Innumerable are the erroneous doctrines and fanciful ideas that are obtaining among the churches of Christendom.
It is impossible to estimate the evil results of removing one of the landmarks fixed by the word of God. Few who venture to do this stop with the rejection of a single truth. The majority continue to set aside one after another of the principles of truth, until they become actual infidels. The errors of popular theology have driven many a soul to skepticism who might otherwise have been a believer in the Scriptures. It is impossible for him to accept doctrines which outrage his sense of justice, mercy, and benevolence; and since these are represented as the teaching of the Bible, he refuses to receive it as the word of God.
And this is the object which Satan seeks to accomplish. There is nothing that he desires more than to destroy confidence in God and in His word. Satan stands at the head of the great army of doubters, and he works to the utmost of his power to beguile souls into his ranks.
It is becoming fashionable to doubt. There is a large class by whom the word of God is looked upon with distrust for the same reason as was its Author--because it reproves and condemns sin. Those who are unwilling to obey its requirements endeavor to overthrow its authority. They read the Bible, or listen to its teachings as presented from the sacred desk, merely to find fault with the Scriptures or with the sermon.
Not a few become infidels in order to justify or excuse themselves in neglect of duty. Others adopt skeptical principles from pride and indolence. Too ease-loving to distinguish themselves by accomplishing anything worthy of honor, which requires effort and self-denial, they aim to secure a reputation for superior wisdom by criticizing the Bible. There is much which the finite mind, unenlightened by divine wisdom, is powerless to comprehend; and thus they find occasion to criticize.
There are many who seem to feel that it is a virtue to stand on the side of unbelief, skepticism, and infidelity. But underneath an appearance of candor it will be found that such persons are actuated by self-confidence and pride. Many delight in finding something in the Scriptures to puzzle the minds of others. Some at first criticize and reason on the wrong side, from a mere love of controversy. They do not realize that they are thus entangling themselves in the snare of the fowler.
But having openly expressed unbelief, they feel that they must maintain their position.
- Gastarbeiterwanderung nach Deutschland seit 1950 (German Edition).
- Static Jedi: The Art of Hearing God Through the Noise?
- The Great Controversy (White)/Snares of Satan.
- Get a FREE e-book by joining our mailing list today!;
- Voyages en Ecritures - Nouvelles - Poesie - Contes (French Edition);
- Grand Traverse.
Thus they unite with the ungodly and close to themselves the gates of Paradise. God has given in His word sufficient evidence of its divine character. The great truths which concern our redemption are clearly presented. By the aid of the Holy Spirit, which is promised to all who seek it in sincerity, every man may p.
God has granted to men a strong foundation upon which to rest their faith. Yet the finite minds of men are inadequate fully to comprehend the plans and purposes of the Infinite One. We can never by searching find out God. We must not attempt to lift with presumptuous hand the curtain behind which He veils His majesty. We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. Our Father in heaven orders everything in wisdom and righteousness, and we are not to be dissatisfied and distrustful, but to bow in reverent submission.
He will reveal to us as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know, and beyond that we must trust the Hand that is omnipotent, the Heart that is full of love. While God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God's word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light.
Distrust of God is the natural outgrowth of the unrenewed heart, which is at enmity with Him. But faith is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it will flourish only as it is cherished. No man can become strong in faith without a determined effort. Unbelief strengthens as it is encouraged; and if men, instead of dwelling upon the evidences which God has given to sustain their faith, permit themselves to question and cavil, they will find their doubts constantly becoming more confirmed.
But those who doubt God's promises and distrust the assurance of His grace are dishonoring Him; and their influence, instead of drawing others to Christ, tends to repel p. They are unproductive trees, that spread their dark branches far and wide, shutting away the sunlight from other plants, and causing them to droop and die under the chilling shadow.
The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
The lifework of these persons will appear as a never-ceasing witness against them. They are sowing seeds of doubt and skepticism that will yield an unfailing harvest. There is but one course for those to pursue who honestly desire to be freed from doubts. Instead of questioning and caviling concerning that which they do not understand, let them give heed to the light which already shines upon them, and they will receive greater light.
Let them do every duty which has been made plain to their understanding, and they will be enabled to understand and perform those of which they are now in doubt. Satan can present a counterfeit so closely resembling the truth that it deceives those who are willing to be deceived, who desire to shun the self-denial and sacrifice demanded by the truth; but it is impossible for him to hold under his power one soul who honestly desires, at whatever cost, to know the truth.
Christ is the truth and the "Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. The Spirit of truth has been sent to guide men into all truth. And upon the authority of the Son of God it is declared: The followers of Christ know little of the plots which Satan and his hosts are forming against them.
- Follow the Author.
- [Einführung zur Rede Eleanor Roosevelts, 1949] (Fischer Klassik Plus 488) (German Edition).
- On Gentle Breeze.
But He who sitteth in the heavens will overrule all these devices for the accomplishment of His deep designs. The Lord permits His people to be subjected to the fiery ordeal of temptation, not because He takes pleasure in their distress and affliction, but because this process is essential to their final victory. He could not, consistently with His own glory, shield them from temptation; for the very object of the trial is to prepare them to resist all the allurements of evil.
