Misquoted Ellen White
Statements?
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Score |
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Title |
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1. |
38% |
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BOOKS/HP
- In Heavenly Places (1967)/Chap. 112 - A Nominal Faith Not Sufficient |
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...Chap. 112 - A Nominal
Faith Not Sufficient For I ... |
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...of us who have a nominal
faith but we do not ... |
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2. |
34% |
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BOOKS/1SG
- Spiritual Gifts. Volume 1 (1858)/Chapter XXIX. - A Firm Platform. |
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...place. I saw that the nominal
churches, as the Jews crucified ... |
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...had honest children among the nominal
Adventists, and the fallen churches ... |
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3. |
34% |
|
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...step. The worldly and the nominal
Christian may insinuate that in ... |
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4. |
32% |
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BOOKS/CC
- Conflict and Courage (1970)/Chap. 292 - It has to be Personal |
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...living faith, avails nothing. A nominal
faith in Christ, which accepts ... |
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5. |
32% |
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BOOKS/AG
- God's Amazing Grace (1973)/Chap. 132 - Accepted by Faith |
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...living faith, avails nothing. A nominal
faith in Christ, which accepts ... |
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6. |
32% |
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BOOKS/HP
- In Heavenly Places (1967)/Chap. 40 - An Honored Guest |
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...faith; something more than a nominal
assent is wanted. There must ... |
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7. |
32% |
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BOOKS/TMK
- That I May Know Him (1964)/Chap. 159 - Marks of True Sanctification |
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...more than a mere casual, nominal
faith in Christ. Many might ... |
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8. |
32% |
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BOOKS/CC
- Conflict and Courage (1970)/Chap. 79 - Seeing the Invisible |
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...which we see is merely nominal
; the real, trusting, persevering faith ... |
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9. |
32% |
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BOOKS/OHC
- Our High Calling (1961)/Chap. 136 - Pathway to Purity |
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...the vessel pure within. A nominal
acceptance of truth is good ... |
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10. |
32% |
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BOOKS/TDG
- This Day With God (1979)/Chap. 214 - Partakers of the Divine Nature |
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...even though they may be nominal
church members, regard it as ... |
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11. |
32% |
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BOOKS/TDG
- This Day With God (1979)/Chap. 349 - When Truth Controls the Life |
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...the truth have only a nominal
faith. They are not doers ... |
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12. |
31% |
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...EW 298. 7} PAGE 33: NOMINAL
ADVENTISTS .--THOSE WHO UNITED IN ... |
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...BY MRS. WHITE AS THE " NOMINAL
ADVENTISTS," OR THOSE WHO "REJECT ... |
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...TO COME OUT OF THE NOMINAL
CHURCHES THAT HAD REJECTED THE ... |
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13. |
31% |
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BOOKS/GC88
- The Great Controversy (1888)/Chapter III. - The Apostasy. |
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...human theories and traditions. The nominal
50 conversion of Constantine, in ... |
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...and thus to promote their nominal
acceptance of Christianity, the adoration ... |
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...heathen, it would promote the nominal
acceptance of Christianity by pagans ... |
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14. |
31% |
|
BOOKS/GC
- The Great Controversy (1911)/Chap. 3 - An Era of Spiritual Darkness |
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...human theories and traditions. The nominal
conversion of Constantine,
50 in ... |
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...and thus to promote their nominal
acceptance of Christianity, the adoration ... |
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...heathen, it would promote the nominal
acceptance of Christianity by pagans ... |
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15. |
31% |
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BOOKS/1T
- Testimonies For The Church Volume One (1855-1868)/Chap. 50 - Personal
Experience |
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...solemn than
249 that of nominal
professors, as the heavens are ... |
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...be accomplished. Ministers of the nominal
churches do enough cringing, and ... |
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16. |
31% |
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BOOKS/UL
- The Upward Look (1982)/Chap. 97 - Seeing the Invisible |
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...have far too much dead, nominal
faith, but the real trusting ... |
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17. |
29% |
|
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...On the other hand, the nominal
Adventists charged me with fanaticism ... |
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18. |
29% |
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BOOKS/SR
- The Story of Redemption (1947)/45: The Mystery of Iniquity |
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...human theories and traditions. The nominal
conversion of Constantine in the ... |
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19. |
29% |
|
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...from the world and the nominal
church, a people who are ... |
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...mist and darkness of the nominal
church. We cannot, therefore, see ... |
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...our hearts and cause the nominal
Adventists to triumph and say ... |
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20. |
29% |
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BOOKS/PaM
- Pastoral Ministry (1995) /29: Communion/Footwashing |
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...and from backsliding, like the nominal
churches. The washing of feet ... |
Four More Misquoted Paragraphs
The General Conference is itself becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and
principles. . . . Men have taken unfair advantage of those whom they supposed
to be under their jurisdiction. They were determined to bring the individuals
to their terms; they would rule or ruin. . . . The high-handed power that has
been developed, as though position has made men gods, makes me afraid, and
ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever and by whomsoever it is
exercised.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 359-361 (1895).
