On SDA
internet groups, there is total misapplication of the following statements by
Ellen White by some who fail to take all the evidence on when to pray for a
church and not when to pray for it. Let’s examine all the evidence and the
avail options according to this formula:
1. Weight of Evidence Formula:
"1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in
the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent
application and study 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid
from those who ask in faith, not wavering 4. To understand doctrine, bring
all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every
word have its proper influence and if you can form your theory without a
contradiction, you cannot be in error 5. Scripture must be its own expositor,
[interpreter] since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to
expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on
account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing,
desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent
Review and Herald, 11-25-84, pr. 24.
First E.G. White Statement
on Praying for the Church
“The leaven
of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and
depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in
the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in
the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of
the church because ITS MEMBERS are doing after the manner of the world."
Testimonies, vol. 5, 209, 210.
Other Ellen White Statements Saying There
Will be a Counterpart to the Jews Whom God Instructed Jeremiah Not to Pray
For
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.
Let’s make
sure that those who cry peace, peace, when there is no peace, include the
House of Jacob, those who have been blessed with great light?
"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
for the Church, vol. 5, p. 211.
"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 Sodas 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}
Commentary:
The only other “chosen” people I know of who could COUNTERPART the Jews is
professing Seventh-day Adventists who consider themselves God’s chosen people
remnant who were commissioned to call all other people of the world into
their fold (church).
Now I am going to restate the first E.G. White quote and then
pose the options:
“The leaven
of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and
depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in
the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in
the land. But MORE ESPECIALLY will their PRAYERS arise in behalf
of the church because ITS MEMBERS are doing after the manner of the
world." Testimonies, vol. 5, 209, 210.
Definition of Church
“a body of Christians
worshipping in a particular building or constituting one congregation” The
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright
© 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
All rights reserved.
Options for
Interpretation:
a.
Ellen White’s detractors would summarily use this evidence to brand
her a self-contradictory false prophet.
b. A church is nothing
without individual MEMBERS. Therefore, to pray for a church is to pray for
individual members of said church.
c.
Since all apostate churches will be receiving new converts right up
to the time of the close of probation, they might not have heard of the
apostasy of Babylon, so we have to pray for all individual members of all
fallen churches until the plagues begin to fall which signals the close of
probation.
d. So Ellen White must have
meant that we are to pray for individuals but not for fallen churches. This
is the only reasonable interpretation without making her contradict herself
and Scripture.
e.
Ellen White recognized that it does no good to pray for fallen
churches, to wit:
This is very, very serious evidence. It is fraught
with eternal consequence. Please try to assimilate and remember it. This is
some of the most serious evidence that I could ever present to any professing
Seventh-day Adventist. Please keep it where you can review it often.
"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.
"I was shown in
vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844. All who
saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and rejected that
light were left in darkness. And those who accepted it and received the Holy
Spirit which attended the proclamation of the message from heaven, and who
afterward renounced their faith and pronounced their experience a delusion,
thereby rejected the Spirit of God, and it no longer pleaded with them."
{1BIO 260.8}
There was a shut door in
1844 on all who saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and
reject that light. They were left in darkness. Those who accepted and
afterward renounced their faith and pronounced their experience a delusion,
were rejected and the Spirit of God no longer pleaded with them. The apostate
SDA church has done the same thing to those messages by reuniting with
Babylon. The second angel's message and the Midnight Cry called all out of
Babylon. They were to stay out and never afterward rejoin in liaison to
Babylon. So if folk were rejected by the Holy Spirit for doing so in 1844,
WILL GOD HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO THEM FOR EXCUSING THE SAME THING IN NEW
MOVEMENT APOSTATE ADVENTISTS TODAY? The answer is NO! All who KNOWINGLY
imbibe the same falling away from the truth today, will meet with the same
fate. Word to the Little Flock, p. 14 (cited below), says the same
thing. Isaiah 8:9-12 says the same thing. Jeremiah 11:9-15 says the same
thing. This is serious. Playing church is over.
