Apostasy by Ellen G. White

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Apostasy

by Ellen G. White

Can we then be surprised to hear of ministers falling under temptation and sin, disgracingthe cause they were professedly advocating? Can we wonder that there are apostasies when

men who urge conversion upon others are not themselves converted; when they commend

to others the love of Christ which does not glow in their own souls, preaching repentancewhich they themselves have not practised, and faith which they have no experimental

nowledge of, telling of a !aviour whom they have never nown except by rumour? "hey

are self#deceived men, not far from destruction. $itiful indeed is their situation. %ll mayseem peaceful to them, because the palsy of death is upon them. We are fully aware that

dishonest men, immoral men, who preach the Word, are not always reproved and warned.

"hey are not unmased. "hey learn to hold the truth in unrighteousness, and can tamperwith it without a trembling of heart and rebue of conscience. &h, that with pen and voice

we might lead the people who claim to be the depositories of sacred and eternal truth to feelthe necessity of enthroning the Word of God in their heart, and bringing every thought,

word, and action into sub'ection to (esus Christ. )t is a fearful responsibility to be in dailyconnection with the truth of God, telling others of eternal truth and yet be unsanctified

through the truth. **+ -

/ow great and widespread must be the power of the prince of evil, which can be subdued

only by the mighty power of the !pirit. 0isloyalty to God, transgression in every form, hasspread over our world. "hose who would preserve their allegiance to God, who are active

in his service, become the mar of every shaft and weapon of hell. )f those who have had

great light have not corresponding faith and obedience they soon become leavened with the prevailing apostasy; another spirit controls them. While they have been exalted to heaven in

point of opportunities and privileges, they are in a worse condition than the most 1ealous

advocates of error. *--- *2*3

4ow at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus shall be given to /is wor.!atan sees this, and he is determined it shall be hindered. /e nows that if he can deceive

the people who claim to believe present truth, 5and mae them believe6 that the wor the

7ord designs to do for /is people is a removing of the old landmars, something whichthey should, with most determined 1eal, resist, then he exults over the deception he has led

them to believe. "he wor for this time has certainly been a surprising wor of various

hindrances, owing to the false setting of matters before the minds of many of our people."hat which is food to the churches is regarded as dangerous, and should not be given them.

%nd this slight difference of ideas is allowed to unsettle the faith, to cause apostasy, to

brea up unity, to sow discord, all because they do not now what they are striving about

themselves. 8rethren, is it not best to be sensible? /eaven is looing upon us all, and whatcan they thin of recent developments? While in this condition of things, building up

barriers, we not only deprive ourselves of great light and precious advantages, but 'ust now,

when we so much need it, we place ourselves where light cannot be communicated fromheaven that we ought to communicate to others. *--- 3*-

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"he great apostasy is woring to a point, and will develop into darness deep as midnight,

impenetrable as saccloth of hair. "his is the time to employ any system that can be devisedto discover and counteract the leaven of error. 7et there be light. "here should be one

hundred light bearers in our world where there is one today. 0arness will become more

dense in human minds after the truth has penetrated and been re'ected. 8ut there are some

minds where the darness will be removed. "hey recognise the light. *+ 9-:

We are living in the last days of this earths history, and we may be surprised at nothing in

the line of apostasies and denials of the truth. <nbelief has now come to be a fine art which

men wor at to the destruction of their souls. "here is constant danger of there being shams

in pulpit preachers, whose lives contradict the words they spea; but the voice of warningand of admonition will be heard as long as time shall last; and those who are guilty of

transactions that should never be entered into, when reproved or counselled through the

7ords appointed agencies, will resist the message and refuse to be corrected. "hey will goon as did $haraoh and 4ebuchadne11ar, until the 7ord taes away their reason, and their

hearts become unimpressible. "he 7ords word will come to them; but if they choose not to

hear it, the 7ord will mae them responsible for their own ruin. :!+ *=>

)t is difficult to hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end; and thedifficulty increases when there are hidden influences constantly at wor to bring in another

spirit, a counter#woring element, on !atans side of the uestion. )n the absence of

persecution, there have drifted into our rans some who appear sound, and theirChristianity unuestionable, but who, if persecution should arise, would go out from us. )n

the crisis, they would see force in specious reasoning that has had an influence on their

minds. !atan has prepared various snares to meet varied minds. When the law of God ismade void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now

anticipate, will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. )nstead of being

strengthened when brought into strait places, many prove that they are not living branches

of the "rue @ine; they bore no fruit, and the husbandman taeth them away. :!+ 9A-

