C:\Users\User\Desktop\the-lesser-and-greater-light-part-2-the-bible-the-spirit-of-prophecy.htm
By
Elder Lawrence Nelson
In Part
1, we spoke of two brief quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy that are
often taken out of context, misunderstood, and therefore misused. The one
we presented is found in the Review & Herald, June 20, 1903. It
reads: “Little heed is given to the Bible and the Lord has given a lesser
light to lead men and women to the greater light.”
In Part
1 we read references where Ellen White clearly defines for us the meaning
of these two terms. All prophets, she clarifies (including Bible prophets
and Ellen White) are “lesser lights,” leading us to Christ who alone is
the “greater light.” As the moon reflects light from the sun, so a prophet
having no light in himself or herself, can only reflect light from the
Sun of Righteousness. Who is Christ? – The light of life! (See Spirit of
Prophecy, Volume 2, p. 83, 84.)
Before
I introduce you to the second brief passage, let us pray. Oh, loving Father,
we beseech Thee to open our understanding to Thy heavenly truth. Fill us
with Thy Holy Spirit with an unquenchable thirst to be fed from Thy
“lesser lights,” and be prepared to meet the “greater light”—Jesus, our
Sun of Righteousness. May we thus be ready to meet Thy soon coming
without fear. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now,
let us identify the Inspired statement under consideration. I will quote
it as it is found in Prophets and King, p. 626: “The words of the Bible,
and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit.”
As we
near the end in this final crisis, Satan seems more determined than ever
before to keep the Spirit of Prophecy from being presented to God’s
remnant people! An examination of this sentence in its context clearly reveals
that she is not here referring to the pulpits of Seventh-day Adventist
churches, but to those times when Seventh-day Adventist ministers/workers
stand before the professed Christians of the world. Read for yourself in
Prophets and Kings p. 623-627, and it will become very apparent which
pulpits are referred to.
Time
will permit us to read but a few thoughts from p. 625, 626: “Between the
laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah will come the last great conflict
of the controversy between truth and error. Upon this battle we are now
entering…. Many have come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars of
the Christian faith. The great facts of creation as presented by the
inspired writers, the fall of man, the atonement, the perpetuity of the
law—these all are practically rejected by a large share of the
professedly Christian world….”
I
continue reading: “Christians should be preparing for what is soon to
break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation
they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to
conform their lives to its precepts…. God calls for a revival and a
reformation. The words of the Bible and the Bible alone, should be heard
from the pulpit. But the Bible has been robbed of its power, and the
result is seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In many
sermons of today there is not that divine manifestation which awakens the
conscience and brings life to the soul…. Let the word of God speak to the
heart. Let those who have heard only tradition and human theories and
maxims, hear the voice of Him who can renew the soul into eternal life.”
We
might ask. “Was Ellen White speaking of Seventh-day Adventist churches
when she said, ‘Many have come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars
of the Christian faith?’” She proceeds to name which pillars she is
referring to: “The great facts of creation as presented by the inspired
writers, the fall of man, the atonement, the perpetuity of the law —these
all are practically rejected by a large share of the professedly
Christian world.”
She
cannot be including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, because true
Seventh-day Adventists do believe in “the great facts of creation as
presented by the inspired writers, in the fall of man, the atonement, and
the perpetuity of the law.”
“God
calls for a revival and a reformation.” To accomplish this, when teaching
these professed Christians, she says, “The words of the Bible and the
Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit.” Please note that Ellen White
does not say from our pulpits, but “from the pulpit.”
How sad
that some pastors of large churches have used this brief sentence to keep
God’s people from hearing the Spirit of Prophecy. After retiring, I was
once a church elder of a very large church in Southern California. In
this church of some 1,200 members the pastor instructed his board of
elders that they were never to use the Spirit of Prophecy from his
pulpit. He then quoted this statement we have just read.
Certainly,
when speaking before an audience made up of professed Christians and
unbelievers, it is not proper to use the writings of Ellen White. We have
this counsel in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 669, “I stated
that some had taken an unwise course; when they had talked their faith to
unbelievers, and the proof had been asked for, they had read from my
writings, instead of going to the Bible for proof. It was shown me that
this course was inconsistent, and would prejudice unbelievers against the
truth. The Testimonies can have no weight with those who know nothing of
their spirit. They should not be referred to in such cases.”
