SDA
Misinterpretation
of
Ellen
G. White
“For the leaders of this people
cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”
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One of the most heinous abominations against God
Almighty, is the misinterpretations of Ellen White by the Isaiah 56:10-12
dumb-dog watchmen who cannot understand and the equally dumb-dog sheeple who
follow their lead. God has given us fair warning by providing us with the
example of His first chosen people, the Jews and their leaders. Yet, SDA’s are
foolishly following in the exact footsteps of the Jews’
What follows is an exchange between myself, Gar and Peter on Adventist-fm forum.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron
Beaulieu
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Spiritual
Formation taught by Voice of Prophecy
Gar wrote:
Ellen White says The "loud cry"does not consist of calling God's people out of
the SDA church. Since the Loud Cry is yet future this proves any 1893
statements apply today. The Lord has sent messages of warning and
entreaty, messages of reproof and rebuke, and they have not been in vain. But
we have never had a message that the Lord would disorganize the church. We have
never had the prophecy concerning Babylon applied to the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, or been informed that the "loud cry" consisted in calling
God's people to come out of her; for this is not God's plan concerning
Israel. {RH, October 3, 1893 par. 12}
She said such message WILL COME---FUTURE TENSE--showing that the 1893 messages
APPLY today!
“Such messages will come, and it will be claimed for them that they are sent of
God, but the claim will be false; for they are not filled with light, but with
darkness. There will be messages of accusation against the people of God,
similar to the work done by Satan in accusing God’s people, and these messages
will be sounding at the very time when God is saying to His people, ‘Arise,
shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people;
but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.’”—
{RH, August 29, 1893 par. 5} “Believe it not,” said Jesus, foretelling
specifically that men in the last days would teach The SDA Church has become
Babylon and to be saved we must come out. “The claim will be false,” declares
the Spirit of Jesus through His servant, in foretelling “messages of
accusation” against God’s people, in an attempt to
revive the teaching that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon.
Gar
Ron's response: Gar, if you or any other Adventist that
is saved will have to know this true knowledge.
God's Word says that His people perish for a lack of knowledge. His people are neophytes in the word because they have not searched it as for hidden treasure, but take the surface meanings of everything. They don't know that Zion is the bride of Christ and that she is different from the 10 virgins. She, as the bride, awakens the ten virgins, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 405-406. All ten slumbered and slept, Matthew 25:10-5. All ten are in the fallen churches, including the SDA church. At the Loud Cry, she calls all the wise virgins out of all the formally organized churches, because they all are apostate, eating their own bread (doctrines and commandments of men--Isaiah 4:1-4) and wearing their own apparel of self-righteousness. Most Adventists will perish because they don't understand the following Bible players and their role.
Ellen White's quote below is full of very qualifying phrases, like THE PEOPLE OF GOD, and she is referring directly to the bride of Christ who has sons and daughters, Isaiah 62. In Isaiah 62, Zion is the bride that is married, verse 5. She has sons and daughters, verses
Prior to Ellen White's statement of October 3, 1893, there indeed HAD NEVER BEEN a message informing the church that Babylon aplied (past tense) to the SDA church and the church had not been informed that the Loud Cry consisted in calling God's people to come out of her. That was indeed NOT GOD'S PLAN concerning Israel, NOR WAS IT GOD'S PLAN FOR ANCIENT ISRAEL.
Indeed
there will always be such messages of accusation AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF GOD--the true BRIDE of Christ,
and those messages will be sounding AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF GOD, to the very end of time. They
will still be sounding when God is saying to HIS PEOPLE, "arise, shine;
for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."
Isaiah 60. Isaiah 60 and chapter 62 speak of Zion's sons and daughters.
Isaiah 60 and 62 are to understood in tandem. Why? Because they both speak of an entity that has son's and daughters. It is clearly the bride of Christ, the 144,000 who give the final Loud Cry in an attempt to awaken the 10 virgins in all churches, COL, 405-406 and Isaiah 62:11 is a paraphrase of the Midnight Cry of Matthew 25:1-5.
So Ellen White's statement that there will be no Loud Cry message to come out of the bride, those to whom God has said "arise and shine, for thy light has come," is so very true. Rather it is the bride to whom those words are spoken who gives the Loud Cry call out of all fallen churches and to the 10 virgins within them. But there will be false prophets like Stanton and Caldwell who call folk out of Zion, the bride churches of the True Reformers.
At the time of Ellen White's 1893 statements to Stanton and Caldwell, the church was still the bridal candidate. Why? Because she had not fallen. But since she never repented of playing the harlot and married into Satan's brothel via ecumenical liaison with Babylon, God cannot marry a divorced woman and like apostate Israel, He has given the professing SDA denomination a bill of divorce and if He didn't do exactly that, he would have to re-marry apostate Israel to whom He gave a bill of divorce. God cannot marry an adulterous woman for that is against His Word:
|
Jer.
