Knowing Your Enemy: Satan's Attacks On SDAs

[Guest]

And what if YOU are wrong Rich? (because you most definately are) will your wife's blood be on your hands, or does she just go along with it so you will shut up? I hope it's the latter.

Ellen White saw you long before you were born. And she wrote about you. That in itself makes it a lot easier to believe her over you. You say things about her and Paul, that are not even true. And we know who the father of lies is. What does the Bible say, by their fruits?

[John317]

I completely agree with every one of your points. Each one is really worth a separate discussion thread. I believe they're that important for all of us to have a clear understanding of them.

[John317]

I believe it takes true discernment to see these things. The kind that comes only from the Holy Spirit.

That is exactly what I thought too as I read Pam's post.

[Overaged]

Well; I have just spent the time, and struggled through every post of this thread. I have seen; I believe, about 4 different agendas on here so far.

The title of this topic is "Knowing Your Enemy; Satan's Hatred For Seventh-day Adventists."

It seems that the posts have revealed the enemy's success in preventing us from knowing him. It has all been reduced to petty arguments about eating drinking and other such things. How does arguing away about this kind of stuff help us to "know your enemy?"

Although I would question the "emergent church" idea; I think rudywoofs made the most sensible post here so far.

But while all this micro-debate is going on about Ellen White or diet or dress, or some such thing; Satan has your daughter in a parked car down the street. Or, maybe he has your son in some alley, getting his first "eight ball" from a Hell's Angel...

I think too often we lose our focus, and where it should be. It should be on Jesus Christ. We all get too carried away on the bandwagon of making great long lists of "sins" or "not sins" and then we don't even recognize when the "enemy comes in like a flood," until it is too late, and one of our precious children are killed or in jail.

Hmmm, the way this thread is going, maybe the way to "know the enemy" is through Halloween? Tomorrow, Satan is coming to your house...everywhere in North America; he will diligently visit..

"Tis Halloween

the lamp is lit

around the fire

we children sit

A roasting popcorn

bit by bit...."

[Guest]

Re: Knowing your enemy-

I think it was Corrie Ten Boom that said that the most important gift of the Spirit is that of discernment. She said, "It's a poor soldier indeed that cannnot recognize the enemy."

Amen!!

[John317]

.... Did you really mean to say; "I see the devil attacking the SDA church by means of people trying to discredit the church's teachings."?

This sound just like what I would hear from someone in the Catholic church. What ever happened to the WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST?

Tell--if you can, what is one to do when it can be proven by the words of Jesus that the teachings of the church are wrong? Are they to shut up and put a lid on it? Just what is the responsibility of a true bond servant of Jesus, in this case?

There's a clear difference between people trying to discover truth and people who plainly have an agenda of dicrediting the church and its teachings.

Let's say that in studying my Bible I arrive at the conclusion that the church is in error on a certain topic. What should I do? I should present my views to the pastor and the church elders and ask them to consider it and pray about it and tell me if there's any light in what I've presented. If they decide that my view has no merit or very little merit, I may present it to several other pastors or leaders who have experience in the truth, but if these also tell me that I am wrong, I should do one of two things: either lay the idea aside or leave the church. I shouldn't stay in the church and continue to agitate a point that has been rejected by men of experience.

This is according to the counsel of Ellen White on what to do with "new light." See 5 T 293.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Hmmm, the way this thread is going, maybe the way to "know the enemy" is through Halloween? Tomorrow, Satan is coming to your house...everywhere in North America; he will diligently visit..

That's not funny. The veil between the spirit world and the human world is at its thinnest at this time of year. If you've ever dialogued with spirits.....oh man. Don't even go there...

[John317]

....The title of this topic is "Knowing Your Enemy; Satan's Hatred For Seventh-day Adventists."

It seems that the posts have revealed the enemy's success in preventing us from knowing him. It has all been reduced to petty arguments about eating drinking and other such things. How does arguing away about this kind of stuff help us to "know your enemy?"

Although I would question the "emergent church" idea; I think rudywoofs made the most sensible post here so far.

You make some very good and important points here, Overaged.

[John317]

... do you believe this intro to the 28 Fundamentals of the SDA Church:

"Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word."

