Judgments Begin at His Sanctuary, Spiritual Jerusalem

(SDA Church) Few in Number Saved Says God

“Strange to say, it was the leaders of Israel who, by precept and example, led the nation into apostasy.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 568.

Strange to say, it has been the leaders of modern day Israel who have by precept and example led the SDA church denomination into grave apostasy, but they are too blind to discern the gravity of their acts of apostasy. Isaiah 56:10-12. Adventists think the church is too big to fail. The Jews of Christ’s day thought the same thing!

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This document is of extreme importance because the SDA church is teaching that Ezekiel 9 destruction involves only the world and not the SDA once church militant which became apostate. This is one of the most Jesuit-like preterist misapplications of prophesy that any church ever misinterpreted.

In addition to the above lie, the SDA Bible Commentary and Bible teachers like Ulicia Unruh, an SDA minister’s wife, teach that Ezekiel 9 had its fulfillment away back in the times of the Babylonian Captivities of the Jews. How that lie ever passed the muster of 40 plus SDA theologian contributors to the SDA Bible Commentary, one can only imagine. There was no wholesale slaughter of the Jews before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. There was a destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar’s armies on three different occasions because the Jews resisted going into captivity after they were instructed by Jeremiah not to resist. God’s purpose in their captivity was to humble and reform His people. It was not the prophesied destruction and slaughter mentioned in Ezekiel 9.

The Jews were given 490 years probation in Daniel’s time. Daniel was taken to Babylon in the first captivity in 605 B.C. re: SDA Bible Commentary, p. 745 of the 1955 edition. Daniel wrote his visions after that date. Ezekiel wrote mostly prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., so he wrote about 19 years before Daniel did, and Daniel was shown (chapter 9) that the Jews would have 490 years probation to put sin away, and that time ended in A.D. 34, commensurate with the stoning of Stephen. So you can see that Ezekiel 9, which is a sealing chapter, could not be fulfilled before the end of the Hebrew’s probation in A.D. 34. Clearly, Daniel and Ezekiel were contemporaries and Ezekiel chapters 5 and 9 did not apply contingent upon a slaughter order by the Man in Linen, until the righteous were sealed and Israel’s probation was closed in A.D. 34.

SDA Bible Commentary Comments on Ezekiel 9

 

CHAPTER 9

“1 A vision, whereby is shewed the preservation of some, 5 and the destruction of the rest. 8 God cannot be intreated for them.

1. He cried also. Chapter 9 is a continuation of the symbolic vision of ch. 8. The prophet records what passes before him in panoramic view, leaving for us the interpretation as to what is represented by the various symbols. The speaker is the same as throughout ch. 8. His identity is shown by the prophet’s address to him in v. 8, “Ah Lord God!”

Them that have charge. The phrase is a translation of the Heb. pequddoth, singular pequddah, a word elsewhere rendered “office” (Num. 4:16), “visitation” (Jer. 8:12). It is also used of “officers” (Isa. 60:17). If this last rendering is applicable here, there is a picture of overseers, watchers, or guards (see Dan. 4:13) who attend to the execution of the sentences of God. The entire clause may also be rendered as in the LXX, “The vengeance upon the city has drawn near.”

2. Six men. These executioners of vengeance are pictured as human in form. In primary application they represent the Babylonians, who were to execute the divine sentence upon the city. In secondary application they portend the agencies of judgments which, at the close of time, will execute sentence, first upon those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people, and later upon the wicked in general.

Higher gate. Since the courts of the Temple were built in stages, the inner court was the higher. “Toward the north” designates the gate as the one where the prophet had been shown the idolatries (ch. 8:5).

One man among them. This man was one of the six bearing the slaughtering weapons, and not a seventh, as some interpreters assert (see 3T 266, 267). He was “clothed with linen,” the ordinary priestly garment, and the special garment of the high priest at the ceremonies of the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16).

