Apostasies

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I am in great travail of soul for our people. We are living in the perils of the last days. A superficial faith results in a superficial experience. There is a repentance that needs to be repented of. All genuine experience in religious doctrines will bear the impress of Jehovah. All should see the necessity of understanding the truth for themselves individually. We must understand the doctrines that have been studied out carefully and prayerfully. It has been revealed to me that there is among our people a great lack of knowledge in regard to the rise and progress of the third angel’s message. There is great need to search the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, and learn the texts thoroughly, that we may know what is written.

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The light given me has been very forcible that many would go out from us, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The Lord desires that every soul who claims to believe the truth shall have an intelligent knowledge of what is truth. False prophets will arise, and will deceive many. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. Then does it not become everyone to understand the reasons of our faith? In place of having so many sermons there should be a more close searching of the Word of God, opening the Scriptures, text by text, and searching for the strong evidences that sustain the fundamental doctrines that have brought us where we now are, upon the platform of eternal truth.

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Charmed by Spurious Holiness My soul is made very sad to see how quickly some who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness. When men turn away from the landmarks the Lord has established that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going they know not whither.

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I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable. Study in Patriarchs and Prophets the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. This rebellion was extended, including more than two men. It was led by two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Call rebellion by its right name and apostasy by its right name, and then consider that the experience of the ancient people of God with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled to pass into history. The Scripture declares, «These things . . . are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.» And if men and women who have the knowledge of the truth are so far separated from their Great Leader that they will take the great leader of apostasy and name him Christ our Righteousness, it is because they have not sunk deep into the mines of the truth. They are not able to distinguish the precious ore from the base material.

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False Prophets Read the cautions so abundantly given in the Word of God in regard to false prophets that will come in with their heresies, and if possible will deceive the very elect. With these warnings, why is it that the church does not distinguish the false from the genuine? Those who have in any way been thus misled need to humble themselves before God, and sincerely repent, because they have so easily been led astray. They have not distinguished the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger. Let all such review this chapter of their experience.

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For more than half a century God has been giving His people light through the testimonies of His Spirit. After all this time is it left for a few men and their wives to undeceive the whole church of believers, declaring Mrs. White a fraud and a deceiver? «By their fruits ye shall know them.»

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Those who can ignore all the evidences which God has given them, and change that blessing into a curse, should tremble for the safety of their own souls. Their candlestick will be removed out of its place unless they repent. The Lord has been insulted. The standard of truth, of the first, second, and third angels’ messages has been left to trail in the dust. If the watchmen are left to mislead the people in this fashion, God will hold some souls responsible for a lack of keen discernment to discover what kind of provender was being given to His flock.

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Apostasies have occurred and the Lord has permitted matters of this nature to develop in the past in order to show how easily His people will be misled when they depend upon the words of men instead of searching the Scriptures for themselves, as did the noble Bereans, to see if these things are so. And the Lord has permitted things of this kind to occur that warnings may be given that such things will take place.

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Rebellion and Apostasy Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by them unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled now, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations then—professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God’s people from giving their allegiance to false christs? «Go not after them.»

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The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to preach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase, and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the whole armor on. In this conflict we do not meet men only, but principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Let Ephesians 6:10-18 be read carefully and impressively in our churches.

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Voicing the Dragon’s Words Those who apostatize are voicing the words of the dragon. We have to meet the satanic agencies who went to make war with the saints. «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.» Those who apostatize leave the true and faithful people of God, and fraternize with those who represent Barabbas. «By their fruits ye shall know them.»

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I write this because many in the church are represented to me as seeking men like trees walking. They must have another and deeper experience before they discern the snares spread to take them in the net of the deceiver. There must be no halfway work done now. The Lord calls for stanch, decided, whole-souled men and women to stand in the gap, and make up the hedge. «And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.»

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There is a decided testimony to be borne by all our ministers in all our churches. God has permitted apostasies to take place in order to show how little dependence can be placed in man. We are always to look to God; His word is not Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen.— Undated MS. 148 . —

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The Shadows of Satan Bear in mind that the time will never come when the shadow of Satan will not be cast athwart our pathway to obstruct our faith and eclipse the light coming from the Sun of Righteousness. Our faith must not stagger, but cleave through that shadow. We have an experience that is not to be buried in the darkness of doubt. Our faith is not in feeling, but in truth. None of us need flatter ourselves that while the world is progressing in wickedness we shall have no difficulties.