3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed
adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her
treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Divorce and Remarriage Deut. 24:4.
Deuteronomy 24 1 If a man marries a woman who becomes
displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he
writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his
house, 2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another
man, 3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of
divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, 4 then
her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she
has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. |
"When Christ saw in the Jewish people a nation divorced from God, He
saw also a professed Christian church united to the world and the papacy...
Will He be obliged to say to those who have had
great light and great knowledge, as He said to the Jews,
'O that thou hadst known, even thou in this thy
day, the things which belong unto thy peace. But now they are hid from thine
eyes.'" The
Kress Collection, p.153, July 10, 1900.
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the
glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his
glory shall be seen upon thee.
3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and
kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4Lift up thine
eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to
thee: thy sons shall
come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine
heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be
converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the
dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they
shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
7All the flocks of Kedar
shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth
shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and
I will glorify the house of my glory.
8Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the
doves to their windows?
9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships
of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their
silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the
Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
10And the sons of strangers shall build up thy
walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee,
but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
11Therefore thy gates shall be open continually;
they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces
of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve
thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the
fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my
sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall
come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves
down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the LORD,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so
that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles,
and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy
Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will
bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy
officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,
wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
19The sun shall be no more thy light by day;
neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall
be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy
moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days
of thy mourning shall be ended.
21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they
shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my
hands, that I may be glorified.
22A little one shall become a thousand, and a
small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
1For Zion's
sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not
rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness,
and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2And the
Gentiles shall see thy [Zion's--the bride] righteousness, and all
kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the
LORD shall name.
3Thou shalt
also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the
hand of thy God.
4Thou shalt no
more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:
but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD
delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5For as a young
man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons
marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall
thy God rejoice over thee. [Again, Ellen White and
God's Wor distinguish between the Bride and the
people of the church militant. The bride awakens all ten of the sleeping
virgins, with a go ye out to meet Him Midnight Cry message
6I have set
watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day
nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
The
watchmen on the walls of Zion, the bride church, are the True Reformers. God
calls them and they awken the ten virgins.
"Characteristics of True Reformers.--Here are
given the characteristics of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the
banner of the third angel's message, those 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 repairers 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 God awakens the bride and she awakens the ten
virgins, COL, 405-406.
7And give him
no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8The LORD hath
sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more
give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall
not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
9But they that
have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought
it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
10Go through,
go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the
highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
11Behold, the
LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye
to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is
with him, and his work before him.
12And they
shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be
called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Important Conclusions:
·
Ellen White's statement
that the Loud Cry will not be to come out of the bride of Christ, those who are
Zion, to whom God says: "arise and shine, for thy time has come--the
nations shall see thy righteousness," mean EXACTLY THAT. There will be no
call out of the righteous bride of Jesus Christ.
·
It is the bride who
gives the Loud Cry and awakens ALL TEN virgins calling them with the awakening
cry: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him. Matt. 25:1-5.
·
The true identity of
ZION, as the bride, Isaiah 62:1-5, IS SO IMPORTANT.
·
However, as Ellen White
says, there will always be false workman calling folk out from the bride of
Christ and right when the words of God: "Arise and shine..." are
being given by God to the bride, who awakens her, there will be voices calling
folk out from the bride, the true reformers, the truth church that keeps the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and the Testimonies.
·
Most Adventists will
perish for lack of this critical knowledge of the true facts.
·
Men will actually call
true Zion, the bride of Christ, Babylon and of the devil just as they so
branded Jesus' gathered out church and His followers. That is now happening to
true reformers, the true and faithful church.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Gar
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Monday, January 10, 2011 9:53 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the SDA Church
Babylon? -
IF you want to leave go ahead, no one is stopping you. I will
do what Jesus and Ellen White says.
Jesus is coming in to give the individual
members of the church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him.
He does not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. But He
says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (with messages of
reproof and warning) (Revelation 3:19). These reproofs I am not ignorant of. I
have given warnings because the Spirit of the Lord has constrained me to do so,
and have uttered reproofs because the Lord has given me words of reproof. I
have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, which has been given me
for the church. {2SM 67.1}
I will say in the fear and love of God, I know the Lord has thoughts of love and mercy to
restore and heal them of all their backslidings. He has a work for His church
to do. They are not to be pronounced Babylon, but to be as the salt of
the earth, the light of the world. They are to be the living messengers to
proclaim a living message in these last days. {2SM
67.2}
Gar
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron
Beaulieu
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:18 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the SDA
Church Babylon? -
Again all, Ellen
White defined the only true church. I tis those who
love God and KEEP His commandments. The professing SDA church does not KEEP God's
commandments. They have been instructing Russian parents to send their children
to school on Sabbath for decades now.
