Book Review of the Book:

The Church That Does Not Fall

Lee Roy Holmes

Part II

If you learn one gravely important thing on your Christian journey, you will be highly blessed if you discern how much the full weight of evidence can sometimes effect a total change in the “truth” you once perceived based on a lack of all the evidence. It will be upon this slippery slope that many will be taken in a snare because they did not seek more than a superficial knowledge and love of the truth in searching as for hidden treasure for the pearl of great price.

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It is positively amazing how completely SDA leaders (watchmen) fulfill Isaiah 56:10-12. They are paid to know and teach the truth, but they are as the blind leading the blind on life and death issues involving God’s people. Consider this statement by Elder Holmes:

“God’s church is composed of members, both good and bad. No teaching of the Bible is clearer—those looking for a perfect, Bible-based message of truth are to be commended, but those looking for a perfect people have not read or believed the Bible. The parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47), the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), all teach the same lesson: the converted and unconverted will be in the church until separated by the great Judge according to heaven’s timetable.

We must not allow ourselves to be overcome with discouragement, because both good and bad are gathered into the church. Let’s not focus so much on the weeds and goats that we forget about the wheat and sheep. Bad members in the church do not necessarily make its message and mission bad. The presence of Judas did not derail the mission of Christ’s first church. A dramatic change is coming. The church militant will become the church triumphant. There will be more about that in chapter four.”

Some important considerations concerning Holmes’ statement, after which I will give the proof statements from the Bible/Spirit of Prophecy:

· Tares are not outwardly bad. In fact, they hide their “bad” so cleverly that God and Ellen White say we would have to judge their motives in order to uproot them.

· Ellen White says that we would have to judge the motives of the tares in order to uproot them.

· Tares don’t appear “bad.” They pretend very well. They are not open sinners.

· Elder Holmes says the tares (unconverted) will be separated by the great Judge according to heaven’s timetable. Ellen White and history give a very different picture on this as you will see further down.

· True Reformers don’t focus on the weeds. They are vexed by day and night by the OPEN SIN abominations for which they must sigh and cry in order to receive the SEAL of the Man in Linen, Christ.

· Open sin apostates in the church make it impossible for the wheat to mature.

· Bad open sinners make it impossible for the wheat to mature. They choke the wheat and kill it.

· The church militant WILL NOT become the church triumphant. Faithful souls who come out of the apostate new movement to join the bridal procession (COL 405-406), the 144,000, will thus become the guests of the bride, the church triumphant. The bride awakens all ten virgins.

· If the bride they cannot be the guests and vice versa, Great Controversy, p. 426. Brides maidens are not the bride and vice versa.

· Those of the church militant who prove faithful will become the church triumphant, but the church militant does not become the church triumphant for it is destroyed by a literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 per Ellen White and Ezekiel 9:6 as well as Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211 and a number of other references I will cite further along in this document.

"Those who think that the church militant is the church triumphant make a great mistake." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 152.

The Church Triumphant.--The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant.-- Letter 32, 1892. {Ev 707.1}

Open Sin Apostasy Versus Insincere Pretenders

Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The Disciples Were Not Perfect

"All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called 'the sons of thunder.' While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden." Desire of Ages, 295-6. There is much more on page 296.

Personal faults and defects such as all the disciples possessed are not to be used to excuse gross, open, apostate sin. There is a wide gulf between the two. One is remedial; the other is as the rebellion of witchcraft and is unpardonable sin if persisted in.

“Christ's servants are grieved as they see true and false believers mingled in the church. They long to do something to cleanse the church. Like the servants of the householder, they are ready to uproot the tares. But Christ says to them, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest." {COL 71.2}

“Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive. He knows our nature too well to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself. Were we to deal with these souls according to our imperfect judgment, it would perhaps extinguish their last hope. Many who think themselves Christians will at last be found wanting. Many will be in heaven who their neighbors supposed would never enter there. Man judges from appearance, but God judges the heart. The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time.” {COL 71.3}

· If tares were open sinners, they would have to be uprooted (separated) from the church.