Inkhorn. Heb. qeseth, a word occurring only here, probably derived from the Egyptian gśty, “the palette of a writer,” hence a case containing pens, knife, and ink. The LXX, perhaps following a different text, reads “a girdle of sapphire” instead of “inkhorn.” But the Hebrew seems to be the preferable reading.

3. The glory. That is, the glory described in ch. 8:4, which was a reappearance of the vision described in ch. 1.

To the threshold. The removal was probably to indicate that the command for judgment would proceed from the very Temple itself, which the Jews considered the pledge of their safety.

4. Mark. Heb. taw, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the time of Ezekiel this Hebrew character was written in the form of X. The marking was done in vision, and the exact nature of the mark is perhaps not important. An ancient interpretation that saw in the sign a prefigurement of the cross is rather fanciful. In the vision the mark was doubtless literal, but in significance it had reference wholly to character. The messenger was to pay no regard to birth or position, but to mark only those who mourned for the prevailing sinfulness and kept themselves aloof from it.

The vision had primary reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. It will have another fulfillment during the closing scenes of this world’s history. It parallels closely the visions of Rev. 7; 15; 16. The distinguishing mark in Revelation is “the seal of God” and, like the mark in Ezekiel, is based on character qualifications. God places His mark of approval upon all who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reflect the image of Jesus (see COL 67). This stamp of approbation has been likened to God’s mark of ownership, as though God inscribes upon those who qualify for citizenship in His kingdom His name and address—“God, New Jerusalem” (TM 446).

 

Note by Ron: The primary reference could not be the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, because God and Lord who make the decree in Ezekiel 9, verses 1 and 4 respectively, are ordering total destruction. That is contrary to what God (Lord) told Jeremiah and Daniel. God would not order a wholesale slaughter of His people before their 490 years of probation was over, and it commenced with Daniel 9, and Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel. As stated previously, that 490 years of probation ended in A.D. 34. There was no sealing associated with the Nebuchadnezzar Captivities! End note by Ron.

 

“The outward, visible sign of this completion of the work of grace in the soul will be the observance of the true Sabbath of the Bible (see 8T 117). This will be brought about in the following way: The seventh-day Sabbath has always stood as God’s appointed rest day for man. Established at creation (Gen. 2:1–3), it was designed to be of perpetual obligation. The command to observe it was placed in the bosom of the moral law (Ex. 20:8–11). Neither Christ nor His apostles abrogated the Sabbath. The great apostasy following the death of the apostles presumed to set it aside and substitute in its place another day of rest, the first day of the week. But the Word of God predicts a great work of Sabbath reform to precede the second coming of Christ. (Isa. 56:1, 2, 6–8; 58:12, 13; Rev. 14:6–12; see GC 451–460). It also predicts that simultaneously Satan, the great apostate leader, will exalt his own counterfeit system of religion, presenting a false sabbath, Sunday, as the day of worship (Rev. 13; 14:9–12; cf. Dan. 7:25). He will be successful to the extent that he will be able to unite the whole world in a great religious reform movement, a prominent feature of which will be the exaltation of Sunday (Rev. 13:8; 14:8; 16:14; 18:3; see GC chs. 35–40). As a result of his efforts in this direction the whole world will be divided into two camps, those who are faithful to God and keep His Sabbath, and those who join the universal counterfeit religious movement and honor the false sabbath. The observance of the true Sabbath will thus become the distinguishing mark of the true worshiper of God.

Yet it is not the outward observance of the Sabbath that constitutes the mark. The seal stands for that character qualification that all must have who are accounted worthy of citizenship in the kingdom of glory about to be established. Only those who have purified their souls will cling to the Sabbath in that awful time of trouble preceding the return of Jesus. Insincere Sabbathkeepers will abandon the ranks of God’s people and unite with Satan against heaven, and join in the battle against the Ruler of the universe (TM 465). Thus only the genuine and true remain as the sole defenders of God’s holy Sabbath. These are joined by others of God’s true children who, until now, have been scattered throughout the various communions of Christendom, but who, under the increasing light of the loud cry, embrace the Sabbath and join God’s remnant people (see GC 611, 612).

