1910年9月12日写于加利福尼亚州纳帕县疗养院
致密歇根州巴特尔克里克G.W.阿马登先生
亲爱的阿马登弟兄:
我们已听说你在巴特尔克里克帐篷大会期间大帐篷倒塌时所遭受的不幸。我们对这个消息并不感到惊讶,因为空中掌权者的首领(弗2:2)会努力做出异常的事来阻碍上帝的子民,比起他过去所做的,将来他做的会多得多。{PC 91.1}
我感到惊讶的是,我们竟然那么少看到他愤怒的作为和表现。我已经看到在巴特尔克里克营地发生的这种事将会再次发生。当路锡甫看到我们似乎打算在各城市努力传扬最后的信息时,他就会被激怒,千方百计阻止这项工作。{PC 91.2}
路锡甫被赶出了天庭,因为他完全下定了决心要拥有比基督更高的职位。他无法得到他所贪图的,天上有了战争,他被驱逐出去了。{PC 91.3}
撒但爪牙已经控制了巴特尔克里克,当我读到你的经历时,我一点也不惊讶;因为我意识到会有更多这样的事情发生。随着主的使者们在各城开工,必有许多奇怪的启示,但我们要勇往直前,不听从他们。{PC 91.4}
以约伯为例。看看撒但是如何被允许显示自己和他对上帝仆人的愤怒。将来我们还会看到圣经中所描绘的更多的暴力行为。但我们不应感到惊讶,好像什么奇怪的事情发生在我们身上了。当我们在工作中获得特别的胜利,唤醒我们的人意识到他们的真实地位时,撒但就会显露他自己。{PC 91.5}
我们在伯克利帐篷大会期间大大蒙福。我们的地理位置非常好,我对此表示感谢。撒拉和我在营地马路对面的一所房子里有房间。我的房间在大帐篷的对面。我只要走过马路,再往前走一小段,就进了帐篷。我很庆幸自己没有多少麻烦就能上讲台。{PC 91.6}
克莱斯勒弟兄和他的家人还有威利住在我们所住房子后院的一栋平房里。对我来说,离我的工人这么近是非常有利的。{PC 91.7}
帐篷大会顺利举行,没有发生事故。参加聚会的人数很多。我请求在聚会的最后一天发言的机会,那天我宣读并解释了一些会对愿意接受之人大有影响的著作。我深感要介绍这些著作。我们必须凭着信心更加坚定地把握可靠真理的话语。{PC 91.8}
从帐篷大会回来一周之后,我访问了太平洋联合学院,那里当时在召开该区会各教会学校教师们的特别聚会。撒拉和我星期五早上离开家去学院,走了较长的路线,因为短的那条路线多有岩石,而且每年的这个时候尘土飞扬。这条长路大约有十英里,比短途远四英里,但它是一条很好的路,逐渐上山。我们一点也不受灰尘的影响,但那是两个半小时的车程,是一个持续上升的过程,一到学校,我就感到很疲倦。{PC 92.1}
尽管我很疲倦,第二天早上我还是向满屋子的人讲了话。耶和华使我讲得很自由,我讲了约有一小时。下述话语在我脑海中,我就对百姓讲了:{PC 92.2}
进入城市:我一再受命要告诉我们各地的教会应做的工作,不仅在我们已经建立教会的地方,也在从未完全确立真理的新园地。在我们的城市里,像在遥远的国家一样,有各民族的人。他们的灵魂是宝贵的,必须听见信息。要开辟道路前往这些尚未开展工作的地区。要坚决地完成工作。要打开缺口。{PC 92.3}
我们那些一个又一个安息日向同样的人讲道的人,成就得很少。如果他们是完全清醒的,他们的话就会给人留下明确的印象,人们就会得到启发,蒙引导接受真理。{PC 92.4}
人类不可能衡量撒但在欺骗人的头脑时所表现出的聪明才智。当基督看到撒但的计划实现,要以许多方式欺骗人类时,祂就欣然来到我们的世界作一个婴孩,住在这个世界上,在人生的每一个阶段对付狡猾的仇敌,对抗他的邪恶诡计。没有人能像基督一样了解仇敌欺骗的力量。祂看到世界被各种商业主义所行使的欺骗能力迷惑住了。祂来取了人性,抑制这种正在导致灵魂灭亡的压倒一切的欺骗能力。{PC 92.5}
就这样制定了计划,要基督担任救主。祂来到我们的世界生活、受难和受死,以便争取被撒但欺骗的人归向上帝。祂明智地了解那试探者的计划,祂能教导男男女女如何变得有智慧,好看清并逃避撒但在不断发明的败坏。{PC 92.6}
基督宣布:我保证自己作为主上帝全能者的独生子,要执行上帝的计划,从撒但一边得人归到主的一边。惟有基督能击败仇敌。祂为人的利益行事,好揭露仇敌的计划,以便引导人转离那个大骗子。{PC 92.7}
(签名) 怀爱伦
(来自保尔森医生的选集
A.-74-1910
Sanitarium, Napa Co., Cal.,September 12, 1910
Mr. G. W. Amadon, Battle Creek, Michigan
Dear Brother Amadon,
We have heard of the calamity that overtook you during the Battle Creek camp meeting, in the wrecking of the large tent. This news does not surprise us; for the prince of the power of the air will do strange things in his efforts to hinder God’s people; and much more in the future than he has in the past.?{PC 91.1}
I have been surprised that we have seen so little of the working and manifestation of his wrath. I have seen that just such things as have happened at the Battle Creek camp meeting will take place again. As Lucifer sees that we are making efforts to work the cities as if we meant to give the last message, his wrath will be aroused, and he will employ every device in his power to hinder the work.?{PC 91.2}
Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he was fully determined to have a position above that of Christ. He could not obtain what he coveted, and there was war in heaven, and he was cast out.?{PC 91.3}
Satanic agencies have held control at Battle Creek, and as I read the account of your experience, I was not at all surprised; for I realize that many more such things will take place. As the cities are worked by the Lord’s messengers, there will be many strange revelations, but we are to go straight forward, heeding them not.?{PC 91.4}
Take the case of Job. See how Satan was permitted to show himself and his indignation against God’s servant. In the future we shall see more of the violence described in the Bible. But we must not be surprised, as though some strange thing happened unto us. As special victories are gained in the work of arousing our people to a sense of their true position, Satan will reveal himself.?{PC 91.5}
