Satan's Last-Day Snare For Seventh-day Adventists

Ellen G. White

Music and the Apostasy at the Jordan

At Balaam's suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. He was regarded by them as a prophet of God, and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose. Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites.

Ellen G. White, "Apostasy at the Jordan," Patriarchs and Prophets, page 454. (emphasis supplied).

Our Youth and Music

On every hand there is temptation for our young men, as well as for those of mature years. In both America and Europe the places of vice and destruction are made attractive by exhibitions and music, that unwary feet may be led into the snare. Everything possible is done to lure the young into the saloon. What shall be done to save our youth? Christ made an infinite sacrifice, He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich and have a life that measures with the life of God, and shall we make no sacrifice to save those who are going to ruin about us? What are we doing for the cause of temperance, to save our youth today? Who is standing by the side of Christ, as a laborer together with God?

Ellen G. White, Temperance, pages 281, 282. (emphasis supplied).

"Young Sabbathkeepers are given to pleasure seeking," Ellen White counseled. "I saw that there is not one in twenty [1855-1868] who knows what experimental religion is." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pages 496, 497, emphasis supplied).

"They are constantly grasping after something to satisfy their desire for change, for amusement. . .." Ellen White continued. "They have a keen ear for music, and Satan knows what organs to excite to animate, engross, and charm the mind so that Christ is not desired. . .." (ibid., Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pages 496, 497, emphasis supplied).

Music A Snare In the Way It Is Conducted

"Those things which have been in the past will be in the future," Ellen White warned. "Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted." (Selected Messages, Bk. 2, pages 37, 38, emphasis supplied).

Apostasy in Music Just Prior To the Close of Probation

"The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. . .." Ellen White again warned. "There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. . .. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit." (ibid., Selected Messages, Bk. 2, page 36, emphasis supplied).

The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working.

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 2 (page 36).

No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power thought to be the power of God. . . .

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 2 (page 37).

History of the Past To Be Repeated

I will not go into all the painful history; it is too much. But last January the Lord showed me that erroneous theories and methods would be brought into our camp meetings, and that the history of the past would be repeated. I felt greatly distressed. I was instructed to say that at these demonstrations demons in the form of men are present, working with all the ingenuity that Satan can employ to make the truth disgusting to sensible people; that the enemy was trying to arrange matters so that the camp meetings, which have been the means of bringing the truth of the third angel's message before multitudes, should lose their force and influence.

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 2 (page 37).

"The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds as passed before me last January," Ellen White stated. "Satan works amid the din and confusion of such music, which, properly conducted, would be a praise and glory to God. He makes its effect like the poison sting of the serpent." (ibid., Selected Messages, Bk, 2, page 37).

The Third Angel's Message Not to Be Corrupted

The third angel's message is to be given in straight lines. It is to be kept free from every thread of the cheap, miserable inventions of men's theories, prepared by the father of lies, and disguised as was the brilliant serpent used by Satan as a medium of deceiving our first parents. Thus Satan tries to put his stamp upon the work God would have stand forth in purity.

Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 2, page 37. (emphasis supplied).

Ellen Whites's Final Warning On Celebration Music

Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines, and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the Lord had given them.

Ellen G. White, ibid., Selected Messages, Bk. 2, page 37. (emphasis supplied).