Great Distress Coming, and God’s People Not Prepared For It
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Satan can exercise his power upon them. They do not mean to enter
deep into this work, but such know not what they are doing. They are
venturing upon the Devil’s ground, and are tempting him to control
them. This powerful destroyer considers such his lawful prey, and will
exercise his power upon them, and that against their will. When they
wish to control themselves they cannot. They yielded their mind to
Satan, and he holds them captive, and he will not release his claims. No
power can deliver the ensnared soul but the power of God, in answer
to the earnest prayers of his faithful followers.
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The only safety now is to search for the truth as revealed in the
word of God, as for hid treasure. The Sabbath question, and man not
immortal, and the testimony of Jesus, are the great and important truths
to be understood, which will prove as an anchor to hold God’s people
in these perilous times. But the mass despise the truths of God’s word,
and prefer fables.
2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12
. “Because they received
not the love of the truth that they might be saved: and for this cause
God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.”
The most licentious and corrupt are highly flattered by these Sa-
tanic spirits, which they believe to be the spirits of their dead friends,
and they are “vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds.”
Colossians 2:19
.
“And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and
bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth
with the increase of God,” they deny Him who ministers strength to
the body, that every member may increase with the increase of God.
“Vain philosophy.” The members of the body are controlled by the
head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head, and every member of the body
they believe must act themselves, and fixed laws will lead them on in
a state of progression to perfection without a head.
John 15:1-6
. “I
am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in
me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth
fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and
I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the
vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the
branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth
much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in
me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them,
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Christ is the source of our strength. He is the vine, we are the
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