The truths of God’s word have always made their way against determined resistance from the hosts of darkness, and many different snares, plots, and assaults are often made, in order that the soldiers of the cross should lose focus, and be turned from disseminating the messages given by God. This was often the case with Christ, as He stood teaching the multitudes, for in one way or another, agencies of evil were set in motion, to try if possible, to prevent the gospel from being heard.
Nothing has changed since that time, therefore, we should not always expect smooth sailing when the word of God is opened for study, because as stated several times before on this forum, the devil and his agents fear nothing more than to be exposed.
The servant of the Lord gives us a preview of what we may expect and encounter as the word of God is being presented, especially when errors, and ploys of evil spirits are being revealed. One thing is quite certain, and it’s that they will not stand idly by and watch the invasion of their territory without making some move to counteract the force of truth, and that’s why it’s important for us to understand the nature of the battle, and also the parameters that are set, so as not to become annoyed, or disturbed when these incidents do occur. Let’s read:
[Early Writings pp. 266>267] I saw that Satan bade his angels lay their snares especially for those who were looking for Christ's second appearing and keeping all the commandments of God. Satan told his angels that the churches were asleep. He would increase his power and lying wonders, and he could hold them. “But,” he said, “the sect of Sabbath-keepers we hate; they are continually working against us, and taking from us our subjects, to keep the hated law of God.
As they appoint meetings in different places, we are in danger. Be very vigilant then. Cause disturbance and confusion if possible. Battle every inch of ground. I saw that Satan carries out his plans well. As the servants of God appoint meetings, Satan with his angels are on the ground to hinder the work.
Let’s take some examples in scripture so that we may point out specifically how and when these disturbances occur. In the first instance, we’ll see Jesus presenting a soul-stirring message to the people, treating upon important subjects such as hypocrisy, confessing Christ, and persecution. But then, out of the blue, the devil moves upon a man to introduce an issue which has absolutely nothing to do with the truths Christ was presenting, and this is done with the sole intention of trying to cause Jesus to be thrown off-track, and thus the truths may be erased from the minds of the hearers. This specific ploy is engaged very often by the hosts of darkness, and is often manifested in our day when questions, which have absolutely nothing to do with the topic being presented, are posed. Let’s read:
Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me
before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
The next example represents one of the more logical incursions, which on the surface may seem to make sense, but which is instigated by the forces of darkness to oppose the work of Christ. It is a well documented fact that logic is often found to be the diabolical enemy of faith, and is often introduced as an effective decoy to counteract the work of God in our behalf. Thus, through the medium of logic, very many blessings have often been short-circuited, and we often have not a clue as to what has transpired. Let’s read:
John 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
[The Desire Of Ages pp. 535] When the Lord is about to do a work, Satan moves upon someone to object. “Take ye away the stone,” Christ said. As far as possible, prepare the way for My work. But Martha's positive and ambitious nature asserted itself. She was unwilling that the decomposing body should be brought to view. The human heart is slow to understand Christ's words, and Martha's faith had not grasped the true meaning of His promise.
Martha’s problem is that she had been previously distracted with the preparation of food, and thus the way had already been paved for this current decoy. And speaking of food, it is one of the most common and effective methods used by satanic agencies to initiate disturbances, distractions and decoys, and disagreement on issues which pertain to the advancement of God’s kingdom, on which there would otherwise have been a consensus. In such instances the root cause of the disturbances can often be traced back to the dining table, hence the reason why The Lord has prohibited us from eating any food before doing Bible studies, lest we ourselves become distracted, and confused in our presentations.
This course of action on our part, in obedience to the will of God has often caused us to be considered as being anti-social, but God will now open up our understanding, so that we may see clearly the great wisdom of His instructions. Let’s read:
[Testimonies Vol. 7 pp. 257>258] Before our brethren assemble in council or board meetings, each one should present himself before God, carefully searching the heart and critically examining the motives. Pray that the Lord may reveal self to you so that you may not unwisely criticize or condemn propositions. At bountiful tables men often eat much more than can be easily digested. The overburdened stomach cannot do its work properly. The result is a disagreeable feeling of dullness in the brain, and the mind does not act quickly. Disturbance is created by improper combinations of food; fermentation sets in; the blood is contaminated and the brain confused.