If you do, then those contending for the change to an improperly held belief would be the devil attacking the SDA church,eh??

I do believe what it says in that Introduction. Do you disagre with it?

Could you explain this?

You seem to be implying that anyone who would like to see a change made-- as, for instance, a better way of experessing something; or adding a doctrine to the Fundmentals-- must be attacking the SDA church. That, of course, is not true. They aren't going off on their own and independently seeking change in opposition to the church as a whole. On the contrary, they are using the very means that the church has made for the purpose of bringing about changes.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I have a question for you Rudywoofs, do you believe this intro to the 28 Fundamentals of the SDA Church:

Quote:

Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word.

http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

If you do, then those contending for the change to an improperly held belief would be the devil attacking the SDA church,eh??

Eh. Rondo. "Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word." The question then becomes a matter of discernment - whether a so-called "fuller understanding" is being guided by the Holy Spirit, or whether it is a satanic deception appearing to be "truth."

I am aware of certain activities of occultic nature within some SDA churches. I am aware of a number of SDA pastors and leaders, who, as I see it, are unwittingly leading their flocks astray, because something sounds good, looks good, seems good. But if investigation is done - due diligence, if you will - the source of the deception would be exposed.

imho, God gave us the Bible...in its entirety (Old and New Testaments). To my knowledge it is the only book in existence that has been handed down through so many centuries remaining intact. Discrepancies exist in the Bible, due to the imperfect human vessels that God used. Discrepancies exist in the writings of EGW, because she, too, was imperfect. Each person sees things from a different perspective, a different angle.

So, who is "right"? How can someone know if something is of the devil? I don't have a complete answer which would be acceptable to everyone. For myself, I look at the person, listen to the words, ask questions, consult trusted mentors, and pray. I take into account my own background and experience with Satan. I know how he operates and I know how he likes to appear.

Richard and John317 are right. Discernment, discernment, discernment.

[Overaged]

quote=Overaged]Hmmm, the way this thread is going, maybe the way to "know the enemy" is through Halloween? Tomorrow, Satan is coming to your house...everywhere in North America; he will diligently visit../quote]

That's not funny. The veil between the spirit world and the human world is at its thinnest at this time of year. If you've ever dialogued with spirits.....oh man. Don't even go there...

Technically; it was not intended to be funny; it was all said to make a point. The "enemy" wants nothing more than for us to not recognize him, therefore the red suit and pitchfork ideas; which are at their highest levels this time of year...but this "veil" you speak of does grow very thin when we do not focus on Christ. The "discernment can only come when we know Him with whom we live and move and have our being. Christ must be the source of our discernment, not "knowledge of Satan."

The typical "know your enemy" mantra gets us off of Christ, and onto all manner of other things - a few of which we are witnessing on this thread.

[Overaged]

This is according to the counsel of Ellen White on what to do with "new light." See 5 T 293.

The question must always be asked: "Is it new light, or is it old darkness?"

[John317]

The typical "know your enemy" mantra gets us off of Christ, and onto all manner of other things - a few of which we are witnessing on this thread.

But this isn't the typical "know your enemy" mantra.

Yes, we do witness some of those things, and I believe we should consider why it happens and who benefits from it.

[Twilight]

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Adventists are the remnant doctrinally.

No doubt about that in my mind at all.

Why?

Because they are the only church that has not got one Babylonian doctrine, inherited from the Papacy in its fundamentals.

Not one.

Name another church that can say that.

So satan is particularly angry with this church, it is the fulfillment of the Protestant Movement.

He is particularly at war with us.

[John317]

Yes, and it's the very reason he is determined to do whatever it takes to get Seventh-day Adventists to forget not only their name but to reject the whole notion that God raised up the SDA church for the purpose of telling the Three Angels' Messages to the world.

[Guest]

AMEN!!

[Twilight]

If we consider the statue of Daniel 2, we will see Gods Church "in captivity" to paganism.

The rock, which is Christ working through the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of His Brothers ande Sisters, strikes the feet and once and for all crushes the Babylonian dominance over His people.

The rock first hit during the reformation period and has been growing ever since.

Only the SDA's have fully come out of Babylon in Doctrine.

