1. Satan’s enmity with God and man
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Satan, who was once a mighty and lofty angel in Heaven, is the leader of the rebellion against God. From the first it has been his object to dethrone God, by breaking down the rules of his government. He had induced angels to join him in Heaven; and when Adam sinned, he thought to carry the whole human race on his side” (ST, Dec 23, 1886).
Ellen White: ““He who had incited rebellion in Heaven desired to bring the whole creation to unite with him in his warfare against the government of God. His envy and jealousy were excited as he looked upon the beautiful home prepared for the happy, holy pair, and he immediately laid his plans to cause their fall. Had he revealed himself in his real character, he would have been repulsed at once” (4SP, 351, 1884).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “Satan, the leader, guide and superior, as he was the author of the celestial rebellion… under his authority they [fallen angels] still act, not obeying, but carrying on the same insurrection against god, which they began in heaven, making war still against heaven, in the person of his creature, man” (The History of the Devil, p. 34, 1726).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “That he is the vanquished, but implacable, enemy of God his creator, who has conquered him, and expelled him from the habitations of bliss. On which account he is filled with envy, rage, malice, and all the uncharitableness; would dethrone God, and overturn the thrones of heaven, if it were in his power… That he is man’s irreconcilable enemy… (the Devil) can make by the ruin and destruction of man; but in mere envy at the felicity he is supposed enjoy as Satan’s rival; and as he is appointed to succeed Satan, and his angels, in the possession of these glories from which they are fallen” (The History of the Devil, p. 57, 1726).
2. Satan had access to other inhabited worlds
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen” (GC, 659).
“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds…The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely…They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, “None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree” (CET, p. 97, 98; A Sketch of the Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, pp. 22, 23, 1851)
“Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe…Henceforth his work was restricted…he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts…The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken” (DA, p. 761).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “…but as the devil, let his residence be where it will, has evidently free to leave to come and go, not into the world only, (I mean the region of our atmosphere,) but, for aught we know, to all other inhabited worlds which God has made, wherever they are, and by whatever names they are, …for if he is not confined in one place, we have no reason to believe he is excluded from any place, heaven only excepted, from whence he was expelled for his treason and rebellion” (The History of the Devil, p. 169, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
3. Satan’s disguise
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Had Satan revealed himself in his real character, he would have been repulsed at once” (GC, p. 531, 1911).
Ellen White: “Had she met a commanding personage, possessing a form like the angels, and resembling them, she would have been upon her guard” (ST, January 16, 1879).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “Had he been obliged always to act the mere devil in his own clothes, and in his own clothes, and in his own shape,…he would be always discovered, exposed, and forced to leave the good company…” (The History of the Devil, pp. 233, 268, 1726).
4. Satan influences people to spread fables about himself
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Satan exults for his own sake that he is regarded as a fiction. When he is made light of, and is represented by some childish illustration, or as some animal, it suits him well… His rebellion shut him out of heaven, but did not destroy his powers and make him a beast… Satan has originated fables with which to deceive. He commenced in heaven to war against the foundation of God’s government, and since his fall has carried on his rebellion against the law of God,… Satan has taken advantage of these popular fables to hide himself. He comes to poor deceived mortals through modern Spiritualism,… Ministers inspired of Satan can eloquently dress up this hideous monster, hide its deformity and make it appear beautiful to many” (RH, May 13, 1862).
Ellen White: “We talk altogether too much about the power of Satan. It is true that Satan is a powerful being; but I thank God for a mighty Saviour, who cast the evil one from heaven. We talk of our adversary, we pray about him, we think of him; and he looms up greater and greater in our imagination. Now why not talk of Jesus? Why not think of his power and his love? Satan is pleased to have us magnify his power” (RH, March 19, 1889; DA, p. 493).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… if he [the Devil] sees men willing to make every scarecrow for a devil, it is not his business to undeceive them. On the other hand, he finds it in his interest to foster the cheat, and serve himself the consequences… I have sometimes thought, not that this has been put upon him by mere fancy, and the cheat of an heavy imagination, propagated by fable, … but it has been a contrivance of his own; and in short, the Devil raised the scandal upon himself, that he might keep his disguise the better, and might go a visiting among his friends without being known… As I have thus suggested, that the Devil himself has politically spread about this notion concerning appearing with a cloven foot…” (The History of the Devil, pp. 265-269, 1726).
