Your Bible Questions – Nominal Adventists

QUESTION:

To whom was Ellen White referring when she used the term “nominal Adventists” or “nominal churches”?

ANSWER:

There is no doubt that when Ellen White said, “Adventists,” she was referring to a group or a church of people who believed that Jesus was going to return to this earth, for that is virtually what the word means, looking for the advent of Christ.

However, she used the word nominal, meaning “in name only,” a number of times in different situations and different settings; therefore, one can hardly say that she was always talking of the same group of people when she used that expression.

For instance, we will use an example that is easy to figure out about whom she was talking: “I saw that God had children, who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They had not rejected the light on it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the churches, and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth.” Review and Herald, July 21, 1851.

We can plainly see here that she is not talking about Seventh-day Adventists, but Adventists who do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath. Undoubtedly she was referring to first-day Adventists, and other Sunday-keeping churches.

Another example of this is: “This is the word of the living God. The law is God’s great moral looking-glass. He is to compare his words, his spirit, his actions with the word of God. If we decide that in these last days we have no work assigned to us that is out of the common course of the nominal churches, we shall meet with great disappointment. The great question to be investigated, weighed, and decided is, ‘What can I do to reach souls that are lost?’ ” Special Testimonies to the Battle Creek Church, 1898, 18, 19.

Here we can plainly see that she was not using the word nominal as referring to Seventh-day Adventists but to other churches. Now, let us look at another statement that seems to refer to another group of people:

“Much of the faith which we see is merely nominal; the real, trusting, persevering faith is rare. Moses realized in his own experience the promise that God will be a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. He had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Here is another point in regard to faith which we wish to study; God will reward the man of faith and obedience. If this faith is brought into the life experience, it will enable everyone who fears and loves God to endure trials.” Conflict and Courage, 85.

There are many more statements in the inspired writings about nominal Christians. Sometimes she was referring to first-day Adventists, but we must be careful that we do not miss the point of instruction that the Lord was seeking to give to Seventh-day Adventists.

When there is a warning against being a nominal Christian, we need to take heed to it and not get careless with our habits. We need a close walk with Jesus and a constant awareness of His presence in our lives. We need to develop a close relationship with Him. This will take earnest prayer and determination to follow all the instruction that divinity decides to give us.

We are living in a day and age of this world’s history when it is fatal for anyone to be a nominal Christian, and we dare not brush off the instruction by saying that that was written to the first-day Adventists. It will be impossible for a nominal Christian to go through the time of trouble and be saved in the kingdom of heaven.

The Pen of Inspiration – Picking Flaws

The enemy is at work with those who have placed themselves in doubt and unbelief; and they are not satisfied only to be there themselves, but all the time they are strengthening others in the same line, and they want others to believe just as they do. From the light God has given me, there never was any new light that came from heaven but that Satan could find something in it to pick at. And so it is with some of the people of today—they will pick at little things. They want the light, but there comes along the enemy just as he did to the men of Nazareth, and although the Spirit of God told them that Jesus was the anointed one and Christ told them what His work was—to break the power of the enemy and let the oppressed go free, to loose the bands of wickedness and to preach the gospel to the poor [see Luke 4:18]—[they remained in doubt and unbelief].

But it seems to me that we do not take these things and learn the lessons from them that we should. Now the unbelieving came up and the devil took advantage of it and began to work, and they began to say among themselves, Who is this? Is not this the son of Joseph and Mary? And just the minute this thought came into their minds they began to work it out. And you know how it worked. They arose right up and laid hold of Christ and led Him to the brow of the hill and were going to destroy Him. Now, there has not been any improvement made in human nature since that time. Human nature is human nature still. If there is any little point where they can divert the mind, they make the most of it. . . .

Open Minds

Now brethren I want to tell you, when the Spirit of God comes into our midst, it will strike the minds that are ready to receive it. But if their minds are not open to receive it, they are all ready to pass judgment upon the messenger and the words spoken. In the place of coming to God and asking Him to give them a new heart and a new mind, that the transforming influence of the grace of God shall be upon them, they commence to find fault and pick flaws. It does not strike them, and it must harmonize with their ideas and they will stand right there until these things are culled out of the way, and they place themselves right there to judge. . . .

I know that while the Spirit of God will make impressions upon human minds, the enemy will come in and make the most of any little thing that it is possible to make and the leaven will begin to work because the devil wants it so. Now brethren and sisters I want to place you on your guard. I want to ask you if you are satisfied with your coldness, your unbelief, your backslidings. Have you not had enough of it? If not, the devil will give you all you desire. We do not want any more.

Know Where We Are

We see that we are in no better condition than the Jewish people. God gave them the clear light that they might stand as His holy, peculiar people. He had given them the prophets, and then Christ Himself came in order that He might present the truth to them. But when His own nation rejected Him, He turned away. He told them, “Ye have ears, but ye hear not, eyes have ye but ye see not.” (cf. Jeremiah 5:21.) Then they inquired, “Are we blind also?” Christ said, “If ye were blind no sin would be attached, but it is because light has come and ye choose darkness rather than light.” (See John 9:14.) Was it a real darkness? No, it was not. The light of truth had shone upon them, but Satan was throwing his blinder before their eyes, and they received it not.

Now brethren, there is a blessing here for you. You may think it strange that I speak to you about these things, but it is my duty. We never want this thing acted over again on God’s earth; and if God gives me strength I will do it. I want you to inquire, How is it with my soul? Will you take the light, or will you stand complaining? It is time we should know where we are. We should have a chance to pray and talk and seek God. What we want is the Lord, and we do not want anything else. But we have it here in these words of Zechariah. Joshua stood before the Lord, and Satan stood there at His right hand to resist him. “The Lord rebuke thee,” He said, “is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2.)

Drink Of The Waters

Now here are the people of God and God wants you to be getting ready for the great day of salvation, that you may be getting others ready. He wants you to have a fitting-up, that you may have a message for the people that will cut its way through the fleshy heart, and that you may go crying through the porch and the altar, “Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach.” (Joel 2:17.) Now open your ears to the truth you have had and put away your doubts, unbelief, and Christless surmisings.

God wants you to come and drink of the clear waters of the streams of Lebanon, and when you have drunk yourselves you will want to call others to drink. Convert after convert is presented to me who does not know what it is to have faith in Christ. It seems they are ready to die; there is no light in them; they are dying for the want of God. . . .

Christ, when talking to the people of His time, told them that they had blinded their eyes and closed their ears lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and be converted and He should save them. (See Matthew 13:15.) Light had been given them, but they would not receive it. Darkness was upon them, and they would come and pick the little flaws, and draw the minds of the people away from the solemn truth that was for them. Now, how will it be with us? We do not want to kill ourselves here laboring for you, but will you labor for yourselves? We want to know whether we will have the rich blessing of the Lord resting upon us, and we realize that He sheds His rich light and glory upon us. This is my prayer.

Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 93−97.

Ellen G. White (1827–1915) wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books during her lifetime. Today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. White was appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Holy Scriptures and help prepare people for Christ’s second advent.

False Justification by Faith, Part II

The pen of inspiration tells us how to recognize false teachers. “ ‘Beware of false prophets.’ Matthew 7:15.

“Teachers of falsehood will arise to draw you away from the narrow path and the strait gate. Beware of them; though concealed in sheep’s clothing, inwardly they are ravening wolves. Jesus gives a test by which false teachers may be distinguished from the true. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits,’ He says. ‘Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?’ [Matthew 7:16.]

“We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the word of God. ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.’ ‘Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.’ Isaiah 8:20; Proverbs 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? If men do not feel the weight of the moral law; if they make light of God’s precepts; if they break one of the least of His commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of heaven. We may know that their claims are without foundation. They are doing the work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 145.

Celebration Beginnings

Be honest now. How long has it been since you heard a pastor preach on a subject such as the Law of God and obedience? Is the power of Celebration affecting his sermons? Think it over. So few of those within the organized church today have any idea how this all began. Believe it or not¾it is a fact¾the birth of Celebration took place within the Vatican Council II in the early 1960s. The papal document from Vatican Council II indicated that through Celebration worship, which would be absorbed into all the churches, the objective to bring the whole humanity to one fold, meaning the Roman Catholic Church, would be realized.