The mark is placed upon those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.” Those who belong to this class have been described as distinguished by their soul anguish over the declensions among God’s professed people. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of every kind are in the church. They feel powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity and hence are filled with grief and alarm (see 5T 210). Those in the other class seek to throw a cloak over existing evils and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent. They claim that God is too good and too merciful to punish evil. The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil, they say. They assert the Lord does not expect so high a standard, and will be satisfied with a mere desire to do right. But the Lord cannot change His standard. To do so would be to change Himself. Rather, He supplies grace [His Holy Spirit Power] for the acquirement of every virtue and the correction of every defect. He asks of every Christian that full advantage be taken of these provisions. He demands no less than perfection. Unless this is attained, the soul will be found without the seal of God when probation closes.

6. Begin at my sanctuary. In its primary application this decree marks the close of Jerusalem’s probation. God had exhausted His resources in appealing to rebellious Israel. His restraining power would be removed from the invading Chaldeans. Mercilessly their armies would execute the sentence to “slay utterly old and young.” They would begin at the sanctuary, where the gross sins of the people had been concentrated.

 

Note by Ron: Earlier in the Commentary comments on “Six men,” it says that the “primary application represents the Babylonians.” This is being misinterpreted by SDA’s like Ulicia Unruh and her minister husband to refer to the Babylonian Captivities. That is the direct inference of this serious error, because it was the Romans, not the Babylonians, who fulfilled the literal Ezekiel 9 slaughter versus CAPTIVITY, of the Jews in A.D. 70! The decree was not fulfilled until A.D. 70, some 36 years after the close of Israel’s probation (490 years) in A.D. 34. End note.

 

These scenes will be re-enacted in the last days. Judgment, then, too, begins at the “house of God” (1 Peter 4:17), with those to whom God has given great light and who have stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, but who have betrayed their trust (see 5T 211). These unfaithful shepherds receive first the abuse that will be heaped upon them by those who have been deceived by their guile (EW 282). Later, they perish in the general destruction that precedes and accompanies the second coming of Christ” (see Rev. 15–19).

 

Note by Ron: Finally some modicum of truth comes to fore! And I don’t believe the Commentary writer(s) involved were Shepherd’s Rod! I don’t believe Ellen White was a Shepherd’s Rodsmen! I don’t believe God and Lord were Shepherd’s Rodsmen! The words general destruction are iterated by Ellen White, but she re-applies Matthew 22:1-10, and verse 7 is the same event as the Ezekiel 9 destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. It all begins at His Sanctuary before the final cry to the highways, the world, if we factor in Ellen White’s reapplication of Matthew 22:1-10 to the end-time.

 

7. Defile the house. The Jews expected that God would spare His house from defilement. In this they were disappointed. In part the defilement was effected by the bleeding corpses of the idolatrous worshipers.

8. I was left. In vision Ezekiel saw Jerusalem reduced to a city of the dead. It seemed to him that he was standing alone in the midst of the slain. No notice is here made of any who, because of the protecting mark, were saved. Evidently they constituted a small minority.

Residue of Israel. The ten tribes had already gone into captivity in 723/722 b.c. (2 Kings 17:6). A considerable group from the southern kingdom of Judah had been removed in 605 b.c., and especially in 597 b.c. (see p. 568). Ezekiel pleads for the remnant still left. The nature and magnitude of the sin justified the judgment.

9. Earth. Heb. ereṣ, which may also be translated, “land.” Either translation makes good sense. The people asserted that the Lord was not concerned with the conduct of men. They imagined they had free scope to act as they chose toward one another, no one calling them into account for their deeds. The result was moral decay.

