy City 218

Holy Ghost 13, 151

See also, Holy Spirit; Spirit of GodHoly Spirit, the 8, 12, 30, 33, 36, 37, 48, 61, 63, 77, 79, 88, 97, 106, 113, 133, 140,

142, 143, 145, 151-158, 163, 170, 172, 173, 175, 177, 186, 188-190, 194, 196,

199, 203, 206-211, 214, 222, 227, 244, 246, 249, 252, 274, 275, 281, 285, 296,

307, 309-311, 313, 314, 316, 317, 321, 325, 326, 334, 338, 342, 344, 347, 350,

352, 353, 362, 363, 367, 377

See also, Holy Ghost, Spirit of God

Baptism of 314

Brings conviction 153

Came to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the world 157Can be every place personally 152

Can supply every want, help us overcome every difficulty 156

Changes our character into the image of Christ 155

Christ’s representative on earth 152

Christ’s successor on earth 152

Executes divine purpose of bringing to man power to overcome 158

Fruit of 207, 246

Full impartation of, awaits God’s people being in right relation to God and oneanother 157

Gift of, not received, if no surrender 156

Given as a regenerating agent 139

Given to impress Christ’s character on His church 140

Has a personality 151

Helped disciples understand Christ’s words 154

Implants in us new thoughts, new feelings, new motives 155

Implants Word in hearts of Christ’s followers 338

Influence of, changes us till we become one with Christ 154Is a divine Person 151

Is agent of regeneration 154, 155

Is Author of all sanctification 140

Is divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil 140,

154, 155

Is one of three Persons of the Godhead 151





Is the Comforter 153-155

Is the only effectual teacher of divine truth 152

Is the Spirit of truth 154

Is to impress Christ’s character on His church 154

Keeps evil under control of conscience 158

Laborers qualified by unction of, rather than training of literary institutions 317Leads us to cooperate with God 156

Look to, to do what we cannot do for ourselves, after we have done all we can 365

Makes effectual what has been wrought out by world’s Redeemer 139, 154, 155

Makes heart pure 154

Makes us partakers of the divine nature 154

Not burdened with human personality 152

Only through, may sin be resisted and overcome 154

Outpouring of 310

Power of, reforms and renovates 153Produces a complete change in the human heart 155

Promised gift of, to church is conditional 156

Results when withdrawn from among men 37, 38, 307, 326, 327

Shows us the things of Christ 154

Sin of blasphemy against 158

Speaks to mind through Bible and impresses truth on heart 154

Subject on which Christ dwelt most largely was endowment of 350

The source of every act and impulse of love 77To glorify Christ, as Christ glorified the Father 147

Warning against charging work of, to satanic agencies or fanaticism 157

Was active in world during Old Testament times 151

We cannot use Him; He is to use us 156

Without enlightenment of, men cannot distinguish truth from error 338

Without, no one can be a channel of light 152

Working of, for us, hindered by our lack of faith 153

Work of, illustrated in parable of the leaven 155

Work of, is to convince world of sin, righteousness, and judgment 246

Work of, is to define and maintain truth 154

Holy Writ 13, 299

See also, Bible, the; Scriptures; Word of God

Hooper, John (Protestant Reformation) 265

Human beings

God created, to enlarge heaven 72





The crowning act of all God’s creation 72

Upheld by God, were to live sinless lives 72

Were a new and distinct order 72

Human effort 34, 48, 93, 98, 176, 210, 309, 351

See also, Divine power and human effort

Combined with divine power 48Human nature 32, 51, 53, 54, 57-61, 76, 93-96, 98, 106, 108-114, 118, 119, 122,

138, 155, 159-163, 196, 262, 326, 351

Bent to evil in 76

Christ took our fallen, but not corrupted 52

Only through Christ’s, can we resist and subdue tendencies of our fallen 171

Hypnotism 279

Hypocrisy 18, 23, 184





I

“I am sinless” 222

We cannot say, till our bodies are changed at the second coming 222

Image of God 3, 6, 7, 31, 45, 67, 72, 91, 93, 94, 99, 101, 124, 125, 147, 148, 157,

165, 170, 234, 313, 326

Moral, to be perfected in the character 313To be reproduced in humanity 147

Imitation of Christ 223

True religion is 223

Immortality 211, 212, 230, 232, 236, 260

Immortality of the soul 260

One of two great errors of Satan in last days 260

Impressions, trusting to 32, 161, 201, 281, 345, 364

Impulses 10, 44, 46, 200, 267, 342

Inclinations 2, 31, 42, 43, 49, 52, 56, 61, 62, 147, 155, 172, 188, 203, 226, 342

Natural 2, 155

Infallibility, papal 265

Infidelity 265, 273, 281, 290

Inhabitants

Of the worlds 19, 21

Of unfallen worlds 4

Intellectual faculties

See Mind, theIntellectual laziness 368

Intemperance 42

Internet 320

Investigative judgment 140, 144, 250, 251, 253

Is not the judgment of the wicked, which comes later 144

Is second phase of the atonement 140

Only cases of God’s professed people are considered in 144

Isle of Patmos 370

Israel, nation of 147

Christian patriots were in 238

Did not fulfill God’s purpose for them 83

Did not realize that without Christ, they could not keep God’s law 206

Not God’s will that they wander 40 years in wilderness 244

Was to represent God to the world 79, 82

Israel, modern 244, 309





“It is written” 4, 6, 61, 92, 213

See also, “What hath God said” 358





J

Jacob’s trouble, time of 328, 329

During, faith of God’s people does not fail if their prayers are not immediately

answered 329

During, Satan tries to terrify God’s people that their cases are hopeless 329

Follows death decree for Sabbath keeping 329Jericho 303

Jerusalem (in Bible times)

City of God 373

Council at 302

Destruction of 35, 36, 37

Destruction of, in A.D. 70 330

God wanted to exalt, as world’s metropolis 87

God withdrew His protection from 35

Jews 4, 9, 35, 81, 83, 88, 118, 142, 170, 208, 227, 268, 278, 302, 323, 346, 359

Of today, work for, must not be ignored 268

Jones, A. T. 226, 274, 311

Judgment, the 6, 41, 47, 74, 117, 125, 226, 232, 248, 348, 360, 364

Justice 4, 5, 39, 40, 68, 71, 90, 119, 129, 132, 133, 134, 136, 146, 166, 167, 252,

258, 259, 272, 291, 374-377

Confusion over God’s, leads to misunderstanding Gospel 272

Justice and Mercy 133

Justification 8, 75, 180, 185, 186, 188, 192, 194, 201, 204, 207, 226, 227See also, Pardon; Sanctification

And pardon are one and the same thing 188, 191

Faith the only condition for receiving 186

Includes atonement accepted and sins pardoned 188

Relation of, to sanctification 194, 204

Requires entire surrender of heart 186

Will be made manifest in transformation of character 188





K

Kellogg, John Harvey, M.D. 274, 276

Presented theories akin to pantheism 276





L

Labor unions 300, 320

See also, Trades unions

Are one of signs of the last days 320

Time fast coming when controlling power of, will be very oppressive 320

Will be one of agencies to bring on earth a time of trouble 300, 320Laodicean(s) 298, 299, 333, 334

Ardor of first love has lapsed into selfish egotism 334

Last days, the 9, 83, 141, 197, 238, 248, 268, 273, 279-281, 283-285, 289, 295, 306,

309, 319, 320, 321, 333, 349, 352

False teachers will arise in 285

False theories will abound in 285

Judges in, will refuse to listen to reasons given for keeping Sabbath 321

Large numbers will accept truth in, who hear truth for first time 319

Longing for some strange, new thing in 283

Merchants and princes will, in, take position to obey truth 317

Never a time when truth will suffer more from being misrepresented than in 283

Satan will plunge world into global financial crisis in 291

Signs of 281

Cloud of mysticism created around the Bible is one of 281

Labor unions one of 320

Special message of truth to be given in 285

Statesmen in, will hold in check powerful current of evil 318Those living in, will know what it means to be persecuted for truth’s sake 321

When human law is supreme and God’s law is held as nothing 321

World in, compared to last days before Flood 323

World in, compared to last days of Jerusalem 323

Youth will be drawn away in, by blind leaders of the blind 283

Last generation 212, 248, 335

Last great battle 324, 327, 328

See also, Armageddon, Battle of

Last great conflict 3, 146, 255, 328

Last message of mercy 149, 308, 347, 365

Last message of warning 366

Latter Rain 55, 300, 308-311, 313-315, 318

See also, Former Rain, Early Rain

May be falling all around, yet not discerned or received 310, 314

Those who stand every test and overcome will receive, and be fitted for translation





315

We must not wait for, at some future time 309

Will never refresh and invigorate the indolent 314

Law of God 4-7, 15, 16, 21, 31, 32, 34, 40, 47, 51, 63, 68-71, 76, 77, 79, 83, 87, 89,

90, 92-98, 104, 106-110, 112, 117, 121-123, 125-127, 129, 133, 135-137, 143,

144, 146, 148, 153, 165, 166, 179-181, 185, 192, 195, 197, 200, 202, 205-208,215, 217, 222, 227, 228, 239, 244, 250-252, 255-259, 264, 266, 270-273, 281,

293, 298, 302, 306, 307, 309, 311, 321, 334, 345, 371, 376, 378

See also, Ten Commandments

Abolished, many assert that Christ 272

As schoolmaster 208

Breach in, must be made up 244, 309

Christ’s life shows we too can obey 51

Claims of, are binding 137

Commandments of, are promises 16Doctrine that, no longer binding, is most pernicious error 255