· Tares hide their “badness” so well that one would have to judge their motives and their character in order to uproot them. And we are told not to judge lest we be judged.

· Tares and wheat can grow together without killing the wheat.

· Tares do such a good job of pretending belief and sincerity, that we would have to judge their motives to rid the church of them.

· Judas was a tare until he committed the open sin of betraying Christ, at which time he killed himself out of the church. Thus, we should not use Judas to excuse open sin in the church because he was not an open, apostate sinner during his tenure in the church.

“There is in the Saviour's words another lesson, a lesson of wonderful forbearance and tender love. As the tares have their roots closely intertwined with those of the good grain, so false brethren in the church may be closely linked with true disciples. The real character of these pretended believers is not fully manifested. Were they to be separated from the church, others might be caused to stumble, who but for this would have remained steadfast.” {COL 72.1}

Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Thorns

"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature

(see Luke 8:14). In the same way secular interests prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies. That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation [E.G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 50] To them, justification is the sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of Jesus Christ." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 405.

This is precisely what New Movement Seventh-day Adventists (Selected Messages, vol. 1, 204-205), teaches—the false gospel that justification is the sum and substance of religion. This is also taught by the teaching that we cannot overcome as Christ overcame and that there is no such thing as Final Generation Theology, in reference to a perfect bride being made ready before Christ comes. Revelation 14:1-4 proves the reality of Final Generation Theology.

“The Lord will not write as wise those who cannot distinguish between a tree that bears thorn-berries and a tree that bears olives.” {EGW, RH, September 7, 1897 par. 15}

“How frequently ancient Israel rebelled, and how often were they visited with judgments, and thousands slain because they would not heed the commands of God who had chosen them.” {RH, June 25, 1861 par. 25}

"The thorns of sin will grow in any soil they need no cultivation but grace must be carefully cultivated. The briers and thorns are always ready to spring up, and the work of purification must advance continually....

The thorns that have been cut off but not uprooted grow apace, until the soul [and/or the church] is overspread with them." E.G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 50.

"The gospel seed often falls among thorns and noxious weeds and if there is not a moral transformation in the human heart, if old habits and practices and the former life of sin are not left behind, if the attributes of Satan are not expelled from the soul, [and/or the church] the wheat crop will be choked. The thorns will come to be the crop, and will kill out the wheat." Christ's Object Lessons, p. 50.

It takes people in the person of thorny-ground hearers to sin and cultivate the attributes of Satan, and if they will not reform, they are to be separated from the church or they will kill the wheat thus making it impossible for the wheat to mature.

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

1Cr 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature (see Luke 8:14). In the same way secular interest prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies. That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation (COL 50). To them, justification is the sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of Jesus Christ." SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 405.

Thorny ground hearers believe and teach the false gospel that justification is the sum (total) and substance of religion without sanctification. This is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which is being admixed with the true gospel in the professing new movement masquerading as the Seventh-day Adventist church.

⁴And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

⁵A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

⁶And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

⁷And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

⁸And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

⁹And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

¹⁰And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

¹²Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

¹³They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

¹⁴And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

¹⁵But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:4-15.

Lee Roy Holmes’ and the New Movement’s Error on the Remnant

Elder Holmes devotes a number of pages to the remnant. Since he believes that the bad will leave what he regards as the church militant to leave it the faithful church triumphant, it follows that he has to teach the error that the church militant will become the remnant. This runs totally counter to Scripture and Ellen White’s definition of the remnant, to wit:

31And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

32For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. Isaiah 37:31, 32.

Also, in Ezekiel 5:1-3, which is another take on Ezekiel 9, the church is destroyed while a small number are taken “in His skirts,” which is symbolic of marriage of the Bride, the true remnant. In Isaiah 62, Zion is the bride that is married, verses 1-5.

Ellen White defines the remnant thusly:

"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them.

The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27.

It is the true reformers who 'ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,': They are of the Sion church in heaven, Heb. 12:22, 23.