Neither wicked men nor devils can hinder the work of God, or shut out His presence from His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises. Every temptation, every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
When Balaam, allured by the promise of rich rewards, practiced enchantments against Israel, and by sacrifices to the Lord sought to invoke a curse upon His people, the Spirit of God forbade the evil which he longed to pronounce, and Balaam was forced to exclaim: He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel: He wished to be.
Catalog Record: The great controversy between Christ and | Hathi Trust Digital Library
Read more Read less. Add both to Cart Add both to List. One of these items ships sooner than the other. Buy the selected items together This item: A Timeless Classic by Ellen G. Ships from and sold by Amazon. Customers who bought this item also bought. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. Facing Earth's Final Crisis. The Desire of Ages Illustrated. The Desire of Ages: Here's how restrictions apply. Don't have a Kindle? Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features: Share your thoughts with other customers.
Write a customer review. See all customer images. Read reviews that mention great controversy ellen white must read good and evil catholic church christ and satan seventh day sunday law read this book highly recommend mrs white conspiracy theories day adventist end time years ago seventh-day adventist adventist church jesus christ dark ages end times. Showing of reviews.
Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. We went to Maui on our Anniversary and the weather wasn't the best, so I read to my wife the first twenty 20 chapters! It provoked a lot of conversation and we both felt blessed by the experience. It was one of the most profitable and growing vacations we have had. This book is about a spiritual controversy between good and evil from the time Lucifer because very proud down to the time went there will be no more sin and evil in the universe.
The history had been taken place but on a spiritual level. I would recommend everyone to read this book, you will be spiritually blessed! Do not buy version from publisher: I have been unable to sleep nights, for thinking of the important things to take place Great things are before us, and we want to call the people from their indifference to get ready. In the edition preface, the author states the primary purpose of the book to be "to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast approaching struggle of the future.
There are four major editions of the book commonly called The Great Controversy. While currently all editions printed by Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses are based on the edition, the first three editions have also been reprinted by Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses as facsimile reproductions, and several Seventh-day Adventist laymembers have reprinted them in various formats with various titles also.
In , at Lovett's Grove, Ohio , Sunday, Mid-March, a funeral was held in a schoolhouse where Ellen and James White were holding meetings, James was asked to speak and Ellen was moved to bear her testimony. Part way through her talk, she went into a two-hour vision in front of the congregation. The vision mostly concerned the matter of the "great controversy," which she had seen ten years before She was told that she must write it out.
The next day on a train they began arranging plans for writing and publishing the future book immediately on their return home. At a stopover, Ellen experienced a stroke of paralysis, which made writing virtually impossible. For several weeks afterward, Ellen could not feel pressure on her hand or cold water poured on her head. At first, she wrote but one page in a day and then rested for three. But as she progressed, her strength increased, and by the time she finished the book, all effects of the stroke were gone.
The book was completed by mid-August and subsequently published as Spiritual Gifts , Vol.
Great Controversy theme
It is written in the first-person present tense, with the phrase "I saw" being used times to refer to the author's experience in receiving the vision given to enable her to write this book. The book describes the whole history of sin chronologically, from before sin ever entered the universe to after its final destruction in The New Earth. Plans were laid in the late s for the Spirit of Prophecy series, an expansion of the Great Controversy theme into four volumes, designed especially for Seventh-day Adventist reading. Volume 1, dealing with Old Testament history, was published in The New Testament history required two volumes which were published in and For volume 4, Ellen was instructed through vision to present an outline of the controversy between Christ and Satan as it developed in the Christian dispensation to prepare the mind of the reader to understand clearly the controversy going on in the present day.
The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages, are matters of history, well known and universally acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none can gainsay. The facts having been condensed into as little space as seemed consistent with a proper understanding of their application. Much of this history had passed before her in vision but not all the details and not always in precise sequence. In a statement read on October 30, , carrying Ellen's written endorsement, W. She read to him a large part, if not the whole, of the five volumes.
She has read other histories of the Reformation. This has helped her to locate and describe many of the events and the movements presented to her in vision. While verbs used are still generally present tense , the first person aspect is not present.
Navigation menu
The book was published in two bindings, one, olive in color, carrying the title The Great Controversy , the other in black cloth titled Spirit of Prophecy , volume 4. The book was sold to both Seventh-day Adventists and the general public. Fifty thousand copies were distributed within three years' time. The Great Controversy had enjoyed escalating sales. Jones, manager of Pacific Press, informed Ellen that they needed to completely reset the type for the book because the old type was worn out.
This was, therefore, a good time to improve and make corrections to the book. The book was reaching beyond the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists. Yet the terminology and, in some cases, the content was directed largely to Adventists. Expressions familiar to Adventists were sometimes incomprehensible to the ordinary reader. Also, some subjects were too briefly treated because the readers were expected to be familiar with them. Some adaptation of wording seemed desirable and also changing of the verb tense from present to past. At that time, Ellen was living in Europe , the land of Reformation history, a subject that is an important part of the book.
Accordingly, she added a chapter on Huss and Jerome of Prague , who had previously been but briefly mentioned. More was added about Zwingli and John Calvin.