SDA
Internet Group Therapy--Session#1
by Ron Beaulieu
Motto:"If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." -1 Timothy 6:3-5
Click to go to our Home PageDear Reader, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDAIssues/ Group
Therapy Session #1 Bryan Bissell made the following comment on
the court statement of Neal C. Wilson: “With all due respect, it means that you
are taking one quote by one man from decades ago and ignoring all that SDAs
are teaching THESE DAYS through It is Written and countless other ministries
that do reveal the anti-Christ in favor of your a priori and presuppositional
decisions that ignore tons of current evidence in favor of one obscure quote
decades ago that the man who made it himself probably regrets.” Ron’s Commentary: Concerning the following Statement by Neal
C. Wilson, someone has said: “How do we know Sessler did not manufacture
those court transcripts himself.... Ellen White does say that people with
Sessler's message will not have a high sense of honor and integrity. Neal C. Wilson is long gone and the SDA
Church does not teach his ideas. Are so gullible as to think that everything
a GC president says is adopted by the Church as doctrine...” Ron replies: The court document can be
obtained by writing to the U.S.
District Court, San Francisco, California. That is all the address you need.
I sent for it in 1987. It cost me $28.00 at that time. Would probably be more
nowadays. Give the following particulars: The Seventh-day
Adventist General Conference, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific
Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for
Defendants, p 4, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, presided over by Judge Charles B.
Renfrew, U.S. District Court, San Francisco, California, 1974-1975.) "Although
it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic
viewpoint...that attitude on the church's part was nothing more than a
manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative Protestant
denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the
last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as
the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned." (Neal C. Wilson, past
president of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference, Court Transcript
of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the
General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, p 4, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR,
presided over by Judge Charles B. Renfrew, U.S. District Court, San
Francisco, California, 1974-1975.) Examples
of Robert Sessler’s Overreaching SDA friends, this is not an attempt to cast
contempt upon the efforts of Robert Sessler or any of his supporters. This is
an attempt to demonstrate that Sessler is prone to exaggerate and overreach
in his evidence presentation. That is most unfortunate, as such overreaching
goes far in destroying his credibility among “would be” patrons of his
messages which are full of reliable and important material as well. Robert,
the exaggeration and overreaching are more than unnecessary. They are
dishonest and do much despite to your efforts in the reformer cause. You
would do well to purge your material of all such data. Sessler would also do
well to admit that his version of the Godhead is no better than any other
errant version because it denies the same “greatest good, crowning sacrifice
that heaven could bestow.” Apparently Sessler considers that he has no
errors, but that is not the case. That being said, he does provide a wealth
of good material as does Vance Ferrell. It is interesting that to my
knowledge these men have never participated on SDA internet forums defending
the truth. Robert Sessler teaches that the abomination
of desolation is standing in the Holy Place at the present time. If that is
true, he and his patrons should be in the mountains in obedience to Matthew
24, and yes, I am aware of 5T 451 and 464-5. Mat 24:15 ¶ 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: Mat 24:16
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:17
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out
of his house: Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the
field return back to take his clothes. Since Robert Sessler says that the
Abomination of Desolation has already stood in the Holy Place, would any of
his patrons kindly tell me how he and they interpret the following verses. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a
thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to
the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be : for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. · When and how was the
daily taken away? · When and how was the abomination that maketh desolate set up? · Does that event
reckoning by Sessler forces agree with what Scripture and Ellen White say
will constitute the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place? · How do you relate the
1290 days to that setting up of the abomination of desolation? Are those days
literal? · How do you interpret
and relate the 1335 days. Are they literal? Robert Sessler says: “"Can we
ever...receive power [God's grace] to overcome our present sinning? The
answer is no. Sanctification is as much a gift of God as is
Justification." Ministry, January, 1982, p 6. p.6, 2nd column, bottom
paragraph Here is the quote as it reads in the
source: The
Overreaching of Bryan Bissell Bryan Bissell is constantly admonishing
that all our arguments be “wholly sound.” Are his arguments in the following
examples “wholly sound?” Someone on an SDA internet chat group said
to Bryan: “Even the gentle Savior was a separatist.” Bryan Bissell responded as follows even
though I have quoted Ellen White’s rendition of the matter many times. --- In SDAIssues@yahoogroups.com, Bryan
Bissell <bbissell7@... wrote: Ron responds: Here is Ellen White’s
rendition on both, Christ and His disciples, and Paul as well: "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 for 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. "The
recreant priests added licentiousness to the dark catalogue of their crimes
yet they still polluted by their presence the tabernacle of the Lord, and,
laden with sin, dared to come into the presence of a holy God. As the men of
Israel witnessed the corrupt course of the priests, they thought it safer for
their families not to come up to the appointed place of worship. Many went
from Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they
at last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this
would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the
abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs
of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264, col. 3, December 1, 1881. "The
Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death therefore
Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious
leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another
class to proclaim His message, and to gather
out those who should carry the gospel to all nations. As
the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in
the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation.
Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been
repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of
separating themselves from the established church but the religious leaders
would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek
another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the
professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are
listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise
it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are
forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the
plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for
light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers,
that they may render obedience." E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 232. I
can truthfully say that separation was not “initially” advocated by my
ministry. But I met with the same fate as all true reformers of every
succeeding generation. I have shown all of the above statements to Bryan
Bissell many times over for the last two years, but like the stiff-necked
Jews of old, he still plies the same argument he did initially and in his
statement of late quoted above. Bryan Bissell on Easter
Celebration The
following plea to Bryan was made by an individual. I have told Bryan that
Ellen White says that the Lord’s resurrection is celebrated by the Lord’s
Supper. He remains steadfast in his determination that Easter celebration is
a good thing.
I have provided Scripture umpteen times
warning us NOT to worship Jehovah the way the nations worship their
gods and it is not enough for you. You want a "thou shalt not
have sunrise services on Easter morning" but you will not get that anymore
than you will get "the mark of the beast is the change of the Sabbath to
Sunday", or "judgment began in 1844". Some things in the
Bible are for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Easter: The Christian Paschal festival. The
name was adopted from A.S. eastre, a heathen festival held at the
vernal equinox in honor of the Teutonic goddess of dawn, called by Bede Eostre
[cognate with L. aurora and Sanskrit ushas, dawn]. On the
introduction of Christianity it was natural [sic] for the name of the heathen
festival to be transferred to the Christian, since the two fell at about the
same time...This (when Easter would fall) was fixed by the Council of Nicea,
A.D. 325. It was formerly a common belief that the sun danced on Easter
Day [Benet, 1973, pp. 298,299]. Take heed to thyself that thou be not
ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and
that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve
their gods? even so will I do likewise [Deuteronomy 12:30]. Jehovah our God does not want us to serve
him the way the heathens serve their gods. Easter services are not only
a replica of heathen worship but the church has even adopted the name
of the heathen goddess and made it about our Savior. And in all things that I have said unto
you take ye heed: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let
it be heard out of thy mouth [Exodus 23:13 ]. If you cannot see from these Scriptures
the error of Easter sunrise services, in fact anything to do with Easter and
Christmas, if you cannot see that Jehovah our God is telling us not to
practice heathen ways, then you simply cannot see. I can do no more as I do not have a
"thou shalt not have sunrise services at Easter time" nor do I have
a "thou shalt not celebrate the birth of my son on the birthday of his
enemy". I only have the words of Jehovah forbidding us to worship
him as the heathens worship their gods and forbidding us to mention the name
of other gods. I guess you could probably, in a stretch,
claim Jehovah is not saying we cannot mention the name of
goddesses. Hence I give up. References Benet, William Rose, 1973, The
Reader's Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., A & C Black Ltd., London. The Holy Scriptures, American Standard
Version. Here is a message to Bryan by the same above individual: Bryan, it seems we have been
talking about Rick Warren forever and it is hard for me to remember how it
all started so correct me if I am wrong. Didn't this begin because the
SDA church is promoting Rick Warren's message? That is, the church
wants to change her style of ministry for the style and agenda of Rick
Warren's ministry? This is not about putting down his agenda as I have
not yet read the book. I am curious as to why the church wants to
change her message. From my understanding God's commission to the
remnant of the Millerite movement was to preach the three angels
messages. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the only church doing that
as far as I am aware. My introduction to the Bible was the three angels
messages although it took a while to get to them. That is
understandable because so many other prophecies had to be understood
first. The first angel tells the world
that judgment has come. The second angel tells the world that Babylon
has fallen. And the third angel discusses the mark of the beast and the
consequences. These angels' messages are being taught by evangelists
such as Doug Batchelor, Kenneth Cox, and John Carter plus quite a few others
and they are doing an excellent job. Doug Batchelor's seminars reach
all corners of the world. So my questions concerning the promotion of
Rick Warren are these. Have the three angels messages been
preached to death and no longer does the world need to hear them? Is
this why the church wants to preach another message that she was not
commissioned by God to preach? The SDA church is also the
repairer of the breach. She rediscovered the Sabbath, and, apart from
the liberals now making up the world's best excuses for breaking the
commandments, should the church forget about concentrating on these points
and begin to preach a gospel that others seem to be doing quite nicely on
their own? The Sunday keeping leaders seem
to have a couple of things in common that is not shared by the SDA
church. Either they side with the Papacy and agree that men have the
authority to change the law of God and Sunday is now the Christian Sabbath OR
they declare that the ten commandments do not apply to Christians.