"God has a church. It
is not the great cathedral, (or the super mega church), neither is it the
national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the
people who love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where Christ is even
among the humble few, THIS IS CHRIST'S CHURCH, for the presence of the High and
Holy One who inhbiteth eternity can alone constitute
a church." Upward Look, p. 315.
In 1893,
Ellen White said that the church was keeping God's commandments and heeding the
Laodicean message. Then she rightly asked: Where else could we go to find
a purer church, to which I say Amen!
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron
Beaulieu
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:26 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the SDA
Church Babylon? -
Again, Ellen White defined the church we
should never denounce:
"God has a church. It is not the great
cathedral, (or the super mega church), neither is it the national
establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who
love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered together
in My name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where Christ is even among the
humble few, THIS IS CHRIST'S CHURCH, for the presence of the High and Holy One
who inhbiteth eternity can alone constitute a
church." Upward Look, p. 315.
And within the quote Gar gave below, there
are very qualifying phrases some choose to ignore to their own damnation. I
will highlight those phrases in red. We are to sigh and cry for all the
abominations of the imposter SDA new movement that is not a church but is
rather the Synagogue of Satan. Signing and crying for all the abominations is
not denouncing the church. It is denouncing what should have been the church.
"Beware of those who arise with a great burden to denounce the church. The chosen ones who are standing and breasting the storm of opposition
from the world, and are uplifting the downtrodden commandments of God to exalt
them as holy and honorable, are indeed the light of the world. How dare mortal man pass his judgment upon
them, and call the church a harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves, a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird, the habitation of devils, making the nations drunk
with the wine of her fornication, confederating with the kings and great men of
the earth, waxing rich through the abundance of her delicacies, and proclaiming
that her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembered her iniquities?
Is this the message we have to bear to Seventh-day Adventists? I tell you, no!
God has given no man any such message." {TDG
172.2}
·
The professing new movement SDA Synagogue of Satan is
not breasting the storm of opposition from the world. It has joined with the
world.
·
The professing new movement SDA Synagogue of Satan is not uplifting the
downtrodden commandments of God to exalt them as holy and honorable when they
have instructed Russian parents to break those holy commandments to send their
children to school on Sabbath.
·
Many of the faithful Waldensian's--and even
their children, gave their lives in defense of Sabbath keeping. So what
entitles professing SDA's to do anything else today?
·
Is a new movement that does everything specified in 1 Selected
Messages, 405-406 the chosen of God?
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Gar
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Monday, January 10, 2011 9:56 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the SDA
Church Babylon? -
Beware of those who
arise with a great burden to denounce the church. The chosen ones who are
standing and breasting the storm of opposition from the world, and are
uplifting the downtrodden commandments of God to exalt them as holy and
honorable, are indeed the light of the world. How dare mortal man pass his
judgment upon them, and call the church a harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves, a
cage of every unclean and hateful bird, the habitation of devils, making the
nations drunk with the wine of her fornication, confederating with the kings
and great men of the earth, waxing rich through the abundance of her
delicacies, and proclaiming that her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath
remembered her iniquities? Is this the message we have to bear to Seventh-day
Adventists? I tell you, no! God has given no man any such message. {TDG 172.2}
Gar
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron
Beaulieu
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:14 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Spiritual Formation taught by Voice of Prophecy
Ellen White defined
THE CHURCH. These are the individuals members of THE CHURCH that God will give
the richest blessings to and of course, He will NOT ONCE call them Babylon nor
ask them to come out of the following type of true church:
"God has a church. It
is not the great cathedral, (or the super mega church), neither is it the
national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the
people who love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where Christ is even
among the humble few, THIS IS CHRIST'S CHURCH, for the presence of the High and
Holy One who inhbiteth eternity can alone constitute
a church." Upward Look, p. 315.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Gar
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Cc: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Monday, January 10, 2011 9:30 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Spiritual Formation taught by Voice of Prophecy
Jesus is coming in to give the individual members of the
church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him. He does not
once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. {2SM
67.1}
Jesus says they are not once to be called Babylon nor be called out and if He
calls them Babylon today He would do something He said He would not even do one
time!
Gar
----- Original Message -----
From: Gar
To: Adventist-fm
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 4:39 PM
Subject: [Adventist-fm] Seventh-Day Adventist Church has become
Babylon!?
The
Seventh-Day Adventist Church has fallen into apostasy, but is it Babylon?
Should we come out of her, or stick it out? How can we handle this like Jesus?
