Seventh-day Adventist Fables and
Facts
by
Clarence
Settle
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“His [Christ’s] days were
passed in ministry to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the
treacherous sophistry of the rabbis...THOUGHTS FROM THE MOUNT OF BLESSING: pg. 102.. “Unaccustomed to accept God's Word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they the
priests and instructors of the people read it in the light of their maxims
and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the
Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from
the truth of God to the traditions of men.” 3MR:432. “There
seems to be a burning desire to get up something fictitious and bring it in
as new light. Thus men try to weave into the web as important truths a tissue
of lies. This fanciful mixture of food that is being prepared for the flock
will cause spiritual consumption, decline and death. When those who
profess to believe present truth come to their senses, when they accept the
Word of the living God just as it reads, and do not try to wrest the
Scriptures, then they will build their house upon the eternal Rock, even
Christ Jesus.” Paulson:423. “Those
who engage in the work of God's cause to-day will meet just such trials as
Paul endured in his work. By the same boastful and deceptive work Satan will
seek to draw converts from the faith. Theories will be brought in that will
not be wise for us to handle. Satan is a cunning worker,
and he will bring in subtle fallacies to darken and confuse the mind and root
out the doctrines of salvation. Those who do not accept the Word of God
just as it reads, will be snared in his trap. To-day
we need to speak the truth with holy boldness. The testimony borne to the
early church by the Lord's messenger, His people are to hear in this time:
"Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal.
1:8).” 7MR:358. FACT: This is the rallying cry of the
majority of SDA’s and the belief on which they pin all their hopes and
aspirations. But I challenge anyone, would you give me a “Thus saith the
Lord,” an “It is written” for this expectation? I challenge you that no such
statement exits for two very good reasons, which I will substantiate for you.
1. “The messages given to
the churches in “I wish to emphasize the
fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given
him represent all the churches in our world, and that this revelation
to him is to be studied and believed and preached by the Seventh-day
Adventist Church today.” 1MR: 372. “The names of the seven
churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian
era. The number seven indicates completeness, and is symbolic
of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the
symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the
history of the world.” AA: 585. In
complete harmony with the above quotes that the messages to the seven
churches “portray the state of things existing in the religious world today”,
nowhere in the SOP will you find that “After the
passing of the time of expectation in 1844, Adventists still believed the Saviour’s coming to be very near; they
held that they had reached an important crisis, and that the work of Christ
as man’s intercessor before God had ceased...But clearer light came with the
investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the
application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the
church at this very time: ‘These things saith He that is holy,
He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no man
shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold I have
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” (Rev. 3 7,8
quoted––a direct reference to the Fifteen
years after 1844, we read this admonition to the church in 1859: “I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans
applies to God’s people at the present time..” 1T: 186. You realize of course
that there was no such thing as a “Seventh-day Adventist” until the period of
1860-1863. (See 1T: 715). So where and what was the church from the period of
1844-1859? The only sensible answer, as we shall see, is that just as both
cities existed simultaneously during John the Revelator’s day, both
conditions are obviously going on simultaneously until Christ’s 2nd
coming. That Philadelphia continues till the 2nd coming is clearly
obvious when we simply compare the description of the 144,000 given in Rev.
14:1, the description of Philadelphia in Rev. 3: 12, and the way E.G. White
puts them both together in EW: 15 where we read: “The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united.
On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious
star containing Jesus’ new name.” Further,
we have an example of both the Laodicean and the Philadelphian condition
described as we read these words of inspiration. First we will see the
Laodicean condition described: “The
church was defective and in need of stern reproof and chastisement, and John
was inspired to record messages of warning and entreaty to those who, losing
sight of the fundamental principles should imperil their hope of salvation.
But always the words of rebuke that God finds it necessary to send are spoken
in tender love and with the promise of peace to every penitent believer.
‘Behold I stand at the door, and knock,’ the Lord declares; ‘If any man hear
My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with me. Revelation 3: 20. (And immediately following we see the Again
we read: “The same angel who visited And
again we read: “Just before us is ‘the
hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.’ Revelation 3:10. All whose
faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and
overcome... ‘Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep
thee’ (verse 1) is the Saviour’s promise. He would sooner send
every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that
trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.” GC: 560. It is
a mystery why the SDA church fixated on the Laodicean condition of 1859 when
in Nov. 2, 1886 the warning to the Will
the 144,000 be Laodiceans or Philadelphians? Most SDA’s believe and teach
that the Laodicean condition is a requirement, when it is a choice!
