Knowing Your Enemy: Satan's Attacks On SDAs

[Tom Wetmore]

But that is often the first objection raised about certain topics that run against Adventist orthodoxy. "How will those not of our faith or the weak in the faith respond to such heresy? Won't they be confused about what we stand for? Won't such talk turn them away from the truth?"

[John317]

How Satan Gains Entrance to the Soul.--All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for these are the avenues of the soul. {AH 401.2}

You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes, ears, and all your senses if you would control your mind and prevent vain and corrupt thoughts from staining your soul. The power of grace alone can accomplish this most desirable work. {AH 401.3}

Satan and his angels are busy creating a paralyzed condition of the senses so that cautions, warnings, and reproofs shall not be heard; or, if heard, that they shall not take effect upon the heart and reform the life. {AH 401.4}

My brethren, God calls upon you as His followers to walk in the light. You need to be alarmed. Sin is among us, and it is not seen to be exceedingly sinful. The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and by familiarity with sin. We need to advance nearer heaven. {AH 401.5}

Satan's Strategy Is to Confuse the Senses.--Satan's work is to lead men to ignore God, to so engross and absorb the mind that God will not be in their thoughts. The education they have received has been of a character to confuse the mind and eclipse the true light. Satan does not wish the people to have a knowledge of God; and if he can set in operation games and theatrical performances that will so confuse the senses of the young that human beings will perish in darkness while light shines all about them, he is well pleased. {AH 401.6}

Satan Cannot Enter the Mind Without Our Consent.-- We should present before the people the fact that God has provided that we shall not be tempted above what we are able to bear, but that with every temptation He will make a way of escape. If we live wholly for God, we shall not allow the mind to indulge in selfish imaginings. {AH 402.1}

If there is any way by which Satan can gain access to the mind, he will sow his tares and cause them to grow until they will yield an abundant harvest. In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words, and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter. He will then come in and, by catching away the good seed sown in the heart, make of none effect the truth. {AH 402.2}

Close Every Avenue to the Tempter.--All who name the name of Christ need to watch and pray and guard the avenues of the soul, for Satan is at work to corrupt and destroy if the least advantage is given him. {AH 402.3}

It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan's suggestions. Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it; but it is blinding and deceiving in its nature, and it will entice us with flattering presentations. If we venture on Satan's ground, we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us. {AH 402.4}

Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences which will result from one wrong, hasty step! Our only safety is to be shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not put out our own spiritual eyesight so that we will call evil, good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil. {AH 403.1}

Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he in Christ. {AH 403.2}

Avoid Reading, Seeing, or Hearing Evil.--The apostle [Peter] sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. {AH 403.3}

Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I want to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world. {AH 403.4}

Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths. {AH 404.1}

Resistance Is Weakened by Opening the Door.-- Do not see how close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid the first approach to danger. The soul's interests cannot be trifled with. Your capital is your character. Cherish it as you would a golden treasure. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished. There should not be one departure from reserve; one act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may jeopardize the soul in opening the door to temptation, and the power of resistance becomes weakened. {AH 404.2}

Satan Would Eclipse the Future Glories.--Satan has worked continually to eclipse the glories of the future world and to attract the whole attention to the things of this life. He has striven so to arrange matters that our thought, our anxiety, our labor might be so fully employed in temporal things that we should not see or realize the value of eternal realities. The world and its cares have too large a place, while Jesus and heavenly things have altogether too small a share in our thoughts and affections. We should conscientiously discharge all the duties of everyday life, but it is also essential that we should cultivate, above everything else, holy affection for our Lord Jesus Christ. {AH 404.3}

Heavenly Angels Will Help Us.--We should ever keep in mind that unseen agencies are at work, both evil and good, to take the control of the mind. They act with unseen yet effectual power. Good angels are ministering spirits, exerting a heavenly influence upon heart and mind; while the great adversary of souls, the devil, and his angels are continually laboring to accomplish our destruction. . . . {AH 405.1}

While we should be keenly alive to our exposure to the assaults of unseen and invisible foes, we are to be sure that they cannot harm us without gaining our consent. {AH 405.2}

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: wayfinder

The question, then, is this. Would Satan expend his best efforts on those he hates most to win their love and alligence, and cause them to belive with all their heart that they are following God's will, when in reality they are following the way of Satan?