Ron responds: There is nothing to suggest that the General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has ceased to use rule or ruin tactics.
There is myriad evidence to suggest that they do!
Ellen White clearly stated that “nothing would be allowed to
stand in the way of the new movement.” 1 SM 204-5. Is that an example of
godless men still taking unfair advantage of those whom they supposed to be
under their jurisdiction? Is that rule or ruin?
The voice from Battle Creek, which has been regarded as authority in
counseling how the work should be done, is no longer the voice of God.--17MR
185 (1896).
Ron responds: It is clear to any true reformer Seventh-day
Adventist that the new movement prophesied by Ellen White in Selected Messages, Bk. 1, pp. 405-6,
has been fulfilled. On page 405 she said that the new movement would remove
God. In Jeremiah 11:9-15, when Israel committed similar and the very same
violations, God’s presence removed from them. So how could the General
Conference be the voice of God, when God has been removed?
It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the
voice of God.--17MR 216 (1898).
Ron responds: Ellen White said that after her death there
would be great changes made. That certainly occurred, beginning especially in
1930 and on with the adoption of the world’s Accreditation Standard for SDA
educational facilities, and the smuggling in of the Trinity Doctrine by LeRoy
E. Froom. This doctrine destroys the entire Christian economy.
That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to
the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be--that is
past.--GCB April 3, 1901, p. 25.
Ron responds: Notice
the date of the statement, 1901. That was when Ellen White and a minority
that included her, A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner, ruled that there should
be no General Conference President, because that position contributed to the
“rule or ruin” attitude. But that ruling was never acted on, so the “rule and
ruin” spirit of Satan still reigns.
“As the discussions went on, again and again reference was
made to the 1901 General Conference and to a statement quoted from Ellen
White that "it is not wise to choose one man as president of the General
Conference." This had been read in 1901 from a manuscript source (Letter
24a, 1896) by those who advocated that the committee of twenty-five should
elect the officers.” {5BIO 257.1}
“Now at this 1903
meeting W. C. White and A. G. Daniels were ready; Daniels read the statement,
found in Testimonies to Ministers, in its context: {5BIO 257.2}
“It is not wise
to choose one man as president of the General Conference.” Page 342 (see also
GCB 1903, p. 160). {5BIO 257.3}
Answering them in E. G. Whites own words
At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of
the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out
unwise plans to restrict God's work, I have said that I could no longer
regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as
the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General
Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from
all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained that the
representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in
a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger
of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small
group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has
invested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference
assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work.--9T 260,
261 (1909).
Ron responds: There is still a very small group of men
entrusted with the general management of the work. There is still a General
Conference president. In the 1950’s, a very small group of men sold out
pillar doctrines to Walter Martin and Donald Grey Barnhouse. Whatever the
President wants, the President gets! All he has to do is raise an eyebrow or
give a disapproving look and all the pawns fall into line.
To say or imply in any way that the SDA church of today is
better than it was when Ellen White was alive, is akin to insanity and/or
complete lack of a sense of reality and of what is transpiring in the real
world.
New Conferences must be formed. It was in the order of God that
the Union conference was organized in Australasia. . . . It is not necessary
to send thousands of miles to Battle Creek for advice, and then have to wait
weeks for an answer. Those who are right on the ground are to decide what
shall be done.--GCB April 5, 1901, pp. 69, 70.
Note: In the above quotation she is giving council to continue growth of G C
conferences and churches just two days after she said. . . “That these men
should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as
we once believed the General Conference to be--that is past.”--GCB April 3,
1901, p. 25.
There are altogether too many weighty responsibilities
given to a few men, and some do not make God their Counselor. What do these
men know of the necessities of the work in foreign countries? How can they
know how to decide the questions which come to them asking for information?
It would require three months for those in foreign countries to receive a
response to their questions, even if there was no delay in writing.--Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 321 (1896).
Those living in distant countries will not do that which
their judgment tells them is right unless they first send for permission to
Battle Creek. Before they will advance they await Yes or No from that
place.--SpT-A(9) 32 (1896).
It is not wise to choose one man as president of the
General Conference. The work of the General Conference has extended, and some
things have been made unnecessarily complicated. A want of discernment has
been shown. There should be a division of the field, or some other plan
should be devised to change the present order of things.--Testimonies to
Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 342 (1896).
THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1863 WITH
3,500 MEMBERS, HALF A DOZEN LOCAL CONFERENCES, ABOUT THIRTY MINISTERIAL
LABORERS, AND A GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF THREE. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
PRESIDENT WAS WELL ABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP AND COUNSEL REQUIRED BY
SUCH A SMALL ORGANIZATION. HE COULD PERSONALLY ATTEND EVERY IMPORTANT MEETING
AND IN ADDITION GIVE PERSONAL ATTENTION TO MUCH OF THE BUSINESS CONNECTED
WITH THE PUBLISHING WORK. HOWEVER, BY 1896 THE WORK OF THE CHURCH HAD GREATLY
EXPANDED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND EXTENDED TO EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, AND AFRICA
AS WELL. IT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE FOR ONE MAN TO GIVE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION
AND DIRECTION TO SUCH A WIDE SPREADING WORK. ELLEN WHITE URGED A DIVISION OF
THE FIELD, SO THAT OUR CHURCH MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD WOULD NOT LOOK TO JUST
ONE MAN FOR COUNSEL. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE CREATION OF UNION
CONFERENCES AND WORLD DIVISIONS.
Conclusion
The Messages about the General Conference no longer being
the voice of God was a present truth message in the 1890's. That message
expired 100 years ago when the church formed New Conferences around the
world. Those messages have no present application because the General
Conference is no longer being run by only a few men.
Gar
Ron responds: Ellen
White said there was to be no General Conference president. There is still a
general conference president and he still rules in a rule or ruin fashion. He
and a relatively small group of liberal Sadducees run the new movement (God
removed from) church.
----- Original
Message -----
From:Gar
To: Adventist-fm@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 11:12 AM
Subject: [Adventist-fm] We have Never had Such a
Message
We have Never had Such a Message
This page submitted by "Dedication"
Question: Israel fell into terrible
abomination -- what would Moses do?
Ron responds: Dedication is the pseudonym of Ulicia Unruh, the
wife of an SDA pastor. She is totally distorting the actions of Moses relative
to the early apostasy of Israel. She should know the facts in the case of
Moses:
“The mild
and yielding spirit of Aaron to please the people, blinded his eyes to their
sins, and to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in
giving influence to wrong and sin in Israel cost the lives of three thousand men. The course of Moses, in what
contrast! After he had evidenced to the people that they could not trifle
with God with impunity; after he had shown them the just displeasure of God for
their sins, in giving
the terrible decree to slay friends or relatives who persisted in their
apostasy, after
the work of justice to turn away the wrath of God, irrespective of their
feelings of sympathy for loved friends and relatives who continued obstinate
in their rebellion, Moses was now prepared for another work. He evidenced who
was the true friend of God, and the friend of the people.”{RH, July 29, 1873 par. 28}
The real
facts concerning Moses are:
·
Moses
gave a decree to slay friends or relatives who persisted in apostasy.
·
Moses
prayed for the faithful after the apostates were dealt with.
·
In
the case of Korah’s rebellion, the ark was removed from the camp until the
apostates (about 14,000 in number) were killed.
·
After
the apostates were killed, Moses supplicated God in prayer for the remainder
of Israel.
Moses always killed off the apostates! In the incidence of the
golden calf, Moses had killed all who would not sorely repent and form at his
right side.
"Moses was then tested and proved of God. Forsake
Israel? Come out from among them, and leave them in their rebellion and
sin?--No, never. "
Ron responds: True, no need to come out because Moses had all
unrepentant apostates killed. A minister’s wife (Ulicia) should know
this. Never did Moses tolerate open sin apostasy in the camp of
Israel—not in ONE INSTANCE!
"And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians
shall hear it (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among
them;), and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have
heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to
face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them,
by daytime in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if
thou shalt kill all people as one man, then the nations that have heard the
fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this
people into the land which ye sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them
in the wilderness. What does it mean to "sigh and cry for the
abominations in the church"? (See also Joel 2:17) "
Ron responds: The ancient prophets and the disciples of Christ
sighed and cried for the abominations of Israel. God said to cry aloud and
show His people their sins. Ellen White said that the leaders would NEVER
AGAIN do this—Testimonies, Vol. 5,
p. 211. She says this is one of the reasons why Ezekiel 9 is literally
fulfilled again upon God’s people.
"And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be
great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and
of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means
clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of
this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast
forgiven this people, from Egypt until now. And the Lord said, I have
pardoned according to thy word: but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be
filled with the glory of the Lord."
Ron responds: If you will carefully read all accounts wherein
Moses prayed for his people, it was after the unrepentant apostates among
them were killed.
"Did God reject Israel or were those who refused to
"harken unto His voice" shaken out Because all those men which have
seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness,
and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither
shall any of them that provoked me see it." Review and Herald, October
3, 1893
Question: How does it compare with
modern "Israel?"
Ron responds:
·
Yes, God finally rejected apostate Israel in A.D. 34, and destroyed
their temple and city in A.D. 70. And the answer to the apparent
contradiction is that He did not reject ALL of Israel. He saved a repentant
and separated remnant. Jesus and His followers separated from the apostate
Jewish church and formed home churches all over Judea.
