the great controversy-第93章

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authority　and　build　up　his　kingdom　in　opposition　to　the　government　of　God。
To　this　end　they　seek　to　deceive　Christ's　followers　and　allure　them　from
their　allegiance。　Like　their　leader；　they　misconstrue　and　pervert　the
Scriptures　to　accomplish　their　object。　As　Satan　endeavored　to　cast　reproach
upon　God；　so　do　his　agents　seek　to　malign　God's　people。　The　spirit　which　put
Christ　to　death　moves　the　wicked　to　destroy　His　followers。　All　this　is
foreshadowed　in　that　first　prophecy：　〃I　will　put　enmity　between　thee　and　the
woman；　and　between　thy　seed　and　her　seed。〃　And　this　will　continue　to　the
close　of　time。

Satan　summons　all　his　forces　and　throws　his　whole　power　into　the　combat。　Why
is　it　that　he　meets　with　no　greater　resistance？　Why　are　the　soldiers　of
Christ　so　sleepy　and　indifferent？　Because　they　have　so　little　real
connection　with　Christ；　because　they　are　so　destitute　of　His　Spirit。　Sin　is
not　to　them　repulsive　and　abhorrent；　as　it　was　to　their　Master。　They　do　not
meet　it；　as　did　Christ；　with　decisive　and　determined　resistance。　They　do　not
realize　the　exceeding　evil　and　malignity　of　sin；　and　they　are　blinded　both
to　the　character　and　the　power　of　the　prince　of　darkness。　There　is　little
enmity　against　Satan　and　his　works；　because　there　is　so　great　ignorance
concerning　his　power　and　malice；　and　the　vast　extent　of　his　warfare　against
Christ　and　His　church。　Multitudes　are　deluded　here。　They　do　not　know　that
their　enemy　is　a　mighty　general　who　controls　the　minds　of　evil　angels；

508

and　that　with　well…matured　plans　and　skillful　movements　he　is　warring
against　Christ　to　prevent　the　salvation　of　souls。　Among　professed
Christians；　and　even　among　ministers　of　the　gospel；　there　is　heard　scarcely
a　reference　to　Satan；　except　perhaps　an　incidental　mention　in　the　pulpit。
They　overlook　the　evidences　of　his　continual　activity　and　success；　they
neglect　the　many　warnings　of　his　subtlety；　they　seem　to　ignore　his　very
existence。

While　men　are　ignorant　of　his　devices；　this　vigilant　foe　is　upon　their　track
every　moment。　He　is　intruding　his　presence　in　every　department　of　the
household；　in　every　street　of　our　cities；　in　the　churches；　in　the　national
councils；　in　the　courts　of　justice；　perplexing；　deceiving；　seducing；
everywhere　ruining　the　souls　and　bodies　of　men；　women；　and　children；
breaking　up　families；　sowing　hatred；　emulation；　strife；　sedition；　murder。
And　the　Christian　world　seem　to　regard　these　things　as　though　God　had
appointed　them　and　they　must　exist。

Satan　is　continually　seeking　to　overcome　the　people　of　God　by　breaking　down
the　barriers　which　separate　them　from　the　world。　Ancient　Israel　were　enticed
into　sin　when　they　ventured　into　forbidden　association　with　the　heathen。　In
a　similar　manner　are　modern　Israel　led　astray。　〃The　god　of　this　world　hath
blinded　the　minds　of　them　which　believe　not；　lest　the　light　of　the　glorious
gospel　of　Christ；　who　is　the　image　of　God；　should　shine　unto　them。〃　2
Corinthians　4：4。　All　who　are　not　decided　followers　of　Christ　are　servants　of
Satan。　In　the　unregenerate　heart　there　is　love　of　sin　and　a　disposition　to
cherish　and　excuse　it。　In　the　renewed　heart　there　is　hatred　of　sin　and
determined　resistance　against　it。　When　Christians　choose　the　society　of　the
ungodly　and　unbelieving；　they　expose　themselves　to　temptation。　Satan
conceals　himself　from　view　and　stealthily　draws　his　deceptive　covering　over
their　eyes。　They　cannot　see　that　such　company　is　calculated　to　do　them　harm；
and　while　all　the　time　assimilating　to　the　world　in　character；　words；　and
actions；　they　are　becoming　more　and　more　blinded。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　509