We were greatly blessed during our camp meeting at Berkeley. We had an exceptionally favorable location, and this I appreciated. Sara and I had rooms in a house just across the road from the campground. My room was opposite the large pavilion. I had only to walk across the street, go a short distance further, and I was in the tent. I was thankful that it was so little trouble for me to get to the speakers’ stand.?{PC 91.6}
Brother Crisler and his family and Willie had a cottage in the back yard of the house we occupied. It was very favorable for me to be so near my workers.?{PC 91.7}
The camp meeting was carried through with success, and no accidents occurred. The attendance at the meeting was large. I solicited an opportunity to speak on the last day of the meeting, when I read and explained some writings that will be of great consequence to those who will accept them. These writings I was deeply impressed?to present. By faith we must grasp more firmly the words unfailing truth.?{PC 91.8}
About a week after returning from the camp meeting, I visited the Pacific Union College, where a special meeting was then being held by the teachers of the church schools in this conference. Sara and I left our home for the College on Friday morning, taking the longer route, because the short one is rocky, and at this time of the year very dusty. The long road is about ten miles, four miles farther round than the short route, but it is an excellent road, ascending the mountain gradually. We suffered little annoyance from the dust, but it is a drive of two and a half hours, and a continual ascent, and on reaching the school I felt very weary.?{PC 92.1}
Notwithstanding my weariness, I spoke to a full house the following morning. The Lord gave me freedom of speech, and I spoke for about an hour, The following words, which were on my mind. I spoke to the people:?{PC 92.2}
Entering the Cities: Again and again I am instructed to present to our churches in every place the work that should be done, not only where we have churches already established, but in new fields, where the truth has never been fully established. In our cities, as verily as in far-off lands, there are people of all nationalities, whose souls are precious, and who must hear the message. The way must be opened to reach those unworked fields. Decided work must be done, openings must be made.?{PC 92.3}
Those of our ministers who, Sabbath after Sabbath, preach to the same ones, accomplish very little. If they were wide awake, their words would make a decided impression and souls would be enlightened and led to accept the truth.?{PC 92.4}
It is impossible for man to measure the ingenuity shown by Satan in deceiving human minds. As Christ saw the working out of Satan’s plans to deceive man in many ways, He gladly came to our world as an infant, to live in this world, to meet the wily foe in every stage of human life, and to counterwork his Satanic wiles. No one could understand as Christ did the enemy’s power of deception. He saw that the world was being captivated by the delusive power exercised through commercialism of various kinds. He came to take human nature, and to stay this overwhelming power of deception, which was leading souls to their ruin.?{PC 92.5}
Thus was laid the plan for Christ to act His part as a Saviour. He came to our world to live, and suffer, and die, that He might win to God the souls deceived by Satan. He is wise in an understanding of the tempter’s plans, and He can teach men and women how to become wise to discern and to escape the corruption that Satan is constantly inventing.?{PC 92.6}
Christ declared, I have pledged Myself, as the only begotten Son of the Lord God Almighty, to carry out God’s plan to win souls from Satan to the Lord’s side. Christ alone can defeat the enemy. He works in man’s behalf to uncover his plans, that souls may be led to turn from the arch-deceiver.?{PC 92.7}
(Signed)
(From Doctor Paulson’s Collection) Ellen G. White