Introduction to the Great Controversy
Publish date:
May 25, 2009
Summary:
Ever since Adam and Eve chose Satan’s way over God’s way, this planet has been a battleground for a spiritual war. The book of Revelation is full of images and prophecies for God’s people who are in the midst of war.
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Ever since Adam and Eve chose Satan’s way over God’s way, this planet has been a battleground for a spiritual war. We are involved in this war everyday. But God doesn’t leave us to fight alone. One way He equips us is by giving us His Word of truth.
The book of Revelation is full of images and prophecies for God’s people who are in the midst of war. Chapter 12 tells an epic story that shows us how Christ will conquer Satan forever. This story symbolizes the heavenly battle that is unfolding throughout history and even today.
Revelation 12:1-9 gives a brief outline of the final conflict between Christ and Satan. The first scenes describe the efforts of Satan to destroy Christ at his birth in order to thwart the plan of salvation. This is followed by the crucifixion, the efforts of Satan to destroy the New Testament Church, and finally his efforts to destroy the remnant Church.
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan...he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:1-9).
This piece of Scripture is full of earthly symbols that represent spiritual events and beings. In this section's articles, we will unpack the symbols and their implications for today’s world.
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This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith, an international speaker who has studied Biblical issues in-depth in his quest for truth. His popular series Genesis Conflict brings the debate between Creation and evolution to a new climax as he dissects the arguments with a scientific eye. His highly-acclaimed series Total Onslaught sheds light on the state of the world today as we move to a one-world government and an anticipated apocalypse.
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Disclaimer:
The contents of this article and website are not intended to accuse individuals. There are many priests and faithful believers in Roman Catholicism who serve God to the best of their ability and are seen by God as His children. The information contained herein is directed only towards the Roman Catholic religio-political system that has reigned in varying degrees of power for nearly two millennia. Under the influence of its successive popes, bishops, and cardinals, this system has established an increasing number of doctrines and statements that clearly go against Scripture.
It is our sincere desire to lay the clear Word of God before you, the truth-seeking reader, so you may decide for yourself what is truth and what is error. If you find herein anything contrary to the Word of God, you need not accept it. But if you desire to seek for Truth as for hidden treasure, and find herein something of that quality, we encourage you to make all haste to accept that Truth which is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit.
It is our sincere desire to lay the clear Word of God before you, the truth-seeking reader, so you may decide for yourself what is truth and what is error. If you find herein anything contrary to the Word of God, you need not accept it. But if you desire to seek for Truth as for hidden treasure, and find herein something of that quality, we encourage you to make all haste to accept that Truth which is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit.
Science Deceptions
Media Deceptions
Reformation
Spiritual Deceptions
Is there evidence for Creation science? How does it compare to evolution? The following articles give insight in to these questions and more.
Conforming Under Pressure
Evolution Is Not Science—It's Religion
How Can We See Stars That Are Billions Of Light Years Away?
Creation and Evolution: Is Compromise Possible?
Understanding the Creation Week
Geocentricity: It's Time to Face the Facts
The Rise of Evolutionary Thinking
Earth's History: Conflicting Paradigms
Lamarck Proposes Natural Selection
Where did the Universe Come From?
Evidence for a Young Universe
Age Of The Earth
Is Carbon-Dating Accurate?
Flood Chronology
Can we understand the age of the earth by the rocks? What theory does the evidence support?
What does the fossil record show us? Is it all random or a defined science that we can understand? Where does evolution fit? Uncover mysteries in the history of the Earth.
As we study the genome, the molecule, and the atom, we see a vast network of intricate systems beyond our understanding. Were these systems really formed by chance?
Why So Many Species - Glossary
Is the Gastraea Hypothesis Viable?
Mechanisms For Variation
Built-in Variation in the Gene Pool
Answering Questions
"Species" versus "Kind"
Molecules That Began Life
Creating Life in a Test Tube?
Post-Flood Distribution
Natural Selection
Reproductive Exchange
Natural Selection as a Creative Force
Transposable Elements
Recombination of Chromosomes
The Evidence of Things Not Seen
Ernst Haeckel's Theories
Dinosaur Extinction and Global Catastrophe
Jesus Christ—All Things Become New
Variation and Classification
Evolution: Miracle of Miracles
Why So Many Species?
Is The Grand Canyon Proof of Noah's Flood?
Spiders and the Creative Genius of God
Things That Negate Evolution: Snake Legs
Wrong Assumptions in C-14 Dating Methods
Rapid Cave Formation
The Australian Problem
Synesthesia: Mystery of God’s Creation
How did this world change from the perfection depicted in Genesis to a world full of thorns, thistles, parasites, and death? If God made everything perfect, how could it have all been so changed?
Archaeology and prophecy have proven the Bible to be true. But what's so special about the Bible that makes it a point of so much controversy?
Music is a powerful emotional motivator that crosses cultural and language barriers. Its message can be understood by every culture and people across the planet.
The Philosophers Talk Music
Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Christianity
The Pursuit of Pleasure
Music and Worship
The Beat
Whose Music?
The Rave
Can You Feel the Music?
The Bible and Rock Music: Are they Compatible?
The Last Great Contest – Worship
The Ear
Classical Music Therapy
Music and the Frontal Lobe
From the Horse's Mouth: The Rock Industry Condemns Itself
What is the system of worship found most often in our society? Does it glorify God?