As soon as these actions of the Vatican were published, seminars began to be given encouraging pastors to conduct Celebration worship services within the churches.

Objectives from the Second Vatican Council included: (1) Let there be a custom application (use) of the word Celebration. (2) Let there be a custom of revival in Celebration worship in which the people will be involved directly with both verbal and physical participation. (3) Let there be a custom of Celebration worship dialogue between the pastor and the people. (4) Let us use as much variety in worship as is possible. (5) Let music, while they worship there, be the most effective. (6) Lessen the difference between the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper. Teach people that the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper are the foundation of Christian unity, friendship, and Celebration of the Lord’s Day (meaning Sunday). (7) Do all your best to encourage observation of Sunday, including rest from work.

Can you now see what the purpose of the Celebration movement is within the church today? As a result of these Vatican objectives, Celebration started within the Catholic Church with noisy music, and soon the Pentecostal, charismatic churches followed. The old method of Jesuit infiltration of Protestant churches was suspended by the new infiltration of Catholic philosophy called love and unity.

The Second Vatican Council added its blessing by no longer calling the Protestant churches heretics but separated brethren from the Mother Church. The Council then began to emphasize the Holy Spirit by holding revivals among its nuns and priests. The result was startling. Tens of thousands of priests and nuns began speaking in tongues! Now both the Catholics and the Protestants had something in common¾they both spoke in tongues in the Celebration movement. (<www.beliefnet.com/story/127/story_12789_1.html>; < www.religion-cults.com/spirit/charismatic.htm> June 11, 2007.)

Celebration vs. Three Angels

I would like to confront this Celebration movement with the Three Angels’ Messages. John Janiuk, in his book Great Controversy Endgame II (publisher unknown, 1999), identified points which clearly differentiate between what is true and false justification by faith. These points include:

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages are a call of God to leave Babylon. It is the message of separation; but the message of the Celebration movement calls for unity of all churches.
  2. The Three Angels’ Messages are a warning message; but the Celebration movement is the message of peace and security and also of love and unity. Sin and the Law of God are treated lightly.
  3. The foundation of the Celebration movement is a false gospel, a false justification teaching salvation in sin¾You will be sinning until the Second Coming of Christ. It is a gospel without the power. If you continue in sin after accepting the gospel, which is the power of God, if you accept a false gospel, a false justification, you have no power of God.

Satan also has power. Do you know what Satan’s power is? His power is through his lies. For example, Satan demonstrated his power with great effect in Eden, and we are still affected by that same power today. Today he says that we cannot keep God’s Commandments. If you believe this lie, you will not obey God’s Law.

The Bible says, “Here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. The pen of inspiration says, “Christ left his heavenly home, and came to this world, to show that only by being connected with divinity can man keep the law of God. In itself humanity is tainted and corrupted; but Christ brought moral power to man, and those who live in communion with him overcome as he overcame.” The Signs of the Times, December 3, 1896.

Ellen White also wrote: “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that he can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” Review and Herald, March 10, 1904. “Man’s obedience can be made perfect only by the incense of Christ’s righteousness, which fills with divine fragrance every act of obedience.” The Acts of the Apostles, 532.

We continue with John Janiuk’s points:

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages are calling the whole of humanity to fear, to reverence God, in complete surrender to God and His Word and also His will¾the ten moral commandments of the gospel. But the Celebration movement depends on theology which interprets the Bible “in a manner that is attractive to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. A God of love is presented; but his justice, his denunciations of sin, the requirements of his holy law, are all kept out of sight.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 405.
  2. The three angels call to give glory to God. The pen of inspiration tells us how we can give glory to God. “To give glory to God is to reveal His character in our own, and thus make Him known. And in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we glorify God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 979. The Celebration movement does not preach anything about this.
  3. The Three Angels’ Messages proclaim that the hour of God’s judgment has come. This is the pre-Advent investigative judgment, which began in 1844. The Celebration movement does not warn the people about this. However, if the subject is mentioned, they simply say, “Do not be scared of the judgment. If you believe in Jesus, do not worry about it.”
  4. God chose the way in which we can worship Him. His way tells us to keep holy the Sabbath day as a special day in memorial of His creation and redemption. The purpose, aim, and goal of the Celebration movement, according to Vatican II, is to observe Sunday and recognize the pope as the vicar of Jesus Christ and submit to him.
  5. The second angel’s message declares, “Babylon is fallen.” Why is Babylon fallen? Because Babylon rejected the Biblical truths. Revelation 18:2 describes the last-day condition of Babylon, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

The fallen churches¾Catholic and Protestant¾are attacking the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the Celebration movement. Of course, God still has in these fallen churches some individuals who are His children. Our message, especially in the time of the Loud Cry, will be, “Come out of her, my people.” Revelation 18:4.

  1. The third angel’s message is the most fearful of any before. This message was proclaimed to mortal man as a warning against receiving the mark of the beast; that is, the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath. According to the document of Vatican II, the purpose of the Celebration movement is that the whole world come to observe Sunday and to submit to the papacy. It does not matter to them what else you believe, so long as you submit in these two things. Do you see where this movement is leading us?
  2. The Three Angels’ Messages are summarized in Revelation 14:12 and describe what people will be like after they accept the Three Angels’ Messages. “Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Here are presented the main characteristics and qualities of God’s people¾the patience of the saints, they keep the commandments of God, and they have the faith of Jesus.

The Celebration movement, however, says that we cannot keep the commandments of God. In this point they are honest, because they cannot keep the commandments of God. Why is this? Because they accept a false justification by faith which claims that in justification there is no transformation. The new birth and the Holy Spirit do not come into the believer’s heart with Christ’s righteousness, and God does not write His Law in their hearts. This is why they have no power to keep the commandments of God. If somebody mentions that God requires His people to obey the law, they say that this is legalism.

Ellen White says, “Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men cannot keep the law of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896.

Heart of Celebration

Let me become more pointed. An important element of Celebration worship style is found in the music. What kind of music? Contemporary Christian music or, as some say, Christian rock. (See www.willowcreek.org/history.) What is the message of Contemporary Christian music? It is love and praise for the most part. What is missing? A call to repentance, appeals for sacrifice, and prayer for sinners. The Second Coming is almost absent. Bible doctrines are not found. There is no mention, of course, of the seventh-day Sabbath.

Have you ever stopped to consider what is lacking in these Celebration ditties? As I heard someone put it, “In the typical, contemporary ‘praise and worship songs’ there are no expressions of confession, petition, or submission¾just praise.” Pioneering Seventh-day Adventists sang many hymns containing our message; hymns with several stanzas. They did so because they believed God had called them to proclaim a message even in their singing.

In the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (Review and Herald Publishing, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1998) there is a topical index of hymns. Nearly every major doctrine is represented there¾salvation through faith in Christ, the Second Coming, the Sabbath, the judgment, the sleep of the dead, stewardship, and even the sanctuary, along with still others. God intended that the great hymns of faith should be used to teach God’s end-time message. Is there any comparison between the messages of the hymns and the messages of Contemporary Christian Rock Celebration music? The majority of Celebration music falls under the broad heading of praise songs and are often characterized by monotonous repetition of a single phrase. Topics even so basic as contrition, repentance, obedience, and witnessing are noticeably absent or at least very rare.

The great fear is that these Contemporary songs, reproducing after their kind, are replacing the message songs entirely and are doing their part to produce a generation devoid of doctrinal certainty. A church’s music is not merely a vehicle for socializing or for setting a happy mood. It is an essential part of its self-identity, its witnessing, and even its survival. The ultimate unity of our end-time movement requires the unifying influence of a common “hymnity.”

The former choir director of heaven uses his Celebration music to charm people, to bind them to himself, and to control them. He uses emotionally oriented religion that depends on feeling rather than on the Word of God.

Liberal Adventism

Can you imagine an Adventist professor of religion asking this thought-provoking question: “How seriously should Adventists take apocalyptic books like Daniel, Revelation, and The Great Controversy?” Answering his own question, this theologian said, “Perhaps we should replace them with the gospel of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.” This is the central message of the Celebration movement and its worship services.

