118
Last Day Events
The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of
our own people in the Testimonies.... This is just as Satan designed it
should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people
to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the
Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into
life.—
Selected Messages 3:83
(1890).
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Tes-
timonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our
faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures,
and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies,
which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the
deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he
launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends
in destruction.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:211
.
Defections Among Church Leaders
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out
in darkness.—
Prophets and Kings, 188
(c. 1914).
Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing scenes of
this earth’s history, pattern after ancient Israel.... A departure from
the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working
out of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course
[179]
of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men
in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from
wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky
vessel.—
Manuscript Releases 13:379, 381
(1904).
Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that they are not
dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will be
the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.—
The
Review and Herald, September 11, 1888
.
Unsanctified Ministers Will Be Weeded Out
The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of Sunday laws]
will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a
pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.—
Selected
Messages 3:385
(1886).