Research has shown that our sensitivity to stimuli reduces itself yearly by about 1%. Is your brain hibernating?
Beware of the television's abilities to hypnotize, alter moods, and even cause depression.
Like music and movies, video games are addictive and can cause behavioral problems.
What is the origin behind this popular festival celebrated every October 31?
What started the Protestant Reformation? Was the Reformation a success? Does it still matter today?
Read proof that throughout the Roman Church's history, the Papacy has often claimed that the Pope is divine.
The oppression of Protestants is widespread and consistent throughout history.
It was once written in America's oldest Catholic newspaper, the Boston Pilot, that "No good government can exist without religion, and there can be no religion without an Inquisition, which is wisely designed for the promotion and protection of the true faith.”
Read several authors' thoughts on papal Rome's history.
Read several authors' thoughts on papal Rome's history.
Learn what people throughout history have had to say on the reputation, history, and political nature of the Jesuit Order.
This book "Cross and Crown" is a powerful and thrilling recital of the most romantic and dramatic incidents in history to be found on record, told in the simplest, most graphic, and entertaining form.
The historian Ranke says this about Protestant-Catholic relations: "In the year 1617, everything betokened a decisive conflict between them. The Catholic party appears to have felt itself the superior. At all events it was the first to take up arms."
This article highlights quotes from historical and Catholic sources proving the Papacy's aggressive nature.
This article highlights quotes from historical and Catholic sources proving the Papacy's aggressive nature.
Would the world be a safer place without Christian fundamentalism?
Dive into history to uncover the remarkable stories of faith and passion in early Protestantism.
An Italian mystic. A minister to a British king. An Augustine monk. A Swiss farmer's boy. What do these men have in common? They were used by God in powerful ways to bring about the Protestant Reformation. Enter into the lives of these ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Inspiration for these articles comes from Gideon and Hilda Hagstoz' Heroes of the Reformation
An Italian mystic. A minister to a British king. An Augustine monk. A Swiss farmer's boy. What do these men have in common? They were used by God in powerful ways to bring about the Protestant Reformation. Enter into the lives of these ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Inspiration for these articles comes from Gideon and Hilda Hagstoz' Heroes of the Reformation
Language can be used to communicate both truth and lies. Learn about the religious doublespeak being used to pull the wool over the eyes of the world.
Hegelian dialectic thinking is applied in many situations in world politics. Often the ordinary people are used as pawns in the game of Hegelian psychology played by those who pull the strings of world control.
Read this classic work by Ellen G. White.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
Persecution in the First Centuries
An Era of Spiritual Darkness
The Waldenses
John Wycliffe
Huss and Jerome
Luther's Separation From Rome
Luther Before the Diet
The Swiss Reformer
Progress of Reform in Germany
Protest of the Princes
The French Reformation
The Netherlands and Scandinavia
Later English Reformers
The Bible and the French Revolution
The Pilgrim Fathers
Heralds of the Morning
An American Reformer
Light Through Darkness
A Great Religious Awakening
A Warning Rejected
Prophecies Fulfilled
What is the Sanctuary?
In the Holy of Holies
God's Law Immutable
A Work of Reform
Modern Revivals
Facing Life's Record
The Origin of Evil
Enmity Between Man and Satan
Agency of Evil Spirits
Snares of Satan
The First Great Deception
Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
Liberty of Conscience Threatened
The Impending Conflict
The Scriptures a Safeguard
The Final Warning
The Time of Trouble
God's People Delivered
Desolation of the Earth
The Controversy Ended
Is Jesus really who He says He is?
Did Jesus Ever Exist?
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Is What Christianity Teaches True?
The Godhead and the One True God Movement
Is Jesus God?
Jesus: The Mercy Seat
Why Did Jesus Have To Die?
Six Purposes for Christ's Life and Death on Earth
What Day Did Jesus Die?
The 70-Week Prophecy
Jesus, the Recycled Redeemer
Names of Christ in Revelation
How will Christ return, and what will it mean for His people?
What are the trends in the religious world today? Sun Worship, The UN and the One World Religion, Eastern Mysticism and Spiritism... Just what do all these things mean in light of Bible prophecy?
Babylonian Religion
Sun Worship
The Charismatic Movement
Politics and the Papacy
Paganism and Mary
Wealth Redistribution
Spiritism throughout Religions
Catholic Pentecostalism
Unity at All Cost?
Sustainability
Pentecostalism
The Charismatic Movement and Spiritual Gifts
Paganism and Christmas
Manifesting the Charismatic Spirit
The New Age Movement
Paganism in our Culture
The United Nations' Global Government
The History of Tongues
Secret Societies
Revival and the "Power of God"
Signs and Wonders
What’s So Bad about Spiritual Formation?
Zionism
Most people can understand the reasoning behind nine of the Ten Commandments—don't kill, don't lie, don't steal. But what about the Sabbath Commandment? Why would God give such a law? Why should we follow it?
How will Christ return, and what will it mean for His people?
Can the Bible be trusted to provide answers to our questions? Does it contain truth? Learn about the evidence that proves the Bible's authenticity.
Consider the crucial points of the Christian life.
Is there more to death than the fact that it is the opposite of life? What are the false doctrines involving the immortality of the soul?
