CHAPTER 29 (The Great Controversy)
A Firm Platform
I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm,
and would give no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith
of the body. God looked upon them with
approbation. I was shown three steps --
one, two and three -- the first, second and third angels' messages. Said the angel, Woe to him who shall move a
block, or stir a pin in these messages.
The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in
which they are received. I was again
brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had
purchased their experience. It had been
obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. Step by step had God brought them along,
until he had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform. Then I saw individuals as they approached the
platform, before stepping upon it examine the foundation. Some with rejoicing immediately stepped upon
it. Others commenced to find fault with
the laying of the foundation of the platform.
They wished improvements made, and then the platform would be more
perfect, and the people much happier.
Some stepped off the platform and examined it, then found fault with it,
declaring it to be laid wrong. I saw
that nearly all stood firm upon the platform, and exhorted others who had
stepped off to cease their complaints, for God was the master builder, and they
were fighting against him. They
recounted the wonderful work of God, which had led them to the firm platform,
and in union nearly all raised their eyes to heaven, and with a loud voice
glorified God. This affected some of
those who had complained, and left the platform, and again they with humble
look stepped upon it.
I was pointed back to the proclamation of the
first advent of Christ. John was sent in
the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming. Those who rejected the testimony of John were
not benefited by the teachings of Jesus.
Their opposition to the proclamation of his first advent placed them
where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence of his being the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message
of John to go still further, to reject Jesus and crucify him. In doing this, they placed themselves where
they could not receive the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would have
taught them the way into the heavenly Sanctuary. The rending of the vail of the temple showed
that the Jewish sacrifices and ordinances would no longer be received. 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 the disciples from the earthly Sanctuary to the heavenly,
where Jesus had entered by his own blood, and shed upon his disciples the
benefits of his atonement. The Jews were
left in complete deception and total darkness.
They lost all the light they might have had upon the plan of salvation,
and still trusted in their useless sacrifices and offerings. They could not be benefited by the mediation
of Christ in the Holy place. The
heavenly Sanctuary had taken the place of the earthly, yet they had no
knowledge of the way to the heavenly.
Many look with horror at the course the Jews
pursued toward Jesus in rejecting and crucifying him. And as they read the history of his shameful
abuse, they think they love Christ, and would not have denied him like Peter,
or crucified him like the Jews. But God
who has witnessed their professed sympathy for his Son, has proved them, and
has brought to the test that love which they professed for Jesus.
All heaven watched with the deepest interest the
reception of the message. But many who
profess to love Jesus, and who shed tears as they read the story of the cross,
instead of receiving the message with gladness, are stirred with anger, and
deride the good news of Jesus' coming, and declare it to be delusion. They would not fellowship those who loved his
appearing, but hated them, and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could
not be benefited by the second, and were not benefited by the midnight cry,
which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the Most Holy place
of the heavenly Sanctuary. And by
rejecting the two former messages, they can see no light in the third angel's
message, which shows the way into the Most Holy place. I saw that the nominal churches, as the Jews
crucified Jesus, had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no
knowledge of the move made in heaven, or of the way into the Most Holy, and
they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their useless
sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus
has left, and Satan, pleased with the deception of the professed followers of
Christ, fastens them in his snare, and assumes a religious character, and leads
the minds of these professed christians to himself, and works with his power,
his signs and lying wonders. Some he
deceives in one way and some in another.
He has different delusions prepared to affect different minds. Some look with horror upon one deception,
while they readily receive another.
Satan deceives some with Spiritualism.
He also comes as an angel of light, and spreads his influence over the
land. I saw false reformations
everywhere. The churches were elated,
and considered that God was marvelously working for them, when it was another
spirit. It will die away and leave the
world and the church in a worse condition than before.
I saw that God had honest children among the
nominal Adventists, and the fallen churches, and ministers and people will yet
be called out from these churches, before the plagues shall be poured out, and
they will gladly embrace the truth.
Satan knows this, and before the loud cry of the third angel, raises an
excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth
may think 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
every one of the honest ones will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand
with the remnant.
See Matthew chap.3; Acts chap.2; 2Corinthians
11:14; 2Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 14:6-12
Mat 3:1 In
those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And
saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:3 For
this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one
crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.
Mat 3:4 And
the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his
loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Mat 3:5 Then
went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about
Jordan,
Mat 3:6 And
were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:7 But
when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said
unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring
forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Mat 3:9 And
think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say
unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham.
Mat 3:10 And
now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 3:11 I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose
fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat
into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Mat 3:13 Then
cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But
John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to
me?
Mat 3:15 And
Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us
to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mat 3:16 And
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And
lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.
Act 2:1 And
when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place.
Act 2:2 And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each
of them.
Act 2:4 And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5 And
there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven.
Act 2:6 Now
when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded,
because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And
they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all
these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And
how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in
Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and
strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works
of God.
Act 2:12 And
they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth
this?
Act 2:13
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Act 2:14 But
Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye
men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and
hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the
day.
Act 2:16 But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And
it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And
on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:19 And I
will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20 The
sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great
and notable day of the Lord come:
Act 2:21 And
it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be saved.
Act 2:22 Ye
men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of
you, as ye yourselves also know:
Act 2:23 Him,
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 2:24 Whom
God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not
possible that he should be holden of it.
Act 2:25 For
David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he
is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Act 2:26
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh
shall rest in hope:
Act 2:27
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption.
Act 2:28 Thou
hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance.
Act 2:29 Men
and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is
both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him,
that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up
Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He
seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see
and hear.
Act 2:34 For
David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said
unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until
I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that
same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and
to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And
with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from
this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And
fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the
apostles.
Act 2:44 And
all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And
sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had
need.
Act 2:46 And
they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved.
2Co 11:14 And
no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Th 2:9 Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and
lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
2Th 2:12 That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Rev 14:6 And I
saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great
city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication.
Rev 14:9 And
the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the
beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his
hand,
Rev 14:10 The
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without
mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire
and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And
the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no
rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever
receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.
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