·
Did God reject a generation of Israelites (except for a
faithful remnant) in Jeremiah 11:9-15, when He instructed Jeremiah not to
even pray for that generation of Israelites because of their apostasy?
·
The generation of Jews mentioned in Jeremiah 11:9-15 were the
Jews of Shiloh mentioned in the following quote. This was the first
settlement of the Jews after they came out of the Sinai wilderness:
· "The recreant priests added licentiousness to the dark catalogue of their crimes yet they still polluted by their presence the tabernacle of the Lord, and, laden with sin, dared to come into the presence of a holy God. As the men of Israel witnessed the corrupt course of the priests, they thought it safer for their families not to come up to the appointed place of worship. Many went from Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they at last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264, col. 3, December 1, 1881.
· Ellen White prophesied an end-time counterpart to the Jews of Shiloh:
COUNTERPART: "The Lord commanded one of his
ancient servants, 'Pray not thou for this people [Jer. 7:16 and 11:14],
neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I
will not hear thee.' The prophet thus describes the sins which had called
forth this fearful denunciation: 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the
priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so and what
will ye do in the end thereof?' 'From the least of them even unto the
greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness and from the prophet even
unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of
the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no
peace.' The apostles declare that this state of things will find its
COUNTERPART in the last days. Many have a form of godliness, but in their
daily life deny the power thereof. They have ceased to be convicted of their
sins or alarmed at their state. They say in their hearts, 'The church is
flourishing. Peace and spiritual prosperity are within her borders.' The
words of the prophet may well apply to these self-deceivers, 'They have
chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I
also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them."
E. G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-07-82.
"Shall
the Lord be compelled to say, `Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up
cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear
thee' [Jeremiah 7:16]? `Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there
hath been no latter rain....Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My
Father, thou art the guide of my youth' [Jeremiah 3:3-4]?...
We
are to be judged by the light that has been given us,(159) and we can find no
excuse by which to extenuate our course." Review and Herald, Vol. 3, p 69-70 (August 1,
1893). (Brackets by Ellen White)
COUNTERPART:
"In
the time of the Saviour, the Jews had so covered over the precious jewels of
truth with the rubbish of tradition and fable, that it was impossible to
distinguish the true from the false. The Saviour came to clear away the
rubbish of superstition and long-cherished errors, and to set the jewels of
God's word in the framework of truth. What would the Saviour do if he should
come to us now as he did to the Jews? He would have to do a similar work in
clearing away the rubbish of tradition and ceremony. The Jews were greatly
disturbed when he did this work [As are SDAs today!]. They had lost sight of
the original truth of God, but Christ brought it again to view. It is our
work to free the precious truths of God from superstition and error."
E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 308.
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}
·
An end-time counterpart to the Jews of Shiloh, means that such
a counterpart must be a “chosen” people of God who claim to keep His
commandments and have the gift of prophecy amongst them as did ancient
Israel. Only one church so qualifies.
·
An end-time counterpart to the Jews of Shiloh will be meeting
at home for church, to wit:
· "The recreant priests added licentiousness to the
dark catalogue of their crimes yet they still polluted by their presence the
tabernacle of the Lord, and, laden with sin, dared to come into the presence
of a holy God. As the men of Israel witnessed the corrupt course of the
priests, they thought it safer for their families not to come up to the
appointed place of worship. Many went from
Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they at
last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this
would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the
abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p.
264, col. 3, December 1, 1881.
Mark the whole tenor of this chapter, and learn the lesson
it conveys to modern Israel. These things are written for our ensamples upon
whom the ends of the world are come. We see the unbelief, and the stout resistance
of some who have had great light, and although evidence has been piled upon
evidence, they have kept themselves in stubborn resistance. The Lord has sent
messages of warning and entreaty, messages of reproof and rebuke, and they
have not been in vain." Review and Herald, October 3, 1893
Question: So when is the time to call
people out of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
Ron responds: The messages of warning, entreaty, reproof, and rebuke
have not been in vain because just as in the case of ancient Israel, there is
a remnant modern Israel that has heeded the warnings and reproofs. That would
not include a new movement that has removed God. (1SM 204-5).
"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." Review and Herald,
October 3, 1893
Gar
Ron responds: 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.
Ellen
White on Home Churches
When the
young men and women were kept away from the Alpha of apostasy in the church,
what did they do and where did they meet for worship?
Ellen
White on Home Churches in the Alpha of Apostasy:
"There
is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place
them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible,
that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven
their ideas of what it means to be a Christian." E.G. White,
Manuscript Release #995, p. 5.
"Brother
and sister Haskell have rented a house in one of the best parts of the city,
and have gathered round them a family of helpers, who day by day go out
giving Bible readings, selling our papers, and doing medical missionary work.