Steve Daily, former chaplain and professor at La Sierra University, Riverside, California, suggests some practical things Adventists can do to contribute to this goal. Among these are:

  1. We can cease to speak or think of ourselves as the remnant church and see ourselves as a part of God’s larger remnant.
  2. We can take advantage of the special opportunities we have to attend other churches since they meet on a different day, to befriend them, learn from them, share with them, and affirm the good things we see in them.
  3. Each of us can make a special effort to maintain active membership in at least one non-Adventist community service organization to combat our natural tendency to isolation.
  4. We can involve ourselves in inter-denominational Bible studies and a charismatic intercessory prayer group to broaden our spiritual perspectives. (Adventism for a New Generation, Better Living Publishers, Portland, Oregon, 1993, 315, 316.)

Such advice is absolutely contrary to the Spirit of Prophecy. Is this the time for Seventh-day Adventists to seek such new light on worship, church growth, and learning from others?

The Prophet’s Warning

Ellen White has warned us: “If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error.

“I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness.” Early Writings, 124, 125.

If we reject true justification by faith and continue to proclaim a false justification, then true revival and reformation will not take place, and we will not receive the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain. We will never finish God’s work in this world. We will lose our identity, our credibility, and the purpose for our existence. What a tragedy this would be.

On the other hand, if we accept true justification, then the last great revival and reformation will take place. We will receive the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain, and God will finish His work through us in this world now. May God give us wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and power to fulfill this for His honor and glory and also for the salvation of the people of the world. Then we will go home to praise Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audiotapes were being sent around the world each month.

My Work in Historic Adventism

[Editor’s Note: Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Ralph Larson, often regarded as the patriarch of historic Adventism, we reprint this article that was first published in the July 1996 LandMarks and which presents his view of his work.]

What we do is closely related to what we are. It is said of Christ that His nature and His work are inseparably intertwined and interwoven with each other, and the same is true to a lesser degree of all of us. We are what we do and we do what we are.

Consider my life span. I became a Seventh-day Adventist in the year 1936, when I was sixteen years old. Although I did not realize it at the time, I was a very fortunate and privileged person, because being baptized at this particular time gave me the privilege of living some thirty years during the Golden Age of Adventism, from 1936 to 1966. The tragic book Questions On Doctrine, [Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C., 1957] which brought the Golden Age of Adventism to an end, was published in 1957. It took about ten years for it to really have much influence upon the church. But by 1966 the dire influence of that fateful volume had become widespread, the precious unity and harmony of the church had been destroyed, and the Dark Ages of Adventism had begun, and have continued for thirty years (until 1996). Thus my Christian life has consisted of thirty years in the Golden Age of Adventism and thirty years in the Dark Ages of Adventism. I am able to make comparisons.

What were the characteristics of the Golden Age of Adventism that I experienced from 1936 until 1966? Not the absence of problems. We had our share of them. Not the favor of the world. The world and the worldly churches cordially hated us and maliciously lied about us. Not wealth. The depression was still in force. But we had something far more precious than any of these things. We had unity and harmony throughout the entire church. We were one in faith and doctrine.

During those years you could travel to any foreign country, find the local Seventh-day Adventist church, walk in through the front door and say, “I am home. I have never seen these people before, but I know them. I know their beliefs and I know their lifestyle. On all of the important matters of life, their hearts beat as mine.” This was especially true of church workers. When two of them met, anywhere, there was an instant bonding and a fullness of fellowship. How precious were those days, now known only as they are held in sweet remembrance. We would have treasured them even more had we known what was ahead.

Fidelity to the Bible and to the Spirit of Prophecy was taken for granted. Infidelity was neither glossed over nor excused. Not long after my baptism in 1936 I enrolled as a freshman at Walla Walla College [Walla Walla, Washington]. By the time a few weeks of the school year had passed, it had become apparent that three of the Bible teachers, including the chairman of the Bible department, were undercutting the Spirit of Prophecy. Careful investigations were conducted, and by the end of the first quarter, all three of these teachers were gone from the campus. Two quickly found their places in Sunday keeping churches, where they belonged, and the third retired to his hog ranch. Yes, his hog ranch. But none of the three were undercutting the Spirit of Prophecy nearly as much as is being done in many of our college Bible classes today, while church administrators look on indifferently or benignly.

Our week of prayer speakers ministered to our needs in a careful and conscientious way, always teaching us the joys of victorious Christian living. If any of them had announced to us that it is impossible to stop sinning, we would have heard him no further. And the administration would have replaced him, even before the week was over.

So that is where I am coming from, and that is who I am. I listen in astonishment to earnest young Calvinists among us describing those years as the “age of legalism.” They can’t kid me. I was there.

I was taught our faith and doctrines by dedicated men who were one hundred percent Seventh-day Adventists. I spent fifteen years of my ministry in full-time evangelism. (The other years were divided between pastoring and teaching in college and seminary classrooms.) In my evangelistic work I was required to closely examine the false reasoning, the sophistry, and the casuistry in the writings of the “Evangelical” ministers who were desperately opposing our message, and show their tricks to the new converts. You can imagine the pain I feel when I see the same sort of material being set forth by some Seventh-day Adventist ministers now. When they proclaim that “We are Evangelicals!” my response is, “You really didn’t need to tell me. I knew that already. The methodology of your writings makes it abundantly clear.”

So my present work is preaching to and teaching the historic Seventh-day Adventists in camp meetings and seminars. I am in the pulpit virtually every Sabbath, either near my place of abode, or in some other state. I answer innumerable theological questions, by mail or by telephone. For want of a better place to go, ministry leaders often come to me for counsel. And in between these activities, I try to find time for writing. I feel guilty because I am not writing more, but I run out of time.

But in it all, I am happy. I know that I am defending God’s pure and holy truth, and I have no moments of anxious foreboding such as the Calvinists among us must certainly have. The shaking time is moving in on us. By God’s grace, I will survive it, and live again in the happy fellowship of a purified church.

Victory in Jesus, Part III

Last month (September 2007), we began a review of keys that will help us to overcome temptation and sin. The first three are:

1) We must not place ourselves in the way of temptation. The Bible tell us: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14. “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Job 31:1.

2) If we are placed in the way of temptation because of circumstances, God will be with us as He was with Daniel and Joseph. (1 Corinthians 10:13.)

3) We should notice situations that bring temptation and try to stay away from such situations as much as possible. For instance, If you are impatient, perhaps it is because you are intemperate. “It is impossible for intemperate persons to be patient. They must first reform bad habits, learn to live healthfully, and then it will not be difficult for them to be patient.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 393.

God allows us to struggle or to suffer sometimes so we may gain the victory. You may have noticed that this was often the case in the examples given in the Bible. For instance, God saved Daniel in the lions’ den, not from it.

Self-Knowledge

“He who understands well his own character, who is acquainted with the sin which most easily besets him, and the temptations that will be most likely to overcome him, should not expose himself needlessly and invite temptation by placing himself upon the enemy’s ground. . . . Self-knowledge will save many from falling into grievous temptations, and prevent many an inglorious defeat. In order to become acquainted with ourselves, it is essential that we faithfully investigate the motives and principles of our conduct, comparing our actions with the standard of duty revealed in God’s word.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 517.

“To know one’s self is great knowledge. . . . Self-knowledge leads to humility and trust in God; but it does not take the place of efforts for self-improvement. He who realizes his own deficiencies should spare no pains to reach the highest possible standard of physical, mental, and moral excellence.” Special Testimonies on Education, 50.

“True self-knowledge will lead to a humility that will allow the Lord to train the mind, and mold and discipline the character. The grace of humility is greatly needed by the workers for Christ in this period of the world’s history.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 525.

“You need to cultivate watchfulness and humility, and to be diligent in prayer. The more closely you live to God, the more clearly will you discern your weaknesses and your dangers. A practical view of the law of God, a clear discernment of the atonement of Christ, will give you a knowledge of yourselves and will show you wherein you fail to perfect Christian character. In short, you . . . need a daily experience in God’s will concerning you. When you see your great spiritual lack you will realize the fact that human depravity, specified in the word of God, is true in your experience. . . .

