The world today is a complicated, dangerous, and evil place. The Bible calls it “this evil world” (Galatians 1:4) and predicts that these last days will be the darkest and blackest period of world history. We naturally tend to focus our attention in the area of greatest stimulus, whether visual or auditory; the greater the stimulus the more likely we will turn our attention in that direction. The devil knows this and has surrounded us with powerful stimuli intended to cause our eternal destruction.
Ellen White described his strategy in several of her writings:
“Intensity is taking possession of everything upon the earth. Pleasure-lovers are intensely in earnest to secure all that is possible in that line. Gamblers are intensely in earnest. The betting, the horse-racing, and various games create great enthusiasm, and engross the powers of those interested as if the reward of the victor was to be an eternity of bliss.” The Bible Echo, January 25, 1897.
“Stories of criminal life such as are found in the papers of the day, and so-called revelations of the future, are treated as realities. Revolutions are predicted, and many catch the evil spirit lurking in these representations of future horrors.” The Review and Herald, April 1, 1896.[Emphasis added.] The divine counsel about this is, “these flaming, terrifying notices should not be published.” The Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.
The devil has a three-fold plan to trap you. The first is an attempt to seduce through sensual temptation. If he is unsuccessful here, he tries deception. One of his main instruments to do this is tricking people into sincerely believing that they are doing God’s will. (A candid reading of inspired writings would show that he is going directly contrary to God’s will.) If this does not work, he has a two-pronged final attack: he offers tremendous earthly advantages and benefits on the one hand and gives terrifying information about what is going to happen in the future on the other. This is designed to discourage people from doing God’s work (taking the Three Angels’ Messages to the world) for fear of the persecution that will result. The devil can succeed by any one of these temptations if we do not keep our eyes on Jesus. There is going to be a remnant in this world who cannot be seduced, deceived, or terrified. (See Isaiah 26:3.) Jesus says, “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.” Isaiah 45:22. Look to Jesus and keep your feet on the narrow way.