During the hour of worship, the workers relate their experiences. Bible
studies are regularly conducted in the home, and THE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG
WOMEN connected with the mission receive a practical, thorough training in
holding Bible readings and in selling our publications. The Lord has blessed
their labors, a number have embraced the truth, and many others are deeply
interested." Review and Herald, September 7, 1905, Evangelism, p. 108.
"Christ
was a protestant...The Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They
came out and separated themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies.
Luther and his followers did not invent the reformed religion. They simply
accepted it as presented by Christ and the apostles." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, 48, col. 2.
Paul left
"And
as they persisted in their rejection of the gospel the apostle (Paul) went
into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing
and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were
hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude,
he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the
school of one Tyrannus." Acts, 19:8, 9.
"Fearing
that the faith of the believers would be endangered by continued association
with these opposers of the truth, Paul separated from them, and gathered the
disciples into a distinct body." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles,
p. 286.
·
We have never had a message that God would regard a new
movement formed among SDA’s and that would remove God and pillar doctrines
(1SM 204-6) as His church.
·
Ellen White clearly said that only the presence of God can
constitute a church, so the new movement SDA organization only masquerades as
a church.
·
Ellen White prophesied that God would take the reins in
leading His people. His church is led by Him, and that is not
disorganization. The final Loud Cry call will be not by might, not by power
(numbers) but by His Spirit. No apostate church or its members will
participate in giving that cry.
·
For those who want to know the truth as to how Moses really
dealt with apostate Israel, the following Ellen White articles are supplied:
July 29, 1873
Moses and Aaron.
Upon Mount Hor Aaron
died and was buried. Moses, Aaron's brother, and Eleazar, his son,
accompanied him. The painful duty was laid upon Moses to remove from his
brother Aaron the sacerdotal robes and place them upon Eleazar, for God had
said he should succeed Aaron in the priesthood. Moses and Eleazar witnessed
the death of Aaron; and Moses buried him in the mount. This scene upon Mount
Hor carries our minds back and connects it with some of the most striking
events in the life of Aaron. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 1}
Aaron was a man of
amiable disposition, whom God selected to stand with Moses and speak for him
in short, to be mouthpiece for Moses. God might have chosen Aaron as leader;
but he who is acquainted with hearts, who understands character, knew that
Aaron was yielding, and lacked moral courage to stand in defense of the right
under all circumstances irrespective of consequences. Aaron's desire to have
the good will of the people sometimes led him to commit great wrongs. He too
frequently yielded to their entreaties, and in so doing dishonored God. The
same want of standing firmly for the right in his family resulted in the
death of two of his sons. Aaron was eminent for piety and usefulness, but he
neglected to discipline his family. Rather than perform the task of requiring
respect and reverence of his sons, he allowed them to follow their
inclinations. He did not discipline them in self-denial, but yielded to their
wishes. They were not disciplined to respect and reverence parental
authority. The father was the proper ruler of his own family as long as he
lived. His authority was not to cease, even after his children were grown up
and had families of their own. God himself was the monarch of the nation, and
from the people he claimed obedience and honor. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 2}
The order and
prosperity of the kingdom depended upon the good order of the church. And the
prosperity, harmony, and order of the church were dependent upon the good order
and thorough discipline of families. God punishes the unfaithfulness of
parents to whom he has intrusted the duty to maintain the principles of
parental government, which lie at the foundation of church discipline, and
the prosperity of the nation. One undisciplined child has frequently marred
the peace and harmony of the church, and incited to murmuring and rebellion,
a nation. God has enjoined, in the most solemn manner upon children, their
duty to affectionately respect and honor their parents. God required, on the
other hand, of parents to train up their children, and with unceasing
diligence to educate them in regard to the claims of his law, and to instruct
them in the knowledge and fear of God. These injunctions which God laid with
so much solemnity upon the Jews, rests with equal weight upon Christian
parents. Those who neglect the light and instruction given of God in his
word, in regard to training their children and commanding their household
after them, will have a fearful account to settle. Aaron's criminal neglect
to command respect and reverence of his sons resulted in their death. {RH,
July 29, 1873 par. 3}
God distinguished
Aaron in choosing him and his male posterity for the priesthood. His sons
ministered in the sacred office. Nadab and Abihu failed to reverence the
command of God, to offer sacred fire upon their censers with the incense
before him. God had forbidden them to use the common fire to present before
him with the incense, upon pain of death. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 4}
Here was seen the
result of loose discipline. As Aaron's sons had not been educated to respect
and reverence the commands of their father, as they disregarded parental
authority, they did not realize the necessity of explicitly following the
requirements of God. When indulging their appetite for wine, while under its
exciting stimulus their reason was beclouded. They could not discern
difference between the sacred and the common. Contrary to God's express
direction they dishonored him by offering common fire instead of sacred. God
visited them with his wrath--fire went forth from his presence and destroyed
them. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 5}
Aaron bore his
severe affliction with patience and humble submission. Sorrow and keen agony
wrung his soul. He was convicted of his neglect of duty. He was priest of the
Most High God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. He was priest of
his household, yet he had been inclined to pass over the folly of his
children. He neglected his duty to train and educate his children to
obedience, self-denial, and reverence for parental authority. Through
feelings of misplaced indulgence he failed to mold the characters of his
children with high reverence for eternal things. Aaron did not see any more
than many Christian parents now see that their misplaced love and the
indulgence of their children in wrong, is preparing them for the certain
displeasure of God, and for his wrath to break forth upon them to their
destruction. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 6}
While Aaron
neglected exercise his authority, the justice of God awakened against them.