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE A LAODICEAN ANY MORE THAN IT IS NECESSARY TO BE A
SINNER! Was Ellen G. White ever a
Laodicean? God’s last and final TRUE church on this earth will be
those who ‘preserve the faith in it’s purity’ (5T: 210); those who will ‘heed
the counsel of the True Witness TO the Laodiceans and will exalt the
standard and pour forth the straight truth’ [EW: 270]; those who will come
out of apostate Laodicea and join the church of Philadelphia––God’s true
remnant church! [EW:261] In an
article published in THE ADVENT REVIEW in September, 1850 by the Publishing
Committee under the direction of James White, he stated for the record, just
what their position was in regard to the 144,000 and the true church of the
last days. As you will see, they wrote:
“Now just as sure as the Divine
inspiration tells us “The state of the
Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also
spoken of as the Laodicean state.” RH: 8/19/1890 [Unlike those wise virgins who heed the
call to “go ye out
to meet Him,” Matt. 25: 6––who follow the True Shepherd out of
the sheepfold, John 10: 1-6; and who “go forth therefore unto Him without the camp.”
Heb. 13: 13.] [See also TM: 128]. That being the case, how can
anyone continue to maintain that “ 2.
FABLE: The
oft-misquoted statement that appears in bold print below, leading to the
conclusion that no matter how deep the apostasy becomes, we are not to
separate because the sinners are going to be “sifted out” of the SDA church.
“Satan will
work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may
appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners
in FACT: This conclusion ignores the fact
that in the harvest process (not an event), FIRST the tares are bound
in bundles, left in the field to be burned, and the wheat is then separated
FROM the tares, to be gleaned. That gleaning process is when the chaff is
separated FROM the wheat––It is the 2nd separation, not the first,
which is being ignored or denied by those who resist the truth about
separation. And what is it that sifts the chaff, separates it,
from the wheat? We read: “He
will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly
dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church
are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting
soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of “We are living in a time when every wind
of doctrine is blowing, and when those who think they stand are liable to
fall. We are living in a time when Satan is striving to implant seeds of
skepticism and infidelity in every mind. We are living in a time when error
is taught so insidiously that the faith of many is being rapidly undermined.” “Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Everything that can be shaken
will be shaken and only those things that cannot be shaken will remain. Satan
is making the most desperate efforts to induce souls to range under his
banner, and all who yield to his deceptions will wage war against the
servants of Prince Immanuel. Watchfulness and prayer must be our safeguards
in these days of peril.”
2RH: 11/06/83. And
what is meant by “every wind of doctrine” and can we recognize that this is
happening? We read: “God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies
will come in among them, which will sift them, separating
the chaff from the wheat.” 5T:707. The corporate, SDA Church has perverted the
truths of God, but it is not until one separates from her communion that
Satan comes in with deceptive and confusing heresies of all kinds such as the
Yahweh movement, the Deliverance ministry, the Jubilee, the Shepherd’s Rod
movement, the Feast day movement, and the controversy over the Holy Spirit
which we see causing so much dispute and division at this time, among those
who have separated from the apostate structure. This is the true fulfillment
of that statement “The
church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains,
while the sinners in 3. FABLE: We are not to separate now
because we are told that the wheat and the tares are to grow together until
the harvest, for don’t we read: “The
tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest
is the end of probationary time.” FACT: Just as the New Theologians
believe that the Atonement was completed at the cross, just so do most fail
to take into account that the harvest, like the atonement, is a PROCESS, not
an EVENT! “The wheat IS being bound up––the tares ARE being bound in
bundles.” The harvest process IS going on now. We are at the END of
probationary time, which is NOT the same as the CLOSE of probation! We read: “The events
connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the
time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths
than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every
impression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble
will find them unready.” 4SP:412. What are some of those events? Let us place last-day events
and the issue of separation in their proper perspective. We read: The things you have described as taking place in We now
turn to Early Writings: 261 where we read: “I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and
the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out (today, “just before the close of
probation”), ministers and
people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive
the truth.” I believe
that this is seeing its fulfillment right now, and this is further
substantiated by the present fulfillment of that divine prediction in
TM: 409-410 which states “Many will
stand in our
(SDA) pulpits with the torch of false
prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. If doubts
and unbelief are cherished, the faithful ministers will be removed (separated) from the people who think they know so much.”
How about that, the
unfaithful ministers inside, and the faithful ones on the outside––removed
from those who ‘have need of nothing, and know not that they are wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked! WE ARE AT THE END OF PROBATIONARY
TIME RIGHT NOW! The next event after probation closes will be the falling of
the plagues! 4.
FABLE: “We are to
wait for the angel to do the separating, after all “THE REAPERS ARE THE
ANGELS” because we are told: “Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is
the angels that do the work of separation.” MR.10:304.] FACT: Those who are against separating
from the apostate structure believe that this statement indicates that they
are to wait for God to send a literal angel to do the
separating,––separate the tares from the wheat, so therefore none should
separate from her. So does this mean that this “angel” is going to separate
the wicked out of the apostate church? When in the history of the world has
God ever done this before? But let’s look at these inspired statements to
determine what the truth truly is. We read: “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.
