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Marea strigare a îngerului al treilea a şi început

în descoperirea neprihănirii lui Hristos, Răscumpărătorul iertător de păcate.

Acesta este începutul luminii îngerului a cărui slavă va umple tot pământul. RH 1 apr 1890

 

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NIMICITORUL

 

  O colecție de pasaje despre identitatea Nimicitorului în Spiritul Profeției

 

Ellen G. White

 

H.L.L. pag. 97-98: Îndată ce a ieşit din apă, Isus Hristos S-a plecat în rugăciune pe malul râului. În faţa Lui se deschidea o eră nouă şi însemnată. Acum se afla pe o scenă mai largă, şi începea lupta vieţii Sale. Cu toate că era Domnul Păcii, venirea Lui trebuia să fie ca străfulgerarea unei săbii. Împărăţia pe care venise s-o întemeieze era contrară aceleia dorite de iudei. El, care era temelia ritualului şi slujbelor divine în Israel, urma să fie privit ca vrăjmaşul şi nimicitorul lor. Cel care proclamase Legea pe Sinai, urma să fie condamnat ca unul care o calcă. El, care venise să sfărâme puterea lui Satana, urma să fie acuzat ca fiind Beelzebub. Nimeni nu L-a înţeles pe pământ, şi în timpul lucrării Lui trebuia să rămână singur. Cât a trăit, nici ucenicii nu L-au înţeles. El locuise în lumină veşnică, una cu Dumnezeu, dar viaţa pe pământ trebuia să o ducă în singurătate.

H.L.L. pag. 188: …El vorbea despre Dumnezeu nu ca despre un Judecător plin de răzbunare, ci ca despre un tată milos şi descoperea chipul lui Dumnezeu ca fiind oglindit în propria Sa persoană. Cuvintele Lui erau ca un balsam pentru sufletele rănite. El distrugea puterea apăsătoare a vechilor tradiţii, şi a poruncilor omeneşti şi prezenta iubirea lui Dumnezeu în deplinătatea ei nesfârşită.

H.L.L. pag. 211: Lui Satana i s-a îngăduit să scurteze viaţa pământească a trimisului lui Dumnezeu; dar viaţa aceea care “este ascunsă cu Hristos în Dumnezeu,” nu putea să fie atinsă de nimicitorul. Coloseni 3,3. El se bucura la gândul că întristase pe Hristos, dar nu izbutise să pună stăpânire pe Ioan. Moartea însăşi nu făcuse altceva decât să-l aşeze pentru totdeauna în afara ispitei. În lupta aceasta, Satana îşi descoperea caracterul. În faţa Universului care sta ca martor el îşi dovedea vrăjmăşia faţă de Dumnezeu şi de oameni.

H.L.L. pag. 224: Necredinţa lor a dat naştere la răutate. Satana îi stăpânea, şi plini de mânie au început să strige împotriva Mântuitorului. Ei se îndepărtaseră de Acela a cărui misiune era de a vindeca şi de a reface; şi acum dădeau pe faţă însuşirile nimicitorului.

H.L.L. pag. 329: Întâlnirea cu demonizaţii din Gadara cuprindea o învăţătură pentru ucenici. Ea arăta adâncimea degradării la care caută Satana să târască întregul neam omenesc şi misiunea lui Hristos de a libera pe oameni de sub puterea lui. Fiinţele acelea prăpădite care locuiau printre morminte, posedaţi de demoni, robiţi unor patimi nestăpânite şi unor plăceri scârboase, reprezintă ce ar fi ajuns omenirea, dacă ar fi fost lăsată sub jurisdicţia lui Satana. Influenţa lui Satana se exercită necontenit asupra oamenilor, pentru a tulbura simţurile, să stăpânească mintea pentru rău şi să aţâţe la violenţe şi crime. El slăbeşte corpul, întunecă inteligenţa şi înjoseşte sufletul. Oriunde oamenii leapădă invitaţia Mântuitorului, ei se supun lui Satana. Mulţi oameni din toate domeniile vieţii, în familie, în relaţiile sociale şi chiar în biserică, fac astăzi lucrul acesta. Din cauza aceasta s-a răspândit pe pământ violenţa şi crima; iar întunericul moral, ca o mantie a morţii, învăluie casele oamenilor. Prin ispitele lui iscusite, Satana face pe oameni să se dedea la rele tot mai mari, până când rezultatul este depravarea şi ruina. Unica siguranţă şi apărare împotriva puterii lui se află în prezenţa lui Isus. Înaintea oamenilor şi a îngerilor, Satana a fost descoperit ca vrăjmaş şi nimicitor al omului; Hristos, ca prietenul şi liberatorul omului.

H.L.L. pag. 761: Prin Hristos, oamenilor li s-a descoperit mila lui Dumnezeu; dar mila nu înlătură dreptatea. Legea descoperă atributele caracterului lui Dumnezeu şi nici o iotă sau o frântură de literă din ea nu poate fi schimbată pentru a se potrivi omului în starea sa căzută. Dumnezeu n-a schimbat Legea Sa, dar El S-a jertfit pe Sine, în Hristos, pentru răscumpărarea omului: “Dumnezeu era în Hristos, împăcând lumea cu Sine.” 2 Cor. 5,19.

H.L.L. pag. 757: Dumnezeu ar fi putut nimici pe Satana şi pe cei ce-l simpatizau, tot atât de uşor cum cineva poate arunca o pietricică pe pământ; dar El n-a făcut aceasta. Răzvrătirea nu trebuia să fie biruită prin forţă. Puterea constrângătoare se află numai sub cârmuirea lui Satana. Principiile Domnului nu sunt de natura aceasta. Autoritatea Sa se bazează numai pe bunătate, milă şi iubire. Mijloacele ce trebuie să fie folosite sunt prezentarea acestor principii. Autoritatea lui Dumnezeu este morală, iar adevărul şi iubirea trebuie să fie puterea predominantă.

Satana a dus pe oameni la păcat, şi Planul de Mântuire a fost pus în aplicare. Timp de patru mii de ani, Hristos a lucrat pentru ridicarea omului, iar Satana la ruina şi degradarea lui. Universul ceresc a privit toate acestea.

H.L.L. pag. 460: Satana, autorul păcatului şi al urmărilor lui, făcuse pe oameni să privească la suferinţe şi moarte ca pornind de la Dumnezeu - ca o pedeapsă arbitrară dată din cauza păcatului.

Divina Vindecare, pag. 75: Boala, suferinţa şi moartea sunt lucrarea unei puteri potrivnice. Satana este nimicitorul; Dumnezeu este restauratorul.

Review and Herald, 17 septembrie 1901: Dumnezeu are o socoteală cu naţiunile. Nici o vrabie nu cade la pământ fără ştirea Sa. Acei ce fac rău semenilor lor, spunând: “Cum poate şti Dumnezeu?” vor sta într-o zi faţă în faţă cu răzbunarea cea atât de mult amânată. În acest timp va fi manifestat faţă de Dumnezeu un dispreţ ieşit din comun. Oamenii au atins un punct al impertinenţei şi neascultării, care arată că acea cupă a nelegiuirii lor este aproape plină. Mulţi aproape au trecut dincolo de limita harului. Curând Dumnezeu va arăta că El este cu adevărat Dumnezeul Cel viu. El va spune îngerilor: “Nu mai combateţi pe Satana în eforturile lui de a nimici. Lăsaţi-l să-şi aducă la îndeplinire ura lui de moarte împotriva copiilor neascultării; căci cupa nelegiuirilor lor este plină. Ei au avansat de la o treaptă a răutăţii la alta, adăugând zilnic la fărădelegile lor. Nu Mă voi mai amesteca să-l împiedic pe nimicitor să-şi facă lucrarea."