Has no power to pardon the transgressor 251

Honored in eternity as law of liberty 378

In last days, held as nothing, as human law is held supreme 321

Is a law of life, not of death 208

Is eternal and unchangeable 136

Is great test question of loyalty 16

Is law of liberty 183, 378Is mirror to show man defects of his character 179

Is the transcript of His character 21, 148

Life of Christ on earth was perfect expression of 217

Man has nothing to give, to satisfy claims of 182

Many popular teachers declare that, is no longer binding 256

Obedience to every principle of, is possible through Christ 208

Obedience to, is the true sign of discipleship 207

Only through faith in Christ is obedience to, possible 135

Perfect obedience to, impossible without Christ 144Perpetuity of 3, 5, 7

Principles of 16

Rejection of 4

Spirituality of 133, 135, 195, 208

To be looked upon not as much from prohibitory side as from mercy side 208

To obedient, is wall of protection 208





Were obedience to, not possible, why does God make this the proof that we love

Him? 207, 232

Will be fully vindicated 71

Written on our hearts 207

Lazar house

Our world is a vast, of misery 72Legalism 208, 215

Legal religion 144, 208, 215, 227

Liberty of conscience 259, 290, 329

Light, the 8, 23, 28, 36, 39, 53, 66, 77, 87, 105, 112, 136, 139, 142, 143, 149, 152,

169, 175, 177, 181, 190, 196, 201-203, 208, 221, 223, 230, 236, 239, 244, 250,

268, 270, 271, 281, 282, 291, 299, 302, 306, 310, 311, 314, 315, 317, 319, 321,

325, 333, 352, 355, 357, 359, 363

Of many does not shine; they are moral icebergs 357

Only those living up to, they have, will receive greater light 310 Living Temple 274, 275

Contains mysticism 275

Erroneous theories in 275

Uses scripture in a way to make error appear as truth 275

Loud Cry 230, 232, 269, 306, 308, 310, 311, 313, 315, 316, 319, 327

See also, Third angel; Third angel’s message

Has already begun in revelation of Christ’s righteousness 311

Resisted by church leaders in 1888 311Satan stirs up a spurious 319

Lower nature 44, 47, 56, 62

Loyalists, God’s 165, 229, 230, 237, 253, 266, 270, 274, 285, 294, 300, 303, 315,

320, 322, 326, 327, 335

Lucifer 16-20, 65, 66, 70

See also, Satan

And the beginning of sin 17, 18

Coveted Christ’s position 19

Description of, before his fall 17

Desire of, to exalt self 18

Filled with envy 18

First among the angels 17

God permitted, to continue his rebellion 20, 21

Introduced rebellion in heaven 19

Once the covering cherub 19, 20





Sowed doubt and discontent among the angels 19, 20

Sows doubts in minds of men and women 21

Luther, Martin 265





M

Mark of the beast 266, 289, 293, 303-306, 318

See also, Beast, the

Is the keeping of Sunday 304

Is on right hand or foreheads 288, 303

Is the papal sabbath 304 Not all is yet known regarding 304

Marriage Supper of the Lamb 216, 338

Martyrs 265, 300

Blood of, as seed 300

Meat eating 233

Medical missionary work 230, 231, 233, 367

Gospel ministry and, to be as closely connected as arm with body 367

Is the Gospel illustrated 367

Soon, no work will be done in ministerial lines but 367

Meekness 195, 225, 319, 334, 351, 364, 370, 371

Mercy 2, 4, 7, 19-21, 30, 35-38, 40, 44, 61, 69, 82, 90, 118, 121, 124, 129, 132-134,

143, 146, 148, 149, 155, 158, 160, 161, 166, 167, 169, 188, 196, 205, 208, 209,

226, 245, 253, 268, 272, 300, 301, 305, 308, 317, 319, 323, 329, 336, 347, 357,

361, 362, 365, 371, 375

Mind, the

See also, Body, physical; Thoughts

Higher powers of 42, 46-48, 52, 56Intellectual faculties of 235

Given us not for service of self, but for service of God 235

Mental culture of 369

Mental faculties of 236, 340, 369

God requires training of 340

Mental powers of 350, 375

Mind of Christ 188, 201, 207

Minister(s)

Are to avoid argumentative sermons 352

Are to preach on the ministry of angels 352

Be sure your feet are placed on platform of eternal truth 157

Counsel to, on health habits 369

Do not follow impulse and call it the Holy Spirit 157

Expensive theatrical performances out of place for, in preaching 356

Faithful, how often would God have prolonged life of a certain, had his labors been





appreciated 322

In every sermon should appeal to people to forsake their sins and turn to Christ 366

Leave storytelling, joking, and frivolity out of sermons 356

May effectively use charts and other visual aids in preaching 356

Manner of presenting truth has much to do with its acceptance or rejection 364

Many, are digging their graves with their teeth 368Many, eat too much and exercise too little 368

More that, walk with God, less coarse and uncouth they are 364

Must not be passive and submissive, as unconverted all around are going to perdition

367

Must put forth extraordinary efforts to arrest attention of multitudes in cities 372

Needed, who can understand wants of people and minister to their necessities 370

Need to condemn popular sins and indulgences of the day 366

Need to make plain how sinners may come to Christ and be saved 350

Need to preach preach short, focused sermons 354 Not to attack government and its authorities 355

Not to be dwarfs in religious knowledge 365

Not to be orators or story-tellers 351

Not to be policy men or crowd pleasers 360

Not to be satisfied with set discourses, depending on notes 365

Not to be severe, critical, or dictatorial 364

Not to censure, criticize, or condemn 370

Not to denounce their opponents 370 Not to look to world for what to write, publish, or speak 371

Not to pray long prayers striving for eloquence 362

Not to preach speculative suppositions 352

Not to use overwrought presentations or expressions 365

Satan uses their own brethren to destroy 322

Sermons should be practical, not a display of eloquence 355

Should be assured of what they affirm 362

Should learn habits of order and regularity 369

Should never criticize or put down fellow workers 357Should never preach without presenting Christ and Him crucified 365

Should never put on a display of mock humility 358

Should not lower standards to avoid hurt feelings, but leave results with God 371

Should not seek praise 360

Should point people to Jesus as the Lamb who takes away sin of world 351

Should preach on Christ’s favorite themes 350





Should study and preach on history of God’s people 351

Some of our, will stand in pulpits with torch of false prophecy in their hands 280

Subjects, should preach on 351

To avoid fallacious logic or confusion of right and wrong 358

To avoid using boastful, bitter, or exasperating words 352

To follow Christ’s example in all things 368To preach short, positive, enthusiastic sermons 355

To take no heed of challenges to debate 371

To unite efforts with medical missionary workers 233

Unconverted, fail to win souls 367

Well-prepared arguments of, not enough; Spirit’s power needed 362

What, should do, when efforts unappreciated 368

Whose manner of speaking is physically defective and self-harmful 364

Work of, not done, till necessity for character change urged home 360

Work of, described 351Would reach more hearts if they dwelt more on practical godliness 365

Young 276

Who introduce new ideas and plans, but these do not result in conversions 276

Who seek to be original 276

Minneapolis (General Conference session, 1888) 226, 227, 311

Money 132, 323, 340, 344, 347, 348

Moral perfection 45, 235, 340

Is required of all 235, 340Moral power 76, 93-95, 97, 119, 124, 145, 176, 297

Mosaic law 302

Mothers

And prenatal influences 43

Duty of, to children 43

Mount of Olives 164, 346

Mount Zion 294, 295

Mrs. E. G. White 271

Enemies of, will make false charges against 271

Mystery of godliness 93, 103, 358, 366

Described 366

Mystery of iniquity 249

Mysticism 275, 281





N

Natural immortality 260

Nature of man 11, 25, 52, 54, 92, 109, 122, 159, 234

New birth 189, 214

Brings new motives, new tastes, new tendencies 189

New covenantSee Covenant

New heart 189

Sign of, is a changed life 189

To have, is to have new mind, purposes, and motives 189

New light 321, 352, 363

New Spirituality 268

New Testament 80, 85, 186, 191, 192, 225, 243

See also, Old Testament

Is the unfolding of the Old Testament 85

New theological prism 272

Nicolaitans 180





O

Obedience, perfect 29, 32, 67, 92, 98, 104, 110, 135, 144, 185, 191, 195, 200, 217,

218, 225, 252, 343

Old covenant

See Covenant

Old landmarks 227, 228, 276, 304Old Testament 80, 85, 86, 101, 131, 151, 186, 225, 350, 354

See also, New Testament

Relation of, to New Testament 80, 85

Omega deception 274, 277, 279, 283

See also, Alpha deception

To follow Alpha, will be of most startling nature 276





P

Pantheism 276

Papacy 261-265, 267, 287-289, 303, 357

Is two-horned leopardlike beast of Revelation 13 303

Papal power 317

Pardon 16, 35, 88, 124, 131, 133, 143, 158, 188, 191, 202, 205, 206, 208, 249-251,262, 329

See also, Justification; Power

And justification are one and the same thing 188

And power 139

Parents

Christ encouraged, to bring their little ones to Him 113

Must respect rights of children 46

Must sow seed in children before Satan does 34

Responsibility of, to teach children obedience 33

Responsible for character traits of children 45, 247

What Jesus would have, to teach their children, and what not to teach them 307

Who bend to will of their children 33

Partaker(s) of the divine nature 45, 53-55, 58, 62, 96, 98, 106, 109, 110, 119, 122,

124, 125, 132, 135, 154, 182, 189, 204, 213, 214, 246

Passions 13, 27, 29, 30, 33, 36, 42-44, 46-50, 52-54, 56, 80, 113, 210, 259, 342, 350

Christ had, but perfectly controlled 49

Pentecost 55, 142, 310, 311, 316Perfection 7, 45, 53, 79, 101, 109, 111, 112, 124, 128, 148, 157, 165, 170, 195, 198,

200, 201, 203, 222, 226, 233, 235, 245, 246, 253, 297, 313, 339, 340, 341

Can be attained only through God’s grace 246

Man to be as perfect in his sphere as God is in His 245

Those who serve God should aim at 225

Persecution 262, 266, 267, 288, 298-301, 329

Pharisees 18, 66, 153, 182, 184, 185, 208, 345

Manufactured religion of 208

Resisted truth and went contrary to their convictions 345

Worked to alienate hearts 66

Pillars of our faith 278, 363

Pillars of the Christian faith 3, 4

Plan of redemption

See Redemption, plan of

See also, Salvation, plan of





Plan of salvation

See Salvation, plan of

See also, Redemption, plan of

Poor, the 12, 92, 240, 343, 346

Popery 262, 263, 266, 289

Power And pardon 139

To become the sons of God 105, 210, 224, 227

To overcome 44, 101, 110, 119, 140, 154, 176, 212

Powers of darkness 1-3, 10, 47, 151, 180, 210, 211, 324, 326

Practical godliness 203, 360, 365, 366

Prayer 31, 32, 50, 56, 89, 90, 94, 106, 112-114, 116, 117, 128, 153, 160, 161, 164,