Aaron had to learn that gentle remonstrance, without exercising, with
firmness, parental restraint, and his imprudent tenderness toward his sons,
were cruelty in the extreme. God took the work of justice into his own hands
and destroyed the sons of Aaron. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 7}
When God called for
Moses to come up into the mountain, it was six days before he was received
into the cloud, to the immediate presence of God. The top of the mountain was
all aglow with the glory of God. And even while the children of Israel had in
their very sight the glory of God upon the mount, unbelief was so natural to
them, because Moses was absent they begun to murmur with discontent. While
the glory of God signified his sacred presence upon the mountain, and their
leader was in close converse with God, they should have been sanctifying
themselves to God by close searching of heart, humiliation, and godly fear.
God had left Aaron and Hur, to take the place of Moses. The people were to
consult and advise with these men of God's appointment in the absence of
Moses. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 8}
Here Aaron's
deficiency as a leader or governor of Israel was seen. The people beset him
to make them gods to go before them into Egypt. Here was an opportunity for
Aaron to show his faith and unwavering confidence in God, and in firmness and
with decision meet the proposition of the people. But the natural love of
Aaron to please, and to yield to the people, led him to sacrifice the honor
of God. He requested them to bring their ornaments to him, and he wrought out
for them a golden calf, and proclaimed before the people, "These be thy
gods O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." And to
this senseless god, Aaron made an altar, and proclaimed on the morrow a feast
to the Lord. All restraint seemed to be removed from the people. They offered
burnt-offerings to the golden calf, and a spirit of levity took possession of
them. They ate, they drank, and rose up to play. They indulged in shameful
rioting and drunkenness. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 9}
A few weeks only
had passed since they had made a solemn covenant with God to obey his voice.
They had listened to the words of God's law, spoken in awful grandeur from
Sinai's mount, amid thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes. They had
heard the declaration from the lips of God himself, "I am the Lord thy
God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not
bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands
of them that love me and keep my commandments." {RH, July 29, 1873 par.
10}
Aaron had been
exalted, also his sons, in being called into the mount, to there witness the
glory of God. "And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his
feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of
heaven in its clearness." {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 11}
God had appointed
Nadab and Abihu to a most sacred work, therefore he honored them in a most
wonderful manner. God gave them a view of his excellent glory, that the
scenes they should witness in the mount would abide upon them, and the better
qualify them to minister in his service, and render to him that exalted honor
and reverence before the people, which would give them clearer conceptions of
his character, and awaken in them due obedience and reverence for all his
requirements. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 12}
Moses, before he
left his people for the mount, read to them the words of the covenant God had
made with them, and they with one voice answered, "All that the Lord
hath said will we do, and be obedient." How great must have been the sin
of Aaron, how aggravating in the sight of God! {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 13}
While Moses was
receiving the law of God in the mount, the Lord informed him of the sin of
rebellious Israel, and requested him to let them go, that he might destroy
them. But Moses plead before God for the people. Although Moses was the
meekest man that lived, yet when the interests of the people were at stake
over whom God had appointed him as leader, he loses his natural timidity, and
with singular persistency and wonderful boldness, pleads with God for Israel.
He will not consent that God shall destroy his people, although God promised
that in their destruction he would exalt Moses, and raise up a better people
than Israel. Moses prevailed. God granted his earnest petition not to blot
out his people. Moses took the tables of the covenant, the law of ten
commandments, and descended from the mount. The boisterous, drunken revelry
of the children of Israel reached his ears, long before he came to the camp
of Israel. When he saw their idolatry, and that they had broken in a most
marked manner the words of the covenant, he became overwhelmed with grief and
indignation at their base idolatry. Confusion and shame on their account took
possession of him, and he there threw down the tables and broke them. As they
had broken their covenant with God, Moses, in breaking the tables, signified
to them, so, also, God had broken his covenant with them. The tables,
whereupon was written the law of God, were broken. {RH, July 29, 1873 par.