5 T 137: Satana foloseşte bărbaţi şi femei ca agenţi pentru a ademeni la păcat şi pentru a-l face atrăgător. Aceşti agenţi au fost cu credincioşie educaţi de Satana pentru a deghiza păcatul aşa încât acesta să poată distruge cu succes sufletele oamenilor şi să jefuiască pe Domnul Isus Hristos de slava Sa. Satana este marele duşman al lui Dumnezeu şi al omului. El îşi schimbă înfăţişarea prin agenţii săi în îngeri de lumină. În Scriptură el este numit Nimicitorul, acuzatorul fraţilor, înşelătorul, mincinosul, chinuitorul şi ucigaşul. Satana are mulţi în serviciul său dar, cel mai mare succes îl are când poate folosi pretinşii creştini la lucrarea lui satanică. Şi cu cât este mai mare influenţa lor, cu cât mai înaltă este poziţia lor, cu cât mai inteligent mărturisesc pe Dumnezeu şi slujba Sa, cu atât va avea mai mult succes în a-i putea folosi. Oricine ademeneşte la păcat este agentul său.

Dar după cădere, Satana ceru îngerilor săi să facă un efort special spre a introduce credinţa că omul ar fi din fire nemuritor… Apoi prinţul întunericului, lucrând prin agenţii săi, face pe oameni să creadă că Dumnezeu este un tiran răzbunător, care scufundă în iad pe toţi cei care nu-I plac Lui, şi îi face să sufere acolo pe veci mânia Sa; şi că în vreme ce ei suferă chinuri cumplite şi se prăjesc în focul cel veşnic, Creatorul se uită cu satisfacţie la ei.

Marea Luptă, pag. 431: În felul acesta, arhivrăjmaşul prezintă oamenilor cu caracterul lui pe Creatorul şi Binefăcătorul omenirii. Cruzimea este ceva satanic; dar Dumnezeu este iubire; şi tot ce a creat El a fost curat, sfânt şi plăcut până la data când intră în lume păcatul prin marele şi întâiul rebel. Satana însuşi este inamicul, care ispiteşte pe om să păcătuiască, şi apoi îl distruge, dacă poate; şi când a ajuns să fie sigur de prada sa, atunci el simte desfătare de ruina pe care a produs-o. Dacă i s-ar îngădui, atunci el ar trage toată omenirea în mrejele sale. Dacă nu ar interveni puterea lui Dumnezeu, atunci n-ar scăpa nici unul din fiii şi fiicele lui Adam.

Marea Luptă pag. 415: …Satana învinuie mereu pe bunii creştini şi îi arată ca fiind ei cauza pierderilor, a nenorocirilor şi a suferinţelor lumii, în loc să admită ca reproşul să cadă unde trebuie: adică, asupra lui Satana însăşi şi a agenţilor săi.

…Dacă Domnul Hristos n-ar fi oprit pe demoni, atunci ei ar fi aruncat în mare nu numai pe porci, dar şi pe păzitorii şi pe proprietarii lor. Păstrarea în viaţă a păzitorilor şi a proprietarilor se datora numai puterii Domnului, exercitată cu multă iubire pentru liberarea lor…

Marea Luptă, pag. 476 şi 477: Satana lucrează şi prin elementele naturii, ca să aducă în grânarele sale o cât mai bogată recoltă de suflete nepregătite. El a studiat secretele laboratoarelor naturii şi îşi foloseşte toată puterea ca să conducă puterile naturii, pe cât îi permite Dumnezeu. Când i s-a îngăduit să aducă suferinţe asupra lui Iov, cât de repede i-au fost spulberate turme, cirezi, case, copii, nenorocirile venind repede una după alta. Dumnezeu este cel care apără creaturile Sale şi face un zid în jurul lor contra puterii nimicitorului. Dar lumea creştină arată dispreţ faţă de Legea lui Dumnezeu; de aceea, Domnul va face exact ceea ce a spus că va face: Va retrage binecuvântările Sale de pe pământ şi-Şi va retrage grija Sa protectoare de deasupra celor ce s-au răsculat împotriva Legii Sale şi învaţă, ba chiar silesc cu forţa şi pe alţii, să creadă şi să facă tot ca ei. Satana are stăpânire asupra tuturor celor care nu sunt în mod special apăraţi de Dumnezeu. El va aduce favoruri şi prosperitate asupra unora, ca să ajute la propăşirea planurilor sale; şi tot el va aduce cercări şi suferinţe asupra altora, şi va face pe oameni să creadă că Dumnezeu este Cel care îi loveşte.

În timp ce se prezintă oamenilor ca mare medic, care poate vindeca toate bolile lor, el va aduce pe lume molime şi dezastre, până ce oraşe populate vor ajunge ruinate şi pustii. Azi el este la lucru în felul acesta. Prin accidente şi mari nenorociri pe mare şi pe uscat; prin încăierări şi vărsări de sânge; prin îngrozitoare furtuni, cu ploi de piatră şi cicloane; prin inundaţii şi cutremure, în fiece loc şi în diferite forme, Satana îşi exercită puterea sa nimicitoare…

Dumnezeu niciodată nu forţează voinţa sau conştiinţa omului; dar Satana, pentru ca să pună stăpânire pe cei pe care nu-i poate amăgi, a folosit mereu împotriva lor constrângerea prin acte de cruzime. Prin teroare şi prin forţă, el caută să tiranizeze conştiinţa oamenilor şi să-şi asigure supunerea şi închinarea lor. În acest scop, el lucrează atât prin autorităţile religioase, cât şi prin cele seculare, determinându-le să impună cu forţa legi omeneşti, care să silească la călcarea Legii lui Dumnezeu.

