Luke 21:8
Christian, Be Not Deceived!
Third Angel's Message
The Great Controversy
White, E. G. (1911). The Great Controversy. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association.
(Narrated by Dennis Berlin) --www.dennisberlin.com © 2006 Dennis Berlin (see web site for permissions)
References:
- Constantinehttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.39¶=132.160
In the early part of the fourth century the emperor Constantine issued a decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the Roman Empire - Noon of the papacyhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.60.2¶=132.254
But “the noon of the papacy was the midnight of the world.”—J. A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, b. 1, ch. 4. - Waldenseshttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.64.1¶=132.270
But of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power, the Waldenses stood foremost. - Vaudois churcheshttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.61¶=132.257
The Vaudois churches, in their purity and simplicity, resembled the church of apostolic times. - John Wycliffe https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.80.1¶=132.340
In the fourteenth century arose in England the “morning star of the Reformation.” John Wycliffe - John Huss https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.98.1¶=132.424
John Huss was of humble birth, and was early left an orphan by the death of his father. His pious mother... - Jerome of Praguehttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.99.2¶=132.429
A citizen of Prague, Jerome, who afterward became so closely associated with Huss, had, on returning from England, brought with him the writings of Wycliffe. - [Anne of Bohemia] https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.99.2¶=132.429
The queen of England, who had been a convert to Wycliffe’s teachings, was a Bohemian princess - United Brethren / Unitas Fratamhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.120¶=132.526
Their lot was cast in evil days, but ... they [Unitied Brethren (Hussites)] remembered the words first uttered by Huss, and repeated by Jerome, that a century must revolve before the day should break. - Martin Lutherhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.120.1¶=132.527
Foremost among those who were called to lead the church from the darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther. - Melanchthonhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.134.2¶=132.593
At this time, when Luther so much needed the sympathy and counsel of a true friend, God’s providence sent Melanchthon to Wittenberg. - Melanchthonhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.187.2¶=132.844
Said Melanchthon: “There are indeed extraordinary spirits in these men; but what spirits? ... - Ulric Zwinglihttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.171.2¶=132.770
A few weeks after the birth of Luther in a miner’s cabin in Saxony, Ulric Zwingli was born in a herdsman’s cottage among the Alps. - Friedrich Myconius https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.183.1¶=132.824
He “has labored more,” said Myconius, “by his meditations, his sleepless nights, and the advice which he transmitted to Baden, than he would have done by discussing in person in the midst of his enemies.”—D’Aubigne, b. 11, ch. 13. - Johannes Oecolampadiushttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.182.1¶=132.821
Oecolampadius and Haller were chosen to represent the Reformers - Berchtold Hallerhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.182.1¶=132.821
Oecolampadius and Haller were chosen to represent the Reformers - Thomas Munzerhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.191.1¶=132.867
Thomas Munzer, the most active of the fanatics, was a man of considerable ability, which, rightly directed, would have enabled him to do good; but he had not learned the first principles of true religion. - Christian princes of Germanyhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.197.1¶=132.897
Christian princes of Germany at the Diet of Spires in 1529 - Frederick of Saxonyhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.198.3¶=132.904
Frederick of Saxony, Luther’s former protector, had been removed by death - Simon Grynaeushttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.205.1¶=132.937
Melanchthon hastily conducted through the streets of Spires toward the Rhine his friend Simon Grynaeus, pressing him to cross the river - Jacques Lefevrehttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.212.1¶=132.968
In France, before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer, the day had already begun to break. One of the first to catch the light was the aged Lefevre, a man of extensive learning, a professor in the University of Paris - William Farelhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.213.2¶=132.974
There were some among Lefevre’s students who listened eagerly to his words, and who, long after the teacher’s voice should be silenced, were to continue to declare the truth. Such was William Farel. - Louis de Berquinhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.215.3¶=132.984
Louis de Berquin was of noble birth. A brave and courtly knight, he was devoted to study, polished in manners, and of blameless morals. ... Henceforth he gave himself with entire devotion to the cause of the gospel - John Calvinhttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.219.3¶=132.1005