Either way, how can the repairers of the breach, a Sabbath observing
organization affiliate with those who deny the authority of the law. The third angel's message that
the SDA church has been commissioned to teach is that those who worship the
beast or his image and receive his mark WILL receive God's wrath which are
the plagues. Yet we are now expected to go to Babylon's playground and
join forces and remain untouched and undefiled. Paul said "A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump" [Galatians 5:9]. Are we stronger and more faithful than Paul and those early
Christians? Some of the most over-looked
verses in Scripture are also the plainest. One is John 17:3 which
identifies Jehovah as the only true God but that is not for this discussion.
Another is Matthew 7:21-23 where Jesus says that violators of the law will be
lost even if they are calling on his name. So we know from this that no
good can come from these people who not only violate the law themselves but
teach others to do so. How does one justify affiliation with
law-breakers when the Bible is so clear? When we talk the talk but
don't walk the walk? If our commission from God is to warn the people
that judgment is going on right now as we speak, that Babylon is fallen, and
that the mark of the beast is at our door, why are we, like Lot's wife, not
only looking back, but going back? How safe are we in the devil's
playground? Blessings Someone asked Bryan Bissell
if he had had a chance to verify whether or not Rick Warren believes that
Jesus took on the nature of Adam before or after the fall? Excellent “cutting
to the chase” question! For if Rick Warren does not believe that Jesus took
the nature of man AFTER the fall, he cannot believe that we can keep the
commandments and he must teach “cheap grace” pardon alone, and/or that such
is all that is necessary for justification, which is the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans! Ron’s comment: It seems that an attempt is
being mad to substitute the Social gospel for the mission and commission of
the three angel’s messages in the New Movement SDA church. Though the message
is still being preached by some, something has occurred to make an astute SDA
man of 33 years of age, the son of professional parents, to make the
following blasphemous statement on an SDA forum: Bryan, _______, the third angel's message is that
Babylon has fallen. How can you teach the fall of Babylon without
telling the laity who Babylon is? And the moment the Papacy is brought
into the equation cries of "anti-Catholic" are heard loud and clear. The respondee said: “I realize that is what
happens but it does not make it true. Ron’s commentary: Obviously, the person
making such a statement has no discernment of corporate responsibility of the
membership of the Catholic Church. His conclusion is like one saying that
Anton LaVey, the leader of the church of Satan in San Francisco, is the only
one responsible for that Satanic church, and its supporting members are
exempt from any responsibility for embracing and supporting the teachings of
antichrist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Szandor_LaVey I have dealt at length with the party
mentioned above and he expresses the same attitude concerning any corporate
responsibility for the members of the SDA church, even after being furnished
with the following statement by the SOP on corporate responsibility: "Achan's sin brought
disaster upon the whole nation. For one man's sin, the
displeasure of God will rest upon the church till the transgression is
sought out and put away." Patriarchs
and Prophets, p 494 & 497 (see also Testimonies, Vol 3, p 265,
517, Vol. 4, p 491, Vol. 5, p 676; Manuscript Release #449, p 1-2).
