I like deep things. Deep swimming pools. Deep ideas. Deep conversations. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that 3-4 pages that originally were a part of the book "Great Controversy" by Ellen G. White, where removed and place in a different book by the author's request and permission. Originally a part of the 1884 edition of the book Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a short section entitled The Snares of Satan, only 4 pages long, was removed and added to the book Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pages 472-475. It was done so because the content is specifically for Seventh-day Adventist Christians, and not the general public at large. Since the book Great Controversy was being edited for wider exposure to the general public by Ellen G. White and her secretaries, this section was removed and placed in a separte volume (as noted above.)
What is amazing is that this short section, "The snares of Satan", details how Satan and his messengers try to destroy, defeat, and discourage God's Sabbath keeping Remanant Church. It details how Satan uses Entertainment, Love of Money and Pleasure, Divisions, Criticisms, and anything else you can think of to distract believers at the peril of their own souls. If you dare, read the section and pray that God will speak to you and wake you up from any spiritual Laodicean condition you may be in!
As always,
Keep your eyes on Jesus!
[ Reprinted with Full Credit to the Ellen G. White Estate, http://www.ellenwhite.com/)
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 472 -475
The Snares of Satan
[See appendix.] [From the fourth volume of Spirit of prophecy, Or The great controversy (1884), ch. 27, pp. 337-340.]law of liberty shall be represented as a yoke of bondage. The people accept their minister’s explanations of Scripture and do not investigate for themselves. Therefore, by working through the ministers, I can control the people according to my will.
“But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbath keepers. We must excite popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.
“But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall.
“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk
with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people. “Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion.
“Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it.
“I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control.
“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.”*****
As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God.
Says the great deceiver: “We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also.
“The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls. We must exalt the sabbath of our creating. We have caused it to be accepted by both worldlings and church members; now the church must be led to unite with the world in its support. We must work by signs and wonders to blind their eyes to the truth, and lead them to lay aside reason and the fear of God and follow custom and tradition.
“I will influence popular ministers to turn the attention of their hearers from the commandments of God. That which the Scriptures declare to be a perfect
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 472 -475
The Snares of Satan
[See appendix.] [From the fourth volume of Spirit of prophecy, Or The great controversy (1884), ch. 27, pp. 337-340.]
law of liberty shall be represented as a yoke of bondage. The people accept their minister’s explanations of Scripture and do not investigate for themselves. Therefore, by working through the ministers, I can control the people according to my will. “But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbath keepers. We must excite popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.
“But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall.
“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk
with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people.
“Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion.
“Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it.
“I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control.
“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.”
*****
As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God.
Says the great deceiver: “We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also.
“The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls. We must exalt the sabbath of our creating. We have caused it to be accepted by both worldlings and church members; now the church must be led to unite with the world in its support. We must work by signs and wonders to blind their eyes to the truth, and lead them to lay aside reason and the fear of God and follow custom and tradition.
“I will influence popular ministers to turn the attention of their hearers from the commandments of God. That which the Scriptures declare to be a perfect
END OF SECTION
Pastor Sal's Comments on "Snares of Satan" by Ellen G. White
How intriguing and eye-opening to know that Satan has particular traps in mind to get Sabbath keeping and Second Advent Believers to stumble and fall into sin and lose their salvation in Christ. Although according to Roger Morneau, who was an ex-Satan Worshiper, who clearly heard from a Satanic priest that priest's nor Satan's spells work on Sabbath keepers and Seventh-day Adventist in particular, because the Sabbath-observance is special protection against satanic and demonic activity, BEWARE any who profess membership or have joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church and have become familar with the Great Testing truths that God has given this Seventh day Advent Movement! Don't count is a small thing, like your favorite ice cream flavor, that you are a Seventh-day Adventist instead of a Mormon, Jehovah's witness, Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Baptist. Make not mistake. You are a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9. In the word of Ellen G. White, Seventh-day Adventists hold a special place in the eyes of God. Don't believe it? Read the following statement:
"Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been committed to them to be given to the world ..." Counsels for the Church, Page 72Wow! What a great honor and privilege to be able to be God's spokesperson's for these last days! Don't get me wrong. As Sabbath keepers and Advent believers, we have lots "of lessons to learn, and many to unlearn." We are part of a church that has both "wheat and tares", the converted and committed, and the unconverted and uncommitted. Let me also add, that it is not anyone's job to try and figure out who is who. Not the head pastor, elder, or any one in the church. That is the work of Holy Spirit! Don't try to figure out who is who, just make sure that you are following Jesus and that you love Him with all of your heart! While we can and must learn from other non-Sabbath keeping Christians like Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Pentecostals, baptists, the Blackaby Ministries International, and others (Francis Chan, Willow Creek Church, and even Robert Schuller!), we as Seventh-day Adventist have something that they (non-sabbath keeping and non-Heavenly Sanctuary believing Christians) need! They need the message that God has given this movement. And in the process of trying to figure out how to give the "trumpet a certain blow" (making the message of Seventh-day Adventist relevant to today's post-modern and post-Christian society), Satan is doing all that he can to get us off of the mark. Our goal, according to Scripture and Testimonies of Ellen G. White, is to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"2 Peter 3:18We ought to be growing each and every day, more and more like the Savior Jesus. (Romans 8:29) Here is were the subtle attacks, lies, and deceptions of Satan come in. Here in the West, we have been deceived by Satan to pursue entertainment, leisure, work, money as idols that will cause many Sabbath believers to lose their eternal salvation. Remembering that there is nothing you can do to be saved, and therefore (being equally true), nothing you can do to be lost ... digest that for a second ... really ... for only Jesus can save us by His works (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11-13). Seventh-day Adventists and any other believer will be lost not because of what they did, but because they failed to "abide" or remain in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8; Romans 14:23), "for whatever is not from faith is sin." Romans 14:23. No one will be saved and taken to Heaven based on what they did, but because they "endured til the end" in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
" Brethren and sisters who have long claimed to believe the truth, I ask you individually, Have your practices been in harmony with the light, the privileges, and the opportunities granted you of heaven? This is a serious question. The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon the church, and it is the duty of the church to shine. It is the privilege of every soul to make advancement. Those who are connected with Christ will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Son of God, to the full stature of men and women. If all who claim to believe the truth had made the most of their ability and opportunities to learn and to do, they would have become strong in Christ. Whatever their occupation—whether they were farmers, mechanics, teachers, or pastors—if they had wholly consecrated themselves to God they would have become efficient workers for the heavenly Master. " Testimonies for the Church 6:423
It seems like Satan and his messengers have stumped Sabbath keepers and believers by distracting them from living the message and proclaiming it with an irrestible power and influence in the lives of those around them. Show me a Sabbath keeping church where people are friendly, loving and kind, and proclaim the very message that we believe in, and I am sure we can find 100 non-Sabbath keeping churches that are loving, friendly, but have the wrong message for today.
So think about it? Are you becoming more like Jesus every day of our life? Or are you becoming more like the world? Are you being comfored to the image of Jesus every day? Or is the world comforming you more to its image each day? (Romans 12:1-2). It's my prayer that you will open your spiritual eyes and realize that you have a "hell to shun and a heaven to win." By faith of course.
So choose this day, to live in God's presence and to live for God's glory. Live today by asking the question, "WWJD? What would Jesus Do? ... When you do, you will be living the life God always wanted you to live. God help you in living for Jesus' soon coming!
~ S.G.
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