"he 7ord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the

closing wor. Every truth that /e has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the

world. Every pillar that /e has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step offthe foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organisation;

for this would mean apostasy from the truth.##+anuscript *:, *23. :!+ 92

We urge you to consider this dangerB "hat which we have most to fear is nominal

Christianity. We have many who profess the truth who will be overcome because they arenot acuainted with the 7ord (esus Christ. "hey cannot distinguish /is voice from that of a

stranger. "here is to be no dread of anyone being borne down even in a widespread

apostasy, who has a living experience in the nowledge of our 7ord and !aviour (esus

Christ. )f (esus be formed within, the hope of glory, the illiterate as well as the educated can bear the testimony of our faith, saying, ) now in whom ) have believed. !ome will not,

in argument, be able to show wherein their adversary is wrong, having never had any

advantages that others have had, yet these are not overborne by the apostasy, because theyhave the evidence in their own heart that they have the truth, and the most subtle reasoning

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and assaults of !atan cannot move them from their nowledge of the truth, and they have

not a doubt or fear that they are themselves in error. . . . 9!+ 9

%re you not halting between two opinions? %re you not neglecting to heed the light whichGod has given you? "ae heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in

departing from the living God. Dou now not the time of your visitation. "he great sin ofthe (ews was that of neglecting and re'ecting present opportunities. %s (esus views the stateof /is professed followers today, /e sees base ingratitude, hollow formalism, hypocritical

insincerity, pharisaical pride and apostasy. 3" >:

)f all of those who come together for meetings of edification and prayer could be regarded

as true worshipers, then might we hope, though much would still remain to be done for us.8ut it is in vain to deceive ourselves. "hings are far from being what the appearance would

indicate. rom a distant view much may appear beautiful which, upon close examination,

will be found full of deformities. "he prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity andapostasy##a spirit of pretended illumination because of a nowledge of the truth, but in

reality of the blindest presumption. "here is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of Godand to the testimony of /is !pirit. "here is a spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human

reason above the revealed wisdom of God. 3" >

"he churches are fast being converted to the world. "hey have beautiful music and splendid

decorations. 8ut they are fruitless trees, bearing nothing but leaves. %s the 7ord unmased

the fig tree, so /e will unmas these pretentious hypocrites.##7etter =3, *-*, p. =. F"o +y

8rother, 0ecember :-, *-*. A+ 9:*

"he 7ord has warned me that there will come a great apostasy. "here will come a falling

away in spirituality. +any will turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and will accept

fables. &ur sanitariums are to be conducted by wise, God#fearing men, who will teachsound doctrines and show why we believe the truth and why we should practice strict

temperance in all things, studying how to avoid all harmful practices and influences. @irtue

and holiness shall be practised. A+ 9>-

!atan will wor his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. "he churchmay appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. )t remains, while the sinners in Hion will be

sifted out##the chaff separated from the precious wheat. "his is a terrible ordeal, but

nevertheless it must tae place. 4one but those who have been overcoming by the blood of

the 7amb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, withoutspot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. . . . "he remnant that purify their souls by

obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness

amid the surrounding apostasy F7etter 33, *--A. >8C **

"he greatest light and blessing that God has bestowed is not a security against transgression

and apostasy in these last days. "hose whom God has exalted to high positions of trust may

turn from heavens light to human wisdom. "heir light will then become darness, their

God#entrusted capabilities a snare, their character an offence to God. God will not bemoced. % departure from /im has been and always will be followed by its sure results.

"he commission of acts that displease God will, unless decidedly repented of and forsaen,

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instead of seeing to 'ustify them, lead the evil doer on step by step in deception, till many

sins are committed with impunity.##+s *9, *29, p. *:. F"he +essage in evelation,&ctober 9, *29. >+ *-A

4ow the !pirit speaeth expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,

giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. F* "im =B*. "he time of thisapostasy is here. Every conceivable effort will be made to throw doubt upon the positionsthat we have occupied for over half a century.##7etter =*2, *2>, p. :. F"o (. E. White,

%ugust :A, *2>. >+ *3

"hey will deliver you up to councils, . . . yea, and before governors and ings shall ye be

brought for +y sae, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.5* . @.6 $ersecution willspread the light. "he servants of Christ will be brought before the great men of the world,

who, but for this, might never hear the gospel. "he truth has been misrepresented to these

men. "hey have listened to false charges concerning the faith of Christs disciples. &ftentheir only means of learning its real character is the testimony of those who are brought to

trial for their faith. <nder examination these are reuired to answer, and their 'udges tolisten to the testimony borne. Gods grace will be dispensed to /is servants to meet the

emergency. )t shall be given you, says (esus, in the same hour what ye shall spea. or itis not ye that spea, but the !pirit of your ather which speaeth in you. %s the !pirit of