Ron’s response: We must weigh all of Ellen
White’s statements on Babylon and whether or not the church is violating
them. Ellen White said to do just that, and that course is what most
leadership and laity alike refuse to do. Most SDA’s know the above statement
because the leaders have used it to excuse their liaisons with Babylon since
Ellen White’s demise. It has worked very well for them because most laymen
are surface readers and will not adhere to the following instruction of Ellen
White: 1. Weight of Evidence
Formula: "1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject
presented in the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood
by diligent application and study 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or
will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering 4. To understand
doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know,
then let every word have its proper influence and if you can form your theory
without a contradiction, you cannot be in error 5. Scripture must be its own
expositor, [interpreter] since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a
teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to
have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his
guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible." E.G.
White, Second Advent Review and Herald, 11-25-34, pr. 24. The above formula must be prayerfully and
carefully applied when considering the following statements regarding the
rest of the story on the church being any part of Babylon and the cage of
every unclean and hateful bird, which is Bible language to describe Babylon
and her harlot daughters in Revelation 18:2. Ellen White Babylon statements If I can produce one
statement by Ellen White that says the church could become Babylon, you are
wrong in your interpretation of other statements you use to say it will never
happen! Here is more than one such statement that the church could become
part of Babylon: "The
world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church,
forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed
corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, 'a cage of every unclean and hateful
bird.'" Testimonies to Ministers, p. 265. The church was married to the world in the early 1930's when a few
leaders adopted the world's Accreditation Standards for our educational
facilities. Satan could have no finer track to the youth of the church than
through the world's education curriculum. "If
the church of God becomes LUKEWARM [LAODICEAN] it does not stand in favor
with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen
and become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the
cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to
hear and receive the truth, and who have united with the Seventh-day
Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment keeping people of God,
and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal
churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches
who oppose the law of God." E.G. White, Letter 35, 1898. Did the church become Laodicean? Has the church remained Laodicean?
No! It has become both COLD APOSTATE AND LUKEWARM. The liberals are cold
apostate, and the conservatives are lukewarm. If Laodicea is not regarded with any more favor by God than the
fallen churches, and the call of Laodicea is to all churches, then there is
no difference between Laodicea and the fallen churches as far as being in a
fallen state is concerned. Different churches believe different aspects of
Babylonian teachings, but Ellen White equates them all as far as falling from
the favor of God is concerned, and as far as constituting the habitation of
devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every unclean and
hateful bird.
"We
must as a people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel. Licentiousness,
unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us in a large
degree...We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing
our churches to become corrupted and filled with every foul spirit, a cage
for every unclean and hateful bird, and will we be clear unless we make decided
movements to cure the existing evil? E. G. White, Manuscript Releases No.
449, pp. 17, 18. (Letter 51, 1886 to Elder Butler) Testimonies on Sexual
Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p. 193. An Adventist Review article says that the church has the same divorce
rate per capita percentage ration as the world. Does that sound like the
unlawful intimacies have been curbed and the camp has been cleansed? "In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church
is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that
she has had. . . .I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called
righteousness. Stripping them of, He laid bare he defilement beneath. Then He
said to me: 'Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their
defilement and rottenness of character? How is the faithful city become an
harlot?" E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 8, pp.
247-250. Can anyone tell me when the church reformed and revived from it's harlot
stance? "The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the
opinion of men nor by what she ONCE was. Her faith and her position in the
world as they NOW ARE must be COMPARED (JUDGED) with what they would have
been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be
weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and
spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has
conferred upon her, SHE WILL BE FOUND WANTING." Testimonies, vol. 5, pp.
83, 84. "When this church is weighed in the balances of the sanctuary,
it is found wanting, having left its first love....What is the fatal
deficiency?--'Thou has left thy first love...' The light that gladdened your heart when you first understood the
message for this time is an essential element in your experience and labors,
and this has been lost out of your heart and life. Christ beholds your lack
of zeal, and declares that you have FALLEN, and are in a perilous
position." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, pp.
462-3. "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
things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me
would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will
be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The
senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted
to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise.
This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of
none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for
this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to
use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to
me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs
nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise
shocks the senses and pervert that which if conducted aright might be a blessing.
