Spirits of Devils

Quotes from the Ellen G. White book, Early Writings, p 262

I saw that the saints must have a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be loved relatives or friends who will declare to them unscriptural doctrines.

The spirits of devils will do all in their power to excite sympathy and will work miracles before them to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits [demons] with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils.

We must examine well the foundation of our hope: for we shall have to give a reason for it from the Scriptures.

For the living know that they will die but the dead know not anything. Ecclesiastes 9:5

Washed-out Bridge

While traveling on a dirt county road Andy noticed, too late, that the bridge was washed out!

Traveling at 30 miles per hour he had no time to stop and the next thing he knew the washed out bridge was behind him!


Andy was so excited that he drove 60 miles back home and brought me to see this amazing sight, and to measure the wash-out and to take photos.

The hole measured seven feet long, twelve feet wide, and ten feet deep. Tire tracks could be plainly seen in the soft dirt road going right to the edge on one side and continuing on the other side - the car had not jumped the hole! Andy felt no bumps or jolts as is common when his little car goes over even the smallest pothole.

Andy explains, "I drove over on God’s hand, there is no other explanation why the car did not fall in the hole. God saved me!

 ‘For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.’ Psalm 91:11.”

Terrible Intensity

The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to the very close of time. ..

.As the church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to work with greater power.

For six thousand years that mastermind (Lucifer - Satan), that once was highest among the angels of God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin.

And all the depths of satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought against God's people in the final conflict. And in this time of peril the followers of Christ are to bear to the world the warning of the Lord's second advent....

In the great final conflict, Satan will employ the same policy, manifest the same spirit, and work for the same end as in all preceding ages.

That which has been, will be, except that the coming struggle will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world has ever witnessed. Satan's deceptions will be more subtle, his assaults more determined.   If it were possible, he would lead stray the elect.

Selections from The Great Controversy, Introduction, ix, x, xi by E G White

WATCH !!

Before the Flood .

... 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." Matthew 24:39.

"Watch...lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13:35, 36.

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 [money];
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:
 "You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting." Daniel 5:27

Selections from The Great Controversy, p 491, E G White

Facing Life's Record

All who would have their names retained in the Book of Life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow and true repentance.

The purity and devotion of one will not offset the [lack] of these qualities in another.

[God] will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth.

The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. ...Soon - none know how soon - it will pass to the cases of the living...

"Watch and pray, for you know not when the time is." Mark 13:33

Selections from The Great Controversy, p 490, E G White

Valentine's Day

In high school and college I was very particular as to who I dated. The guy had to show respect for himself; if he had no respect for himself how could he have respect for me?

 Respect was very important, as was morality, which included no smoking, drinking, drugs or lewd behavior. (I did not date much, but married a gem of a husband!)

 I did not start dating until I was almost seventeen.

 And am proud to say I kept my promise made at a young age and was a chaste virgin for my future husband.

We have been married over 40 (forty) consecutive years!

When We Receive our Heavenly Reward

"When the redeemed stand before God, precious souls will respond to their names who are there because of our faithful, patient and earnest persuasions to flee to the Stronghold.

 Thus, those who in this world have been laborers together with God will receive their reward.”

Testimonies to the Church, Volume 8, pp. 196, 197, E G White 

The Truth About Grandma!

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God..." 1 John 4:1 [RSV]

As a Christian I fully believe in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for “Trinity” is Elohim, and in Genesis 1:26 is translated "Us." God is interested in everything that affects us, for the Trinity deeply loves each one of us.

When Adam and Eve believed Satan’s first lie, "you will never die," (Genesis 3:4, 5), the world was cast into sin and confusion that grows worse every year. Satan lied in direct opposition to God's truth - "if you eat it [a sin] you will die" (Genesis 2:17). Since that first lie almost everyone believes that when you die you keep on living.

It was this teaching and the popular 1960's television comedy, Bewitched, that almost caused my spiritual ruin. Bewitched piqued interest in other schoolgirls, and at slumber parties we would attempt levitation and seances.