170, 193, 212, 213, 215, 216, 267, 276, 301, 310, 317, 329, 343, 365, 367, 369

Mighty power in 213

Preconceived ideas 362Preconceived opinions 8, 311

Prescott, W. W. 275

Present truth 63, 198, 231-233, 263, 315, 355, 359, 363

Pride 3, 10, 20, 29, 32, 45, 46, 49, 50, 65, 66, 158, 184, 189, 199, 209, 213, 214,

222, 269, 283, 297, 310, 325, 358, 359

Prince of darkness 53, 108, 111, 124, 126, 146, 165, 300, 327

See also, Satan

Probation 7, 38, 74, 78, 104, 129, 149, 188, 193, 196, 211, 217, 232, 253, 300, 301,311, 313, 323-326, 348

Close of 300, 301, 311, 313, 324

Final 253

Ends shortly before appearing of Christ in the clouds 253

No second 348

No second, for those who turn from truth 325

Probationary time 250, 324, 335

Promised Land 84

Promises 16, 21, 44, 75, 82, 113, 127, 152, 172, 175, 177, 178, 187, 201, 204, 206,

224, 231, 243, 244, 272, 308, 309, 338, 375

Conditions to fulfillment of God’s 187

God’s, and threatenings alike are conditional 244, 308

Propensities 27, 31, 42, 44, 46-50, 52-54, 56, 60, 61, 172, 231, 342, 351

See also, Tendencies

Christ’s, were not sinful and corrupt 52, 60, 61





Propensity 46, 49, 51, 60-62, 213

Not for one moment an evil one in Christ 51

We need not retain one sinful 213

Protestant(s) 260-266, 272, 288-290, 303, 304

Protestantism 226, 261-266, 268, 304

Apostate 304Pure and holy

Appetites 2

Garments of righteousness 197, 296

God 226

God’s end-time people 239

Heaven 200

Purity 10, 41, 56, 59, 63, 93, 101, 104, 105, 111, 128, 132, 133, 137, 144, 177, 182,

195, 199, 210, 222, 246, 248, 253, 282, 358, 368





R

Ransom 129, 132, 138, 142

Rapture, the 189, 220, 261

Rebellion 4, 5, 7-9, 16, 19-24, 40, 41, 65, 69-71, 125, 133, 144, 174, 189, 221, 225,

244, 250, 257, 260, 276, 280, 281, 325-327, 337, 358, 373, 374, 376

Cure of, questionable 24 No danger of another, after Satan destroyed 144

Redeemed, the 2, 7, 8, 104, 133, 144, 250, 374

Eternity will bring to, richer and more glorious revelations of God and Christ 374

In eternity, new truth will continually unfold to minds of 374

In eternity, only, will have known by experience actual conflict with sin 376

Perplexities of this life’s experiences made plain to, in eternity 375

What, will learn and enjoy in eternity 375

Will contemplate God’s work in creation and redemption through eternal ages 374

Will hold open communion with Father and Son 377

Will see God face to face, with no veil between 377

Redemption, plan of 1, 3, 6-9, 86, 87, 97, 124, 141, 225, 251, 374-376

See also, Plan of salvation

Central theme of the Bible 7

Grand theme of 11

Heights and depths in, that eternity itself can never exhaust 376

Mysteries of, will be study of redeemed through eternal ages 374

Redemption, work of 7, 8, 10, 67, 80, 110, 111, 126, 144, 148, 152, 161, 233, 234,363

Refreshing, the 300, 309, 310

Only those who obtain victory can share in 310

Religious liberty 263, 264, 289, 317

Remnant, the 270, 278, 294, 298, 306, 322

Repentance 21, 31, 78, 89, 108, 126, 127, 134, 136, 142, 144, 158, 173, 178, 182,

183, 188-190, 201, 208, 210, 218, 283, 299, 318, 329, 330, 333, 362, 365

Christian life is one of continual, and humility 201

Comes after faith in Christ, and before forgiveness 190

Genuine, springs from a sense of the offensive character of sin 190

Goodness of God leads to 362

Includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it 187

Repentant 85, 94, 138, 187, 190, 191, 196, 203, 251

Restoration 7, 124, 133, 136, 137, 140, 148, 172, 221

From sin’s defilement, as complete as Christ’s sacrifice 140





Of the image of God 3

Work of, may only be accomplished through Christ’s grace 172

Resurrection

Character not changed by 377

First 331

Friend will recognize friend in 376Of Jesus, a type of the final resurrection of righteous 376

Our personal identity preserved in 376

Second 331

We will have individuality of character and features in 376

We will have same form, but free of every defect 376

Revelation, book of

We are to present to our people a clear explanation of 370

Revival of primitive godliness 270, 273

Revivals 269, 271Popular, marked by emotional excitement and mingling true with false 271

Popular, too often appeal to imagination and emotions 269

Satan stirs up false 270

Ridley, Nicholas (Protestant Reformation) 265

Right and wrong 16, 17, 47, 80, 221, 229, 342, 358, 361

Righteous, being accounted 192

Righteousness 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 16, 21, 25, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 45, 71, 78, 80, 82-84, 86,

91, 93, 94, 96, 98, 106, 111, 117, 127-129, 133, 136, 140, 142, 146, 151-154,157, 169, 173-177, 180-187, 189, 191, 192, 194, 196, 197, 199, 201-204, 206-

210, 215-218, 220, 222, 225-227, 235, 245, 246, 250, 251, 253, 255, 268, 275,

284, 294, 295, 296, 305, 311, 318, 322, 331, 334, 336, 338, 340, 341, 343, 347,

349, 352, 366, 367, 368

See also, Christ, righteousness of; God, righteousnss of

Can only be attained through faith 191

Christ’s, our only ground of hope 194

Christ takes our sins and gives us His 192

Essence of, is loyalty to our Redeemer 182

Greatest deception of human mind, that mere assent to truth constitutes 184

How faith is accounted, described 191

Imparted 185, 196, 202

Our fitness for heaven 185, 194

Sanctifies 185

Imputed 106, 108, 111, 140, 185, 186, 191, 194, 225, 347





Given only to the obedient 186

Justifies 185

Our title to heaven 185, 186, 194

Is conformity of heart and life to revealed will of God 181

Is holiness, likeness to God 181

Is love 181Is obedience to the law 191, 217

Is right doing 183

Only condition of being clothed with Christ’s, is obedience 183

Pretended 209

Robe of Christ’s, will not cover evil not repented of 183

Washing and ironing time 218

We are to have, that shall be developed and seen 182

We receive, by receiving Christ 181

Within, is testified to by righteousness without 185Righteousness by faith 8, 186, 191, 192, 194, 201-204, 209, 216, 218, 220, 226

Ripening of the grain 313

Roman Catholic 266, 267

Roman Catholic Church 267

See also, Catholic Church

Make no personal thrusts at, or other churches 267

Roman Church 258, 262, 287

Claims the right to pardon 262Rome 258, 261-266, 289





S

Sabbath 31, 40, 81, 199, 214, 228, 244, 256, 258, 264-267, 278, 288-290, 294, 295,

297, 304-307, 309, 328, 365

See also, Seventh-day Sabbath

False 264

Do not provoke those who have accepted 267Man who violated, in wilderness 40

Satan’s plan of attack against, revealed 307

Some ignore true, for a spurious 198

Will be great point at issue, in last great warfare 289

Salvation

We are to work out our, with fear and trembling 96, 143, 210, 224, 250

Salvation, gift of 132

For whole human race, but must be individually accepted 132

Salvation of man

Cannot come through his own works 144

Comes only through Christ 145

First promise of, in Eden 205

Larger purpose than, in the great controversy 5, 6

Salvation, plan of 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 93, 127, 131, 132, 135, 137, 139, 142, 144, 169, 190,

225, 252, 350, 351, 365

See also, Redemption, plan of

People need more instruction on this subject than on any other 365Unites God’s justice and mercy 132

Sanctification 8, 49, 56, 140, 184-186, 194, 195-200, 202, 204, 211, 216, 219, 227,

232, 239, 247, 271-275, 343, 344, 363

See also, Justification

Consists in the cheerful performance of daily duties in perfect obedience to the will

of God 343

Does not lower the standard 199

Embraces entire being…spirit, soul, and body 273

Erroneous theories of 272

Is implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity 196

Is implicit obedience to the requirements of God 202

Is to know God’s requirements and obey them 200

Is work of a lifetime 56, 200, 219

Is work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 199

Means an unreserved surrender to God 195





Means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to God’s will 194, 200

Relation of, to justification 194, 204

Results from constantly dying to sin and constantly living for Christ 200

Spurious, of those who choose a spurious sabbath 198

True, involves temperance in eating, drinking, and dressing 197

True, will not lead to spurious faith, doctrine, or experience 199Sanctified 8, 2, 12, 42, 47, 93, 114, 118, 122, 149, 157, 170, 182, 185, 194-196,

199, 200, 202, 204, 220, 222, 225, 230, 246, 265, 282, 304, 315, 336, 352, 360

Sanctuary

Earthly 86, 87, 142, 143

Opened to view the plan of redemption 86

Portrayed the glories of the heavenly sanctuary 86

Service 88, 251

Meaning of, was misinterpreted and misapplied 88

System of, was a prophecy of the Gospel 86Taught truths about Christ’s heavenly work 86

Typified Christ’s heavenly work 87, 143

Heavenly 86, 87, 139, 141-143, 152, 160, 229, 244, 250-253, 309, 363, 364

Antitype of earthly sanctuary 142

From, Jesus dispenses benefits of atonement 142, 252

Holy Place, in 41, 142, 143, 161

Incense of 253

Is center of Christ’s work on our behalf 86, 251Jesus entered by His own blood 142