Marea Luptă, pag. 428: Poporul Israel, pe timpul acela, era credincios faţă de Dumnezeu; atâta timp cât ei continuară cu ascultarea faţă de Legea Lui, nici o putere din cer sau de pe pământ nu putea să-i biruiască. Dar blestemul, care nu fu îngăduit lui Balaam să-l pronunţe împotriva poporului lui Dumnezeu, falsul profet izbuti mai târziu să-l aducă asupra lor, când îi amăgi la păcat. Când călcară poruncile lui Dumnezeu, prin aceasta ei se despărţiră de Domnul şi fură lăsaţi să simtă puterea nimicitorului.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 39 (în original): Creatorul milostiv, manifestând iubire şi har pentru Lucifer şi cei ce l-au urmat, a căutat să-i întoarcă de pe marginea prăpastiei şi ruinei în care erau gata să se arunce. Dar mila Sa a fost greşit înţeleasă. Lucifer a arătat spre îndelunga răbdare a lui Dumnezeu ca fiind o dovadă a superiorităţii lui, o indicaţie că Împăratul Universului avea să accepte condiţiile sale. Dacă îngerii vor sta hotărât alături de el, spunea Lucifer, atunci vor putea să obţină tot ceea ce doresc. El şi-a apărat cu înverşunare poziţia şi s-a lansat cu totul în lupta cea mare împotriva Făcătorului său. Aşa se face că Lucifer, “purtătorul de lumină,” cel care se împărtăşea de slava lui Dumnezeu, care slujea la tronul Său, prin păcat a devenit Satana, “vrăjmaşul” lui Dumnezeu şi al fiinţelor sfinte, nimicitorul acelora pe care Cerul i-a încredinţat călăuzirii şi protecţiei sale.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 53 (în original): Pentru a aduce la îndeplinire lucrarea sa fără să fie văzut, Satana a ales să folosească şarpele ca medium - o travestire bine adaptată pentru scopul pe care-l urmărea, şi anume înşelarea lor. Şarpele a fost una dintre cele mai înţelepte şi mai frumoase creaturi de pe pământ. El avea aripi şi, când zbura prin aer, oferea o privelişte de o strălucire scânteietoare, având culoarea şi strălucirea aurului trecut prin foc. Odihnindu-se în ramurile bogat încărcate cu roade ale pomului oprit şi ospătându-se cu delicioasele lui fructe, era un lucru ce atrăgea atenţia şi încânta ochiul celui ce-l privea. Astfel, în grădina păcii era ascuns nimicitorul, pândindu-şi prada.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 338 : Satana a fost "de la început un ucigaş” (Ioan 8,44) şi, de îndată ce a obţinut puterea asupra neamului omenesc, nu numai că i-a îndemnat pe oameni să se urască şi să se ucidă unul pe altul, dar, sfidând cu şi mai multă îndrăzneală autoritatea lui Dumnezeu, ei au făcut din călcarea poruncii a şasea o parte a religiei lor.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 517 (în original): Păcătosul este în primejdie de moarte veşnică atâta timp cât nu caută adăpost la Domnul Hristos; şi după cum şovăiala şi nepăsarea puteau să-l lipsească pe fugar de unica şansă de a supravieţui, tot astfel amânarea şi indiferenţa se pot dovedi a fi ruina sufletului. Satana, vrăjmaşul cel mare, este pe urmele oricărui suflet care a nesocotit Legea sfântă a lui Dumnezeu, iar acela care nu-şi dă seama de primejdia în care se află şi nu caută cu toată hotărârea scăpare în locul de veşnică adăpostire va cădea pradă nimicitorului.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 278 (în original): Înainte de a obţine libertatea, robii trebuiau să-şi dovedească credinţa în marea eliberare care era gata să se înfăptuiască. Semnul sângelui trebuia pus pe casele lor şi trebuia ca ei să se separe, ei şi familiile lor, de egipteni şi să se strângă înăuntrul caselor lor. Dacă israeliţii ar fi nesocotit în vreo privinţă oarecare vreuna din îndrumările primite, dacă ar fi junghiat mielul, dar n-ar fi uns stâlpii uşii cu sânge, sau dacă vreunul dintre ei ar fi ieşit din casă, n-ar mai fi fost în siguranţă. S-ar fi putut ca în sinceritatea inimii lor să fi crezut că au făcut tot ce era necesar, dar sinceritatea lor nu i-ar fi izbăvit. Toţi aceia care nu aveau să ia seama la îndrumările Domnului aveau să-l piardă pe întâiul lor născut, lovit de mâna nimicitorului.

Patriarhi şi Profeţi, pag. 279 (în original): Israeliţii au ascultat de îndrumările pe care Dumnezeu le dăduse. Grabnic şi în taină, ei au făcut pregătirile pentru plecare. Familiile lor s-au adunat laolaltă, mielul pascal a fost junghiat, carnea friptă la foc, azimile şi ierburile amare pregătite. Tatăl, ca preot al familiei, a stropit sângele pe stâlpii casei şi apoi s-a alăturat familiei, înăuntrul casei. În grabă şi în tăcere mielul pascal a fost mâncat. Cuprins de o teamă sfântă, poporul s-a rugat şi a vegheat; inima întâilor născuţi, de la bărbatul cel puternic şi până la copilul cel mic, bătea cu o teamă ce nu se poate exprima în cuvinte. Taţi şi mame îl strângeau în braţe pe iubitul lor întâi născut, gândindu-se la lovitura îngrozitoare ce avea să cadă în noaptea aceea. Dar nici una dintre locuinţele lui Israel n-a fost vizitată de îngerul aducător de moarte. Semnul sângelui - semnul protecţiei Mântuitorului - era pe uşile lor şi nimicitorul n-a intrat.

The Southern Work, pag. 26: Satana este nimicitorul, însă Hristos este restauratorul. De la început scopul lui Satana a fost să-i determine pe oameni să calce legea lui Dumnezeu. El a prezentat greşit caracterul Tatălui, călcând în picioare legea Sa, şi a aruncat dispreţ asupra principiilor Sale. El a inspirat pe oameni cu propriul său spirit făcându-i părtaşi propriilor însuşiri negative ale lui, determinându-i astfel să nu respecte legea lui Dumnezeu. În timp ce îşi desăvârşeşte lucrarea sa de distrugere, el arată la sufletele degradate, contaminate de păcat, pe care le-a adus în starea de a fi subjugate de o mie de vicii, spunând că aceştia sunt prea degradaţi, prea ticăloşi, prea nenorociţi pentru a mai putea fi răscumpăraţi de Cer. El a căutat să prezinte omenirea în aspectul cel mai descurajator, astfel încât transformarea să pară a fi fără nici o speranţă. Deşi nu a putut să-şi atingă ţinta în atacul său asupra lui Hristos, sau să-L determine să eşueze sau să-L descurajeze, totuşi el deseori reuşeşte prea bine cu cei care ar trebui să fie împreună lucrători cu Dumnezeu. Însă planurile lui de a face să înceteze lucrarea lui Hristos nu sunt pe deplin încununate de succes. Prin harul lui Dumnezeu acei pe care vrăjmaşul i-a asuprit timp de generaţii, se vor ridica la starea de maturitate, atât bărbaţi cât şi femei, pe care le-a dat-o Dumnezeu, şi se vor prezenta ca fii şi fiice ale celui Prea Înalt. Acest rezultat este obţinut în general prin lucrarea misionară bine dirijată şi perseverentă.

Australasian Union Conference Record, 1 octombrie 1906: Nimeni nu se află pe o poziţie aşa de înaltă încât să nu mai poată să cadă. Păcatul a luat naştere în Satana, care era primul după Hristos. Lucifer a devenit nimicitorul acelora pe care cerul îi lăsase în paza şi ocrotirea lui. Satana are o biserică în lumea noastră de azi. În biserica sa se află toţi cei nemulţumiţi şi necredincioşi. Toţi cei ce nutresc mândria, ambiţia, slava deşartă sau egoismul, vor fi găsiţi necorespunzători când vor fi puşi în balanţa Domnului. Noi înşine nu putem realiza un caracter cu adevărat moral, însă putem accepta neprihănirea lui Hristos. “Cine zice că rămâne în El, trebuie să trăiască şi el cum a trăit Isus” (1 Ioan 2,6).