14}
Aaron, with his
amiable disposition, so very mild and pleasing, sought to conciliate Moses,
as though no very great sin had been committed by the people that he should
feel thus deeply over. Moses asked in anger, "What did this people unto
thee that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?" "And Aaron
said, Let not the anger of my Lord wax hot; thou knowest the people, that
they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go
before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land
of Egypt, we wot not what has become of him. And I said unto them, Whosoever
hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me; then I cast it into
the fire, and there came out this calf." {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 15}
Aaron would have
Moses think that some wonderful miracle had transformed their golden
ornaments into the shape of a calf. He did not relate to Moses that he had,
with other workmen, wrought out this image. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 16}
Aaron had thought
that Moses had been too unyielding to the wishes of the people. And if he had
been less firm, less decided at times; if he had made a compromise with them,
and gratified their wishes, he would have had less trouble, and there would
have been more peace and harmony in the camp of Israel. He, therefore, had
been trying this new policy. He carried out his natural temperament of
yielding to the wishes of the people, to save dissatisfaction and preserve
their good-will, and thereby prevent a rebellion, which he thought would
certainly come if he withstood their wishes. But had Aaron stood unwaveringly
for God; had he met the intimation of the people for him to make them gods to
go before them to Egypt, with the just indignation and horror their
proposition deserved; had he cited them to the terrors of Sinai, where God
had spoken his law in such glory and majesty; had he reminded them of their
solemn covenant with God to obey all he should command them; had he told them
that he would not at the sacrifice of his life yield to their entreaties, he
would have had influence with the people to prevent a terrible apostasy. But
when his influence was required to be used in the right direction in the absence
of Moses, when he should have stood as firm and unyielding as did Moses to
prevent them from pursuing a course of sin, his influence was exerted on the
wrong side. He was powerless to make his influence felt in vindication of
God's honor in keeping his holy law. But on the wrong side he had swayed a
powerful influence. He directed, and the people obeyed. When Aaron took the
first step in the wrong direction, the spirit which had actuated the people
imbued him, and he took the lead, and directed as a general, and the people
were singularly obedient. Here Aaron gave decided sanction to the most
aggravating sins, because it was attended with less difficulty than to stand
in vindication of the right. When he swerved from his integrity in giving
sanction to the people in their sins, he seemed inspired with decision,
earnestness, and zeal, new to him. His timidity seemed suddenly to disappear.
He seized the instruments to work out the gold into the image of a calf with
a zeal he had never manifested in standing in defense of the honor of God
against wrong. He ordered an altar to be built, and with assurance, worthy of
a better cause, he proclaimed to the people that on the morrow would be a
feast to the Lord. The trumpeters took the word from the mouth of Aaron and
sounded the proclamation from company to company of the armies of Israel.
{RH, July 29, 1873 par. 17}
Aaron's calm
assurance in a wrong course gave him greater influence than Moses could have had
in leading them in a right course, and subduing their rebellion. What
terrible spiritual blindness had come upon Aaron that he should put light for
darkness, and darkness for light. What presumption in him to proclaim a feast
to the Lord over their idolatry of a golden image! Here is seen the power
that Satan has over minds that are not fully controlled by the Spirit of God.
Satan had set up his banner in the midst of Israel, and it was exalted as the
banner of God. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 18}
"These,"
said Aaron (without hesitation or shame), be thy gods O Israel, which brought
thee up out of the land of Egypt." Aaron influenced the children of
Israel to go to greater lengths in idolatry than had entered their minds.
They were no longer troubled lest the burning glory like flaming fire upon
the mount had consumed their leader. They thought they had a general who just
suited them. They were ready to do anything he suggested. They offered peace
offerings, and sacrificed to their golden god, and gave themselves up to
pleasure, rioting, and drunkenness. They were then decided in their own minds
that it was not because they were wrong, that they had so much trouble in the
wilderness; but the difficulty, after all, was with their leader. He was not
a right kind of a man. He was too unyielding, and was continually keeping
their sins before them, warning and reproving them, and threatening them with
God's displeasure. A new order of things had come, and they were pleased with
Aaron, and pleased with themselves. They thought, if Moses had only been as
amiable and mild as Aaron, what peace and harmony would have prevailed in the
camp of Israel. They cared not now whether Moses ever came down from the
Mount or not. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 19}
When Moses saw the
idolatry of Israel, and his indignation was so aroused at their shameful
forgetfulness of God, that he threw down the tables of stone and broke them,
Aaron stood meekly by, bearing the censure of Moses with commendable
patience. The people were charmed with Aaron's lovely spirit, and were
disgusted with Moses' rashness. But God seeth not as man seeth. He condemned
not the ardor and indignation of Moses against the base apostasy of Israel.