Jesus our High Priest in 142, 229, 160-161, 229, 252, 309, 364

Most Holy Place, in 38, 143, 250

Open door into Holy of Holies of 143

Reveals plan of redemption 86

Third angel’s message and 143, 244, 309

What Christ is doing in 252

Cleansing of 142, 227, 229

Involves a work of investigation and judgment 142

Understanding of, foundation of our faith 86, 143, 309

False theory that there is no 305

System 86

Satan

See also, Lucifer

A master, as a wolf, at dressing in sheep’s clothing 273





A master of coercion 259

A master of confusion 258

A master of deception 307

A master of pretence 258

A master of scapegoating 258

Appears as angel of light 260Apostate human race is his masterpiece of evil 326

As accuser 1, 21, 66, 74, 146, 266

As crowning act of deception, will personate return of Christ 261

As great deceiver 2, 35, 257, 261, 280, 322

As tempter 23, 29

At end, attempts to incite wicked to final battle, but his power is at an end 374

At end, bows down and confesses justice of his sentence 374

At end, is object of universal abhorrence 374

At end, wicked turn on, with fury of demons 374Attacks even children 34

Attacks of, grow more fierce, frequent, and ensnaring toward the end 273

Called the dragon 260, 267, 288, 290, 294

Causes law-keepers to be accused as law-breakers 258

Causes people to regard God with fear and hate, not love 66

Charges of, against God 65

Claims world as his territory 24

Constantly at work to misrepresent God’s government and character 66Constantly works to stir up hatred toward God 67

Deceives leaders into acting, step by step, in the false way 259

Exercises hypnotic power 279

Father of lies 75

From beginning, purpose of, is to overthrow law of God 257

Fully unmasked at end of millennium 373

Gains power over the mind through false theories and traditions 260

God permits him to reveal his character as a liar, accuser, and murderer 74, 266

Has a dish of fables for anyone not cherishing truth as it is in Jesus 200

Has experimented for thousands of years with properties of human mind 279

Has perverted doctrines of the Bible and brought in errors 258

His great success lies in keeping us ignorant of his devices 307

How he works against us 22

Invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds 251

Is on our right hand and on our left, before and behind 200





Is the destroyer 36

Is the first great rebel 266

Knows that his time is short 202, 248, 257

Last deception of, will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God

322

Mischievous error that, has no existence as a personal being 261Misrepresentations of 67

That God demanded unselfishness but was Himself selfish 68

That God has no love 69

That God is arbitrary 70

That God is responsible for the Fall of man 68, 69, 107

That God is severe, exacting, and harsh 68

That God is the author of sin, suffering, and death 68

That God made a law that can’t be kept 67, 91, 107

That God’s law is faulty and should be changed 69 Not destroyed at cross, as more remained to be revealed 165

One of most successful deceptions of, is that what one believes has no consequences

259

Pictures God as having same character as the evil one 204

Power of, at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity 248

Rebellion of 23

The wicked one 8

Those who choose, as their ruler reveal spirit of their chosen master 326Warning against letting, convince God’s leaders that they are all-sufficient 284

Will, if possible, deceive the very elect 197, 273, 281, 282, 286, 299, 307, 327

Works to obliterate God’s image in man 72

Satanic agencies 6, 115, 157, 260, 268, 279, 280, 301

Satanic influences 326, 327

Satan’s devices 261, 270, 298, 307

Scepticism 281

Schools of the prophets 238

Science falsely so called 282, 299

Science of salvation 3

Scriptures 3, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 30, 80, 85, 86, 123, 135, 136, 154, 161, 169,

178, 200, 225, 249, 255, 258, 259, 261, 265, 272, 273, 281, 317, 338, 350, 352,

353, 362, 364, 368, 370, 372

See also, Bible, the; Word of God, the

Sealed 38, 205, 222, 294, 295-297, 308, 314, 324, 326





Sealing time 308

Seal of God 55, 222, 247, 294-297, 301, 304, 310

Is a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually 296

Is not a mark that can be seen 296

Many will not receive, because they do not keep commandments or bear fruits of

righteousness 296 No one will receive while characters have spot or stain 310

Placed only on those who bear likeness to Christ in character 296, 297

Second advent 212, 261

Second Coming 216, 248, 270, 294, 323, 337, 338, 363

Conditions on earth just before, as in Noah’s day 248

Could have happened already 244, 309, 337

Decision as to rewards for righteous, made prior to 216, 248, 270, 323, 337, 338

Delay in, not God’s will 244, 309

Delay of 308Reasons for 309

Jesus will not then cleanse us and remove our character defects 211, 232, 377

Only two classes at 294, 327

Parable of Bridegroom illustrates experience of church just before 337

Reasons for delay of 244

Satan not permitted to counterfeit manner of Christ’s 261

Satan will personate Christ’s 261

Then, those who are holy will be holy still 211We may hasten 219, 243, 244, 337

Will occur when character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people 219

Secret societies 5, 320

Include Free Masons 320

Warning against linking up with 320

Seed, parable of the 50, 158, 205, 218-220, 243, 313

Self

Dying to 157, 246

Emptied of 32, 112, 133

Manifestations of, for good or ill

Self-confidence 44, 46, 297

Self-denial 43, 48, 68, 89, 95, 107, 119, 125, 134, 147, 176, 214, 225, 232, 245,

269, 271, 272, 336, 350, 351, 367-369

Self-exaltation 18, 65, 185, 194, 347

Satan fell, through 65





Self-indulgence 45, 197, 212-214, 262

Self-justification 75

Self-restraint 220

Self-righteousness 31, 142

Self-sacrifice 18, 48, 95, 134, 226, 245, 336

Self-sufficiency 29, 182, 371Selfishness 68, 88, 107, 120, 138, 149, 177, 181, 184, 188, 189, 199, 212, 237, 238,

240, 310, 333, 358, 371

Sensational, desire for the 269, 271, 283, 364

Hunger for excitement and the 364

Separation from God 167

Caused by our choosing to sin 62

Christ felt sense of, on cross 120

Christ’s anguish over sense of, so severe His physical pain hardly felt 121, 166

Israel’s captivity in Babylon the result of 238Leaves us prey to Satan’s control 63

Persistent indulgence of self will insure 346

Satan’s purpose to bring eternal, between God and man 159

Seven Last Plagues 269, 295, 306, 319, 324

Great buildings to be destroyed before 328

Will be short but terrible 328

Seventh-day Adventist(s) 4, 10, 13, 19, 21, 24, 28, 30, 44, 47, 48, 59, 67, 73, 78, 79,

81, 84, 88, 89, 94, 98, 99, 101, 103, 106, 108, 113, 115, 119, 120, 125, 128-130,132, 133, 136-138, 143, 145, 151, 155, 157, 158, 163, 166, 167, 169, 171, 172,

175, 177, 179-182, 185-188, 193, 195, 196, 200-203, 207-209, 213, 214, 216,

218, 221, 223, 224, 236, 245, 246, 249, 252, 253, 260, 265, 268, 274, 281, 283,

284-286, 294-296, 298, 299, 302, 304, 309, 316, 318, 320, 324, 326, 327, 330,

334, 337, 345, 349, 359, 361, 362, 366, 370, 376

Seventh-day Adventist Church 302

See also, Adventist Church

To be weighed in balances of sanctuary 302

Seventh-day Adventists 227, 264, 278, 304, 349, 355, 359

Have been given work of proclaiming first, second, and third angels’ messages 349

Have been set in world as watchmen and light-bearers 349

Satan seeks to create a great false reformation among 278

To, has been entrusted last warning for a perishing world 349

Seventh-day Sabbath 81, 256, 266, 294, 304, 305, 307, 328

See also, Sabbath, the





Shaking, the 222, 282, 296, 298, 299, 372

See also, Sifting, the

Has begun already 222

Sifting 297, 298

See also, Shaking, the

Silent witness 336, 342Of true, godly life, carries an almost irresistible influence 336

Sin(s)

See also, Transgression

After exterminated, will never arise again 377

Bondage of 155

Can be resisted and overcome only through Holy Spirit 139, 154

Christ came to save us from, not in, our 97

Christ cannot take away our, unless we consent to renounce them 210

Christ does more than forgive…He takes away 133Definition of 28, 29

Detachment from, necessary, before attaching to Christ 138

Don’t try to abstain from gradually; leave at once and forever 118

Every, cherished weakens character and strengthens bad habits 221

Excessive indulgence in eating, drinking, sleeping, or seeing, is 369

Final eradication of 5

God makes no compromise with 299

If God abhors one above another, it is doing nothing in an emergency 284, 293If we continue to, Christ withdraws His favor 190

Imperfection of character is 340

It is in this life that we are to separate, from us 319

Jesus frees us from 63

Jesus suffered consequences of man’s 165

Marks of Christ’s crucifixion, only remaining reminder of, in eternity 376

Remission of 141, 182, 189

Requires consent of the will 32

Satan cannot force us to 32

Sense of man’s, broke Christ’s heart on the cross 166

Taint of 27, 58, 59, 61, 116, 138

No, rested on Christ 62

Victory over 212

We cannot excuse 63

Will not rise up a second time 378





Sinai 81, 88, 117, 204-206

Sinlessness, condition of 177

Sinners

Christ gives, another chance, a second trial 187

Constantly being drawn to Christ by His love shown on the cross 366

Destroy themselves 36Pardoned, are not guilty culprits to God, but trusted children 225

Will feel anguish Christ felt on cross, when mercy no longer pleads 166

So-called ‘Christian sabbath’ 290

Souls ready to perish 245

Spirit of God, the 15, 36-38, 47, 65, 88, 151, 152, 158, 170, 204, 220, 248, 281, 286,