God illuminates the minds of /is servants, the truth will be presented in its divine power

and preciousness. "hose who re'ect the truth will stand to accuse and oppress the disciples.8ut under loss and suffering, even unto death, the 7ords children are to reveal the

meeness of their divine Example. "hus will be seen the contrast between !atans agents

and the representatives of Christ. "he !aviour will be lifted up before the rulers and the people. 0% 93=

or more than half a century the different points of present truth have been uestioned and

opposed. 4ew theories have been advanced as truth, which were not truth, and the !pirit of

God revealed their error. %s the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the /oly!pirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the truths of the

sanctuary uestion. &ver and over again the /oly !pirit has in a mared manner endorsed

the preaching of this doctrine. 8ut today, as in the past, some will be led to form newtheories and to deny the truths upon which the !pirit of God has placed /is approval.

+anuscript *:3, *2>. E@ ::=

)n the future, deception of every ind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We

want solid pillars for the building. 4ot one pin is to be removed from that which the 7ordhas established. "he enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no

sanctuary. "his is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where

shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the 7ord has been giving for the last fifty

years? /, +ay :3, *23. E@ ::=

)t was not the will of God that )srael should wander forty years in the wilderness; /e

desired to lead them directly to the land of Canaan and establish them there, a holy, happy

people. 8ut they could not enter in because of unbelief. /ebrews 9B*. 8ecause of their bacsliding and apostasy they perished in the desert, and others were raised up to enter the

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$romised 7and. )n lie manner, it was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should

be so long delayed and /is people should remain so many years in this world of sin andsorrow. 8ut unbelief separated them from God. %s they refused to do the wor which /e

had appointed them, others were raised up to proclaim the message. )n mercy to the world,

(esus delays /is coming, that sinners may have an opportunity to hear the warning and find

in /im a shelter before the wrath of God shall be poured out. GC** =3-

%s the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angels

message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their

position and 'oin the rans of the opposition. 8y uniting with the world and partaing of its

spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. +en of talent and pleasing

address, who once re'oiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls.

"hey become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When !abbatheepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient

agents of !atan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to

stir up the rulers against them. GC** A2-

&n every hand they hear the plottings of treason and see the active woring of rebellion;and there is aroused within them an intense desire, an earnest yearning of soul, that this

great apostasy may be terminated and the wicedness of the wiced may come to an end.

8ut while they plead with God to stay the wor of rebellion, it is with a een sense of self#reproach that they themselves have no more power to resist and urge bac the mighty tide

of evil. "hey feel that had they always employed all their ability in the service of Christ,

going forward from strength to strength, !atans forces would have less power to prevailagainst them. GC** A*

)f those who have had great light have not corresponding faith and obedience, they soon

become leavened with the prevailing apostasy; another spirit controls them. While they

have been exalted to heaven in point of opportunities and privileges, they are in a worsecondition than the most 1ealous advocates of error. pg. *>2 GC08 E8.2A,*-9

5 % mans foes shall be they of his own household. +att. **B9A. 6 When the law of God is

made void, and the church is sifted by the fiery trials that are to try all that live upon the

earth, a great proportion of those who are supposed to be genuine will give heed toseducing spirits, and will turn traitors and betray sacred trusts. "hey will prove our very

worst persecutors. &f your own selves shall men arise, speaing perverse things, to draw

away disciples after them; and many will give heed to seducing spirits. +% *>

"hose who apostatise in time of trial will bear false witness and betray their brethren, tosecure their own safety. "hey will tell where their brethren are concealed, putting the

wolves on their trac. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the

cruel, unnatural course pursued by friends and relatives. +% *>

ead in my boos, $atriarchs and $rophets, and great Controversy, the story of the firstgreat apostasy. /istory is being repeated and will be repeated. ead then, and understand.

