A Proper Response

to

New Light

 

Part II

"Ever Unfolding--God intends that to the earnest seeker the truths of His Word shall be ever unfolding." {ST, April 25, 1906 par. 3}

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“We should be ready to accept light from God from whatever source it may come, instead of rejecting it because it does not come through the channel from which we expect it.” Review and Herald, 8-27-1889.

"To our brethren who are standing in this self-confident, self-satisfied position, who talk and act as if there was no need of more light, we want to say that the Laodicean message is applicable to you. Many professed Christians are without  Christ because they refuse to weave his principles of truth into their life. The word of God declares, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." We should pray earnestly and inquire with sincere hearts as to what the will of the Lord is, that we may be ready to receive the blessing we so much need." {RH, April 1, 1890 par. 11}

 

“When new light is presented to the church, it is perilous to shut yourselves away from it. Refusing to hear because you are prejudiced against the message or the messenger will not make your case excusable before God. To condemn that which you have not heard and do not understand will not exalt your wisdom in the eyes of those who are candid in their investigations of truth. And to speak with contempt of those whom God has sent with a message of truth, is folly and madness.” Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 32.

 

“God means that truth shall be brought to the front and become the subject of examination and discussion, even through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of people must be agitated; every controversy, every reproach, every effort to restrict liberty of conscience, is God’s means of awakening minds that otherwise might slumber.” Mount of Blessing, p. 33.

 

“May the Lord forbid that the history of the children of Israel in departing from God, in refusing to walk in the light, in refusing to confess their sins of unbelief and rejection of His messages, should be the experience of the people claiming to believe the truth for this time. For it they do as did the children of Israel in the face of warning and admonitions, the same results will follow in these last days as came upon the children of Israel.” (Their house was left unto them desolate. The history of this experience could be repeated; and this will depend upon the choices of the leaders of Israel. Cf. TM 116; Matt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27.) Review and Herald, 10-21-1890.

 

Should God’s Messengers Yield to the leaders?

 

The following statement is by SDA leaders, not Ellen White:

 

“It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide by the decisions of the church in order to maintain the unity of the church.” Sabbath School Quarterly, January, February, March, 1987, p. 92.

 

How does the above counsel of men (SDA leaders) coincide with the following counsel of the Holy Spirit to the church?

 

“We must not trust to others to search the Scriptures for us. Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side; and if God would send a message and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advancement, it would never reach the people. . . . The rebuke of the Lord will rest upon those who would bar the way that clearer light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of more light, that they may unite with the messengers whom He sends to accomplish the work that He designs shall be done.” Gospel Workers, p. 303.

 

“Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing the evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people if these leading brethren do not accept them. . . . Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time.” Testimonies to Ministers, 106, 107.

 

“We see here that men in authority are not always to be obeyed, even though they may profess to be the teachers of Bible doctrine. But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines. . . .

But the Holy Spirit will, from time to time, reveal the truth through its own chosen agencies; and no man, not even a priest or ruler, has a right to say, You shall not give publicity to your opinions because O do not believe them.” Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 69, 70.

 

“The Lord often works where we least expect Him; He surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to receive the truth upon its own merits – because it is truth.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106.

 

“We are not to think, as did the Jews that our ideas and opinions are infallible; nor with the papists, that certain individuals are the sole guardians of truth and knowledge, that men have no right to search the Scriptures for themselves, but must accept the explanations given by the fathers of the church. We should not study the Bible for the purpose of sustaining our preconceived opinions, about with the single object of learning what God has said.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 105.

 

Regular lines -  “So often the same old difficulties arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the ‘regular lines.’ But God will work in some way to make His people understand that THE REGULAR LINES HAVE BECOME FULL OF IRREGULAR PRACTICES…God alone can make men understand that working on REGULAR LINES has led to IRREGULAR PRACTICES.  God alone can make men’s minds as they should be.  The time has come when we should hear less in favor of the REGULAR LINES.  If we can GET AWAY FROM THE REGULAR LINES into something which, THOUGH IRREGULAR, IS AFTER GOD’S ORDER, it may cut away something of the IRREGULAR WORKING which has led away from Bible principles.”  E.G. White, Manuscript Release, #1450, p. 3, 4, 1901.

 

“When we see the regular lines are altered and purified and refined, and the God of the heavens mold is upon the regular lines, then it is our business to establish the regular lines.”  E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 162-168.

 

“The present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that the regular lines [organization] may prove to be a failure.”  E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 175.  Written to Brother Daniels, June 28, 1901.

 

“The regular lines had need to be broken as a potter’s vessel is broken, and reconstructed.” Ms. 29, 1903. pp. 1, 3. (General Manuscript, The Southern Work, undated).

 

"In the very courts of the temple, scenes will be enacted that few realize. God's people will be proved and tested, that He may discern 'between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.' Vengeance will be executed against those who sit in the gate, deciding what the people should have and what they should not have. These take away the key of knowledge. They refuse to enter in themselves, and those who would enter in they hinder. These bear not the seal of the living God. All who now occupy responsible positions should be solemnly and terribly afraid lest in this time they shall be found as unfaithful stewards." E.G. White, Manuscript 15, 1886, Paulson Collection, p. 55.

