CHAPTER 21 (The Great Controversy)
The Church and
World United
Satan then consulted with his angels, and they
there considered what they had gained.
It was true that they had kept some timid souls through fear of death,
from embracing the truth; but many, even of the most timid, received the truth,
and immediately their fears and timidity left them, and as they witnessed the
death of their brethren, and saw their firmness and patience, they knew that
God and angels assisted them to endure such sufferings, and they grew bold and
fearless. And when called to yield their
own lives, they maintained their faith with such patience and firmness as
caused even their murderers to tremble.
Satan and his angels decided that there was a more successful way to
destroy souls, and more certain in the end.
They saw that although they caused Christians to suffer, their
steadfastness, and the bright hope that cheered them, caused the weakest to
grow strong, and that the rack and the flames could not daunt them. They imitated the noble bearing of Christ
when before his murderers, and many were convinced of the truth by witnessing
their constancy, and the glory of God which rested upon them. Satan decided that he must come in a milder
form. He had corrupted the doctrines of
the Bible; and traditions which were to ruin millions were taking deep
root. He restrained his hate, and
decided not to urge on his subjects to such bitter persecution; but lead on the
church to contend, not for the faith once delivered to the saints, but, for
various traditions. As he led on the
church to receive favors and honors of the world, under the false pretense of
benefiting them, she began to lose favor with God. Gradually the church lost her power, as she
shunned to declare the straight truths which shut out the lovers of pleasure
and friends of the world.
The church
is not the separate and peculiar people she was when the fires of persecution
were kindled against her. How is the
gold become dim? How is the most fine
gold changed? I saw that if the church
had always retained her holy and peculiar character, the power of the Holy
Spirit which was imparted to the disciples would be with her. The sick would be healed, devils would be
rebuked and cast out, and she would be mighty, and a terror to her
enemies.
I saw that a very large company professed the
name of Christ, but God does not recognize them as his. He has no pleasure in them. Satan seemed to assume a religious character,
and was very willing that the people should think they were Christians. He was very willing that they should believe
in Jesus, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. Satan and his angels fully believed all this
themselves, and trembled. But if this faith does not provoke to good works, and
lead those who profess it to imitate the self-denying life of Christ, he is not
disturbed; for they merely assume the Christian name, while their hearts are
still carnal; and he can use them in his service better than if they made no
profession. Under the name of Christian they hide their deformity. They pass along with their unsanctified
natures, and their evil passions unsubdued.
This gives occasion for the unbeliever to throw their imperfections in
the face of Jesus Christ, to reproach him, and to cause those who do possess
pure and undefiled religion to be brought into disrepute.
The ministers preach smooth things to suit carnal
professors. This is just as Satan would
have it. They dare not preach Jesus and
the cutting truths of the Bible; for if they should, these carnal professors
would not hear them. Many of them are
wealthy and must be retained in the church, although they are no more fit to be
there than Satan and his angels. The
religion of Jesus is made to appear popular and honorable in the eyes of the
world. The people are told that those
who profess religion will be more honored by the world. Very widely do such teachings differ from the
teachings of Christ. His doctrine and
the world could not be at peace. Those
who followed him had to renounce the world.
These smooth things originated with Satan and his angels. They formed the plan, and nominal professors
have carried it out. Hypocrites and
sinners unite with the church. Pleasing
fables are taught, and readily received.
But if the truth should be preached in its purity, it would soon shut
out hypocrites and sinners. But there is
no difference between the professed followers of Christ and the world. I saw that if the false covering could be
torn off from the members of the churches, there would be revealed such
iniquity, vileness and corruption, that the most diffident child of God would
have no hesitancy in calling them by their right name, children of their
father, the Devil; for his works they do.
Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with disgust upon the scene; yet
God had a message for the church that was sacred and important. If received, it would make a thorough
reformation in the church, revive the living testimony that would purge out
hypocrites and sinners, and bring the church again into favor with God.
See Isaiah 30:8-21; Lamentations 4:1; Titus 1:16;
James 2:19; Revelation chap.3
Isa 30:8 Now
go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for
the time to come for ever and ever:
Isa 30:9 That
this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the
law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us
right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Isa 30:11 Get
you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to
cease from before us.
Isa 30:12
Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and
trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
Isa 30:13
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out
in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
Isa 30:14 And
he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in
pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of
it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
Isa 30:15 For
thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye
be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would
not.
Isa 30:16 But
ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We
will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
Isa 30:17 One
thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee:
till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an
hill.
The Lord Will Be
Gracious
Isa 30:18 And
therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore
will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of
judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isa 30:19 For
the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will
be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he
will answer thee.
Isa 30:20 And
though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction,
yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes
shall see thy teachers:
Isa 30:21 And
thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in
it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Lam 4:1 How is
the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the
sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Tit 1:16 They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Jas 2:19 Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble.
Rev 3:1 And
unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath
the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast
a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Rev 3:2 Be
watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I
have not found thy works perfect before God.
Rev 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou
shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 3:4 Thou
hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they
shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He
that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before
my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:7 And to
the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is
holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no
man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8 I know
thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:
for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my
name.
Rev 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews,
and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before
thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Rev 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the
hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell
upon the earth.
Rev 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.
Rev 3:12 Him
that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go
no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:14 And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of
God;
Rev 3:15 I
know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot.
Rev 3:16 So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth.
Rev 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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