296, 301, 305, 316, 318, 322, 323, 326, 327, 338, 362, 363, 368, 370

See also, Holy Ghost; Holy Spirit

Sword of 61

Spirit of Prophecy 49, 322Spiritualism 260, 261, 264, 280, 290, 317

Says that holiness is attained by developing power within ourselves 277

Strain of, is coming in among our people 280

Spiritual lethargy 368

Statutes (commands) 69, 83, 71, 81, 258, 286, 314

Straight testimony 298

Students

Should be drawn out to state truth clearly in their own words 238Should be led to think for themselves 237

Should make God their wisdom 236

Sunday 27, 259, 260, 262-264, 266, 267, 287-290, 304, 306, 328

Movement of toward, is now making its way in darkness 290

Movement, we should do all in our power to avert threatened danger of 290

Sundaykeeping 264, 288

Sunday law 263, 264, 290

Will ultimately result in death decree 328, 329

Sunday observance 259, 262, 266, 288, 290

Movement to enforce, is fast gaining ground 288

Roman Church claims as sign of her authority 262

Sunday sacredness 260

One of two great errors of Satan in last days 260

Surrender 42, 156, 163, 186, 194, 195, 214, 223, 301

Christ’s, to God’s will 112





T

Tabernacle 86-88, 253

See also, Sanctuary, the

A type of the Christian church 252

Talents 237, 340-348

Parable of 340Through right use of, we link ourselves by golden chain to higher world 343

Teacher(s), human

Can only impart what he knows by experience 237

Counsel to, on how to teach 237

Habits and principles of, more important than literary qualifications 237

Work of, described 235

Temple (human)

Every defilement to be cleansed from soul 229

Evil habits to be purged from, of soul 170

Soul, Jesus to occupy 333

Soul, to be cleansed of every defilement 310

We are to be, for God’s indwelling 87, 88

Temptation(s) 2, 8, 18, 29, 31, 32, 42, 43, 47, 49-60, 62, 69, 74-76, 78, 80, 81, 92,

93, 95-98, 101, 104-116, 118-120, 125, 140, 148, 155, 160, 162-164, 171, 180,

183, 192, 198, 203, 211-213, 259, 274, 299, 319, 329, 338, 355, 356, 357, 376

Christ knows strength of our 162

Christ knows we cannot resist, in our own strength 162Christ subjected to fiercest, that human nature can know 163

However strong, we may resist in Christ 211

Is not sin 29, 56, 78

Of Christ, cover all temptations that come to man 95

Satan assailed Christ with every conceivable form of 115

We may resist, and force Satan to depart from us 110

We will not have, above that we are able to endure 92

Ten Commandments 16, 81, 101, 119, 208, 230

See also, Law of God

Tendencies 30, 32, 33, 42-48, 51, 65, 126, 127, 140, 154, 155, 170, 171, 188, 189,

213, 218, 235, 277, 299, 340, 341

Cultivated 44-48, 140, 154, 155, 188, 202, 213, 218, 235, 299, 340

Inherited and cultivated 44, 47

Of our fallen nature, only Christ’s grace can enable us to resist and subdue 277

Tenney, G. C. 274





Testimonies (Spirit of Prophecy) 173, 281, 315, 323, 362, 363

Last great deception of Satan will be to make, of none effect 322

Satanic hatred to be kindled against 323

Testimony of Jesus Christ 294, 363

Testing message 372

Testing truths 36, 271Third angel 143, 226, 230-232, 244, 248, 249, 269, 300, 303, 304, 306, 308-311,

315-319, 330, 365, 367, 370

Message of, 244, 309, 317

Comprehends more than many suppose 308

Is the theme of greatest importance 370

Of utmost, life-and-death importance 249

Will not be comprehended by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory 319

Work of, is to prepare a people for coming of the Lord 231

Third angel’s message 148, 226, 230-232, 244, 249, 300, 303, 304, 308, 309, 315,316, 318, 319, 330, 365, 367, 370

See also, Three angels’ messages

All who have died in faith of, will come forth from tomb glorified 330

Jesus, great Center of attraction, must not be left out of 365

Truth of, some proclaim as dry theory 367

Thought inspiration 8

Thoughts

See also, Mind, theLustful 48-50, 195

We are to be more than reflectors of other men’s 234

Thousands converted in a day 316

Three angels’ messages 227, 316

All three to be combined 316

Given with a loud voice 120, 125, 226, 244, 248, 249, 303, 308, 309, 315, 316

To be the burden of our work 370

Threefold union (apostate Protestantism, Catholicism, spiritualism) 261, 264

Three great powers of heaven 199, 214, 331, 375, 377

Time of trouble 55, 295, 300, 301, 315, 318-320, 326, 329

Satan cannot go beyond his limit during 301

Trades unions 300, 320

See also, Labor unions

Transformation 63, 128, 133, 170, 173, 182, 188, 201, 215, 217, 218, 269, 297, 325,

377





Transgression 6, 8, 16, 24, 29, 36, 39-41, 62, 63, 74, 75, 78, 81, 82, 93, 97, 98, 107,

120, 121, 129, 133, 135, 136, 141, 163, 165-167, 177, 189, 198, 208, 211, 222,

225, 251, 253, 266, 289, 307, 311, 351

See also, Sin(s)

Translation (at Second Coming) 213, 232, 286, 296, 297, 315

Tree of knowledge 74, 76Tree of Life 11, 245

True Witness 298, 315

Testimony of, has not been half heeded 298

To the Laodiceans 298

Truth

After theory of, presented, instruct in practical truths 366

As it is in Jesus, is obedience to God’s law 200

As we lay hold of, it elevates us and removes our imperfections 211

Can be experienced but never explained 101Chain of, link after link, uniting in a perfect whole 365

Comfort and peace found in 154

God works in us by the light of 169

Harmonious, like links in a chain 204

Holy Spirit defines and maintains 154

Many are holding, only with the tips of their fingers 297

Mind must see and will bend to, when based on Bible evidence 169

Not lived is powerless to influence us 175Only when accompanied to heart by Holy Spirit, will quicken conscience or

transform life 152

Passive assent to, different from applying, to practical life 175

Power in, that will always work if we cooperate with Christ 177

Progressive 6

Sanctifying power of 370

Theory of, is not enough 175

Theory of, unaccompanied by Holy Spirit, cannot quicken soul or sanctify heart 338

Those willfully blind to 28

Track of, lies close beside track of error 275

Truth and error 3, 80, 146, 255, 275, 357





U

Unbelief 21, 22, 30, 31, 65, 136, 153, 222, 224, 244, 248, 257, 280, 293, 298, 308,

309, 323, 345, 370, 371

Unfaithful servant(s) 343-346, 348

Unfallen worlds 4, 92, 104, 106, 119, 129, 144, 164, 376

United States 2, 261- 264, 266, 289, 303 National apostasy of, will be followed by national ruin 266

Unrepentant sinners 36, 39

God may sometimes remove 39

Unselfishness 68

Is the principle of God’s kingdom 68

Satan hates and denies 68





V

Vegetarian diet 233

Vindication of God’s character and law 4, 6, 71, 85, 97, 119, 125, 129, 147, 148,

164-166, 239, 302, 313, 368, 377





W

Waggoner, E. J. 226, 274, 275, 311

Wax nose 7

Wedding garment 202, 216, 217, 229

“What hath God said” 358

Wheat (parable of) 178, 245, 298, 305, 318Why Jesus Came to Earth 68, 123

To atone for sin 91

To be a reconstructor of character 101

To be our Redeemer and Restorer 100

To be our Teacher 91, 100

To bring us moral power 93, 94, 97, 119

To disprove Satan’s charge that God was not really self-denying 95

To emphasize the purpose of marriage 99

To free us from Satan’s control 112

To give us an example of how we should work and glorify His name in world 340

To glorify the Father 147

To illustrate unselfishness in His own life 68

To introduce the Holy Spirit as His representative 97

To know our sufferings and temptations for Himself 101

To live the law in humanity 107

To prove Satan wrong about the Father’s character 93

To prove that God’s justice and mercy are compatible 90To prove that humanity and divinity combined can obey God’s law 90, 94, 95, 96

To prove that man can overcome 92, 95

To prove that man can withstand Satan’s temptations 92

To restore the moral image of God in men 94, 99

To reveal power of God’s law to regenerate humanity 117

To reveal spiritual nature of God’s laws 117

To reveal the character of God 94, 100, 105, 119

To reveal to us the source of His power 96

To reveal what a man, through faith in God’s power, and not a God, could do 109,

163

To set forth the character of His kingdom 100

To show the purpose of His Church 94

To show us how to keep the law 91

To show us how to live true, upright lives 118

To show us how to obey 98





To show us how to overcome sin 95, 98

To show what humanity might be when united with divinity 118

To tell the truth about God 89, 90

To unmask Satan’s lie that law cannot be kept 91, 119

To vindicate the character of God 97

Why Jesus Died 123As a means to an end…the glory of God 123, 135

Because God loved us…not to cause Him to love us 134

That His life may be lived in us 128

That we might live 169

To become a Pattern for all who would follow Him 130

To bring us back into loyalty to God 126

To fully demonstrate God’s love 125

To give human beings a second probation 128

To give us another chance to form characters as children of God 126To make an atonement 130

To make it possible for us to keep God’s law 251

To pay our debt for sin 123

To purify us from all iniquity 125

To provide power to form characters like God’s 129

To provide us with grace and power to overcome 127

To ransom every person who has ever lived 129

To reclaim His kingdom from Satan 124To refute Satan’s charge that the law cannot be obeyed 129, 146

To restore man to his original perfection 128

To restore the moral image of God in man 124

To reveal that not one jot or tittle of God’s law can be altered 137

To save sinners from the death sentence 169

To settle all questions and possible doubts throughout the unfallen universe 129

To show that the law is unchangeable 127, 129

To silence forever Satan’s accusing power 125

To silence Satan’s charge that self-denial was impossible with God 125

To vindicate God’s justice 129

Why Jesus Waits 219, 243

Why we are here on Earth 241

Wicked, the 2, 8, 36-38, 41, 144, 228, 301, 323, 326, 328, 329, 373

Anguished cry of, as they realize what they have lost 373

Will see what they have forfeited by their life of rebellion 373





Willing to be made willing 203

Will, the 73

As, cooperates with will of God, it becomes omnipotent 341

God never forces 73

Impossibility lies in, if we say we cannot remedy defects of character 341

Mental faculties to be kept under control of 369Must be merged with Christ’s 217

Unaided human, has no power to resist and overcome evil 277

Winds of strife 38, 245, 287, 308, 314, 324

Four, held and loosed by four angels 308, 314, 324, 326

When angels no longer hold in check 301

Wine of the wrath of God 303

Women 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 21, 23, 24, 32, 38, 41, 48, 49, 51, 52, 61, 67, 75, 78, 82, 87,