Bible Echo, 20 februarie 1899: Păcatul evreilor a fost necredinţa. Puterea nimicitorului a condus pe Israel pe un drum atât de greşit. Când ei ar fi trebuit să mărească pe Dumnezeu şi să discute despre bunătatea şi puterea Sa, ei au fost găsiţi într-o stare de plâns şi necredinţă. Toate mijloacele pe care înşelătorul le-a putut inventa au fost folosite pentru a semăna în inimile lor seminţele invidiei, discordiei şi ale urii împotriva lui Dumnezeu. Astfel că atunci când Hristos a venit pe pământ, Satana a prezentat o religie, un crez, pentru evrei care să-i convină lui. Naţiunea s-a îndepărtat de Dumnezeu, şi alt conducător îi conducea acum.

East Michigan Banner, 1 martie 1905: Înţelegeţi voi? Aţi priceput aceste lucruri? Cu aceste cuvinte de lumină şi adevăr înaintea lor, cum îndrăznesc oamenii să neglijeze o îndatorire atât de clară? Cum îndrăznesc ei să nu asculte de Dumnezeu când ascultarea de poruncile Sale înseamnă prosperitate atât în lucrurile materiale cât şi spiritule iar neascultarea înseamnă blestemul lui Dumnezeu? Satana este nimicitorul. Dumnezeu nu-i poate binecuvânta pe cei ce refuză să fie ispravnici credincioşi. Tot ce poate face este să-i permită lui Satana să-şi îndeplinească lucrarea sa nimicitoare. Observăm calamităţi în toate formele şi de toate gradele venind asupra pământului, şi de ce? Puterea protectoare a Domnului nu este exercitată.

Pacific Records, 29 august 1901: Citiţi Scripturile cu atenţie şi veţi găsi că Hristos a petrecut cea mai mare parte din lucrarea Sa redând celor suferinzi şi chinuiţi sănătatea. În felul acesta a făcut să se întoarcă asupra lui Satana ocara sau ruşinea răului pe care vrăjmaşul a tot binele l-a produs. Satana este nimicitorul; Hristos, restauratorul; şi în lucrarea noastră ca împreună lucrători cu Dumnezeu, vom avea succes dacă vom lucra în domenii practice. Pastori, nu vă limitaţi lucrarea numai la predicare. Faceţi lucrare practică. Căutaţi să ajutaţi pe cei bolnavi să-şi recapete sănătatea. Aceasta este adevărata lucrare. Lăsaţi ca lucrarea lui Hristos să fie exemplul vostru. La fel ca El, s㠓fiţi găsiţi destoinici pentru orice lucrare bună.”

Signs of the Times, 17 februarie 1909: Lunga suferinţă a lui Dumnezeu aşteaptă dezvoltarea revoltei lui Satana. Creatorul va încerca pe om să vadă dacă acesta va accepta minciuna lui Satana în locul adevărului lui Dumnezeu. Restricţia pusă asupra omului era una care, dacă ar fi fost respectată, nu ar fi lipsit pe acesta de nici o binecuvântare. Toţi îngerii din ceruri erau pregătiţi să vină în ajutorul lui Adam şi a Evei în acea controversă cu vrăjmaşul, dacă ei ar fi apelat la Dumnezeu pentru ajutor. Un interes puternic prevala în curţile cereşti în această încercare a ascultării omului, dar tristeţea s-a abătut în momentul în care Eva, cedând puterii de convingere a şarpelui, a gustat din fructul oprit. Lanţul de aur care până acum legase familia umană de cea divină, a fost rupt, iar pentru a putea fi din nou unite era nevoie şi se putea realiza numai prin puterea Unuia mai puternic decât nimicitorul.

 

 

 

 

1 T 299
In this degenerate age, Satan holds control over those who depart from the right and venture upon his ground. He exercises his power upon such in an alarming manner. I was directed to these words: "Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Some, I was shown, gratify their curiosity and tamper with the devil. They have no real faith in spiritualism and would start back with horror at the idea of being mediums. Yet they venture and place themselves in a position where Satan can exercise his power upon them. Such do not mean to enter deep into this work, but they know not what they are doing. They are venturing on the devil's ground and are tempting him to control them. This powerful destroyer considers them his lawful prey and exercises his power upon them, and that against their will. When they wish to control themselves they cannot. They yielded their minds to Satan, and he will not release his claims, but holds them captive. No power can deliver the ensnared soul but the power of God in answer to the earnest prayers of His faithful followers.

 

6 T 309
The angels were waiting to welcome Jesus as He ascended after His resurrection. The heavenly host longed to greet again their loved Commander, returned to them from the prison house of death. Eagerly they pressed about Him as He entered the gates of heaven. But He waved them back. His heart was with the lonely, sorrowing band of disciples whom He had left upon Olivet. It is still with His struggling children on earth, who have the battle with the destroyer yet to wage. "Father," He says, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am."

 

6 T 388
With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty? How dare they disobey God when obedience to His requirements means His blessing in both temporal and spiritual things, and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord's restraining power is not exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God. Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest.

 

7 T 141
Never did this message apply with greater force than it applies today. More and more the world is setting at nought the claims of God. Men have become bold in transgression. The wickedness of the inhabitants of the world has almost filled up the measure of their iniquity. This earth has almost reached the place where God will permit the destroyer to work his will upon it. The substitution of the laws of men for the law of God, the exaltation, by merely human authority, of Sunday in place of the Bible Sabbath, is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. He will arise in His majesty to shake terribly the earth. He will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain.

 

9 T 283
The Son of God was given to redeem the race. At infinite suffering, the sinless for the sinful, the price was paid that was to redeem the human family from the power of the destroyer and restore them again to the image of God. Those who accept the salvation brought to them in Christ will humble themselves before God as His little children.

 

DA 111
The Saviour's glance seems to penetrate heaven as He pours out His soul in prayer. Well He knows how sin has hardened the hearts of men, 112 and how difficult it will be for them to discern His mission, and accept the gift of salvation. He pleads with the Father for power to overcome their unbelief, to break the fetters with which Satan has enthralled them, and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer. He asks for the witness that God accepts humanity in the person of His Son.

 

DA 224
Satan was permitted to cut short the earthly life of God's messenger; but that life which "is hid with Christ in God," the destroyer could not reach. Col. 3:3. He exulted that he had brought sorrow upon Christ, but he had failed of conquering John. Death itself only placed him forever beyond the power of temptation. In this warfare, Satan was revealing his own character. Before the witnessing universe he made manifest his enmity toward God and man.

 

DA 239
Their unbelief bred malice. Satan controlled them, and in wrath they cried out against the Saviour. They had turned from Him whose mission it was to heal and restore; now they manifested the attributes of the destroyer.

 

DA 341
The encounter with the demoniacs of Gergesa had a lesson for the disciples. It showed the depths of degradation to which Satan is seeking to drag the whole human race, and the mission of Christ to set men free from his power. Those wretched beings, dwelling in the place of graves, possessed by demons, in bondage to uncontrolled passions and loathsome lusts, represent what humanity would become if given up to satanic jurisdiction. Satan's influence is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses, control the mind for evil, and incite to violence and crime. He weakens the body, darkens the intellect, and debases the soul. Whenever men reject the Saviour's invitation, they are yielding themselves to Satan. Multitudes in every department in life, in the home, in business, and even in the church, are doing this today. It is because of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth, and moral darkness, like the pall of death, enshrouds the habitations of men. Through his specious temptations Satan leads men to worse and worse evils, till utter depravity and ruin are the result. The only safeguard against his power is found in the presence of Jesus. Before men and angels Satan has been revealed as man's enemy and destroyer; Christ, as man's friend and deliverer. His Spirit will develop in man all that will ennoble the character and dignify the nature. It will build man up for the glory of God in body and soul and spirit. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7. He has called us "to the obtaining of the glory"--character--"of our Lord Jesus Christ;" has called us to be "conformed to the image of His Son." 2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 8:29.