Answer is, Yes, Satan does this.

He persuades some people to reject what they once knew to be the truth-- to reject the Spirit of prophecy and 2/3 of the New Testament and to teach that the SDA church got its start in a false message and was co-founded by a false prophet.

He persuades others to lay aside everything that they think might offend people or be different from the rest of the Christian denominations-- this for the sake of peace at any cost.

In other words, Satan attacks the SDA church and uses any tactic he can to gain his objective of silencing the message that God has for the SDA church to give to the world in order to prepare a people for Christ's coming.

Amen! I think you have summed it up very well.

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

How about this one? "This topic should kill our last chance at effective outreach."

If outreach is all this site is supposed to be about, then "Club Adventist" is the wrong name.

It should be changed to something like "Non-denominational feel good chat"

-or-

"Anything goes church"

-or-

"Almost Religion"

hahaha good one Richard! :)

[wayfinder]

Ouch! I felt that.

Personally I admire Wm. Miller and associates for their conviction, humility and resolve to warn the world that the Bridegroom was coming. I also see that this was revealed ahead of time by the prophecy of the ten bridesmaids. It also gives a begining point for the last and triumphant kingdom of the heavens. This great dissapointment gave birth to the SDA church and I am privledged to be among them.

[John317]

I'm glad to hear that, Wayfinder. So do I admire Miller and am very happy to count myself among them. The Disappointment of 1843, 44 is no embarrassment to me at all. That would be like the disciples being embarrassed that Christ was killed as a criminal instead of being made king. Those who view it in that light-- as the Big Embarrassment-- are the embarrassment because they are turning their back on what they once publicly acknowledged to be the truth.

[wayfinder]

I like that comparison with the death of Christ and His disciples.

[skyblue888]

You never read about that comparison wayfinder from The Great Controversy?

sky

[wayfinder]

Yes I have read it and I find it to be fitting example.

Believe it or not, I have read the Great Controversy through once and portions of it several times.

[John317]

You only read The Great Controversy through one time?

I doubt a person can really understand that book unless he's read it at least several times from cover to cover. It's like the Bible that way. It's the mark of a great book that every time you read it, you see more and more that you hadn't seen before. That is certainly true of The Great Controversy.

[Twilight]

Well, may be it's because Satan doesn't hate Seventh-day Adventists so much any more.

sky

[Twilight]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

How about this one? "This topic should kill our last chance at effective outreach."

If outreach is all this site is supposed to be about, then "Club Adventist" is the wrong name.

It should be changed to something like "Non-denominational feel good chat"

-or-

"Anything goes church"

-or-

"Almost Religion"

Indeed...

Do you ever get the sense that some are embarrassed of their more "militant" brothers?

[Twilight]

Originally Posted By: Twilight

If we are really "crucified with Christ" and are "dead", then the temptations we hear are the lies of satan trying to convince us we are still alive.

A temptation to homosexuality, could then be the voice of Satan.

Not the flesh.

What do you think?

Temptations to homosexuality, just like temptations to do any sins against God, are certainly from Satan, and Satan uses the flesh and the fallen nature to draw us to do those sins. This is no excuse to commit those sins, though, because Christ showed that those who have fallen natures need not obey their fallen nature but are enabled to obey the Spirit. Romans 6 and 8 and Gal. 5: 16-26; 1 John 3: 1-10.

My understanding is, that in Christ, we are "dead", so the flesh is no longer the source of temptation, but like Eve and Christ, it is always an external "lie", that feels like the old temptation.

That is of course if the "self" is truly dead in Christ.