"Characteristics of True Reformers.--Here [Isa. 8:11-14] are given the characteristics of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel’s message, these who avow themselves God's commandment-keeping people, and who honor God, and are earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe, in building up the old waste places. Who is it that calls them, The repairer of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell in? It is God. Their names are registered [written--Heb. 12:22, 23] in heaven as reformers, restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations." E. G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1151.

So the SDA remnant church is the church triumphant ONLY, for only the 144,000 are translated without seeing death and only they go into the Temple on Mt. Zion in heaven. Early Writings, p. 19.

The true reformers truly KEEP ALL the commandments. The new movement masquerading as the SDA church does not KEEP ALL the commandments. The leaders of that new movement have advised parents in Russia to send their son and daughters to school on the Holy Sabbath day as school is held six day a week in that country. And we learned in Part I of this book review that SDA leaders will instruct the people to keep Sunday sacred.[i]

Even more grievously, the church has broken God’s thrice stated commandments in Isaiah 8:9-12, by entering into liaison by way of association, counsel/council, girding and confederacy/conspiracy with Babylon via the ecumenical movement. The Jews of Jeremiah 11:9-15 did that and God said it was unpardonable sin as evinced by His instruction to Jeremiah not to pray for them. Ellen White quoted the apostles as saying this very same apostasy would have its COUNTERPART at the end-time, and so it has.[ii]

Yet, Elder Holmes poses the question: “What church keeps all the commandments of God, including the fourth, which specifies the seventh day of the week as the truth Sabbath according to Exodus 20:8-11? The Jews do, but they do not have faith in Jesus. The Seventh-day Baptists do, but they do not have the Spirit of Prophecy.” The Church That Does Not Fall, p. 26.

And what good does it do a people to possess the Spirit of Prophecy when they disregard all but what supports their wishes and lends some credence to their boast of that gift.

While applying remnant status to what he regards as the “church militant,” out of one side of his mouth, he does make the following qualification out of the other side: “We must hasten to add that each Seventh-day Adventist must qualify personally with respect to remnant identity.” Ibid. p. 28.

Chapter Four of Holmes’ Book: LAODICEA IS NOT A BAD WORD

Elder Holmes really kicks this chapter off with a slam dunker dandy of a douser! Here it is:

“When trying to understand Laodicea, we must first understand that the word designates a period of time in the Christian era. It is not in itself a pejorative term. Laodicea is the last of seven. No church will follow Laodicea. We can put this matter to rest once and forever. There is no eighth church. The remnant either did or did not arise in the immediate post-1844 era. If it did, one cannot start something today and call it “historic Adventism” or “the true remnant” or the “the remnant of the remnant” and make it fit the prophetic picture. That will not work. If there is an eighth church, it is the one that gathers on the sea of glass. We should feel a sense of great joy and anticipation just to know we are living in the days of the last church—the one that will greet a returning Saviour.”

World English Dictionary

pejorative (pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv, ˈpiːdʒər-)

— adj

1. (of words, expressions, etc) having an unpleasant or disparaging connotation

First of all, let’s see if God meant anything unpleasant or any disparaging connotation associated with the term Laodicean. He defined Laodiceans as being lukewarm rather than hot or cold—indifferent if you will. Does that sound disparaging? He said that if they don’t get hot or cold, He will spew them out of His mouth like vomit? Does that sound disparaging and exactly like a rather unpleasant connotation?

Then Ellen White, the voice of God to the church, comes along with the following definitions:

"The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state." E.G. White, Review and Herald, 8/19/1890.

Is it not a rather unpleasant and disparaging connotation for the Spirit of Prophecy to label the Laodicean state as that of the foolish virgins? Are the foolish virgins saved?

"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst." E.G. White, Notebook Leaflets, p. 99, 1898.

"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.

Now we have a problem here. Ellen White says that Laodicea is the foolish virgin state of the church, and that the presence of God is not in her midst’s. In The Upward Look, 315, she says that only the presence of God can constitute a church.[iii] How can Laodicea be a true, final, church if it is the foolish virgin state of the church and the foolish virgins are not saved? And yet another BIG PROBLEM! If Laodicea is the final church in that it is listed as the seventh and last, and the presence of God is not in the Laodicean church BUT IS TO THE END OF TIME PRESENT IN THE TRUE CHURCH, would that make an eighth church? No! An emphatic no! So what is the resolution to this dilemma?