"he time is drawing to a close when power of influence, of intellect, of nowledge in

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science, can cover the least departure from the 7ords way. /e has pledged /is word that

/e will humble every oppressor of /is ministers, or the appointed agencies engaged in /iswor. $ersecuting powers will be brought to 'udgement; for all the resources of heaven and

earth are to be called at Gods command to do /is wor. God sees and nows those who are

proud and self#sufficient, and /e will bring them into 'udgement. 8efore the flood men cast

off the fear of God, and trampled under foot /is holy law, but 'udgement overtoo them.ead )sa. =>B*2. $C *:9

!ome are acting the part of %aron, to help on the wor of apostasy. "hey have been

weighed in the balances, and have been found wanting. +en are spoiling their record, and

are proving that they are not to be trusted, but that they will betray the interests of the causeof God, maing them the sport of sinners. "he messages of heavenly origin that God has

sent to his people, to prepare them to stand in the last days, they have sneered at and

scorned. 8ut the evidence we have had for the past fifty years of the presence of the !piritof God with us as a people, will stand the test of those who are now arraying themselves on

the side of the enemy and bracing themselves against the message of God. # "estimony to

members of the 8. C. Church, &ctober :=, *2>. $C *9

"he coming of Christ will tae place in the darest period of this earths history. "he daysof 4oah and of 7ot picture the condition of the world 'ust before the coming of the !on of

man. "he !criptures, pointing forward to this time, declare that !atan will wor with all

power and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. : "hessalonians :B, *2. /isworing is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darness, the multitudinous errors,

heresies, and delusions of these last days. 4ot only is !atan leading the world captive, but

his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our 7ord (esus Christ. "he greatapostasy will develop into darness deep as midnight. "o Gods people it will be a night of

trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truths sae. 8ut out of that night of

darness Gods light will shine. $I >*>

8ut in (udah there dwelt some who, amid the prevailing apostasy, maintained theirallegiance to (ehovah, steadfastly refusing to be led into idolatry. )t was to these that )saiah

and +icah and their associates looed in hope as they surveyed the ruin wrought during the

last years of %ha1. "heir sanctuary was closed, but the faithful ones were assuredB God iswith us. . . . !anctify the 7ord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be

your dread. %nd he shall be for a sanctuary. )sa. -B*2,*9,*=. / %$.2-,**3

We are coming to a crisis, and ) am in terror for our souls. Why is it that we find men

leaving the faith? %re we in a position where we shall now what we believe, and shall not be shaen out? "hat souls leave the truth should not discourage us in the least, but only

mae us see more earnestly for the blessing of God. )t is not the education, or the talents,

or the position of men, that is to save them. We are to be ept by the power of God through

faith unto salvation. /ow do you stand before God to#day? "he uestion is not, /ow willyou stand in the day of trouble, or at some future time? but how is it with your soul to#day?

Will you go to wor to#day? We want a personal, individual experience to#day. "o#day, we

want Christ abiding with us. %s +oses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the !on ofman has been lifted up, that we might loo and live. "here is but one plan of salvation.

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"here is but one process by which the soul may be healed of its wounds. 7oo to the +an

of Calvary. / %$.2,*--

Confederacies will increase in number and power as we draw nearer to the end of time."hese confederacies will create opposing influences to the truth, forming new parties of

professed believers who will act out their own delusive theories. "he apostasy will increase.!ome shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.+en and women have confederated to oppose the 7ord God of heaven, and the church is

only half awae to the situation. "here needs to be much more of prayer, much more of

earnest effort, among professed believers. / %<G.23,*2

!ad as is the story of !olomons apostasy, it portrays the result of separation from God. &nefalse step prepares the way for a second and a third, and every additional step is taen more

easily than the last. )t is our privilege to tae heed to the God#given warning of !olomons

life. %s followers of Christ, we are to honour our +aster by studying and obeying histeachings. We are to manifest our love and fear of God by refusing to conform to the

worlds standard of right. 7et us beware of departing from the simplicity of our faith. "heChristians standard of right must ever be the standard that is given in /oly Writ.

Constantly we are to guard against every worldly influence that would weaen us in moral power. / %<G.*>,*23

8ut God never leaves the world without witnesses for him. %t the time of the first great

apostasy after the flood, there were men who humbled themselves before God, and cried

unto him. & God, they pleaded, interpose between thy cause and the plans and methodsof men. / 0EC.*2,*29

"here are times when apostasy comes into the rans, when piety is left out of the heart by

those who should have ept step with their divine leader. "he people of God separate fromthe source of their strength, and pride, vanity, extravagance, and display follow. "here are

idols within and idols without; but God sends the Comforter as a reprover of sin, that his

people may be warned of their apostasy and rebued for their bacsliding. When the more

precious manifestations of his love shall be gratefully acnowledged and appreciated, the7ord will pour in the balm of comfort and the oil of 'oy. / 0EC.*3,*-*

emember that an example of luewarmness, carelessness, and indifference, is contagious.