“Self-knowledge you need so much. The ignorance of your own hearts leads you to overlook the necessity of a daily, living experience in the divine life. In a degree you overlook the necessity of having a divine influence constantly with you. . . . If you neglect this, and pass on in self-confidence and self-sufficiency, you will be left to make very great blunders. You need constantly to cherish lowliness of mind and a spirit of dependence. He who feels his own weakness will look higher than himself and will feel the need of constant strength from above. The grace of God will lead him to exercise and cherish a spirit of constant gratitude. He who is best acquainted with his own weakness will know that it is the matchless grace of God alone that will triumph over the rebellion of the heart.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 321, 322.

Self-Examination

“Many are in danger, after having preached to others, of themselves becoming castaways; for they do not see the importance of self-knowledge; they do not watch and pray lest they enter into temptation. By watchfulness and prayer they might become acquainted with those points in their character where they are most easily overcome by the enemy; by resistance of every attack, their weak points might become their strong points. Every follower of Christ should daily examine himself, and by constant prayer arm himself for conflict.

“There are many who neglect self-examination. This neglect is positively dangerous.” Review and Herald, July 30, 1901.

“The self-abasement manifested by the publican [Luke 18:10-13] is wholly acceptable to God. To know ourselves is to be humble. Self-knowledge will take away all disposition to entertain the Most High with a recital of our own excellent qualities. Realizing our sins and imperfections, we shall come to the feet of Jesus with earnest supplication, and our petitions will not be passed by unheard.” The Signs of the Times, February 19, 1885.

Practical Example

I remember as a child that when my family would be preparing to travel I was always ready to go before everyone else. I would have my bags packed, and I would be sitting in the car waiting on the others. I love to travel, and it does not take too much time for me to be ready. When I am ready, I have a hard time waiting for others.

I used to wonder why it took so long for everyone to get ready to go; it seemed like forever when I was young. As I grew older, I began to realize why it took so long to get our family on the road. First we had to mow the lawn, water the trees, change the oil in the car, clean the kitchen, pack a lunch and other food items, pick up in the house, and whatever else needed to be done. I soon realized that if I helped to get these things done around the house, we would get on the road sooner, and I would forget my frustration, because I would be busy. I also realized that other people in our house really liked the help. Instead of being impatient, waiting for people to be ready to go, I was making them happy by being helpful. Instead of being frustrated with everyone and the situation, I was happy.

Now, consider these additional keys to overcoming.

Where Temptation Starts

4) Temptation to sin starts in the mind. We must be ready to fight when the thought enters. Temptation is not a sin. Just because we are tempted with bad thoughts and sin does not mean that we are not Christians. Temptation is a problem when we yield to it. (11 Corinthians 10:5, 6.)

“All are free moral agents. And as such they must bring their thoughts to run in the right channel. Their meditations should be of that nature which will elevate their minds, and make Jesus and heaven the subjects of their thoughts. Here is a wide field in which the mind can safely range. If Satan seeks to divert the mind from this to low and sensual things, bring it back again, and place it on eternal things; and when the Lord sees the determined effort made to retain only pure thoughts, he will attract the mind, like the magnet, and purify the thoughts, and enable them to cleanse themselves from every secret sin. . . . The first work for those who would reform, is to purify the imagination. If the mind is led out in a vicious direction, it must be restrained to dwell only upon pure and elevated subjects. When tempted to yield to a corrupt imagination, then flee to the throne of grace and pray for strength from Heaven. In the strength of God the imagination can be restricted to dwell upon things which are pure and heavenly.” An Appeal to Mothers, 29.

Avoid Idleness

5) A key to overcoming is to stay busy, so you do not have time to be looking for temptation. Idleness is not sanctioned in the Bible. (See 11 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 6:6-11; 24:30-34; Matthew 25:26; Hebrews 6:12; Genesis 3:19.) We are given the blessing of work to keep us from idleness.

“God could not have inflicted a greater curse upon men and women than to doom them to live a life of inaction. Idleness will destroy soul and body. The heart, the moral character, and physical energies are enfeebled. The intellect suffers, and the heart is open to temptation as an open avenue to sink into every vice. The indolent man tempts the devil to tempt him.” Our High Calling, 222.

“Law and service are a part of every true life. Idleness is sin. Money is supposed to carry its possessor above service, and because a man has money he is allowed to spend his time in idleness. But the devil engages all such in the meanest kind of work. It is the Lord who has a right to our service. The more an individual lives for himself, and the less for the good of others the less noble and pure will he be in his own life. His moral power degenerates while living for himself. Compare that idle life with the one who looks his responsibilities in the face, and takes up his life work for God and for his fellowmen.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 237.

“Idleness and riches make the heart hard that has never been oppressed by want or burdened by sorrow. The love of pleasure was fostered by wealth and leisure, and the people [of Sodom] gave themselves up to sensual indulgence. ‘Behold,’ says the prophet, ‘this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.’ Ezekiel 16:49, 50. There is nothing more desired among men than riches and leisure, and yet these gave birth to the sins that brought destruction upon the cities of the plain. Their useless, idle life made them a prey to Satan’s temptations, and they defaced the image of God, and became satanic rather than divine. Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man, for vice and crime follow in its train. It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise. He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 156.

6) Do not become discouraged if it takes a long time to overcome. (See Mark 16:9; Luke 18:1-8.)

“Mary [Magdalene] had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in His strength she had overcome.

“When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character. The plan of redemption has invested humanity with great possibilities, and in Mary these possibilities were to be realized. Through His grace she became a partaker of the divine nature. . . .

“Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful, very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite one away. He does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage. Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. . . . He is today standing at the altar of incense, presenting before God the prayers of those who desire His help.

“The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and the strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ unites them to His own divine-human nature. They stand beside the great Sin Bearer, in the light proceeding from the throne of God.” Conflict and Courage, 309.

“When temptations assail you, as they surely will, when care and perplexity surround you, when, distressed and discouraged, you are almost ready to yield to despair, look, O look, to where with the eye of faith you last saw the light; and the darkness that encompasseth you will be dispelled by the bright shining of His glory. When sin struggles for the mastery in your soul, and burdens the conscience, when unbelief clouds the mind, go to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. He will pardon us, making us joyful in God.” God’s Amazing Grace, 259.

Invasion of Normandy

During World War II and the invasion of Normandy, some rangers were sent to the beach head ahead of the ground troops to disable the German guns. Unfortunately, they got a little off course and were late to their target, giving the Germans time to spot them and to be prepared for them. Consequently, instead of a surprise attack, the Germans were ready for them. As they came up the embankment, the Germans started shooting at them. One of the men who was in that group of rangers said that even though they were late and the Germans were shooting at them, they had to keep going and get their mission accomplished or more soldiers would die. So they kept at their assigned duty. We must have the same determination. If we give up, we will lose the battle.

Sir Winston Churchill once declared, “This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” <www.winstonchurchhill.org> July 22, 2007.

Stay Focused

7) We must keep our focus in the right direction instead of looking at the hopelessness of a situation. (See Matthew 19:29.) Look at the big picture! Is there anything to which we want to cling and for which we would give up heaven? Is there any experience too hard to pass through to make it to heaven?

“Oh! we must be terribly in earnest to impress upon every soul that there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. Every energy of the soul must be aroused to force their passage, and seize the kingdom by force. Satan is active, and we must be active too. Satan is untiring and persevering, and we must be the same. There is no time to make excuses and blame others for our backslidings; no time now to flatter the soul [that] if circumstances had only been more favorable, how much better, how much easier [it would be] for us to work the works of God. We must tell even those who profess to believe in Christ, that they must cease to offend God by sinful excuses.

“Jesus has provided for every emergency. If they will walk where He leads the way, He will make rough places plain. He, with His experience, will create an atmosphere for the soul. He closes the door and brings the soul into seclusion with God, and the needy soul is to forget everyone and everything, but God. Satan will talk with him, but speak aloud to God and He will drive back the hellish shadow of Satan. With humble, subdued, thankful hearts they will come forth saying, ‘Thy gentleness hath made me great.’ [Psalm 18:35.] The sincere seeker comes forth from the alliance with God, rich in the assurance of His love, to go forth to distill a heavenly prayer wherever he goes. He can talk of the righteousness of Christ; he can talk [of] the love of God with sincerity. He has trusted and he knows the Lord is good.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 336, 337.

