Many
Gems Yet to Be Discovered.--New
light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in
living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be
revealed. The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays
of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet scattered
that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people
of God.--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34. (1892.) {CW 35.1}
Would-be Guardians of the Doctrine.--The
rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be guardians of the doctrine,
who would bar the way that greater light shall not come to the people. A
great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of
greater light, that they may unite harmoniously, with the messengers whom He shall send
to accomplish the work that He designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers [plural] and endued
them with His Spirit, and has said, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy
voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of
Jacob their sins." {CW 38.1}
Dear Reader,
I am publishing the following article by Vance Ferrell
in part because of the extreme unction of its seriousness in over-reaching the
instruction of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I write this, not in self
defense, for I will let the reader of my warning message weigh it
according to Isaiah 8:20, but in the defense of what the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy has to say about prophets. I
will intersperse my comments under Vance’s within his article proper in this color. Here
is his article:
DATE OF VANCE’S PUBLICATION: NOVEMBER 2005
Will There Be
Another Prophet?
I can understand his deep concern for unity among the brethren, as
we steadily near the final crisis. He very likely is well-meaning in his
intentions.
But, since his views were presented in an open forum to a camp
meeting-type gathering, with sermon tapes afterward made available, the topic
is now being widely discussed among our people; and some believers are
expressing the thought that perhaps we really should expect another living
prophet before the end. —It is urgent that a correct understanding of the
issues involved be presented.
This brother sincerely desires that believers achieve the fullest unity
of thinking, before the final
crisis breaks upon us. But his suggested solution for achieving
that objective has three flaws:
1 - We can no longer expect to obtain the help we need from the Bible
and/or Spirit of Prophecy; for those prophetic writers are all dead. Only a
“living” prophet can provide us with the doctrinal and standards pronouncements
needed to carry us safely through to the end of time.
2 - There is an urgent need of a living prophet; and God wants us
to have one.
3 - Indeed, God intends to send us one; without any doubt, we
should expect the prophet’s arrival. And, without hesitation, we should accept
the prophet when he or she declares a prophetic status and begins uttering
inspired words for us to accept.
Ron’s Commentary:
I can assure you before God and all that is truth that any true prophet
coming to the aid of the professing Seventh-day Adventist church would, like myself, teach separation from a church that has committed
Omega Apostasy to the point of removing God and returning to the iniquities of
their forefathers, the fallen churches, Jeremiah 11:9-15. Then, that true prophet would be speedily
treated as all true prophets have been treated in history. The apostate church would not receive him/her
any more than they would those one rose from the dead in witness to this truth:
Luk 16:31 And he said unto
him, If they hear not Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
I reply that, first, the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are adamant in the
extreme—that the Inspired Writings we already have (every part of it written by
men and women now dead) is all we need to instruct us in correct
doctrine and standards, perfect Christian character, strengthen us to correctly
fulfill our duties in this life, help us finish the work, and enable us (by the
grace of Christ) to go to heaven.
Ron’s Commentary:
Vance Ferrell is TOTALLY out of line.
Notice: “Would-be Guardians
of the Doctrine.--The rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be
guardians of the doctrine, who would bar the way that greater light shall not
come to the people.
A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of
greater light, that they may unite harmoniously, with the messengers whom He shall send
to accomplish the work that He designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers [plural] and endued
them with His Spirit, and has said, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy
voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of
Jacob their sins.” {CW
38.1}
According to Ellen White, truth was to be ever
unfolding. She said that the Reformation
should never have ceased in its development of new truth that does not
countermand, but rather builds on the old.
As new truth unfolds, it aids the church to have
prophetic light in fully understanding that new light. That was the purpose of the gifts of the
spirit—to edify the church until we all come into the unity of the faith.
“Daniel Standing in His Lot Now.—[Dan. 12:9, 4, 10,
18 quoted.] The time has come for Daniel to stand in his lot. The time has come for the light given him to
go to the world as never before. If
those for whom the Lord has done so much will walk in the light, their
knowledge of Christ and the prophecies relating to Him will be greatly
increased as they near the close of this earth’s history (MS 176,
1899). E.G. White Comments, SDA Bible
Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 1174, col. 2.
Our “unity” of thought and action is to be derived from oneness with
Christ, likeness to His character, and obedience to the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy. “Unify, unify, unify; but only on the basis of truth,” we are told.
Second, we were never told that there would be another prophet, or that
God was going to send us another one.
Ron’s Commentary: Vance Ferrell is either a liar and a deceiver and/or he is so blissfully
ignorant of the truth on this issue that he should not be a teacher of God’s
people. Ellen White did indeed says that God would send other messengers:
“A great work is to be done,
and God sees that our leading men have need of greater light,
that they may unite harmoniously, with
the messengers whom He shall send to accomplish the work that He designs
they should. The Lord has raised up messengers
[plural] and endued them with His Spirit, and has said, "Cry aloud, spare
not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression,
and the house of Jacob their sins.” {CW 38.1}
The above statement by Vance Ferrell, (“We were never told that there would be another prophet,
or that God was going to send us another one.”) is a
direct contradiction of Scripture, and he should repent in sackcloth. God, as well, told us that old as well as
young men would dream dreams and have visions.
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that]
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
Act 2:17 And it shall come
to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Notice the plurality of the word SONS, DAUGHTERS,
MEN, OLD MEN, YOUNG MEN. Surely Vance,
as a (once) credentialed Seventh-day Adventist minister, was aware of these
verses when he wrote his article. Ellen
White was ONE person. SDA leaders,
including Vance Ferrell have misinterpreted some of Ellen White’s writings and
God has sent edification to the church to expose such errors.
