In 1884 Mrs. White wrote of something she could only have witnessed in vision, for she places in direct quotation marks nine paragraphs of Satan’s “earnest” counsels to his evil angels regarding “snares” that they were to lay in the path of God’s people as they approach “the perils of the last days.” GVEGW 135.1
As the chief architect of all evil saw it, “the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith” involved, first of all, an attack on the seventh-day Sabbath; for Satan himself clearly saw it as “the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls.” 34Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 472. (This chapter, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 472-475, was first published in The Spirit of Prophecy 4:337-340.) GVEGW 135.2
Satan elaborated upon his strategy of exalting a substitute, counterfeit Sabbath (Sunday), and his plan to use “popular ministers” to proclaim it. “But,” he went on, “our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbathkeepers”—Seventh-day Adventists! 35Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 472, 473. GVEGW 135.3
This would be done, variously, by exciting “popular indignation” against them, enforcing laws (“most severe and exacting”) against Sabbathkeeping, and ultimately enacting “a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority.” GVEGW 135.4
“But before proceeding to these extreme measures,” Satan went on, “we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall. GVEGW 135.5
“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks.... Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people.” 36Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 473, 474. GVEGW 135.6
Then Satan addressed his evil angels on how to recruit helpers from those within the church: GVEGW 136.1
“Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion.” 37Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 474. GVEGW 136.2
Satan next turned his attention to the proclamation of God’s Word in services of corporate worship: GVEGW 136.3
“Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it.” 38Ibid. GVEGW 136.4
Then Satan developed a two-pronged attack upon truth. First, efforts would be made to subvert truth by false prophets and false teachers: “I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls.” Second, there would be a decided attack against the writings of God’s special messenger to the remnant church in the last days—Ellen G. White herself! Continuing the quotation: GVEGW 136.5
“I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control.” 39Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 475. GVEGW 136.6
Six years later, in 1890, Ellen White revealed another facet of Satan’s strategy to destroy the impact of her inspired writings: the devil would (1) seek to destroy the credibility of the prophet herself within the church, and (2) seek to kindle a hatred against her writings that she characterized as “satanic”—satanic in its origin and satanic in its intensity. 40Selected Messages 1:48. GVEGW 137.1
Finally, as the ultimate weapon, Satan concluded his strategy session with his fallen angels with these cogent, trenchant words: GVEGW 137.2
“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.” 41Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 475. GVEGW 137.3