the great controversy-第147章
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system of religious principles and doctrines； which should form the
foundation and framework of social life； seems to be a tottering mass； ready
to fall to ruin。 The vilest of criminals； when thrown into prison for their
offenses； are often made the recipients of gifts and
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attentions as if they had attained an enviable distinction。 Great publicity
is given to their character and crimes。 The press publishes the revolting
details of vice； thus initiating others into the practice of fraud； robbery；
and murder； and Satan exults in the success of his hellish schemes。 The
infatuation of vice； the wanton taking of life； the terrible increase of
intemperance and iniquity of every order and degree； should arouse all who
fear God； to inquire what can be done to stay the tide of evil。
Courts of justice are corrupt。 Rulers are actuated by desire for gain and
love of sensual pleasure。 Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many
so that Satan has almost complete control of them。 Jurists are perverted；
bribed； deluded。 Drunkenness and revelry； passion； envy； dishonesty of every
sort； are represented among those who administer the laws。 〃Justice standeth
afar off： for truth is fallen in the street； and equity cannot enter。〃
Isaiah 59：14。
The iniquity and spiritual darkness that prevailed under the supremacy of
Rome were the inevitable result of her suppression of the Scriptures； but
where is to be found the cause of the widespread infidelity； the rejection
of the law of God； and the consequent corruption； under the full blaze of
gospel light in an age of religious freedom？ Now that Satan can no longer
keep the world under his control by withholding the Scriptures； he resorts
to other means to accomplish the same object。 To destroy faith in the Bible
serves his purpose as well as to destroy the Bible itself。 By introducing
the belief that God's law is not binding； he as effectually leads men to
transgress as if they were wholly ignorant of its precepts。 And now； as in
former ages； he has worked through the church to further his designs。 The
religious organizations of the day have refused to listen to unpopular
truths plainly brought to view in the Scriptures； and in combating them they
have adopted interpretations and taken positions which have sown broadcast
the seeds of skepticism。 Clinging to the papal error of natural immortality
and man's
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consciousness in death； they have rejected the only defense against the
delusions of spiritualism。 The doctrine of eternal torment has led many to
disbelieve the Bible。 And as the claims of the fourth commandment are urged
upon the people； it is found that the observance of the seventh…day Sabbath
is enjoined； and as the only way to free themselves from a duty which they
are unwilling to perform； many popular teachers declare that the law of God
is no longer binding。 Thus they cast away the law and the Sabbath together。
As the work of Sabbath reform extends； this rejection of the divine law to
avoid the claims of the fourth commandment will become well…nigh universal。
The teachings of religious leaders have opened the door to infidelity； to
spiritualism； and to contempt for God's holy law； and upon these leaders
rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian
world。
Yet this very class put forth the claim that the fast…spreading corruption
is largely attributable to the desecration of the so…called 〃Christian
sabbath；〃 and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly
improve the morals of society。 This claim is especially urged in America；
where the doctrine of the true Sabbath has been most widely preached。 Here
the temperance work； one of the most prominent and important of moral
reforms； is often combined with the Sunday movement； and the advocates of
the latter represent themselves as laboring to promote the highest interest
of society； and those who refuse to unite with them are denounced as the
enemies of temperance and reform。 But the fact that a movement to establish
error is connected with a work which is in itself good； is not an argument
in favor of the error。 We may disguise poison by mingling it with wholesome
food； but we do not change its nature。 On the contrary； it is rendered more
dangerous； as it is more likely to be taken unawares。 It is one of Satan's
devices to combine with falsehood just enough truth to give it plausibility。
The leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms
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which the people need； principles which are in harmony with the Bible； yet
while there is with these a requirement which is contrary to God's law； His
servants cannot unite with them。 Nothing can justify them in setting aside
the commandments of God for the precepts of men。
Through the two great errors； the immortality of the soul and Sunday
sacredness； Satan will bring the people under his deceptions。 While the
former lays the foundation of spiritualism； the latter creates a bond of
sympathy with Rome。 The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in
stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism；
they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power； and
under the influence of this threefold union； this country will follow in the
steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience。
As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day；
it has greater power to deceive and ensnare。 Satan himself is converted；
after the modern order of things。 He will appear in the character of an
angel of light。 Through the agency of spiritualism； miracles will be
wrought；the sick will be healed； and many undeniable wonders will be
performed。 And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible； and manifest
respect for the institutions of the church； their work will be accepted as a
manifestation of divine power。
The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now
hardly distinguishable。 Church members love what the world loves and are
ready to join with them； and Satan determines to unite them in one body and
thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism。
Papists； who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church； will be
readily deceived by this wonder…working power； and Protestants； having cast
away the shield of truth； will also be deluded。 Papists； Protestants； and
worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power； and
they will see in this union a grand movement
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for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long…expected
millennium。
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。
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 wouldHe
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。 S