I will here mention some serious errors of
interpretation on Vance’s part in addition to that already mentioned above:
1. Vance says
in his self-biography that he resigned his post as a credentialed SDA minister
because he felt he could not be faithful to principle and hold that
position. The direct inference is that
one cannot be a Seventh-day Adventist minister and be true to principle. If Vance cannot hold a ministerial position
in the SDA church and be faithful to principle, how can he agree with SDA
members going to hear unprincipled ministers?
2. Vance takes a neutral position saying that he
does not call in our out of the church.
God’s Word says we are to say yea or nay and that all else is evil--of
the devil.
Mat 5:37 But let your
communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh
of evil.
2Cr 1:17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use
lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose
according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea,
and nay nay?
2Cr 1:18 But [as] God [is] true, our word toward you
was not yea and nay.
2Cr 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and
Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
Jam 5:12 But above all
things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth,
neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest
ye fall into condemnation.
3. Vance has thus (above) spoken contrary to
Scripture. Does Isaiah 8:20 now apply to
Vance? If not, why not?
4. Vance
teaches a contradictory view to Ellen White and Scripture concerning something
as important as the Godhead. Ellen White
expressly said that the Holy Spirit is the life and soul of Christ. There are indeed three persons to the
Godhead, but Vance’s view is in keeping with the Trinity Doctrine, a false view
that negates the fact that at the Incarnation the laid aside DIVINE ONLY life
of Christ, became His Holy Ghost Spirit, which He
bequeathed to mankind as heaven’s greatest good and crowning gift for the
purpose of regeneration. The Trinity
Doctrine denies that great sacrifice made at the Incarnation.
As of this writing, February 13, 2006, nowhere, in
all of Vance Ferrell’s writings on the Godhead, does he give Ellen White’s
following statement on the Godhead, although he claims to give all of them and
more than anyone else:
"Christ
declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning
gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy
Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life
of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power
that takes away sin.
In the
gift of the Spirit [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE], Jesus gave to man the
highest good that heaven could bestow....
The
Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the sacrifice of
Christ would have been of no avail....
It is by
the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the
I will
not judge Vance’s motives for not including this all important statement on the
Godhead, but I cannot help buy wonder why he did not
include this among the large number he mentions, especially since he claims to
have the most comprehensive rendition of Spirit of Prophecy statements on the
issue.
5. Vance
has compiled a documented account of the church ecumenical membership with
Babylon, which is in direct violation of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy,
ye he does not know a proper response to such apostasy and that by being joined
to such a church in membership, one is held corporately responsible:
"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.
6. I spoke personally to Elder Robert Priebe, a retired SDA minister who told me that he went to
visit Vance. Elder Priebe
is a separationist and he went to speak with Vance concerning that issue. He told me that Vance told him that he
admired his stand on separation. But
Vance has not been principled enough to take that stand himself. Elder Priebe said
that he looked at the large mailbags in the room full of monetary contributions
from SDAs, and wondered if that was what hindered Vance from taking a similar
stand on separation from the apostate church.
Third, we have been given definite Inspired warnings about accepting any new prophets.
People can be led into great sin by such “prophets.”
Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and David Koresh were examples of such prophets.
Each one ultimately led the people to accept a variety of false teachings—even
to letting him commit adultery with their wives! There is the gravest danger in
thinking that you should accept someone as a divinely inspired prophet! Another
frequent error of these “prophets” is that they eventually present time
prophecies in order to create additional excitement among their followers.
Ron’s Commentary:
There is more than one fallacy associated with Vance’s conclusion above
that one must exhibit supernatural physical manifestations in public gatherings
and repeated in public gatherings on a number of occasions.
1.
Ellen White and Scripture say that Satan
will perform miracles via false prophets at the end-time.
2.
Few Bible prophets demonstrated such
physical manifestations.
3.
Messengers such as Jones and Waggoner
would be rejected by Vance’s standards as enumerated above! The message of Righteousness by Faith in 1888
would not have been accepted if Ellen White had not been around to sanction it.
4.
God’s test of Isaiah 8:20, is
sufficient. That test in and of itself
will prove any teaching whether it be true or false.
5.
If Scripture by itself cannot prove all
possible errors, then God could not hold us responsible for anything! Think about it! Scripture is so comprehensive
that there is evidence to dispel any error that man could ever conjure. This fact is proven by the following formula
by Ellen White:
6.
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,
11-25-34, pr. 24.
7.
If one will follow the above formula, God has been so liberal as to
grant us the privilege of even forming theories, and if there is nothing in the
Spirit of Prophecy that contradicts the theory, then ONE CANNOT BE IN
ERROR. That is the system of checks and
balances that God has incorporated into His Word. What a wonderful and all
knowing God we serve to grant us such a privilege and then provide the
checks and balances that we might not err?
8.
Thus, Vance’s Ferrell’s “utter urgency” fears are totally
ungrounded in the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy, if one weighs any
message according to Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy.
9.
For all the above reasons, even miracles are not a test of the
truth at the end-time, because Satan will be working them a plenty.
Once again, let me state that it is due to the utter
urgency of this matter, that I prepare and send out this tract study. We must
not be expecting more living prophets to give us supposed messages from God! We
have all we need in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. This is a subject on
which I dare not be silent! The following Spirit of Prophecy references are an
enlargement of a study prepared over 25 years ago: What about the New Prophets?