The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a
carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirits working." Selected
Messages,
Vol. 2, p. 36. When
considering the following statement which applied primarily to those who did
not join the true Adventist group in 1844 and after, consider that Ellen
White also defined “nominal” those who did not accept present truth, to wit: "Nominal Adventists.--"Those who united in sounding the
first and second angels' messages but who rejected the third angel's message
with its Sabbath truth, but nonetheless continued to espouse the Advent hope,
are referred to by Mrs. White as the 'nominal Adventists.' or those who
'reject the present truth'(p. 69), also 'different parties of professed
Advent believers (page 124)
or...those who 'reject the present truth.." Early Writings, p. 299,
Appendix. "I
saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to
the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints
then will be an obscure [hidden] people, little known to the Catholics but
the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for
they hate us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will
betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the
institutions of the people that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard
Sunday. Then
the Catholics bid the Protestants to go forward, and issue a decree that all
who will not observe the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day,
shall be slain. And the Catholics, whose numbers are large, will stand by the
Protestants. The Catholics will give their power to the image of the beast.
And the Protestants will work as their mother worked before them to destroy
the saints. But before their decree bring or bear fruit, the saints will be
delivered by the Voice of God. Then I saw that Jesus' work in the sanctuary
will soon be finished. And after His work there is finished, He will come to
the door of the first apartment, and confess the sins of Israel upon the head
of the Scape Goat. Then He will put on the garments of vengeance. Then the
plagues will come upon the wicked, and they do not come till Jesus puts on
that garment, and takes Hs place upon the great white cloud. Then while the
plagues are falling, the Scape Goat is being led away. He makes a mighty
struggle to escape, but he is held fast by the hand that leads him. If he
should effect his escape, Israel would lose their lives. I saw that it would
take time to lead away the Scape Goat into the land of forgetfulness after
the sins were put on his head. The
great white cloud I saw was not the holy place, but entirely separate from
the holy and most holy place, entirely separate from the sanctuary. Then
the angel repeated these words, and said, 'This is the time spoken of in
Isaiah. He saw that there was not man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor. He had no mediator between God and man, and these plagues could
be withheld no longer, for Jesus had ceased to plead for Israel, and they
were covered with the covering of the Almighty God, and they could live in
the sight of a holy God, and those who were not covered, the plagues fell
upon them, for they had nothing to shelter or protect them from the
wrath of God." E.G. White, Dorchester, Maine, October 23, 1850, Spalding--Magan's
Unpublished Mss. Testimonies, pp. 1, 2. “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." See
footnote at bottom of page: [REV.
14:6, 7.] [This message was given to SDA’s, so the statement applies especially
to them, but to the other fallen churches as well--Ron]. 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 not
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. Love for Christ and faith in His coming
waxed cold. Such is the sure result of neglect to appreciate and improve the
light and privileges which God bestows. Unless the church will follow on in
his opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty
which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the
observance of forms, and the spirit of vital godliness will disappear. This
truth has been repeatedly illustrated in the history of the church. God
requires of his people works of faith and obedience corresponding to the
blessings and privileges bestowed. Obedience requires a sacrifice and
involves a cross; and this is why so many of the professed followers of
Christ refused to receive the light from Heaven, and, like the Jews of old,
knew not the time of their visitation. [LUKE 19:44.] Because of their pride
and unbelief, the Lord passed them by, and revealed his truth to men in
humble life, who had given heed to all the light they had received. E.G. White, Spirit
of Prophecy, Vol. 4, pp. 199-200, (Not to be
confused with Testimonies,
Vol. 4). A person stated: You
said you "sound a
loud cry against the New Movement Omega
Apostasy"
Right now
we are seeing this false message that we are to leave the Church sounding,
because God is saying to His Church "Arise, shine; for thy light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." with Operation
Global Rain Ron responds:
How do we have every uncouth thing coming into our Campmeetings JUST BEFORE
PROBATION CLOSES, and still have the Holy Spirit being poured out on the
church via Operation Global Rain? How do we have the omega of apostasy waxing
stronger until Jesus comes and the Holy Spirit being poured out at the same
time? Concerning the
Leland Kaiser case (an Elder in his church who teaches New Age Spiritualism
and out right pantheism, the person quoted above said: “There is NO clear evidence
that the Ohio Conference The Kaiser case has been
