Great Spiritual Darkness
Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .
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In every age, through periods of great light as well as great spiritual darkness, there is revealed in some a peevish disposition, a disposition to complain, to question, and find fault. The most marked evidences of God's workings have no effect upon their ideas; they become fault finders, accusers, sitting in judgment upon sacred things, which can only be spiritually discerned. With many the truth has but little power upon mind and character. It does not sanctify the receiver. Separate the truth from Jesus, and it is powerless. But when the truth is received as it is in Jesus, it has a telling power upon the whole man. A light goes forth from the genuine believer which has a power upon the heart, for it bears the divine credentials. {20MR 242.3} |
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Unbelief was taking possession of their minds and hearts. Love of honor had blinded them. They knew that Jesus was hated by the Pharisees, and they were eager to see Him exalted as they thought He should be. To be united with a teacher who could work mighty miracles, and yet to be reviled as deceivers, was a trial they could ill endure. Were they always to be accounted followers of a false prophet? Would Christ never assert His authority as king? Why did not He who possessed such power reveal Himself in His true character, and make their way less painful? Why had He not saved John the Baptist from a violent death? Thus the disciples reasoned until they brought upon themselves great spiritual darkness. They questioned, Could Jesus be an impostor, as the Pharisees asserted? {DA 380.1} |
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Unbelief was taking possession of their minds and hearts. Love of honor had blinded them. . . . Would Christ never assert His authority as king? Why did not He who possessed such power reveal Himself in His true character, and make their way less painful? Why had He not saved John the Baptist from a violent death? Thus the disciples reasoned until they brought upon themselves great spiritual darkness. They questioned, Could Jesus be an impostor, as the Pharisees asserted? {CC 290.3} |
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Sr. Hall has drank in of this same worldly spirit, a desire to save, economize, work, work, and the spiritual and eternal is neglected, and the interest is swallowed up in worldly things. There is great spiritual darkness upon them all, and they are in a deception. They have a work to do to rid themselves of the love of the world and the selfishness which has increased upon them, and to be converted anew. Unless this change does take place they will certainly fail of everlasting life. God has intrusted you with means, and is proving and testing you, to see what use you will make of his money; whether you will render to God that which belongs to him, or retain the means he has intrusted you with to serve yourselves. God calls for you to sacrifice an offering unto him. You are above the simplicity of the work. You should be earnestly seeking for purity and true holiness. The work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance in God. Now is probation granted you to prepare for the society of pure angels in glory. When you possess the internal transformation a light will emanate from you to others, and its precious rays will prove a savor of life unto life. Watch and pray always, lest ye enter into temptation. {PH015 5.2} |
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A day of great spiritual darkness |
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A hundred years later, in a day of great spiritual darkness, Whitefield and the Wesleys appeared as light bearers for God. Under the rule of the established church the people of England had lapsed into a state of religious declension hardly to be distinguished from heathenism. Natural religion was the favorite study of the clergy, and included most of their theology. The higher classes sneered at piety, and prided themselves on being above what they called its fanaticism. The lower classes were grossly ignorant and abandoned to vice, while the church had no courage or faith any longer to support the downfallen cause of truth. {GC 253.1} |
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A hundred years later, in a day of great spiritual darkness, Whitefield and the Wesleys appeared as light-bearers for God. Under the rule of the established church, the people of England had lapsed into a state of religious declension hardly to be distinguished from heathenism. Natural religion was the favorite study of the clergy, and included most of their theology. The higher classes sneered at piety, and prided themselves on being above what they called its fanaticism. The lower classes were grossly ignorant, and abandoned to vice, while the church had no courage or faith to any longer support the downfallen cause of truth. {4SP 175.2} |