 

The key of knowledge is defined by Ellen White as faith that works by the self-sacrificing love of Christ indwelling the heart and soul. This is the counsel of the message to Laodicea. This is gold tried in the fire. This is true righteousness by faith.

 

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

 

·       The chapter the above statement appears in, begins on p. 207, quoting Ezekiel 9.

·       The destruction begins at His Sanctuary, just as it began with the Temple in A.D. 70, Chapter 1, The Great Controversy, and not with individuals who have left that apostate new movement church.

·       The leaders have betrayed their trust, the three angel’s messages, by conspiracy to bring the church back into liaison with Babylon’s associations, counsel’s/councils, girdings, and confederacies, which is strictly forbidden (Isaiah 8:9-12), and for which there is one option—broken in pieces, connoting unpardonable sin. And God said not to pray for the generation of Israel who did this very thing in Jeremiah 11:9-15. Thus, again, unpardonable sin is implied.

·       The second angel’s message and the Midnight Cry called us out of Babylon in 1844. All who wilfully, knowingly, wander from that Midnight Cry (Matt. 25) lighted pathway will find it impossible to get back on the pathway to heaven. Word to the Little Flock, p. 14, once again implying unpardonable sin.

 

The Key of Knowledge

 

“While Satan claimed to have received great good by eating of the forbidden tree, he did not let it appear that by transgression he had become an outcast from heaven. Here was falsehood, so concealed under a covering of apparent truth that Eve, infatuated, flattered, beguiled, did not discern the deception. She coveted what God had forbidden; she distrusted His wisdom. She cast away faith, the key of knowledge.” {Ed 24.2}

 

It is contrition and faith and love that enable the soul to receive wisdom from heaven. Faith working by love is the key of knowledge, and everyone that loveth "knoweth God." (1 John 4:7). . . . {LHU 168.7}

 

“The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 158.

 

“Many of the ministers will not hear and be convinced. They will not enter the sanctuary of truth to receive the knowledge of truth from the Word, but will take away the key of knowledge from the people by perversion of the Scriptures, wresting the Word of God from its true meaning. Thus every step gained in reaching the people to save them from being lost in error and disobedience requires a hard, constant battle. But shall it stop? No. Lift up the standard. Plant memorials of God's truth in every place possible, work in new territories, and conversions will be made. Some who do not take their stand at once will help advance the work with their means and their sympathy, and will themselves take their position on the Lord's side. . . . God will have representatives in every place in all parts of the world.”-- Letter 86, June 19, 1900, to A. G. Daniels. {TDG 179.4}

 

How do most SDA leaders take away the key of knowledge? They teach that faith is “belief only,” and that it is not connected with works whatsoever. That is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans that God especially hates. True faith works by love and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit indwelling the soul. God said: If ye love me, keep my commandments. Ellen White was correct in saying that the gospel cannot be separated from the law, but SDA pastors are now copying the pastors of fallen Babylon in teaching that devious doctrine which does away with the key of knowledge.

 

“17-20. Shall We Open the Heart's Door?--We must have the buyers and the sellers cleared out of the soul temple, that Jesus may take up His abode within us. Now He stands at the door of the heart as a heavenly merchantman; He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." "Open unto me; buy of me the heavenly wares; buy of me the gold tried in the fire." Buy faith and love, the precious, beautiful attributes of our Redeemer, which will enable us to find our way into the hearts of those who do not know Him, who are cold and alienated from Him through unbelief and sin. He invites us to buy the white raiment, which is His glorious righteousness; and the eyesalve, that we may discern spiritual things. Oh, shall we not open the heart's door to this heavenly visitor.” (BE Jan. 15, 1892)? {7BC 964.7}

 

“18 (Isa. 55:1; John 14:6). The Vendor of Priceless Treasures.-- The great Vendor of spiritual riches is inviting your recognition. [Rev. 3:18 quoted.] . . . The Saviour comes with jewels of truth of the richest value in distinction from all counterfeits, all that is spurious. He comes to every house, to every door; He is knocking, presenting His priceless treasure, urging, ‘Buy of me.’" (Letter 66, 1894). {7BC 964.8}

 

“The Costly Wares of Heaven.--The wares of heaven are offered to our churches. Every individual needs to have a decided interest in the invitation of Christ. Brethren and sisters, are your thoughts after this order? "These sharp, decided words do not mean me; I am in a fairly good condition spiritually, though I may not have all the fervor and zeal that some have. I believe the truth. Those to whom this message belongs may take it. I think some need it." You who think and reason thus, be assured that you are the very ones to whom this message belongs. While the costly wares of heaven are open before you, draw nigh and buy that which you have lost--the gold of love and faith, and the white raiment which is the righteousness of Christ.” (Letter 30a, 1892). {7BC 964.9}

 

