the great controversy-第94章

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Peter　with　the　message　of　salvation　to　the　Gentile　strangerthus　holy
angels　have；　in　all　ages；　ministered　to　God's　people。

A　guardian　angel　is　appointed　to　every　follower　of　Christ。　These　heavenly
watchers　shield　the　righteous　from　the　power

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of　the　wicked　one。　This　Satan　himself　recognized　when　he　said：　〃Doth　Job
fear　God　for　nought？　Hast　not　Thou　made　an　hedge　about　him；　and　about　his
house；　and　about　all　that　he　hath　on　every　side？〃　Job　1：9；　10。　The　agency　by
which　God　protects　His　people　is　presented　in　the　words　of　the　psalmist：
〃The　angel　of　the　Lord　encampeth　round　about　them　that　fear　Him；　and
delivereth　them。〃　Psalm　34：7。　Said　the　Saviour；　speaking　of　those　that
believe　in　Him：　〃Take　heed　that　ye　despise　not　one　of　these　little　ones；　for
I　say　unto　you；　That　in　heaven　their　angels　do　always　behold　the　face　of　My
Father。〃　Matthew　18：10。　The　angels　appointed　to　minister　to　the　children　of
God　have　at　all　times　access　to　His　presence。

Thus　God's　people；　exposed　to　the　deceptive　power　and　unsleeping　malice　of
the　prince　of　darkness；　and　in　conflict　with　all　the　forces　of　evil；　are
assured　of　the　unceasing　guardianship　of　heavenly　angels。　Nor　is　such
assurance　given　without　need。　If　God　has　granted　to　His　children　promise　of
grace　and　protection；　it　is　because　there　are　mighty　agencies　of　evil　to　be
metagencies　numerous；　determined；　and　untiring；　of　whose　malignity　and
power　none　can　safely　be　ignorant　or　unheeding。

Evil　spirits；　in　the　beginning　created　sinless；　were　equal　in　nature；　power；
and　glory　with　the　holy　beings　that　are　now　God's　messengers。　But　fallen
through　sin；　they　are　leagued　together　for　the　dishonor　of　God　and　the
destruction　of　men。　United　with　Satan　in　his　rebellion；　and　with　him　cast
out　from　heaven；　they　have；　through　all　succeeding　ages；　co…operated　with
him　in　his　warfare　against　the　divine　authority。　We　are　told　in　Scripture　of
their　confederacy　and　government；　of　their　various　orders；　of　their
intelligence　and　subtlety；　and　of　their　malicious　designs　against　the　peace
and　happiness　of　men。

Old　Testament　history　presents　occasional　mention　of　their　existence　and
agency；　but　it　was　during　the　time　when　Christ　was　upon　the　earth　that　evil
spirits　manifested　their　power　in　the　most　striking　manner。　Christ　had　come
to　enter

514

upon　the　plan　devised　for　man's　redemption；　and　Satan　determined　to　assert
his　right　to　control　the　world。　He　had　succeeded　in　establishing　idolatry　in
every　part　of　the　earth　except　the　land　of　Palestine。　To　the　only　land　that
had　not　fully　yielded　to　the　tempter's　sway；　Christ　came　to　shed　upon　the
people　the　light　of　heaven。　Here　two　rival　powers　claimed　supremacy。　Jesus
was　stretching　out　His　arms　of　love；　inviting　all　who　would　to　find　pardon
and　peace　in　Him。　The　hosts　of　darkness　saw　that　they　did　not　possess
unlimited　control；　and　they　understood　that　if　Christ's　mission　should　be
successful；　their　rule　was　soon　to　end。　Satan　raged　like　a　chained　lion　and
defiantly　exhibited　his　power　over　the　bodies　as　well　as　the　souls　of　men。

The　fact　that　men　have　been　possessed　with　demons；　is　clearly　stated　in　the
New　Testament。　The　persons　thus　afflicted　were　not　merely　suffering　with
disease　from　natural　causes。　Christ　had　perfect　understanding　of　that　with
which　He　was　dealing；　and　He　recognized　the　direct　presence　and　agency　of
evil　spirits。