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Difficulties Lead to Prayer It is these very difficulties that bring us to the audience chamber of the Most High, to seek counsel of the One who is infinite in wisdom. He loves to have us seek Him; He loves to have us trust Him and believe His Word. If we had no perplexities, no trials, we would become self-sufficient and lifted up in ourselves. The true saints will be purified, and made white, and tried.

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Behold the Light Let not depression and discouragement mar your representation of Christ. «Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.» Let your light be seen. Educate your heart and lips to speak the praises of God for His matchless love for you. If you will educate your soul to be hopeful, and to see the light shining from the cross of Calvary, you will see His salvation brought near, and rejoice in the hope of a glorious immortality.

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There is but one power that can bring us into conformity to the likeness of Christ, that can make us steadfast, and keep us constant. It is the grace of God that comes to us through obedience to the law of God which is the transcript of the divine character. It is a knowledge of Jesus Christ that we should cultivate to the uttermost of our power, in order that we may be doers of the Word.

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Growth in Grace Those who have Christ enthroned within, will manifest Christlike principles. They will make it evident that the Holy Spirit has imparted a new life to them, and that they are nourishing and cherishing that life. Its beginning is found in spiritual union with the Lord Jesus Christ, and as they go on increasing in the knowledge of God, they will manifest a growth in grace and will show Christlike love to others.

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We are to be very humble in our work for God. We are to keep all His commandments that we may live. Let us seek to honor Christ in our daily lives, believing His Word, and following in His footsteps.— Letter 58, 1909 .

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An Active Conflict Christ’s manner of rule and government is to be established to counterwork the works of Satan, and to bring the world back to its loyalty to God. The Prince of heaven, He who was one with the Father, gave Himself that He might save the fallen race. Satan is actively at work to defeat His highest purposes. But Christ says, Where Satan has set his throne, there will I establish My cross. The prince of evil shall be cast out, and I will become the center of a world redeemed.

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True conversion to the message of present truth embraces conversion to the principles of health reform. «I, if I be lifted up,» said Christ, «will draw all men unto Me.» Men who in their unconverted state are controlled by human ambitions and human passions, will, through faith in the sacrifice made in their behalf, embrace the terms of discipleship. Human ambitions will be sacrificed; evil passions will be converted; capabilities which through Satan’s influence have been employed to counterwork all good, will be turned into channels for the upbuilding of that which once they destroyed.

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Deceived Men Oppose God’s Law Satan is so deceiving men that many believe they are doing right in opposing the law of Jehovah. The enemy of God has led them to look upon His righteous law as an arbitrary requirement. All who unite on the side of righteousness in the conflict of good against evil will come into decided conflict with satanic forces; but this should not discourage the servant of God.

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The Lord declares, «My Spirit shall strengthen every right principle in its opposition to evil. I will give power to every soul who will work on the side of righteousness and truth. I have a work for all to do who love Me, and who will hold aloft the banner of truth. And heavenly angels will be near to aid every human agency that is sanctified through the truth. All who preserve strict loyalty to God will do a righteous work in the earth in saving perishing souls.»

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Satan’s Wiles There are few among those who claim to be Christians who realize how deceptive are the wiles of Satan, and are prepared to oppose them firmly. Christ has promised His Spirit to go with those who will yield to His workings, and who will be loyal in opposing unrighteousness in every form. He has given to every human agent a work to do, that He may learn how to work in union with His Redeemer and in connection with heaven. It is the duty of every true Christian to unite the utmost powers of his being with the efforts of Him who made His life an example to mankind of what human agencies may accomplish in His name.— Letter 62, 1909 . —

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Denying Christ We may deny Christ in our life by indulging love of ease or love of self, by jesting and joking, and by seeking the honor of the world. We may deny Him in our outward appearance, by conformity to the world, by a proud look or costly apparel. Only by constant watchfulness and persevering and almost unceasing prayer, shall we be able to exhibit in our life the character of Christ or the sanctifying influence of the truth.— 1T 304 .