A Faithful Bride Separated Itself From Ancient Israel's Apostasy

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My Dear Fellow Seventh-day Adventists,

Many are saying that God bore long with the apostasy of ancient Israel, and that there was no separation before the end of Israel's probation in A.D. 34. I am privileged to inform you that such was not the case at all. Notice:

"The recreant priests added licentiousness to the dark catalogue of their crimes; yet they still polluted by their presence the tabernacle of the Lord, and, laden with sin, dared to come into the presence of a holy God. As the men of Israel witnessed the corrupt course of the priests, they thought it safer for their families not to come up to the appointed place of worship. Many went from Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they at last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264, col. 3, December 1, 1881.

A KEY WORD in the above E.G.W. statement is the word Shiloh. Remember that important word.

So the notion that no one separated from the apostasy of ancient Israel is an untruth used to try to convince folk that they should remain with an apostate church no matter what it does. It has been argued that the practices in the Temple were far worse in Eli's day [the context of the above statement] but what could be worse than "....God being removed?" Selected Messages, vol. 1, 205. When Israel finally "removed God," by rejecting Christ, Israel's probation ended. It has also been argued that Samuel restored the church to faithfulness. That was because the apostasy of Israel had not removed God. However, later, in Jeremiah's day, we find that he was asking the question: "What hath my beloved to do in mine house..." My point is that when the Jewish church was in apostasy, the people were called out, long before the probation of Israel was closed, and/or, the apostates were killed off, as in Moses' time eg., the Korah, Dathan and Abiram apostates, and the golden calf worshippers who did not repent. Also, Moses removed the Tabernacle from the camp until the apostasy was rectified. So either the corrupt apostasy was removed from the camp, as the Bible instructs, or the faithful were instructed to remain away from the camp, and/or did so on thier own, as in the case of Shiloh. Ellen White advised a similar course when in the Alpha, she said to take the youth as far away as possible from the churches.

"There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian." E.G. White, Manuscript Release #995, p. 5.

When the young men and women were kept away from the Alpha of apostasy in the church, what did they do; where did they meet for worship?

"Brother and sister Haskell have rented a house in one of the best parts of the city, and have gathered round them a family of helpers, who day by day go out giving Bible readings, selling our papers, and doing medical missionary work. During the hour of worship, the workers relate their experiences. Bible studies are regularly conducted in the home, and THE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN connected with the mission receive a practical, thorough training in holding Bible readings and in selling our publications. The Lord has blessed their labors, a number have embraced the truth, and many others are deeply interested." Review and Herald, September 7, 1905, Evangelism, p. 108.

The above scenario is the prescribed mode for the worship service of every Seventh-day Adventist church in Testimonies, vol. 7, pp. Notice:

"There are times when it is fitting for our ministers to give on the Sabbath, in our churches, short discourses, full of the life and love of Christ. But the church members are not to expect a sermon every Sabbath....Let the church members, during the week, act their part faithfully, and on the Sabbath relate their experience. The meeting will then be as meat in due season, bringing to all present new life and fresh vigor.. When God's people see the great need of working as Christ worked for the conversion of sinners, the testimonies borne by them in the Sabbath service will be filled with power. With joy the will tell of the precious experience they have gained in working for others." Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 19.

Jeremiah Advocated That The Jews of His Day Separate, Just as Those Who Did so in The Shiloh Statement Above

Jeremiah asks:

What hath my beloved to do in mine house [church Temple--Sanctuary], seeing she [the church] hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from the? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest [or celebrates]. Jeremiah 11:15.

Sounds like they had a celebration apostate church in Jeremiah's day. When they did evil in "mine house," the Temple Sanctuary Church, they celebrated. That very thing is occurring in the charismatic apostate SDA church today. But Jeremiah begs the question: "What hath MY BELOVED [BRIDE] to do in mine house [church]? Song of Solomon leaves no guessing at who God's BELOVED is. This refers to the Bride of Jesus Christ.

The Shiloh Connection--When Did Jeremiah Write This Admonition Concerning the Beloved Bride?

"The book of Jeremiah itself contains an account of how the first two editions of this prophecy were written (see ch. 36). For more than a score of years Jeremiah had been seeking to persuade the people of Judah to turn to God with real heart religion. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim (604 B.C.) he was commanded by God to put the main substance of his preaching into writing so that it could be read publicly by his secretary (ch. 36:1, 2). In response to this command, Jeremiah dictated to Baruch (his secretary) the words of the first edition on a roll of parchment reading these words to the people in the Temple on a fast day (ch. 36:5-8).
Later, when one of Jehoiakim's officers, Jehudi, read the scroll to the king, Jehoiakim angrily snatched it, cut it with a penknife, and threw it into the fire (ch. 36:20-23). This made necessary the rewriting of the earlier messages (see ch. 36:27, 28, 32). Again, Baruch wrote the words at the dictation of Jeremiah. This second copy was a new and larger edition, containing not only the former messages, but additional messages as well (see ch. 36:32)....
Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office came about 627 B.C., in the 13th year of Josiah's reign (ch. 1:2; see pp. 18, 19; also Vol. II, p. 77). Soon thereafter God bade the prophet to preach in Jerusalem (ch. 2:2). He did not confine his ministry to Jerusalem, but conducted a preaching tour through the cities of Judah (ch. 11:6: PK 428). Upon his return to Anathoth his fellow townsmen formed a plot to take his life (ch. 11:18-23). To escape these persecutions he seems to have transferred his residence to Jerusalem. Here another attempt was made on his life. His bold prediction in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, that the Temple would become like Shiloh, angered the priests, false prophets, and people in Jerusalem, and they demanded that Jeremiah be put to death (ch. 26:6-11). However, the princes arose to his defense (ch. 26:16)." SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 344-345.

The important fact we garner from the above statement is that Jeremiah warned in circa 627 B.C., that the Temple would become like Shiloh. The Jews wanted to kill him for so saying. So what happened to the Temple at Shiloh, and when did it happen?

"At Shiloh the tabernacle was erected (Jos 18:1)....Excavations have shown that Shiloh was destroyed about 1100 B.C., a date that agrees with the Biblical chronology, according to which the ark was taken about half a century before Saul's coronation. The city remained mainly in ruins for many centuries, and Jeremiah seems to have known it only in a ruined condition (Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9)." SDA Bible Dictionary, p. 1003.

So this shows that True and Faithful REFORMER JEWS were separating from the apostate Jewish Temple as far back as 1100 B.C. and earlier, because that is when the Temple was destroyed at Shiloh, by the Philistines.

"Many went from Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they at last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264, col. 3, December 1, 1881.

Ellen White said that there has been a faithful remnant in every age; in every generation, and she was so right, even as far back as prior to 1100 B.C.

The church is God's fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, FAITHFUL SOULS have constituted the church on earth. In EVERY AGE the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to THE GENERATION IN WHICH THEY LIVED. These sentinels gave the message of WARNING; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 11.

The Enfeebled and Defective Appearing Church Has Been and Still is The Church Triumphant

Some apply Ellen White's statements about the church being enfeebled and defective, to the great apostasy of the church militant. The following statement should ever dispel this incorrect teaching from the minds of God's True Reformers:

During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of his grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts. E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 12.

The two above statements occur in the same context, teaching that "From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth...uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven," the heavenly church of Hebrews 12:22, 23. "He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people." ibid. p. 11.

It is the Church Triumphant of FAITHFUL SOULS that have constituted the church on earth...uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. It is this church which the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against.

Who are the angels sent to minister to His church?

"I was shown that the THIRD ANGEL, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the PEOPLE who receive this message and raise the voice in warning to the world." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 77.

"I then saw the THIRD ANGEL. Said my accompanying angel, 'Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner." E.G. White, Early Writings, 118.

"The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men, who obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message WAS NOT to be committed to the religious leaders of the people." E.. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 199, 200.