The fact is that Laodicea moved past its lukewarm stance to cold, omega apostasy which Ellen White said would wax stronger until Jesus comes.[iv]

And what’s worse, if it can get any worse, is Ellen White’s statement that Laodicea is not regarded by God with any more favor than the other fallen churches:

"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.

855: "I have seen an angel standing with scales in his hands weighing the thoughts and interest of the people of God. In one scale were the thoughts and interest tending heavenward; in the other were the thoughts and interest tending to earth. Oh what a solemn thought! The angels of God standing with scales, weighing the thoughts of the professed children of God--those who claim to be dead to the world and alive to God. The scale filled with thoughts of earth, vanity, and pride quickly went down, notwithstanding weight after weight rolled from the scale. The one with the thoughts and interest tending to Heaven went quickly up as the other went down, and oh, how light it was! Said the angel, 'Can such enter Heaven? No, no, never. Tell them the hope they now possess is vain, and unless they speedily repent, and obtain salvation, they must perish.'" Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 124-126, 1855.

1857: "The Lord has shown me in vision some things concerning the church in its present lukewarm state, which I will relate to you. The church was presented before me in vision. Said the angel to the church: 'Jesus speaks to thee, 'Be zealous and repent.' This work, I saw, should be taken hold of in earnest. There is something to repent of. Worldly-mindedness, selfishness, and covetousness have been eating out the spirituality and life of God's people." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 141, 1857.

Elder Holmes says: “Notice how Ellen White applies the Laodicean message to Seventh-day Adventists: ‘The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen” (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 966). The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light” (Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 66).

I trust the reader is noting that these statements are not all-inclusive. They are ‘if-the-shoe-fits-wear-it” statements. They are addressed to the worldly, the selfish, the ‘Laodicean” and ‘lukewarm’ to describe individual backslidden Seventh-day Adventists, and never meant those terms to describe a corrupt and rejected denomination.” The Church That Does Not Fall, p. 34.

It is pure cacophony that the church members are not their brothers’ keeper! It is pure foolishness that Ellen White was not indicting the church as a body when the church has not been faithful to its duty to cry aloud and spare not, and will NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob its sins so that it can remove open sinners from the church if they won’t repent. The truth of God’s Word says that there will be another going forth out of Jerusalem of a faithful remnant, and that remnant won’t be an eighth church. The new movement formed among SDA’s is the eighth church if there is such a thing! The remnant that goes out merely maintains the original church of Philadelphia. Isaiah 37:31, 32. Try to tell any sane person that the following statement does not apply to the corporate SDA church after the faithful have gone forth out of her:

"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].

That would be true if the church was not in gross omega apostasy for which the church as a body is corporately responsible:

"The plain straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them." Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 269.

"But on the church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort," the Lord says, "with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:2. Desire of Ages, p. 805.

Elder Holmes says in an effort to deny corporate responsibility: “We might have asked the apostle Paul, ‘Aren’t you ashamed to belong to a church (Ephesus) that has lost its first love?. . . . And so, throughout the history of the church there have been the faithful and unfaithful. Laodicea is no different, and leaving the church for a ‘pure’ group will not change that.” The Church That Does Not Fall, p. 35.

Actually, Laodicea progressed way beyond lukewarmness to cold, antichrist apostasy, which Pastor Holmes seems oblivious to, because he sure does not sigh and cry for ALL the abominations, and the trivial things he mentions do not fall into the category of abominations that warrant an Ezekiel 9 slaughter of men, maidens and little children. Holmes also seems oblivious to the truth that Ellen White said that true reformers have left the church of their fathers in every succeeding day since Christ:

"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.

But according to Holmes, the above facts of history were entirely unnecessary because we can go nowhere where things are perfect. And that is true! But we can go where there is not gross, abominable, antichrist apostasy.