going on for a long time now? How come the Ohio Conference knows nothing of
his case if that is true? Why have the members of the church not notified the
conference? Can one view a modern-day sorcerer in the church as merely “an
isolated incident,” and just “some rogue individual,” especially when that
individual is an elder in his church? Has this “problem been corrected?” Did
Neal Wilson repent of his court testimony that betrays the three angel’s
messages? Was that corrected? Can such apostasies by corrected without
repentance being as broad as the injury? Does Corporate
Responsibility Accrue for Leland Kaisers Sorcery Spiritualism? It is interesting to
consider that Israel was cursed for Achan’s sin, and New Movement SDA’s
believe that their “church” can be blessed with the Holy Spirit despite
Leland’s Kaiser’s sin and those of many other leading officials! This works
as a total despite against the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. "There
are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by
it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified
to minister to them in word and doctrine." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p 261-62 Now God would have the church in Fresno
dependent on no living man. But when they become so blind as to choose a man
to preach to them the message appropriate for this time,--a man of so great
weakness of character and of so little moral power as they know E. P. Daniels
to be,--and give him the oversight of the flock, the candlesticks must be
terribly shaken and moved out of their place. If you accept the labors of
Elder Daniels in the church at Fresno while he is in his present state of
darkness, it will be dishonoring God. It will lower the standard of
righteousness to the ruin of the man and the detriment of the church. {PH028
5.3} The
Lord said to Joshua, "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye
destroy the accursed from among you." The
defects of character in any member of the church, or in the minister, are
charged to the church if the church make light of the defects. If you
place Elder Daniels over the church as a minister, you, as a church, assume
his defects, you make them your own, and the whole church stands under the rebuke of God,
even as ancient Israel was under his rebuke on account of the sin of Achan. But
your case will be more grievous than theirs, because you knew the evil, yet
hid your eyes from it and walked contrary to the will of God. {PH028
5.4} Why would Ezekiel 9 be
literally fulfilled, BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY, 5T 211, if the church
repented and received the Holy Spirit? Study
Ezekiel 9 "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. How could there be a counterpart to the Jews who were a chosen people
who claimed to keep the commandments of God? –if SDA’s fail to be that
counterpart by repenting? It is true that some will repent and come out.
Isaiah 37:31, 32 and Ezekiel 5:1-3. COUNTERPART:
"The Lord commanded one of his ancient servants, 'Pray not thou for this
people [Jer. 7:16 and 11:14], neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither
make intercession to me for I will not hear thee.' The prophet thus describes
the sins which had called forth this fearful denunciation: 'The prophets
prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means and my people love
to have it so and what will ye do in the end thereof?' 'From the least of
them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness and
from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have
healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace,
peace, when there is no peace.' The apostles declare that this state of
things will find its COUNTERPART in the last days. Many have a form of
godliness, but in their daily life deny the power thereof. They have ceased
to be convicted of their sins or alarmed at their state. They say in their
hearts, 'The church is flourishing. Peace and spiritual prosperity are within
her borders.' The words of the prophet may well apply to these
self-deceivers, 'They have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth
in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring
their fears upon them." E. G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath
Herald,
11-07-82. "Shall
the Lord be compelled to say, `Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up
cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear
thee' [Jeremiah 7:16]? `Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there
hath been no latter rain....Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My
Father, thou art the guide of my youth' [Jeremiah 3:3-4]?... We
are to be judged by the light that has been given us,(159) and we can find no
excuse by which to extenuate our course." Review and Herald, Vol 3, p 69-70 (August
1, 1893). (Brackets by Ellen White) COUNTERPART:
"In the time of the Saviour, the Jews had so covered over the precious
jewels of truth with the rubbish of tradition and fable, that it was
impossible to distinguish the true from the false. The Saviour came to clear
away the rubbish of superstition and long-cherished errors, and to set the
jewels of God's word in the framework of truth. What would the Saviour do if
he should come to us now as he did to the Jews? He would have to do a similar
work in clearing away the rubbish of tradition and ceremony. The Jews were
greatly disturbed when he did this work [As are SDAs today!]. They had lost
sight of the original truth of God, but Christ brought it again to view. It
is our work to free the precious truths of God from superstition and error."