On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Ron Beaulieu rsbeauli@telusplanet.net
> wrote:
On Mon, Jan
10, 2011 at 7:01 PM, Ron Beaulieu <rsbeauli@telusplanet.net wrote:
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 4:47
PM
Subject: [Adventist-fm]
Re: Spiritual Formation taught by Voice of Prophecy
Didn't Ellen White call the SDA a Harlot three
different times?
--- In Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com, Gar@... wrote:
Do you agree with Ellen White?
Jesus is coming in to give the
individual members of the church the richest blessings, if they will open the
door to Him. He does not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. {2SM 67.1}
Gar
On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 5:12 PM, petr_w33 petr_w33@... wrote:
Thank-you Orion 7 for that information.
Do you agree with the following texts I
found?
Who can truthfully say: "Our gold
is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our
Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them
off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: "Can you not
see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of
character? *'How is the faithful city become an harlot!'* My Father's house is
made a house of
merchandise, a place whence the divine
presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and
strength is lacking." {8T 250.2}
Know ye not that your bodies are the
members of Christ? *shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them]
the members of an harlot? God forbid. *1st Corinthians 6:15.
Is this a call-out message for Seventh
Day Adventists from these apostasies?
God Bless. [Peter}
Ron responds: As the church has now gone
beyond the harlot stage to rejoin Babylon’s associations, counsels/councils,
girdings and confederacies, it is part of Satan’s Synagogue. The above
statement in and of itself did not constitute a call out of the church but
rather a call repentance and reformation.
--- In Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com, Gar Gar.sda@
wrote:
The Voice of Prophecy has announced
that Elizabeth Talbot, the senior pastor
at Grace Place, a Seventh-day Adventist church in Alhambra CA, (Near Los Angeles),
will be teaching Spiritual Formation for the Voice of Prophecy on Hope Channel
soon. They are apparently calling it "Jesus 101". Mike Tucker and
Elizabeth Talbot have described the program in a VOP
newsletter.
http://www.vop.com/article.php?id=871
For those who are not familiar with
the history of Spiritual Formation, it is a program to develop
"spirituality." Spiritual Formation is considered by many Bible
believing Christians both Adventists and those in other denominations to
include techniques such as meditation, contemplative prayer, and other methods
that are found in new age and eastern mysticism that are a subtle form of
spiritualism. Spiritual Formation was originated by Ignatious
Loyola the founder of the Jesuits as a method of preparing Jesuit novices for
their mission and work.
The modern versions of it apparently
came directly from the Roman Catholic Church in training centers, one popular
one in NYC run by Roman Catholic nuns, where pastors
from many denominations (including ours) have gone to be trained in teaching
it. It is couched in Christian terminology and claims as its goal to bring
people closer to Christ. There are apparently a number
of books including books by ministers of various denominations as well as those
by eastern mystics that are used.
Pastor Derek Morris, newly appointed
editor of Ministry Magazine, that is sent out to all Adventist pastors world wide, was at one time a strong promoter and teacher
of Spiritual Formation. I contacted him recently about this. He told me that
his attitude has drastically changed, and that he sees in it a dangerous
mixture of truth and error. A friend of mine spent an hour on the phone with
pastor Morris and is convinced that he has truly rejected Spiritual Formation,
and repents of having been involved in it.
My question is, are we prepared to
counter this when attempts are made to bring this into our churches? Do we have
the knowledge and courage to be able to speak against it if our pastor or the
conference wants to bring it in as is happening in some places?
Gar
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January
11, 2011 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the
SDA Church Babylon? –
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:37
PM
Subject: Re: [Adventist-fm] Re:
Walter Veith: Is the SDA Church Babylon? -
Can anyone tell me when the church
reformed and revived from it's harlot stance?
The GC-SDA Church is FILLED WITH
APOSTASY!
A vile homo-sexual from Sodom will fare
better in the judgment than the GC-SDA! Why?
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011
4:06 AM
Subject: Re:
[Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the SDA Church
Babylon? -
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
; AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January
11, 2011 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Adventist-fm] Re: Walter Veith: Is the
SDA Church Babylon? -
·
The new movement church is teaching
false doctrines.
·
Unsanctified persons will be weeded
out of the true reformer church by the true reformers.
·
If the bad left the church, Ezekiel 9
would not be literally fulfilled BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY.
----- Original Message -----
From: Gar
To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Monday, January 10, 2011 9:26 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Seventh-Day Adventist Church has become Babylon!?
Ron,
I don't want to enter a debate with you either.
To answer you question--I am a member of the Church
and I do not join in the apostasy. In my local church there is no apostasy.
Gar
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron
Beaulieu
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:11 PM
Subject:
Re: [Adventist-fm] Seventh-Day Adventist Church has become Babylon!?