What Elder Holmes seems entirely oblivious to is the following fact relative to Paul:

Paul left the organized church and taught in a school building.

"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.

"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.

1859: "The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of Christ is not in her midst." Notebook Leaflets, p. 99.

The truth is that Satan came in among SDA’s and formed a new movement within, Selected Messages, Bk. 1, 204-205.

"The figure of spewing of His mouth means that he cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word, or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you." Testimonies, Vol .6, p. 408.

1862: "The distance is widening between Christ and His people, and lessening between them and the world. The marks of distinction between Christ's professed people and the world have almost disappeared. Like ancient Israel, they follow after the abominations of the nations around them."

"Those who will be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to the immortal inheritance, will be peculiar. Yes, so peculiar that God places a mark upon them as His, wholly His. Think ye that God will receive, honor, and acknowledge a people so mixed up with the world that they differ from them only in name?" Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 274-87.

1865: “The Testimony For The Church—The Laodicean Church—What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are ALL WRONG?” Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 253, 254.

1868: "I saw that before the work of God can make any decided progress the ministers must be converted... The church will rarely take a higher stand than is taken by her ministers.... Men who stand in very responsible positions at the heart of the work are asleep... They are unfaithful sentinels... They see that Satan is deceiving the inexperienced and unsuspecting; yet they take it all quietly... To them everything seems to be going well... Satan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived that they know not that it is he." Testimonies, Vol. 2, pp. 439-40, 1868.

1856: "I was shown in vision some things that concern the church. 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 conformity to the world, the unwillingness to suffer for the truth's sake...

1856: "I saw the dreadful fact that God's people were conformed to the world, with no distinction, except in name... 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 you knew His will, but did not do it...'

"God will have a people separate and distinct from the world. As soon as any have a desire to imitate the world, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as His children. They are the children of the world and of darkness." Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 127-137, May 27, 1856.

Ellen White said that the Laodicean message applies to all who profess to be Christians. That means to every church that professes Christianity. How many churches BEYOND THE SEVENTH would that amount to?!

"The warning for the last church [Laodicea] also must be proclaimed to all who claim to be Christians. The Laodicean message, like a sharp, two--edged sword, must go to ALL THE CHURCHES.... It is our work to proclaim this message. Are we putting forth every effort that the churches may be warned?" Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 77.

“I wish to emphasize the fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given him represent all the churches in our world, and that this revelation to him is to be studied and believed and preached by the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. Christ came personally to John to tell him "the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation 1:19). And He said unto him, "What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches" (Revelation 1:11). The light was not to be hidden under a bushel. {1MR 372.3}

Elder Holmes is adamant that the Lord will heal and restore Laodicea. He says: “God does not approve of anyone using the Laodicean message to discredit the church, to discourage the church, or to call members to separate from the church. He quotes Ellen White in saying: “God has not given them any such burden of labor. They would tear down that which God would restore by the Laodicean message. He wounds only that He may heal, not cause to perish. The Lord lays upon no man a message that will discourage or dishearten the church. He reproves, He rebukes, He chastens, but it is only that He may restore and approve at last.” Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 22, 23.

I would here remind the reader that Laodicea means lukewarm, not cold apostate. The omega of apostasy new movement was to be formed “among” the SDA Laodicean church, and when that occurred, as it surely did from 1957 and on, it was an entirely different set of circumstances. God was removed (1SM 205) and as there are only two masters, Satan took over the helm. What then?! And Ellen White said nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. What then? I’ll show you what then, and Elder Holmes did not present this evidence:

Did Ellen White Say to Leave a New Movement That Worked on Wrong Principles?

She certainly told Adventists in the alpha apostasy to come out and separate from Kellogg and his associates. What would she say in the omega which involves the entire church with the leaders as the ringleaders of it all?

Many, like Elder Holmes, adamantly maintain that Ellen White never said to leave those who worked on wrong principles; that God would take care of the problems at headquarters, and guide the noble ship into the port. But that would not be apropos advice to members of a new movement that removed God, for that would not be consistent with her advice in the alpha, and the following advice:

"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.