Ron’s Commentary:
That Lord has shown me that Vance’s “utter urgency” though he may not be
not aware of it consciously, is that a true prophet will expose his errors as I
am able to do (above) by God’s grace and power.
God has given me that ability to mark his gross inconsistencies and God
has shown me that mammon is a temptation to not only Vance Ferrell, but Charles
Wheeling, the Standish brothers, and Hope International’s Ron Spear.
The Standish brothers and Ron Spear were for period
of time saying that the church was in apostasy.
The church then threatened in a way that caused them to fear that they
would be expelled from the church, so they then toned down their message and
said that there was merely apostasy in the church rather than the church is in
apostasy. That is not the type of men
God needs in an emergency—Omega of Apostasy emergency!
You see, if the church removed them, they would no
longer be able to accrue the large income they receive from tithe and
wares. What an abomination. The Lord’s temple has once again become a
house of merchandise! If an SDA is
selling ANYTHING to SDA’s, you must weigh this business venturism
as having possible affect on his/her theology and a
correct response to apostasy.
Here is a statement I made in the October 1, 2005,
issue of Checkpoints:
(1) We should not be telling the faithful that
the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are inadequate to provide us all the information
we need for salvation or to do the work of God.
(2) Our great need is to personally plead with God
as little children for strength and help, to remain by His side, and to study
and obey the inspired writings we already have. That is where we will find the
solution to our problems, not in waiting for a prophet to do it for us.
(3) All the information we need to prepare our lives
for heaven and finish the work of God on earth is found in God’s Written
Word—the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. That must be our message, not the
thought that both are inadequate and we must wait till a new prophet arises.
Such a message may lead some to wait past the time that probation forever
closes for them.
(4) What could a new prophet tell us that we cannot
find in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy? Apart from answers to questions
raised by idle curiosity,— there is nothing that a new
prophet could tell us. All that we need in order to get to heaven and finish
the work on earth has already been written down. God has provided food for
the birds of the air, but they have to search for it; we do too. We are not to
accept the message that we need no longer read what we already have, and
instead sit back and relax till a new prophet tells us what to do next.
Ron’s Commentary:
· A messenger of God could tell Vance that ecumenical
liaison by a church with God’s enemies means it is broken in pieces—Isaiah
8:9-12 and Ezekiel 9:2, [See margin for slaughter weapon, a weapon of his
breaking in pieces]—not brought back to reconciliation with God, as Vance
imagines the church could be.
· A messenger could tell Vance about the PREFIGURE
A.D. 27-70, Chapter 1, The Great Controversy, that will result in another
fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, beginning at SDA sanctuaries around the world, which
neither he, nor SDA leaders, have never addressed. Vance might be startled enough to realize
that for someone to discern something all the illustrious thought leaders of
Adventism have missed, including Ferrell himself, just maybe it is by the empowerment
of the Holy Spirit that such a major thesis was brought to the SDA people in
fulfillment of the following statement:
· “Most startling messages will be borne by men of God's appointment,
messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. And while some will
be PROVOKED by the warning, and led to RESIST LIGHT AND EVIDENCE, we are to see
from this that we are giving the TESTING MESSAGE for this time. Messages
will be given OUT OF THE USUAL ORDER." E.G. White, Testimonies, vol.
9, p. 136.
· A
messenger could remind Vance that in circa A.D. 27-66, there were true prophets
warning the true people of God to leave the apostate organization and when to
flee to the mountains of Pella. That
warning was a PREFIGURE TYPE, p. 25, The Great Controversy, p. 25. It symbolized the destruction of the world at
the end-time, BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY, those who had been privileged with
great light, THE HOUSE OF JACOB, SDA’s, and then the destruction of the world.
· A
messenger could remind Vance and other sleeping virgins that in the PREFIGURE
TYPE, there were also false prophets hired by the apostate church, who
instructed the people to remain at the apostate church, saying that it was
God’s church and the Romans would never penetrate the 20 foot thick gates of
Jerusalem.
· A
messenger could remind Vance and other sleeping virgins that there was an old
man in the city of Jerusalem, who roamed the streets of Jerusalem for seven
years, sighing and crying for the abominations, just like Vance does, but he
did not know when to leave, just like Vance.
He went a step further than Vance Ferrell in that he also prophesied the
destruction of Jerusalem. Because he lacked the knowledge of when to flee, he
was destroyed in the tumult he prophesied.
Scripture says that God’s people perish for a lack of knowledge, but it
is their fault that they lack such knowledge, for the majority of them have
rejected His prophets who warned them.
Where there is no vision the people perish says Scripture, and it is at
the end-time that such vision is most paramount.
· A messenger could remind Vance that Ellen White said
that the New Movement would “remove God,” and NOTHING WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAND
IN THE WAY OF THE NEW MOVEMENT.”
Selected Messages, Bk. 1, 205.
· A messenger could prove to Vance that every
specification of 1SM, 204-5, has been fulfilled, and that we were never to JOIN
ANY NEW MOVEMENT. If Vance realized
and/or believed Ellen White that NOTHING will stand in the way of the New Movement,
he would not write books giving God’s people false hope that the church can be
brought back!
· A messenger could inform Vance that it is an
abomination for him to publish The Great
Controversy for circulation to the world, in which there are many of his
errors and in which large portions favorable to the True Reformer cause are
mysteriously ellipsed!
