e a right conception of His character,
government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those
who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand
through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching
test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at
hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God's immutable word? Are we
prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith
of Jesus?

Before His crucifixion, the Saviour explained to His disciples that He was
to be put to death, and to rise again from the tomb; and angels were
present to impress His words on minds and hearts. But the disciples were
looking for temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and they could not
tolerate the thought that He in whom all their hopes centered should
suffer an ignominious death. The words which they needed to remember were
banished from their minds; and when the time of trial came, it found them
unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if He had
not forewarned them. So in the prophecies the future is opened before us
as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The
events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation
for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no
more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been
revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make
them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready.

When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as
proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, He requires every
person endowed with reasoning powers to heed the message. The fearful
judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image,(1029)
should lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies to learn what the
mark of the beast is, and how they are to avoid receiving it. But the
masses of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and are
turned unto fables. The apostle Paul declared, looking down to the last
days, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine."(1030)
That time has fully come. The multitudes do not want Bible truth, because
it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart; and
Satan supplies the deceptions which they love.

But God will have a people upon the earth