The following statement was written during the Alpha of Apostasy involving Kellogg and company. Ultimately, the Alpha was MET by Ellen White. But she said NOTHING WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THE NEW MOVEMENT that has obviously formed within, "among" the church like a Trojan Horse implementation.

“There will have to be a second conversion in the hearts of some of our leading medical fraternity, and a cutting away from the men who are trying to guide the medical ship into the harbor, else they themselves will never reach the haven of rest. Christ calls, Come out from among them, and be ye separate.

I write this because any moment my life may be ended. Unless there is a BREAKING AWAY from the influence that Satan has prepared, and a reviving of the testimonies that God has given, souls will perish in their delusion. They will accept fallacy after fallacy, and will thus keep up a disunion that will always exist until those who have been deceived take their stand on the right platform. All this higher education that is being planned will be extinguished for it is spurious. The more simple the education of our workers, the less connection they have with the men whom God is not leading, the more will be accomplished. Work will be done in the simplicity of true godliness, and the old, old times will be back. LOOK UP THIS STATEMENT FOR THE REST OF THE QUOTE. Special Testimonies, Series B., No. 7 (1906), p. 63.

"The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah contains instruction for TODAY. 'Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show MY PEOPLE their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sin...." The work would not have been hindered as it has been for the past several years if Dr. Kellogg were a converted man. "Come," I call, "come ye out and be separate from him and his associates whom he has leavened." I am now giving the message God has given me, to give to all who claim to believe the truth: "Come out from among them, and be ye separate,' else their sin in justifying wrongs and framing deceits will continue to be the ruin of souls." E.G. White, SpTB07, Testimonies for the Church Containing Messages of Warning and Instruction to Seventh-day Adventists, pr. 02, p. 64.

The same principle applies in the OMEGA, which permits NOTHING to stand in its way, 1SM 204-5. Ellen White stopped the Alpha, but she said "nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement," and that it would remove God.

"Any connection with infidels and UNBELIEVERS which would identify us with them is FORBIDDEN by the word. We are to come out from them and be separate. In no case are we to link ourselves with them in their plans or work." E. G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, 482.

Did Ellen White indict SDA leaders with unbelief? The following statement by Ellen White was a projected (into the future) prophecy, because this situation did not exist in her day. She showed the House of Jacob its sins while she was alive.

Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men [leaders], those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.

Are the fallen churches now including the omega of apostasy new movement “church” masquerading as the SDA “church” BELIEVERS? We saw that Ellen White indicted the leaders with unbelief and the people seldom rise higher than their leaders said she. And again, and this is so serious, she called the people out from Kellogg and his associates. She called for a clear separation from them. What would she do today if she was consistent when the omega if far, far worse and includes the leadership of the church who will never again show the House of Jacob its sins.

"I saw that since the second angel proclaimed the fall of the churches, they have been growing more and more corrupt. They bear the name of being Christ's followers yet it is IMPOSSIBLE to distinguish them from THE WORLD...Satan has taken FULL POSSESSION of the churches as a body." E.G. White, Early Writings, 273.

Separation Come out -- The Call to Come Out of the Hebrew Church. The preaching of the gospel of a crucified, risen, and ascended Lord was to begin at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47. On the day of Pentecost the apostles had been given "tongues like as of fire," Acts 2:3, and through this zeal of the Spirit-filled apostles thousands of the honest in heart responded to the call to come out of the new fallen Hebrew church. Among others, the great and learned apostle Paul left the Hebrew church and threw all his talent and power into preaching the gospel of a crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. "I determined," he said, "not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." I Cor. 2:2. Sarah Elizabeth Peck, The Path to the Throne of God, p. 207.

Sara Peck was a personal acquaintance of Ellen White. She wrote one of the best treatises on the Sanctuary Service, and it is on my Website under The Path to the Throne of God in Section II. Her statement above is proven by Biblical, the SOP, and historical fact. And even before the Day of Pentecost, Christ "gathered out" those who would take the gospel to the world, Desire of Ages, 232. Why? Because God says it is IMPOSSIBLE to unite with the corrupt and remain (or become) pure, and for the wheat to mature amongst THORNS, which differ from TARES in that the THORNY GROUND HEARERS are open sinning apostates.

