Chapter 37—Our Only Safeguard
God points His followers to the Bible as their safeguard against the deceptive power of evil spirits. Satan uses every possible way to prevent people from gaining a knowledge of the Bible. At every revival of God's work, his activity becomes more intense. We will soon see a final struggle begin against Christ and His followers. The counterfeit will resemble the true so closely that it will be impossible to tell the difference between them except by the Scriptures.
LF 241.1
Those who try to obey all of God's commandments will be opposed and mocked. To endure the trial, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His Word. They can honor Him only as they correctly understand His character, government, and goals, and act in harmony with them. Only those who have fortified their minds with the truths of the Bible will stand firmly through the last great struggle.
LF 241.2
Before His crucifixion the Savior explained to His disciples that He was going to be killed and would rise again. Angels were there to impress His words on their minds and hearts. But they forgot the very words they needed to remember. When the trouble came, the death of Jesus destroyed their hopes as completely as if He had not warned them beforehand. Similarly, the prophecies open the future before us as clearly as Christ opened it to the disciples. But most people have no more understanding of these important truths than if God had never revealed them.
LF 241.3
When God sends warnings, He requires every sound-minded person to obey the message. The fearful judgments against worshiping the beast and his image (Revelation 14:9-11) should lead everyone to learn what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid receiving it. But the great majority of people do not want Bible truth, because it goes against the desires of the sinful heart. Satan supplies them with the deceptions they love.
LF 241.4
But God will have a people who hold the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of educated men, the conclusions of science, the decisions of church councils, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should we take as evidence for or against any doctrine. We should demand a plain “Thus says the Lord.” Satan leads the people to look to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides instead of searching the Scriptures for themselves. By controlling these leaders, he can influence most people.
LF 241.5
When Christ came, the common people heard Him gladly. But the chief priests and the nation's leaders wrapped themselves in prejudice, rejecting the evidence that He was the Messiah. “How is it,” the people asked, “that our rulers and enlightened scribes do not believe on Jesus?” Teachers like this led the Jewish nation to reject their Redeemer.
LF 242.1
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Love Under Fire
[{"para_id":"12269.2","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0003_eng_m_foreword_12269_9.mp3#duration=246&size=2097443"},{"para_id":"12269.20","title":"Lifting the Veil on the Future","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0004_eng_m_lifting_the_veil_on_the_future_12269_20.mp3#duration=1072&size=8709066"},{"para_id":"12269.56","title":"Chapter 1\u2014A Forecast of the World's Destiny","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0005_eng_m_chapter_1_a_forecast_of_the_world_s_destiny_12269_56.mp3#duration=1349&size=10918801"},{"para_id":"12269.111","title":"Chapter 2\u2014The First Christians Loyal and True","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0010_eng_m_chapter_2_the_first_christians_loyal_and_true_12269_111.mp3#duration=671&size=5495228"},{"para_id":"12269.137","title":"Chapter 3\u2014Spiritual Darkness in the Early Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0012_eng_m_chapter_3_spiritual_darkness_in_the_early_church_12269_137.mp3#duration=1092&size=8863143"},{"para_id":"12269.184","title":"Chapter 4\u2014The Waldenses Defend the Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0016_eng_m_chapter_4_the_waldenses_defend_the_faith_12269_184.mp3#duration=1238&size=10033075"},{"para_id":"12269.244","title":"Chapter 5\u2014The Light Breaks in England","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0023_eng_m_chapter_5_the_light_breaks_in_england_12269_244.mp3#duration=1211&size=9822101"},{"para_id":"12269.305","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Two Heroes Face Death","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0028_eng_m_chapter_6_two_heroes_face_death_12269_305.mp3#duration=1900&size=15332711"},{"para_id":"12269.394","title":"Chapter 7\u2014Luther, a Man for His Time","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0038_eng_m_chapter_7_luther_a_man_for_his_time_12269_394.mp3#duration=1880&size=15170387"},{"para_id":"12269.485","title":"Chapter 8\u2014A Champion of Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0046_eng_m_chapter_8_a_champion_of_truth_12269_485.mp3#duration=2067&size=16668321"},{"para_id":"12269.586","title":"Chapter 9\u2014Light Kindled in Switzerland","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0056_eng_m_chapter_9_light_kindled_in_switzerland_12269_586.mp3#duration=921&size=7498817"},{"para_id":"12269.630","title":"Chapter 10\u2014Progress in Germany","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0060_eng_m_chapter_10_progress_in_germany_12269_630.mp3#duration=881&size=7178382"},{"para_id":"12269.677","title":"Chapter 11\u2014The Protest of the Princes","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0065_eng_m_chapter_11_the_protest_of_the_princes_12269_677.mp3#duration=847&size=6908609"},{"para_id":"12269.720","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Daybreak in France","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0069_eng_m_chapter_12_daybreak_in_france_12269_720.mp3#duration=1963&size=15832207"},{"para_id":"12269.816","title":"Chapter 13\u2014The Netherlands and Scandinavia","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0080_eng_m_chapter_13_the_netherlands_and_scandinavia_12269_816.mp3#duration=579&size=4763526"},{"para_id":"12269.845","title":"Chapter 14\u2014Truth Advances in