p. 4 | Contrasts and Counterfeits by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1908

Contrasts and Counterfeits

By C. M. S.

—No. 1

The controversy and the conflict between the kingdoms of light and darkness are as real as any that have ever taken place between earthly powers. The lines of attack and defense have been most carefully laid out by the two opposing forces. Their interests clash at every turn. It is light against darkness, truth against falsehood, righteousness against sin, life against death.

In this controversy compromise is impossible, and the controversy must end in the cessation of one of these kingdoms. The ruler of the darkness of this world has taken himself beyond the borders of reconciliation; and for heaven to yield to his disloyal demands in any particular would be to leaven the whole universe of God with the leaven of iniquity, and make the throne of God the abode of unrighteousness. Instead of healing the breach which Satan’s disaffection caused, such an act would spell the ruin of the universe. That would not perpetuate harmony in heaven, nor bring peace even to the disaffected ones.

For this reason the campaign of the gospel is a declaration of war against the originator of sin. The gospel will not be triumphant in fact until the originator of sin and the fruit of his wicked conspiracy are sepulchered together where he planted the seed of his evil purpose. Toward that great event, which means so much to the child of God, we are speeding with swift footsteps.

In the controversy thus nearing its culmination we need not be surprised to see every device of deception and fraud and compulsion at work in the effort to destroy souls who might occupy in heaven the place left vacant by the expulsion of Satan and his followers. Is the power of God promised to his faithful children? Satan will simulate that power, and clothe the children of his choice with his counterfeit. He will even go so far as to “lead astray, if possible, even the elect,” and seek to cause them to attribute to God the power which he himself has brought with him up out of the pit. Has God sent down fire as a witness to the truth? He will bring down fire himself, and make it bear witness to a lie, that souls may be deceived and flock to his banner. Has God a last message for the world, to ripen the wheat of the last harvest? Satan will prepare one also, and see that it is given. Has God a seal, or mark, with which to seal for eternity those who will stand unflinchingly for him in the last conflict? Satan will prepare one also, and he will not leave it to individual choice, either, as to whether it shall be received. Does God give a warning for the last days against the reception of the mark, or seal, of that kingdom of darkness, and attach thereto the penalty of death for refusal to heed? Satan will issue a warning of his own against allegiance to the kingdom of light. Each kingdom, then, has a death penalty attached to its decrees of warning against allegiance to the other power. It is a trying place for the inhabitant of earth; but he must choose. If he chooses wisely, it will be well with him, even though he suffers death; for the power that utters the threat of death against the wise choosing is “not able to kill the soul.”

We see at the present time the conflict rapidly approaching that culmination. Because the end is near and certain, the utter destruction of those who follow the great deceiver is also certain. The very certainty of that destruction inspires with malignant zeal the great adversary of souls. He sees the near approach of the great day of final decisions, when the dominion he won by fraud will be taken from him, and given to those who have been liberated from his rule. He sees the terrible proximity of the day when all who have yielded to his sophistries will go down in everlasting death in the very presence of the heavenly hosts and the tried and triumphant saints. He sees the earth that is now strewn with thorns, thistles, sorrow, and sin because of him, created anew and blossoming again like the Eden Adam knew. He sees the great wound which he made in the universe of God closed and healed forever, while he who caused the wound is forgotten with the fruit of his terrible work. Heaven and earth kiss each other in eternal reconciliation, and Satan is no more.

Knowing the character of Satan, we do not wonder that the contemplation of the result of the conflict fills him with bitter hatred, and with a determination to carry with him into eternal oblivion every son and daughter of Adam whom he can bring under his malignant influence. So he proceeds with parallels, contradictions, contrasts, and counterfeits to confuse and to deceive. No branch of God’s work, no institution he has planted, will escape attack. He has had no mission in the earth but to oppose God and bring his plans to naught. The history of every iniquitous act committed in the earth runs back to the first thought of sin planted here by the author of sin.

Let us look at some of these devices that have been used and are being used of Satan to oppose the work of God in the earth.

When Adam and Eve were established in their Eden home, there was love, communion, trust, and confidence between man and his Maker. All that infinite love could do for their happiness was done. The warning, by heeding which they would demonstrate their loyalty, had been given. The consequence of disobedience was made known. “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” But Satan was on hand with a contradiction and a contrast—a contradiction of God’s declaration, and a contrast of what they now were with what they might be if they would only disobey God’s injunction. “Ye shall not surely die,” he said; and “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Out of that contradiction and contrast have grown two of the

mightiest evils now extant in the religious world. These and other methods of Satan’s opposition and what has grown out of them will be considered in succeeding articles.

C. M. S.