vi Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
I saw that the saints must get a thorough understanding of the
present truth, which they will have to maintain from the Scriptures.
They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils
will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives,
who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, and,
also, other unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to
excite sympathy, and work miracles before them, to confirm what
they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these
spirits with the Bible truth, that the dead know not any thing, and that
they are the spirits of devils. Our minds must not be taken up with
things around us, but must be occupied with the present truth, and a
preparation to give a reason of our hope with meekness and fear. We
must seek wisdom from on high that we may stand in this day of error
and delusion.
I saw that we must examine well the foundation of our hope, for
we shall have to give a reason for it from the scriptures; for we shall
see this delusion spreading, and we shall have to contend with it face
to face. And unless we are prepared for it, we shall be ensnared and
overcome. But if we do what we can on our part to be ready for the
conflict that is just before us, God will do his part, and his all-powerful
arm will protect us. He would sooner send every angel out of glory to
our relief, to make a hedge about faithful souls, rather than they should
be deceived and led away by the lying wonders of Satan.
I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train
of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel
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bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed
that the whole world was on board; that there could not be one left.
Said the angel: “They are binding in bundles ready to burn.” Then he
shewed me the conductor, who looked like a stately fair person, which
all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed, and
asked my attending angel who it was. Said he, “It is Satan. He is the
conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world
captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie that
they may be damned.” This agent, the next highest in order to him, is
the engineer, and others of his agents are employed in different offices
as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to
perdition. They are binding in bundles ready to burn. I asked the angel
if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction,