Foreword

Seventh-day Adventists need to have more than a superficial knowledge of the contents of “Great Controversy.” The eternal destiny of every soul is dependent upon his relation to the issues of that conflict, whose climax is reached in the last generation of men. The crisis that is before the remnant church is briefly portrayed in Revelation 13 and 14. To His people who must personally face that crisis, God has through the gift of prophecy sent detailed instruction, not only of what is coming, but how to prepare for it. That instruction is found, most completely, in this book.GC-SG 3.1

“Bidden to make known to others,” that which the Spirit of God had opened to her mind, the author, in the preface, states the primary purpose of the book to be “to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast approaching struggle of the future.”GC-SG 3.2

While the author was working diligently to complete the book, in 1884, she wrote: “I want to get it out as soon as possible, for our people need it so much. . . .I have been unable to sleep nights, for thinking of the important things to take place. . . . Great things are before us, and we want to call the people from their indifference to get ready.”GC-SG 3.3

As an aid to the study of this book, these thought questions and notes have been prepared. For individual study they will be a help, if they are kept and consulted in connection with the reading of the text. For class or study groups, portions might be assigned to members for special report. An effort has been made to adapt the questions to the high points that are considered, rather than to form them so that they might be answered by “yes” or “no,” or by a single sentence. It would be well for the reader to supplement his study by the use of pen and paper, to note other points of importance that he may discover.GC-SG 3.4

The study required to prepare the questions has been of great interest and profit, that it may be equally so to the reader is the desire of the writer.GC-SG 3.5

D. E. Robinson