 

ED 304
Not until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have thwarted the spoiler's purpose and turned aside the stroke of the destroyer.

 

GC 179
A strong impetus was given to the reform by the appearance of the plague, or Great Death, which swept over Switzerland in the year 1519. As men were thus brought face to face with the destroyer, many were led to feel how vain and worthless were the pardons which they had so lately purchased; and they longed for a surer foundation for their faith. Zwingli at Zurich was smitten down; he was brought so low that all hope of his recovery was relinquished, and the report was widely circulated that he was dead. In that trying hour his hope and courage were unshaken. He looked in faith to the cross of Calvary, trusting in the all-sufficient propitiation for sin. When he came back from the gates of death, it was to preach the gospel with greater fervor than ever before; and his words exerted an unwonted power. The people welcomed with joy their beloved pastor, returned to them from the brink of the grave. They themselves had come from attending upon the sick and the dying, and they felt, as never before, the value of the gospel.

 

GC 529
The people of Israel were at this time loyal to God; and so long as they continued in obedience to His law, no power in earth or hell could prevail against them. But the curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce against God's people, he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them into sin. When they transgressed God's commandments, then they separated themselves from Him, and they were left to feel the power of the destroyer.

 

GC 558
There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits' control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive. It is impossible, in their own strength, to break away from the bewitching, alluring spell. Nothing but the power of God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these ensnared souls.

 

GC 589
Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God.

 

GC 589
Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But the Christian world have shown contempt for the law of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He would--He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them.

 

MH 338
Houses of prostitution, dens of vice, criminal courts, prisons, almshouses, insane asylums, hospitals, all are, to a great degree, filled as a result of the liquor seller's work. Like the mystic Babylon of the Apocalypse, he is dealing in "slaves, and souls of men." Behind the liquor seller stands the mighty destroyer of souls, and every art which earth or hell can devise is employed to draw human beings under his power. In the city and the country, on the railway trains, on the great steamers, in places of business, in the halls of pleasure, in the medical dispensary, even in the church, on the sacred Communion table, his traps are set. Nothing is left undone to create and to foster the desire for intoxicants. On almost every corner stands the public house, with its brilliant lights, its welcome and good cheer, inviting the working man, the wealthy idler, and the unsuspecting youth.

 

PP 039
A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and his followers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which they were about to plunge. But His mercy was misinterpreted. Lucifer pointed to the long-suffering of God as an evidence of his own superiority, an indication that the King of the universe would yet accede to his terms. If the angels would stand firmly with him, he declared, they could yet gain all that they desired. He persistently defended his own course, and fully committed himself to the great controversy against his Maker. Thus it was that Lucifer, "the light bearer," the sharer of God's glory, the attendant of His throne, by transgression became Satan, "the adversary" of God and holy beings and the destroyer of those whom Heaven had committed to his guidance and guardianship.

 

PP 053
In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose to employ as his medium the serpent--a disguise well adapted for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. It had wings, and while flying through the air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness, having the color and brilliancy of burnished gold. Resting in the rich-laden branches of the forbidden tree and regaling itself with the delicious fruit, it was an object to arrest the attention and delight the eye of the beholder. Thus in the garden of peace lurked the destroyer, watching for his prey.

 

PP 278
Before obtaining freedom, the bondmen must show their faith in the great deliverance about to be accomplished. The token of blood must be placed upon their houses, and they must separate themselves and their families from the Egyptians, and gather within their own dwellings. Had the Israelites disregarded in any particular the directions given them, had they neglected to separate their children from the Egyptians, had they slain the lamb, but failed to strike the doorpost with blood, or had any gone out of their houses, they would not have been secure. They might have honestly believed that they had done all that was necessary, but their sincerity would not have saved them. All who failed to heed the Lord's directions would lose their first-born by the hand of the destroyer.

 

PP.279.003
The Israelites obeyed the directions that God had given. Swiftly and secretly they made their preparations for departure. Their families were gathered, the paschal lamb slain, the flesh roasted with fire, the unleavened bread and bitter herbs prepared. The father and priest of the household sprinkled the blood upon the doorpost, and joined his family within the dwelling. In haste and silence the paschal lamb was eaten. In awe the people prayed and watched, the heart of the eldest born, from the strong man down to the little child, throbbing with indefinable dread. Fathers and mothers clasped in their arms their loved first-born as they thought of the fearful stroke that was to fall that night. But no dwelling of Israel was visited by the death-dealing angel. The sign of blood--the sign of a Saviour's protection--was on their doors, and the destroyer entered not.

 

PP 517
The sinner is exposed to eternal death, until he finds a hiding place in Christ; and as loitering and carelessness might rob the fugitive of his only chance for life, so delays and indifference may prove the ruin of the soul. Satan, the great adversary, is on the track of every transgressor of God's holy law, and he who is not sensible of his danger, and does not earnestly seek shelter in the eternal refuge, will fall a prey to the destroyer.

 

PP 586
The inhabitants of Ashdod were smitten with a distressing and fatal disease. Remembering the plagues that were inflicted upon Egypt by the God of Israel, the people attributed their afflictions to the presence of the ark among them. It was decided to convey it to Gath. But the plague followed close upon its removal, and the men of that city sent it to Ekron. Here the people received it with terror, crying, "They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people." They turned to their gods for protection, as the people of Gath and Ashdod had done; but the work of the destroyer went on, until, in their distress, "the cry of the city went up to heaven." Fearing longer to retain the ark among the homes of men, the people next placed it in the open field. There followed a plague of mice, which infested the land, destroying the products of the soil, both in the storehouse and in the field. Utter destruction, by disease or famine, now threatened the nation.

 

SWK 026
Satan is the destroyer, but Christ is the restorer. From the first it was Satan's purpose to cause men to transgress the law of God. He misrepresented the character of the Father, trampled upon His law, and cast contempt upon His precepts. He inspired men with his own spirit, and made them partakers of his own attributes, and caused them to transgress the law of God. When he had accomplished his work of ruin, he pointed to the degraded, sin-polluted souls whom he had made subject to a thousand vices, and declared that they were too degraded, too wretched, to be redeemed by Heaven. He sought to present mankind in the most discouraging aspect, so that reformation might seem hopeless. Though he could not prevail with his temptations in assailing Christ, or cause Him to fail or be discouraged, yet he often succeeds too well with those who should be laborers together with God. But his plans to cause the work to cease are not wholly successful. Through the grace of God those whom the enemy has oppressed for generations, rise up to the dignity of God-given manhood and womanhood and present themselves as sons and daughters of the Most High. This result is generally brought about through well-directed, persevering missionary labor.