5. Satan seeks to destroy God’s law
Ellen White (1827-1915): “From the very beginning of the great controversy in heaven it has been Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God… To deceive men, and thus lead them to transgress God’s law, is the object which he has steadfastly pursued. Whether this be accomplished by casting aside the law altogether, or by rejecting one of its precepts” (GC, p. 582).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “It was evident what the Devil aimed at namely, that she should break in upon the command of God” (The History of the devil, p. 91, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “Satan went gradually… It was sufficient to bring mankind to neglect God, to worship him by halves, and give little or no regard to his laws, and so grow loose and immoral, in direct contradiction to his commands” (The History of the devil, pp. 117, 118, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
6. Books that expose Satan’s deceptions to be circulated
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Elder Haskell was presenting strong reasons…. Why is not a specialty made of the books containing the warnings regarding Satan’s work? Why do we not give greater effort to circulating the books that point out Satan’s plans to counterwork the work of God, that uncover his plans and point out his deceptions?” (9T, p. 67, 1909).
Ellen White: “Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan’s apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth will reach many minds. ‘Patriarchs and Prophets,’ ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ and ‘Great Controversy’ are needed now as never before” (RH, February 16, 1905).
Ellen White: “Oh, that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan and be on their guard!” (EW, p. 44).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… as the learned tell us, that a stone taken out of the head of a toad is a good, antidote against poison, so a competent knowledge of the Devil and all his ways may be, the best help to make us defie the Devil and all his works” (The Political History of the Devil, p. 18, 1726).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “Thus, good people, I have brought the history of the Devil down to your own times; I have as it were, raised him for you, and set him in your view, that you may know him and have care of him” (The history of the Devil, p. 408, 1726).
7. The oracles of the Devil
Ellen White (1827-1915): “The deification of the dead has held a prominent place in nearly every system of heathenism, as has also the supposed communion with the dead. The gods were believed to communicate their will to men, and also, when consulted, to give them counsel. Of this character were the famous oracles of Greece and Rome” (Ev, p. 603; The Signs of the Times, June 23, 1890).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… deify their princes and men of fame, and worship them after they were dead, as if they could save them from death and calamity’ (The history of the Devil, p. 123, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “…that fraud of all frauds, called oracle… oracles were seated, and audience given to the inquirers; in all which the Devil, or somebody for him… was allowed to make at least a pretension to knowledge of things to come… I think it is much more reasonable to believe there was never any reality in them at all, or that any oracle even gave out any answers but what were inventions of the priests, and the delusions of the Devil… The chief oracles we meet with in history are among the Greeks and the Romans” (The History of the Devil, pp. 193-198, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
8. Mysterious knockings
Ellen White (1827-1915): “I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common” (EW, p. 43).
Ellen White (1827-1915): “I saw that the mysterious knocking in N.Y. and other places, was the power of Satan; and that such things would be more and more common… Oh! that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan, and be on their guard. I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just now in this sealing time” (RH, August 1, 1849).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… when he [the Devil] has thought fit to descend to the meanness of disturbing and frightening children and old women, by noises and knockings, dislocating the chairs and stools, breaking windows…” (The History of the Devil, p. 37, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “It was a very great Din and knocking at his doors, and outside of his House… He opened the Door where the great knocking was, and then he heard the noise at another Door. He opened that also, and went around his house, but could discover nothing” (Satan’s Invisible World Discovered, p. 57, 1685). (Emphasis added).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “She rising from her bed sat down to Supper, and from below, there was such a knocking up, as bred fear to all that were present. This knocking was just under her Chair, where it was not possible for any mortals to knock up… there was also a knocking heard below her, even during the time of Prayer… when she awaked [from sleep], she told him of many things the Devil had been speaking to her” (Ibid., p. 200).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “…so it may be to all a demonstration of satan’s subtility, whose design is still to destroy all, partly by tempting many to presumptions, and some others to despair” (Ibid., p. 55).
