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Prophecies Fulfilled
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the most exaggerated light to render Adventists odious. The greater
the number whom he could crowd in to profess faith in the second
advent while his power controlled their hearts, the greater advantage
would he gain.
Satan is “the accuser of the brethren.”
Revelation 12:10
. His
spirit inspires men to watch for the defects of the Lord’s people
and to hold them up to notice, while their good deeds are passed by
without mention.
In all the history of the church no reformation has been carried
forward without encountering serious obstacles. Wherever Paul
raised up a church some who professed to receive the faith brought
in heresies. Luther also suffered distress from fanatical persons who
claimed that God had spoken directly through them, who set their
own ideas above Scripture. Many were beguiled by the new teachers
and joined Satan in tearing down what God had moved Luther to
build up. The Wesleys encountered the wiles of Satan in pushing
unbalanced, unsanctified ones into fanaticism.
William Miller had no sympathy with fanaticism. “The devil,”
said Miller, “has great power over the minds of some at the present
day.” “I have often obtained more evidence of inward piety from a
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kindling eye, a wet cheek, and a choked utterance, than from all the
noise in Christendom.
In the Reformation its enemies charged the evils of fanaticism
upon the ones who were laboring most earnestly against it. A similar
course was pursued by the opposers of the advent movement. Not
content with exaggerating the errors of fanatics, they circulated
reports that had not the slightest semblance of truth. Their peace
was disturbed by the proclamation of Christ at the door. They feared
it might be true, yet hoped it was not. This was the secret of their
warfare against Adventists.
The preaching of the first angel’s message tended directly to
repress fanaticism. Those who participated in these solemn move-
ments were in harmony; their hearts were filled with love for one
another and for Jesus, whom they expected soon to see. The one
faith, the one blessed hope, proved a shield against the assaults of
Satan.
1
Bliss, pp. 236, 237.