EGW WritingsIsaiah 8

Ellen G. White · Page 2 of 2

Isaiah 8:20

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 40, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 40, 1894, par. 6

Men may claim to be sanctified, but unless their sanctification is witnessed to by the law and the prophets it is not according to Bible requirements. There are some who refuse to listen to the words of the Scriptures. They declare they are inspired by the Spirit of God; but when reminded that the Bible was written by men who were moved by the Holy Ghost, they have revealed the fact that they were following the inspiration of another spirit. True inspiration never rejects true inspiration; but is in harmony with the Bible. Anything that leads away from the Word of God is proved to be inspired from beneath. “To the law and to the testimonies, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 24b, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 24b, 1896, par. 2

All who advocate truth in distinction to error have a special work to do in vindicating the law of God. Men inspired by a power from beneath have considered it their duty to uphold as the Sabbath, the first day of the week. By thus disregarding the claim of God, ministers who claim to preach the gospel are voicing the words of Satan, who told Adam and Eve that if they transgressed the law, they would not die, but would be as gods, knowing good and evil. By their influence and example, these false shepherds have caused a lie to be received as truth. With persevering energy they have labored to established a spurious Sabbath, and this man-made institution has received the homage of the greater part of the world. But this does not make a day holy which God had given to us for a common working day. Though this error be hoary with age, though the world bow in reverence to it, it still remains an error and a delusion, for God says, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 24, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 24, 1896, par. 25

All who advocate truth in distinction to error have a special work to do in vindicating the law of God. Men inspired by a power from beneath have considered it their duty to uphold, as the Sabbath of the Lord, the first day of the week. By thus disregarding the claims of God, ministers who claim to preach the gospel are voicing the words of Satan, who told Adam and Eve that if they transgressed the law, they would not die, but would be as gods, knowing good and evil. By their influence and example, these false shepherds have caused a lie to be received as truth. With persevering energy they have labored to establish a spurious Sabbath, and this man-made institution has received the homage of the greater part of the world. But this does not make a day holy which God has given us as a common working day. Though this error be hoary with age, though the world bow in reverence to it, it still remains an error and a delusion, for God says, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 69, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 69, 1896, par. 1

All who advocate truth in distinction to error have a special work to do in vindicating the law of God. Men inspired by a power from beneath have considered it their duty to uphold as the Sabbath of the Lord, the first day of the week. By thus disregarding the claims of God, ministers who claim to preach the gospel are echoing the words of old to Adam and Eve in Eden, that if they transgressed the law, they would not die, but would be as gods, knowing good and evil. By their influence and example, these false shepherds have caused a lie to be received as truth. With persevering energy they have labored to establish a spurious sabbath, and this man-made institution has received the homage of the greater part of the world. But this does not make a day holy which God has given us as a common working day. Though their error be hoary with age, though the world bow in reverence to it, it still remains an error and a delusion, for God says, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 92, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 92, 1900, par. 14

By our dealing with our brethren, we show what power is prevailing in the soul temple. Those around us need to see us living lives of virtue and rectitude. Those who eat the bread of life reveal an abiding Christ. They are channels through which the living water can flow. They can be trusted. Every action of the life is to be tried. What saith the Scriptures? How readest thou? “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] Thus the decision is to be made in the great day of judgment.

Faith and Works

You Can’t Reason It Out

FW 66.3

Have you been grasping the precious truths point after point as they have been presented? Or have you been thinking that you follow your own ideas and opinions and read and judge the Word of God by your opinions and theories? Or will you take your ideas and theories to the Word of God and let the living oracles reveal to you where the deficiencies and defects are in your ideas and theories? We cannot take a position that we will judge the Word of God because we believed thus and so. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 94, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 94, 1900, par. 2

We have our work outlined in the prophetic Word, and we will not be diverted from God’s way and methods of bringing the truth before the world. Satan will set everything possible in operation to divert the work into wrong lines. The reason for this is that it shall, under the devising of human methods and human inventions, lose its peculiar, holy, select character to represent its efficiency and power to our world, the order and sanctification and elevated character of those who shall compose the chosen, commandment-keeping people of God. Satan would so commingle the righteous with the wicked that the distinction will be so indistinct as not to have the sign of God’s commandment-keeping people appear as a sign of God’s distinguishing sign of the sanctification of the Spirit in true humility and holiness. “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Lt 29, 1902

17LtMs, Lt 29, 1902, par. 9

“To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] Those who are Christians have the mind of Christ, and His Spirit and its quickening influence are not satisfied with pretense. Are we learning of Christ? Every member of His church ought to be. If we are not, our wisdom is foolishness. The Lord has given great light to His church, in His Word, and in the messages of warning He has sent. We all need to become more and more convinced that we must put on Christ—in action, in word, in the very tones of our voice. In our council meetings we are to act like wise men, knowing that the Lord God of heaven is present in every such meeting. Never allow a boisterous speech or an irreverent tone to be heard. Those who are taught of God show profound reverence for sacred things.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 51, 1902

17LtMs, Ms 51, 1902, par. 6

God has given us a test by which all may be tried. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 150, 1903