 

ELLEN G. WHITE COMMENTS

1 5T 207

1, 2 GC 656; 3T 266

2–7 TM 431

3–6 5T 207

4 GC 656; PK 590; TM 445; 3T 266, 370; 5T 210, 474

4–6 5T 505

5, 6 3T 267; 5T 211

6 GC 656

10 TM 432

11 EW 279; SR 402

 

End SDA Bible Commentary comments on Ezekiel 9

What 44 thought leader contributors to the SDA Bible Commentary are saying in their comments on Ezekiel 9, is that the Man in Linen ordered the men with slaughter weapons to destroy Jerusalem and men, maidens and little children, centuries before their Daniel 9 probation was ended in A.D. 34. That is preposterously ignorant and/or intended misinterpretation of Scripture. What they are saying in essence is that Matthew 24:15, 16, applied in the time of the three different Nebuchadnezzar Captivities, when Matthew 24 was not written until centuries later!

There was no instruction to the Jews of those captivities except that they not resist, which they disobeyed, thus resulting in the destructions of Jerusalem, and some Hebrews being killed. But there was no wholesale slaughter as in A.D. 70, with a remnant fleeing to Pella, 3 ½ years prior.

What the SDA Bible Commentary is teaching is the Bible contradicting lie that God told Jeremiah to order the Hebrews not to resist being taken captive, but at the same time, God Almighty, with a loud voice (Ezekiel 9:1), caused them that had charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand, while the Lord (verse 6) orders them to slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, and to BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY. So according to the SDA Bible Commentary’s comments on Ezekiel 9, they make Jeremiah and Ezekiel contradict. Jeremiah says that God told him the Jews were going into captivity and Ezekiel says that God told him that the Jews were going to be slaughtered to include men, maidens and little children BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY! And that, centuries before Daniel’s 490 year prophecy of Daniel 9, which gave the Jews 490 years probation to put away their sins of idolatry.

Notice these paragraphs on the book of Jeremiah, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 347:

 

c. Jehoiakim (609–598 b.c.). Earlier called Eliakim (2 Kings 23:34). After deposing Jehoahaz, Necho II placed Jehoiakim, second son of Josiah (see on 1 Chron. 3:15), on the throne (2 Kings 23:34). Judah was now under Egyptian suzerainty and paid a heavy tribute for Egyptian friendship (see on 2 Kings 23:35). In 605 b.c. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Palestine, took part of the Temple vessels, and deported some of the royal family and nobility to Babylon. Among these captives were Daniel and his three companions (see Dan. 1:1–6; Vol. II, p. 95). Jehoiakim was thus forced to switch his allegiance from Egypt to Babylon. At that time (see pp. 505, 506), in the battle of Carchemish, Egypt was severely beaten, and Necho II made a hasty retreat to Egypt with the remnant of his army. In spite of solemn assurances of fidelity to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:1), Jehoiakim, who was pro-Egyptian at heart, openly rebelled in 598 b.c. This led to the second invasion of Judah and the capture and death of Jehoiakim. The king seems to have met a tragic end (see on 2 Kings 24:5).

d. Jehoiachin (598–597 b.c.). Also called Coniah (Jer. 22:24) and Jeconiah (1 Chron. 3:16; Jer. 24:1). After a brief reign of some three months this son and successor of Jehoiakim surrendered to the besieging Babylonians and was deported to Babylon with his mother, wives, sons, and palace officials (see 2 Kings 24:10–16). Ten thousand captives were taken to Babylon in this second deportation, which included the chief men and the craftsmen of the city. The prophet Ezekiel was among these captives (see Eze. 1:1–3). For the light thrown by archeology on this captivity see pp. 575, 756; (Vol. II, pp. 96, 97, 99).

During at least a part of the time, Jehoiachin was kept in prison, from which, in the 37th year of his exile, he was freed by Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Amel-Marduk, the Biblical Evil-Merodach (2 Kings 25:27–30).

e. Zedekiah (597–586 b.c.). Earlier called Mattaniah (2 Kings 24:17). After deporting Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar made this 21-year-old son of Josiah puppet king over Judah. Zedekiah faced a difficult task. The upper classes of Judah had been deported and the people who were left behind were hard to manage. Jeremiah compared them to bad figs unfit for food (Jer. 24:8–10). To add to the difficulty of the situation, ambassadors from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon were in Jerusalem (see Jer. 27:3) presumably for the purpose of inciting Zedekiah to join them in revolt against Babylon. Jeremiah warned Judah against their intrigue, and admonished not only Judah but these nations as well to submit to the yoke of Babylon (see Jer. 27; 28:14). He warned that the failure of Judah to submit would result in the utter ruin of Jerusalem. But contrary to all this instruction, Zedekiah revolted (see Vol. II, p. 97).