So, as
a pastor, when I give Bible studies to non-believers, and in my
evangelistic meetings when I preach, I have always proved every statement
from the Bible. This is in keeping with Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 29
which says, “In public labor do not make prominent, and quote that which
Sister White has written, as authority to sustain your positions. To do
this will not increase faith in the Testimonies. Bring your evidences,
clear and plain, from the Word of God. A ‘Thus saith the Lord’ is the
strongest testimony you can possibly present to the people.”
We
might also mention that when speaking before “professed Christians of the
world” [or before any other group for that matter], ministers should
never deliver sermons consisting of stories or anecdotes, or “the gospel
according to Time Magazine” etc., just to entertain them. Ellen White
declares, “Let those who have heard only traditions and human theories
and maxims” hear “the words of the Bible and the Bible alone!” Christ’s
Object Lessons p. 40.
We
conclude that for very good reasons it is improper to use the writings of
Ellen White in public meetings, such as evangelistic campaigns or when
giving someone a Bible study, or even when having a discussion with
unbelievers or members of the worldly churches.
Now
that we have noted when it is not proper to use the Spirit of Prophecy,
let us find the answer to the question, “When is it proper?”
Turning
to the pages of the Spirit of Prophecy, we will quickly observe that on
many occasions the Lord instructed Ellen White to send testimonies to be
read from our pulpits, not only in our churches, but in our camp
meetings.
Let me
list a few examples:
Speaking
of the Illinois camp meeting, from Battle Creek Letters, p. 49 (also in
Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 27), I quote, “When I went to Colorado I
was so burdened for you that, in my weakness, I wrote (in September 1881)
many pages to be read at your camp meeting. Weak and trembling, I arose
at three o’clock in the morning to write to you. God was speaking through
clay….” But the document was entirely forgotten; the camp meeting passed,
and it was not read until the General Conference.
In his
biography of Ellen White, Arthur White comments that this testimony
arrived from Ellen White during the middle of the Illinois camp meeting,
and that there was no excuse for the leaders having neglected to read it
as requested.
Thus we
recognize that it is not only in our day that some Seventh-day Adventist
leaders avoid, if possible, the reading of the testimonies of God’s
Spirit from the pulpits of our churches. Ellen White faced this same
problem. Please note that she had felt such a great urgency that this
testimony be read in that camp meeting that, though ill, she arose at
3:00 A.M. to write it. But, alas, it was not read. It is also recorded in
Manuscript 8, pp. 250 and 296, that she sent two large manuscripts to be
read at the Avondale, Australia, camp meeting. So this was not a singular
practice of hers.
In
addition to sending testimonies to the camp meetings, the Lord instructed
her to send testimonies to the churches to be read to the congregations.
Two such testimonies, which she sent to the Battle Creek, Michigan,
church are preserved for us today in Testimonies for the Church, Volume
5, p. 45-84. Even though the Lord instructed her to send these
testimonies, once again she had some problem. Her request was ignored for
several weeks. I quote from Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 62,
“Dear Brethren and Sisters in Battle Creek: I understand that the
testimony which I sent to Bro. _______, with the request that it be read
to the church, was withheld from you for several weeks after it was
received by him. Before sending that testimony my mind was so impressed
by the Spirit of God that I had no rest day or night until I wrote to
you.”
Once
again she felt such a great urgency to get this testimony to the church
that she had no rest day or night. But alas! Despite her feelings of
urgency, her first testimony was withheld for weeks. Among other things
it contained the following counsel found in Testimonies for the Church,
Volume 5, p. 61. She points out here that there was a problem in the
church. I quote, “Many of our younger ministers, and some of more mature
experience, are neglecting the word of God, and also despising the
testimonies of His Spirit. [And I add, we can surely see this today.]
They do not know what the testimonies contain, and do not wish to know.
They do not wish to discover and correct their defects of character.”
The
next testimony she sent to Battle Creek to be read to the church,
contained a variety of counsels. Her main burden was to call them to
repentance. She told them they were spiritually dead, needed to crucify
self, repent and be converted. Speaking directly to them, she continued,
“‘Your sins have separated you from God.’ You must lay aside every
besetting sin.” Then she warned: “If you continue on in your present
spiritual state, nothing but evil can be prophesied against you.”
These
testimonies from Ellen White answer our question, “Is it proper to use
the Spirit of Prophecy in our pulpits?” – If the Lord requested that the
testimonies of the Spirit of Prophecy rebuking sin, etc., be read from
the pulpits in our churches in her day—surely it is equally proper in our
day! Why would it not be proper to read counsel from the Lord in our
churches and at our camp meetings now, when it is undoubtedly even more
urgently needed than it was in the 1880s?
