The church at Battle Creek might have stood free from idolatry, and her faithfulness would have been an example to other churches. But she is more willing to depart from God’s commandments than to renounce the friendship of the world. She is joined to the idols which she has chosen; and because temporal prosperity and the favor of a wicked world are hers, she believes herself to be rich toward God. This will prove to many a fatal delusion. Her divine character and spiritual strength have departed from her. {5T 190.4}

Menigheden i Battle Creek kunne have været fri for afgudsdyrkelse og hendes trofasthed ville have været et eksempel for andre menigheder. Men hun vil hellere vige fra Guds bud, end at frasige sig venskab med verden. Hun er forenet med afguder, som hun har valgt; og fordi en ond verdens timelige fremgang og gunst er hendes, (191) tror hun selv at hun er rig over for Gud. Det vil vise sig at være et skæbnesvangert bedrag for mange. Hendes guddommelige karakter og åndelige styrke har forladt hende.