A　striking　example　of　their　number；　power；　and　malignity；　and　also　of　the
power　and　mercy　of　Christ；　is　given　in　the　Scripture　account　of　the　healing
of　the　demoniacs　at　Gadara。　Those　wretched　maniacs；　spurning　all　restraint；
writhing；　foaming；　raging；　were　filling　the　air　with　their　cries；　doing
violence　to　themselves；　and　endangering　all　who　should　approach　them。　Their
bleeding　and　disfigured　bodies　and　distracted　minds　presented　a　spectacle
well　pleasing　to　the　prince　of　darkness。　One　of　the　demons　controlling　the
sufferers　declared：　〃My　name　is　Legion：　for　we　are　many。〃　Mark　5：9。　In　the
Roman　army　a　legion　consisted　of　from　three　to　five　thousand　men。　Satan's
hosts　also　are　marshaled　in　companies；　and　the　single　company　to　which　these
demons　belonged　numbered　no　less　than　a　legion。

At　the　command　of　Jesus　the　evil　spirits　departed　from　their　victims；
leaving　them　calmly　sitting　at　the　Saviour's　feet；　subdued；　intelligent；　and
gentle。　But　the　demons　were

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permitted　to　sweep　a　herd　of　swine　into　the　sea；　and　to　the　dwellers　of
Gadara　the　loss　of　these　outweighed　the　blessings　which　Christ　had　bestowed；
and　the　divine　Healer　was　entreated　to　depart。　This　was　the　result　which
Satan　designed　to　secure。　By　casting　the　blame　of　their　loss　upon　Jesus；　he
aroused　the　selfish　fears　of　the　people　and　prevented　them　from　listening　to
His　words。　Satan　is　constantly　accusing　Christians　as　the　cause　of　loss；
misfortune；　and　suffering；　instead　of　allowing　the　reproach　to　fall　where　it
belongs　upon　himself　and　his　agents。

But　the　purposes　of　Christ　were　not　thwarted。　He　allowed　the　evil　spirits　to
destroy　the　herd　of　swine　as　a　rebuke　to　those　Jews　who　were　raising　these
unclean　beasts　for　the　sake　of　gain。　Had　not　Christ　restrained　the　demons；
they　would　have　plunged　into　the　sea；　not　only　the　swine；　but　also　their
keepers　and　owners。　The　preservation　of　both　the　keepers　and　the　owners　was
due　alone　to　His　power；　mercifully　exercised　for　their　deliverance。
Furthermore；　this　event　was　permitted　to　take　place　that　the　disciples　might
witness　the　cruel　power　of　Satan　upon　both　man　and　beast。　The　Saviour
desired　His　followers　to　have　a　knowledge　of　the　foe　whom　they　were　to　meet；
that　they　might　not　be　deceived　and　overcome　by　his　devices。　It　was　also　His
will　that　the　people　of　that　region　should　behold　His　power　to　break　the
bondage　of　Satan　and　release　his　captives。　And　though　Jesus　Himself
departed；　the　men　so　marvelously　delivered；　remained　to　declare　the　mercy　of
their　Benefactor。

Other　instances　of　a　similar　nature　are　recorded　in　the　Scriptures。　The
daughter　of　the　Syrophoenician　woman　was　grievously　vexed　with　a　devil；　whom
Jesus　cast　out　by　His　word。　（Mark　7：26…30）。　〃One　possessed　with　a　devil；
blind；　and　dumb〃　（Matthew　12：22；　a　youth　who　had　a　dumb　spirit；　that
ofttimes　〃cast　him　into　the　fire；　and　into　the　waters；　to　destroy　him〃　（Mark
9：17…27）；　the　maniac　who；　tormented　by　〃a　spirit　of　an　unclean　devil〃　（Luke
4：33…36）；　disturbed　the　Sabbath　quiet　of　the　synagogue　at　Capernaumall
were

516

healed　by　the　compassionate　Saviour。　In　nearly　every　instance；　Christ
addressed　the　demon　as　an　intelligent　entity；　commanding　him　to　come　out　of
his　victim　and　to　torment　him　no　more。　The　worshipers　at　Capernaum；
beholding　His　mighty　power；　〃were　all　amazed；　and　spake　among　themselves；
saying；　What　a　word　is　this！　for　with　authority　and　power　He　commandeth　the
unclean　spirits；　and　they　come　out。〃　Luke　4：36。

Those　possessed　with　devils　are　usually　represented　as　being　in　a　condition
of　great　suffering；　yet　there　were　exceptions　to　this　rule。　For　the　sake　of
obtaining　supernatural　power；　some　welcomed　the　satanic　influence。　These　of
course　had　no　conflict　with　the　demons。　Of　this　class　were　those　who
possessed　the　spirit　of　divination；Simon　Magus；　Elymas　the　sorcerer；　and
the　damsel　who　followed　Paul　and　Silas　at　Philippi。