“What is our aim? . . . Victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror; victory, however long the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” Sir Winston Churchill. <ezinearticles.com> July 22, 2007.

Memorize Promises

8) Memorize the promises in God’s Word and start to repeat them when tempted. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed [art] thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:11-16.

“Jesus met Satan with the words of Scripture. ‘It is written,’ He said. In every temptation the weapon of His warfare was the word of God. Satan demanded of Christ a miracle as a sign of His divinity. But that which is greater than all miracles, a firm reliance upon a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ was a sign that could not be controverted. So long as Christ held to this position, the tempter could gain no advantage.” The Desire of Ages, 120.

“Compared with the Word, everything else is weakness itself. The Word of God is the weapon of our warfare. Educate, train the people to be doers of the Word, and they will then abide in Christ, and Christ will abide in them. Then they will discern the delusions of Satan; they will not be ignorant of his devices.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, 188.

If It Offends

9) A Bible principle states: “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29, 30. In the Bible, it states that if your hand offends you to cut it off. For example, the right kind of music can be helpful and the wrong kind a hindrance. If the music to which you are listening is not helping in your spiritual experience, then perhaps it should be cut off and cast away.

In a personal testimony, Ellen White counseled: “The character of your music was not such as to encourage elevated thoughts or feelings, but rather to degenerate.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 321.

“Probably the most conspicuous ancient thought about music is the doctrine of ethos, which describes the effects of sound on human behaviour [sic] and therefore its moral influence. Aristotle, in his Politics, explains how the different kinds of music, imitating specific feelings (anger, kindness, love), can affect a human being with the same kind of feelings. Therefore, says Aristotle, someone who listens to the wrong kind of music will grow up to be a bad person, and vice-versa. Consequently, Aristotle (and also Plato) recommended the right kind of music in the education of young citizens.” <http://www.guitarpress.com> July 22, 2007.

“One reason that there is not more sincere piety and religious fervor, is because the mind is occupied with unimportant things and there is no time to meditate, search the Scriptures, or pray. If the consciences can be aroused to see the errors in the preparation of the food, and the influence upon the moral tendencies of our nature, there would be in every family decided reforms. Intemperance in desire resulted to our first parents in the loss of Eden. We generally find, even among Seventh-day Adventists, that inclination; habit; delicate, unhealthful preparations in cooking; and unhealthful habits of dress are weakening physical, mental, and moral efficiency, and making it impossible to overcome temptation. Now what shall we do? This subject is a sadly neglected matter. . . .” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 125.

“Envy, malice, evil thinking, evilspeaking, covetousness¾these are weights that the Christian must lay aside if he would run successfully the race for immortality. Every habit or practice that leads into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be put away, whatever the sacrifice. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in violating the eternal principles of right. One sin cherished is sufficient to work degradation of character and to mislead others.

“ ‘If thy hand cause thee to stumble,’ the Saviour said, ‘Cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.’ Mark 9:43-45, R.V. If to save the body from death, the foot or the hand should be cut off, or even the eye plucked out, how much more earnest should the Christian be to put away sin, which brings death to the soul!” The Acts of the Apostles, 312, 313.

“Any habit or practice that would lead into sin, and bring dishonor upon Christ, would better be put away, whatever the sacrifice. That which dishonors God cannot benefit the soul. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in violating the eternal principles of right. And one sin cherished is sufficient to work the degradation of the character, and to mislead others.” The Desire of Ages, 439.

[All emphasis added.]

To be continued . . .

Jana Grosboll serves Steps to Life as its Network Administrator. She may be contacted by e-mail at: janagrosboll@stepstolife.org.

How to Overcome the Devil, Part I

We do not know from day to day when the Lord may call us to a different job, to a different location, to a different country. He may call different individuals as workers in various parts of the world, but each one, as a stone in the wall, is building up the work of God. For each of us to do our part in His work, we must develop characters that will see us through any and every circumstance that may come into our lives. In this article, we will look at developing that experience that is going to get us through to the heavenly kingdom.

A Deceiving Dragon

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.

Why do we have worries and disasters, tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, and death? The answer is given in this verse¾because Satan was cast out to this earth. There is a dragon, called the Devil and Satan, loose in this world, reeking havoc.

This text tells us that he deceives the whole world. Every man and woman who has ever been born has been deceived at some time by this arch deceiver.

Satan was cast out to the earth, and he was not cast out alone. The angels wbo chose to believe him were cast out with him. Together they go about to deceive the whole world.

If only we could just faintly, even in a small degree, understand the significance of this clause, “deceives the whole world.” Satan deceives. He has deceived you, and he has deceived me. In fact, every time we sin we have been deceived by Satan, deceived into thinking that his plan is superior to God’s plan. For whatever reason, he deceives us by one means or another, and he has many ways of deceiving.

Master Deceiver

Satan is a master artist of deception. From the time you were born, he has been studying your life. He has a careful record of your life.

At one time, I studied the Bible with a lady whose six-year-old daughter had recently passed away. Oh, how she grieved over the death of that daughter.

In her house there was a stairway leading up to the second story where the bedrooms were located. As she climbed those stairs one day, she looked up towards her daughter’s bedroom and there at the head of the stairs, for one fleeting moment she saw her daughter standing there looking at her and smiling, and then she vanished away. This mother just knew that her daughter was alright, that she was in heaven and had come down to give her assurance and peace.

This lady knew then that the Bible was wrong¾or at least the way we were interpreting the state of the dead was wrong. Of course, it was no one’s interpretation; it was what the Bible says! “The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5.

But because of this experience, she decided that everything else she had learned in the Bible was wrong. She rejected everything. She was deceived. The devil knew right where to strike at her heart to bring the deception that will cost her salvation, unless she chooses to change sometime.

Master File

Satan has a master file of your life. He has traced every event of your life. He has it all on his computer memory. He has studied it; his angels who are concerned with you have studied it. They know your special desires; they know your special weaknesses. They know your felt needs; they know your insecurities. They know your weaknesses; they know what offends and what irritates you the easiest. They know it all.

I often ask people, Is there anything or any circumstance in the world that could cause you to be lost? Is there anything that could cause you to give up the truth, cause you to be lost? If you know of anything in life that could cause you to give up your salvation, rest assured that Satan is going to use all his power to bring that very thing about in your life. He is here to cause your destruction.

Young lady, what is it that could cause you to be lost? Is it your looks? Are you proud of your looks? Could somebody come along and flatter you and sweep you off your feet, as the serpent did Eve? “It was Satan that spoke, not the serpent. Eve was beguiled, flattered, infatuated.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 36. Satan first flattered her to gain her confidence. Are there needs in your life? Are you lonely at times? Do you need some kind of attention and affection? If the right young man should come along, could he cause your eternal destruction? Could he cause you to give up what you know to be right in the area of being unequally yoked? Could he cause you to transgress?

God wants you to be fulfilled; He wants you to be happy; but rest assured that if there is something you need or desire desperately, Satan will seek to fulfill it first.

You will be tested. What is it that could cause you to be lost? Is it money, or is it lack of money? Is it position, or is it lack of position? Is it vain philosophy, or is it something in the church? Is it somebody talking about somebody or is it something that the Nominating Committee could do? What is it that could cause your loss of confidence in God? What is it that could cause you to give up your experience?

Satan has a temptation – probably more than one – that is tailor made for you. Your temptation will probably not be the same as my temptation, because Satan knows that your temptation probably would not work on me. I have temptations, but my temptations probably will not be the same as your temptations, because mine are tailor made. Satan knows that the temptations he brings me probably would not work with you.

If anyone has the idea that you can get to those pearly gates by being spoon fed all the way, it will not, cannot happen. Someday, some way, we must take the field of the battle and meet the devil face to face alone, as far as humanity is concerned. However, we are never truly alone, because God’s power is ever with us if we choose and ask for it.

We must meet the battle of life, and we must be individually conquerors.

Where God Leads

And so it says, in Revelation 12:9, “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”

Yet there was One who was not deceived. Of all the people who have ever lived in the world, only One has never been deceived, Christ Jesus. At the same time, there has never been anyone who has been tempted more than He has.