E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 308. Will Operation Global Rain Have a
False Semblance of Success? Though
the following statement applies to the fallen churches that did not follow
Christ into the Most Holy Place in 1844, it well depicts that Satan breathes
his power on those who have left the Midnight Cry lighted pathway as well. March 14, 1846 Letter from Sister Harmon. Falmouth Mass., Feb., 15, 1846. Bro. Jacobs:--
My vision which you published in the Day-Star was written under a deep
sense of duty, to you, not expecting you would publish it. Had I for once
thought it was to be spread before the many readers of your paper, I should
have been more particular and stated some things which I left out. As the
readers of the Day-Star have seen a part of what God has revealed to me, and
as the part which I have not written is of vast importance to the Saints; I
humbly request you to publish this also in your paper. God showed me the
following, one year ago this month:--I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father
and his Son Jesus Christ. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and admired his
lovely person. The Fathers person I could not behold for a cloud of glorious
light covered him. I asked Jesus if his Father had a form like himself; He
said he had, but I could not behold it; for, said he, if you should for once
see the glory of his person, you would cease to exist. Before the throne was
the Advent people, the Church, and the world. I saw a company bowed down
before the throne, deeply interested while most of them stood up
disinterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would
offer up their prayers and look to Jesus, then he would look to his Father
and appeared to be pleading with him. Then a light came from the Father to
his Son and from him to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright
light come from the Father to the Son and from the Son it waved over the
people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came
out from under it and immediately resisted it. Others were careless and did
not cherish the light and it moved off from them. Some cherished it and went
and bowed down before the throne with the little praying company. This
company all received the light, and rejoiced in it as their countenances
shone with its glory. Then I saw the Father rise from the throne and in a
flaming chariot go into the Holy of Holies within the vail, and did sit.
There I saw thrones which I had not seen before. Then Jesus rose up from the
throne, and most of those who were bowed down rose up with him. And I did not
see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after he rose
up, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who rose up when Jesus did,
kept their eyes fixed on him as he left the throne, and led them out a little
way, then he raised his right arm and we heard his lovely voice saying, wait
ye, I am going to my Father to receive the Kingdom. Keep your garments
spotless and in a little while I will return from the wedding, and receive
you to myself. And I saw a cloudy chariot with wheels like flaming fire.
Angels were all about the chariot as it came where Jesus was; he stepped into
it and was borne to the Holiest where the Father sat. Then I beheld Jesus as
he was before the Father a great High Priest. On the hem of his garment was a
bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Then Jesus shewed me the
difference between faith and feeling. And I saw those who rose up with Jesus
send up their faith to Jesus in the Holiest, and praying, Father give us thy
spirit. Then Jesus would breathe on them the Holy Ghost. In the breath was
light, power and much love, joy and peace. Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before
the throne. They did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by
the throne trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the
throne and pray, My Father give us thy spirit. Then Satan would breathe on them an unholy influence. In it
there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy and peace. Satan's
object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children.
I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the
Holiest, go and join those before the throne and they at once received the
unholy influence of Satan. {DS, March 14, 1846 par. 1} About four months since, I had a vision
of events, all in the future. And I saw the time of trouble, such as
never was,--Jesus told me it was the time of Jacob's trouble, and that we
should be delivered out of it by the voice of God. Just before we entered
it, we all received the seal of the living God. Then I saw the four
Angels cease to hold the four winds. And I saw famine, pestilence and sword,
nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion. Then we
cried to God for deliverance day and night till we began to hear the bells on
Jesus' garment. And I saw Jesus rise up in the Holiest, and as he came out we
heard the tinkling of bells, and knew our High Priest was coming out. Then we
heard the voice of God which shook the heavens and earth, and gave the
144,000 the day and hour of Jesus' coming. Then the saints were free, united and full of the
glory of God, for he had turned their captivity. And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood
and he laid off his priestly garment and put on his kingly robe, took his
place on the cloud which carried him to the east where it first appeared to
the saints on earth, a small black cloud, which was the sign of the Son of
Man. While the cloud was passing from the Holiest to the east which took a
number of days, the Synagogue of Satan worshiped at the saints feet. Ellen G.
