The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 465

church fairs, fine houses, personal display, have banished thoughts of
God. Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind, and
things of eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice.
Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there
are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation
of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of
the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed
since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out
upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from
those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for
God and His word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly
accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this
time to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. The enemy
of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a
movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a
counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive
power he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out;
there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest.
Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when
the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek
to extend his influence over the Christian world.
In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half
century, the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less
degree, that will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the
future. There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with
the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet no ne need be deceived. In
the light of God’s word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these
movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning
away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and
renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is
not bestowed.

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