 

BE 1899-02-20
The sin of the Jews was unbelief. The power of the destroyer had led Israel far astray. When they should have magnified God and talked of His goodness and power, they were found disbelieving and complaining. Every means which the deceiver could invent, he used to sow in their hearts seeds of envy, discord, and of hatred against God. Thus when Christ came to the earth, Satan had brought in a religion for the Jews which pleased himself. The nation had departed from God, and another leader was guiding them.

 

EB 1905-03-01
Does This Mean You? With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty? How dare they disobey God when obedience to his requirements mean prosperity in temporal and spiritual things and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All we can do is to permit Satan to do his destroying work. We see calamities of every shape and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why,--The Lord's restraining power is not exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God. Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest. "Your words have been stout against me, saith the lord. Yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedly are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."

 

HM 1893-11-01
When men are not willing to see the truth and receive it, because it involves a cross, they are opening the door to Satan's temptations. He will lead them, as he led Eve in Eden, to believe a lie. The truth through which they might have been sanctified is set aside for some pleasing delusion presented by the destroyer of souls. It is often the case that the most precious truth appears to lie close by the side of fatal errors. The rest that Christ promised to all who should learn of him lies close beside indifference and carnal quietude, and multitudes overlook the fact that this rest is found only in wearing Christ's yoke and bearing his burden, in possessing his meekness and lowliness. The great truth of our entire dependence upon Christ for salvation lies close to the error of presumption. Freedom in Christ is by thousands mistaken for lawlessness; and because Christ came to release us from the condemnation of the law, men declare that the law itself is done away, and that those who keep it are fallen from grace. And thus, as truth and error appear so near akin, minds that are not guided by the Holy Spirit will be led to accept the error, and in so doing place themselves under the power of Satan's deceptions. In thus leading men to receive error for truth, Satan is working to secure the homage of the Protestant world.

 

HM 1897-11-01
I tell you, in the name of the Lord God of heaven, that some who profess to believe the truth need that transformation of character that will build up and encourage the church, in the place of weakening and destroying it. Jesus is the Restorer; Satan is the destroyer. You cannot afford to sow one seed of doubt; for one seed of doubt sown will spring up in other minds, and bear a harvest that you will not care to garner.

 

PJ 1901-02-01
The physician who has no practical knowledge of the great needs of the soul looks upon disease merely from a scientific standpoint. He trusts to his own skill. He watches with human sympathy the sufferings of the afflicted; but he can not do that which he might do did he realize that the One who gave His own life for the sufferer, even the Son of God, is watching the case with intense interest. If the patient recovers, he takes the praise, forgetting the Author of all life, the One who says: "Satan is the destroyer; I am the Restorer; I will spare you, that you may become acquainted with Me and believe on My name."

 

PR 1901-08-29
Read the Scriptures carefully, and you will find that Christ spent the larger part of His ministry in restoring the suffering and afflicted to health. Thus He threw back upon Satan the reproach of the evil which the enemy of all good had originated. Satan is the destroyer; Christ, the restorer; and in our work as His colaborers we shall have success if we work in practical lines. Ministers, do not confine your work merely to sermonizing. Do practical work. Seek to restore the sick to health. This is true ministry. Let Christ's work be your example. Like Him, be "found going about doing good."

 

SAN 1900-01-01
But apart from divine power no genuine reform can be effected. The deadened moral sensibilities of men and women must be aroused. They must be led to understand the benefits gained by obeying the invitation, "Let Him take hold of My strength, that He may make peace with me, and He shall make peace with Me." They must be led to see their need of a loving, sin-pardoning Saviour. He who is man's Creator and Redeemer will be to all who trust in Him a Restorer. While Satan is the destroyer, Christ is the Restorer. The people must be educated to understand that it is a sin to destroy their physical, mental and spiritual energies. And they must understand how to co-operate with God in their own restoration. Through faith in Christ they can overcome the habit of using health-destroying stimulants and narcotics.

 

RH 1862-02-18
Deceived mortals are worshiping evil angels, believing them to be the spirits of their dead friends. The word of God expressly declares that "the dead have no more a portion in anything done under the sun." Spiritualists say the dead know everything that is done under the sun, that they communicate to their friends on earth, give valuable information, and perform wonders. Ps. cxv,17. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." I have been shown that Satan, transformed into an angel of light, works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. He who could take up the Son of God, who was made a little lower than the angels, and place him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and take him up into an exceeding high mountain to present before him the kingdoms of the world, can exercise his power upon the human family, who are far inferior in strength and wisdom to the Son of God, even after he had taken upon himself man's nature. In this degenerate age Satan holds control over mortals who depart from the right, and venture upon his ground. He exercises his power upon such in an alarming manner. I was directed to these words, "Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Some, I was shown, gratify their curiosity, and tamper with the Devil. They have no real faith in Spiritualism, and would start back with horror at the idea of being a medium. Yet they venture, and place themselves in a position where Satan can exercise his power upon them. They do not mean to enter deep into this work, but such know not what they are doing. They are venturing on the Devil's ground, and are tempting him to control them. This powerful destroyer considers such his lawful prey, and will exercise his power upon them, and that against their will. When they wish to control themselves they cannot. They yielded their mind to Satan and he holds them captive, and he will not release his claims. No power can deliver the ensnared soul but the power of God, in answer to the earnest prayers of his faithful followers.

 

RH.1894-12-11.009
The Lord has revealed the fact in his word that Satan is at the head of fallen principalities and powers, and is the ruler of the darkness of this world. Day and night he is plotting against God and against those who are seeking to obey the truth. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and makes darkness appear as light, and light as darkness; and he seeks continually to lead unstable souls to unite with him in thinking evil and in speaking evil of those who will not be turned from the truth. He is described in the Scriptures as a liar, a destroyer, a tormentor, an accuser, a murderer, and it will not be difficult to discern on which side a soul is fighting, or under what leadership he is moving, if he is found accusing and condemning others. If men and women have been placed so that they have gained influence, and they use that influence to further Satan's designs, they are uniting with the great adversary and apostate.

 

RH 1894-12-11
Our chief adversary is the devil. He is represented as going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. When he finds men and women who have become self-exalted, as he himself became in heaven, and full of jealousy, and ambitious for power and prominence, he knows just how to lead them by his temptations so that they will prostitute their powers to his use, and become his agents in ruining their fellow-men. He is ready to work through his human agents in such a way as to conceal himself from view, in order that he may set in operation a train of circumstances that will lead men away from God, lead them away from the association and companionship of those who are connected with Christ, and influence them to do the work of annoying, distressing, and discouraging those who love Jesus. The spell of temptation holds these souls like a bewitching charm. "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Yielding to the voice of the tempter, the tempted one surrenders virtue and principle, and in place of turning at once to God with contrition and repentance, he severs the last link whereby God's power can work for him, and hell triumphs because he has become the prey of the enemy. When the adversary thus bewitches the soul and entraps the unwary feet, he then represents God as inexorable and unforgiving, declaring that it will be of no use to make a confession of sin now, for God will not pardon. Let not the tempted soul listen to the voice of the accuser and destroyer, and take the way of the hopeless apostate, and plunge into midnight darkness. Remember the promise of God. He says, "Return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously." The Lord answers, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him." Break with the enemy, and seek the presence of Jesus; with tears of confession and with penitential grief urge once more your suit at the throne of grace. The Lord will hear, the Lord will answer; return ere it be too late.

 

RH 1895-05-21
The directions that Moses gave concerning the passover feast are full of significance, and have an application to parents and children in this age of the world. "Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you."