Might be an interesting topic at some point. :-)

[Twilight]

How Satan Gains Entrance to the Soul.--All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for these are the avenues of the soul. {AH 401.2}

You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes, ears, and all your senses if you would control your mind and prevent vain and corrupt thoughts from staining your soul. The power of grace alone can accomplish this most desirable work. {AH 401.3}

Satan and his angels are busy creating a paralyzed condition of the senses so that cautions, warnings, and reproofs shall not be heard; or, if heard, that they shall not take effect upon the heart and reform the life. {AH 401.4}

My brethren, God calls upon you as His followers to walk in the light. You need to be alarmed. Sin is among us, and it is not seen to be exceedingly sinful. The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and by familiarity with sin. We need to advance nearer heaven. {AH 401.5}

Satan's Strategy Is to Confuse the Senses.--Satan's work is to lead men to ignore God, to so engross and absorb the mind that God will not be in their thoughts. The education they have received has been of a character to confuse the mind and eclipse the true light. Satan does not wish the people to have a knowledge of God; and if he can set in operation games and theatrical performances that will so confuse the senses of the young that human beings will perish in darkness while light shines all about them, he is well pleased. {AH 401.6}

Interesting quotes, can you start a new topic on this Sky?

Satan Cannot Enter the Mind Without Our Consent.-- We should present before the people the fact that God has provided that we shall not be tempted above what we are able to bear, but that with every temptation He will make a way of escape. If we live wholly for God, we shall not allow the mind to indulge in selfish imaginings. {AH 402.1}

If there is any way by which Satan can gain access to the mind, he will sow his tares and cause them to grow until they will yield an abundant harvest. In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words, and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter. He will then come in and, by catching away the good seed sown in the heart, make of none effect the truth. {AH 402.2}

Close Every Avenue to the Tempter.--All who name the name of Christ need to watch and pray and guard the avenues of the soul, for Satan is at work to corrupt and destroy if the least advantage is given him. {AH 402.3}

It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan's suggestions. Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it; but it is blinding and deceiving in its nature, and it will entice us with flattering presentations. If we venture on Satan's ground, we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us. {AH 402.4}

Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences which will result from one wrong, hasty step! Our only safety is to be shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not put out our own spiritual eyesight so that we will call evil, good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil. {AH 403.1}

Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he in Christ. {AH 403.2}

Avoid Reading, Seeing, or Hearing Evil.--The apostle [Peter] sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. {AH 403.3}

Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I want to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world. {AH 403.4}

Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths. {AH 404.1}

Resistance Is Weakened by Opening the Door.-- Do not see how close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid the first approach to danger. The soul's interests cannot be trifled with. Your capital is your character. Cherish it as you would a golden treasure. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished. There should not be one departure from reserve; one act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may jeopardize the soul in opening the door to temptation, and the power of resistance becomes weakened. {AH 404.2}

Satan Would Eclipse the Future Glories.--Satan has worked continually to eclipse the glories of the future world and to attract the whole attention to the things of this life. He has striven so to arrange matters that our thought, our anxiety, our labor might be so fully employed in temporal things that we should not see or realize the value of eternal realities. The world and its cares have too large a place, while Jesus and heavenly things have altogether too small a share in our thoughts and affections. We should conscientiously discharge all the duties of everyday life, but it is also essential that we should cultivate, above everything else, holy affection for our Lord Jesus Christ. {AH 404.3}

Heavenly Angels Will Help Us.--We should ever keep in mind that unseen agencies are at work, both evil and good, to take the control of the mind. They act with unseen yet effectual power. Good angels are ministering spirits, exerting a heavenly influence upon heart and mind; while the great adversary of souls, the devil, and his angels are continually laboring to accomplish our destruction. . . . {AH 405.1}

While we should be keenly alive to our exposure to the assaults of unseen and invisible foes, we are to be sure that they cannot harm us without gaining our consent. {AH 405.2}

[Dr. Rich]

Perhaps you missed reading page 433, John.

[wayfinder]

I said also, that I have read portions of it many times, in fact, if I may have read it more than once just not from chp. 1-42 in that order.

[John317]

Perhaps you missed reading page 433, John.

If you're talking about AH 433, yes, I did read it. But what specifically do you have in mind about what it says on that page? Or did you have some other book in mind?

[John317]

I said also, that I have read portions of it many times, in fact, if I may have read it more than once just not from chp. 1-42 in that order.

