{Chapter 37: The Scriptures a Safeguard}
Please be advised to read the whole book of the Great Controversy to get Context.
#1
The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard
against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of
spirits of darkness.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593
#2
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according
to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593
*** #3 ***
Satan employs every possible device to prevent
men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances
reveal his deceptions.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593
#4
So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will
be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593
#5
By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593
#6
In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the
will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they
have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes,
and act in accordance with them.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593-594
*** #7 ***
None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the
Bible will stand through the last great conflict.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 593-594
#8
The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation
for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. 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.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 594
+++++++ #9 +++++++
The fearful judgments denounced against the
worship of the beast and his image (Revelation 14:9-11), 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.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 594-595
#10
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.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 594-595
#11
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 Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 595
*** #12 ***
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
Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 595
#13
There are today thousands of professors of religion who can
give no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that
they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the
Saviour's teachings almost unnoticed, and place implicit confidence
in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible?
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 596-597
**** #14 ****
A lack of moral courage to step
aside from the beaten track of the world leads many to follow in
the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for
themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of
error.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 597
#15
They see that the truth for this time is plainly brought to view
in the Bible; and they feel the power of the Holy Spirit attending
its proclamation; yet they allow the opposition of the clergy to turn
them from the light.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 597
#16
Though reason and conscience are convinced,
these deluded souls dare not think differently from the minister; and
their individual judgment, their eternal interests, are sacrificed to the
unbelief, the pride and prejudice, of another.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 597
**** #17 ****
The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible
for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous
opinions. Many claim that it matters not what one believes, if his life
is only right. But the life is molded by the faith. If light and truth is
within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing
and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather
than light.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 597-598
+++++++ #18 +++++++
Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there is every
opportunity to know the will of God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 597-598
******* #19 *******
A man is traveling and comes to a place where there are several roads
and a guideboard indicating where each one leads. If he disregards
the guideboard, and takes whichever road seems to him to be right,
he may be ever so sincere, but will in all probability find himself on
the wrong road.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598
******* #20 *******
Ignorance will not excuse young or old, nor release them from the punishment due for
the transgression of God’s law; because there is in their hands a
faithful presentation of that law and of its principles and claims.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598
******* #21 *******
It is not enough to have good intentions; it is not enough to do what a
man thinks is right or what the minister tells him is right. His soul's
salvation is at stake, and he should search the Scriptures for himself.
However strong may be his convictions, however confident he may
be that the minister knows what is truth, this is not his foundation. He
has a chart pointing out every waymark on the heavenward journey,
and he ought not to guess at anything.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598
*** #22 ***
It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn
from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and
encourage others to follow his example.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598
+++ #23 +++
We should day by day study
the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture
with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for
ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598-599
#24
The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved
in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great
wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual
meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are
false teachers.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598-599
*** #25 ***
The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious
meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 598-599
#26
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the
Scriptures and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far
as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that
the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 599
#27
We must come with a humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge
from the great I AM. Otherwise, evil angels will so blind our minds
and harden our hearts that we shall not be impressed by the truth.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 599
#28
One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God's word
is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 599-600
#29
The Bible should never be studied without prayer.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 599-600
+++++++ #30 +++++++
Temptations often appear irresistible
because, through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible, the
tempted one cannot readily remember God's promises and meet
Satan with the Scripture weapons.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 600
+++++++ #31 +++++++
But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in
divine things; and in the time of great necessity they will
bring to their remembrance the very truths which
are needed.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 600
+++++++ #32 +++++++
Jesus promised His disciples: "The Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you." John 14:26. But the teachings of Christ must
previously have been stored in the mind in order for the Spirit of
God to bring them to our remembrance in the time of peril. "Thy
word have I hid in mine heart," said David, "that I might not sin
against Thee." Psalm 119:11.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 600
#33
The very pillars of truth will be assailed. It is impossible to
keep beyond the reach of the sarcasms and sophisms, the insidious
and pestilent teachings, of modern infidelity.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 600-601
**** #34 ****
Satan adapts his temptations to all classes. He assails the
illiterate with a jest or sneer, while he meets the educated with scientific
objections and philosophical reasoning, alike calculated to
excite distrust or contempt of the Scriptures.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 600-601
#35
All who trust to the boastful decisions of human reason and imagine that
they can explain divine mysteries and arrive at truth unaided by the
wisdom of God are entangled in the snare of Satan.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 601
+++++++ #36 +++++++
Many are deceived as to their true condition before God. They
congratulate themselves upon the wrong acts which they do not
commit, and forget to enumerate the good and noble deeds which
God requires of them, but which they have neglected to perform. It
is not enough that they are trees in the garden of God. They are to
answer His expectation by bearing fruit.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 601
*** #37 ***
When the testing time shall come, those who have made God's
word their rule of life will be revealed.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 602
**** #38 ****
In summer there is no noticeable difference between evergreens
and other trees; but when the blasts of winter come, the
evergreens remain unchanged, while other trees are stripped
of their foliage.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 602
++++ #39 ++++
So the falsehearted professor
may not now be distinguished from the real Christian, but the time
is just upon us when the difference will be apparent.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 602
+++++ #40 +++++
Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear
sway, let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted and
hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true
Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith
stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity.
The Great Controversy 1911 Edition, Page 602