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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
From Adam’s Day to Now—Satan has been working at the wheel,
turning it until he has the control of all the human minds who have
received the lies with which he deceived Eve and then used her as his
agent to entice Adam into sin. Satan has kept up his specious working
upon human minds from that day to this.—
Manuscript 19, 1894.
Those Who Know the Truth Are Special Targets—Satan is
stealthily working to confuse the minds of those who know the truth
by bringing in misleading sentiments and misleading examples. Un-
less they repent and are converted, those who are living divided lives,
[23]
professedly serving the Lord but at the same time scheming to carry
out their own plans—plans which retard the very work which Christ
gave His life to accomplish—will be deceived by the enemy of souls.—
Letter 248, 1907
Satan Diverts Minds by Controversial Subjects—He [the en-
emy] would be delighted to have minds diverted to any subject by
which he might create division of sentiment and lead our people into
controversy.—
Manuscript 167, 1897.
One Mind Dominating Another—Satan often finds a powerful
agency for evil in the power which one human mind is capable of
exerting on another human mind. This influence is so seductive that
the person who is being molded by it is often unconscious of its power.
God has bidden me speak warning against this evil.—
Letter 244,
1907
(
Selected Messages 2:352
.)
A Power for Good, a Power for Evil—The influence of mind on
mind, so strong a power for good when sanctified, is equally strong
for evil in the hands of those opposed to God. This power Satan used
in his work of instilling evil into the minds of the angels, and he made
it appear that he was seeking the good of the universe. As the anointed
cherub, Lucifer had been highly exalted; he was greatly loved by the
heavenly beings, and his influence over them was strong. Many of
them listened to his suggestions and believed his words. “And there
was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon;
and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was
their place found any more in heaven” (
Revelation 12:8
).—
Letter 114,
1903
(
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:973
.)
One Man’s Mind Not to Be Trusted—One man’s mind and one
man’s judgment was not to be trusted, for too great interests were at
stake, and it was not free from human frailties and human errors....