Nebuchadnezzar acted swiftly and terribly to crush the revolt. His invasion filled Zedekiah and all Jerusalem with apprehension and terror (Jer. 21:1–10). In a desperate attempt to gain the favor of God, the king and people joined in a solemn covenant with Him promising to free all Hebrew slaves in Jerusalem (ch. 34:8–10). But when Nebuchadnezzar temporarily lifted the siege because of the threat of Pharaoh’s army (ch. 37:5), the covenant was forgotten and the freed men were cruelly re-enslaved (ch. 34:11–22). Jeremiah was seized and imprisoned as a traitor (ch. 37:11–15). Soon, however, the siege was resumed. The Jews fought desperately to save the city and themselves from the fate that threatened them. The city held out for 30 months (see Vol. II, p. 98; Vol. III, p. 92). But in July, 586 b.c., the Babylonians made a breach in the walls. With a small bodyguard Zedekiah managed to escape, but he was overtaken and captured near Jericho (see ch. 39:2–5). Jerusalem was sacked and burned (ch. 39:8), and nearly all of the remaining Jews taken into captivity (ch. 39:9, 10).” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 347, 348, 1957 edition. The pagination may be different in later editions.

 

·       Would you say that nearly all of the remaining Jews taken into captivityis very different from the A.D. 70 Ezekiel 9 slaughter of men, maidens and little children?

·       Would you say the SDA Bible Commentary makes Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah very contradictory when it says that the primary application is the Babylonian captivities rather than the Roman slaughter and destruction in A.D. 70, 36 years after the close of Israel’s probation in A.D. 34?

Jeremiah 33:1-11, promises the Jews a return from their captivity to prosperity, and a restoration of the voice of joy, gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. Jeremiah’s call to office came about 627 B.C. (SDABC, Vol. 4, p. 344). He was commanded by God to put the main substance of his preaching into writing. (SDABC, Vol. 4, p. 344),  so he was a contemporary of Daniel.

"If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:42-44.

God and Ellen White say that Ezekiel 9 will be literally fulfilled again. The first account of its fulfillment was from A.D. 27-70. We have repeated the history of the Jews. So the following highlighted words now apply to the professing SDA church. In order for Ezekiel 9 to be literally fulfilled again, it must be preceded by the same literal profanations and abominations committed by the Jews, and so it is:

“From the crest of Olivet, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. Fair and peaceful was the scene spread out before Him. It was the season of the Passover, and from all lands the children of Jacob had gathered there to celebrate the great national festival. In the midst of gardens and vineyards, and green slopes studded with pilgrims' tents, rose the terraced hills, the stately palaces, and massive bulwarks of Israel's capital. The daughter of Zion seemed in her pride to say, I sit a queen and shall see no sorrow; as lovely then, and deeming herself as secure in Heaven's favor, as when, ages before, the royal minstrel sang: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, . . . the city of the great King." Psalm 48:2. In full view were the magnificent buildings of the temple. The rays of the setting sun lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed from golden gate and tower and pinnacle. "The perfection of beauty" it stood, the pride of the Jewish nation. What child of Israel could gaze upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration! But far other thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus. "When He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it." Luke 19:41. Amid the universal rejoicing of the triumphal entry, while palm branches waved, while glad hosannas awoke the echoes of the hills, and thousands of voices declared Him king, the world's Redeemer was overwhelmed with a sudden and mysterious sorrow. He, the Son of God, the Promised One of Israel, whose power had conquered death and called its captives from the grave, was in tears, not of ordinary grief, but of intense, irrepressible agony." The Great Controversy, p. 17.