18LtMs, Lt 150, 1903, par. 19

We shall have to meet seducing spirits. We shall be tried and tested on every point. Let us stand firm in the position defined for us as a people by the Lord God of Israel. Let us hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me.” [John 5:39.] Do not remove the landmarks that have been established by the Holy Spirit’s witness. He who inspired the Scriptures will test everything in our religious life by the Scriptures. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] Even the work of the Spirit within is tested and tried by the Word. Some will claim that they have the Holy Spirit’s guidance, when in reality they are guided by another spirit, which the Word will not vindicate. The sum must be proved. Those who claim to have the Holy Spirit must be tested by a “Thus saith the Lord.” The written Word is to decide all questions.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 238, 1903

18LtMs, Lt 238, 1903, par. 11

If we watch and pray and trust God’s living Word, we shall gain victories. “Watch and pray,” Christ said, “that ye enter not into temptation.” [Matthew 26:41.] The day dawns. We must enter each battle with full faith that through Christ we shall be more than conquerors. As faithful watchmen we must diligently watch for the dangers threatening God’s people. Other chapters will open before us, and in order to discern their meaning, we shall need keen perception. We are not to be depressed or discouraged, but filled with holy boldness. We are not to be disheartened by the prevalence of sin nor by the difficulties that arise on the right hand and on the left. We must put on the whole armor of God and stand firm for the right. In the future, Satan’s superstitions will assume new forms. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God’s people. Thus Satan will try to deceive if possible the very elect. Our watchword is to be, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 356, 1907

22LtMs, Lt 356, 1907, par. 21

When the will and ways of God become the will and ways of Seventh-day Adventist parents, their children will grow up to love and honor and obey God. Satan will not be able to gain control of their minds, for they have been educated to regard the Word of the Lord as supreme, and they will test every experience that comes to them by the law and the testimony. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 6, 1907

22LtMs, Lt 6, 1907, par. 2

The Lord calls your attention to His Word. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] The truth will triumph gloriously. Let the churches begin to do the work that the Lord has given them—the work of opening the Scriptures to those who are in darkness. My brethren and sisters, there are souls in your neighborhood who, if they were judiciously labored for, would be converted. Efforts must be made for those who do not understand the Word. Let those who profess to believe the truth become partakers of the divine nature, and then they will see that the fields are ripe for the work that all can do whose souls are prepared by living the Word. I entreat you to begin to work for those who are unconverted. Let the beams of light shining upon your own pathway shine upon the pathway of others. Think of how much truth you can give them by presenting a plain “Thus saith the Lord.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Ms 141, 1907

22LtMs, Ms 141, 1907, par. 23

At this period of time, a special work is to be done for the individual members of the church. With the Bible in your hands, you are to search the Scriptures with an earnest determination to know the words of Christ. “Search the Scriptures,” the Saviour said, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me.” [John 5:39.] “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 23 (1908)

Lt 244, 1908

23LtMs, Lt 244, 1908, par. 10

Preaching is one of Christ’s appointed means of instruction in the gospel. There may be a feeling of dissatisfaction toward those appointed to preach the Word; their words may not be pleasing to the natural heart; but let not this lead to differences and criticism and faultfinding. Feed upon the heavenly manna. There is much precious work to be done. Let none feel that it is their place to criticism, but let each stand in his lot and place. There must be responsible men, there must be counselors. It is not wisdom to praise certain ones, while others who need words of cheer are left in discouragement. “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.]

Isaiah 8:22

Lift Him Up

The Hope of the Ages, January 13

LHU 27.2

Through the long centuries of “trouble and darkness” and “dimness of anguish” (Isaiah 8:22) marking the history of mankind from the day our first parents lost their Eden home, to the time the Son of God appeared as the Saviour of sinners, the hope of the fallen race was centered in the coming of a Deliverer to free men and women from the bondage of sin and the grave.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 31—Hope for the Heathen

PK 373.1

The prophet was permitted to look down the centuries to the time of the advent of the promised Messiah. At first he beheld only “trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish.” Isaiah 8:22. Many who were longing for the light of truth were being led astray by false teachers into the bewildering mazes of philosophy and spiritism; others were placing their trust in a form of godliness, but were not bringing true holiness into the life practice. The outlook seemed hopeless; but soon the scene changed, and before the eyes of the prophet was spread a wondrous vision. He saw the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and, lost in admiration, he exclaimed: “The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first He lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:1, 2.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 58—The Coming of a Deliverer

PK 681.1

The Review and Herald

June 24, 1915

RH June 24, 1915, par. 1

The prophet was permitted to look down the centuries to the time of the advent of the promised Messiah. At first he beheld only “trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish.” Isaiah 8:22. Many who were longing for the light of truth were being led astray by false teachers into the bewildering mazes of philosophy and spiritism; others were placing their trust in a form of godliness, but were not bringing true holiness into the life practice. The outlook seemed hopeless; but soon the scene changed, and before the eyes of the prophet was spread a wondrous vision. He saw the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and, lost in admiration, he exclaimed: “The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:1, 2.