Britain","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0083_eng_m_chapter_14_truth_advances_in_britain_12269_845.mp3#duration=1413&size=11431057"},{"para_id":"12269.919","title":"Chapter 15\u2014France's Reign of Terror: Its True Cause","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0093_eng_m_chapter_15_france_s_reign_of_terror_its_true_cause_12269_919.mp3#duration=1761&size=14218526"},{"para_id":"12269.1006","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Seeking Freedom in a New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0102_eng_m_chapter_16_seeking_freedom_in_a_new_world_12269_1006.mp3#duration=688&size=5633418"},{"para_id":"12269.1045","title":"Chapter 17\u2014Promises of Christ's Return","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0107_eng_m_chapter_17_promises_of_christ_s_return_12269_1045.mp3#duration=1385&size=11207836"},{"para_id":"12269.1108","title":"Chapter 18\u2014New Light in the New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0113_eng_m_chapter_18_new_light_in_the_new_world_12269_1108.mp3#duration=1986&size=16023294"},{"para_id":"12269.1200","title":"Chapter 19\u2014Why the Great Disappointment?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0126_eng_m_chapter_19_why_the_great_disappointment_12269_1200.mp3#duration=820&size=6688816"},{"para_id":"12269.1237","title":"Chapter 20\u2014Love for Christ's Coming","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0130_eng_m_chapter_20_love_for_christ_s_coming_12269_1237.mp3#duration=1449&size=11726780"},{"para_id":"12269.1310","title":"Chapter 21\u2014Reaping the Whirlwind","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0140_eng_m_chapter_21_reaping_the_whirlwind_12269_1310.mp3#duration=1120&size=9090450"},{"para_id":"12269.1366","title":"Chapter 22\u2014Prophecies Fulfilled","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0147_eng_m_chapter_22_prophecies_fulfilled_12269_1366.mp3#duration=1051&size=8537334"},{"para_id":"12269.1415","title":"Chapter 23\u2014The Open Mystery of the Sanctuary","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0154_eng_m_chapter_23_the_open_mystery_of_the_sanctuary_12269_1415.mp3#duration=1137&size=9229433"},{"para_id":"12269.1472","title":"Chapter 24\u2014What Is Christ Doing Now?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0162_eng_m_chapter_24_what_is_christ_doing_now_12269_1472.mp3#duration=669&size=5482165"},{"para_id":"12269.1504","title":"Chapter 25\u2014God's Law Unchangeable","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0167_eng_m_chapter_25_god_s_law_unchangeable_12269_1504.mp3#duration=1398&size=11312581"},{"para_id":"12269.1573","title":"Chapter 26\u2014Champions for Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0175_eng_m_chapter_26_champions_for_truth_12269_1573.mp3#duration=528&size=4352939"},{"para_id":"12269.1601","title":"Chapter 27\u2014How Successful Are Modern Revivals?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0178_eng_m_chapter_27_how_successful_are_modern_revivals_12269_1601.mp3#duration=1336&size=10818515"},{"para_id":"12269.1663","title":"Chapter 28\u2014Facing Our Life Record","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0186_eng_m_chapter_28_facing_our_life_record_12269_1663.mp3#duration=1065&size=8653528"},{"para_id":"12269.1715","title":"Chapter 29\u2014Why Was Sin Permitted?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0195_eng_m_chapter_29_why_was_sin_permitted_12269_1715.mp3#duration=925&size=7525929"},{"para_id":"12269.1756","title":"Chapter 30\u2014Satan and Humanity at War","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0200_eng_m_chapter_30_satan_and_humanity_at_war_12269_1756.mp3#duration=345&size=2890664"},{"para_id":"12269.1773","title":"Chapter 31\u2014Evil Spirits","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0203_eng_m_chapter_31_evil_spirits_12269_1773.mp3#duration=581&size=4777631"},{"para_id":"12269.1798","title":"Chapter 32\u2014How to Defeat Satan","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0208_eng_m_chapter_32_how_to_defeat_satan_12269_1798.mp3#duration=939&size=7645617"},{"para_id":"12269.1846","title":"Chapter 33\u2014What Happens After Death?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0215_eng_m_chapter_33_what_happens_after_death_12269_1846.mp3#duration=1326&size=10739511"},{"para_id":"12269.1908","title":"Chapter 34\u2014Who Are the \u201cSpirits\u201d in Spiritualism?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0225_eng_m_chapter_34_who_are_the_spirits_in_spiritualism_12269_1908.mp3#duration=778&size=6355822"},{"para_id":"12269.1948","title":"Chapter 35\u2014Liberty of Conscience Threatened","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0231_eng_m_chapter_35_liberty_of_conscience_threatened_12269_1948.mp3#duration=1220&size=9889702"},{"para_id":"12269.2011","title":"Chapter 36\u2014The Approaching Conflict","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0240_eng_m_chapter_36_the_approaching_conflict_12269_2011.mp3#duration=761&size=6213750"},{"para_id":"12269.2042","title":"Chapter 37\u2014Our Only Safeguard","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0243_eng_m_chapter_37_our_only_safeguard_12269_2042.mp3#duration=577&size=4743885"},{"para_id":"12269.2072","title":"Chapter 38\u2014God's Final Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0247_eng_m_chapter_38_god_s_final_message_12269_2072.mp3#duration=725&size=5931673"},{"para_id":"12269.2108","title":"Chapter 39\u2014The Time of Trouble","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0252_eng_m_chapter_39_the_time_of_trouble_12269_2108.mp3#duration=1468&size=11877764"},{"para_id":"12269.2174","title":"Chapter 40\u2014God's People Delivered","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0261_eng_m_chapter_40_god_s_people_delivered_12269_2174.mp3#duration=1351&size=10941854"},{"para_id":"12269.2230","title":"Chapter 41\u2014The Earth in Ruins","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0269_eng_m_chapter_41_the_earth_in_ruins_12269_2230.mp3#duration=730&size=5969865"},{"para_id":"12269.2260","title":"Chapter 42\u2014Eternal Peace: The Controversy Ended","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0272_eng_m_chapter_42_eternal_peace_the_controversy_ended_12269_2260.mp3#duration=1471&size=11900978"}]