Compare the above highlighted words with the following Bible description of Babylon.

Revelation 18

 1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

 2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

 3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

 4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

 6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

 7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

 8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

 9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

 10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

 11And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

 12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

 13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

 14And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

 15The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

 16And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

 17For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

 18And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

 19And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

 20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

 21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

 22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

 23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

 24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Is this why Ellen White said that God’s people are worse than the heathen idol worshippers?

Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people are selfish and self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the heathen, graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better way." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 440-442.

Ellen White says in over one-hundred statements that Adventists are moving in the same path of disobedience as did God’s first chosen people, the Jews. Here are a few examples:

 

“The same disobedience and failure which were seen in the Jewish church have characterized in a greater degree the people who have had this great light from heaven in the last messages of warning.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 456.

 

History repeats itself. “The thing that has been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9). In other words, The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the past.” (G.C. 343).

 

That the Advent Movement is an important movement of the present no one can deny and it has its parallel in the history of Ancient Israel: “The remnant church is called to go through an experience similar to that of the Jews.” (1 SM, 387). Not one of us can afford to ignore the following warning:

 

The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me, again and again, to ILLUSTRATE the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ—how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of the minds of the Jews, and today her is seeking to blind the minds of God’s servants, that they may not be able to discern the Precious Truth.” (1 SM, 406; 2 Cor 4:4). The “precious truth” mentioned here is the light sent to the Seventh-day Adventists in 1888. 

 

"I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with unbelievers have provoked he Lord's displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. [The very words applied to fallen Israel on page 17 of The Great Controversy] Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 75-76.

 

"Like ancient Israel, the church has dishonored her God by departing from the light, neglecting her duties, and abusing her high and exalted privilege of being peculiar and holy in character. Her members have violated their covenant to live for God and him only. They have joined with the selfish and world-loving. Pride, the love of pleasure, and sin have been cherished, and CHRIST HAS DEPARTED. His Spirit has been quenched in the church. Satan works side by side with professed Christians yet they are so destitute of spiritual discernment that they do not detect him." E.G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 2, pp. 441-442.

graven image

 

"Among the professed followers of Christ, there is the same pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, and OPPRESSION, that existed in the Jewish nation." E.G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 251-252.

 

Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people are selfish and self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the heathen, graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better way." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 440-442.

 

“Then I was pointed back to the years 1843 and 1844. There was a spirit of consecration then that there is not now. What has come over the professed peculiar people of God? I saw the conformity to the world, the unwillingness to suffer for the truth's sake. I saw a great lack of submission to the will of God…
I saw that many who profess to believe the truth for these last days think it strange that the children of Israel murmured as they journeyed; that after the wonderful dealings of God with them, they should be so ungrateful as to forget what He had done for them. Said the angel: "Ye have done worse than they."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 128, 129.

 

“I was shown the conformity of some professed Sabbathkeepers to the world. Oh, I saw that it is a disgrace to their profession, a disgrace to the cause of God. They give the lie to their profession. They think they are not like the world, but they are so near like them in dress, in conversation, and actions, that there is no distinction…” “As I saw the dreadful fact that God's people were conformed to the world, with no distinction, except in name, between many of the professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus and unbelievers, my soul felt deep anguish. I saw that Jesus was wounded and put to an open shame. Said the angel, as with sorrow he saw the professed people of God loving the world, partaking of its spirit, and following its fashions: "Cut loose! Cut loose! lest He appoint you your portion with hypocrites and unbelievers outside the city. Your profession will only cause you greater anguish, and your punishment will be greater because ye knew His will, but did it not." Testimonies for the Church, vol 1, p 131, 133.

Is all of the above why Ellen White made the following prophesy concerning the fate of the professing SDA once church militant?

                                                                   

"Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].

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 therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul: 'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5]. 