95, 97, 99, 110, 113, 117-119, 121, 124, 128, 130-132, 140, 146, 156, 157, 160-

163, 169-171, 194, 195, 198, 203, 206, 214, 219, 230, 231, 236, 246, 250, 260,278, 280, 282, 285, 286, 295, 296, 298, 301, 307, 326, 327, 333, 335, 339, 343,

366

Can be instruments of righteousness, rendering holy service 343

Can come close to hearts of those whom men cannot reach 343

Christian, refining and softening influence of 343

Lord has a work for, as well as for men 343

Should be set apart for Lord’s service by prayer and laying on of hands 343

Word of God 8, 9, 11, 13, 29, 32, 71, 80, 89, 152, 154, 172, 178, 185, 195, 199, 212,227, 267, 272, 281, 283, 301, 303, 334, 349, 352, 353, 356-358, 362, 378

See also, Bible, the; Scriptures

Is a tree of life to us 11

To be our counselor and guide 11

Works

See Good works





Z

Zion 294, 295, 298

Note: This Index is not to be considered an Index of Ellen G. White’s

voluminous writings, but only as her particular words and phrases have

been noted in this compilation.





Notes

1.Sel ected Messages, bk. 3, 38.

2.Sig n s of the Times, January 4, 1899.

3.Sel ected Messages, bk. 3 , 414.

4. Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 99.

5. Ibid. , vol. 2, 343.

6. Ibid. , vol. 5, 273.

7. Ibid. , vol. 12, 112.

8. Ibid. , vol. 14, 294.

9. Ibid. , vol. 17, 338.

10.Si g ns of the Times, May 24, 1899.

11.C ounsels to Writers and Editors, 81.12. P ro phets and Kings, 625.

13.Si g ns of the Times, March 28, 1900.

14. Ibid ., October 17, 1900.

15. T he Great Controversy, 45, 46.

16. I bid., 22.

17. The Acts of the Apostles, 564.

18. Patriarchs and Prophets, 78.

19. S eventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1088.

20. I bid., 1106.

21. S i gns of the Times, August 27, 1902.


23. Signs of the Times, August 27, 1902.

24. Ibid., February 13, 1893.

25. Ibid., December 25, 1901.

26. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 170.


28. Patriarchs and Prophets, 68, 69.29. Education, 125, 126.

30. The Desire of Ages, 824.

31. Ibid., 664.

32. Christian Education, 112.

33. The Ministry of Healing, 349.

34. Education, 15, 16.

35. The Youth’s Instructor, November 30, 1893.







38. Selected Messages bk. 1 , 82.


40. Review and Herald, December 26, 1907.

41. Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 95.42. Steps to Christ , 105.

43. Signs of the Times, November 3, 1898.

44. Ibid.

45. Ibid., March 25, 1897.

46. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1120.

47. Education, 190.

48. Ibid.


50. Education, 190.51. Signs of the Times, December 1, 1890.

52. Ibid., June 16, 1898.

53. Ibid., October 3, 1900.

54. Ibid.

55. Ibid.

56. Ibid.,

57. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 944-946 (see The Great

Controversy, v-xii).58. Patriarchs and Prophets, 44, 45.

59. Ibid., 34.


61. Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 345, 346. (Written during the European

Missionary Council, 1885.)


63. Signs of the Times, June 10, 1880.

64. Review and Herald, October 26, 1897.

65. Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 269.66. Signs of the Times, July 31, 1901.

67. Ibid., June 5, 1901.


69. Early Writings, 145.


71. Ibid., 37.





72. Ibid ., 40.

73. Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901.




77. Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, 145, 146.78. Signs of the Times, March 19, 1902.

79. Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, 84, 85.



82. Ibid ., 36.

83. Ibid ., 37.

84. Ibid., 39.

85. Ibid.

86. The Great Controversy, 497.87. Patriarchs and Prophets, 39.

88. Ibid., 41.

89. Ibid.

90. Ibid., 123.

91. Signs of the Times, April 23, 1896.



94. Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 162.95. Ibid., vol. 15, 176.

96. Review and Herald, July 22, 1890.

97. Ibid., September 14, 1897.

98. Signs of the Times, October 17, 1900.

99. Ibid., October 24, 1900.


101. Patriarchs and Prophets, 42, 43.





107. Education, 14, 15.


109. Ibid., 42.










115. Review and Herald, June 10, 1890.

116. Signs of the Times, March 3, 1890.117. Review and Herald, March 27, 1888.

118. Signs of the Times, December 10, 1902.

119. Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, 31.

120. Ibid.in our characters. . . .

121. Ibid.

122. My Life Today, 14.



125. Review and Herald, February 10, 1891.126. The Youth’s Instructor, January 10, 1901.


128. Sabbath School Worker, July 1, 1895.


130. Ibid., January 5, 1886.

131. Signs of the Times, March 19, 1902.

132. Testimonies, vol. 5, 177.

133. Review and Herald, June 12, 1888.134. Signs of the Times, December 18, 1893.

135. Review and Herald, April 16, 1901.


137. Manuscript Releases,



140. Selected Messages, vol. 3, 217, 218.

141. Fundamentals of Christian Education, 150.


143. Ibid., April 14, 1885.

144. Ibid., August 30, 1881.


146. The Great Controversy, 20.

147. Ibid., 28.

148. Ibid., 35, 36.





149. Ibid., 36.




153. Testimonies to Ministers, 74.

154. Acts of the Apostles, 62.155. The Desire of Ages, 306.

156. The Great Controversy, 36, 37.

157. Ibid., 37.


159. Last Day Events, 242.

160. Review and Herald, May 13, 1902.



163. Prophets and Kings, 277.164. Testimonies, vol. 9, 11.


166. Prophets and Kings, 422, 423, 425.


168. Ibid., 98.

169. Ibid., 408, 409.

170. Ibid., 408.

171. Ibid., 325.172. Signs of the Times, April 21, 1881.



175. Ibid., 54.

176. Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 1, 236.

177. Prophets and Kings, 488, 489.

178. Testimonies, vol. 3, 50, 51.

179. Signs of the Times, February 26, 1902.


181. Ibid., 372, 373.


183. The Ministry of Healing, 175, 176.

184. Signs of the Times, January 8, 1902.

185. Ibid., October 31, 1900.







188. Christ’s Object Lessons, 330.




192. The Ministry of Healing, 331.193. Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, 236.

194. Ibid., vol. 8, 208.


196. Ibid., April 23, 1902.


198. Acts of the Apostles, 314, 315.



201. The Ministry of Healing, 130.202. Testimonies, vol. 3, 84.

203. Ibid., vol. 3, 491.

204. Ibid., vol. 2, 378.





209. Testimonies, vol. 4, 235.210. Signs of the Times, February 14, 1878.




214. Gospel Workers, 128.

215. Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 82.

216. Testimonies to Ministers, 171, 172.

217. The Youth’s Instructor, June 22, 1899.



220. Ibid., vol. 3, 226, 227.

221. Ibid., vol. 2, 508, 509.

222. Ibid., 201, 202.


224. Ibid., vol. 13, 18.








228. Ibid., 117. See also DA:122, 123, 130, 131, 208, 311, 329, 336, 362, 664,

668, 729, 823.

229. The Signs of the Times, April 9, 1896.230. Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 182.


232. Signs of the Times. April 4, 1900.

233. Ibid., June 17, 1897.


235. The Youth’s Instructor , December 20, 1900.



238. Patriarchs and Prophets, 330.239. Review and Herald, February 24, 1874.







246. Acts of the Apostles, 560, 561.247. Review and Herald, February 22, 1906.








255. Review and Herald, March 18, 1875.

256. Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 72 (written to her teen-age nephew).

257. Ibid., vol. 11, 345.


259. The Youth’s Instructor , October 13, 1892.

260. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 141, 142.

261. Welfare Ministry, 287.






263. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1116, 1117.

264. Ibid., vol. 5, 1124.

265. Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30.

266. Ibid.,18.

267. Ibid.268. Ibid., 19.

269. Ibid., 18.

270. Ibid., 19.

271. Ibid., 18.

272. Ibid., 19.

273. Ibid.

274. Ibid., 19.

275. Ibid., 18.

276. Ibid.277. Ibid .

278. Ibid.

279. Ibid.



282. Ibid.


284. Testimonies, vol. 5, 540.285. The Desire of Ages, 203.


287. Steps to Christ, 43.

288. General Conference Daily Bulletin, February 6, 1893.






294. Ibid., vol. 14, 292, 293.

295. Ibid., vol. 17, 168.




299. Ibid., June 23, 1898.








303. The Faith I Live By, 114.


305. Selected Messages, bk 1, 341.306. Education, 154.



309.The Desire of Ages, 24.


311. Ibid., 69.



314. Ibid., June 5, 1901.315. Patriarchs and Prophets, 42.

316. Ibid., 338, 339.


318. Review and Herald, Feb. 11, 1902.

319. Education, 15.


321. Education, 264.

322. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1105.323. Steps to Christ, 43, 44.



326. Ibid., 53.



329. Ibid., 57.

330. Review and Herald, November 15, 1898.


332. Ibid., 58.

333. Ibid., 61.


335. Education, 29.







338. Signs of the Times, Nov. 26, 1894.

339. Great Controversy, 505.

340. Christ’s Object Lesson, 385.

341. Signs of the Times, September 5, 1900.


343 Signs of the Times, April 21, 1898.344. Ibid.







351. Ibid., vol. 6, 1068.

352. Steps to Christ, 87.353. Signs of the Times, February 17, 1898.

354. Ibid., July 21, 1898.


356. Steps to Christ, 87, 88.



359. Ibid., June 25, 1902.

360. Ibid., November 17, 1898.361. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1104.




365. Review and Herald, February 16, 1886.


367. Ibid., May 26, 1881.

368. Ibid., May 7, 1902.

369. Ibid., November 10, 1898.


371. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. l, 1116.