 

RH 1895-10-01
The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is our king, and parents and children are to be obedient to him. There is to be no oppression on the part of the parents, no disrespect and disloyalty on the part of the children. Both are to be guided by the laws of our Heavenly Father, who gave Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins. The law of God is an emanation of infinite love, and naught but blessing can result to him who administers and to him who obeys that law. In the great moral standard the Lord has given rules by which we are to be guided. Transgression is a violation of the principles of holiness. God's will is to be paramount. The High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity, declares that his people shall keep the way of the Lord. Every way that man may devise, that deviates from the way of the Lord, will be found to be the path of the destroyer.

 

RH 1895-11-05
Some who are invited exclaim, "I beg thee have me excused. If I should come, my neighbors would jest at and ridicule me, and I cannot bear their scorn. I have lived among them a long time, and I do not want to displease my neighbors. If they would all come, I would be very thankful to accept this invitation; but because they refuse the message of God, I beg thee have me excused." Others are desirous of paying for their lands and of building up their temporal interests, and the powers of mind and soul and body are absorbed in their earthly affairs. They are deceived in the same manner as was Eve, who was allured to do the very thing that the Lord told her not to do. Satan suggested to her that the Lord was keeping her from great and high enjoyments by unnecessary prohibitions; but the higher good could only be received by a course of disobedience to God by which she would lose the blessedness of the favor of God, and forfeit her beautiful Eden home. When the Lord speaks, will men act as did Adam and Eve, and follow their example of disobedience? Which voice shall we heed, the voice of God, or the suggestions of the great destroyer? When God commands, it is for our present and eternal good to obey. When he presents our dangers, it is safe to reverence every injunction. Voices will sound in every direction, bidding us to turn from the plain commandments of God. The pleasure-loving, the unbelieving, the disobedient, the traitorous, will present pleasing, fictitious promises of permanent exaltation that they will claim as sure to us if we will follow the course that God has forbidden. With flattering lips they will present peace and safety when destruction is at hand. Deceived themselves, they will view things of eternal interest in a false light, and will cry peace to those who choose their own way and follow their own imaginations in daring to transgress God's holy requirements. The invitation to the gospel supper will have no charm for them, though the message is, "Come; for all things are now ready."

 

RH 1895-11-26
Satan is the destroyer, but Christ is the restorer. From the first it was Satan's purpose to cause men to transgress the law of God. He misrepresented the character of the Father, trampled upon his law, and cast contempt upon his precepts. He inspired men with his own spirit, and made them partakers of his own attributes, and caused them to transgress the law of God. When he had accomplished his work of ruin, he pointed to the degraded, sin-polluted souls whom he had made subject to a thousand vices, and declared that they were too degraded, too wretched, to be redeemed by Heaven. He sought to present mankind in the most discouraging aspect, so that reformation might seem hopeless. Though he could not prevail with his temptations in assailing Christ, or cause him to fail or be discouraged, yet he often succeeds too well with those who should be laborers together with God. But his plans to cause the work to cease are not wholly successful. Through the grace of God those whom the enemy has oppressed for generations, rise up to the dignity of God-given manhood and womanhood, and present themselves as sons and daughters of the Most High. This result is generally brought about through well-directed, persevering missionary labor.

 

RH 1897-03-30
Haphazard work in the home will not pass the review in the Judgment. Faith and works are to be combined by Christian parents. As Abraham commanded his household after him, so they are to command their households after them. The standard which every parent must raise is given: "They shall keep the way of the Lord." Every other way is a path which leads, not to the city of God, but to the ranks of the destroyer. "The wages of sin is death," for the child as well as the parent. Children are the Lord's heritage. The soul of the little child that believes in Christ is as precious in his sight as are the angels about his throne. They are to be brought to Christ, and trained for Christ. They are to be guided in the path of obedience, not indulged in appetite or vanity.

 

RH 1898-02-08
The truth as it is in Jesus is obedience to every precept of Jehovah. It is heart work. Bible sanctification is not the spurious sanctification which will not search the Scriptures, but will trust to good feeling and impulses rather than to the seeking for truth as for hidden treasure. Bible sanctification will lead its possessors to know the requirements of God 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 you and behind. He supplies his falsehoods to every soul who is not cherishing the truth as it is in Jesus. He, the destroyer, is upon you to palsy your every effort. But there is a crown of life to be won, a life that measures with the life of God. And those who do not close their hearts and minds to conviction will learn what the love of a holy and righteous God is; for it is an amazing principle, which works in a mysterious and wonderful manner to secure the salvation of the race.

 

RH 1901-09-17
God keeps a reckoning with the nations. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. Those who work evil toward their fellow men, saying, How doth God know? will one day be called upon to meet long-deferred vengeance. In this age a more than common contempt is shown to God. Men have reached a point in insolence and disobedience which shows that their cup of iniquity is almost full. Many have well-nigh passed the boundary of mercy. Soon God will show that He is indeed the living God. He will say to the angels, "No longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy. Let him work out his malignity upon the children of disobedience; for the cup of their iniquity is full. They have advanced from one degree of wickedness to another, adding daily to their lawlessness. I will no longer interfere to prevent the destroyer from doing his work."

 

RH 1903-12-24
The Saviour said, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." For the joy of seeing souls rescued from the hands of the destroyer, Christ endured the cross. He became the living sacrifice for a fallen world. Through his sacrifice was given to the world the mighty influence of the Holy Spirit. It is through sacrifice that the work which Christ came to do must be carried forward. Self-sacrifice is required of every child of God.

 

RH 1908-06-25
How great the love of God is! 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 not perish, but have everlasting life." To the Redeemer was given all power to impart to fallen human beings for their benefit and blessing.

 

ST 1882-01-12
Here the people received it with terror, crying, "They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people." They sought to their gods for protection, as the people of Gath and Ashdod had done. But the work of the destroyer went on, until, in their distress, "the cry of the city went up to heaven." Fearing longer to retain the ark among the homes of men, the people next placed it in the open fields. There followed a plague of mice, which infested the land, destroying the products of the soil, both in the storehouse and in the field. Utter destruction, by disease or famine, now threatened the nation, and gloomy forebodings for the future added to the heavy burden of the present.

 

ST 1884-11-13
"Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," says the apostle. Some tamper with Spiritualism to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it, and would start back with horror at the thought of being mediums; yet they place themselves in a position where Satan can exercise his power upon them. They do not mean to enter deep into this work; but they know not what they are doing. They are venturing upon forbidden ground; and the mighty destroyer considers them his lawful prey, and exercises his power upon them against their will. They have yielded their mind to his control, and he holds them captives. Nothing can deliver these ensnared souls but the power of God in answer to the earnest prayers of his faithful followers.

 

ST 1893-05-29
Jesus had seen these messengers as they left John, and he was prepared to answer them. He wrought as only God could for those who were afflicted and suffering, and under the cruel power of the destroyer. He who was seeking to deliver manifested his mighty power, and wrought wonderful miracles. The voice of the mighty Healer penetrated the deaf ear; a word, a touch of his hand opened the blind eyes to behold the light of day, the scenes of nature, the faces of friends, and the face of the Deliverer. Jesus rebuked disease and banished fever. His voice reached the ears of those who were dying, and they arose and became strong. Paralyzed demoniacs obeyed his voice, and their madness left them, and they worshiped him. All this was witnessed by the disciples of John, and they bore back to John the report of Christ's marvelous works. This report was as heaven's light flashing in amid the darkness of the prison. John accepted and appreciated this light.