Gar and Petr
[Peter],
Ellen White said that the church was a
theocracy. In a theocracy, all the camp is responsible for sin in the camp. On
the annual Day of Atonement, if one sin was in the camp, the priest would have
died in the Sanctuary, and no one would have been saved from his/her sin.
"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.
Corporate responsibility -- "When I say
unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning, nor
speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life the same
wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thine
hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor
from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy
soul." Ezekiel 3:18-19.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto
yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and
some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your
synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come
all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye
slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto
you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you,
Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord.” Matthew 23:31-39.
Gar's church is totally responsible for every iota of apostasy because
its tithe goes to the General Conference to support the ring leaders in
apostasy.
However, God will forgive those who have not known that the SDA church
is in apostasy and is in violation of the second angel’s message and the
Midnight Cry via ecumenical liaison with Babylon.
Ron
Exactly like the jews Just like the Jews
Like Jews – Just like the Jews -- There are over 100 statements to the
affect that SDAs are repeating the history of ancient
Israel. Here are just a few of them:
“The same disobedience and failure which were seen in the Jewish church
have characterized in a greater degree the people hwo
have had this great light from heaven in the last messages of warning.”
Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 456.
History repeats itself. “The thing that has been, it is that which shall
be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new
thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9). In other words,
“The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the
past.” (G.C. 343).
That the Advent Movement is an important movement of the present no one
can deny and it has its parallel in the history of Ancient Israel: “The remnant
church is called to go through an experience similar to that of the Jews.” (1
SM, 387). Not one of us can afford to ignore the following warning:
“The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before
the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me, again and again, to
ILLUSTRATE the position of the people of God in their experience before the
second coming of Christ—how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of
the minds of the Jews, and today her is seeking to blind the minds of God’s
servants, that they may not be able to discern the Precious Truth.” (1 SM, 406;
2 Cor 4:4). The “precious truth” mentioned here is
the light sent to the Seventh-day Adventists in 1888.
"I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening
the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the
same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. You are
having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with
unbelievers have provoked he Lord's displeasure. You know not the things that
belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. [The very
words applied to fallen Israel on page 17 of The Great Controversy] Your
neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than
the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp.
75-76.
"Like ancient Israel, the church has dishonored her God by
departing from the light, neglecting her duties, and abusing her high and
exalted privilege of being peculiar and holy in character. Her members have
violated their covenant to live for God and him only. They have joined with the
selfish and world-loving. Pride, the love of pleasure, and sin have been
cherished, and CHRIST HAS DEPARTED. His Spirit has been quenched in the church.
Satan works side by side with professed Christians yet they are so destitute of
spiritual discernment that they do not detect him." E.G. White,
Testimonies, Vol. 2, pp. 441-442.
graven image
"Among the professed followers of Christ, there is the same pride,
formalism, vainglory, selfishness, and Worse than Babylon OPPRESSION, that
existed in the Jewish nation." E.G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul,
251-252.
Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people are selfish and
self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the
heathen, graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better
way." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 440-442.
Ellen White says in over one-hundred statements that Adventists are
moving in the same path of disobedience as did God’s first chosen people, the
Jews. Here are a few examples:
“The same disobedience and failure which were seen in the Jewish church
have characterized in a greater degree the people who have had this great light
from heaven in the last messages of warning.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 456.
History repeats itself. “The thing that has been, it is that which shall
be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new
thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9). In other words,
“The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the
past.” (G.C. 343).
That the Advent Movement is an important movement of the present no one
can deny and it has its parallel in the history of Ancient Israel: “The remnant
church is called to go through an experience similar to that of the Jews.” (1
SM, 387). Not one of us can afford to ignore the following warning:
“The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before
the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me, again and again, to
ILLUSTRATE the position of the people of God in their experience before the
second coming of Christ—how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of
the minds of the Jews, and today her is seeking to blind the minds of God’s
servants, that they may not be able to discern the Precious Truth.” (1 SM, 406;
2 Cor 4:4). The “precious truth” mentioned here is
the light sent to the Seventh-day Adventists in 1888.
"I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening
the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the
same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. You are
having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with
unbelievers have provoked he Lord's displeasure. You know not the things that
belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. [The very
words applied to fallen Israel on page 17 of The Great Controversy] Your
neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than
the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp.
75-76.
"Like ancient Israel, the church has dishonored her God by
departing from the light, neglecting her duties, and abusing her high and
exalted privilege of being peculiar and holy in character. Her members have
violated their covenant to live for God and him only. They have joined with the
selfish and world-loving. Pride, the love of pleasure, and sin have been
cherished, and CHRIST HAS DEPARTED. His Spirit has been quenched in the church.