These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention." EW: 118 “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 of warning to the
world..” 1T:76. “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. They had failed to preserve their connection with God,
and had refused the light from Heaven.” 4SP:177. “No
one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to
represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of
heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified
through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” 2SM:387. And what about the reaping process? We
read: THE
REAPERS: “All the members of the church, as reapers in the
great harvest field, are to be earnestly praying and diligently working. Not
once should they think or speak of failure. They are not to rely on their
human ability, but wholly on the divine agency.” ST:03/07/92 “We
are not only to look upon the fields, be we are to reap, and gather
fruits unto life eternal.” 3RH:327. “And
he will reveal his power through us, making us as sharp sickles in the
harvest field.” 6RH: 02/14/99. Here are some more statements regarding the wheat
and the tares, keeping in mind this first quotation that tells that though
difficult to tell apart when young, now, at the harvest time, the tares are
easily distinguishable from the wheat. “The tares closely
resembled the wheat while the blades were green; but when the field was white for the harvest, the
worthless weeds bore no likeness to the wheat that bowed under the weight of
its full, ripe heads. Sinners who make a pretension of piety mingle for a
time with the true followers of Christ, and the semblance of Christianity is
calculated to deceive many; but in the harvest of the world [at
this very time] there will be
no likeness between good and evil.
Then those who have joined the church, but who have not joined Christ, will
be manifest.” “The
world is leagued against the truth, because it does not desire to obey the
truth. Shall I who perceive the truth close my eyes and heart to its saving
power because the world chooses darkness rather than light? Shall I bind
myself up with the bundles of tares because my neighbors refuse to be bound
up with the wheat?
MR.14:21. “Every one will reveal the character of the bundle with which he is
binding himself. The wheat is
being bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are
now bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now pulling
apart, and the tares are being bound in bundles ready to
burn. Decided positions will be taken.” 1888 Messages: 995. “Christ
requires personal faithfulness of his servants, and we are to show that we
have no fellowship with the secret, hidden things of darkness. The wheat
is not to sow itself among the tares;” 4RH:01/10/93. “Those
who have sought an excuse to avoid the cross of separation from
the world, will, with the world, be taken in the snare. They mingled with
the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a
fearful assimilation. Men choose to stand with the first rebel, who tempted
Adam and Eve in 5.
FABLE: To separate from the
organized structure is to become an “independent atom” for we read: “I know that the Lord loves His church. It
is not to be disorganized, or broken up into independent atoms. There is
not the least consistency in this. There is not the least evidence that such
a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message, and try to leaven
others will be deceived, and prepared to receive advance delusions, and they
will come to naught.” MR.10:304. FACT: Independent of what, the apostate structure––the
hierarchical organization? Inspiration tells us: “Yet
notwithstanding all the evidences that God has been leading the body, there
are, and will continue to be, those who profess the Sabbath, who will move
independent of the body, and believe and act as they choose.
Their views are confused. Their scattered state is a standing testimony that
God is not with them.” NL:56. “God
is leading a people out from the world upon the exalted platform of eternal
truth, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. He will discipline and fit up His people.
They will not be at variance, one believing one thing, and another having
faith and views entirely opposite, each moving independently of the body.
Through the diversity of the gifts and governments that He has placed in the
church, they will all come to the unity of the faith.” 3T:446. “Individual
independence and individual power is what is now needed. Individual character
need not be sacrificed, but modulated, refined, elevated.” T25:50 And again: We feel as if we must belong to some
organization if we would accomplish good. But John the Baptist did not work on this
plan. His mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah by his God-given
message; and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he did the work appointed
him without calling to his aid priest or rabbi.” 5RH 03/29/98. [Would you
then classify John the Baptist as an independent atom?] We
have another clue to our question as we read the following statement: “He
[Satan] works to restrict religious liberty, and to bring into the
religious world a species of slavery. Organizations, institutions,
unless kept by the power of God, will work under Satan's dictation to bring
men under the control [another word for “authority”] of men: and fraud
and guile will bear the semblance of zeal for truth, and for the advancement
of the Acting
independently of the body is NOT leaving the apostate structure,
rather it is leaving the faith, abandoning the principles of truth
that makes us God’s Advent people––the exalted platform of eternal truth, the
commandments and the faith of Jesus. That is moving independently. Is
the apostate, corporate SDA church of today standing on that platform, or rather is it moving independently of that
platform? What does the evidence show? 6.