Some may ask, What has this to do with board meetings? Very much. The effects of wrong eating are brought into council and board meetings. The brain is affected by the condition of the stomach. A disordered stomach is productive of a disordered, uncertain state of mind”… “and often makes one obstinate in maintaining erroneous opinions. The supposed wisdom of such a one is foolishness with God.
I present this as the cause of the situation in many council and board meetings, where questions demanding careful study have been given but little consideration, and decisions of the greatest importance have been hurriedly made. Often when there should have been unanimity of sentiment in the affirmative, decided negatives have entirely changed the atmosphere pervading a meeting. These results have been presented to me again and again.
But in the next instance, family members are used to cause distractions, and because of the personal nature of this decoy, we should be very careful to handle such disturbances as Christ would, with the courtesy and kindness befitting our interaction with our blood relatives. In this example, Christ is again presenting a very important truth, about His power to expel evil angels from the soul, when suddenly, His sermon is interrupted by a delegation of family members, who insist on seeing Him right there and then.
The suggestion for Christ’s family members to converse with Him at this particular time, originates directly from the prince of darkness, for he is the author of the thought, which is then infused into the minds of Christ’s closest relatives. Let us pay close attention to this decoy, for it will be repeated over and over again in our personal experiences. Let’s read:
Mark 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
The same ploys were often carried on in the old Testament era, and with amazing success. In various ways and through different human agencies the one and the same principle was used. In this instance satan appeals to the better nature in us, and his distractions are cleverly shrouded in garbs of pity, which will certainly arouse the kindness in us, as Christians. Kindness should never be allowed to cause us to disobey God’s revealed will, for it does not atone for a departure from His most explicit commands. Let’s read:
Judges 2:1 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land.
Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, from a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
Nehemiah 6:1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
If the distractions and decoys were just limited to events where sermons and Bible studies are given, then we may not have too much cause for alarm. But the fact of the matter is that even the secular world is being distracted too, including those who are in league with the forces of evil. For instance, the world is now inundated with wars and rumors of wars, bloodshed, and unprecedented migration of peoples, and terrorism, etc. And right here in America we too are distracted, by Email scandals, and divisive rhetoric, and we are faced with two bad options in the political horse race, in so much that pundits, commentators, and learned professors are now at a loss to explain the upheaval in the political realm.
How is it that both candidates for the presidency are now embroiled in fraud, and potential jail time, and how against all odds Donald Trump made it to the top of the GOP ticket, no one can explain, nor give a plausible reason. And thus, there is a valid question to be answered: What is satan’s purpose in bringing and instigating all of this confusion, both nationally and internationally? Answer: To prevent folks from focusing on what is really important, and to avoid any contemplation of two unprecedented events that are soon to take place, and which will forever change the course of this earth’s history, and will, according to the Bible, find most of earth’s teeming multitudes unprepared. So let’s turn to the Bible for answers.
Two very important events are soon to take place:
[1] The permanent close of human probation.
[2] The second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven.
The first event, the close of human probation will permanently lock in our decisions, either for or against Christ, which will then prepare the way for the second event, Christ’s second coming. These are the two main reasons why we are now inundated with a plethora of distractions, disturbances, and decoys. Let’s read:
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains”…
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.
Joel 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.
12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people”…..
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
The Great Controversy pp. 491 When the work of the investigative Judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ in the Revelation, looking forward to that time, declares: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment.
“So,” says the Savior, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men. “Watch ye therefore; ... lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world.
While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
[The Great Controversy pp. 38] Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making; when religious leaders are magnifying the world's progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security,—then, as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly, “and they shall not escape.”
It is imperative then for us not to be distracted, or cause our focus to be removed from the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ is now wrapping up His work in behalf of those who are called by His name. And it is even more important, that we do not be distracted from disseminating the solemn, sacred truths which pertain to our day, for we have very limited time in which to finish up the work of the gospel in all the world. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us all to stay focused on what’s really important, and whenever distractions, disturbances, or decoys arise, let us trust to the mighty power of God to restrain the hosts of darkness, for only He can do for us what we cannot. Let’s read:
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
God bless!