· A messenger could remind Vance that he who is joined
to an Omega of Apostasy harlot is one with her.
· A messenger could remind Vance that the Omega of Apostasy
was to develop and wax stronger until Christ comes.
· A messenger could enlighten Vance to the fact that
the bad are not shaken from the church along with many other cherished errors
of the professing New Movement SDA church, which I have exposed on my Website,
and which Vance has failed to discern.
· A true prophet messenger could remind Vance and
other professing Seventh-day Adventists, of Ellen White’s statement that the
beloved bride of Christ will be obscure at the end-time, when her once fellow church
members are betraying one another to the Catholics and having their homes
proscribed.
· A true prophet could advise the Adventist people
that there is an ecumenically oriented organization working for Sunday
sacredness that has the address of every member of the Seventh-day Adventist
church. Why? In the time of trouble, when the monetary
system is collapsed, Ellen White said that homes will be proscribed, Adventist
will be killed, even just before the Sunday Law, and their property will be
confiscated as a spoil. Government
officials will turn their heads to this treachery, some of which will occur
even just before the National Sunday Law.
It is at this time that SDA leaders will demonstrate their hate for the
Sabbath, by advising their constituency to keep Sunday sacred. Documentation for these truths are provided on my Website.
· “In some cases, BEFORE the time specified in the
decree, enemies will rush upon the waiting ones to put them to death.” E.G. White, The 1884 edition of The Great Controversy, p. 447.
· It will be important to know when to sell property
and give the means to God’s works, for after a certain time, the currency will
fail and property and homes will be worthless.
A true prophet knows the time to sell.
Does Vance Ferrell? Hint: The time of the Sunday Law will be too
late! Another hint: The PREFIGURE tells us exactly when to sell
out and flee. Has Vance Ferrell educated
Adventists on the PREFIGURE? No! Has any other
Adventists? No! Although, by now, there could be other Adventists
who are teaching my warning message as though it were their vision, their
discernment. I have had certain men leave my church group and go out to distant
places and give my warning message as though it was their vision. Then when they found that the truth is no
popular and there is no money in it, and their
relatives and friends rejected it, they have given up the cause. Their names are Doug Costin
and Murray Williams. Murray was more of
an accessory to the fact, for he accompanied Doug when giving my warning
message as though it was theirs. They
went to B.C. and gave my warning message as though it was theirs. One of their converts, Jean Guy Maillet, told me so.
Then he and his wife left the cause also. This was years ago. This has been done and
will be done in the future, but such dishonest efforts will not be blessed of
God. Now truth is truth friend. But it is dishonest to give someone else’s
vision as though it were your own and thus try to capitalize on it.
This is not an exhausted list of how a true prophet
will benefit God’s people at the end-time.
(5) It is dangerous to live in expectation of
another prophet! Someone stands up and says, “I am a prophet of God; you must
accept my words as fully true.” Such a person could easily mislead many of our
people.
(6) The fault of why we are not in fullest unity is
within ourselves, not in the Spirit of Prophecy or because we lack more
prophets! We are the problem, not God’s Word.
(7) The church did not have full unity of belief or
action when Ellen White was alive. That clearly shows that lack of unity is
caused by the people, not by the lack of a living prophet.
(8) God’s people will only have truest unity when
the enactment of the National Sunday Law drives them to it.
(9) The August 12 speaker said it was certain that
God was going to send us another prophet. If that was true, we surely should
find it in the Spirit of Prophecy. She would have told us that, although she
was dying, the Lord would send us another prophet to carry us through to the
end. But no, instead she repeatedly told us to read the Inspired Writings we
already have. She also—repeatedly—warned us against placing confidence in the
new prophets which arose.
Ron’s Commentary:
There certainly was no need for other prophets in Ellen White’s time and
that was the reason for her repeated warnings against placing confidence in the
prophets who arose in her time; that and the fact that they were all spurious
and full of fanaticism.
(10) Here are two key tests of a prophet (you will find
more in my book, Prophet of the End):
First, every word he will say will fully agree
with—not just the Bible but also with—the Spirit of Prophecy. This is because
those writings are far more extensive and detailed than the Bible.
Second, he will, in public, where people can
repeatedly observe it, show physical manifestations. Before accepting a “new
prophet” as genuine, you should be able to do what was done to Ellen White in
public, while in vision: Clamp off his nose with two
fingers of one hand, place your other hand over his mouth, and hold both for 10
minutes. If you can do that, then you can know he is having a genuine vision.
Ron’s Commentary:
Vance’s man made test countermands’ God’s test in the Bible. I refer to Isaiah 8:20. There is no biblical
record of such “proof” attending the biblical prophets. Most of the prophets were self-announced,
saying that they had received Word from the Lord. For example, Ezekiel announces different
visions 29 times with the words: “And
the word of the Lord came unto me.”
Where in Scripture does it give one example of any prophet having his
nose clamped off and a hand being placed over his/her mouth for 10 minutes in
order to prove his/her genuineness?
And what about the oft cited indictment of one being a self-appointed prophet?
Tell me friend, when a prophet received a vision
from the Lord, did he/she not have to relate that fact to someone? Did that act make the prophet
self-appointed? Did Ellen White have to
tell someone she had her first vision? Did that make her self-appointed? And did all prophets foretell the future?