Satan works side by side with professed Christians yet they are so destitute of
spiritual discernment that they do not detect him." E.G. White,
Testimonies, Vol. 2, pp. 441-442.
graven image
"Among the professed followers of Christ, there is the same pride,
formalism, vainglory, selfishness, and OPPRESSION, that existed in the Jewish
nation." E.G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 251-252.
Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people are selfish and
self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the
heathen, graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better
way." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 440-442.
“Then I was pointed back to the years 1843 and 1844. There was a spirit
of consecration then that there is not now. What has come over the professed
peculiar people of God? I saw the conformity to the world, the unwillingness to
suffer for the truth's sake. I saw a great lack of submission to the will of
God…
I saw that many who profess to believe the truth for these last days
think it strange that the children of Israel murmured as they journeyed; that
after the wonderful dealings of God with them, they should be so ungrateful as
to forget what He had done for them. Said the angel: "Ye have done worse
than they." Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 128, 129.
“I was shown the conformity of some professed Sabbathkeepers
to the world. Oh, I saw that it is a disgrace to their profession, a disgrace
to the cause of God. They give the lie to their profession. They think they are
not like the world, but they are so near like them in dress, in conversation,
and actions, that there is no distinction…” “As I saw the dreadful fact that
God's people were conformed to the world, with no distinction, except in name,
between many of the professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus and
unbelievers, my soul felt deep anguish. I saw that Jesus was wounded and put to
an open shame. Said the angel, as with sorrow he saw the professed people of
God loving the world, partaking of its spirit, and following its fashions:
"Cut loose! Cut loose! lest He appoint you your portion with hypocrites
and unbelievers outside the city. Your profession will only cause you greater
anguish, and your punishment will be greater because ye knew His will, but did
it not." Testimonies for the Church, vol 1, p
131, 133.
Am I remiss in observing (reasoning) that worse than heathen,
graven-image worshippers, means worse than Babylon? Especially after knowing
the truth and a knowledge of a better way! If I am how and why? By the above
statement it is flattery, presumption, and patronization error to refer to the
apostate SDA church as Babylon! No, let it not be said by anyone that Ron
Beaulieu has said that the church is Babylon! I concur with Ellen White that
God's professed people are worse than Babylonian heathen graven image idol
worshippers! Worse than Catholics! Worse than the great Whore! Why? Because
they had the light of truth and have willfully united with the great whore in
business partnership! Ellen White said we are never to unite with unbelievers
in business partnership, let alone the great Whore of Babylon! However, I
concur with Ellen White that the church could and indeed has become the cage of
every unclean and hateful bird, language that is distinctly applied to Babylon
in Revelation 18, but Ellen White said it and not I. Credit her and not me. I
am agreeing with her.
Counterpart Statement – Full Article
November 7, 1882 Christian Character.
-
By Mrs. E. G. White.
-
The word of God not only sets
forth the great principles of truth and duty which should govern our lives, but
it presents also, for our encouragement, the history of many who have
exemplified these principles. Men "subject to like passions as we
are," have fought with temptation, and conquered in the strength of an
Almighty Helper. Under difficulties greater than we are called to meet, men
have been true to duty and to God. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 1}
Except the one perfect
Pattern, there is not described in the sacred pages a single character more
worthy of emulation than that of the prophet Daniel. Exposed in youth to all
the allurements of a royal court, he became a man of unbending integrity and
fervent devotion to God. He was subjected to the fierce temptations of Satan,
yet his character was not vacillating, nor his course changeable. He was firm
where many would be yielding; he was true where they would be false; he was
strong where they would be weak. Daniel was a lofty cedar of Lebanon. The angel
of the Lord addressed this faithful prophet, "O man greatly beloved, thy
prayer is heard." Would that the faith, integrity, and devotion of the
prophet Daniel might live in the hearts of God's people of today. Never were
these noble qualities more needed in the world than now. Never was there
greater need of men who will stand firmly and fearlessly for God and the right.
{RH, November 7, 1882 par. 2}
In the records of those who
have done and suffered for the name of Jesus, there is no name that shines with
a brighter or purer luster than the name of Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.
The love of Jesus, glowing in his heart, made him self-forgetful, self-denying.
He had seen the risen Christ, and the Saviour's image
was impressed upon his soul, and shone forth in his life. With faith, courage,
and fortitude, that would not be daunted by danger or stayed by obstacles, he
pressed his way from land to land to spread the knowledge of the cross. When
summoned to stand before the judgment-seat of Nero, and forsaken by his
brethren, he was at first thought almost dismayed. Then he gathered courage, as
he looked upward to the Source of strength. Though human help forsook him, he
declares, "The Lord stood by me, and strengthened me." He placed his
hand in the hand of Jesus, and fearlessly went forward to a martyr's death.
