Man’s Opinion Versus God’s Word
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“Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and
little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark;
and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before
the house.” Ezekiel 9:6. 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, 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.
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God and Ellen White clearly state that
Ezekiel 9 will begin at the church, the Lord’s Sanctuary. There can be no
mistake about that. However, there is a professing new movement Adventist in
Texas by the initials DT (he does not like his name attached to what he
teaches), who is teaching on SDA Internet forums that Ezekiel 9 begins and
ends with the destruction of the world. Remember that Ezekiel 5 is the same
event as Ezekiel 9. Here is his statement of June 10, 2011: ----- Original
Message ----- From:
DT To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 12:56 PM Subject: Re: [Adventist-fm] Ezekiel 5 and 9
The
remnant are inside the Church and the remnant are left in the Church after
Ezekiel 9. (emphasis mine
rb)
Up to A.D. 70, Ezekiel 9 destruction of
Jerusalem is the worst thing God permitted, but Ezekiel 9 literally fulfilled
at the end-time is yet worst—Matthew 24:21. DT gives only part of the evidence from Desire of Ages, p. 743. Here is Ellen
White’s description in The Great
Controversy, p. 25: “The future was mercifully
veiled from the disciples. Had they at that time fully comprehend the two
awful facts-- the Redeemer's sufferings and death, and the destruction of
their city and temple--they would have been overwhelmed with horror. Christ
presented before them an outline of the prominent events to take place before
the close of time. His words were not then fully understood; but their
meaning was to be unfolded as His people should need the instruction therein
given. The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in its meaning;
while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured also
the terrors of the last great day. Jesus declared to the
listening disciples the judgments that were to fall upon apostate Israel, and
especially the retributive vengeance that would come upon them for their
rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah. Unmistakable signs would precede
the awful climax. The dreaded hour would come Page 26 · The prophecy which He uttered
was twofold in its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction of
Jerusalem, it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day. · The literal destruction of Jerusalem
was a prefigure (type) foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem and also
the terrors of the last great day. · Ellen White said that Ezekiel
9 will be literally fulfilled at the end of time. · Ellen White said that Ezekiel
9 will begin at His Sanctuary, Testimonies,
Vol. 5, p. 211. The chapter begins on p. 207, quoting Ezekiel 9. ·
Ellen White said that vengeance will be executed in the very courts of
the Temple. That will be the literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. "In
the very courts of the temple, scenes will be enacted that few realize. God's people will be
proved and tested, that He may discern 'between him that serveth God and him
that serveth Him not.' Vengeance will be executed against those who sit in
the gate, deciding what the people should have and what they should not have.
These take away the key of knowledge.
They refuse to enter in themselves, and those who would enter in they hinder.
These bear not the seal of the living God. All who now occupy responsible
positions should be solemnly and terribly afraid lest in this time they shall
be found as unfaithful stewards." E.G. White, Manuscript 15, 1886,
Paulson Collection, p. 55. Only
a few professing Seventh-day Adventists realize that Ellen White says that
Ezekiel 9 will be literally fulfilled. Most SDA’s think that is some
aberration of an offshoot cult. "Study
the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the
time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls
and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the
people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who
refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is
short. God is calling will YOU hear? Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU
be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be
decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The
churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White
Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 260. “The
time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that
prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very
letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303. The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1880: “The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a
solemn warning before the eyes of modern Israel.” “The
desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern
Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen
instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity.” Prophets and Kings, 416. Where Does God Say Ezekiel 9
Will Begin? Ezekiel 9
1He cried
also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over
the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2And, behold,
six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north,
and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was
clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in,
and stood beside the brasen altar. 3And the
glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to
the threshold of the house. And he called to the
man clothed with linen, which had the
writer's inkhorn by his side; 4And the LORD
said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that
cry for all the abominations that be done in
the midst thereof. 5And to the
others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay utterly
old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near
any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they
began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7And he said
unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth.