Please pray and be as honest as you can with yourself and God with the aid of the Holy Spirit, and then ask yourself if the following statements are indicative that the cold apostate new movement is healed and is the noble ship that sails into port heaven.

The SDA COUNTERPART FACTOR to the Jews

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 SDA’s 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.

The Lord commanded one of his ancient servants, "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." 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." {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 8}

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." {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 9}

Ask God Which is the Noble Ship That Sails into Port Heaven?

Regardless of the specific context of any of the following statements as they applied in earlier experiences of the church, we should apply the principles to our time. That was the purpose of the history of Israel, and the history of the professing Seventh-day Adventist church as recorded for us by the Spirit of Prophecy.

Which Ship

Defective Ship: We can know that if a ship has false teaching it will not survive the rigors of the ocean of strife and turmoil: "You have had too great confidence in the ability of these men. A ship may be sound in nearly every respect but if there is one defect,--a bit of timber worm-eaten,--the lives of all on board are imperilled." E.G. White, Testimonies, vol. 4, 322.

Ship Drifting at Sea Without Chart or Compass: "The facts concerning the real condition of the professed people of God, speak more loudly than their profession, and make it evident that some power has cut the cable that anchored them to the Eternal Rock, and that they are drifting away to sea, without chart or compass." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 128, (Review and Herald, Vol. 2, p. 231). (Also see Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 348).

"The people to whom God has entrusted eternal interests, the depositaries of truth pregnant with eternal results, the keepers of light that is to illuminate the whole world, have lost their bearings." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 397.

"Every ship sailing the sea of life needs to have the divine Pilot on board but when storms arise, when tempests threaten, many persons push their Pilot overboard, and commit their bark into the hand of finite man, or try to steer it themselves. Then disaster and wreckage generally follow, and the Pilot is blamed for running them into such dangerous waters." E.G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 348.

Is the Pilot on board the SDA New Movement, New Organization Ship described in Selected Messages, vol. 1, 204-5? Page 205 says He [God] has been removed!

Noble Ship #1: "I lately read of a NOBLE SHIP that was plowing its way across the sea, when at midnight, with a terrific crash, it struck upon a rock the passengers were awakened only to see with horror their hopeless condition, and with the ship they sank to rise no more. The MAN AT THE HELM [VERSUS CHRIST] had mistaken the beacon light, and hundreds of souls were at a moment's warning launched into eternity." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, 128.

Noble Ship #2: "There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and He will set everything in order. If maters need adjusting at the head of the work, God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, 390.

Immediately preceding the above statement is the admonition:

"We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization for this would mean apostasy from the truth.--Manuscript 1290, 1905. Selected Messages, vol. 2, 390.

In light of all the statements involving a ship, we must interpret them all so that none contradict. The best way to achieve this goal is to look for qualifying words. In the above statement the qualifying words are NOBLE SHIP and THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Who are the people of God? Those who keep His commandments and heed the Laodicean message.

Change Leaders and Know it Not:

Change Leaders: "There is manifested on the part of men in responsible positions an unwillingness to confess where they have been in the wrong and their neglect is working disaster, not only to themselves, but to the churches....You will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to lack wisdom, and will call sin righteousness and righteousness sin. The multitude of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you will change leaders, and not know that you have done so." E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 448.

Change Leaders: "Men in positions of responsibility are in danger of changing leaders. This I know, for it has been plainly revealed to me." E.G. White, Series B, #2, p. 48.

Change Leaders: "Men who might have stood in clear light, doing valiant service as ministers of the gospel and medical missionaries, have been accepting false theories and sophistries which originated with the father of lies, and yet they do not realize that they have changed." E.G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B, #7, p. 13-16, November 20, 1905.

Change Leaders: "Satan will set up his hellish banner right in your homes, and you will be so blinded to the real nature of his deceptions that you reverence it as the banner of Christ." E.G. White, The 1888 Materials, p. 505.