"The prophet [messenger]
was thus essentially a spokesman for God, an interpreter of the divine
purposes for man.... The modern concept that a prophet is essentially one
who predicts the future obscures the fact that some of the greatest prophets of all time had little or nothing to
say about future events. A prophet [messenger] is simply a man
bearing a message from God." Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 383.
D.T. Bourdeau did just
that on June 28, 1857. (Read about it in my book, Prophet of
the End, p. 44.) When a genuine prophet appears, God initially provides
physical manifestations as proof. Do not accept anyone as a prophet—just
because he says so, or even because you like some of what he says!
Ron’s Commentary:
Of course one should not accept anyone as a prophet—just because he says
he/she is a prophet. Isaiah 8:20 is the
test along with the following formula that will readily expose a false prophet:
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, 11-25-34, pr. 24.
Vance has had his say, now let’s see what Ellen
White says about new light and if we should take Vance’s attitude that we
already have enough light. Vance speaks
of maintaining truth as though the truth we had via Ellen White is all that is
necessary and that God would have no use for a prophet now. The very living
fact that Vance is advancing error in some very serious lines himself, is proof that God needs someone to expose such
errors.
Chap. 4 - Attitude to New Light
Maintaining
Truth Not to Preclude New Light.--“It is a fact that we have the truth, and
we must hold with tenacity to the positions that cannot be shaken; but we must not look with suspicion upon
any new light which God may send, and say, Really, we cannot see that we
need any more light than the old truth which we have hitherto received, and in
which we are settled. While we hold to this position, the testimony
of the True Witness applies to our cases its rebuke, "And knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Those
who feel rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing,
are in a condition of blindness as to their true condition before God, and they
know it not.”--Review and Herald, August 7, 1894. {CW 33.1}
Vance has directly violated
the counsel in the above statement when he said:
“What could a new prophet
tell us that we cannot find in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy? Apart from
answers to questions raised by idle curiosity,— there
is nothing that a new prophet could tell us. All that we need in order to get
to heaven and finish the work on earth has
already been written down.”
The testimony of the True
Witness rebukes Vance Ferrell’s contention that we have all the light we
need. That is a most Laodicean
attitude. And because Vance is Laodicean
and lacks spiritual discernment, he is fork tongued on such serious issues as
separation and a correct response to the Omega of Apostasy.
“A brother asked, ‘Sister White, do you
think we must understand the truth for ourselves? Why can we not take the
truths that others have gathered together, and believe them because they have investigated
the subjects, and then we shall be free to go on without the taxing of the
powers of the mind in the investigation of all these subjects? Do you not think
that these men who have brought out the truth in the past were inspired of God?’"
{CW 33.3}
“I
dare not say they were not led of God, for Christ leads into all truth; but
when it comes to inspiration in the fullest sense of the word, I answer, No. I believe that God has given them a work to do, but if
they are not fully consecrated to God at all times, they will weave self and
their peculiar traits of character into what they are doing, and will put their
mold upon the work, and fashion men in religious experience after their own
pattern. It is dangerous for us to make flesh our arm. We should lean upon the
arm of Infinite Power. God has been revealing this to us for years. We must have living faith in our hearts
and reach out for larger knowledge and more advanced light.”--Review
and Herald, March 25, 1890. {CW 34.1}
Increased Light to Shine.--“A
spirit of pharisaism has been coming in upon the
people who claim to believe the truth for these last days. They are self-satisfied. They have said,
"We have the truth. There is no more light for the people of God."
But we are not safe when we take a
position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have
settled as truth. We should take the
Bible, and investigate it closely for ourselves. We should dig in the mine of
God's word for truth. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness
for the upright in heart." Some have asked me if I thought there was any
more light for the people of God. Our minds have become so narrow that we do
not seem to understand that the Lord has a mighty work to do for us. Increasing
light is to shine upon us; for "the path of the just is as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."--Review
and Herald, June 18, 1889. {CW 34.2}
Vance Ferrell’s spirit is that
of self-satisfied, Laodicean Pharisaism.
“Many Gems Yet to Be
Discovered.--New light will ever be revealed on the word
of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no
one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious
rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet
scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the
remnant people of God.”--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34. (1892.)
{CW 35.1}
Investigation of Doctrine.--“There is no
excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be
revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The
fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age
will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true
doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.” {CW 35.2}
“We
are living in perilous times, and it does not become us to accept everything
claimed to be truth without examining it thoroughly; neither can we afford to reject anything that bears the fruits of the
Spirit of God; but we should be teachable, meek and lowly of heart. There
are those who oppose everything that is not in accordance with their own ideas, and by so doing they endanger their eternal interest
as verily as did the Jewish nation in their rejection of Christ.” {CW 35.3}
Vance has proved himself to be
one who is opposed to everything that is not in accordance with his own ideas, and his notion that there is no need of new
light is a classic example of this fact.
End note.
“The Lord designs that our opinions shall be put to the test, that
we may see the necessity of closely examining the living oracles to see whether
or not we are in the faith. Many
who claim to believe the truth have settled down at their ease, saying, "I
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” --Review
and Herald, December 20, 1892. {CW 36.1}
How to Search the
Scriptures.--“How shall we search the Scriptures? Shall we drive our
stakes of doctrine one after another, and then try to make all Scripture meet
our established opinions? or shall we take our ideas
and views to the Scriptures, and measure our theories on every side by the
Scriptures of truth? Many who read and even teach the Bible, do not
comprehend the precious truth they are teaching or studying.” {CW 36.2}
Ron’s Note: That is the reason for the Spirit of
Prophecy—to comprehend and explain precious truths that some are
misrepresenting. End note.
