Bible； for the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the
standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested。 Says the
apostle John； 〃Believe not every spirit； but try the spirits whether they
are of God： because many false prophets are gone out into the world。〃
1 John 4：1。 And Isaiah declares； 〃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。
Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit by the errors
of a class that； claiming its enlightenment； profess to have no further need
of guidance from the word of God。 They are governed by impressions which
they regard as the voice of God in the soul。 But the spirit that controls
them is not the Spirit of God。 This following of
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impressions； to the neglect of the Scriptures； can lead only to confusion；
to deception and ruin。 It serves only to further the designs of the evil
one。 Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the
church of Christ； it is one of the devices of Satan； through the errors of
extremists and fanatics； to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit and
cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord
Himself has provided。
In harmony with the word of God； His Spirit was to continue its work
throughout the period of the gospel dispensation。 During the ages while the
Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given； the Holy
Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds； apart from
the revelations to be embodied in the Sacred Canon。 The Bible itself relates
how； through the Holy Spirit； men received warning； reproof； counsel； and
instruction； in matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures。
And mention is made of prophets in different ages； of whose utterances
nothing is recorded。 In like manner； after the close of the canon of the
Scripture； the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work； to enlighten；
warn； and comfort the children of God。
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。〃 〃When He；
the Spirit of truth； is come； He will guide you into all truth： 。 。 。 and He
will show you things to come。〃 John 14：26； 16：13。 Scripture plainly teaches
that these promises； so far from being limited to apostolic days； extend to
the church of Christ in all ages。 The Saviour assures His followers； 〃I am
with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 Matthew 28：20。 And Paul
declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the
church 〃for the perfecting of the saints； for the work of the ministry； for
the edifying of the body of Christ： till we all come in the unity of the
faith； and
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of the knowledge of the Son of God； unto a perfect man； unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ。〃 Ephesians 4：12； 13。
For the believers at Ephesus the apostle prayed； 〃That the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ； the Father of glory； may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him： the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened； that ye may know what is the hope of His calling； and 。 。 。
what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe。〃
Ephesians 1：17…19。 The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening the
understanding and opening to the mind the deep things of God's holy word；
was the blessing which Paul thus besought for the Ephesian church。
After the wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost； Peter exhorted the people to repentance and baptism in the name
of Christ； for the remission of their sins； and he said： 〃Ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost。 For the promise is unto you； and to your
children； and to all that are afar off； even as many as the Lord our God
shall call。〃 Acts 2：38； 39。
In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God； the Lord by
the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit。 Joel
2：28。 This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost； but it will reach its full accomplishment in
the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the
gospel。
The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to
the very close of time。 In all ages the wrath of Satan has been manifested
against the church of Christ； and God has bestowed His grace and Spirit upon
His people to strengthen them to stand against the power of the evil one。
When the apostles of Christ were to bear His gospel to the world and to
record it for all future ages； they were especially endowed with the
enlightenment of the Spirit。 But as the
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church approaches her final deliverance； Satan is to work with greater
power。 He comes down 〃having great wrath； because he knoweth that he hath
but a short time。〃 Revelation 12：12。 He will work 〃with all power and signs
and lying wonders。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9。 For six thousand years that
mastermind that once was highest among the angels of God has been wholly
bent to the work of deception and ruin。 And all the depths of satanic skill
and subtlety acquired； all the cruelty developed； during these struggles of
the ages； will be brought to bear against God's people in the final
conflict。 And in this time of peril the followers of Christ are to bear to
the world the warning of the Lord's second advent； and a people are to be
prepared to stand before Him at His coming； 〃without spot； and blameless。〃 2
Peter 3：14。 At this time the special endowment of divine grace and power is
not less needful to the church than in apostolic days。
Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit； the scenes of the
long…continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer
of these pages。 From time to time I have been permitted to behold the
working； in different ages； of the great controversy between Christ； the
Prince of life； the Author of our salvation； and Satan； the prince of evil；
the author of sin； the first transgressor of God's holy law。 Satan's enmity
against Christ has been manifested against His followers。 The same hatred of
the principles of God's law； the same policy of deception； by which error is
made to appear as truth； by which human laws are substituted for the law of
God； and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator； may be
traced in all the history of the past。 Satan's efforts to misrepresent the
character of God； to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator；
and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love； his
endeavors to set aside the divine law； leading the people to think
themselves free from its requirements； and his persecution of those who dare
to resist his deceptions； have been steadfastly pursued in all ages。 They
may be traced
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in the history of patriarchs； prophets； and apostles； of martyrs and
reformers。
In the great final conflict； Satan will employ the same policy； manifest the
same spirit； and work for the same end as in all preceding ages。 That which
has been； will be； except that the coming struggle will be marked with a
terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed。 Satan's deceptions
will be more subtle； his assaults more determined。 If it were possible； he
would lead astray the elect。 Mark 13：22； R。V。
As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His word； and
the scenes of the past and the future； I have been bidden to make known to
others that which has thus been revealedto trace the history of the
controversy in past ages； and especially so to present it as to shed a light
on the fast…approaching struggle of the future。 In pursuance of this
purpose； I have endeavored to select and group together events in the
history of the church in such a manner as to trace the unfolding of the
great testing truths that at different periods have been given to the world；
that have excited the wrath of Satan； and the enmity of a world…loving
church； and that have been maintained by the witness of those who 〃loved not
their lives unto the death。〃
In these records we may see a foreshadowing of the conflict before us。
Regarding them in the light of God's word； and by the illumination of His
Spirit； we may see unveiled the devices of the wicked one； and the dangers
which they must shun who would be found 〃without fault〃 before the Lord at
His coming。
The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages are
matters of history； well known and universally acknowledged by the
Protestant world； they are facts which none can gainsay。 This history I have
presented briefly； in accordance with the scope of the book； and the brevity
which must necessarily be observed； the facts having been condensed into as
little space as seem