“Virtues Wanting Among Us.--The gold that Jesus would have us buy of Him is gold tried in the fire; it is the gold of faith and love, that has no defiling substance mingled with it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment which Christ alone can give. The eyesalve is the true spiritual discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned.” (RH April 1, 1890). {7BC 965.1}

 

(Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:9.) Ample Provision for All.--The true Witness has said, "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." What is the shame of this nakedness and poverty? It is the shame of clothing ourselves with self-righteousness, and of separating ourselves from God, when He has made ample provision for all to receive His blessing.” (HS 139). {7BC 965.2}

 

“(Ch. 7:14.) Encouraging Counsel for the Church.--The counsel of the true Witness is full of encouragement and comfort. The churches may yet obtain the gold of truth, faith, and love, and be rich in heavenly treasure. ‘Buy of me gold . . . that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.’ The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ that may be wrought into the character. Purity of heart, purity of motive, will characterize every one who is washing his robe, and making it white in the blood of the Lamb.” (RH July 24, 1888). {7BC 965.3}

 

It is more than just interesting that in the following statement, the only reason Ellen White gives as to why the true reformers separated from the church of their fathers in every succeeding generation, is that the ecclesiastical leaders would not tolerate light.


"The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church
but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience." E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 232.
 
Did Folk Leave the Apostate Jewish Church Before Christ Began Calling Them Out in A.D. 27? Notice:

 

"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.

 

Shiloh was the first settlement of the Israelites after leaving the Sinai desert. That is how long ago true and faithful folk left the apostate established church to avoid corruption because God says it is impossible to unite with the corrupt and become/remain pure.

 

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

 

Most Adventists don’t believe the above statement. They think tares are corrupt so we must dwell with them until the end. They don’t understand that tares are not corrupt. They are insincere folk whose motives would have to be judged in order to remove them, Christ’s Object Lessons, 70-72. They don’t understand that the abominations for which we are to sigh and cry involve gross corruptions of the truth into abominable heresies that sweep away the entire Christian economy.

 

Ellen White clearly states in The Great Controversy, p. 25, 1911, edition, that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was a PREFIGURE. Prefigure means TYPE, which demands a similar ANTITYPICAL FULFILLMENT. Then she says that another LITERAL FULFILLMENT of Ezekiel 9 will occur. So all we have to do is go back to the TYPE, THE PREFIGURE and see what happened then, and any other interpretation makes Ellen White a false prophet:
 
1) Who left whom then? The good left the Bad.
2) Where were the tares gathered? Into the Midst of Jerusalem, the apostate church, Ezekiel 22:17-31.
3) Was there a primitive revival of the Jewish people? Yes! Where did it take place? Within the apostate Jewish Church, or outside it? Obviously outside it, Desire of Ages, 232, or it would not have been destroyed had the revival occurred inside the Jewish church!
4) Who was True Zion, from whence the sinners were shaken? Was it the apostate Jewish Organization, or was it from the reformer church of Jesus and the disciples?
5) Did the Jewish people leave the apostate Jewish church long before persecution began? Yes, they began to leave when Jesus "gathered out" those who would take the gospel to the world. Desire of Ages, 232, and even before this according to the following statement by Ellen White:

 

Any teaching that contradicts this Ezekiel 9 PREFIGURE SCENARIO, is contradicting Ellen White and SCRIPTURE, because Ezekiel 5:9, proves that Ezekiel 9 is really PRIMARILY FULFILLED at the end-time when God does the worst thing He has ever done or will ever do again. The end-time interpretations of the current professing SDA New Movement Church, violate this PREFIGURE SCENARIO stated by Ellen White and backed by Scripture. Choose ye this day, between Scripture and Ellen White, versus "dumb dog watchmen," who will NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob their sins, Testimonies, vol. 5, 211, and Isaiah 56:10-12.
 
"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A NEW ORGANIZATION would be established. Books of a NEW ORDER would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but GOD BEING REMOVED, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.
 
Who has authority to begin such a [NEW] movement? We have our Bibles, we have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise.
Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth? E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 1, 204, 205.

 

Ellen White said the omega of apostasy would surely come and wax stronger until Jesus comes:

 

Wax stronger "One thing it is certain is soon to be realized, the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith, and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever we are to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time. We need now larger breadth, and deeper, more earnest, unwavering faith in the leadings of the Holy Spirit. If we needed the manifest proof of the Holy Spirit's power to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need to-day all the evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There must not be any languishing of soul now." (E.G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 57).

 

"The enemy will set everything in operation to uproot the confidence of the believers in the pillars of our faith in the messages of the past, which have placed us upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, and which have established and given character to the work. The Lord God of Israel has led out His people, unfolding to them truth of heavenly origin." "The truth for this time is precious, but those whose hearts have not been broken by falling on the Rock Christ Jesus, will not see and understand what is truth. They will accept that which pleases their ideas, and will begin to manufacture another foundation than that which is laid. They will flatter their own vanity and esteem, thinking that they are capable of removing the pillars of our faith, and replacing them with pillars they have devised. This will continue to be as long as time shall last." Notebook, Leaflets, pp. 61-62.

 

 

—rwb