Conformity　to　worldly　customs　converts　the　church　to　the　world；　it　never
converts　the　world　to　Christ。　Familiarity　with　sin　will　inevitably　cause　it
to　appear　less　repulsive。　He　who　chooses　to　associate　with　the　servants　of
Satan　will　soon　cease　to　fear　their　master。　When　in　the　way　of　duty　we　are
brought　into　trial；　as　was　Daniel　in　the　king's　court；　we　may　be　sure　that
God　will　protect　us；　but　if　we　place　ourselves　under　temptation　we　shall
fall　sooner　or　later。

The　tempter　often　works　most　successfully　through　those　who　are　least
suspected　of　being　under　his　control。　The　possessors　of　talent　and　education
are　admired　and　honored；　as　if　these　qualities　could　atone　for　the　absence
of　the　fear　of　God　or　entitle　men　to　His　favor。　Talent　and　culture；
considered　in　themselves；　are　gifts　of　God；　but　when　these　are　made　to
supply　the　place　of　piety；　when；　instead　of　bringing　the　soul　nearer　to　God；
they　lead　away　from　Him；　then　they　become　a　curse　and　a　snare。　The　opinion
prevails　with　many　that　all　which　appears　like　courtesy　or　refinement　must；
in　some　sense；　pertain　to　Christ。　Never　was　there　a　greater　mistake。　These
qualities　should　grace　the　character　of　every　Christian；　for　they　would
exert　a　powerful　influence　in　favor　of　true　religion；　but　they　must　be
consecrated　to　God；　or　they　also　are　a　power　for　evil。　Many　a　man　of
cultured　intellect　and　pleasant　manners；　who　would　not　stoop　to　what　is
commonly　regarded　as　an　immoral　act；　is　but　a　polished　instrument　in　the
hands　of　Satan。　The　insidious；　deceptive　character　of　his　influence　and
example　renders　him　a　more　dangerous　enemy　to　the　cause　of　Christ　than　are
those　who　are　ignorant　and　uncultured。

By　earnest　prayer　and　dependence　upon　God；　Solomon　obtained　the　wisdom　which
excited　the　wonder　and　admiration　of　the　world。　But　when　he　turned　from　the
Source　of　his　strength；　and　went　forward　relying　upon　himself；　he　fell　a
prey　to　temptation。　Then　the　marvelous　powers　bestowed　on　this　wisest　of
kings　only　rendered　him　a　more　effective　agent　of　the　adversary　of　souls。

510


While　Satan　is　constantly　seeking　to　blind　their　minds　to　the　fact；　let
Christians　never　forget　that　they　〃wrestle　not　against　flesh　and　blood；　but
against　principalities；　against　powers；　against　the　rulers　of　the　darkness
of　this　world；　against　wicked　spirits　in　high　places。〃　Ephesians　6：12；
margin。　The　inspired　warning　is　sounding　down　the　centuries　to　our　time：　〃Be
sober；　be　vigilant；　because　your　adversary　the　devil；　as　a　roaring　lion；
walketh　about；　seeking　whom　he　may　devour。〃　1　Peter　5：8。　〃Put　on　the　whole
armor　of　God；　that　ye　may　be　able　to　stand　against　the　wiles　of　the　devil。〃
Ephesians　6：11。

From　the　days　of　Adam　to　our　own　time；　our　great　enemy　has　been　exercising
his　power　to　oppress　and　destroy。　He　is　now　preparing　for　his　last　campaign
against　the　church。　All　who　seek　to　follow　Jesus　will　be　brought　into
conflict　with　this　relentless　foe。　The　more　nearly　the　Christian　imitates
the　divine　Pattern；　the　more　surely　will　he　make　himself　a　mark　for　the
attacks　of　Satan。　All　who　are　actively　engaged　in　the　cause　of　God；　seeking
to　unveil　the　deceptions　of　the　evil　one　and　to　present　Christ　before　the
people；　will　be　able　to　join　in　the　testimony　of　Paul；　in　which　he　speaks　of
serving　the　Lord　with　all　humility　of　mind；　with　many　tears　and　temptations。

Satan　assailed　Christ　with　his　fiercest　and　most　subtle　temptations；　but　he
was　repulsed　in　every　conflict。　Those　battles　were　fought　in　our　behalf；
those　victories　make　it　possible　for　us　to　conquer。　Christ　will　give
strength　to　all　who　seek　it。　No　man　without　his　own　consent　can　be　overcome
by　Satan。　The　tempter　has　no　power　to　control　the　will　or　to　force　the　soul
to　sin。　He　may　distress；　but　he　cannot　contaminate。　He　can　cause　agony；　but
not　defilement。　The　fact　that　Christ　has　conquered　should　inspire　His
followers　with　courage　to　fight　manfully　the　battle　against　sin　and　Satan。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（511）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　31