FABLE: “The church is not in
apostasy, it has apostasy within it” FACT: A look at our denominational history will reveal
that there has seldom been a period in the church when it has been totally
free of apostasy within its midst. Just to name a few––the McCullagh apostasy in Australia, the Canright
and Oviatts apostasy, the Kellog
apostasy, the Holy Flesh apostasy, the Brimsmead
apostasy, etc., etc. The significant thing to keep in mind is that during
these apostasies the leadership still maintained their faithfulness to the
fundamental pillars of our faith––those truths that distinguished the SDA
church from all the other denominations, they still held fast to the sacred
trust. That is why I am totally convinced that E.G. White did not separate
from the church in her day, and why I am just as convinced that she would not
belong to the corporate structure now, for today we can clearly see the
fulfillment of the “most startling” Omega of apostasy as described for us in
1SM: 204-5. We
were warned: “We cannot now step off the foundation that God has
established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this
would mean apostasy from the truth.” MAR: 203. The Lord’s
messenger clearly warned us: “The enemy of souls [Satan himself] has
sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place
among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in
giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith [Indicates
a traitorous doctrinal shift into apostasy], and engaging in a process of
reorganization [Reorganization is a corporate action––not applicable to
individuals]. Were this reformation to
take place what would result? [So there will be no doubt as to how to
recognize this corporate falling away] The principles of truth that God in
His wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded. [The very
principles that make us the remnant church] Our religion would be
changed. [Now claiming authority to change fundamental beliefs and
doctrines] The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the
last fifty years would be accounted as error. [Conservative, anti-papal
attitude discarded, Ecumenicism, Pentecostalism,
Modernism etc. adopted] A NEW ORGANIZATION would be
established. [A different church with a different gospel, not the
one established and ordained by God] Books of a new order would be
written. [KJV and SOP rejected, NIV and non-Adventist expositors
preferred, as also Catholic-slanted hymnal] A system of intellectual
philosophy would be introduced. [“Thus saith the Lord–It is written”
discarded, no longer valued or desired] The founders of this system would
go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. [Stop-smoking clinics,
Revelation/Marriage Seminars, etc] The Sabbath of course would be lightly
regarded, [Letter of law kept, but sacred character diminished. Increasing
emphasis on Sunday participation] as also the God who created it. [Doctrinal
purity rejected–more relevant to ‘be loving’ and get
along. Loss of reverence & sanctity in worship and music etc., not to
mention abominable acts taking place in schools and colleges] Nothing
would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT. [The
apostasy will continue and increase till Christ returns] The leaders would
teach that virtue is better than vice, but GOD BEING REMOVED [Hierarchical
structure––rule by priests, puts man in place where God should be] they
would place their dependence on human power, which, WITHOUT GOD, is
worthless. [Leaders maintain you cannot stop sinning, which you
cannot––without God] Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm
and tempest would sweep away the structure.” [When storm of persecution
comes, will be swept into Sunday-keeping/Will urge an “outward compliance
with the laws of the land for the sake of peace and harmony.” See 5T:
712. Headed in that direction now] 1SM: 204-205. The only part of this
prophecy that awaits fulfillment is this very last phrase of the very last
sentence. The present Omega apostasy of the church, the NEW
MOVEMENT, NEW ORGANIZATION SDA CHURCH leaves no doubt that it has
stepped off “the foundation that God
has established.” It is not just a
church which has great apostasy and worldliness in it,
it is a church in apostasy, devoid of God’s presence. We read,
regarding the SDA church in these last days: “But the glory of the Lord
had departed from In conclusion, let us
look at these last inspired statements that clearly define the issue for us. “I
saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were
trembling, and their feet were sliding; because they were not firmly planted on
the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them
while they were thus trembling. Satan
was trying his every art to hold them where they were,
[within the apostate SDA church] until the sealing
was past, and the covering drawn over God's people, and they left out,
without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last
plagues. God has begun to draw
this covering over his people, and it will very soon
be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will
work in power for his people; and Satan will be permitted to work also.”
EW:44. “Here we see that the [SDA]
church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the
wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light
and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had
betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for
miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times
have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord
will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too
merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus "Peace and safety"
is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet
to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.
These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance
of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish
together.” 5T:211. “The
angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin
and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and
young.” 5T:505. Here we are clearly
told that the sealing angel cannot place his mark upon any until they
first separate from personal AND corporate sin––sin AND sinners.” Then the
destroying angel follows to slay all the “Men, maidens, and little children”
who have refused to separate––those who believe that God is going to separate
the tares from the wheat, even though we are repeatedly told that it is the
wheat that separates FROM the tares. “Study
the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled.” 10MR:261. “I
saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen
churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people
will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth.
Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he
raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected
the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and
lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light
will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take
their stand with the remnant.” EW:261. 7. FABLE: We are not to leave the apostate structure, rather
we are to work from within the church–– intercede from within, as did Moses. FACT: Did Moses intercede from within, what does the word
of Inspiration tell us? We read: “Moses
requested all who had been free from this great sin of idolatry, to come and
stand by him at his right hand; also, those who had joined the rebellious in
worshiping this idol, but who had repented of their sin in so quickly
departing from God, to stand at his left hand. There was quite a large
company, mostly of the mixed multitude, who instigated the making of the
calf, who were stubborn in their rebellion, and would not stand with Moses,
either at his right hand or at his left.
