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The Great Apostasy
I was carried forward to the time when heathen idolaters cruelly
persecuted and killed the Christians. Blood flowed in torrents. The
noble, the learned, and the common people were alike slain without
mercy. Wealthy families were reduced to poverty, because they
would not yield their religion. Notwithstanding the persecution and
sufferings which these Christians endured, they would not lower the
standard. They kept their religion pure. I saw that Satan exulted and
triumphed over their sufferings. But God looked upon His faithful
martyrs with great approbation. The Christians who lived in that
fearful time were greatly beloved of Him, because they were willing
to suffer for His sake. Every suffering endured by them increased
their reward in heaven.
Although Satan rejoiced because of the sufferings of the saints,
yet he was not satisfied. He wanted control of the mind as well as
the body. The sufferings that they endured only drove them closer to
the Lord, leading them to love one another, and causing them to fear
more than ever to offend Him. Satan wished to lead them to displease
God; then they would lose their strength, fortitude, and firmness.
Although thousands were slain, yet others were springing up to
supply their places. Satan saw that he was losing his subjects; for
although they suffered persecution and death, yet they were secured
to Jesus Christ, to be the subjects of His kingdom. Satan therefore
laid his plans to fight more successfully against the government
of God and overthrow the church. He led the heathen idolaters to
embrace a part of the Christian faith. They professed to believe in
the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and proposed to unite with
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the followers of Jesus, without a change of heart. Oh, the fearful
danger of the church. It was a time of mental anguish. Some thought
that if they should come down and unite with those idolaters who
had embraced a portion of the Christian faith, it would be the means
of their full conversion. Satan was seeking to corrupt the doctrines
of the Bible.
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