As mentioned previously, Satan has a file folder on us that includes anything we have ever done. He knows what it is that can bring us to destruction, if it is possible. But for Christ, Satan had prepared for 4,000 years. He used all of his computers in figuring out how to cause Him to be lost. He put all of his energy into Christ’s destruction, into His deception. He knew Him like a book, and there in the wilderness he met Him face to face. He had been seeking to weaken Him, to cause Him to give up His faith and confidence, from the time He was born, but the time was right for that face to face confrontation that we must all meet some place, some time.

For 40 days Christ was without food. He had been led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1.) He went where the Holy Spirit told Him to go. We all know, do we not, that if we go where God leads us, He will take care of us? The Bible assures us that our food and water will be sure. (See Isaiah 33:16.)

Jesus went where God led Him and left Him. He trusted His Father implicitly and completely to provide for His needs. He had a bed at home in Nazareth, and food awaited Him there, but that is not where God led Him. God led Him out to a wilderness in a foreign country, and there He left Him without food and shelter.

The Bible account of this experience states that there were also wild beasts in the wilderness. Christ was there without any visible means of protection. What should He do when the nighttime came? There was nothing to do but to lie down in the sand and go to sleep. When the morning came, the children of Israel, when they were led out into the wilderness, found a dew-like material that was food, manna, on the ground, but when Jesus awoke there was no manna.

When Elijah was sent out by the brook, ravens brought him food (1 Kings 17:1-6), but there were no ravens with food in their mouths when Jesus was in the wilderness. He knew all the promises in the Bible; He knew all the experiences of the Bible; He knew all the events of the Bible. He knew how God had cared for those before Him, but care was not given to Him. However, there He stayed, day after day.

Jesus was unique in that He had the power to provide for Himself, yet God had ordained that He should come down and live as a man among men and that He would trust in Him completely, and Him only, for His sustenance. That is what we have to do. Jesus could not be our example if He made things for Himself, if He so took care of Himself. He had to depend explicitly on God.

Day after day Jesus continued to pray and trust.

Temptation of Appetite

We do not know what all Satan said to Christ in the wilderness, but he was and still is a master deceiver. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ ” Matthew 4:2, 3. Ellen White, writing of this trying time, states:

“As man could not, in his human strength, resist the power of Satan’s temptations, Jesus volunteered to undertake the work, and bear the burden for man, and overcome the power of appetite in his behalf. He must show in man’s behalf, self-denial and perseverance, and firmness of principle that is paramount to the gnawing pangs of hunger. He must show a power of control over appetite stronger than hunger and even death.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 272.

“All was lost when Adam yielded to the power of appetite. The Redeemer, in whom was united both the human and the divine, stood in Adam’s place, and endured a terrible fast of nearly six weeks. The length of this fast is the strongest evidence of the extent of the sinfulness and power of debased appetite upon the human family.” Ibid.

Suppose you had gone a week or even two weeks without food. You had been praying day and night that God would take care of you; you had been claiming the promises of the Word of God. All you had in the house was a little tithe money, and an angel appeared to you and said, “The Lord has heard your prayer. He wants you to take the tithe money and buy yourself some food.”

Might it be a temptation to believe that was from God?

Jesus Not Deceived

Why was it that Jesus was not deceived like we usually are? The answer is given in 11 Thessalonians 2:8-10: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

This passage clearly states that Satan possesses glory and power. It looks like righteousness, but in actuality it is unrighteousness. It is a deception. The Bible says that Satan comes down as an angel of light; he has power to work miracles. (See 11 Corinthians 11:14; Matthew 24:24.)

Jesus loved truth more than He loved life itself. He would rather die than sacrifice one precept of the Bible, sacrifice one aspect of truth.

All This May Be Yours

From the wilderness, the devil took Christ to the pinnacle of the temple. He again tempted Him, saying, “Demonstrate Your faith. Show me your faith.” (Matthew 4:5-7.)

Then he led Him out to the side of a hill and, from that elevated site, showed Him the kingdoms of the world. There they were laid out in all their glory¾the marble, the gold, the silver. Christ could see the most beautiful portions of Pompeii, of Rome, of Jerusalem, of Alexandria, and the other great cities of the day¾the seaport cities, the inland cities, the cities of India. He could see them all, with the mosques and temples, the gardens, and the hanging gardens.

He could see the people there, the beautiful women, the men, and the little children. Oh, Satan knew how He would love to hold the children on His lap and take them to heaven with Him. How He loved those children, those for whom He came to die and to save. Satan chided, “They are all Yours. I give them to You. I will quit deceiving them. You can have them all. You can be their King and Master; after all, that is why You came. All You need to do is bow down and worship me; just bow on one knee; that will do.” (Verses 8, 9.)

Perhaps Jesus turned from the panoramic scene of the kingdoms of the world to view another scene, the scene of Himself on a narrow path strewn with stones, thorns, and thistles. There was blood upon those rocks, and as that path stretched tortuously up, at the top of that path He saw a cross with splinters in it, and hanging on that cross was a man, and as He looked, He recognized that it was Himself.

Ah, there was a choice¾a mere act of homage or the cross. I am so happy that Jesus chose the cross, for it was through that choice that He gained the victory over temptation, gained the victory over deception, gained the victory over Satan, and brought us victory. For it is in that blood that we can be saved, that we can find salvation from the temptation and the deceptions of Satan.

Do you spend time at the cross every day? Do you suppose that you can overcome Satan on your own? Do you think you are strong enough to do so? There at the cross of Calvary Satan was overcome. That is where we must go if we want to find victory over Satan. If we want to be undeceived, we must go to the cross too.

To be continued . . .

Steps to Life was founded by Pastor Marshall Grosboll and his wife Lillian. In 1987, a television program was developed and started to air on the local Wichita, Kansas, television station. A Bible Correspondence School was also started which still exists today. Returning from a camp meeting in July 1991 held in Washington state, Marshall and his family met with tragedy as the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all aboard including his wife and two young children.

The Worthlessness of Creature Merit, Part I

Ellen White stated that preachers should talk about the subject matter given in this article more than any other subject. It is something so simple that a little child can understand it, but the adults have difficulty understanding it. Jesus said one time that unless you receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child, you will not enter in. (Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17.) This is a subject with which adults, especially people like ministers, theologians, and those who have studied religion for a long time, have lots of trouble. The subject is the answer to this question: What must I do to be saved?

Regarding this question, Ellen White wrote: “In every congregation in the land there are souls unsatisfied, hungering and thirsting for salvation. By day and by night, the burden of their hearts is, What shall I do to be saved? They listen eagerly to popular discourses, hoping to learn how they may be justified before God. But too often they hear only a pleasing speech, an eloquent declamation. There are sad and disappointed hearts in every religious gathering.” Review and Herald, March 8, 1881. These disappointed individuals want to know whether or not they can be saved, and if so, how. Some of them think they cannot be saved because they are too wicked.

Zechariah 13:1 reads, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” There is going to be opened, according to the prophet Zechariah, a fountain to Israel and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

We are living in the time when that fountain has been opened and anybody, even the worst sinner, can be cleansed at it. However, that fountain is only for certain people. Now, that sounds like a contradiction. I just stated that it is for everybody, and yet it will only work for certain people. Well, who are the only people for whom it will work? We will start right at the beginning so you will see why so many people miss it, even when it is for everybody.

The Poor in Spirit

“One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 300. This is the fountain which is spoken of in Zechariah 13:1.

Who are the poor in spirit? The poor in spirit are the people who know they are lost, and they know that they are utterly helpless. Maybe they have tried a thousand times to overcome some bad habit, but they cannot do it. They recognize they are utterly helpless, and they know that they cannot do anything to save themselves. How, then, are they going to be saved?

The irony of it is, those are the only people who can be saved! The only people who can be saved are the ones who come to the realization that they are utterly helpless and cannot save themselves. Sometimes the reason it seems as though God is not answering your prayers is so you can get to that position. If you ever get to the position where you recognize that you are utterly helpless and that you cannot do anything to be saved, then you can be saved.

