An Overwhelming
Surprise--The Physical Attacks of Lucifer/Satan
“He [Lucifer/Satan]
imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence.
These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.” {FLB 328.5}
“Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break
upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they
should make by diligently studying the word of God, and striving to conform
their lives to its precepts.... God calls for a revival and a reformation.”—Prophets
and Kings, 626. {ChS
41.3}
“The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly
alarm us, were it not that we may find
shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer.... Those who
follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to
protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has
stationed about His people.” {FLB 328.6}
Physical Attacks of Satan, November 18
The Faith I Live By, p. 328.1 (EGW)
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and
down in it. Job 1:7
Satan was “a murderer from the beginning.”
John 8:44
His temptations are leading multitudes to
ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed
follow. Satan delights in war; for it excites the worst passions of the soul,
and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his
object to incite the nations to war against one another; for he can thus divert
the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the in the day
of God.
Satan works through the elements also to
garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the
laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power
to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds,
servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as
in a moment. It is God that shields His creatures, and hedges
In accidents and
calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and
terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and
earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his
power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands
perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more
frequent and disastrous.
The power and malice of Satan and his host
might justly alarm us, were it not that we may find
shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer.... Those who
follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to
protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has
stationed about His people. {FLB 328.6}
Chapter 82—The
Hour is Late
Satan
Is Marshaling His Host—Satan is marshaling his host, and are we individually
prepared for the fearful conflict that is just before us? Are we preparing
ourselves and our households to understand the position of our adversaries and
their modes of warfare? Are our children forming habits of decision, that they
may be firm and unyielding in every matter of principle and duty? I pray that
we all may understand the signs of the times, and that we may so prepare
ourselves and our children that in the time of conflict God may be our refuge and
defense.1 {CG 555.1}
Prepare
for an Overwhelming Surprise—Transgression has almost reached its limit.
Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human
beings. The end is very near. God’s people should be preparing for what is to break
upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. {CG 555.2}
Our time is precious. We have but a few, a
very few, days of probation in which to make ready for the future, immortal
life.2 {CG 555.3}
Many Families
Unprepared—On Sabbath and Sunday, in visions of the night, I seemed to be
bearing my testimony before the people. On both these occasions I seemed to be
in a mammoth tent which was literally packed. The Lord gave me a decided
message for the people. My burden was for our families who are unprepared to
meet the Lord. A special burden was upon me to point out to our people the need
of seeking the Lord with close searching of heart and earnestness of purpose....{CG 555.4}
Parents who are truly converted will reveal in
their home life that they are bringing their lives under the discipline of the
Word of God.... To the mother and father the right training of their children
is the most important work of their life.3 {CG 556.1}
Solemn Questions for Parents—Fathers and
mothers, how stands your record? Have you been faithful to your trust? As you
have seen your children inclined to follow a course that you knew would result
in impurity of thought and word and act, have you, first asking God for help,
tried to show them their danger? Have you pointed out to them the peril of
taking a path of their own choosing? Mothers, have you neglected your God-given
work—the greatest work ever committed to mortals? Have you refused to bear your
God-given responsibilities? In the time of trouble just before us, when the judgments
of God fall upon the impure and unholy, will your children curse you because of
your indulgence?4 {CG 556.2}
Parents New in the Message Need Instruction—Those who bear the last message of mercy to the world should
feel it their duty to instruct parents in regard to home religion. Their great
reformatory movement must begin in presenting to fathers and mothers and
children the principles of the law of God. As the claims of the law are
presented, and men and women are convicted of their duty to render obedience,
show them the responsibility of their decision, not only for themselves but for
their children. Show that obedience to God’s Word is our only safeguard against
the evils that are sweeping the world to destruction.5 {CG 556.3}
Our Youth Need Help and Encouragement—Now is our time and opportunity to labor for the young
people. Tell them that we are now in a perilous crisis, and we want to know how
to discern true godliness. Our young people need to be helped, uplifted, and
encouraged, but in the right manner; not, perhaps, as they would desire it, but
in a way that will help them to have sanctified minds. They need good,
sanctifying religion more than anything else.6 {CG 556.4}
Do Not Delay—Coming events are casting their
shadows upon our pathway. Fathers, mothers, I appeal to you to make most
earnest efforts now for your children. Give them daily religious instruction.
Teach them to love God and to be true to the principles of right. With lofty,
earnest faith, directed by the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, work, work now. Do not put it off one day, one hour.7 {CG 557.1}
Do a Thorough Work—Parents, humble your hearts
before God. Begin a thorough work with your children. Plead with the Lord to
forgive your disregard of His Word in neglecting to train your children in the
way they should go. Ask for light and guidance, for a tender conscience, and
for clear discernment that you may see your mistakes and failures. God will
hear such prayers from a humble and contrite heart.8 {CG 557.2}
Confession May Be Necessary—If
you have failed in your duty to your families, confess your sins before God.
Gather your children about you and acknowledge your neglect. Tell them that you
desire to bring about a reformation in the home, and ask them to help you to
make the home what it ought to be. Read to them the directions found in the
Word of God. Pray with them; and ask God to spare their lives, and to help them
to prepare for a home in His kingdom. In this way you may begin a work of
reformation; and then continue to keep the way of the Lord.9 {CG 557.3}
Give Children an Example of Strict Obedience—The special work of parents is to make the laws of God plain
to their children and to urge their obedience to them, that they may see the
importance of obeying God all the days of their life. This was the work of
Moses. He was to enjoin upon parents their duty to give to their children an
example of strict obedience. And this is the work that above everything else
must be done in the home life today. It is to accompany the third angel’s
message. Ignorance is no excuse why parents should neglect to teach their
children what it means to transgress the law of God. The light is abundant, and
none need to walk in darkness, none need to be in ignorance. God is as verily
our instructor today as He was the teacher of the children of Israel, and all
are bound by the most sacred obligations to obey His laws.10 {CG 558.1}
Pray and Work for Their Salvation—Teach your children that the heart must be trained to self-control
and self-denial. The motives of the life must be in harmony with the law of
God. Never be satisfied to have your children grow up apart from Christ. Never
feel at ease while they are cold and indifferent. Cry to God day and night.
Pray and work for the salvation of the souls of your children. “The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” It is the mainspring, the balance wheel of
character. Without the fear of the Lord, they will fail of accomplishing the
great object of their creation.11 {CG 558.2}
Act as Character Builders—Seventh-day Adventist parents should
more fully realize their responsibilities as character builders. God places
before them the privilege of strengthening His cause through the consecration
and labors of their children. He desires to see gathered out from the homes of
our people a large company of youth who, because of the godly influences of
their homes, have surrendered their hearts to Him and go forth to give Him the
highest service of their lives. Directed and trained by the godly instruction
of the home, the influence of the morning and evening worship, the consistent
example of parents who love and fear God, they have learned to submit to God as
their teacher and are prepared to render Him acceptable service as loyal sons
and daughters. Such youth are prepared to represent to the world the power and
grace of Christ.12 {CG 558.3}