Why You Don't See True Confession, Repentance or Reformation in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Is Worldly Influence The Controlling Power? This topic is comprised of
pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Dupery of Popery "The prevailing spirit of our times is that of infidelity and apostasy. The spirit manifested in the world is one of pride and self-exaltation. Men boast of illumination, which in reality is the blindest presumption; for they are in opposition to the plain word of God. Many exalt human reason, idolize human wisdom, and set the opinions of men above the revealed wisdom of God. This affords opportunity for the working of Satan, and the spirit of antichrist is far more wide-spread than any of us imagine." RH 11-08-92. "Satans masterpiece of deception is popery; and while it has been demonstrated that a day of great intellectual darkness was favorable to Romanism, it will also be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is also favorable to its power; for the minds of men are concentrated on their own superiority, and do not like to retain God in their knowledge." ST 02-19-94. "Popery is the religion of human nature, and the mass of humanity love a doctrine that permits them to commit sin, and yet frees them from its consequences. People must have some form of religion, and this religion, formed by human device, and yet claiming divine authority, suits the carnal mind. Men who think themselves wise and intelligent turn away in pride from the standard of righteousness, the ten commandments, and do not think it is in harmony with their dignity to inquire into the ways of God. Therefore they go into false ways, into forbidden paths, become self-sufficient, self inflated, after the pattern of the pope, not after the pattern of Jesus Christ. They must have the form of religion that has the least requirement of spirituality and self-denial, and as unsanctified human wisdom will not lead them to loathe popery, they are naturally drawn toward its provisions and doctrines. They do not want to walk in the ways of the Lord. They are altogether too much enlightened to seek God prayerfully and humbly, with an intelligent knowledge of his word. Not caring to know the ways of the Lord, their minds are all open to delusions, all ready to accept and believe a lie. They are willing to have the most unreasonable, most inconsistent falsehoods palmed off upon them as truth." ST 02-19-94. "A prayerful study of the
Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to
abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of
humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on
their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God.
They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least
spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass
as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these.
It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole worldthose who
would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the
secret of its power." The Great Controversy, page 572.
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