Members of the Church Triumphant Minister to the Church Militant

Some think that the church militant will become the church Triumphant, but the church triumphant has always been in existence for the express purpose of ministering to the church militant. Those who are faithful become members of this always existing church triumphant. Notice:

"The members of the church triumphant--the church in heaven--will be permitted to draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity." E. G. White, The Southern Watchman, Sep. 8, 1903.

Earthly representative members of the heavenly church triumphant, may dwell amongst church militants and member with them also, if they do not become apostate. Then they must separate lest they become defiled by lewdness (Jer. 11:15), and become defiled with fallen women or churches, Rev. 14:4.

It is impossible to unite with OPEN SIN CORRUPTNESS, and remain pure:

"It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. (II Corinthians 6:14-15 quoted). God and Christ and the heavenly host would have men know that if he unites with the ocrrupt he will become corrupt." E. G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 4, p. 137.

Some state that if the above statement is true, we could not unite with any organization; that there is no organization that is not corrupt. I was told this by a man who was trained in a SDA Seminary to be a minister. Such persons thus make of non-effect and non-truth, the counsel of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy. What this minister could not seem to do was discrimiate between OPEN SIN GROSS APOSTASY versus defects, faults and and all such enfeeblements that are characteristic even of the Church Triumphant. Would you like proof absolute of this fact? Here it is:

In Desire of Ages, 179, it states:

John represented himself as the friend who acted as a messenger between the betrothed parties, preparing the way for the marriage. When the bridegroom had received his bride, the mission of the friend was fulfilled." Desire of Ages, 179.

John got a bride together for Christ in the persons of the disciples of Christ, but even the hand-picked disciples of Christ had serious defects and faults:

"God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him. They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image....
All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called 'the sons of thunder.' While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden....
As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save." Desire of Ages, 294-5.

SDA ONCE Church Militant Brought Down to Hell

Like Jeremiah, Ellen White warned that the SDA church militant would be brought down to hell as was the Jewish Temple at Shiloh and Capernaum. The statement below is reproduced just as it appears in Ellen White's Review and Herald Article, brackets and all:

"And thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than for thee." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, Book 3, Aug. 1, 1893, p. 69, col. 3.

Such pronouncements have the ring of a true prophet! Capernaum was a corporate city, and the SDA church is Biblically represented as a corporate city CHURCH, the corporate city CHURCH of Jerusalem. It will be brought down to hell as a corporate city [church], except for a small remnant who escape, Ezekiel 5:1-5, as was the case with Israel in the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem. Will Ezekiel, chapters 5 and 9 be rewritten? Will Ezekiel 22:17-31 be rewritten? No indeed!

As Jeremiah was maligned and hated for telling the Jews that they would become as Shiloh, so Ellen White and all who repeat the warning of her above statement, will be hated by those who do not understand the true relationship between a false, professing, imposter SDA church militant, and the real SDA church militant, as well as the real SDA Church Triumphant, which is permitted to contemporaneously exist with the valid SDA church militant and come to its aid.

Many think that the Church Triumphant does not even exist until the bad are shaken out of the church militant to leave it the Church Triumphant. This is not the case at all. This is one of the cherished errors of professing Seventh-day Adventists. The Church Triumphant clearly exists contemporaneously with the church militant and is permitted by God to come to its aid if the church militant permits. And the moment ANY church militant will not accept the aid of the church triumphant, it disqualifies itself as a valid church militant, eg. Desire of Ages, 232, where the ecclesiastical churches in every generation refused the light of the True Reformers.

"The members of the church triumphant--the church in heaven--will be permitted to draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity." E.G. White, The Southern Watchman, Sep. 8, 1903.

So the misconceived notion that the bad are shaken out of the church militant to leave it the church triumphant is just that, a totally misconceived and cherished error that the impostor and apostate SDA church regularly foists upon its members. All the good come out of all church militants at the end-time, to join the church triumphant, the bride, who makes the call. It is her voice and the voice of God that awakens ALL TEN VIRGINS, Christ's Object Lessons, 405-6.