)t is reproduced in a multitude of ways, and iniuity abounds. +any are bound about with

worldliness, and apostasy is congealing the very life#blood of the soul, because of thecoldness of ministers professing to be watchmen upon the walls of Hion. Earnest

spirituality, and the uicening influence of the !pirit of God, will set men to wor, not

la1ily, but most earnestly, to warm men to escape the perils which threaten to destroy them./ 0EC.*-,*--9

rom this record we may learn how little dependence can be placed in men who trust in

men, and do not mae God their reliance. "hose who are living in these last days are in the

greatest danger of placing their confidence in men rather than in the true and living God."he 7ord has given instruction that the history of the apostasy of )srael is now to be

presented, because men who in the past have had great light have become self#sufficient,

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and are looing to men, trusting in human leaders, who are themselves practising evil. +en

who ought to stand as firm as a roc to principle are treading in the same path that the)sraelites followed. !ome shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and

doctrines of devils. "his is the snare that has come into our rans. "here are wrong

sentiments that have to be met. "here are men who are acting the part of %aron at the very

time when every soul should be woring to seal the law among Gods disciples. "hey are building up the very things that God has specified should not be built up. / E8.2=,*2

)f %aron had had courage to stand for the right, irrespective of conseuences, he could have

prevented that apostasy. )f he had unswervingly maintained his own allegiance to God, if he

had cited the people to the perils of !inai, and had reminded them of their solemn covenantwith God to obey his law, the evil would have been checed. 8ut his compliance with the

desires of the people, and the calm assurance with which he proceeded to carry out their

plans, emboldened them to go to greater lengths in sin than had before entered their minds./ E8.2=,*2

)n this our day, when many, even among those who claim to be numbered among Gods people, are not fully decided as to the right course, the 7ord is calling for men who will

move steadfastly in the path that he has mared out, and with unshaen determination carryout his purposes. "hose who occupy positions of responsibility should now what saith the

7ord. 7ie +oses of old, they should stand unflinchingly for the right, stemming the

current of evil. )n the critical times in which we are living, men of determination areneeded,##men who will stand stiffly for the truth at all times and under all circumstances,.##

men who, when they see that others are becoming untrue to principle, will lift their voice in

warning against the danger of apostasy. / E8.**,*2

!hall we give heed to the warning of !olomons apostasy, and shun the first approach tothose sins that overcame him who was called the wisest of men? )n these days of peril,

nothing but obedience will eep man from apostasy. God has bestowed on man great light

and many blessings. 8ut unless this light and these blessings are received, they are nosecurity against disobedience and apostasy. When those whom God has exalted to positions

of high trust turn from him to human wisdom, their light becomes darness, and how great

is that darnessJ "heir entrusted capabilities are a snare to them. "hey become an offence toGod. "here can be no mocery of God without the sure result. / E8.::,*2A

"he wor of apostasy begins in some secret rebellion of the heart against the reuirements

of Gods law. <nholy desires, unlawful ambitions, are cherished and indulged, and unbelief

and darness separate the soul from God. )f we do not overcome these evils, they willovercome us. +en who have long been advancing in the path of truth, will be tested with

trial and temptation. "hose who listen to the suggestions of !atan, and swerve from their

integrity, begin the downward path, and some masterful temptation hastens them on in the

way of apostasy, till their descent is mared and rapid. !ins that were once most repugnant, become attractive, and are welcomed and practised by those who have cast off the fear of

God and their allegiance to his law. 8ut the most pleasurable beginning in transgression,

will end in misery, degradation, and ruin. / +%D 2-,*---

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&ur wor is an aggressive one, and as faithful soldiers of (esus, we must bear the blood#

stained banner into the very strongholds of the enemy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darness of this

world, against spiritual wicedness in high places. )f we will consent to lay down our

arms, to lower the blood#stained banner, to become the captives and servants of !atan, we

may be released from the conflict and the suffering. 8ut this peace will be gained only atthe loss of Christ and heaven. We cannot accept peace on such conditions. 7et it be war,

war, to the end of earths history, rather than peace through apostasy and sin. / +%D