{RH, November 7, 1882 par. 3}
Such noble characters have
been; such noble characters will be. None can hide them; none need misinterpret
them. They are living epistles, known and read of all men, By the beauty of
true goodness shining forth in the life of these chosen men, others were
charmed, and were filled with a desire to imitate them. All who seek to reach
the Bible standard will stimulate others also to press forward to higher
attainments. One whom God is teaching will animate others by his ardent, active
efforts for the honor of Christ, and his undying love for souls. In another, a
Christ-like meekness and gentleness of spirit will be most apparent. Another
will influence many by his fervent charity, his brotherly kindness and
Christian courtesy. Still another will manifest such humility and brokenness of
heart as will lead the proud and stubborn to self-abasement. {RH, November 7,
1882 par. 4}
Are the professed followers
of Christ thus exemplifying the principles of their faith? Where are the deep,
living, holy experiences which men of God were wont to recount? Has the
standard of Christianity been lowered to suit the present backslidden condition
of God's professed people? No; that standard remains just where God placed it.
Holy men of ages past were required to give up all for Christ, to cherish his
spirit, and to imitate his example. Nothing less than this will he accept now:
{RH, November 7, 1882 par. 5}
The Christian will begin and
end the day with God. His speech will not be frivolous or aimless. He does not
indulge in idle jesting or malicious gossip. The peace of God rules in his
heart. The power of divine grace strengthens every noble purpose, softens every
harsh trait. In his life and character is seen that firm, undaunted principle
with which worldliness dares not tamper. Such men are recognized by the world
as followers of Christ. They have learned of him. The Sun of Righteousness
shines into the heart, and lights up the countenance. Every faculty is
strengthened, developed, by the influence of divine grace. Such Christians have
an experience that is of some value. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 6}
It is the absence of personal
religion, of a daily, living experience in the things of God, that creates such
coldness and stupor in the church. We have enjoyed great light and many
privileges. Shall we turn away from all these blessings, and sacrifice the
peculiar, holy character which should distinguish us as children of God? If we
thus slight the mercy of God, the judgments denounced against Capernaum will
surely fall upon us. Our punishment will be heavier than if we had not enjoyed
so great light. Thus the warnings, reproofs, and counsels, which, accepted and
obeyed, would bring us untold blessings, become a curse when they are rejected.
{RH, November 7, 1882 par. 7}
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}
The carnal mind is enmity
against God. Not one of us can love and keep his commandments, only as we deny
self, and take upon ourselves the yoke of Christ. Divine truth has never been
in harmony with the traditions and customs of the world; it has never conformed
to their opinions. Christ himself received not honor from men. He was meek and
lowly of heart, and made himself of no reputation. His simple dress and
unpretending manners were in so marked contrast to the pomposity, self-conceit,
and vain display of the Pharisees, that they would not accept him. All
witnessed the manifestation of divine power, but few saw in Christ, amid his
sufferings and humiliation, the Saviour of the world. {RH, November 7, 1882
par. 10}
At the present day a form of
godliness is popular, even in the world. A profession of Christianity costs
little. But those who follow Jesus must walk in the same path of self-denial
and cross-bearing which the Master trod. They may be lightly esteemed by the
world, but they are honored of God. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 11}
No stronger delusion can
possess the human mind than that which makes men believe they are on the right
foundation, and that God accepts their works, when they are sinning against
him. When placed in the furnace fire to be tried by the great Refiner, much
that has been esteemed fine gold will be consumed as dross. Can Christ say of
his professed followers, These are my peculiar people; I gave myself for them,
to redeem them from all iniquity, that they should show forth my praise, who
have called them out of darkness into my marvelous light. Would not the Lord
say, rather, How is the beautiful city become a harlot, and my Father's house a
place of merchandise. Because of your unbelief, I cannot do many mighty works
among you. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 12}
We are not to call sin
righteousness, or righteousness sin. While we should ever manifest pity and
compassion for the erring, we should be governed by sanctified judgment and the
fear of God. In their undue sympathy for the sinner, many are learning to
palliate sin. The most hardened criminals in our land find a host of
sympathizers. Special attention is shown them, simply because their crimes have
brought them into disrepute, and exposed them to the penalty of the law. It is
considered a virtue to throw the mantle of charity over sins that are
misleading and corrupting thousands. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 13}
The same spirit is coming into
the church. However guilty a wrong-doer may be, however lamentable the results
of his course, he will find sympathizers. When he is reproved, there are
unconsecrated ones who stand ready to sustain him. By their unwise sympathy,
they lead him to look upon himself as abused, and thus they effectually bar his
way to repentance and reform. {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 14}
The approval of men--even of
professed Christians--is no evidence of the favor of God. The Christian
experience of thousands is gauged by the standard of those who profess to love
the truth and to be servants of Christ, but who serve Satan. In their blindness
and self-complacency, many are saying, " I am rich and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing," when Christ declares that they are poor
and miserable, blind and naked. To such he addresses the solemn admonition,
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest
see." {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 15}
Every one
who shall at last enter the kingdom of God will be tested. It will be manifest
whether we desire to know and do the will of God, or merely to please
ourselves. When called to give up all for Christ, who will stand the test? Many
have been guided by their own understanding, and have indulged the desires of
their own heart. The treasures of divine grace and love do not overbalance the
inducements and attractions of the world. They choose self-gratification rather
than Christ and his grace at the price of self-denial and self-consecration.