Change Leaders: "They will not recognize him [Satan] as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a FRIEND, one who is doing a good work." Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 294.

Change Leaders: Satan has laid his plans to undermine our faith in the history of the cause and work of God. I am deeply in earnest as I write this. Satan is working with men in prominent positions to sweep away the foundation of our faith. Shall we allow this to be done, brethren?" E.G. White, Review and Herald, Nov. 19, 1903.

Change Leaders if Mistakes are not Admitted and Changed: "If when the Lord reveals your errors you do not repent or make confession, his providence will bring you over the ground again and again. You will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to lack wisdom, and will call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. The multitude of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you will CHANGE LEADERS, AND NOT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, p. 449.

Change Leaders: "Satan has COME IN with his specious temptations, and has led the professed followers of Christ away from the [PILOT] Leader (Christ), classing them with the foolish virgins." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 130.

Change Leaders: "Refusing to follow in the path of obedience, they transferred their allegiance to Satan. The enemy rejoiced in his success in effacing the divine image from the minds of the people that God had chosen as His representatives. Through [ECUMENICAL] intermarriage with idolaters and CONSTANT ASSOCIATION WITH THEM [Isa. 8:9-20], Satan brought about that for which he had long been working,--a national apostasy." Fundamentals to Christian Education, p. 449.

Change Leaders: "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.

On page 41 of his book, Elder Holmes opines: “Ellen White also makes a clear distinction between Laodicea and Babylon. Why do you think that throughout the history of the Adventist church some have insisted on merging those identities?”

First of all, the church is no longer mere lukewarm Laodicea. But let’s suppose it was. Does the following statement constitute a clear distinction between Laodicea and the other fallen churches of Babylon? First, notice the date of the statement, 1898. This statement is very curious because Ellen White first accused the church of being Laodicean in 1852. And she applied the term to the church various other times from 1852-1893. So I asked the Lord what she meant by the words “if the church of God becomes lukewarm.” The Holy Spirit showed me that should the church ever surpass the lukewarm stage of its existence, that would be a sign that it had surely become Laodicean to the point that it was careless enough to progress to cold apostasy. That would be the sign it had irretrievably reached the point of being Laodicean and then progressed even beyond that point to gross, cold apostasy.

Now see if Elder Holmes is correct when he says that Ellen White made a CLEAR DISTINCTION between Laodicea and Babylon, the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Revelation 18:2.

Did you get the full impact of that statement? If the church should become Laodicean to the point of even moving past that stage to cold apostasy, then: “….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.”

That is positively astounding! Laodicea does not stand in the favor of God any more than do the other fallen churches--Babylon. That is what it says! But actually it is far worse because it knew the truth and became Laodicean and then cold apostate anyway. So who do you believe friend? Ellen White, and God, or Elder Lee Roy Holmes? And why would you suppose Holmes did not tell you this serious part of the weight of evidence? He is paid sacred tithe to feed the sheeple properly by given them all the evidence. He has not done that. Thus, he is an unfaithful watchman on the walls of Zion and someday very soon, his sheepfold will be very angry with him for what he has NOT done. God’s Word says he and like pastors will be punished ten times worse than the sheeple they deceive. They should be trembling in their boots! But they think they are all right when they are all wrong.

Number Twenty-Three

Testimony for the Church

Chapter 27 - The Laodicean Church

The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time. {3T 252.1}

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." {3T 252.2}

The Lord here shows us that the message to be borne to His people by ministers whom He has called to warn the people is not a peace-and-safety message. It is not merely theoretical, but practical in every particular. The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." {3T 252.3}

What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct. {3T 252.4}

It is difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, and who believe themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge, to receive the message which declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. The unsanctified heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." I was shown that many are flattering themselves that they are good Christians, who have not a ray of light from Jesus. They have not a living experience for themselves in the divine life. They need a deep and thorough work of self-abasement before God before they will feel their true need of earnest, persevering effort to secure the precious graces of the Spirit. {3T 253.1}

—rwb

p.s. Stay tuned for Part III