God was still preparing workers to extend His cause. In one of the schools of Paris was a thoughtful, quiet youth, already giving evidence of a powerful and penetrating mind, and no less marked for the blamelessness of his life than for intellectual ardor and religious devotion. His genius and application soon made him the pride of the college, and it was confidently anticipated that John Calvin would become one of the ablest - [Pierre Robert Olivetan/]Olivétan https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.220.1¶=132.1008
A cousin of Calvin’s, who had joined the Reformers, was in Paris. The two kinsmen often met and discussed together the matters that were disturbing Christendom. “There are but two religions in the world,” said Olivetan, the Protestant - Francis Ihttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.227.2¶=132.1042
Francis I had gloried in being a leader in the great movement for the revival of learning which marked the opening of the sixteenth century. - Menno Simonshttps://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.238.3¶=132.1088
The teachings of Luther found a congenial soil in the Netherlands, and earnest and faithful men arose to preach the gospel. From one of the provinces of Holland came Menno Simons. - Hans Tausen https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.241.1¶=132.1102 Tausen, “the Reformer of Denmark,” was a peasant’s son. The boy early gave evidence of vigorous intellect
- Olaf Petri and Laurentius Petri https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.242.2¶=132.1108 In Sweden, also, young men who had drunk from the well of Wittenberg carried the water of life to their countrymen. Two of the leaders in the Swedish Reformation, Olaf and Laurentius Petri, the sons of a blacksmith of Orebro, studied under Luther and Melanchthon, and the truths which they thus learned they were diligent to teach.
- William Tyndale https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.245.1¶=132.1119 While Luther was opening a closed Bible to the people of Germany, Tyndale was impelled by the Spirit of God to do the same for England. ... A diligent student and an earnest seeker for truth, he had received the gospel from the Greek Testament of Erasmus.
- Desiderius Erasmus https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.245.1¶=132.1119 In 1516, a year before the appearance of Luther’s theses, Erasmus had published his Greek and Latin version of the New Testament. Now for the first time the word of God was printed in the original tongue.
- Hugh Latimer https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.248.1¶=132.1133 Latimer maintained from the pulpit that the Bible ought to be read in the language of the people. The Author of Holy Scripture, said he, “is God Himself;” and this Scripture partakes of the might and eternity of its Author.
- John Frith, Robert Barnes, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.248.2¶=132.1134 Barnes and Frith, the faithful friends of Tyndale, arose to defend the truth. The Ridleys and Cranmer followed. These leaders in the English Reformation were men of learning.... The grand principle maintained by these Reformers—the same that had been held by the Waldenses, by Wycliffe, by John Huss, by Luther, Zwingli, and those who united with them—was the infallible authority of the Holy Scriptures as a rule of faith and practice.
- Columba https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.249.2¶=132.1138 In Scotland the seeds of truth scattered by Columba and his colaborers had never been wholly destroyed. [Also see: https://www.lineagejourney.com/reformation/reformers/columba-missionary-scotland/]
- Patrick Hamilton & George Wishart https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.250.1¶=132.1143 Hamilton and Wishart, princely in character as in birth, with a long line of humbler disciples, yielded up their lives at the stake. But from the burning pile of Wishart there came one [John Knox] whom the flames were not to silence, one who under God was to strike the death knell of popery in Scotland.
- John Knox https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.250.2¶=132.1144 John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church, to feed upon the truths of God’s word; and the teaching of Wishart had confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome and join himself to the persecuted Reformers.
- John Bunyan https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.252.2¶=132.1157 Again, as in apostolic days, persecution turned out to the furtherance of the gospel. In a loathsome dungeon crowded with profligates and felons, John Bunyan breathed the very atmosphere of heaven; and there he wrote his wonderful allegory of the pilgrim’s journey...
- Richard Baxter, John Flavel and Joseph Alleine https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.252.3¶=132.1158 Baxter, Flavel, Alleine, and other men of talent, education, and deep Christian experience stood up in valiant defense of the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
- George Whitefield, John Wesley and Charles Wesley https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.253.1¶=132.1161 A hundred years later, in a day of great spiritual darkness, Whitefield and the Wesleys appeared as light bearers for God.