Simple as ABC

Regarding the answer to the question of how to be saved, Ellen White said, “We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don’t understand it.” Faith and Works, 64. How interesting! It is as simple as ABC, but we do not understand it. In fact, at another time, speaking of Seventh-day Adventists, she said, “We need also much more knowledge; we need to be enlightened in regard to the plan of salvation. There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 360. That is pretty bad! How can something be as simple as ABC, yet there is not one in a hundred who understands it?

The question we are contemplating actually comes right out of the New Testament, in the Book of Acts, when the Philippian jailer sought an answer from Paul and Silas: “And coming to them outside, he said, ‘Lords, what is necessary for me to do so that I might be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, and your house.’ ” Acts 16:30, 31.

That is it! Easy, is it not? A child can understand it, but adults cannot, because we want something that is more complicated.

Message Rejected

In 1888, God sent this message to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but almost all the people in the Church rejected it. So Ellen White began to write, and most of what is quoted in this article from her pen was written shortly after 1888 in regard to the fact of what God was trying to teach the people that they had rejected.

She wrote: “There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 97. That is the only way. Period!

In Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Ellen White, on pages 91-93, goes over what it was that God tried to bring to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Minneapolis in 1888. Several years ago, I studied those pages and listed all the things that God was trying to teach His people at that time. I identified seven things that Ellen White listed on page 92, but we are only going to study one of those seven things. One of the things that the Lord was trying to teach through Ellen White and through Jones and Waggoner to the Adventist Church in 1888 was about Christ’s merits.

Christ’s Merits

“There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ.” That is all.

Now, this is the way people were saved in Old Testament times: “Through the sacrifices and offerings brought to the earthly Sanctuary, the children of Israel were to lay hold of the merits of a Saviour to come.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, 160. What was the purpose of all those ceremonies? To help the people exercise faith in “the merits of a Saviour to come.” But we have a problem.

Creature Merit

“Discussions may be entered into by mortals strenuously advocating creature merit, and each man striving for the supremacy, but they simply do not know that all the time, in principle and character, they are misrepresenting the truth as it is in Jesus. They are in a fog of bewilderment. They need the divine love of God which is represented by gold tried in the fire; they need the white raiment of Christ’s pure character; and they need the heavenly eyesalve . . .” Why do they need the heavenly eyesalve? What is going to happen to Laodicea when they get the heavenly eyesalve? “. . . that they might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life.” Faith and Works, 23.

Of how much worth is creature merit? Anything that you or I can do, past, present, or future, is absolutely worthless.

One of the reasons this message was rejected in 1888 is that people said, “You are going to do away with the law. We have been teaching people they have to keep the commandments, and you are telling people that all they have to do is trust in Jesus.” See, that is what happens when people study theology. They get all mixed up. A child can understand it. Why can the children understand it better than the adults? As soon as the adults hear, “Just put your trust in Jesus; He has merits; He will save you,” they think, “Oh, that could not be all there is to it.” Yes, it is! Everything else that you need will happen, but all you need to do is trust in Jesus.

Some people may think that I am going to destroy the Adventist Church, that I am going to destroy the revival and reformation movement within the Adventist Church, that I am preaching heresy or the new theology. No, I am not preaching the new theology. I am preaching the gospel.

Ellen White said, “They need the heavenly eyesalve that they might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life.”

All Power Imparted

“I [Ellen White] ask, How can I present this matter as it is? The Lord Jesus imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith¾which is also the gift of God. If you would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason.” Ibid.

If you told the angels everything wonderful and good that a human being had ever done and asked if these things would add any merit to this person’s salvation, the angels would reject it all, saying, “That is treason against the government of God.” The angels know the plan of salvation. They understand what is involved. They understand the utter worthlessness of anything you and I can do to earn salvation.

Mrs. White continued, “Any works that man can render to God will be far less than nothingness.” Ibid., 24. The idea of humans doing anything to merit the grace of pardon is fallacy from beginning to end.

Through Faith Alone

“There is not a point that needs to be dwelt upon more earnestly, repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.” Ibid., 18.

Do you get it? Children can understand it. Theologians usually cannot understand it. People who have studied the Bible for years and years do not get it figured out. The Philippian jailer was baptized early the next morning, and he had been a heathen.

“Many are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. They seek to make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. This they can never accomplish.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 368.

Can you ever do anything to merit the favor of God? No, never. Nothing. So, what must you do to be saved? All you have to do is trust yourself to the merits of Jesus Christ. Everything else will happen if you do this. And if you do not do this, the other things will not happen. You can struggle with sanctification, keeping the law, health reform and dress reform, and anything else, but you will never be saved doing all those things. There is only one way to salvation, and that is to trust yourself, to yield yourself to Jesus Christ, to trust His merits, not your own.

You Can Be Complete

Colossians 2:10 reads, “And you are complete in Him who is the head of all authority and rulers.” Who is this “you”? Are these the people who are ready for translation?

“We stand in favor before God, not because of any merit in ourselves, but because of our faith in ‘the Lord our righteousness.’

“Jesus stands in the holy of holies, now to appear in the presence of God for us. There He ceases not to present His people moment by moment, complete in Himself.” Faith and Works, 107. You can be complete in Christ right now, today, if you yield yourself to Him.

“Because we are thus represented before the Father, we are not to imagine that we are to presume upon His mercy and become careless, indifferent, and self-indulgent. Christ is not the minister of sin. We are complete in Him, accepted in the Beloved, only as we abide in Him by faith.

“Perfection through our own good works we can never attain. The soul who sees Jesus by faith, repudiates his own righteousness. He sees himself as incomplete, his repentance insufficient, his strongest faith but feebleness, his most costly sacrifice as meager, and he sinks in humility at the foot of the cross. But a voice speaks to him from the oracles of God’s Word. In amazement he hears the message, ‘Ye are complete in Him.’ [Colossians 2:10.]” Ibid., 107, 108.

Who is this? This is the person who has decided that he is hopeless. He sinks “at the foot of the cross,” but then he hears the voice, “Ye are complete in Him.”

“Now all is at rest in his soul. No longer must he strive to find some worthiness in himself, some meritorious deed by which to gain the favor of God.” Ibid., 108.

Basis of Protestant Reformation

What we are noting was the basis of the Protestant Reformation. It was what the Waldenses taught during the Dark Ages. Read the experience of the Vaudois missionary during the Dark Ages:

“With quivering lip and tearful eye did he, often on bended knees, open to his brethren the precious promises that reveal the sinner’s only hope. Thus the light of truth penetrated many a darkened mind, rolling back the cloud of gloom, until the Sun of Righteousness shone into the heart with healing in His beams. It was often the case that some portion of Scripture was read again and again, the hearer desiring it to be repeated, as if he would assure himself that he had heard aright. Especially was the repetition of these words eagerly desired: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ 1 John 1:7. ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’ John 3:14, 15.

“Many were undeceived in regard to the claims of Rome. They saw how vain is the mediation of men or angels in behalf of the sinner. As the true light dawned upon their minds they exclaimed with rejoicing: ‘Christ is my priest; His blood is my sacrifice; His altar is my confessional.’ They cast themselves wholly upon the merits of Jesus . . . .” The Great Controversy, 73, 74.

When they cast themselves completely on the merits of Jesus, not trusting in themselves at all, what happened?

“They cast themselves wholly upon the merits of Jesus, repeating the words, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him.’ Hebrews 11:6. ‘There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12.

“The assurance of a Saviour’s love seemed too much for some of these poor tempest-tossed souls to realize. So great was the relief which it brought, such a flood of light was shed upon them, that they seemed transported to heaven. Their hands were laid confidingly in the hand of Christ; their feet were planted upon the Rock of Ages. All fear of death was banished. They could now covet the prison and the fagot if they might thereby honor the name of their Redeemer.” Ibid., 74.

That is what the reformers found. That is the very thing that caused the Protestant Reformation.

Ellen White recorded the following experience of John Calvin: “In the Bible he found Christ. ‘O Father,’ he cried, ‘His sacrifice has appeased Thy wrath; His blood has washed away my impurities; His cross has borne my curse; His death has atoned for me. We had devised for ourselves many useless follies, but Thou hast placed Thy word before me like a torch, and Thou hast touched my heart, in order that I may hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus.’¾Martyn, vol. 3, ch. 13.” Ibid., 221.

