I saw that it was impossible to have the affections and interests engrossed in worldly cares, to be increasing earthly possessions, and yet be in a waiting, watching position, as our Saviour has commanded. Said the angel: “They can secure but one world. In order to acquire the heavenly treasure, they must sacrifice the earthly. They cannot have both worlds.” I saw how necessary a continuance of faithfulness in watching was in order to escape the delusive snares of Satan. He leads those who should be waiting and watching, to take an advance step toward the world; they have no intention of going further, but that one step removed them that much further from Jesus, and made it easier to take the next; and thus step after step is taken toward the world, until all the difference between them and the world is a profession, a name only. They have lost their peculiar, holy character, and there is nothing except their profession to distinguish them from the lovers of the world around them. {2T 193.2}

[Jeg så, at det var umuligt at have sin hengivenhed og interesse fordybet i timelige bekymringer og forøge sine jordiske besiddelser og samtidig være i en vågende, ventende tilstand, som Frelseren befalede. Englen sagde: "De kan kun sikre sig én verden. Skal de vinde den himmelske skat, må de ofre den jordiske. De kan ikke få begge verdener."] Jeg så hvor nødvendigt en trofast forbliven i vagten var for at undgå Satans falske snarer. Han forleder dem som burde vente og våge, til at tage et skridt hen i mod verden; de ikke ønske om at gå længere, men det ene skridt fjernede dem så meget længere fra Jesus og gjorde det lettere at tage det næste; og således tages skridt efter skridt hen imod verden, indtil hele forskellen mellem dem og verden blot er en bekendelse, kun et navn. De har mistet deres særlige, hellige karakter og der er intet andet end deres bekendelse der adskiller dem fra verdenselskerne omkring dem. [samme]