2-,*---

We need to be constantly on our guard, to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. "heindulgence of spiritual pride, of unholy desires, of evil thoughts, of anything that separates

us from an intimate and sacred association with (esus, imperils our souls. We must have

living faith in God. We must fight the good fight of faith, if we would lay hold oneternal life. We are ept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. )f the thought

of apostasy is grievous to you, and you do not desire to become the enemies of the truth, the

accusers of the brethren, then abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good; and believe in /im who is able to eep you from falling, and to present you faultless before

the presence of his glory with exceeding 'oy. / +%D 2-,*---

)n the days of Eli'ah there was great apostasy in )srael. %hab, the ing, had connected with

himself men and women who had departed from the living God, and turned to the serviceof idols. "he ing should have been loyal to God, one who by both influence and example

would have bound his people to God; but instead of this, he 'oined with apostates, and led

the people into idolatry. 7eading men are endowed with great influence for good or evil,and their responsibility is very great. %hab had used his influence to propagate evil, and

)srael san deeper and deeper into sin. / +%D :A,*-*

"hat which !atan has led men to do in the past, he will if possible lead them to do again.

"he early church was deceived by the enemy of God and man, and apostasy was broughtinto the rans of those who professed to love God; and to#day, unless the people of God

awae out of sleep, they will be taen unawares by the devices of !atan. %mong those who

claim to believe in the near coming of the !aviour, how many are bac#slidden, how manyhave lost their first love, and come under the description written of the 7aodicean church,

denominating them as neither cold nor hot. !atan will do his utmost to eep them in a state

of indifference and stupor. +ay the 7ord reveal to the people the perils that are before

them, that they may arouse from their spiritual slumber, and trim their lamps, and be foundwatching for the 8ridegroom when he shall return from the wedding. / 4&@.::,*-:

"hat which !atan has led men to do in the past, he will if possible lead them to do again.

"he early church was deceived by the enemy of God and man, and apostasy was brought

into the rans of those who professed to love God; and to#day, unless the people of Godawae out of sleep, they will be taen unawares by the devices of !atan. %mong those who

claim to believe in the near coming of the !aviour, how many are bac#slidden, how many

have lost their first love, and come under the description written of the 7aodicean church,denominating them as neither cold nor hot. !atan will do his utmost to eep them in a state

of indifference and stupor. +ay the 7ord reveal to the people the perils that are before



them, that they may arouse from their spiritual slumber, and trim their lamps, and be found

watching for the 8ridegroom when he shall return from the wedding. / 4&@.::,*-:

"hose who dishonour God by transgressing his law may tal sanctification; but it is of thesame value, and 'ust as acceptable, as was the offering of Cain. &bedience to the

commandments of God is the only true sign of sanctification. 0isobedience is the sign ofdisloyalty and apostasy. /e that hath my commandments, and eepeth them, he it is thatloveth meB and he that loveth me shall be loved of my ather, and ) will love him, and will

manifest myself to him. %gain, Christ repeated the condition of union with him. "his

promise is made to every sincere Christian. &ur !aviour speas so plainly that no one need

fail to understand that true love will always produce obedience. &bedience is the sign oftrue love. Christ and the ather are one, and those who in truth receive Christ will love God

as the great centre of their adoration, and will also love one another; and in so doing they

will eep the law. / &C".:A,*->

&ne thing is certainB those !eventh#day %dventists who tae their stand under !atans

banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the"estimonies of Gods spirit. !$+ 923

"he enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was totae place among !eventh#day %dventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving

up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of

reorganisation. Were this reformation to tae place, what would result? "he principles of

truth that God in /is wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. &urreligion would be changed. "he fundamental principles that have sustained the wor for the

last fifty years would be accounted as error. % new organisation would be established.

8oos of a new order would be written. % system of intellectual philosophy would beintroduced. "he founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful wor.

"he !abbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. 4othing

would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. "he leaders would teach thatvirtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on

human power, which, without God, is worthless. "heir foundation would be built on the

sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.

Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our 8ibles. We have ourexperience, attested to by the miraculous woring of the /oly !pirit. We have a truth that

admits of no compromise. !hall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with

this truth?

) hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the !pirit of the 7ord impelledme to write. ) did not want to be compelled to present the misleading influence of these

sophistries. 8ut in the providence of God, the errors that have been coming in must be met.