None　are　in　greater　danger　from　the　influence　of　evil　spirits　than　those
who；　notwithstanding　the　direct　and　ample　testimony　of　the　Scriptures；　deny
the　existence　and　agency　of　the　devil　and　his　angels。　So　long　as　we　are
ignorant　of　their　wiles；　they　have　almost　inconceivable　advantage；　many　give
heed　to　their　suggestions　while　they　suppose　themselves　to　be　following　the
dictates　of　their　own　wisdom。　This　is　why；　as　we　approach　the　close　of　time；
when　Satan　is　to　work　with　greatest　power　to　deceive　and　destroy；　he　spreads
everywhere　the　belief　that　he　does　not　exist。　It　is　his　policy　to　conceal
himself　and　his　manner　of　working。

There　is　nothing　that　the　great　deceiver　fears　so　much　as　that　we　shall
become　acquainted　with　his　devices。　The　better　to　disguise　his　real
character　and　purposes；　he　has　caused　himself　to　be　so　represented　as　to
excite　no　stronger　emotion　than　ridicule　or　contempt。　He　is　well　pleased　to
be　painted　as　a　ludicrous　or　loathsome　object；　misshapen；　half　animal　and
half　human。　He　is　pleased　to　hear　his　name　used　in　sport　and　mockery　by
those　who　think　themselves　intelligent　and　well　informed。

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It　is　because　he　has　masked　himself　with　consummate　skill　that　the　question
is　so　widely　asked：　〃Does　such　a　being　really　exist？〃　It　is　an　evidence　of
his　success　that　theories　giving　the　lie　to　the　plainest　testimony　of　the
Scriptures　are　so　generally　received　in　the　religious　world。　And　it　is
because　Satan　can　most　readily　control　the　minds　of　those　who　are
unconscious　of　his　influence；　that　the　word　of　God　gives　us　so　many　examples
of　his　malignant　work；　unveiling　before　us　his　secret　forces；　and　thus
placing　us　on　our　guard　against　his　assaults。

The　power　and　malice　of　Satan　and　his　host　might　justly　alarm　us　were　it　not
that　we　may　find　shelter　and　deliverance　in　the　superior　power　of　our
Redeemer。　We　carefully　secure　our　houses　with　bolts　and　locks　to　protect　our
property　and　our　lives　from　evil　men；　but　we　seldom　think　of　the　evil　angels
who　are　constantly　seeking　access　to　us；　and　against　whose　attacks　we　have；
in　our　own　strength；　no　method　of　defense。　If　permitted；　they　can　distract
our　minds；　disorder　and　torment　our　bodies；　destroy　our　possessions　and　our
lives。　Their　only　delight　is　in　misery　and　destruction。　Fearful　is　the
condition　of　those　who　resist　the　divine　claims　and　yield　to　Satan's
temptations；　until　God　gives　them　up　to　the　control　of　evil　spirits。　But
those　who　follow　Christ　are　ever　safe　under　His　watchcare。　Angels　that　excel
in　strength　are　sent　from　heaven　to　protect　them。　The　wicked　one　cannot
break　through　the　guard　which　God　has　stationed　about　His　people。





（518）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　32

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Snares　of　Satan


The　great　controversy　between　Christ　and　Satan；　that　has　been　carried
forward　for　nearly　six　thousand　years；　is　soon　to　close；　and　the　wicked　one
redoubles　his　efforts　to　defeat　the　work　of　Christ　in　man's　behalf　and　to
fasten　souls　in　his　snares。　To　hold　the　people　in　darkness　and　impenitence
till　the　Saviour's　mediation　is　ended；　and　there　is　no　longer　a　sacrifice
for　sin；　is　the　object　which　he　seeks　to　accomplish。

When　there　is　no　special　effort　made　to　resist　his　power；　when　indifference
prevails　in　the　church　and　the　world；　Satan　is　not　concerned；　for　he　is　in
no　danger　of　losing　those　whom　he　is　leading　captive　at　his　will。　But　when
the　attention　is　called　to　eternal　things；　and　souls　are　inquiring；　〃What
must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃　he　is　on　the　ground；　seeking　to　match　his　power
against　the　power　of　Christ　and　to　counteract　the　influence　of　the　Holy
Spirit。

The　Scriptures　declare　that　upon　one　occasion；　when　the　angels　of　God　came