[“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty,
it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a
religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very
worst type of hostility against God.” 3T:280.] Moses then commanded those at his right
hand to take their swords, and go forth and slay the rebellious, who wished
to go back into Those who plead that great charity must be
exercised toward the transgressors of God's commandments, may see in this
instance of God's retributive justice how he regards that charity that would
cloak sin, or shield those in iniquity...Aaron failing to stand up boldly for the right, his yielding to the
strength of numbers, placed him with the majority. Aaron represents the cases
of a large number composing our churches at the present day. They pass over
sins existing in the church which grieve the spirit of God. They are lax
where order and principle are involved, because it is not pleasant to reprove
and correct wrongs. They are
themselves carried along with the current, and become responsible for a fearful
neglect of faithfulness. Moses represents a class who
will call sin by its right name; a class that will give no place to sin and
wrong, but will purge it from among them. Our abhorrence of sin cannot be too strong, if we
are controlled by no personal, selfish feelings, if we labor disinterestedly
for the salvation of souls, pleading in behalf of the erring, and those
blinded by their own transgressions. On the morrow, Moses
addressed them: "Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up
unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement
for your sin." He went,
and in his confession before God, he said, "Oh! this
people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if
thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy
book which thou hast written." The answer was "Whosoever hath
sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore, now go, lead
the people unto the place [separate
them] of which I have spoken unto thee. Behold, mine angel shall go before thee;
nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon
them." The Lord further showed his displeasure at their act by
afflicting them with a plague… The Lord directed Moses to move
his tent afar off from the encampment of In sadness they had buried their dead, the subjects
of the wrath of an insulted God, and their sin had also separated Moses
their leader from them. Moses pitched the tent where God indicated, but he called it the tabernacle of the congregation.
Anxiously the people watched the movements of Moses as he repaired to the
tabernacle. They feared that God had
separated Moses from them that he might destroy them in his wrath. When Moses
repaired to the tabernacle, every man stood in the door of his tent until he
entered. The people had laid off all their ornaments, for the Lord had said
to Moses: "Say unto the children
of Israel, ye are a stiff necked people; I will come up unto the midst of
thee in a moment, and consume thee; therefore now put off thy ornaments from
thee that I may know what to do unto thee." They stripped themselves of
their ornaments, and humbled their hearts in penitence before God. Moses
had not informed the people with what success he had interceded with God in
their behalf; but in response to his earnest importunities, God had
promised to send an angel before them, but he had refused to go himself up in
the midst of them, lest in their wayward course His wrath should consume them
in the way. As Moses entered into the tabernacle, the
symbol of his glory in the cloudy pillar stood at the door of the tabernacle.
Had Moses made an attempt to lessen the magnitude of the sins of
rebellious Some in this age of the world seem to think
it a virtue to call sin righteousness. But Moses called sin by its right
name, a transgression of God's holy law. Moses required all who were truly
penitent and humble in view of their transgression, to manifest it by separating
from the congregation, and in sight of all Israel repair to the
tabernacle, and he would plead with God to forgive their
transgression, and receive them back again to his favor. Conviction and
thorough repentance was required of ancient Yes,
Moses did intercede for God’s people. But his pleadings were not heard by God
until he separated himself from that sinful congregation. And what
were the “truly penitent” required to do? They were
also required to separate themselves “in sight of all "Ye
take too much upon you," said the conspirators, "seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the
Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation
of the Lord? [“Who are you to judge
and criticize the apple of God’s eye––do you think you’re better than us?”] PP:398. As they were thus assembled before God,
"the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the
congregation." The divine warning was communicated to Moses and
Aaron, "Separate yourselves from among this
congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." But they fell
upon their faces, with the prayer, "O God, the God of the spirits of all
flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all
the congregation?" [Here
is illustrated the principle of corporate accountability which many reject
today.] Korah had
withdrawn from the assembly to join Dathan and Abiram when Moses, accompanied by the seventy elders,
went down with a last warning to the men who had refused to come to him. The
multitudes followed, and before delivering his message, Moses, by divine
direction, bade the people, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these
wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their
sins." The warning was obeyed, for an apprehension of impending
judgment rested upon all. The chief rebels saw themselves abandoned by
those whom they had deceived, but their hardihood was unshaken. They stood
with their families in the door of their tents, as if in defiance of the
divine warning. When Moses was entreating The guilt of sin did not rest upon Moses,
and hence he did not fear and did not hasten away and leave the congregation
to perish. Moses lingered, in this fearful crisis manifesting the true
shepherd’s interest for the flock of his care. He pleaded that the wrath of
God might not utterly destroy the people of His choice. By his intercession
he stayed the arm of vengeance, that a full end might not be made of
disobedient, rebellious Israel.”
