The
Corruption of Truth
Then
if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Matt. 24:23.
Before the last developments of the work of apostasy there will be a confusion
of faith. There will not be clear and definite ideas concerning the mystery
of God. One truth after another will be corrupted.
After the
truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power
of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices
crying. "Lo, here is Christ; lo, He is there. This is the truth, I have
the message from God, He has sent me with great light." Then there will
be a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of
our faith. A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false sabbath,
and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He has blessed
and sanctified. This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law.
In the
future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for
our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed
from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories,
such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points
on which there will be a departing from the faith.
There will
be false dreams and false visions, which have some truth, but lead away from
the original faith. The Lord has given men a rule by which to detect them:
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20).
As we near
the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those
who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth
from error. We need to make every effort to keep the way of the Lord. We must
in no case turn from His guidance to put our trust in man. The Lord's angels
are appointed to keep strict watch over those who put their faith in the Lord,
and these angels are to be our special help in every time of need. Every day
we are to come to the Lord with full assurance of faith, and to look to Him
for wisdom. . . . Those who are guided by the Word of the Lord will discern
with certainty between falsehood and truth, between sin and righteousness.