Calvin became a Protestant Reformer because he cast aside his confidence and trust in everything else. He said that everything else is an abomination except the merits of Jesus Christ.

Martin Luther found out the same thing: “Luther was the one chosen to breast the storm, stand up against the ire of a fallen church, and strengthen the few who were faithful to their holy profession. He was ever fearful of offending God. He tried through works to obtain His favor, but was not satisfied until a gleam of light from heaven drove the darkness from his mind and led him to trust, not in works, but in the merits of the blood of Christ. He could then come to God for himself, not through popes or confessors, but through Jesus Christ alone.” Early Writings, 222, 223.

More Than Anything Else

Is it complicated? No, it is simple. Children can understand it, but theologians cannot understand it. Ellen White said that it is as simple as ABC, but we do not understand it, because we have so much trouble believing it; we always want to add something to it. But, you see, if we get this point, we are going to get everything else we need. Because it is so simple and, yet, because we do not understand it, it needs to be repeated, Ellen White said, more than anything else is. Then, how does it all come together? Let us consider some questions and answers.

  1. How can we be received by our heavenly Father and adopted into His family?

How? Just one way. God would like to accept us into His family, but He will only do it on one condition, that we will accept the merits of His Son. That is all. There is no other way. (See The Acts of the Apostles, 333.)

  1. Whom will God accept?

“God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly [that is, completely] in the merits of a crucified Saviour.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 354.

God will accept every person who comes to Him, claiming the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.

This is the gospel according to the Old Testament; this is the gospel Paul preached; this is the gospel the Waldenses preached; this is the gospel the Reformers preached; and this is the gospel that God tried to bring to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1888. But the Church would not take it, because the people thought, “You are going to destroy the law.” It does not destroy anything.

Oh, the people think that surely there has to be something else for us to do. Here is what we are supposed to do: Ellen White wrote, “Man’s part is to lay hold by faith of the merits of Christ.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 430. Come to God and ask that the merits of Christ be applied to our accounts, because you and I do not have any merits.

  1. How much does the righteousness of Christ accomplish in our salvation?

Many people think that we are saved by faith and by our works. That was a major battlefield in the Protestant Reformation between the Catholics and the Protestants. The Catholics believe we are saved by faith and works. In fact, I heard a program recently on a Catholic radio station, and the topic of discussion was about why the Protestant doctrine of faith alone is false and how you must have good works to be saved. That is what the Pharisees thought; that is what the Catholics thought, and that is what the Adventists thought in 1888.

  1. How much does the righteousness of Christ accomplish in our salvation?

This can be answered in just four words: “Christ’s righteousness accomplishes everything.” Faith and Works, 26.

  1. So, what do we need to do to be saved?

Ellen White answers this question in this way: “The sinner must ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must rest in the merits of Christ, accepting His righteousness and believing in His mercy.” Evangelism, 185.

We can only be saved like a little child. She said, “Just rest; just rest in Christ’s merits.” Trust Him. That is it.

“Oh, no,” the theologian declares, “There has to be something more than that.” No, there is nothing more than that. That results in everything else you need.

“Oh,” somebody may say, “but I am an Adventist, and I believe that we are living in the Day of Atonement, and my sins have to be blotted out.” Well, let us just ask that question.

  1. How are our sins going to be blotted out and we be clothed in Christ’s righteousness?

“The merits of Jesus blot out transgressions, and clothe us with the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven.” Ibid., 186.

  1. What is the only plea we need to make to be saved?

“Present your case before Him, pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary’s cross. Satan will accuse you of being a great sinner, and you must admit this, but you can say: ‘I know I am a sinner, and that is the reason I need a Saviour. Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7). ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (verse 9). I have no merit or goodness whereby I may claim salvation, but I present before God the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is my only plea.” Faith and Works, 106.

What is the only plea of the true Christian? “I present before God the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God.” That is it. That is our only plea.

“The name of Jesus gives me access to the Father. His ear, His heart, is open to my faintest pleading, and He supplies my deepest necessities.” Ibid.

Human Pride

Read the first sentence again: “Present your case before Him, pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary’s cross.” Can you do that? A six-year-old child can do that. Why is it so hard for adults to do?

The reason it is so hard is because of our human pride. We want to have some part in it so we can be elevated, so we can feel that we have done something. Ellen White wrote: “See how God wrought to abase the pride of men, and lay human glory in the dust.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 335. No place is left for self-esteem or anything that we can do.

  1. How should you plead your case to the Father?

Do you want to be saved? How should you plead your case? Here it is again: “Present your case before Him, pleading the merits of the blood that was shed for you upon Calvary’s cross.”

  1. How often do we need to have the merits of Christ applied to our cases?

“If we are conscious of the weakness of self, we shall not be self-confident and reckless of danger, but we shall feel the necessity of seeking to the Source of our strength, Jesus our Righteousness. We shall come in repentance and contrition, with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness, and learn that we must daily apply to the merits of the blood of Christ, that we may become vessels fit for the Master’s use.” Faith and Works, 86.

Not only do we need the merits of Christ applied to our cases every day, but we need the merits of Christ applied to our cases every hour, every minute. You and I do not have any righteousness. No one who goes to the kingdom of heaven will talk about any righteousness and good deeds that he or she has done. There will not be one. Read the Book of Revelation. All glory will be given to the One who is righteous, to the only One who is holy. God only is holy and righteous.

Our Work

What is our work? There has to be some kind of work. That was asked of Jesus too. The conversation is recorded in John 6:28, 29: “Therefore they said to Him: ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in the One that He sent.’ ”

That is the work! As Ellen White expressed it, “Our work is to hang our helpless souls on His merits.” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 247.)

To be continued . . .

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor John Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Ellen White’s Counsel Regarding the Controversy over the “Daily,” Pt I

[Editor’s Note: Historically—in the 1840s and afterward—Seventh-day Adventists have believed that the daily in Daniel 8, 11, and 12 refers to paganism in contrast with “the abomination that makes desolate” (Daniel 11:31) or the papacy; that both terms identify persecuting powers; that the word for daily—correctly meaning “continual or continually or continuance”—refers to the long continuance of Satan’s opposition to the work of Christ through the medium of paganism; that the taking away of the daily and the setting up of “the abomination that makes desolate” represents the action of papal Rome replacing pagan Rome and that this even is the same as that described in 11 Thessalonians 2:7 and Revelation 13:2; and that this replacing of paganism with the papal religion as the official religion of the most prominent country in Europe at that time (France) occurred in a.d. 508.]

Around the turn of the twentieth century, a new view of the daily surfaced in Adventism. This new view was promoted by W. W. Prescott (college president and later vice-president of the General Conference, chairman of the Review and Herald Publishing Association board, editor of the Review and Herald, and later field secretary of the General Conference) and A. G. Daniells (General Conference president at that time). The new view was that the daily, or continual, referred to the continual priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and to the true worship of Christ in the gospel age; that the taking away of the daily represents the substitution by the papacy of compulsory unity in a visible church in place of the voluntary unity of all believers in Christ, and the replacing of Christ, the invisible head, by the pope, a visible head, and an earthly priestly hierarchy in place of direct access to Christ by all believers; of a system of salvation by works ordained by the visible church in place of salvation by faith in Christ; and the confessional and the sacrifice of the mass in place of the mediatorial work of Christ as our great high priest in the courts of heaven. Those holding this view have no adequate explanation of the 1290 days in Daniel 12 unless they adopt futuristic interpretations. It was concerning this second view held by Prescott and Daniells that the following testimony by Ellen White was written. (See Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 842, 843, 880, 881 for source material about the above two views.)

“At this stage of our experience we are not to have our minds drawn away from the special light given [us] to consider at the important gathering of our conference. And there was Brother Daniells, whose mind the enemy was working; and your mind and Elder Prescott’s mind were being worked by the angels that were expelled from heaven. Satan’s work was to divert your minds that jots and tittles should be brought in which the Lord did not inspire you to bring in. They were not essential. But this meant much to the cause of truth. And the ideas of your minds, if you could be drawn away to jots or tittles, is a work of Satan’s devising. To correct little things in the books written, you suppose would be doing a great work. But I am charged, Silence is eloquence.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 17.

To be continued . . .