“Men
entertain errors, when the truth is clearly marked out; and if they would but
bring their doctrines to the word of God, and not read the word of God in the
light of their doctrines, to prove their ideas right, they would not walk in
darkness and blindness, or cherish error. Many
give the words of Scripture a meaning that suits their own opinions, and they
mislead themselves and deceive others by their misinterpretations of God's word.”
{CW 36.3}
“As
we take up the study of God's word, we should do so with humble hearts. All
selfishness, all love of originality, should be laid aside. Long-cherished opinions must not be
regarded as infallible. It was the unwillingness of the Jews to give up their
long-established traditions that proved their ruin. They were determined not to
see any flaw in their own opinions or in their expositions of the Scriptures;
but however long men may have entertained certain views, if they are not clearly sustained by the written word, they should be
discarded. Those who sincerely desire truth will not be reluctant to lay open their positions for
investigation and criticism, and will not be annoyed if their opinions and
ideas are crossed. This was the spirit cherished among us forty years ago.
. . .” {CW 36.4}
“We
have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are
infallible. Those who think that they
will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an
opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and
opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ
prayed.” {CW 37.1}
“Could
those who are self-sufficient see how the universe of God regards them, could
they see themselves as God sees them, they would behold such weakness, such
manifest want of wisdom, that they would cry to the Lord to be their
righteousness; they would want to hide from His sight. The apostle says,
"Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." When our schemes
and our plans have been broken; when men who have depended upon our judgment
conclude the Lord would lead them to act and judge for themselves, we should not feel like censuring, and like
exercising arbitrary authority to compel them to receive our ideas. Those
who are placed in authority should constantly cultivate self-control. . . .” {CW 37.2}
Would-be Guardians of the Doctrine.--“The
rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be guardians of the doctrine,
who would bar the way that greater light shall not come to the people. A
great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of greater light, that
they may unite harmoniously, with the messengers whom He shall send to
accomplish the work that He designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers and endued them with His Spirit, and
has said, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and
show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." {CW 38.1}
“Let
no one run the risk of interposing himself between the people and the message
of heaven. The message of God will come
to the people; and if there were no voice among men to give it, the very stones
would cry out. I call upon every minister to seek the Lord, to put away
pride, to put away strife after supremacy, and humble the heart before God. It
is the coldness of heart, the unbelief of those who ought to have faith, that keeps the churches in feebleness.”-- Review
and Herald, July 26, 1892. {CW 38.2}
A Sign of Growth.--“Whenever the people
of God are growing in grace, they
will be constantly obtaining a clearer understanding of His word. They
will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths. This has been
true in the history of the church in all
ages, and thus it will continue to the end. But as real spiritual life
declines, it has ever been the tendency to
cease to advance in the knowledge of the truth. Men rest satisfied with the light already received
from God's word, and discourage any further investigation of the
Scriptures. They become conservative, and seek to avoid discussion. {CW 38.3}
“The
fact that there is no controversy or agitation among God's people, should not
be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound
doctrine. There is reason to fear that they may not be clearly
discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are
started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion
arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure
that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will
hold to tradition, and worship they know not what.” {CW 39.1}
“I
have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge
of present truth, know not what they believe. They do not understand the
evidences of their faith. They have no just appreciation of the work for the
present time. When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to
others, who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are
many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested,
they knew not their great ignorance.” {CW 39.2}
“And
there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what
they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own
weakness. When separated from those of like faith, and compelled to stand
singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how
confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.
Certain it is that there has been among us a departure from the living God, and a turning to men, putting human wisdom in place of
divine.” {CW 39.3}
“God
would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly
searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions
and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly
founded upon the word of God, so that when the testing time shall come, and
they are brought before councils to answer for their faith, they may be able to
give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.” {CW 40.2}
“Agitate, agitate, agitate!
The subjects which we present to the world must be to us a living reality.
It is important that in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental
articles of faith, we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are
not wholly sound. These may avail to silence an opposer,
but they do not honor the truth. We
should present sound arguments, that will not only
silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny.
. . .” {CW 40.3}
“When God's people are at ease, and
satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not
favor them. It is His will that they
should be ever moving forward, to
receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for
them.” {CW 41.2}
“The present attitude of the church is
not pleasing to God. There has come in a self-confidence that has led them to
feel no necessity for more truth and greater light. We are living at a
time when Satan is at work on the right hand and on the left, before and behind
us; and yet as a people we are asleep. God
wills that a voice shall be heard arousing His people to action.”--Gospel
Workers, pp. 297-300. (1915.) {CW 41.3}
Right Spirit Essential.--“Brethren, we
must sink the shaft deep in the mine of truth. You may question matters with
yourselves and with one another, if you only do it in the right spirit; but too
often self is large, and as soon as investigation begins, an unchristian spirit
is manifested. This is just what Satan delights in, but we should come with a
humble heart to know for ourselves what is truth.” {CW 41.4}
—————————————————————
“Repeatedly
the word has come, Write the things that I have given
you to confirm the faith of My people in the position they have taken. Time and
trial have not made void the instruction given, but through years of suffering
and self-sacrifice have established the truth of the testimony given. The
instruction that was given in the early days of the message is to be held as
safe instruction to follow in these its closing days. Those who are indifferent
to this light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we
have been plainly told will cause the rejecters of light to stumble, and fall,
and be snared, and be taken. If we study carefully the second chapter of
Hebrews, we shall learn how important it is that we hold steadfastly to every
principle of truth that has been given.”—Review, July 18, 1907; 1 Selected Messages, 41.