We did not know the Bible truth that would protect us from danger. “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.” (See: Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 and 10; Psalm 115:17; Psalm 146:4; Job 7:9-10; Job 14:21; and Isaiah 8:19-20.)

On May 21, 1963 at 10:15 p.m. I sensed something "bad" in the house. Trying to alert my parents to danger by shaking their bed; I was confused when they did not respond. Crawling back into bed, I was startled when Grandma, who lived three hours away, walked through my bedroom door. She was filmy-white. Slowly she glided towards me.

"Grandma, why are you here?" I asked innocently. Never speaking she came to me, her face changing into a demonic glare while gesturing to choke me. "Jesus help me!" I screamed, while throwing the covers over my head. Moments later the ghost was gone. The clock read 10:25 p.m. I cried out to Mom in the next room, she came immediately.

The next morning the nursing home called with the news that this same grandmother had died the night before at 10:20 p.m.

"Grandma was in my room last night,” I told the family, “she was see-through white." Mom was unnerved, but said, “Such things are impossible. Grandma is in Heaven. When people die they go to Heaven."

For years I wondered what Grandma had wanted from me. Was she really trying to kill me, or just wanted me to follow her to heaven? These thoughts haunted me for years.

In 1975 SDA pastor Dr. Charles Felton explained to me, "the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything," Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10. He explained it was the devil whom I had seen - the devil had been confusing me and wanting me to follow him (the devil.)

I was so happy to finally know the truth about "Grandma!"

The Story of the Good Samaritan according to me

There once was a young woman who was walking in a rough neighborhood (sin). Suddenly she was mugged by a gang (Satan and his demons). They hurt her physically and emotionally, and left her for dead in the gutter.

After awhile a church member walked by. The young woman called out for help, but the church member cursed her and continued walking.

Then the head elder walked by. The young woman pleaded with him to please help her, but he stuck his nose in the air and pretended not to see her.

Then the pastor walked by and was disgusted to see her lying in the gutter. He too passed her by.

Finally, Jesus Himself walked by and when the young woman weakly called out for help Jesus immediately stopped and helped her. He didn’t call her a “stupid idiot” for walking in such a rough neighborhood, but He did dress her physical and emotional wounds and carried her to the nearest Inn and continued to care for her.

The next day, before He left, Jesus told the innkeeper to feed the young woman and wash her wounds, saying He would repay the innkeeper when He returned.

“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” - Jesus

Purchased by the Blood of God

God is a judge. He is passionately concerned with justice. But He alone is our Intercessor. He presents His own perfect life and shed blood as our Substitute. He satisfies His own demand for justice - at great cost to Himself. That is the foundation of His righteous empire.

We are guilty. There is nothing we can do to cover our shameful acts. We deserve to die. But God looks through all that and sees Jesus' sacrifice. Mercy and justice come together in that great act of Love.

We have been purchased and saved by the shed blood of God Himself.


Selections from Empires in Collision, p 70, George E Vandeman

Faith & Works

What good is it, if a man claims to have faith but has no works? Can such faith save him?

Someone will say, "You have faith; and I have works.
Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by what I do. "

You believe there is one God? Good! But even the demons believe that and shudder.

Foolish man! Do you want evidence that faith without works is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did! Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness; and he was called God's friend.

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

As the body without breath is dead, so faith without works is dead.

From the book of James 2:14, 18-24, 26.

Complaints? - Really?!

The children of Israel were led into difficult circumstances, like at Marah, where they were practically dying of thirst and found that the water was bitter. Angrily they reproached Moses for leading them into such a terrible spot, forgetting that the Lord Himself had led them there.


"Many look back to the Israelites, and marvel at their unbelief and murmuring, feeling that they themselves would not have been so ungrateful; but when their faith is tested, even by little trials, they manifest no more faith and patience than did ancient Israel. When brought into [tight] places, they murmur at the process by which God has chosen to purify them."
Patriarchs and Prophets, p 293 by E G White