The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence and faith--which alone could render the service acceptable to God--was lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit, there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail but they departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his love. As they REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were NOT FULFILLED to them."  E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy,  vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The Great Controversy, 199, 200].

 

SDA Watchmen will NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob (let alone Babylon) its sins:

 

"Here we see that the (SDA) church-the Lord's sanctuary-was the first ("For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17) to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. ("The wrath of God"=the 7 last plagues-Early Writings, 36, 52, 64, 289; Revelation 15:1, 7; 16:1.) The ancient men, those who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interest 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. ("He loves us so much, no matter what we do, we'll always be the apple of His eye.") 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 (the leadership) 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." (ALL excludes nobody-not one. ALL from the leadership to the cradle roll are slain!) Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211. (The chapter this is taken from begins on page 207, quoting Ezekiel 9).

 

Will you perish together with them? If you don’t leave them as Christ and His followers separated from the prefigure apostate church of His day, you will perish with them.

 

"Christ was a protestant...The Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They came out and separated themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and his followers did not invent the reformed religion. They simply accepted it as presented by Christ and the apostles." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, 48, col. 2.  

 

Paul left

 

"And as they persisted in their rejection of the gospel the apostle (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus." Acts, 19:8, 9.

 

"Fearing that the faith of the believers would be endangered by continued association with these opposers of the truth, Paul separated from them, and gathered the disciples into a distinct body." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 286.

 

“I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness.” {EW 124.3}

 

“I saw that we have no time to throw away in listening to fables. Our minds should not be thus diverted, but should be occupied with the present truth,..." EW p. 125.

 

Apostasy is working on wrong principles. What is Ellen White’s instruction in such an event:

 

"Even though you may not be able to speak a word to those who are working on wrong principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and silence may do more than words. Nehemiah refused to associate with those who were untrue to principle, and he would not permit his workmen to associate with them. The love and fear of God were his safeguard-Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone. Thus as did Moses, you will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve before evil associates, while you listen to their devices makes you one with them Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Review & Herald Vol. 4, p. 42.

 

Scripture on Home Churches

 

Act 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Act 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Act 16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

Act 18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Rom 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1Cr 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1Cr 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

1Cr 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

 

Ellen White on Home Churches

 

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?

 

Ellen White on Home Churches in the Alpha of Apostasy:

 

"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.

 

"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, (or the super mega church), neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where Christ is even among the humble few, THIS IS CHRIST'S CHURCH, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church." Upward Look, p. 315.

 

"The church is in the Laodicean condition. The presence of God in not in her midst." Notebook Leaflets, p.99.

 

"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.--NL 99 (1898). Latter Day Events, p. 49.

 

"To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 55.

 

"The enemy of souls 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, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A NEW ORGANIZATION would be established. Books of a NEW ORDER would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but GOD BEING REMOVED, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure. 

Who has authority to begin such a [NEW] movement? We have our Bibles, we have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?” E.G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 1, 204, 205.  

The following emails to me prompted this (above) documentary response:

 

From: George Jordache

To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 10:47 AM

Subject: Re: [AdventistHotIssues] Overcoming Sin

 

 

I praise the Lord for this blessed assurance : Overcome as Christ Overcame!

The whole Plan of Salvation is maide null and void without this clear crystal reality of  individual and collective overcoming of sin through the means of Christ's Spirit, The soul of Christ's own Life!...As the days are passing, the SDA are becoming more and more deceived in their false hope of being saved without overcoming the sin...In this way they are justifying their gross disobedience by God's Laws and their lack of faith in The Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...There is no concern about conquering the sin, or being sanctified and glorified in their character. The whole theology of the Sanctuary is just pure theory without life...One need to look down the Christian history again and again...It is all about overcoming sin, character and faith that works by works...How is possible to pervert such a simple thing of common sense which is coined as Walk your Talk and Talk your Walk! I am just pondering over the clear, divine simple theology of this Forum.... Just a few interested in these gems of Truth, just a few  still believing in "that old time religion"...This childish generation is beyond any term of comparison...this is why a prophet's mission is so difficult to be done..." But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented"...