372. Education, 154, 156.


374. Ibid.











381. Ibid., 409.382. Ibid., 454.





387. Education, 36.

388. Ibid.

389. Signs of the Times, July 14, 1898.

390. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1112.391. Signs of the Times, June 16, 1898.







398. Ibid., 315.399. The Desire of Ages, 762.





404. The Faith I Live By, 114.








412. Child Guidance,167, 168.









417. Ibid., March 4, 1897.


419. Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 333.420. Signs of the Times, January 13, 1898.




424. Ibid., April 4, 1900.

425. Ibid., April 21, 1887.



428. Signs of the Times, November 5, 1896.429. Ibid., December 13, 1899.


431 Signs of the Times, December 25, 1901.



434. Ibid., bk. 1, 386.


436. Signs of the Times, August 4, 1890.437. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 929.



440. The Youth’s Instructor , April 6, 1899.







447. Ibid., January 10, 1900.


449. Ibid., May 1, 1901.

450. Ibid., May 29, 1901.







453. Ibid., June 17, 1903.

454. Ibid., June 16, 1898.



457. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 131.458. The Desire of Ages, 49.

459. Ibid.

460. Ibid., 131.





465. Ibid., 117.

466. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 267, 268.467. Ibid., January 16, 1896.





472. Ibid., June 10, 1903.

473. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 271-273.

474. Review and Herald, January 7, 1904.475. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 257.









484. Ibid., 272, 273.



487. Ibid., vol. 17, 336.

488. The Desire of Ages, 130, 131.

489. The Bible Echo, November 15, 1892.





490. Review and Herald, February 24, 1874.



493. The Youth’s Instructor, December 28, 1899.


495. Review and Herald, July 28, 1874.496. The Desire of Ages, 208.




500. Ibid., 329.


502. Acts of the Apostles, 56.


504. Ibid., October 31, 1900.505. The Desire of Ages, 420.


507. Ibid., August 11, 1898.




511. Ibid., vol. 5, 1080.

512. The Desire of Ages, 336.513. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 271.

514. Ibid., 284.




518. Ibid., 50, 51.

519. Ibid., 70, 71.

520. Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 49.


522. Education, 76, 77.

523. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 549.




527. Ibid., January 30, 1901.






529. Ibid., October 14, 1897.

530. Ibid,, May 14, 1902.


532. Ibid., vol. 7, 925.

533. Signs of the Times, May 14, 1902.534. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 941.





539. Signs of the Times, April 14, 1898..


541. Ibid., 703.


544. The Upward Look, 313.



547. Faith and Works, 30.

548. God’s Amazing Grace, 175.


550. In Heavenly Places, 286.551. Reflecting Christ, 165.




555. Ibid., April 14, 1898.





560. Ibid., vol. 1, 112.


562. Ibid., April 14, 1898.

563. Ibid., March 15, 1899.

564. Ibid., June 18, 1896.

565. Ibid., June 3, 1897.






567. God’s Amazing Grace, 247.


569. Ibid., June 3, 1897.


571. Signs of the Times, July 6, 1888.572. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 240.

573. Gospel Workers, 164.







580. The Desire of Ages, 762.581. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1147, 1148.



584. Ibid., vol. 5, 1128.




588. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 486.589. Signs of the Times, January 2, 1893.

590. Ministry of Healing, 90.



593. Ibid., vol. 7, 935, 936.

594. Ibid., vol. 6, 1074.


596. Christ’s Object Lessons, 419, 420.


598. Review and Herald, September 2, 1890.


600. The Youth’s Instructor, December 16, 1897.

601. Review and Herald, August 26, 1890.









606. Ibid., March 20, 1901.



609. Ibid., November 15, 1899.610. Ibid.


612. Ibid., vol. 6, 1110.





617. Ibid., vol. 7, 925.

618. Ibid., vol. 5, 1150.619. Ibid., vol. 7, 929.


621. Ibid., 489.





626. Testimony to Ministers, 37.627. Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885.

628. Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 112.

629 Testimonies, vol. 5, 575.

















642. Ibid., 480.


644. Counsels to Writers and Editors, 78.



647. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 948.648. The Desire of Ages, 761.

649. Ibid .

650. Ibid .




654. Ibid., 303.


656. Prophets and Kings, 713.657. Christ’s Object Lessons, 297.







664. Selected Messages, bk. 2, 29.665. Review and Herald, April 16, 1901.




669. Evangelism, 617.





674. Ibid., 352.

675. Ibid., 669.














685. Signs of the Times, May 19, 1898.686. The Desire of Ages, 671.



689. Ibid., October 13, 1898.

690. Ibid., August 7, 1901.


692. Ibid., vol. 7, 932.









702. Ibid., vol. 6, 1112.703. Ibid., vol. 7, 922.

704. 1888 Materials, 1017. (Letter to Uriah Smith).






710. Ibid., 49.


712. Ibid.



715. Ibid., 70.

716. Ibid., 49.






718. Ibid., October 7, 1897.



721. Ibid., July12, 1899.


723. The Desire of Ages, 73.724. Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896.

725. Ibid., July 30, 1896.

726. Ibid., May 27, 1897.



729. Education, 80, 81.



732. The Desire of Ages, 761.733. Testimonies, vol. 5, 746.


735. Ibid., 685.

736. Ibid., 686.

737. Ibid., 687.

738. Ibid., 753.


740. Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897.741. Review and Herald, May 22, 1894.




745. Manuscript Releases, vol.9, 121.


747. Ibid.




751. Ibid., 394.

752. Ibid., 401, 402.

753. Ibid., 271.

754. Ibid., 301.







757. Ibid., August 4, 1898.




761. Signs of the Times, September 5, 1900.762. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1114.








770. The Desire of Ages, 347.771. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 389, 390.


773. Ibid., June 2, 1898.


775. Signs of the Times, Oct. 25, 1899.

776. Ibid., April 11, 1900.

777. Ibid., May 2, 1900.

778. Ibid., February 13, 1901.779. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 951.










789. Ibid., vol. 6, 1111.

790. Ibid., 1118.










796. Signs of the Times, Oct. 3, 1900.

797. Ibid., August 11, 1898.


799. Ibid., May 30, 1912.800. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1140.

801. Ibid., vol. 6, 1057.

802. Ibid., 1077.



805. Ibid., vol. 7, 957.


807. Review and Herald , March 17, 1910.

808. Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 18.809. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol.5, 1140.


811. Ibid., 762.


813. Ibid., vol. 4, 1151.


815. Ibid., 256.

816. Signs of the Times, September 26, 1900.817. Christ’s Object Lessons, 97, 98.

818. Ibid., 312.







825. Messages to Young People, 35.





830. Ibid., 389.

831. Ibid., 391, 392.





832. Ibid., 366.




836. Ibid., March 15, 1899.

837. Ibid., December 13, 1899.838. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1092.



841. Ibid., 1112.

842. Ibid., vol. 5, 1077.

843. Ibid., vol. 6, 1070.

844. Ibid., vol. 4, 1164, 1165.

845. Ibid., vol . 6, 1101.

846. The Great Controversy, 468.847. Signs of the Times, March 18, 1903.



850. Ibid., May 5, 1881.

851. My Life Today, 250.


853. Ibid., May 28, 1896.

854. Selected Messages, bk. 1,367.855. Steps to Christ, 62.


857. Steps to Christ, 70-72.









866. Selected Messages, bk.1, 395.








870. Ibid., April 13, 1888.





875. Ibid., vol. 7, 932.876. Review and Herald, April 29, 1902.


878. The Youth’s Instructor, August 18, 1886.

879. Review and Herald, August 25, 1885.

880. Medical Ministry, 275.

881. Manuscript Releases, vol.9, 380.



884. Selected Messages, vol. 3, 154, 155.885. Signs of the Times, March 31, 1898.


887. Ibid., October 24, 1900.

888. Ibid., June 19, 1901.


890. Ibid., vol. 5, 1147.


892. Ibid., 560, 561.893. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1098.

894. Ibid., vol. 7, 959.





899. Ibid., 312.














909. Ibid., 371.

910. Ibid.

911. Ibid.

912. Ibid., 371, 372.

913. Ibid., 372.914. Ibid.

915. Ibid.






921. The Youth’s Instructor, September 22, 1892.

922. Signs of the Times, July 14, 1898.923. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1110.



926. Review and Herald, January 29, 1895.

927. Messages to Young People, 147.



930. Testimonies, vol. 6, 371, 372.931. Patriarchs and Prophets, 64.


933. Ibid., August 14, 1901.






939. Ibid., January 30, 1901.

940. Ibid., April 9, 1902.










946. Ibid.


948. Ibid., March 11, 1903.

949. Ibid,, February 18, 1903.


951. Ibid., 280.952. Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, 99.

953. The Youth’s Instructor, September 22, 1892.


955. Ibid., 310.

956. Ibid., 307.

957. Ibid., 310.

958. Ibid., 316, 317.


960. Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.961. Ibid., 315.

962. Ibid., 280.





967. Ibid., vol. 5, 1131.

968. Christ’s Object Lessons, 63.969. Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 121.


971. Ibid., 67.





976. Ibid., 46, 47.

977. Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 149, 150.












985. Ibid., vol. 6, 1114.


987. Last Day Events, 219, 220.


989. The Youth’s Instructor , April 6, 1899.990. Selected Messages, vol. 3, 355.



993. Ibid., vol. 4, 1154.


995. Ibid., July 10, 1901.

996. Ibid.


998. Signs of the Times, November 26, 1902.999. Ibid., March 11, 1903.




1003. Ibid., January 8, 1902.

1004. Testimonies to Ministers, 91-98.

1005. Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30, 31.