Ibid. 400,401,402––this entire chapter should be diligently studied. Please
be aware that in both instances God required that all the people
separate first before Moses’ pleas for intercession were heard, and “no
less does God require of His people in our day.” Please also be aware that although Korah was destroyed in his rebellion, we read: “Notwithstanding
the children of Korah died not.” Numbers 26:11. Why were they spared? Simply
because they obeyed, promptly and unhesitatingly, the command to separate,
and thereby retained their lives. Following are two more startling examples
of intercession, and the steps God requires to before He will hear intercessory
prayer. “Never was vice more bold, stubborn, or
daring than it was in Zimri, a prince of the chief
house in the tribe of Simeon. Such an exhibition of effrontery toward God was
almost too great for belief. He publicly appeared before the people leading a
Midianitish harlot, one of high standing, a
daughter of a chief house in Midian, in the
sight of Moses and the congregation. He thus showed open contempt of God. He
gloried in his shame; for wine had perverted his senses. He openly declared
his sin as that of With this history before the peculiar
people of God in these last days, there is no excuse for anyone who will
follow the example of ancient In this example not even prayers and tears
were enough. The sin had to be dealt with firmly, decidedly, and harshly. But
if corporate sin cannot be eliminated from the camp, then we must follow the
example of Jesus who “knew that His efforts to reform a corrupt priest
hood would be in vain.” DA 590. We read:
“Divine pity marked the countenance of the Son of God as He cast
one lingering look upon the temple and then upon His hearers. In a voice
choked by deep anguish of heart and bitter tears He exclaimed, "O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto
thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not!" This is the separation struggle. In the lamentation of
Christ the very heart of God is pouring itself forth. It is the mysterious
farewell of the longsuffering love of the Deity.” Ibid:620. How many tears have been shed, how many prayers have
been pled, by the faithful, for the church that God established and ordained
to bring words of hope, and truth, and salvation to a doomed and dying world,
and which now has joined the ranks of the adversary of souls? And how many
have experienced the same heartbreak and struggle that our Saviour did
knowing that the only action He could take was to separate from that apostate
structure, and call the faithful out of that false SDA organization and into
His true SDA church? [DA:680] Here is the example of
Elijah in his intercession for God’s people. We read: “Again the voice of
Elijah is heard in startling words of command to the people: "Take the
prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." The people are ready to
obey his word. They seize the false prophets [eight hundred and fifty in
number] who have deluded them, and bring them to the brook Kishon, and there, with his own hand, Elijah slays these
idolatrous priests... His work of slaying the pagan priests had not unfitted
him for the solemn exercise of prayer. He had performed the will of God. After he had, as God's
instrument, done what he could to remove the cause of 8.
FABLE: The ship [SDA church] is
going through, because those who are calling for separation are exemplified
by the Brother M. in the in the following illustration: “Dear Brother M: I had an impressive
dream last night. I thought
that you were on a strong vessel, sailing on very rough
waters. Sometimes the waves beat over
the top, and you were drenched with water. You said: "I shall get off;
this vessel is going down."
"No," said one who appeared to be the captain, "this
vessel sails into the harbor. She will never go down." But you
answered: "I shall be washed overboard. As I am neither
captain or mate, who cares? I shall take my chances on that vessel you
see yonder." Said the captain: "I shall not let you go there, for I
know that vessel will strike the rocks before she reaches the harbor."
You straightened yourself up, and said with great positiveness:
"This vessel will become a wreck; I can see it just as plain as can
be." The captain looked upon you with piercing eye, and said firmly:
"I shall not permit you to lose your life by taking that boat. The
timbers of her framework are worm-eaten, and she is a deceptive craft. If you
had more knowledge you could discern between the spurious and the genuine,
the holy and that appointed to utter ruin." 5T:571-2. FACT: The vessel referred to here does not refer to
the Seventh-day Adventist denomination at all, for we read: “There was also,
during the time represented by volume 5, considerable opposition on the part
of a small group of disaffected souls who years earlier had left our ranks. Their
attacks were leveled primarily against the agent of the prophetic gift and
her writings which have strengthened and built up the church through the
years. Also, during the decade of this volume, one of our leading evangelists
lost his way and was soon actively engaged in tearing down a work he had
formerly established. Two communications by Ellen White to restrain this man
from the plunge he was about to take are found in this book. One commences on
page 571, and the other on page 621. The attempt to save him was fruitless,
and he turned in bitter tirade on Mrs. White and the prophetic gift.” 5T:5,6 by The Trustees Of The Ellen G. White Publications. But
there is made mention of another ship that truly fits the state of the SDA
denomination today as we read: “Spiritual death has come upon the people
that should be manifesting life and zeal, purity and consecration, by the
most earnest devotion to the cause of truth. The facts concerning the real
condition of the professed people of God, speak more loudly than their
profession, and make it evident that some power has cut the cable that
anchored them to the Eternal Rock, and that they are drifting away to sea,
without chart or compass.” 2RH:07/24/88. But
what is meant by “chart and compass”? Let us let the word of inspiration
define these for us, we read: “The
Bible is a chart, pointing out the waymarks
of truth. Those who are acquainted with this chart will be enabled to tread
with certainty in the path of duty, wherever they may be called to go.” 1888 Materials:1784. “The
only safety for us is in trusting implicitly and following faithfully the
instruction of the word of God. The Bible is the only chart that marks
out the narrow path which shuns the pitfalls of destruction.” 4SP:08/26/89 “The
sailor who has in his possession chart and compass, and yet neglects
to use them, is responsible for placing the lives of those on board his
vessel in peril. The vessel may be lost by his neglect. We have a Guidebook, the Word of God, and
we are inexcusable if we miss the way to heaven, for plain directions have
been given us.” ST:03/21/06 As
surely as we, as Seventh-day Adventists, neglect, or reject the Bible and the
Spirit of Prophecy, we are “drifting away to sea without chart or
compass.” And it is clearly evident from the description of the Omega of
Apostasy [1SM:204-5], which describes the present, apostate condition of the
corporate SDA church of today, that they are “drifting away to sea without
chart or compass.” And what will be the ultimate fate of those who insist
on remaining with that ship? We read: “I
lately read of a [once] noble
ship [“How is the [once]
faithful city become an harlot?” 8T:250.] that was plowing
its way across the sea, when at midnight, with a terrific crash, it struck
upon a rock. The passengers were awakened only to see with horror
their hopeless condition and with the ship they sank to rise no more.”