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Agency　of　Evil　Spirits


The　connection　of　the　visible　with　the　invisible　world；　the　ministration　of
angels　of　God；　and　the　agency　of　evil　spirits；　are　plainly　revealed　in　the
Scriptures；　and　inseparably　interwoven　with　human　history。　There　is　a
growing　tendency　to　disbelief　in　the　existence　of　evil　spirits；　while　the
holy　angels　that　〃minister　for　them　who　shall　be　heirs　of　salvation〃
（Hebrews　1：14）　are　regarded　by　many　as　spirits　of　the　dead。　But　the
Scriptures　not　only　teach　the　existence　of　angels；　both　good　and　evil；　but
present　unquestionable　proof　that　these　are　not　disembodied　spirits　of　dead
men。

Before　the　creation　of　man；　angels　were　in　existence；　for　when　the
foundations　of　the　earth　were　laid；　〃the　morning　stars　sang　together；　and
all　the　sons　of　God　shouted　for　joy。〃　Job　38：7。　After　the　fall　of　man；
angels　were　sent　to　guard　the　tree　of　life；　and　this　before　a　human　being
had　died。　Angels　are　in　nature　superior　to　men；　for　the　psalmist　says　that
man　was　made　〃a　little　lower　than　the　angels。〃　Psalm　8：5。

We　are　informed　in　Scripture　as　to　the　number；　and　the　power　and　glory；　of
the　heavenly　beings；　of　their　connection　with　the　government　of　God；　and
also　of　their　relation　to　the　work　of　redemption。　〃The　Lord　hath　prepared
His　throne　in　the　heavens；　and　His　kingdom　ruleth　over　all。〃　And；　says　the
prophet；　〃I　heard　the　voice　of　many　angels　round　about　the　throne。〃　In　the
presence　chamber　of　the　King　of　kings

512

they　wait〃angels；　that　excel　in　strength；〃　〃ministers　of　His；　that　do　His
pleasure；〃　〃hearkening　unto　the　voice　of　His　word。〃　Psalm　103：19…21；
Revelation　5：11。　Ten　thousand　times　ten　thousand　and　thousands　of　thousands；
were　the　heavenly　messengers　beheld　by　the　prophet　Daniel。　The　apostle　Paul
declared　them　〃an　innumerable　company。〃　Daniel　7：10；　Hebrews　12：22。　As　God's
messengers　they　go　forth；　like　〃the　appearance　of　a　flash　of　lightning；〃
（Ezekiel　1：14）；　so　dazzling　their　glory；　and　so　swift　their　flight。　The
angel　that　appeared　at　the　Saviour's　tomb；　his　countenance　〃like　lightning；
and　his　raiment　white　as　snow；〃　caused　the　keepers　for　fear　of　him　to　quake；
and　they　〃became　as　dead　men。〃　Matthew　28：3；　4。　When　Sennacherib；　the
haughty　Assyrian；　reproached　and　blasphemed　God；　and　threatened　Israel　with
destruction；　〃it　came　to　pass　that　night；　that　the　angel　of　the　Lord　went
out；　and　smote　in　the　camp　of　the　Assyrians　an　hundred　fourscore　and　five
thousand。〃　There　were　〃cut　off　all　the　mighty　men　of　valor；　and　the　leaders
and　captains；〃　from　the　army　of　Sennacherib。　〃So　he　returned　with　shame　of
face　to　his　own　land。〃　2　Kings　19：35；　2　Chronicles　32：21。

Angels　are　sent　on　missions　of　mercy　to　the　children　of　God。　To　Abraham；
with　promises　of　blessing；　to　the　gates　of　Sodom；　to　rescue　righteous　Lot
from　its　fiery　doom；　to　Elijah；　as　he　was　about　to　perish　from　weariness　and
hunger　in　the　desert；　to　Elisha；　with　chariots　and　horses　of　fire
surrounding　the　little　town　where　he　was　shut　in　by　his　foes；　to　Daniel；
while　seeking　divine　wisdom　in　the　court　of　a　heathen　king；　or　abandoned　to
become　the　lions'　prey；　to　Peter；　doomed　to　death　in　Herod's　dungeon；　to　the
prisoners　at　Philippi；　to　Paul　and　his　companions　in　the　night　of　tempest　on
the　sea；　to　open　the　mind　of　Cornelius　to　receive　the　gospel；　to　dispatch
Peter　with　the　message　of　salvation　to　the　Gentile　strangerthus　holy
angels　have；　in　all　ages；　ministered　to　God's　people。

A　guardian　angel