1006. Review and Herald, January 21, 1890.1007. Christ’s Object Lessons, 346.



1010. Counsels on Diet and Foods, 59, 60.


1012. Spalding and Magan Collections, 123.


1014. Ibid., vol. 9, 112, 113.

1015. Ibid., vol. 7, 59.

1016. Counsels on Diet and Foods, 73.


1018. Manuscript Releases, bk. 1, 110.

1019. Counsels on Diet and Foods, 44.

1020. Testimonies, vol. 9, 153, 154.

1021. Ibid., vol. 1, 486, 487.





1022. Ibid., vol. 2, 355.

1023. Medical Ministry, 241.



1026. Education, 15, 16.

1027. Ibid., 190.1028. Ibid., 14, 15.


1030. Education, 17, 18.

1031. Ibid., 249.

1032. Ibid., 30.




1036. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 394, 395.1037. Christ’s Object Lessons, 333.

1038. Amazing Grace, 278.


1040. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 435.


1042. Education, 225, 226.

1043. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 483.

1044. Ibid., 434.1045. Fundamentals of Christian Education, 512.




1049. Ibid., vol. 1, 193, 194.




1053. Ibid., 339, 340.




1057. Christ’s Object Lessons, 67-69.


1059. Ibid., 68, 69.







1062. Ibid., vol. 6, 21.



1065. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 211, 212.1066. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1086.


1068. Ibid., April 25, 1900.



1071. Ibid., vol. 7, 980.

1072. Signs of the Times, December 11, 190l.


1074. Ibid., 74.1075. Ibid., 356.




1079. Ibid., 28.



1082. Ibid., 355, 356.1083. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 980.

1084. Ibid.


1086. Ibid., 409.

1087. Ibid., 421.

1088. Ibid., 423.

1089. Ibid., 454.

1090. Ibid., 483, 484.



1093. Ibid., 488, 489.



1096. Ibid.






1098. The 1888 Ellen G. White Materials, 127.

1099. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1078.




1103. The Great Controversy, 490, 491.1104. Ibid., 582, 583.

1105. Ibid., 584.

1106. Ibid., 586.

1107. Ibid., 587.

1108. Ibid., 520.

1109. Ibid., ix-x.

1110. Ibid., 591.

1111. Ibid., 582.

1112. Ibid., 591.1113. Ibid.

1114. Ibid.

1115. Ibid., 592.

1116. Ibid., 591.

1117. Ibid., 592.



1120. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1106.1121. Selected Messages, bk. 2, 395.



1124. Ibid., 588.

1125. Ibid., 524.

1126. Ibid., 624, 625.

1127. Ibid., 587.

1128. Ibid., 571.





1133. Ibid., 573.









1138. Ibid ., 448, 449.



1141. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 428.1142. Signs of the Times, November 28, 1900.








1150. Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 127.1151. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 384.


1153. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 396. (see 397-400).

1154. Ibid., 403.


1156. Ibid., vol. 6, 1079.

1157. Ibid., vol. 2, 995.

1158. The Great Controversy, 462.1159. Ibid., 463.



1162. Ibid.

1163. Ibid.


1165. Ibid., 408.


1167. Ibid.


1169. Ibid., 465.

1170. Ibid., 465, 466. Here Ellen White endorses the analysis of the eminen

Protestant preacher, Edwards A. Park.

1171. Ibid., 466.

1172. Ibid., 469.





1173. Ibid., 472.

1174. Ibid., 473.

1175. Ibid., 478.



1178. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1111.1179. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 196, 197.

1180. Ibid., 203.

1181. Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 247-249.

1182. Ibid., vol 12, 112.



1185. Ibid., vol. 11, 211.


1187. Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 26, 27.1188. Ibid., 27.

1189. Ibid., vol. 4, 145, 146.

1190. Ibid., vol. 5, 375, 376.



1193. Selected Messages, bk. 1,197.

1194. Ibid., 203.

1195. Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 211.1196. Testimonies, vol. 8, 291, 292.

1197. Selected Messages, bk. 1 , 204, 205.

1198. Ibid., 293.



1201. Ibid. (Lt 175, 1904).

1202. Selected Messages, bk. 2, 350. (Lt 20, 1902).

1203. Testimonies, vol. 8, 293, 294. (1904).





1208. Manuscript 1, February 24, 1915 (in Ellen G. White Estate Files, Silve

Spring, MD).






1210. Canadian Union Messenger, September 3, 1907.




1214. Pamphlets/PH155—Special Testimony to the Battle Creek Church, pp. 7,

(1882).1215. Review and Herald, September 4, 1888.




1219. Ibid., vol. 6, 1064, 1065.


1221. The Upward Look, 135. (Manuscript 37, 1903).

1222. The Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.

1223. Testimonies, vol. 3, 281.1224. Ibid., vol. 5, 136.


1226. Review and Herald , May 2, 1899.





1231. Ibid., 439, 440.1232. Ibid., 579, 580.

1233. Ibid., 442.

1234. Ibid., 444.

1235. Ibid., 449.



1238. Phrases used often in documents such as “Evangelicals and Catholic

Together” and various papal encyclicals.


1240. Testimonies, vol. 5,452.

1241. Ibid.



1244. Ibid., 592.











1251. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 391.1252. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1160.

1253. The Youth’s Instructor, August 18, 1886.





1258. Ibid.

1259. Testimonies, vol. 5,216.

1260. Last Day Events, 221.1261. Ibid.




1265. Ibid., 970.

1266. Ibid., 978.

1267. Sons and Daughters of God, 370.

1268. Last Day Events, 219, 220.1269. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 427.









1278. Ibid., vol. 6, 1065.















1289. Ibid., 614.1290. Manuscript Releases, vol. 14,163.




1294. Ibid., vol. 5, 136.




1298. Evangelism, 234.1299. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 980.




1303. Ibid., 81.



1306. Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 320.1307. The Great Controversy, 390.











1318. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 67-69.

1319. Ibid., bk. 3, 425.











1326. Ibid . , November 22, 1892.

1327. Selected Messages, bk.1, 234, 235.1328. Testimonies, vol. 6, 19.


1330. Selected Messages, vol. 3, 361.


1332. Testimonies, vol. 1, 332, 333.


1334. Ibid., 510.


1336. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 385.1337. Testimonies, vol. 1, 187.

1338. Ibid., vol. 8, 118.




1342. Ibid., 985.


1344. The Great Controversy, 612.1345. Ibid., 606, 607.










1355. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 410 (Letter 20, 1884).



1358. Ibid., 141-143.

1359. Ibid., bk. 3, 413.





1360. Ibid., bk. 2, 102, 103.

1361. Ibid., 111, 112.


1363. Life of Paul, 231, 232,


1365. Selected Messages, bk. 1, 48.1366. The Great Controversy, 38.

1367. Ibid., 338, 339.

1368. Ibid., 491.



1371. Ibid., 391.



1374. Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 86.1375. The Youth’s Instructor, November 30, 1893.



1378. The Youth’s Instructor, June 29, 1899.


1380. Ibid.


1382. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1136.1383. Selected Messages, bk. 3, 416.

1384. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7 , 983.

1385. Ibid., vol. 7, 982, 983.


1387. Ibid.


1389. Ibid., 615, 616.

1390. Ibid. 616.

1391. Ibid., 618-620.

1392. Ibid., 621.

1393. Ibid., 629, 630, 631.

1394. Ibid., 637.


1396. Ibid., vol. 7, 986.






1398. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 961-963.





1403. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 980.1404. Signs of the Times, June 2, 1898.




1408. Ibid., 414.

1409. Ibid., 410, 411.

1410. Ibid., 312, 313.

1411. Ibid., 412, 413.

1412. Ibid., 356.1413. Ibid., 325.

1414. Ibid., 329.

1415. Ibid.

1416. Ibid., 330.



1419. Ibid., 333.

1420. Ibid., 330.1421. Ibid., 331.

1422. Ibid.

1423. Ibid.

1424. Ibid., 333.



1427. Ibid., 346.

1428. Ibid., 353, 354.


1430. Ibid., July 9, 1895.

1431. Welfare Ministry, 145.


1433. Ibid., 362, 363.







1436. Ibid., vol. 5, 1106.





1441. Ibid.1442. Christ’s Object Lessons, 384.






1448. Evangelism, 119, 120.


1450. Selected Messages, bk 1, 156, 157.1451. Christ’s Object Lessons, 40.


1453. Ibid ., 157.

1454. Ibid., bk. 3, 190, 191.



1457. Ibid., 161.

1458. Ibid., 158.1459. Ibid.

1460. Ibid., 158, 159.

1461. Ibid., 170.

1462. Ibid., 174, 175.

1463. Ibid., 159, 160.

1464. Ibid., 162, 163.



1467. Ibid., 171, 172.

1468. Ibid., 177.

1469. Ibid., 173.

1470. Ibid., 177, 178, 180.

1471 Ibid., 182.

1472. Ibid., 203, 204.

1473. Ibid., 206, 207.





1474. Ibid.

1475. Ibid., 209, 210.

1476. Ibid., 643.


1478 Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 226.

1479. Review and Herald, October 1, 1895.1480. Ibid., December 22, 1896.

1481. Ibid., October 16, 1888.


1483. Ibid., vol. 5, 1089.

1484. Ibid., vol. 6, 1052.

1485. Ibid., vol. 7, 906.

1486. Testimonies, vol. 4, 395, 396.

1487. Ibid., 400.

1488. Signs of the Times, August 4, 1881.1489. Ibid., June 3, 1903.

1490. Ibid., August 4, 1881.


1492. Testimonies, vol. 5, 299, 300.




1496. Ibid ., bk. 1,158, 159.1497. Review and Herald, July 1, 1884.


1499. Ibid., 159.

1500. Ibid., 165.







1507. Ibid., 404.











1514. Ibid., 185, 186.

1515. Ibid., 225, 226.


1517. Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 169.1518. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1152.



1521. Testimonies, vol. 6, 240, 241.


1523. Ibid., 697.


1525. Ibid., October 8, 1902.

1526. Ibid., March 8, 1899.1527 Ibid July 13 1882


Heartbeat of Adventism-The Great Controversy Theme in the Writtings of Ellen G. White

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