[Quoting the words of the
angel:] “ ‘Be not afraid of man, for My shield shall
protect you. It is not you that speaketh: it is the Lord that giveth the
messages of warning and reproof. Never deviate from the truth under any
circumstances. Give the light I shall give you. The messages for these last days shall be written in books, and shall
stand immortalized, to testify
against those who have once rejoiced in the light, but who have been led to
give it up because of the seductive influences of evil.’ ”—1 Selected Messages, 32.
WE
MUST STUDY THE TESTIMONIES
“Never have testimonies been more clearly
brought before the people than those that have recently been traced by my
pen. God bids me urge upon the attention of our people the importance of
their study. Let this work begin now. Then, whether I am permitted to labor
or am laid away to rest until Jesus comes, these messages are immortalized.”—1 Selected Messages, 56-57.
Ron’s Commentary:
I fully believe and teach the very same principle and that all from the
Testimonies and the Bible must be interpreted according to the weight of
evidence formula as prescribed by Ellen White and William Miller, so that one
can KNOW that he is not in error.
DANGEROUS
TO SET ASIDE THE
SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
“There is in error and unbelief that which bewilders
and bewitches the mind. To question and doubt and cherish unbelief in order to
excuse ourselves in stepping aside from the straight path is a far easier
matter than to purify the soul through a belief of the truth, and obedience
thereto. But when better influences lead one to desire to return, he finds
himself entangled in such a network of Satan, like a fly in a spider's web,
that it seems a hopeless task to him, and he seldom recovers himself from the
snare laid for him by the wily foe.
“When once men have admitted doubt and
SATAN’S
LAST DECEPTION
“Satan is . . constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the
truth. The very last
SATAN’S
OBJECTIVE:
“There will be a hatred kindled against the
testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan
An attitude of always looking for a new prophet
In view of Spirit of Prophecy statements you will
“We are
Ron’s Commentary:
First of all Vance does not give any statement proving that it is far
better not to check out a message that should come to us. If Vance could furnish that statement, it
would only contradict the following testimony of Ellen White as to how to
respond when a brother comes with a message to the people:
Chap. 5 - Investigation of New Light
Not to Be Suspected.--“When a doctrine
is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God,
seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with
suspicion and prejudice. We should never permit the spirit to be manifested
that arraigned the priests and rulers against the Redeemer of the world. They
complained that He disturbed the people, and they wished He would let them
alone; for He caused perplexity and dissension. The Lord sends light to us
to prove what manner of spirit we are of. We are not to deceive ourselves.” {CW
43.1}
“In 1844, when anything came to our
attention that we did not understand, we kneeled down and asked God to help us
take the right position; and then we were able to come to a right understanding
and see eye to eye. There was no dissension, no enmity, no evil-surmising, no
misjudging of our brethren. If we but knew the evil of the spirit of
intolerance, how carefully would we shun it!”--Gospel Workers, pp. 301, 302.
(1915.) {CW 43.2}
The Test of New Light.--“Our
brethren should be willing to investigate in a candid way every point of
controversy. If a brother is teaching error, those who are in
responsible positions ought to know it; and if he is teaching truth,
they ought to take their stand at his side. We should all know what is
being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it. We are all under obligation to God to know what He sends us.
He has given directions
by which we may test every doctrine,--"To the law and to the testimony: if
they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them." If the light presented meets this test, we
are not to refuse to accept it because it does not agree with our ideas.”--Gospel Workers, pp. 300, 301. {CW 43.3}
Examination of New Views.--“Truth is
eternal, and conflict with error will only make manifest its strength. We
should never refuse to examine the Scriptures with those who, we have reason to
believe, desire to know what is truth as much as we
do. Suppose a brother held a view that
differed from yours, and he should come to you, proposing that you sit down
with him and make an investigation of that point in the Scriptures; should you
rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn his ideas, while refusing to
give him a candid hearing?” {CW 44.1}
“The
only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position
presented, in the light of God's word, which will reveal truth and unmask
error. To ridicule his ideas would not weaken his position in the least if
it were false, or strengthen your position if it were true. If the pillars
of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew
it. There must be no spirit of pharisaism cherished
among us. When Christ came to His own, His own
received Him not; and it is a matter of solemn interest to us that we should
not pursue a similar course in refusing light from heaven.” {CW 44.2}
“We
must study the truth for ourselves. No living man should be relied upon to
think for us. No matter who it is, or in what position he may be placed, we are
not to look upon any man as a perfect criterion for us. We are to counsel together, and to be subject to one another; but at the same
time we are to exercise the ability God has given us to learn what is truth.
Each one of us must look to God for divine enlightenment. We must individually
develop a character that will stand the test in the day of God. We must not
become set in our ideas, and think that no one should interfere with our
opinions.”--Review and Herald, June
18, 1889. {CW 45.1}
Not
Revealed to Just One or Two.--“God has not passed His people by, and chosen one
solitary man here and another there as the only ones worthy to be entrusted
with His truth. He does not give one man new light contrary to the established
faith of the body. In every reform men have arisen making this claim. Paul
warned the church in his day, "Of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." The greatest
harm to God's people comes through those who go out from among them speaking
perverse things. Through them the way of truth is evil spoken of.” {CW 45.2}
Ron’s Note:
We must consider that all of the prophets, including Ellen White, had
things revealed to them that were not revealed to anyone else. The great all encompassing
test is that what is revealed does not in any way countermand ANYTHING that is
already established in Scripture or the Spirit of Prophecy. If it does not so contradict, according to
Ellen White’s weight of evidence formula, it cannot be in error. That formula, along with Isaiah 8:20, is our
safety net.