George

 

Response from Ron:

Dear Brother George,

 

I believe there will be but a very few remnant saved out of the professing SDA church. That is God's assessment in Ezekiel 5. Notice His words in verse 3: "Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts." Ezekiel 5 is another eloboration on Ezekiel 9, depicting God's feelings about spiritual Jerusalem, and why He is going to permit its destruction. After but a "few" are "taken in thy skirts" (Marriage terminology connotative of the bride--similar to the account of Ruth and Boaz), the rest, 3/3, and three thirds equals a whole, is destroyed.

 

The application of Ezekiel 9 in The Great Controversy, pp. 653-656, is to Babylon, which is clearly specified on page 653 by the following words:

 

"Such are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation of God's wrath. She has filled up the measure of her iniquity; her time has come; she is ripe for destruction." GC 653.

 

But the prophecy is twofold:

 

“The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ's prediction of the overthrow of the temple, and they desired to understand more fully the meaning of His words. Wealth, labor, and architectural skill had for more than forty years been freely expended to enhance its splendors. Herod the Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure, and even the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts. Massive blocks of white marble, of almost fabulous size, forwarded from Rome for this purpose, formed a part of its structure; and to these the disciples had called the attention of their Master, saying: See what manner of stones and what buildings are here!’" Mark 13:1.

To these words, Jesus made the solemn and startling reply: "Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Matthew 24:2.

With the overthrow of Jerusalem the disciples associated the events of Christ's personal coming in temporal glory to take the throne of universal empire, to punish the impenitent Jews, and to break from off the nation the Roman yoke. The Lord had told them that He would come the second time. Hence at the mention of judgments upon Jerusalem, their minds reverted to that coming; and as they were gathered about the Saviour upon the Mount of Olives, they asked: "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Verse 3.

The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples. Had they at that time fully comprehend the two awful facts--the Redeemer's sufferings and death, and the destruction of their city and temple--they would have been overwhelmed with horror. Christ presented before them an outline of the prominent events to take place before the close of time. His words were not then fully understood; but their meaning was to be unfolded as His people should need the instruction therein given. The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day.” The Great Controversy, p. 25.

 

Note: A twofold Prophesy:

 

1.   Prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem.

2.   Prophesied the terrors of the last great day BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY.

 

“Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall upon apostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance that would come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah. Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax. The dreaded hour would come suddenly and swiftly. And the Saviour warned His followers: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Matthew 24:15, 16; Luke 21:20, 21. When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay. Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed. He who chanced to be upon the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save his most valued treasures. Those who were working in the fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction.” The Great Controversy, pp. 24-26. 

 

Ezekiel 5  (KJV)

 
 1And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.

 

 2Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

 

 3Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.

 

 4Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

 

 5Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.

 

 6And she [JERUSALEM—SDA CHURCH IN END-TIME CONTEXT] hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.

 

 7Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;

 

 8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.

 

 9And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.

 

 10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

 

 11Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

 

 12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

 

 13Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

 

 14Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.

 

 15So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.

 

 16When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

 

 17So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee: and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

 

"Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling will YOU hear? Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 260.

 

“The time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.

 

The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1880:  “The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before the eyes of modern Israel.” 

“The desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity.”  Prophets and Kings, 416.    

 

Who is modern Israel (below) in your estimation? Is it BABYLON? Nay! It is spiritual Jerusalem, the professing, new movement SDA church.

 

"Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling will YOU hear? Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 260.

 

“The time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.

 

“The desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity.”  Prophets and Kings, 416.   

 

All blessings,

 

Ron

 

 



ch. chapter

v. verse

Heb. Hebrew

LXX Septuagint. A. Rahlfs, editor, Septuaginta (2 vols.; Stuttgart, 1935)

TM Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers

cf. confer, “compare”

GC Great Controversy

chs. chapters

b.c. Before Christ

p. page

Vol. volume

p. page

pp. pages

ch. chapter