9. How Ellen White knew the secret behind the rappings
Francis D. Nichol (1897-1966): “It was in this same year, 1848, that a most singular phenomenon occurred in the little village of Hydesville, New York, at the home of the Fox family. Strange rappings were heard. The two Fox daughters began to respond to the rappings. It seemed like a freak affair. There was nothing to indicate just what it might be, least of all to provide evidence that what was there happening was the beginning of something that would spread far and wide—something of satanic nature. But the months immediately following, while the public at large, as well as occasionally some spokesman for the press or the clergy, was offering vague and casual comments, Mrs. White on March 24, 1849, declared “I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York was the power of Satan… How did she know all this? How was she able to say that it would grow and grow, that it would take on a religious garb? How, indeed, could she say for sure that it was of Satan? All these are pertinent questions. We can answer all these easily now, but she wrote before those knockings had developed into something large and sinister” (Why I Believe In Mrs. Ellen G. White, pp. 94, 95, 1964). (Emphasis added).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “After this they would hear a scraping under the childrens bed, as by something that had Iron tallons” (Satan’s Invisible World Discovered, p. 59, 1685).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “As soon as she was in bed, the disturbance began there again, and making noises; and it was observed that it would exactly answer in drumming anything that was beaten or called for” (Ibid., p. 61).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “During the knocking when many were present a Gentleman of the company, said, Satan, if the Drummer set thee to work, give three knocks and no more, which it did very distinctly and stopt…” (Ibid., p. 64).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “I had been told, that it would imitate noises and made Trial by scratching several times upon the sheets as 5 and 7 and 10 which it followed… made all search that possibly I could to find if there were any Trick, contrivance, or common Cause of it… but we could discover nothing. So that I was verily persuaded, that the Noise was made by some Deamon or Spirit” (Ibid., p. 68).
Note: Two centuries before Ellen white was “shown” the mysterious knockings, people knew full well of the “knockings”, and also of the source behind them, – Satan. She was in no way the first to bring these things before the world by way of prediction!
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “If the voice of the dead man could affright them into Superstition, should not the warning of God affright us into True Doctrine?” (Ibid., p. 157).
Catherine Crowe (1800-1876): “… footsteps of invisible feet, knockings, first on one side, and then on the other, were heard daily and nightly. Sometimes the unseen agent seemed to be knocking to a certain tune, and if a question were addressed to it which could be answered numerically, as, “How many people are in this room?” for example, it would answer by so many knocks” (The Night Side of Nature; or, Ghosts and Ghost Seers, Vol. 2, p. 294, 1848).
10. Supernatural manifestations during visions
W. C. White (1854-1937): “Father prayed; Mother prayed; and as she was praying, I heard that shout, Glory. There is nothing like it–that musical, deep shout of Glory. She fell backward. My father put his arm under her. In a little while her strength came to her. She stood up in an attitude of one seeing wonderful things in the distance, her face illuminated, sometimes bright and joyous. She would speak with that musical voice, making short comments upon what she was seeing” (The Visions of Ellen G. White, W. C. White Statements Regarding Mrs. White and Her Work: Remarks of W. C. White in Takoma Hall, December 17, 1905).
Francis D. Nichol (1897-1966): “Peculiar circumstances in the lives of individuals, whom she never before had seen in the flesh, and secrets hidden from the nearest acquaintances, have been made known by her when she had no personal knowledge of the parties other than by vision. Often has she been in an audience where she was wholly unacquainted with the individuals composing it, when she would get up and point out person after person whom she never had seen before, in the flesh, and tell them what they had done, and reprove their sins. I might mention many other items of like nature, but space forbids. These things can be proved by any amount of testimony, and we confidently affirm that they are of such a character that they could not be accomplished by deception” (Why I believe in Mrs. Ellen G. White, p. 88, Francis D. Nichol, 1964; The Review and Herald, June 9, 1874).