I understand. I often read it that way myself. I've read some chapters more than others. The big difference is that I believe what she's written and you don't.

[John317]

...My understanding is, that in Christ, we are "dead", so the flesh is no longer the source of temptation...

Some people don't want to be completely dead, though. They want to keep opening the lid of the casket and feed the dead and keep him alive so they can enjoy the flesh now and then.

[John317]

Wayfinder and Dr. Rich, do you disageee with anything in these passages:

How Satan Gains Entrance to the Soul.--All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for these are the avenues of the soul. {AH 401.2}

You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes, ears, and all your senses if you would control your mind and prevent vain and corrupt thoughts from staining your soul. The power of grace alone can accomplish this most desirable work. {AH 401.3}

Satan and his angels are busy creating a paralyzed condition of the senses so that cautions, warnings, and reproofs shall not be heard; or, if heard, that they shall not take effect upon the heart and reform the life. {AH 401.4}

My brethren, God calls upon you as His followers to walk in the light. You need to be alarmed. Sin is among us, and it is not seen to be exceedingly sinful. The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and by familiarity with sin. We need to advance nearer heaven. {AH 401.5}

Satan's Strategy Is to Confuse the Senses.--Satan's work is to lead men to ignore God, to so engross and absorb the mind that God will not be in their thoughts. The education they have received has been of a character to confuse the mind and eclipse the true light. Satan does not wish the people to have a knowledge of God; and if he can set in operation games and theatrical performances that will so confuse the senses of the young that human beings will perish in darkness while light shines all about them, he is well pleased. {AH 401.6}

Satan Cannot Enter the Mind Without Our Consent.-- We should present before the people the fact that God has provided that we shall not be tempted above what we are able to bear, but that with every temptation He will make a way of escape. If we live wholly for God, we shall not allow the mind to indulge in selfish imaginings. {AH 402.1}

If there is any way by which Satan can gain access to the mind, he will sow his tares and cause them to grow until they will yield an abundant harvest. In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words, and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter. He will then come in and, by catching away the good seed sown in the heart, make of none effect the truth. {AH 402.2}

Close Every Avenue to the Tempter.--All who name the name of Christ need to watch and pray and guard the avenues of the soul, for Satan is at work to corrupt and destroy if the least advantage is given him. {AH 402.3}

It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan's suggestions. Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it; but it is blinding and deceiving in its nature, and it will entice us with flattering presentations. If we venture on Satan's ground, we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us. {AH 402.4}

Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences which will result from one wrong, hasty step! Our only safety is to be shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not put out our own spiritual eyesight so that we will call evil, good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil. {AH 403.1}

Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he in Christ. {AH 403.2}

Avoid Reading, Seeing, or Hearing Evil.--The apostle [Peter] sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. {AH 403.3}

Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I want to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world. {AH 403.4}

Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths. {AH 404.1}

Resistance Is Weakened by Opening the Door.-- Do not see how close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid the first approach to danger. The soul's interests cannot be trifled with. Your capital is your character. Cherish it as you would a golden treasure. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished. There should not be one departure from reserve; one act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may jeopardize the soul in opening the door to temptation, and the power of resistance becomes weakened. {AH 404.2}

Satan Would Eclipse the Future Glories.--Satan has worked continually to eclipse the glories of the future world and to attract the whole attention to the things of this life. He has striven so to arrange matters that our thought, our anxiety, our labor might be so fully employed in temporal things that we should not see or realize the value of eternal realities. The world and its cares have too large a place, while Jesus and heavenly things have altogether too small a share in our thoughts and affections. We should conscientiously discharge all the duties of everyday life, but it is also essential that we should cultivate, above everything else, holy affection for our Lord Jesus Christ. {AH 404.3}

Heavenly Angels Will Help Us.--We should ever keep in mind that unseen agencies are at work, both evil and good, to take the control of the mind. They act with unseen yet effectual power. Good angels are ministering spirits, exerting a heavenly influence upon heart and mind; while the great adversary of souls, the devil, and his angels are continually laboring to accomplish our destruction. . . . {AH 405.1}

While we should be keenly alive to our exposure to the assaults of unseen and invisible foes, we are to be sure that they cannot harm us without gaining our consent. {AH 405.2}

[wayfinder]

John317: I agree with most of it. The issue I see is what we determine is the work of Satan. Any lies passed off as or accepted as truth are still lies and no lie has it's origin from God, even if the originator claims they received the information from God. I know that God has given us all the information we need to determine wheither someone claiming God given authority actually has such authority. I say this because Jesus said this. These two texts are examples that show that we must test everyone that claims that God called them and gave them specific information.