!$"82: 3=

!hortly before ) sent out the testimonies regarding the efforts of the enemy to underminethe foundation of our faith through the dissemination of seductive theories, ) had read an

incident about a ship in a fog meeting an iceberg. or several nights ) slept but little. )

*2



seemed to be bowed down as a cart beneath sheaves. &ne night a scene was clearly

presented before me. % vessel was upon the waters, in a heavy fog. !uddenly the loooutcried, )ceberg 'ust aheadJ "here, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg. %n

authoritative voice cried out, +eet itJ "here was not a moments hesitation. )t was a time

for instant action. "he engineer put on full steam, and the man at the wheel steered the ship

straight into the iceberg. With a crash she struc the ice. "here was a fearful shoc, and theiceberg broe into many pieces, falling with a noise lie thunder to the dec. "he

passengers were violently shaen by the force of the collision, but no lives were lost. "he

vessel was in'ured, but not beyond repair. !he rebounded from the contact, trembling fromstem to stern, lie a living creature. "hen she moved forward on her way.

Well ) new the meaning of this representation. ) had my orders. ) had heard the words, lie

a voice from our Captain, +eet itJ ) new what my duty was, and that there was not a

moment to lose. "he time for decided action had come. ) must without delay obey thecommand, +eet itJ

"hat night ) was up at one ocloc, writing as fast as my hand could pass over the paper. orthe next few days ) wored early and late, preparing for our people the instruction given me

regarding the errors that were coming in among us.

) have been hoping that there would be a thorough reformation, and that the principles for

which we fought in the early days, and which were brought out in the power of the /oly

!pirit, would be maintained. !$"82: 33,3A

+any will never, never have eternal life unless they see the sinfulness of their course ofaction, and realise how greatly it has dishonoured God. "hey are not servants of Christ,

because they do not do /is wors. "he 7ord says, $roclaim +y message; say to those who

have professed to be followers of (esus, but have dishonoured their profession by maingfalse paths for their feet and the feet of others, epent; for your souls sae, repent and be

converted. Dou have been going on and on for years against light, against nowledge, until

the 7aodicean message applies to your case. +any have become corrupted in faith,

corrupted in principle. +any have dishonoured God, and sold themselves to sin, and inword and deed have helped others on in the strange paths they have chosen, until they do

not now what pure religion is. "hey have sacrificed faith for worldly favour, and are

leavened with that which is opposed to righteousness. %t first they felt some compunctionof conscience, but they refused to turn bac, and now hardness of heart is preparing them

for hopeless apostasy, and the 'udgements of God. "he appeals of their !aviour have been

resisted, /is mercy abused, /is provisions of redeeming love, made by infinite sacrifice,re'ected. /is heart yearns over them, /is hand has been outstretched to save, but they

turned away, slighting /is invitations of mercy. %nd yet /is hand is stretched out still, for

our !aviour made provision that all who receive /im shall be given power to become the

sons of God. !$"82> *9

&ne thing it is certain is soon to be realised,##the great apostasy, which is developing and

increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the 7ord shall descend

from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith,and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever we are to eep the faith that has been

**



substantiated by the /oly !pirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the

present time. We need now larger breadth, and deeper, more earnest, unwavering faith inthe leadings of the /oly !pirit. )f we needed the manifest proof of the /oly !pirits power

to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need to#day all the

evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and

giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. "here must not be any languishingof soul now. !$"82> 3>

)f the law of God should relinuish its claims upon men, if its restraints were removed, the

result would be a state of society in which lawlessness would be rife, and our world would

be in a condition similar to that which existed before the flood, which brought down on theearth the wrath of God. )f the law of God could have been changed, or altered in one of its

statutes, it would have been so altered when sin originated in heaven, when the brightest

son of the morning, who was good, noble, and lovely above all the beings that God hadcreated, found fault with the precepts of that law in the counsels of angels. )f ever a change

was to have been made, it would have been accomplished when rebellion revealed itself in

heaven, and so have prevented the great apostasy of the angels. "he fact that no change wasmade in Gods administration, even when the most exalted of the angels drew away from

allegiance to Gods law, is evidence enough to reasonable minds that the law, the

foundation of Gods government, will not relax its claims to save the wilful transgressor. !"%$.:-,*-2

"hese promises will be fulfilled when Christians tae the position which God wishes them

to fill. )t is /is desire that they shall demonstrate to the world that human beings can live

pure, upright lives. "hat /e might purify unto /imself a peculiar people, Christ left theroyal courts and clothed /is divinity with humanity. /e lived out in the world the

principles of Gods law, showing that /is grace has power to redeem men and women and

raise them to a plane of moral integrity. %mid the awful confederacy of evil now existing in

the world, Christians are to stand firmly and bravely for the edeemer, protesting by blameless lives against the prevailing apostasy. !" 0EC.*-,*2*