2SM:128. And
here we are given again, the reason why this will happen: “God has
appointed means [“Chart and compass”], if we will use them diligently
and prayerfully, that no vessel shall be shipwrecked, but outride the tempest
and storm [“storm and tempest will sweep away the structure”],
and anchor in the haven of bliss at last. But if we despise and neglect these
appointments and privileges God will not work a miracle [He is not
going to send an angel] to save any of us, and we will be lost as were
Judas and Satan. Do not think that God will work a miracle
to save those weak souls who cherish evil, who practice sin; or that some
supernatural element will be brought into their lives, lifting them out of
self into a higher sphere, where it will be comparatively easy work, without
any special effort, any special fighting, without any crucifixion of self;
because ALL [“Men, maidens
and children ALL perish together” 5T:211] who dally on Satan’s ground [refuse
to separate] for this to be done will perish with the evildoers. They will
be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.” TM:453. And
again we read: “The minds of many have been engrossed with contentions,
and they have rejected the light given through the Testimonies because it
did not agree with their own opinions. God will not work a miracle to
convince these rebellious ones of the truth of the Testimonies, and compel
them to acknowledge His message. He has given sufficient evidence for their
faith, and it is only the stubbornness of the natural heart that prevents
them from acknowledging the light.” 1888 Materials: 505. 9: FABLE: Ellen White did not separate from the church in her
day despite the apostasy, so she would not separate from the church today. FACT: We are instructed: “Regarding the testimonies,
nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must
be considered.” 1SM: 57. And again: “It should be
remembered that the promises and threatenings of
God are alike conditional. Ibid.:
67. To attempt to maintain that the SDA church of Ellen White’s day is
the same church that parades the SDA name around today is to utterly reject
the overwhelming evidence that is described for us in 1SM: 204-5; to totally
ignore time, place, and condition. The SDA church of today is a corrupt,
apostate, hierarchical structure that no longer can claim God’s presence. It
is a “new organization––a new movement” Would Ellen White give
countenance to such a treacherous development? What were her actions back in
her day before the church was in such deep apostasy, when there were only
wrong practices going on within the church?
The honest in heart cannot deny by reading the following statements by
E. G. White, just what her actions would be regarding separation, considering
the state of the church in her day, and the state of the church in
this, our day, as we read: “I
have a work to do, and I am now making decisions. I must remain away from
conference meetings. I must not attend camp meetings. The spirit of
drawing apart, as the result of judging one another, has become so common,
and the churches are becoming so leavened with this spirit, that I have no
desire to attend these meetings. After returning from them, it is often
weeks before I am able to take up my neglected work. Because those in positions of
responsibility have for years left the Southern field unworked,
notwithstanding the most decided testimonies urging them to take up this
work; because they continue to neglect this field and use every manner of
device in trying to uproot the confidence of the people in those who have
done the hardest and most self-sacrificing work in the South, I have but
very little confidence that the Lord is giving these men in positions of
responsibility spiritual eyesight and heavenly discernment. I am thrown into
perplexity over their course; and I desire now to attend to my special work,
to have no part in any of their councils, and to attend no meetings, nigh
nor afar off. My mind shall not be dragged into confusion by the tendency
they manifest to work directly contrary to the light that God has given me. I
am done. I will preserve my God-given intelligence. My voice has been heard in
the different conferences and at camp
meetings. I must now make a change. I cannot enter the atmosphere of strife and then
have to bear testimonies that cost me much more than those to whom they are
sent can imagine. When I attend the different meetings, I am compelled to
deal with men, standing in responsible places, who I know are not exerting an
influence that God can endorse. And when I bear a testimony in reference to
their course of action, advantage is taken of this testimony. These men have
not clear understanding. Should I say the things that I know, they would not,
with their present experience, use this instruction wisely, and would bring
upon me inconceivable burdens. I shall, therefore, leave them to receive
word from the Bible, in which the principles upon which they should work
are laid down in straight lines.” Manuscript
17: 65-66. “All
who are educated in the office of publication should see there exemplified
the principles of heaven. I would rather lay a child of mine in his grave
than have him go there to see these principles mangled and perverted. The
principles of heaven are to be carried out in every family, in the discipline
of every church, in every establishment, in every institution, in every
school, and in everything that shall be managed. You have no right to manage,
unless you manage in God's order. Are you under the control of God?” 1888
Materials: 1745 “The warning is given in the Word, "Some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." We now
repeat, Parents, keep your children away from “There
are serious objections to having the school located at “Now,
those who have had years in this same experience, know not
God nor Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and should such go forth as
representatives of Jesus Christ? These men will never give the right mold to
other minds; they have not grown up to the full stature of men and women in
Christ. They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the
work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the
A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. 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.” Manuscript
12: 334. “I
was confirmed in all I had stated in Isn’t Ellen White here
strongly indicating that if things did not change, then as God’s faithful
have always done previously, once more there would be “the necessity for
another coming out.”? Can anyone honestly continue to maintain that she would
urge all to remain associated with a church that now embraces papal actions
and associations, that claims the authority to change fundamental beliefs and
doctrines, and that holds the church manual above the Holy Scriptures. I
cannot but believe that she would turn from such an abomination with
revulsion and horror, and with tears of bitterness and sorrow for the shame
and disgrace that has been brought upon the honor of God. 10.
