- To the Reader
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- Daniel and His Three Companions
- Nebuchadnezzar's Fiery Furnace
- Belshazzar's Feast
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den
- Gabriel Sent to Explain the Vision of Daniel 8
- The Struggle for Influence Over the Kings of Persia
- The Second Temple
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- The Visions of Zechariah
- The Vision of Joshua and the Angel
- The Vision of the Seven Lamps and the Two Olive Trees
- Angels in the Time of Esther
- The Father of John the Baptist
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- Devil Possession in Jesus’ Day
- Rejection at Nazareth
- The Demoniac in the Synagogue at Capernaum
- The Healing of the Centurion's Servant
- The Demoniacs of Gadara
- The Healing of the Demoniac Son
- Jesus Is Accused of Being Demon Possessed
- Evil Angels in Human Form Were Among Christ's Hearers
- The Resurrection of Lazarus
- Jesus Hunted From City to City During His Ministry
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- Angels Protect Vital Truths
- Peter and John Delivered From Prison
- Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
- Paul's Conversion
- Paul Leaves Damascus
- Cornelius and Peter
- Peter Delivered From Prison
- The Stoning of Stephen
- Angels During Paul's Ministry
- The Siege of Jerusalem
- John the Revelator
- Angels in the Middle Ages
- The Protestant Reformation
- Luther
- Melancthon
- The Pilgrim Fathers
- The Three Angels of Revelation 14
- William Miller
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- Good and Evil Angels Will Appear
- The Work of Evil Angels Through Spiritualism
- Miracles in the End Time
- Evil Spirits Active Among the Remnant
- Angels Will Do the Work Men Neglected
- Angels Will Supply the Needs of God's People
- Satan's Personations
- Evil Angels Incite Persecution
- Satan's Personation After the Close of Probation
- Angels and the Universal Death Decree
- God Interposes as the Wicked Try to Kill God's People
- The Second Coming of Christ
- Satan and His Evil Angels Confined to This Earth
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- Epilogue
Before Pilate
Men were imbued with a satanic spirit at the time when they decided that they would have Barabbas, a thief and murderer, in preference to the Son of God. The demoniac power triumphed over humanity; legions of evil angels took entire control of men, and in answer to Pilate's question as to whom he should release unto them, they shrieked out, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” When Pilate spoke again to them concerning Jesus, the hoarse cry was raised, “Crucify him, crucify him.” Through yielding to demoniac agencies, men were led to take their stand on the side of the great apostate.TA 199.1
Unfallen worlds looked upon the scene with amazement, unable to comprehend the degradation that sin had wrought. Legions of evil angels controlled the priests and rulers, and gave voice to the suggestions of Satan in persuading and tempting the people by falsehoods and bribes to reject the Son of God, and to choose a robber and murderer in His stead.... What a scene was this for God to look upon, for seraphim and cherubim to behold! The only begotten Son of God, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, was mocked, insulted, taunted, rejected, and crucified by those whom He came to save, who had given themselves to the control of Satan.—The Review and Herald, April 14, 1896.TA 199.2
The angels who were witnessing the whole scene noticed the convictions of Pilate, and marked his sympathy for Jesus....TA 199.3
Satan and his angels were tempting Pilate, and trying to lead him on to his own ruin. They suggested to him that if he did not take any part in condemning Jesus, others would.—Spiritual Gifts 1:54, 56.TA 200.1
Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly. A message from God warned him from the deed he was about to commit. In answer to Christ's prayer, the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream she had beheld the Saviour and conversed with Him.... She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work. She heard the priests and rulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing. She heard the words, “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die.”TA 200.2
She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging, after he had declared, “I find no fault in Him.” She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary. She saw the earth wrapped in darkness, and heard the mysterious cry, “It is finished.” Still another scene met her gaze. She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror she awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning.TA 200.3
While Pilate was hesitating as to what he should do, a messenger pressed through the crowd, and handed him the letter from his wife, which read:TA 200.4
“Have thou nothing to do with that just Man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.”TA 201.1
Pilate's face grew pale. He was confused by his own conflicting emotions. But while he had been delaying to act, the priests and rulers were still further inflaming the minds of the people....TA 201.2
Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life....TA 201.3
Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob. Rather than risk losing his position, he delivered Jesus up to be crucified.—The Desire of Ages, 732, 733, 738.TA 201.4