Ellen White (1827-1915): “After I come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen, and the matter is not so clear before me until I write, then the scene rises before me as was presented in vision, and I can write with freedom. Sometimes the things which I have seen are hid from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot call them to mind until I am brought before a company where that vision applies, then the things which I have seen come to my mind with force” (2SG, pp. 292, 293, 1860). (Emphasis added).
Catherine Crowe (1800-1876): “Supernatural effects are observed in them that are bewitched or possessed; and such as foretelling things to come, telling what such and such speak or do, as if they were by them… to act and talk, and go up and down, and tell what will become of things, and what happens in those fits of possession; and then so soon as the possessed or bewitched party is out of them, to remember nothing at all” (The Night Side of Nature; or, Ghosts and Ghost Seers, Vol. 2, p. 335, 1848). (Emphasis added).
11. Satan impersonates the dead
Ellen White (1827-1915): “I saw the rapping delusion—what progress it was making, and that if it were possible it would deceive the very elect. Satan will have power to bring before us the appearance of forms purporting to be our relatives or friends now sleeping in Jesus. It will be made to appear as if these friends were present; the words that they uttered while here, with which we were familiar, will be spoken, and the same tone of voice that they had while living will fall upon the ear” (EW, p. 87, 1882).
George Sinclair (1654-1696): “… the Apparition of Isabel Heriot, in that same very habit she was laid into her Coffin with. Never was on egg liker to another than the Apparition was like to her, as to her Face, her Stature, her Motion, her Tongue, and Behaviour. As like was the Devil to her” (Satan’s Invisible World Discovered, p. 148, 1685).
12. Satan as monster
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Ministers inspired of Satan can eloquently dress up this hideous monster, hide its deformity and make it appear beautiful to many. But it comes so direct from his satanic majesty” (RH, May 13, 1862).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… from that very time they lost their angelic beautiful form, commenced ugly frightful monsters and devils” (The History of the Devil, p. 215, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… this monster [Devil] in masquerade” (The History of the Devil, p. 60, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
13. Satan cannot read our thoughts
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Satan cannot read our thoughts” (RH May 19, 1891).
Ellen White: “In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words, and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter” (RH July 11, 1893).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “It is also a great inquiry here, whether the Devil knows our thoughts or no? If I may give my opinion, I am with the negative; I deny that he knows anything of our thoughts, except of those thoughts which he puts us upon thinking” (The History of the Devil, p. 171, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
14. Satan did not fully understand the significance of Genesis 3:15
Ellen White (1827-1915): [The promise] “I will put enmity… But these words at the time they were spoken were not fully understood by Satan” (RH February 24, 1874).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “Though the Devil knew him to be the Son of God, did not fully know the mystery of the incarnation; the Devil was ignorant of the great mystery of godliness” (The History of the Devil, p. 154, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
15. Satan would finally be bound
Ellen White (1827-1915): “That the expression “bottomless pit” represents the earth in a state of confusion and darkness is evident from other scriptures. Concerning the condition of the earth “in the beginning,” the Bible record says that it “was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep… Genesis 1:2. Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back, partially at least, to this condition. Looking forward to the great day of God, the prophet Jeremiah declares: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; … Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen” (GC, pp. 658, 659).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “When the Devil’s kingdom in the world is ending with the world itself, that liberty he has now may be farther abridged; when he may be returned to the same state he was in between the time of his fall and the creation of the world” (The History of the Devil, p. 167, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
16. Satan will be punished for the sins of the redeemed
Ellen White (1827-1915): “Satan bore not only the weight and punishment of his own sins, but also of the sins of the redeemed host, which had been placed upon him; and he must also suffer for the ruin of souls which he had caused” (EW, pp. 294, 295, 1882).
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731): “… with perhaps some additional vengeance on him, such as at present we cannot describe, for all that reason, and those high crimes and misdemeanour, which he has been guilty of here, in his conversation with mankind. As his infelicity will be then consummated and complete, so the felicity of that part of mankind, who are condemned with him, may receive a considerable addition from those words in these sentences to be tormented with the Devil and his angels; … so the hated company of the deceiver, who was the great cause of his ruin, must be subject of additional horror,…” (The History of the Devil, p. 167, 1854 [first published in 1726]).