FABLE: We are not to separate from
the SDA church unless and until it has apostatized so much that it starts
keeping Sunday. FACT: Our legal system, which is based upon
Judeo-Christian principles, holds that if you are in the company of someone
when they commit a crime, you are “an accessory to the fact.” In other words,
guilty by association. This principle is also illustrated by inspiration as
we read: “Those who occupy responsible positions in the office are accountable for
the prevailing influence there, and if they are indifferent to the course
of the insubordinate and impenitent in their employ they become partakers
of their sin.” 4T:205.
Again we read: "In
our largest churches the greatest evils exist because these have had the
greatest light. They have not a true knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ
whom he has sent. The leaven of unbelief is working, and unless these
evils which bring the displeasure of God are corrected in its
members, the whole church stands accountable for them.” Paulson Collection:340. “God's command had
been disregarded by one of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the
nation was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor: "
They have even taken of the accursed thing,
and have also stolen, and dissembled also." Instruction was given to Joshua
for the discovery and punishment of the criminal. The lot was to be employed for the
detection of the guilty. The sinner was not directly pointed out, the
matter being left in doubt for a time,
that the people might feel their responsibility
for the sins existing among them, and
thus be led to searching of heart and
humiliation before God.” PP:494. “The
names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on
the church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their
evil deeds. Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited
and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they should be separated
from church fellowship, in accordance
with the rules laid down in the Word of God.” 11MR:209. “So,”
you ask, “what does this have to do with the SDA church observing Sunday?”
First, let us go to the Scriptures where we read these word of Jesus in
Matthew 5:27,28: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in her
heart.” The point I’m trying to bring out here is that the present,
corporate SDA denomination has given abundant evidence in pursuing an
aggressive ecumenical agenda, that she is not only a willing party, that has
lusted after the teachings and practices of the churches of Babylon––the
foremost of which is Sunday observance, but has actively participated in
them! The SDA church is keeping the letter of the law, but it
cannot be denied that for the most part her intents and purposes are leading
the people to diminish the sacred character of God’s holy seventh-day
Sabbath, and to exalt the observance of Sunday. Ample documentation is
available to verify this. So, to conclude this issue, according to the divine
principles given to us here, is not the SDA church by its many affiliations,
associations, alliances, and agreements just as guilty of holding Sunday
sacred as those Babylonian entities it is intertwined with as that “accessory
to the fact,” even though it is not actually “keeping” Sunday yet? The law of
the land holds that even though you didn’t actually pull the trigger––or even
hold the gun, by being there, you are just as guilty! How much more does God,
who holds us to a much higher standard, require of His professed church? Beloved
reader, which voice will you listen to, the false and deceitful voice of
Satan that insists that the only way to become clean is to remain in the
pigpen, the voice that insists that the only way to keep from going under is
to remain in the quicksand, the voice that insists that the only way to keep
from being consumed is to remain within the burning building, the voice that
insists that the only way to escape the burning wrath of God in the 7 last
plagues is to remain associated with the church which will be the first to
receive of those plagues? Or are you going to listen to the true voice of the
Holy Spirit that beckons you to separate from all sin and apostasy so that
you can be sealed and take your stand with the remnant––those who have been
called out of the “nominal Adventists and the fallen churches.”? In
closing, undoubtedly there are more issues and arguments that will be, and
are being raised by those who are standing against the issue of separation.
But how many times must error be exposed before one
is convicted of the truth? We are all familiar with the statement that says
“A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” This is
illustrated in the Bible, where we read of the attitude of the professed
Seventh-day Adventists in the days of Jesus: “...neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31. My
fervent prayer is that the light of truth will shine abundantly upon those
who are truly seeking it, and that God’s elect will discern and not be
deceived by falsehood and error. Clarence
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