We are the only ones who worship God in "Truth", but we need to learn how to worship God in "Spirit" now as well.

This is where we have failed.

We are generally ignorant about the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

But when we have the Truth and the Spirit.

Nothing will be able to stop us spread the good news about His Kingdom.

Nothing will stop us calling His people out of Babylon that are still not worshipping correctly in "Truth".

Just like the 12 disciples after Pentecost.

The 144,000 will be those that do worship in "Spirit and in Truth".

And when that happens, when they finally appear in their full "fruitage" Jesus will come and reap His harvest...

God bless,

Mark :-)

[Overaged]

quote=Overaged]Hmmm, the way this thread is going, maybe the way to "know the enemy" is through Halloween? Tomorrow, Satan is coming to your house...everywhere in North America; he will diligently visit../quote]

That's not funny. The veil between the spirit world and the human world is at its thinnest at this time of year. If you've ever dialogued with spirits.....oh man. Don't even go there...

Actually; going by the same principles; Satan and his demons are just as busy at Christmas...that "veil" is likely even thinner then than during Halloween.

[Overaged]

quote=Overaged]The typical "know your enemy" mantra gets us off of Christ, and onto all manner of other things - a few of which we are witnessing on this thread./quote]

But this isn't the typical "know your enemy" mantra.

Yes, we do witness some of those things, and I believe we should consider why it happens and who benefits from it.

Very little in this discussion is "new light" it is "old darkness." People think they find "light" when they study darkness; and that has never made sense to me; nor is it possible to support this line of thought from the Bible.

[John317]

Very little in this discussion is "new light" it is "old darkness."

You're right that it isn't new light. Neither is the Sabbath or the second coming. But there are many people who aren't aware of these things and therefore it's important to look to them closely, including the fact that Satan hates Christians and Seventh-day Adventists in particular.

Any good soldier in warefare should know his enemy. Christians are soldiers in the battle against the kingdom of Satan, and if it's important for soldier's of this world to know their enemy, how much more important is it for Christ's soldier's to know them.

Both the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy teach us this important lesson.

[Overaged]

quote=Overage]Very little in this discussion is "new light" it is "old darkness." /quote]

You're right that it isn't new light. Neither is the Sabbath or the second coming. But there are many people who aren't aware of these things and therefore it's important to look to them closely, including the fact that Satan hates Christians and Seventh-day Adventists in particular.

Any good soldier in warefare should know his enemy. Christians are soldiers in the battle against the kingdom of Satan, and if it's important for soldier's of this world to know their enemy, how much more important is it for Christ's soldier's to know them.

Both the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy teach us this important lesson.

"Only look and live. We dishonor God when we do not go forth from the dark cellar of doubts into the upper chamber of hope and faith. When the Light shineth in all its brightness, let us take hold on Jesus Christ by the mighty hand of faith. No longer cultivate your doubts by expressing them and pouring them into other minds, and thus becoming an agent of Satan to sow the seeds of doubt. Talk faith, live faith, cultivate love to God; evidence to the world all that Jesus is to you. Magnify His holy name. Tell of His goodness; talk of His mercy; and tell of His power.—Manuscript 42, 1890. {CTr 127.5}"

When will people learn that we do not need to talk of anyone's power & triumphs, except for Jesus? You don't get to know "the enemy" by studying his power! His manifestations are all deceptive and manipulative; and you have no way of knowing or trusting what he allows you to see. He will just change his tactics to meet your perceptions and personality.

Brethren and sisters, it is by beholding that we become changed. By dwelling upon the love of God and our Saviour, by contemplating the perfection of the divine character and claiming the righteousness of Christ as ours by faith, we are to be transformed into the same image. Then let us not gather together all the unpleasant pictures—the iniquities and corruptions and disappointments, the evidences of Satan's power—to hang in the halls of our memory, to talk over and mourn over until our souls are filled with discouragement. A discouraged soul is a body of darkness, not only failing himself to receive the light of God, but shutting it away from others. Satan loves to see the effect of the pictures of his triumphs, making human beings faithless and disheartened. 89 {CCh 80.1}

Our hope is in knowing Jesus NOT SATAN! JOHN 17:3

[Overaged]