{RH, November 7, 1882 par. 16}
The cause of God today calls
for men,--men in understanding and Christian experience,--men who are true to
God and to the interests of his work. My brethren and sisters in the truth, I
know the dangers which surround you. Search the Scriptures, examine your own
hearts, meditate, pray, till you realize, by vivid conviction, your true state,
till you see the peril which threatens you. Never rest till you know beyond all
controversy that you have been transformed by the spirit of Christ; till you
have clear evidence that you have been born again. Never rest till you know that
Christ abideth in you. It will be vain for you to hope to meet the approval of
God, until you come up to the Bible standard.
E.G. White, {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 17}
Laodicea no better than Babylon
Laodicean no better than Babylon
Becomes lukewarm becomes Laodicean "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.
If Laodicea is not regarded with any more favor by God than the fallen
churches, and the call of Laodicea is to all churches, then there is no
difference between Laodicea and the fallen churches as far as being in a fallen
state is concerned. Different churches believe different aspects of Babylonian
teachings, but Ellen White equates them all as far as falling from the favor of
God is concerned, and as far as constituting the habitation of devils and the
hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
"We must as a people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel.
Licentiousness, unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us
in a large degree...We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of
allowing our churches to become corrupted and filled with every foul spirit, a
cage for every unclean and hateful bird, and will we be clear unless we make
decided movements to cure the existing evil? E. G. White, Manuscript Releases
No. 449, pp. 17, 18. (Letter 51, 1886 to Elder Butler) Testimonies on Sexual
Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p. 193.
"Now it is just EXACTLY as in the days of the Jews. When a message
came in, why all the power of the leaders [such some leaders on this forum] WAS
PUT AGAINST IT, THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE. Now, brethren, GO
TO GOD FOR YOURSELVES, and on your knees plead with God...If God sends us
light, let it come to us, and let no man close the door, or try to close it.
Don't close it yourselves. Open the door of your heart and let the brilliant
rays of light shine into your heart and into your mind. I pray you, let the Sun
of Righteousness in." E.G. White, Manuscript Release #900, Manuscript 9,
1890. 1888 Materials, p. 541.
Time place circumstance -- Time, Place and Circumstance: "Regarding
the Testimonies, nothing is ignored nothing is cast aside but TIME AND PLACE
MUST BE CONSIDERED...Every jot and tittle is essential and must appear at the
opportune time." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 57.
Obviously, CIRCUMSTANCE is implied by TIME, PLACE AND OPPORTUNE TIME.
Babylon statements:
"We must as a people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel.
Licentiousness, unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us
in a large degree...We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of
allowing our churches to become corrupted and filled with every foul spirit, a
cage for every unclean and hateful bird, and will we be clear unless we make
decided movements to cure the existing evil? E. G. White, Manuscript Releases No.
449, pp. 17, 18. (Letter 51, 1886 to Elder Butler) Testimonies on Sexual
Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p. 193.
"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.
"The world must not be
introduced into the church, and married to the church, forming a bond of unity.
Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and as stated in
Revelation, 'a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.'" Testimonies to
Ministers, p. 265.
In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin, both in the
world and in the church. But the people desire smooth things spoken to them,
and the pure, unvarnished truth is not acceptable. Many reformers, in entering
upon their work, determined to exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of
the church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure Christian life,
to lead the people back to the doctrines of the Bible. But the Spirit of God
came upon them as it came upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a
wicked king and an apostate people; they could not refrain from preaching the
plain utterances of the Bible-- doctrines which they had been reluctant to
present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth and the danger which
threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of
consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning.
Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time
comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble
instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His
service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction
of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and
prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words
which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful
results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads
of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power--all will
be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands
upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement
they
607
hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her
errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.
As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these
things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe
their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be
satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain "Thus saith
the Lord," the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger
as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and
stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim
it. The Great Controversy, p. 606-7.