"It was to separate
the church of Christ from the corrupting influence of the world that the
first angel's message was given. But with the multitude, even of professed
Christians, the ties which bound them to earth were stronger than the
attractions heavenward. They chose to listen to the voice of worldly wisdom
and turned away from the heart-searching message of truth...When the churches
spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the advent message, the Lord rejected
them. The first angel was followed by a second...This message was understood
by Adventist to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in
consequence of their rejection of the FIRST MESSAGE." E.G. White, Story
of Redemption, p. 364.
Chapter XXIV. - The Second Angel's Message.
"The churches would not receive the
light of the first angel's message, and as they rejected the light from
heaven they fell from the favor of God. They trusted in their own strength,
and placed themselves by their opposition to the first message where they
could not see the light of the second angel's message. But the beloved of
God, who were oppressed, answered to the message, Babylon is fallen, and left
the fallen churches." {1SG 140.1}
"Near the close of the second
angel's message, I saw a great light from heaven shining upon the people of
God. The rays of this light seemed bright as the sun. And I heard the voices
of angels crying, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him!"
{1SG 140.2}
"The
midnight cry was given to give power to the second angel's message.
Angels were sent from heaven to wake up the discouraged saints, and prepare
them for the great work before them. The most talented men were not the first
to receive this message. Angels were sent to the humble, devoted ones, and
constrained them to raise the cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to
meet him. Those entrusted with the cry made haste, and in the power of the
Holy Spirit spread the cry, and aroused their discouraged brethren. This cry
did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power of God, and
his saints who heard the cry could not resist it. The most spiritual received
this message first, and those who had formerly led in the work were the last to
receive and help swell the cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to
meet him."{1SG 140.3}
"In every part of the land, light
was given upon the second angel's message, and the cry was melting down
thousands. It went from city to city, and from village to village, until the
waiting people of God were fully aroused. Many would not permit this message
to enter the churches, and a large company who had the living testimony
within them left the fallen churches. A mighty work was accomplished by the midnight
cry. The message was heart-searching, and led the believers to seek a living
experience for themselves. They knew that they could not lean upon one
another."{1SG 141.1}
“While praying at
the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher
and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people
in the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me, "Look
again, and look a little higher." At this I raised my eyes and saw a
straight and narrow path, [MAT. 7:14.] cast up high above the world. On this
path the Advent people were travelling to the City, which was at the farther
end of the path.
They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path,
which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. [MAT. 25:6.] This light shone
all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes
fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were
safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off,
and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them
by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light
which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them,
and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light
behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they
stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell
off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible
for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world
which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we
heard the voice of God like many waters, [EZE. 43:2. JOEL 3:16. REV. 16:17.]
which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. [EZE. 12:25. MARK 13:32.]
The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while
the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. [JOHN 12:29.] When God
spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light
up and shine with the glory of God as Moses' did when he came down from Mount
Sinai. [ISA. 10:27.] {WLF 14.2} Word to the
Little Flock,
p. 14.
Since the beginning of Adventism some have felt that they were led too
far out of Babylon. They have had fellowship with Babylon. That was playing
the harlot. But when God’s people play the harlot to the point of marrying—reforming
a liaison with Babylon via its associations, counsels/councils, girdings and
confederacies, that is direct violation of the second angel’s message and the
Midnight Cry. It is then impossible for all who once KNEW and ACCEPTED the
light of these messages to get back on the pathway to heaven. Ellen White saw
that in her first vision.
God says the same thing in other words in Isaiah 8:9-12. He says that
all who form conspiracy to associate, counsel/council, gird and/or
confederate with Babylon, will be broken in pieces. He says that three times
for serious emphasis without any other option. That designates unpardonable
sin, as does not being able to get on the pathway to heaven again in WTLF, p.
14 above.
Jeremiah 11:9-15 says the same thing. Ellen White’s counterpart
statements quoting scripture, say the same thing. This is the most serious of
warnings that could come to anyone, and especially professing Seventh-day
Adventists.
—rwb
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