After this I saw Satan consulting with his angels and considering
what they had gained. True, they had, through fear of death, kept
some timid souls from embracing the truth; but many, even of the
most timid, had received the truth, and thereupon their fears
and timidity immediately left them. As these witnessed the death
of their brethren and beheld their firmness and patience, they
knew that God and angels assisted them to endure such sufferings,
and they grew bold and fearless. And when called to yield their
own lives, they maintained their faith with such patience and
firmness as caused even their murderers to tremble. Satan and
his angels decided that there was a more successful way to destroy
souls, one that would be more certain in the end. Although Christians
were made to suffer, their steadfastness, and the bright hope
that cheered them, caused the weakest to grow strong and enabled
them to approach the rack and the flames undaunted. They imitated
the noble bearing of Christ when before His murderers, and by
their constancy and the glory of God which rested upon them, they
convinced many others of the truth.
Satan therefore decided that he must come in a milder form. He
had already corrupted the doctrines of the Bible, and traditions
which were to ruin millions were taking deep root. Restraining
his hate, he decided not to urge on his subjects to such bitter
persecution, but lead the church to contend for various traditions,
instead of for the faith once delivered to the saints. As he prevailed
on the church to receive favors and honors from the world, under
the pretense of receiving benefits, she began to lose favor with
God. Shunning to declare the straight truths which shut out the
lovers of pleasure and friends of the world, she gradually lost
her power.
The church is not now the separate and peculiar people she was
when the fires of persecution were kindled against her. How is
the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! I saw
that if the church had always retained her peculiar, holy character,
the power of the Holy Spirit which was imparted to the disciples
would still be with her. The sick would be healed, devils would
be rebuked and cast out, and she would be mighty and a terror
to her enemies.
I saw a very large company professing the name of Christ, but
God did not recognize them as His. He had no pleasure in them.
Satan seemed to assume a religious character and was very willing
that the people should think they were Christians. He was even
anxious that they should believe in Jesus, His crucifixion, and
His resurrection. Satan and his angels fully believe all this
themselves, and tremble. But if this faith does not provoke to
good works, and lead those who profess it to imitate the self-denying
life of Christ, Satan is not disturbed; for they merely assume
the Christian name, while their hearts are still carnal, and he
can use them in his service even better than if they made no profession.
Hiding their deformity under the name of Christian, they pass
along with their unsanctified natures, and their evil passions
unsubdued. This gives occasion for the unbeliever to reproach
Christ with their imperfections, and causes those who do possess
pure and undefiled religion to be brought into disrepute. 228
The ministers preach smooth things to suit carnal professors.
They dare not preach Jesus and the cutting truths of the Bible;
for if they should, these carnal professors would not remain in
the church. But as many of them are wealthy, they must be retained,
although they are no more fit to be there than Satan and his angels.
This is just as Satan would have it. The religion of Jesus is
made to appear popular and honorable in the eyes of the world.
The people are told that those who profess religion will be more
honored by the world. Such teachings differ very widely from the
teachings of Christ. His doctrine and the world could not be at
peace. Those who followed Him had to renounce the world. These
smooth things originated with Satan and his angels. They formed
the plan, and nominal professors carried it out. Pleasing fables
were taught and readily received, and hypocrites and open sinners
united with the church. If the truth had been preached in its
purity, it would soon have shut out this class. But there was
no difference between the professed followers of Christ and the
world. I saw that if the false covering had been torn off from
the members of the churches, there would have been revealed such
iniquity, vileness, and corruption that the most diffident child
of God would have had no hesitancy in calling these professed
Christians by their right name, children of their father, the
devil; for his works they did.
Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with disgust upon the scene;
yet God had a message for the church that was sacred and important.
If received, it would make a thorough reformation in the church,
revive the living testimony that would purge out hypocrites and
sinners, and bring the church again into favor with God.