Another related quote that I like is this one, that helps to explain the phrase "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

God and Christ knew from the beginning, of the apostasy of Satan and of the fall of Adam through the deceptive power of the apostate. The plan of salvation was designed to redeem the fallen race, to give them another trial. Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our substitute and surety. Before the world was made, it was arranged that the divinity of Christ should be enshrouded in humanity. "A body," said Christ, "hast thou prepared me." But he did not come in human form until the fulness of time had expired. Then he came to our world, a babe in Bethlehem.  {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 13}

Satan could not uphold the natural functions of the universe, much less rule .  Even the existence of reality and the Tree of Life would cease without God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. Satan himself feared he would die during Noah's flood. 

"warring elements" re Satan / Flood    "The violence of the storm increased, and there were mingled with the warring of the elements, the wailings of the people who had despised the authority of God. Trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The terror of man and beast was beyond description. And even Satan himself, who was compelled to be amid the warring elements, feared for his own existence. He had delighted to control so powerful a race, and wished them to live to practice their abominations, and increase their rebellion against the God of Heaven. He now uttered imprecations against God, charging him with injustice and cruelty. Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God, and if they could have carried out their rebellion, would have torn him from the throne of justice. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark, and pleading for admittance. But this was impossible. God had closed the door, the only entrance, and shut Noah in, and the ungodly out. He alone could open the door. Their fear and repentance came too late. Conscience was at last awake to know that there was a God who ruled in the heavens. They called upon him earnestly, but his ear was not open to their cry. Some in their desperation sought to break into the ark, but that firm-made structure resisted all their efforts. Some clung to the ark until they were borne away with the furious surging of the waters, or their hold was broken off by rocks and trees that were swept here and there by the angry billows. The ark was severely rocked and tossed about. With the noise of the tempest was mingled the roaring of the terrified beasts; yet amid all the warring of the elements, the ark rode safely. Angels that excel in strength guided and preserved it from harm. Every moment during that frightful storm of forty days and forty nights the preservation of the ark was a miracle of almighty power.  {ST, March 6, 1879 par. 4}  

__________________________

 "As the violence of the storm increased, trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God. Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. He had delighted to control so powerful a race, and desired them to live to practice their abominations and continue their rebellion against the Ruler of heaven. He now uttered imprecations against God, charging Him with injustice and cruelty. Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God, and had they been able, they would have torn Him from the throne of power. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. But their entreaties were in vain. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God who ruleth in the heavens. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God's law had caused their ruin. Yet while, through fear of punishment, they acknowledged their sin, they felt no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of Heaven, had the judgment been removed. So when God's judgments shall fall upon the earth before its deluge by fire, the impenitent will know just where and what their sin is--the despising of His holy law. Yet they will have no more true repentance than did the old-world sinners.  {PP 99.3}  

(direct agency = 7 published SOP hits, 1 unpublished SOP hit )

(The original source references here are not listed in order )

1. {8T 260.1}  (whole section  8T-259.2-335.5 ) 

2. {GCDB, February 18, 1897 par. 1-13} 

3.{ST, March 20, 1884 par. 1-10}  

4.  1 unpublished SOP hit  {Ms4-1882}

others are repeats in compilations 

" In dwelling upon the laws of matter and the laws of nature, many lose sight of, if they do not deny, the continual and direct agency of God. They convey the idea that nature acts independently of God, having in and of itself its own limits and its own powers wherewith to work. In their minds there is a marked distinction between the natural and the supernatural. The natural is ascribed to ordinary causes, unconnected with the power of God. Vital power is attributed to matter, and nature is made a deity. It is supposed that matter is placed in certain relations and left to act from fixed laws with which God Himself cannot interfere; that nature is endowed with certain properties and placed subject to laws, and is then left to itself to obey these laws and perform the work originally commanded. {CCh 324.4}

This is false science; there is nothing in the word of God to sustain it. God does not annul His laws, but He is continually working through them, using them as His instruments. They are not self-working. God is perpetually at work in nature. She is His servant, directed as He pleases. Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active agency of a being who moves in all His works according to His will. It is not by an original power inherent in nature that year by year the earth yields its bounties and continues its march around the sun. The

hand of infinite power is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God's power momentarily exercised that keeps it in position in its rotation. {CCh 324.5}

 The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears and every flower blooms. Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub, testifies of God. These little things so common around us teach the lesson that nothing is beneath the notice of the infinite God, nothing is too small for His attention."  {8T 260.1}  (whole section  8T-259.2-335.5 ) {GCDB, February 18, 1897 par. 1-13} {ST, March 20, 1884 par. 1-10}  

1 unpublished SOP hit  {Ms4-1882} 

Anonymous wrote:

---

I realize that the preferred version of the Great Controversy here is seems to be the best, or perhaps preferred, version amongst the bloggers. I do love the original title because we see how massive the conflict really is. The following quote is found in several of what are held out to be her writings and included in later versions of the Great Controversy:

"Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. . While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast."

Did she pen these words herself? If not, why, after so many years did she not make her objections known? She clearly had a knack for penning her displeasure with those that twisted her words, or that behaved themselves poorly. That is very clear by reading the Testimonies. I'm wondering what the advantage is to sticking only to the 1858 version when there seems to be more that points to our present day challenges.

---

 My labors would be naught should I preach another gospel. That which I have written is what the Lord has bidden me write. I have not been instructed to change that which I have sent out. I stand firm in the Adventist faith; for I have been warned in regard to the

seducing sophistries that will seek for entrance among us as a people. The Scripture says, 'Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.' I present before our people the danger of being led astray as were the angels in the heavenly courts. The straight line of truth presented to me when I was but a girl is just as clearly presented to me now." [RH 01-26-05 para. 19] p. 153, Para. 1, [1905MS].

she did not authorize the changes... her son and others did however... they despised the testimonies and  when they tired of her they sent her off to Australia and the Lord was with her and did a good work there...

oh, you can find truth in the other versions it is just that the pioneers put their own ideas in there and you can see where it doesn't fit sometimes...  things taken out, other things added...  but some does remain... it is truth mingled with error

some are going to pay dearly for doing these things

It seems like one problem with picking and choosing from the SOP is that it puts humans in the driver's seat.  If we find some SOP statements not to our liking, then we can always discard them with the excuse that someone came along and changed EGW's original intent.

Having said this, I do think we need to be alert in this area.  For example, SOP compilations put together in modern times obviously show the influence of a human editor, and it's always worth asking the hard questions about how such compilations are constructed.

This problem is not new.  Below is a very old SOP quote, and it's interesting to consider the provenance of the "(666)" in this quote.

I saw all that "would not receive the mark of the Beast, and of his Image, in their foreheads or in their hands," could not buy or sell. [Revelation 13:15-17.] I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up; [Revelation 13:18.] and that it was the Beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope's, and not God's Sabbath. And all we were required to do, was to give up God's Sabbath, and keep the Pope's, and then we should have the mark of the Beast, and of his image.  {WLF 19.1}