"he servants of God to#day encounter difficulties very similar to those against which

4ehemiah contended. /uman nature is still the same. %nd !atan is as active, earnest, and persevering now as at any period in the past. 4ay, rather, the word of God declares that his

power and enmity increase as we near the close of time. "he greatest danger of Gods

ancient people arose from their inclination to disregard his direct reuirements and to

follow, instead, their own desires. !uch is the sin and danger of his people at the presenttime. "he indolence, bacsliding, and degeneracy in our churches may be traced, in a great

degree, to the lax sentiments which have been coming in as a result of conformity to the

world. "he !abbath is not as sacredly regarded as it should be. )mproper marriages, withtheir train of evils, have dragged down some of the most useful men to apostasy and ruin.

!" (%4.:=,*--=

4ow the !pirit speaeth expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,

giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaing lies in hypocrisy; havingtheir conscience seared with a hot iron. 8efore the last developments of the wor of

apostasy there will be a confusion of faith. "here will not be clear and definite ideas

*:



concerning the mystery of God. &ne truth after another will be corrupted. %nd without

controversy great is the mystery of godlinessB God was manifest in the flesh, 'ustified in the!pirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into

glory. "here are many who deny the pre#existence of Christ, and therefore deny his

divinity; they do not accept him as a personal !aviour. "his is a total denial of Christ. /e

was the only#begotten !on of God, who was one with the ather from the beginning. 8yhim the worlds were made. !" +%D :-,*-=

"he great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is plainly revealed

in the Word. $rovision was then made whereby fallen man might have a powerful

revelation of the love of God, and be given an opportunity to return to his allegiance to(ehovah. or God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten !on, that whosoever

believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life F(ohn 9B*A. ) lay down my

life for the sheep, says Christ Fchap. *2B*3. "he bread that ) will give is my flesh, which) will give for the life of the world Fchap. AB3*. /ere is a revelation of the power mighty

to save to the uttermost. God is light and love. <7 *=

"o the conservative and compromising, these arguments seemed conclusive. 8ut there was

another class that did not so 'udge. "he fact that these customs tended to bridge over thechasm between ome and the eformation F+artyn, volume 3, page ::, was in their view

a conclusive argument against retaining them. "hey looed upon them as badges of the

slavery from which they had been delivered and to which they had no disposition to return."hey reasoned that God has in /is word established the regulations governing /is worship,

and that men are not at liberty to add to these or to detract from them. "he very beginning

of the great apostasy was in seeing to supplement the authority of God by that of thechurch. ome began by en'oining what God had not forbidden, and she ended by

forbidding what /e had explicitly en'oined. GC** :-

!eeing the failure of his efforts to crush out the truth by persecution, !atan had again

resorted to the plan of compromise which led to the great apostasy and the formation of theChurch of ome. /e had induced Christians to ally themselves, not now with pagans, but

with those who, by their devotion to the things of this world, had proved themselves to be

as truly idolaters as were the worshipers of graven images. %nd the results of this unionwere no less pernicious now than in former ages; pride and extravagance were fostered

under the guise of religion, and the churches became corrupted. !atan continued to pervert

the doctrines of the 8ible, and traditions that were to ruin millions were taing deep root.

"he church was upholding and defending these traditions, instead of contending for thefaith which was once delivered unto the saints. "hus were degraded the principles for

which the eformers had done and suffered so much. GC** :-

What was the origin of the great apostasy? /ow did the church first depart from the

simplicity of the gospel? 8y conforming to the practices of paganism, to facilitate theacceptance of Christianity by the heathen. "he apostle $aul declared, even in his day, "he

mystery of iniuity doth already wor. : "hessalonians :B>. 0uring the lives of the

apostles the church remained comparatively pure. 8ut toward the latter end of the secondcentury most of the churches assumed a new form; the first simplicity disappeared, and

insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children, along with new

*9



converts, . . . came forward and new#modelled the cause.##obert obinson, Ecclesiastical

esearches, ch. A, par. *>, p. 3*. "o secure converts, the exalted standard of the Christianfaith was lowered, and as the result a pagan flood, flowing into the church, carried with it

its customs, practices, and idols. ##Gava11i, 7ectures, page :>-. %s the Christian religion

secured the favour and support of secular rulers, it was nominally accepted by multitudes;

but while in appearance Christians, many remained in substance pagans, especiallyworshipping in secret their idols.##)bid., page :>-. GC** 9-=

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Apostasy by Ellen G. White