{RH, July 29, 1873 par. 20}
The true general,
then takes his position for God. He has come direct from the presence of the
Lord, where he plead with him to turn away his wrath from his erring people.
Now he has another work to do as God's minister, to vindicate his honor
before the people, and let them see that sin is sin, and righteousness is
righteousness. He has a work to do to counteract the terrible influence of
Aaron. "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on
the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered
themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God
of Israel, Put every man, his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate
to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man
his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did
according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about
three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the
Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow
upon you a blessing this day." {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 21}
Here Moses defines
genuine consecration as obedience to God, to stand in vindication of the
right, and to show a readiness to carry out the purpose of God in the most
unpleasant duties, showing the claims of God are higher than the claims of
friends, or the lives of the nearest relatives. The sons of Levi consecrated
themselves to God to execute his justice against crime and sin. {RH, July 29,
1873 par. 22}
Aaron and Moses both
sinned in not giving glory and honor to God at the waters of Meribah. They
were both wearied and provoked with the continual complaining of Israel, and
at a time when God was to mercifully display his glory to the people to
soften and subdue their hearts and lead them to repentance. Moses and Aaron
claimed the power of opening the rock for them. "Hear now, ye rebels:
must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Here was a golden opportunity
to sanctify the Lord in their midst, to show them the long-suffering of God
and his tender pity for them. They had murmured against Moses and Aaron
because they could not find water. Moses and Aaron took these murmurings as a
great trial and dishonor to them. They forgot that it was God whom they were
grieving. It was God they were sinning against and dishonoring, not they who
were men appointed of God to carry out his purpose. They were insulting their
best friend in charging their calamities upon Moses and Aaron; they were
murmuring at God's providence. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 23}
This sin of these
noble leaders was great. Their lives might have been illustrious to the
close. They had been greatly exalted and honored; yet God does not excuse sin
in those in exalted position, any sooner than in the more humble. {RH, July
29, 1873 par. 24}
Many professed
Christians look upon men who do not reprove and condemn wrong, as men of
piety, and Christians indeed, while men who stand boldly in the defense of
right, and will not yield their integrity to unconsecrated influences, they
think lack piety and a Christian spirit. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 25}
Those who stand in
defense of the honor of God, and maintain the purity of truth at any cost,
will have manifold trials, as did our Saviour in the wilderness of temptation.
The yielding temperaments, who have not courage to condemn wrong, but keep
silent when their influence is needed to stand in the defense of right
against any pressure, may avoid many heartaches, and escape many
perplexities, and lose a very rich reward, if not their own souls. {RH, July
29, 1873 par. 26}
Those who in
harmony with God, and through faith in him, receive strength to resist wrong,
and stand in defense of the right, will always have severe conflicts, and
will frequently have to stand almost alone. But precious victories will be
theirs while they make God their dependence. His grace will be their
strength. Their moral sense will be keen, clear, and sensitive. Their moral
powers will be equal to withstand wrong influences. Their integrity, like
that of Moses, of the purest character. {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 27}
The mild and
yielding spirit of Aaron to please the people, blinded his eyes to their
sins, and to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in
giving influence to wrong and sin in Israel cost the lives of three thousand
men. The course of Moses, in what contrast! After he had evidenced to the
people that they could not trifle with God with impunity; after he had shown
them the just displeasure of God for their sins, in giving the terrible
decree to slay friends or relatives who persisted in their apostasy, after
the work of justice to turn away the wrath of God, irrespective of their
feelings of sympathy for loved friends and relatives who continued obstinate
in their rebellion, Moses was now prepared for another work. He evidenced who
was the true friend of God, and the friend of the people. {RH, July 29, 1873
par. 28}
"And it came
to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great
sin; and now I will go up unto the Lord; per-adventure I shall make an
atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this
people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if
thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray, thee, out of thy
book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath
sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the
people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee; behold; mine Angel
shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their
sin upon them. And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf,
which Aaron made." {RH, July 29, 1873 par. 29}
Moses supplicated
God in behalf of sinning Israel. He did not try to lessen their sin before
God. He did not excuse them in their sin. He frankly acknowledged they had
sinned a great sin, and had made them gods of gold. Then he loses his
timidity, and the interest of Israel is so closely interwoven with his life,
that he comes with boldness to God, and prays for him to forgive his people.
If their sin, he pleads, is so great that God cannot forgive them, if their
names must be blotted from his book, he prayed the Lord to blot out his name
also. When the Lord renewed his promise to Moses, that his Angel should go
before him in leading the people to the promised land, Moses knew that his
request was granted. But the Lord assured Moses that if he was provoked to
visit the people for their transgressions, he would surely punish them for
this grievous sin also. If they were henceforth obedient, he would blot out
this great sin out of his book.
Ellen G. White.
Black Hawk,
Colorado.
-
{RH, July 29, 1873 par. 30}
.