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Scriptures a Safeguard
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which they needed to remember were banished from their minds; and
when the time of trial came, it found them unprepared. The death
of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if he had not forewarned
them. So in the prophecies the future is opened before us as plainly
as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The events
connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for
the time of trouble, are clearly brought to view. But multitudes have
no more understanding of these important truths than if they had
never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression
that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble
will find them unready.
[413]
When God sends to men warnings so important that they are
represented as proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of
heaven, he requires every person endowed with reasoning powers
to heed the message. The fearful judgments denounced against the
worship of the beast and his image, [
Revelation 14:9-12
.] should
lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies to learn what the mark
of the beast is, and how they are to avoid receiving it. But the masses
of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and are
turned unto fables. The apostle Paul declared, looking down to the
last days, “The time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine.” [
2 Timothy 4:3
.] That time has fully come. The multitudes
do not want Bible truth, because it interferes with the desires of the
sinful, world-loving heart; and Satan supplies the deceptions which
they love.
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible,
and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of
all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science,
the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and
discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the
majority,—not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for
or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine
or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its
support.
Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the
place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors,
to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the
[414]
Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then by controlling