We
conclude that it is proper to use the writings of the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy together in our church, namely:
(1) in
the Sabbath School
(2) in
the divine service
(3) in
prayer groups
I
quote: “Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the
Testimonies simplified the great truths already given, and in his own
chosen way brought them before the people, to awaken and impress the mind
with them, that all may be left without excuse.” Testimonies for the
Church, Volume 5, p. 665. So let us not be fearful to stand behind the
pulpit and read from the Spirit of Prophecy. Who knows better how to give
counsel than does the Lord?
Now we
turn from these illustrations in modern Israel to a similar illustration
from ancient Israel. For the purposes of this illustration, however, we
will not consider Jeremiah as an ancient prophet, but as a modern, living
prophet—which indeed he was at the time of this graphic illustration
which is recorded in Jeremiah 36:1-8, 18-23: “And it came to pass in the
fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word
came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and
write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel,
and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto
thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the
house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them;
and they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their
iniquity and their sin.
“Then
Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth
of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken unto him, upon
a roll of a book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up: I
cannot go into the house of the Lord: therefore go thou, and read in the
roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the
ears of the people in the Lord’s house upon the fasting day: and also
thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their
cities. It may be they will present their supplication before the Lord,
and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and
the fury that the Lord hath pronounced against this people. And Baruch
the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet
commanded him, reading in the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s
house.”
I quote
again, beginning with verse 18, “Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced
all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the
book. Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and
Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be. And they went in to the king
into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the
scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
“So the
king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the
scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the
ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. Now the king sat in
the winter house in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth
burning before him. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three
or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire
that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that
was on the hearth.”
These
verses have illustrated two points: That the Lord commissions a prophet
to write a message, with the request that it be read in the church in the
ears of the people (in this case, the church was the temple). It also
reveals the attitude of this leader as he rejected the testimony God had
sent to awaken himself and his people to repentance that they might
receive forgiveness and salvation. In anger, the king burned Jeremiah’s
testimony in the fire!
There
is a very startling statement concerning our church pastors, which the
Lord has sent to us today—to His modern Israel. It is found in
Testimonies to Ministers p. 409, 410. Let us not overlook that there are
times when apostasy is so great that such startling pronouncements as
this are needed. I quote, “Unsanctified ministers are arraying themselves
against God. They are praising Christ and the god of this world in the
same breath…. Let the sin of deceit and false witness be entertained by a
church that has had great light, great evidence, and that church will
discard the message the Lord has sent, and receive the most unreasonable
assertions and false suppositions and false theories. Satan laughs at
their folly, for he knows what truth is.
“Many
will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their
hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. If doubts and unbelief
are cherished, [then note what will happen:] the faithful ministers will
be removed from the people who think they know so much.”
In
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 77, we will read a passage that
continues this same subject, “Who knows whether God will not give you up
to the deceptions you love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful,
firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our
unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training
under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more
standard-bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false
prophet cry, Peace, peace, when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom
weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my
paper as I write. It may be that ere long all prophesying among us will
be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer
disturb their carnal slumbers.” What a picture! Are not these predictions
being fulfilled today?
If
Ellen White were shown in vision some of the new Seventh-day Adventist
churches that are being “planted” by the North American Division now how
could she keep from weeping? How could she keep the tears from blinding
her eyes? Many of these new churches are typical Celebration churches.
Church leaders may deny this fact, but nonetheless they have all the
right earmarks of such apostasy. The noise they make with their “music”
and shouting and dancing would surely make Jesus Himself weep!
There
is no doubt about it; through the servant of the Lord, God had predicted
that this very type of satanic influence would be brought into our midst
“just before the close of probation.” Consider the following sad
prediction from Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 36, “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! [Did you get that?]
“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 perverts
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 Spirit’s working.”
Speaking
of our present Celebration churches, not only is their “bedlam of noise”
that they call “music” an abomination, but also their senseless dramatic
skits and other drama that are a part of their so-called “worship”
services. All such drama is plainly condemned in the word of the Lord!
God has counseled: “Let nothing of a theatrical nature be introduced.”
Review & Herald, February 14, 1907.
If we
had read these startling warnings personally, and also to the people from
the pulpits of our churches and at our camp meetings, we may have been
spared from engaging in this terrible apostasy! By our neglect do we not,
as did the king of Israel, virtually burn the writings sent from God in
the fire?
While
we have had Celebration churches in our midst for several decades by
“planting” such churches, it seems that the leaders are now making a more
determined effort than ever to promote this type of worship. In an
official church paper, the North Pacific Union Gleaner, August 1999, we
find the following advertisement for the Oasis Christian C enter in
Vancouver, Washington. I quote: “A refreshing place for people who have
given up on the church, but not on God. Great Kid’s Programs; Dramatic
Skits; No-Jive Band, etc. Not your typical church. Check it out.” The
Oasis Christian Center that is being advertised is one of the “planted”
Seventh-day Adventist Celebration churches.
