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power。 He comes down 〃having great wrath； because he knoweth that he hath
but a short time。〃 Revelation 12：12。 He will work 〃with all power and signs
and lying wonders。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9。 For six thousand years that
mastermind 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 to bear 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； and a people are to be
prepared to stand before Him at His coming； 〃without spot； and blameless。〃 2
Peter 3：14。 At this time the special endowment of divine grace and power is
not less needful to the church than in apostolic days。
Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit； the scenes of the
long…continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer
of these pages。 From time to time I have been permitted to behold the
working； in different ages； of the great controversy between Christ； the
Prince of life； the Author of our salvation； and Satan； the prince of evil；
the author of sin； the first transgressor of God's holy law。 Satan's enmity
against Christ has been manifested against His followers。 The same hatred of
the principles of God's law； the same policy of deception； by which error is
made to appear as truth； by which human laws are substituted for the law of
God； and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator； may be
traced in all the history of the past。 Satan's efforts to misrepresent the
character of God； to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator；
and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love； his
endeavors to set aside the divine law； leading the people to think
themselves free from its requirements； and his persecution of those who dare
to resist his deceptions； have been steadfastly pursued in all ages。 They
may be traced
xi
in the history of patriarchs； prophets； and apostles； of martyrs and
reformers。
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 never witnessed。 Satan's deceptions
will be more subtle； his assaults more determined。 If it were possible； he
would lead astray the elect。 Mark 13：22； R。V。
As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His word； and
the scenes of the past and the future； I have been bidden to make known to
others that which has thus been revealedto trace the history of the
controversy in past ages； and especially so to present it as to shed a light
on the fast…approaching struggle of the future。 In pursuance of this
purpose； I have endeavored to select and group together events in the
history of the church in such a manner as to trace the unfolding of the
great testing truths that at different periods have been given to the world；
that have excited the wrath of Satan； and the enmity of a world…loving
church； and that have been maintained by the witness of those who 〃loved not
their lives unto the death。〃
In these records we may see a foreshadowing of the conflict before us。
Regarding them in the light of God's word； and by the illumination of His
Spirit； we may see unveiled the devices of the wicked one； and the dangers
which they must shun who would be found 〃without fault〃 before the Lord at
His coming。
The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages are
matters of history； well known and universally acknowledged by the
Protestant world； they are facts which none can gainsay。 This history I have
presented briefly； in accordance with the scope of the book； and the brevity
which must necessarily be observed； the facts having been condensed into as
little space as seemed consistent with
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a proper understanding of their application。 In some cases where a historian
has so grouped together events as to afford； in brief； a comprehensive view
of the subject； or has summarized details in a convenient manner； his words
have been quoted； but in some instances no specific credit has been given；
since the quotations are not given for the purpose of citing that writer as
authority； but because his statement affords a ready and forcible
presentation of the subject。 In narrating the experience and views of those
carrying forward the work of reform in our own time； similar use has been
made of their published works。
It is not so much the object of this book to present new truths concerning
the struggles of former times； as to bring out facts and principles which
have a bearing on coming events。 Yet viewed as a part of the controversy
between the forces of light and darkness； all these records of the past are
seen to have a new significance； and through them a light is cast upon the
future； illumining the pathway of those who； like the reformers of past
ages； will be called； even at the peril of all earthly good； to witness 〃for
the word of God； and for the testimony of Jesus Christ。〃
To unfold the scenes of the great controversy between truth and error； to
reveal the wiles of Satan； and the means by which he may be successfully
resisted； to present a satisfactory solution of the great problem of evil；
shedding such a light upon the origin and the final disposition of sin as to
make fully manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all His dealings
with His creatures； and to show the holy； unchanging nature of His law； is
the object of this book。 That through its influence souls may be delivered
from the power of darkness； and become 〃partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light；〃 to the praise of Him who loved us； and gave Himself for
us； is the earnest prayer of the writer。
E。G。W。
（xiii）
Contents
1。 The Destruction of Jerusalem 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 17
2。 Persecution in the First Centuries 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 39
3。 An Era of Spiritual Darkness （The Apostasy） 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 49
4。 The Waldenses 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 61
5。 John Wycliffe 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 79
6。 Huss and Jerome 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 97
7。 Luther's Separation From Rome 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 120
8。 Luther Before the Diet 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 145
9。 The Swiss Reformer 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 171
10。 Progress of Reform in Germany 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 185
11。 Protest of the Princes 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 197
12。 The French Reformation 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。