 

ST 1894-10-29
Could our eyes be opened, and could each see the conflict of angelic agencies with the Satanic confederacy, who are combined with evil human agencies, what astonishment would come upon the soul. The holy angels are working with the terrible intensity for the salvation of men, because the destroyer of souls is seeking to make of no effect the salvation which has been purchased at infinite cost. Could our spiritual vision be opened, we should see that which would never be effaced from the memory as long as life should last. We should see souls bowed down under oppression, loaded with grief and pressed down as a cart beneath the sheaves, and ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to aid the tempted ones who stand as on the brink of a precipice. These tempted souls are unable to help themselves, and avoid the ruin which threatens them; but the angels of God are forcing back the evil angels, and guiding the souls away from the dangerous places, to plant their feet on a sure foundation. We should see battles going on between the two armies, as real as those fought by opposing forces on earth. When the power of Satan over souls is broken, we see men binding their will to the cross, and crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts. It is indeed a crucifixion of self; for the will is surrendered to Christ. The will of man is none too strong when it is sanctified and put on the side of Christ. The will is a power, and as many triumphs are to be won in spiritual warfare, and many points of progress to be made in the spiritual journey, and many lessons to be learned from Christ, the great Teacher, it is necessary that the will should be sanctified. In surrendering the will, the root of the matter is reached. When the will is surrendered, the streams that flow from the fountain will not be bitter, but will be as pure as crystal. The flowers and fruit of Christian life will bloom and ripen to perfection.

 

ST 1894-11-05
In his lessons Jesus presents different symbols and illustrations as he seeks to restore the moral image of God in man, and save the soul from utterly yielding itself to the power of the destroyer. Jesus says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden;" and, although you have followed in a course that I have forbidden, and in so doing, you have bound your own souls under Satan's oppressive yoke, and have carried the burden he has imposed upon you, yet "come unto me,....and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Shall we practice this lesson? Shall we daily learn that peace, rest, happiness, power, and true greatness are in becoming meek and lowly of heart? Jesus bids us learn of him, for he was meek and lowly in heart. If he had thought that the best way to save perishing souls was to charm the senses and attract them to his standard through pomp and display, he could have surrounded himself with worldly attractions, and presented to them maxims and sentiments that would have won the approval of the world.

 

ST 1895-09-19
"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." The Lord honors his human agents by taking them into partnership with himself. The heart of Christ is full of forgiving mercy and truth. He is afflicted in all the afflictions of his people. We are to be compassionate, and find joy in coming with a kindly interest to bind up the wounds of those who have been pursued and left half dead by the ruthless hand of the destroyer. We are to be ready to heal the bruises that sin has made. Those who do this are Christ's ministers, and the world has a living testimony of the love of God before them in his representatives. God is revealed before the world in those who practice the works of Christ, and through his messengers he is known as a God of mercy, goodness, and forgiveness. "He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? God in Christ is ours, and his bounties of love and mercy are inexhaustible. He desires that every one shall be benefited by the rich provisions that he has made for those who love him; he invites us all to share with him in his glory. The bliss of heaven has been provided for every soul who loves God supremely and his fellow-men as himself.

 

ST 1895-11-14
Satan, with all his masterly power, has interposed himself between man and the law of God, that through falsehood and sophistry he may inspire men with the same rebellion against God and his law as actuates himself. Those whom he can not deceive, he hates. He misinterprets their words and actions, and causes the world to persecute and destroy, in order that earth may hold no soul who is not in league with the prince of this world and the ruler of its darkness. History testifies to the fact that no man can serve God without coming in conflict with the united forces of evil. The conflict between the believer and his foes may be painful and protracted, and at times the soul may, through manifold temptations, yield to the power of the evil one; but God will not give his servant up to be the prey of the destroyer as long as he cries unto him. The pitiful Saviour knows his weakness, and through his servant John, he has sent the repenting sinner a message of consolation: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

 

ST 1896-08-20
We may say with Job: "He knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." "For thou, O God, hast proved us; thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." Our heavenly Father gave his only-begotten Son to cope with the powers of darkness, and to restrain Satanic agencies, so that they might not prevail against his tried and chosen ones, and overcome and destroy them. Jesus, our great High Priest, is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and he works to bind up those who are wounded and bruised by the enemy. He does not leave the tempted soul to the mercy of the destroyer. The children of God are to work in Christ's lines. They are to seek the wandering, straying sheep of his pasture. Those who claim to love God are to form a guard around perishing souls to save them from ruin. Instead of saying, "Let the erring go, we will not try to help them," we are to strengthen the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees. We shall never form characters after the divine similitude if we cherish the meager, stunted piety that looks out only for our individual selves, and does not lead us to do earnest, positive work for the salvation of others. We are to let our light shine in such a way as to guide souls into the haven of safety, that they may find refuge in Christ. Those who have not a positive religion, have no influence to entice others into the fold of safety. Their religion brings dishonor on the truth, and gives those who are not of our faith an excuse for their own defective lives. Those who are indolent, who center everything upon self, bring contempt upon the cause they profess to love.

 

ST 1899-09-06
The use of fermented wine caused Nadab and Abihu to confuse the sacred and the common, and death was their penalty. After this, severe restrictions were placed on those connected with the sacred service. They were prohibited when they came before the Lord, from touching wine or using grapes in anyway, that they might avoid the result of becoming familiar with fermented liquor. When food or drink which bewilders the brain is placed in the mouth, the destroyer sees his opportunity to enter and dethrone the reason.

 

ST 1900-05-30
Satan has prepared every kind of temptation to ensnare the youth, and not the youth only, but those of all ages. For rich and for poor he has spread his net, that he may ruin God's workmanship. Every year multitudes are ruined through intemperance, yet there are thousands upon thousands of saloons sustained by law. And the church, which should be a living power, is asleep. Men of discernment, of vital piety, are needed. Such men will look with horror upon the practise of legalizing the work of manufacturing drunkards. But the great majority give their influence to the destroyer, aiding him by voice and vote to destroy the moral image of God in man, not thinking of the families that are degraded by a perverted appetite for liquor.

 

ST 1901-12-25
How great the love of God is! 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 not perish, but have everlasting life." To the Redeemer was given all power to impart to fallen human beings for their benefit and blessing.

 

ST 1907-11-27
Houses of prostitution, dens of vice, criminal courts, prisons, almshouses, insane asylums, hospitals, all are, to a great degree, filled as a result of the liquor-seller's work. Like the mystic Babylon of the Apocalypse, he is dealing in "slaves and souls of men." Behind the liquor-seller stands the mighty destroyer of souls, and every art which earth or hell can devise is employed to draw human beings under his power. In the city and the country, on the railway trains, on the great steamers, in places of business, in the halls of pleasure, in the medical dispensary, even in the church, on the sacred communion-table, his traps are set. Nothing is left undone to create and to foster the desire for intoxicants. On almost every corner stands the public house with its brilliant lights, its welcome and good cheer, inviting the working man, the wealthy idler, and the unsuspecting youth.

 

 

 
 

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