Chap. 254 - Gives Limitless Strength

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33. {AG 262.1}

We have little idea of the strength that would be ours if we would connect with the Source of all strength. We fall into sin again and again, and think it must always be so. We cling to our infirmities as if they were something to be proud of. Christ tells us that we must set our face as a flint if we would overcome. He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree; and through the power He has given us, we may resist the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then let us not talk of our weakness and inefficiency, but of Christ and His strength. When we talk of Satan's strength, the enemy fastens his power more firmly upon us. When we talk of the power of the Mighty One, the enemy is driven back. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us. {AG 262.2}

[Overaged]

It is Satan's constant study to keep the minds of men occupied with those things which will prevent them from obtaining the knowledge of God. He seeks to keep them dwelling

741

upon what will darken the understanding and discourage the soul. We are in a world of sin and corruption, surrounded by influences that tend to allure or dishearten the followers of Christ. The Saviour said: "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Many fix their eyes upon the terrible wickedness existing around them, the apostasy and weakness on every side, and they talk of these things until their hearts are filled with sadness and doubt. They keep uppermost before the mind the masterly working of the archdeceiver and dwell upon the discouraging features of their experience, while they seem to lose sight of the heavenly Father's power and His matchless love.

All this is as Satan would have it. It is a mistake to think of the enemy of righteousness as clothed with so great power, when we dwell so little upon the love of God and His might. We must talk of the mightiness of Christ. We are utterly powerless to rescue ourselves from the grasp of Satan; but God has appointed a way of escape. The Son of the Highest has strength to fight the battle for us, and "through Him that loved us" we may come off "more than conquerors." {5T 740.2}

There is no spiritual strength for us in constantly brooding over our weakness and backslidings, and bemoaning the power of Satan. This great truth must be established as a living principle in our minds and hearts--the efficacy of the offering made for us; that God can and does save to the uttermost all who come unto Him complying with the conditions specified in His word. Our work is to place our will on the side of God's will. Then, through the blood of the atonement, we become partakers of the divine nature; through Christ we are children of God, and we have the assurance that God loves us even as He loved His Son. We are one with Jesus. We walk where Christ leads the way; He has power to dispel the dark shadows which Satan casts across our path; and, in place of darkness and discouragement, the sunlight of His glory shines into our hearts.

[Dr. Rich]

Richard, what my wife believes is her own understanding-not mine. I am not here to recrut people into a new church.

[John317]

Our hope is in knowing Jesus NOT SATAN! JOHN 17:3

It's true our only hope is in knowing Christ, but you surely must realize that there many who don't know what they need to know about Satan and his evil angels.

In fact, many Christians don't even believe in a personal Devil. They don't believe he even exists. Other believe he exists but don't know his tactics and plans.

The entire purpose of this discussion is to enlighten people-- or perhaps remind them-- of the necessity of abiding in Christ, because he is our only defense and offense against Satan. It is not to glorify the devil and his demons but to show how evil and cunning he is, and how determined he is to prevent SDAs from accomplishing the mission that God has assigned to us.

Why do you think Ellen White wrote the chapters in the Great Controversy and Patriarchs and Prophets about Lucifer's fall? And why did she wrote as much as she did about Satan's plans and the way he tempts us? It was because it's important that we know those things. Otherwise God wouldn't inspired her to write them. It's not a very good idea to close our eyes to what Satan is doing and what he plans to do. That would be foolish indeed. It would be like a soldier at war thinking only of his commander and never giving a thought to his enemy.

Look at the following statements by Ellen G. White on this topic:

"While men are ignorant of his devices, this viligent foe [satan] is upon their track every moment." GC 508.

Wouldn't it have made a big difference to Job if he had been aware of Satan's attacks and strategies? I think the obvious answer is that it certainly would have made a big difference in Job's experience if he had the knowledge of Satan that is available to us today.

God gives Satan the power and ability to harrass us and we need to be aware of his devices and tactics in order to recognize them and understand what to do. As Peter's example shows us, Christians are able to be temporily controlled and used by Satan. Matt. 16: 21-23. We need to be made aware of this if we don't already know it. And many don't.

Please review carefully Early Writings 266-267.