- The Moravians https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.255.2¶=132.1171 Upon arriving in Savannah [Georgia], Wesley for a short time abode with the Moravians, and was deeply impressed with their Christian deportment.
- Waldenses, Albigenses and Huguenots https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.271.2¶=132.1244 Century after century the blood of the saints had been shed. While the Waldenses laid down their lives upon the mountains of Piedmont “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,” similar witness to the truth had been borne by their brethren, the Albigenses of France. In the days of the Reformation its disciples had been put to death with horrible tortures. King and nobles, highborn women and delicate maidens, the pride and chivalry of the nation, had feasted their eyes upon the agonies of the martyrs of Jesus. The brave Huguenots, battling for those rights which the human heart holds most sacred, had poured out their blood on many a hard-fought field. The Protestants were counted as outlaws, a price was set upon their heads, and they were hunted down like wild beasts.
- St. Bartholomew Massacre https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.272.1¶=132.1248 But blackest in the black catalogue of crime, most horrible among the fiendish deeds of all the dreadful centuries, was the St. Bartholomew Massacre.
- Reign of Terror https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.273.2¶=132.1254 The atheistical power that ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, did wage such a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed. [Also see: https://www.historywiz.com/terror.htm] ... The war against the Bible inaugurated an era which stands in the world’s history as the Reign of Terror.
- Pilgrims and John Robinson https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.291.3¶=132.1333 Here was the true spirit of reform, the vital principle of Protestantism. It was with this purpose that the Pilgrims departed from Holland to find a home in the New World. John Robinson, their pastor, who was providentially prevented from accompanying them...
- Roger Williams https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.293.1¶=132.1342 Eleven years after the planting of the first colony, Roger Williams came to the New World. Like the early Pilgrims he came to enjoy religious freedom; but, unlike them, he saw—what so few in his time had yet seen—that this freedom was the inalienable right of all, whatever might be their creed. He was an earnest seeker for truth, with Robinson holding it impossible that all the light from God’s word had yet been received. Williams “was the first person in modern Christendom to establish civil government on the doctrine of the liberty of conscience, the equality of opinions before the law.”—Bancroft, pt. 1, ch. 15, par. 16.
- Earthquake of Lisbon https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.304.2¶=132.1393 These signs were witnessed before the opening of the nineteenth century. In fulfillment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded. Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, in the West Indies, in the island of Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland. It pervaded an extent of not less than four million square miles.
- Dark day of May 19, 1780 https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.306.2¶=132.1401 “Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, ... stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,—a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England.”—R. M. Devens, Our First Century, page 89.
- William Miller https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.317.1¶=132.1451 An upright, honest-hearted farmer, who had been led to doubt the divine authority of the Scriptures, yet who sincerely desired to know the truth, was the man specially chosen of God to lead out in the proclamation of Christ’s second coming. Like many other reformers, William Miller had in early life battled with poverty and had thus learned the great lessons of energy and self-denial. The members of the family from which he sprang were characterized by an independent, liberty-loving spirit, by capability of endurance, and ardent patriotism—traits which were also prominent in his character. His father was a captain in the army of the Revolution...
- Josiah Litch https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.334.4¶=132.1525 In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent, published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown “in A.D. 1840, sometime in the month of August;”...
- Adventists https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_GC.336.1¶=132.1533 Earnest were the efforts put forth to draw away the minds of the people from the subject of the second advent. It was made to appear a sin, something of which men should be ashamed, to study the prophecies which relate to the coming of Christ and the end of the world. Thus the popular ministry undermined faith in the word of God. Their teaching made men infidels, and many took license to walk after their own ungodly lusts. Then the authors of the evil charged it all upon Adventists.
Quote from H.M.S. Richards (a Seventh-day Adventist minister):
"A great sceptical, super-critical preacher said the other day: 'Oh, if it wasn't for that book of Revelation. If that wasn't in the Bible, we wouldn't be bothered with these Adventists.' But the book is there. And we are here." —from a sermon entitled: Why I Am A Seventh-day Adventist (listen at:) https://t.co/8kRpXldRkX …
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