Revelation 2: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false ;

20 'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

What do these two verses tell me. They say that there will be some men who claim to be His apostles and they are not. He says that "you" put them to the test (the test is His testimony, the truth) and "you" found them to be false. The second warning is about a woman who claims to be a prophetess and He calls this woman Jezebel; therefore I must test every woman who claims to be a prophetess or who accepted being a prophetess or is claimed to have been a prophetess, to see if they are 100% accuarate when held to the standard of the testimony of Jesus. They must also reject those who claim to be apostles and are not.

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying 'I am the Christ' and will mislead many."

[Dr. Rich]

"The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." [REV. 11:19.] The ark of God's testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," this apartment was opened only upon the great day of atonement, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and the ark of his testament was seen, points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, in 1844, as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith followed their great High Priest, as he entered upon his ministry in the most holy place, beheld the ark of his testament. As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary, they had come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration, and they saw that he was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading his blood in behalf of sinners. {GC88 433.1} (GC-1888—Page 433)

So, what ever happened to the time of trouble? How about the seven trumpets? Did she sleep through them?

I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: "Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus."--1T 131, 132 (1856). {LDE 36.3}

Because time is short, we should work with diligence and double energy. Our children may never enter college.--3T 159 (1872). {LDE 36.4}

It is really not wise to have children now. Time is short, the perils of the last days are upon us, and the little children will be largely swept off before this.--Letter 48, 1876. {LDE 36.5}

In this age of the world, as the scenes of earth's history are soon to close and we are about to enter upon the time of trouble such as never was, the fewer the marriages contracted the better for all, both men and women.--5T 366 (1885). {LDE 37.1}

The hour will come; it is not far distant, and some of us who now believe will be alive upon the earth, and shall see the prediction verified, and hear the voice of the archangel and the trump of God echo from mountain and plain and sea to the uttermost parts of the earth.--RH July 31, 1888. {LDE 37.2}

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Quote:

In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words, and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter.

One doesn't even need to invite Satan in. All he needs is an open door...a proverbial foot in the door..

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

Well, may be it's because Satan doesn't hate Seventh-day Adventists so much any more.

sky

He'd love for you to believe that.

***

In a way, I feel like the Adventist church is being held up for mockery here...

...that people should feel ashamed to be known as an Adventist...

...that our leaders are targets for ridicule...

...that EGW cannot be trusted because she didn't always live up to what she wrote...

...that divisiveness is running rampant via issues, such as abortion or ordaining women or the inspiration of the Scriptures or the gender of the Holy Spirit...

I'm not embarrassed to be known as an Adventist. But I *am* embarrassed at the unforgiving, strident attitude of some of my fellow members. And I include myself, because I've had some very uncharitable thoughts, and sometimes all I can come up with in response to some posts is a sarcastic bite.

[phkrause]

In a way, I feel like the Adventist church is being held up for mockery here...

...that people should feel ashamed to be known as an Adventist...

...that our leaders are targets for ridicule...

...that EGW cannot be trusted because she didn't always live up to what she wrote...

...that divisiveness is running rampant via issues, such as abortion or ordaining women or the inspiration of the Scriptures or the gender of the Holy Spirit...

I'm not embarrassed to be known as an Adventist. But I *am* embarrassed at the unforgiving, strident attitude of some of my fellow members. And I include myself, because I've had some very uncharitable thoughts, and sometimes all I can come up with in response to some posts is a sarcastic bite.

rudywoofs your honesty suits you well. I most definitely agree with your thoughts here. They are right on. (I hope that your remarks don't end this thread, LOLOLOLOL)