And they went forth, and slew in the city. 8And it came to
pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face,
and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel
in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9Then said he
unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great,
and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they
say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. 10And as for
me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will
recompense their way upon their head. 11And,
behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side,
reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. If Ezekiel 9 begins at the world as DT
maintains, where would it end? God says it begins at His Sanctuary and His
Sanctuary is not the world which is Babylon. Ezekiel 9 ends with the
destruction of the world, The Great
Controversy, pp. 653-656. Read the last paragraph on page 653 for the
context—BABYLON BEING RIPE FOR DESTRUCTION. Some apply this passage as being
when Ezekiel 9 begins. That is not true. Ezekiel 9 destruction does not begin
with Babylon. It begins with Jerusalem, His church, His Sanctuary. Why Ezekiel 9 Begins at
God’s Sanctuary The prime reason end-time destruction begins at God’s church,
His sanctuary, is because the ancient men, the leaders, take away the key of knowledge which is faith that
works by love—the very essence of the message to Laodicea. They thus teach a
false gospel and that a final generation cannot overcome sin before
glorification. Thus, they reject and refuse the conditions stated in the
message to Laodicea, Revelation 3. But
there are many apostasy abominations for which we are to sign and cry as a
condition for being marked (sealed) by the Man in Linen. "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]. Ezekiel
9 and the Sealing In the typical literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, how did the sealing take place? Who was/is the Man in Linen who places a mark on all who are sighing and crying for all the abominations in the church? Jesus is our High Priest after
the cross. On the typical Day of Atonement, the high priest put on white
linen dress. So Jesus is the final authority or Man in Linen who puts a mark
(seal) on all who sigh and cry for all the abominations. Jesus gave His disciples power
to bind, select and seal. He told them that whomever they bound on earth
would be bound in heaven. It is the same today. It is the third angel in the
form of faithful men who select (seal/bind) the wheat from the tares. Notice: "I
then saw the THIRD ANGEL. Said my accompanying angel, 'Fearful is his work.
Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal,
or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the
whole attention." E.G. White, Early Writings, 118. "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." E.G. White, The Spirit of
Prophecy,
Vol. 4, 199, 200. Third
Angel—“No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to
represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of
heaven. Men and women, enlightened by
the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three
messages in their order.” E.G. White, Selected
Messages, Bk. 2, p. 387. It is a class of faithful men
giving the shaking message who select the wheat from the tares and seal and
bind them for the heavenly garner. This is exactly what the disciples did. They
are the persons who sealed (bound) the true Christian followers of Christ.
They called out the faithful from the apostate Temple church. The Ezekiel 9 sealing could
not be completed until the typical Day of Pentecost when the disciples
received power from on high—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then they
began to teach others like the seventy. There could be no sealing
virtue by membership at the apostate Temple after the death of Christ on the
cross. At His death, the veil in the Temple was rent in two, signifying that
His presence has departed. The 490 years of probation
given to Israel to put away apostasy sin ended in A.D. 34 commensurate with
the stoning of Stephen. At that time, the disciples began gathering out into
home churches those who were sealed (bound) for the heavenly Kingdom. It should be remembered that
the first act of Jesus’ ministry in A.D. 27, was the “gathering out” of the
twelve disciple who would take the gospel to the world, to wit: "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. "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. Where
was True Jerusalem Where the Faithful Were Sealed? There
was two headquarters for two different church organizations in Jerusalem.
There was the Temple headquarters and the disciples had their headquarters in
Jerusalem. Which was the True Jerusalem wherein the faithful were sealed?
Which was the true church? Scripture on Home
Churches Act
16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in
his house. Act
16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them,
and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Act
16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia:
and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Act
18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named
Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Rom
16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my well
beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 1Cr
1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which
are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 1Cr
16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is
the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the
ministry of the saints,) 1Cr
16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much
in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. Any
literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 will follow the type fulfilled by Christ and
His disciples from A.D. 27 to A.D. 66, at which time all the faithful
gathered out Christians fled to Pella and thus escaped the Ezekiel 9
destruction 3 ½ years later which began at the Sanctuary (Temple) and then
spread to the city and other outlying areas. We
are so blessed to have something as sure and solid as the prefigure type of
the last literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 to follow. All who will not follow
that type will experience the literal slaughter of men, maidens and little
children. A word to the wise is sufficient. If DT
or anyone else would like to make a point by point rebuttal to this document,
I will be more than pleased to post such on my Website. —rwb |