From
Selected Messages, we just read that such exercises as these are an
invention of Satan, and that “the powers of satanic agencies blend with
the din and noise to have a carnival.” It’s hard to realize that we are
condoning and conducting “Adventist carnivals” in church! Could this be
the work of the “destroyers” who have been trained “under the hand of
Satan?” In this connection let us turn to Testimonies to Ministers, p.
109, 110, and read again that frightening prophecy, “Many will stand in our
pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the
hellish torch of Satan!”
Let me
read just one more passage from the testimony that was sent to be read to
the Battle Creek Church which surely applies to us today—to the leaders of
God’s remnant church. It says, “There are men among us in responsible
positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so
called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the
testimonies of the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p.
79.
Now I’m
going to ask you a very thought-provoking question, and to some it may be
disturbing. “Which would you choose to hear from your church pulpit—the
voices of the ‘Many [who] will stand in our pulpits,’ teaching doctrines
of devils and conducting services whose spirit is ‘kindled from the
hellish torch of Satan?’ Or would you prefer to hear the voices of
faithful ministers standing behind the pulpit teaching biblical truths
and, when appropriate, quoting from the Testimonies that are inspired by
the Holy Spirit of God?” Think it over.
The
Lord pronounces a woe upon all false shepherds! “Woe be unto the pastors
that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed
my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not
visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings,
saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:1, 2.
Then
again in Jeremiah 34:18, 19, “Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have
eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the
residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye
must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that
which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have
fouled with your feet.”
Thus
God will bring woe unto the false pastors! At such a time as this, what
is the duty of God’s faithful ministers? Isaiah shouts, “Cry aloud, spare
not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their
transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1.
In
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1, p. 321, the servant of the Lord
admonishes, “In this fearful time, just before Christ is to come the
second time, God’s faithful preachers will have to bear a still more
pointed testimony than was borne by John the Baptist. A responsible,
important work is before them; and those who speak smooth things, God
will not acknowledge as his shepherds. A fearful woe is upon them.”
Thus,
to the congregations and the laymen of modern Israel, I quote this from
Testimonies to Ministers, p. 10, “Let no soul complain of the servants of
God who have come to them with a heaven-sent message. Do not any longer
pick flaws in them, saying, ‘They are too positive; they talk too
strongly.’ They may talk strongly; but is it not needed? God will make
the ears of the hearers tingle if they will not heed His voice or His
message. He will denounce those who resist the word of God.”
As we
face the final crisis, we read in Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 83, 84,
“Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce
souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken
through Sister White and has given her a message, will be safe from the
many delusions that will come in these last days.”
How sad
that Ellen White had to write the following letter, written to those who
would diminish her work which was authored by the Holy Spirit! “I have
tried to do my duty to you and to the Lord Jesus, whom I serve and whose
cause I love. The testimonies I have borne you have in truth been
presented to me by the Lord. I am sorry that you have rejected the light
given….Are you betraying your Lord, because, in His great mercy, He has shown
you just where you are standing spiritually? He knows every purpose of
the heart. Nothing is hid from Him. It is not me that you are betraying.
It is not me that you are so embittered against. It is the Lord, who has
given me a message to bear to you.” Manuscript Releases, Volume 5, p.
139.
In the
same year, 1903, she wrote those who would give up their faith in the
Testimonies, “One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take
their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the
warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit.
Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 84. Rather than neglecting the Bible and
the Testimonies, let us eagerly ask: “Is there any word from the Lord?”
Jeremiah 37:17.
The
following words from the Lord are found in Ezekiel 33:11 and Jeremiah
22:29, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and
live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house
of Israel? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.”
Let us
pray: Our loving Father, forgive Thy people who have invited the power of
Satan to enter our church through Celebration, with so-called Christian
rock music and drama, with the use of drums and even dancing. Open the
eyes of our leaders who are determined to force their devilish inventions
upon Thy dear people!
Please
help the faithful as they strive for a spirit of holy reverence, so all
may feel Thy divine presence as we worship. Give us, O God, a ministry
that will preach end-time messages from Thy word, the Bible, and the
Spirit of Prophecy. Awaken our pastors to give us sermons that will help
us to prepare and be ready for the coming crisis! This we ask in the name
of Jesus, Amen.
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