The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 145

He who does all things according to the counsel of His will has been
pleased to place men under various circumstances and to enjoin upon
them duties peculiar to the times in which they live and the conditions
under which they are placed. If they would prize the light given them,
broader views of truth would be opened before them. But truth is no
more desired by the majority today than it was by the papists who
opposed Luther. There is the same disposition to accept the theories and
traditions of men instead of the word of God as in former ages. Those
who present the truth for this time should not expect to be received with
greater favor than were earlier reformers. The great controversy between
truth and error, between Christ and Satan, is to increase in intensity to
the close of this world’s history.
Said Jesus to His disciples: “If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you
out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word
that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they
have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My
saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15:19, 20. And on the other
hand our Lord declared plainly: “Woe unto you, when all men shall
speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke
6:26. The spirit of the world is no more in harmony with the spirit of
Christ today than in earlier times, and those who preach the word of
God in its purity will be received with no greater favor now than then.
The forms of opposition to the truth may change, the enmity may be less
open because it is more subtle; but the same antagonism still exists and
will be manifested to the end of time.

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