Harmon {DS, March 14, 1846 par. 2} "The leaven if godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the
time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little
company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the
abominations that are done in the land. But MORE ESPECIALLY will their
prayers arise in behalf of the church because ITS MEMBERS are doing after the
manner of the world." Testimonies, vol. 5, 209,
210. How is it that the church
militant will receive the Holy Spirit when at the time its danger and
depression is greatest (the time of trouble), its MEMBERS are doing after the
manner of the world? Calling the Church a Part of Babylon at the Present Time All the quotes dealing with EGW stating
not to call the SDA church Babylon are only in the year 1893. Although brother N
and O believed it some years prior to 1893, it was not until Stanton and
others arose and proclaimed that the SDA church was Babylon in 1893 that
sister White was forced to publicly deny that it was then
Babylon. There were 4 articles published in the Review and Herald back in September
and October of 1893 to refute Stanton and the others, and most of the
compilations, including Selected
Messages and Testimony to
Ministers, quote from these 4 articles. These testimonies on not calling the SDA
church Babylon are conditional and do not apply forever--no matter what
the church does. "God's promises
are all made upon conditions." Faith and Works, p 47. "These
promises of God to His people were on condition of their obedience." Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p 270. "The
promises of God, which are given on condition of obedience, are for those who
walk in the light of His holy word." Signs
of the Times, Vol. 2, p 372. "If
they [God's people] did not keep His commandments, He would not--He could
not--fulfill the rich promises which were given them on condition of
obedience." Signs of the Times,
Vol. 2, p 37. "God would
in no wise excuse sin in a people who had been enlightened, even if He
had, in their days of faithfulness and purity, loved them, and given them
especial promises. These promises and blessings were always upon
condition of obedience upon their part." Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, p 54. "God
had given them [Jews] His gracious promise that they should become a peculiar
treasure unto Him, on condition of obedience; but if they were disobedient
He would reject them, and choose another people." Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, p 152. The Jews were
told by God that as long as the sun, moon, and stars were in the sky, that
they would be His church and chosen people (see Jeremiah 31:35-37, 33:20-22).
Yet the sun, moon and stars are still in the sky; but the Jewish temple was
destroyed, and the Jews are no longer His chosen people! It was not the
promise of God that was at fault; the Jews refused to obey God and His truth,
and hence the promise could not be granted them. They forgot the "IF."
If the Jews would obey God, then they would be His people, but if they
continued in disobedience, then God would be obliged to set them aside and
choose others to take their place and crown--which sadly is exactly what
happened. ...same with the SDA church and people! "...why
is it that the judgment of God fell upon them [Jews] in so signal a manner?
It was because they rejected the great light which had been given them from
the time of their delivery from Egyptian bondage. It was because the Lord had
revealed to them, through His prophets, and through holy men of old, His
will, and they chose to walk in their own ways, and to follow their own will.
Calamity overtook the Jews because they failed to keep the commandments of
God. God had told them if they did not keep His commandments, He could not
fulfill His covenant of promise, for this covenant was to be fulfilled
only upon condition of obedience. The history of Israel should be to us
a most solemn warning of the calamities that will overtake us if we are
disobedient to God's commandments." Signs of the Times, Vol. 3, p 182. "The
promise of God to us is on condition of obedience, compliance with
all his requirements." Testimonies,
Vol. 2, p 146. So these
testimonies against calling the SDA church Babylon are conditional, not
unconditional. As long as the SDA church would fulfill her part of the
covenant promise with God, then she would never become Babylon. But if she
would refuse to fulfill her covenant promise with God, and chose to unite
herself with the world, if she continued to reject the message of
righteousness, then there would be nothing to stop her from becoming corrupt,
a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, and Babylon. And this is exactly
what we are told!
"The world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the
church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become
indeed corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, `A cage of every unclean
and hateful bird' [Revelation 18:2]." Testimonies to Ministers, p 265. This is
why you will not find anywhere in the SOP that we are never to call the SDA
church Babylon, but that the church was not to be called Babylon "at the
present time" in 1893 (see Testimonies
to Ministers, p 50). If any SDA could see how
deeply the Lord has shown this writer that the church has fulfilled and is
fulfilling Ezekiel 8, they would not be looking for any Holy Spirit attending
Operation Global Rain. There will be some semblance of Satan breathing on the
New Movement that has removed God, but the abominations for which all the
faithful are instructed to sigh and cry, will not be repented of. Ron
|