“Let
none be self confident, as though God had given them
special light above their brethren. Christ is represented as dwelling in His
people; and believers, as "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building,
fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in
the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a
habitation of God through the Spirit." "I therefore, the prisoner of
the Lord," says Paul, "beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as
ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all." {CW 45.3}
Beware of Side Issues.--“That which Brother D calls light is apparently harmless; it
does not look as though anyone could be injured by it. But, brethren, it is
Satan's device, his entering wedge. This has been tried again and again. One
accepts some new and original idea which does not seem to conflict with the
truth. He talks of it and dwells upon it until it seems to him to be clothed
with beauty and importance, for Satan has power to give this false appearance.
At last it becomes the all-absorbing theme, the one great point around which
everything centers; and the truth is uprooted from the heart.” {CW 46.1}
“No
sooner are erratic ideas started in his mind than Brother D begins to lose
faith, and to question the work of the Spirit which has been manifested among
us for so many years. He is not a man who will entertain what he believes to be
special light without imparting it to others; therefore it is not safe to give
him influence that will enable him to unsettle other minds. It is opening a
door through which Satan will rush in many errors to divert the mind from the
importance of the truth for this time. Brethren, as an ambassador of Christ I
warn you to beware of these side issues, whose tendency is to divert the mind
from the truth. Error is never harmless. It never sanctifies, but always brings
confusion and dissension. It is always dangerous. The enemy has great power
over minds that are not thoroughly fortified by prayer and established in Bible
truth.” {CW 46.2}
Submit New Light to Experienced Brethren.
--“There are a thousand temptations in disguise prepared for those who have
the light of truth; and the only safety for any of us is in receiving no new
doctrine, no new interpretation of the Scriptures, without first submitting it
to brethren of experience. Lay it before them in a humble, teachable spirit,
with earnest prayer; and if they see no light in it, yield to their judgment;
for "in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”--Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 291-293.
(1885.) {CW 47.1}
Ron’s Note:
What is often the result of submitting light to brethren of experience:
"Now it is just EXACTLY
as in the days of the Jews. When a message came in, why all the power of the
leaders [such some leaders on this forum] WAS PUT AGAINST IT, THAT IT SHOULD
NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE. Now, brethren, GO TO
GOD FOR YOURSELVES, and on your knees plead with God...If God sends us light,
let it come to us, and let no man close the door, or try to close it. Don't
close it yourselves. Open the door of your heart and let the brilliant rays of
light shine into your heart and into your mind. I pray you,
let the Sun of Righteousness in." E.G. White, Manuscript Release #900, Manuscript 9, 1890. 1888 Materials, p.
541.
"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, p. 232.
Also, remember the following
statement:
“Most startling messages will be borne by men of God's appointment,
messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. And while some will
be PROVOKED by the warning, and led to RESIST LIGHT AND EVIDENCE, we are to see
from this that we are giving the TESTING MESSAGE for this time. Messages
will be given OUT OF THE USUAL ORDER." E.G. White, Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 136.
Inconsequential Matters.--I would say
to my brethren and sisters, Keep close to the instruction found in the word of
God. Dwell upon the rich truths of the Scriptures. Thus only can you become one
in Christ. You have no time to engage in controversy regarding the killing of
insects. Jesus has not placed this burden upon you. "What is the chaff to
the wheat?" These side issues which arise are as hay, wood, and stubble
compared with the truth for these last days. Those who leave the great truths
of God's word to speak of such matters are not preaching the gospel. They are
dealing with the idle sophistry which the enemy brings forward to divert minds
from the truths that concern their eternal welfare. They have no word from
Christ to vindicate their suppositions.” {CW 47.2}
“Do
not spend your time in the discussion of such matters. If you have any question
as to what you should teach, any question as to the subjects upon which you should dwell, go right to the discourses of the
Great Teacher, and follow His instructions. . . .” {CW 48.1}
“Erroneous
theories, with no authority from the word of God, will come in on the right
hand and on the left, and to weaklings these theories will appear as truth
which makes wise. But they are as nothingness. And yet many church members have
become so well satisfied with cheap food that they have a dyspeptic religion.
Why will men and women belittle their experience by gathering up idle tales and
presenting them as matters worthy of attention? The people of God have no time
to dwell on the indefinite, frivolous questions which have no bearing on God's
requirements.”--Preach the Word, p.
10. (1901.) {CW 48.2}
Points Unnecessary for Faith.--“There
are many questions treated upon that are not necessary for the perfection of
the faith. We have no time for their study. Many things are above finite
comprehension. Truths are to be received not within the reach of our reason,
and not for us to explain. Revelation presents them to us to be implicitly
received as the words of an infinite God. While every ingenious inquirer is to
search out the truth as it is in Jesus, there are things not yet simplified,
statements that human minds cannot grasp and reason out, without being liable
to make human calculation and explanations, which will not prove a savor of
life unto life.” {CW 48.3}
“But
every truth which is essential for us to bring into our practical life, which
concerns the salvation of the soul, is made very clear and positive.”--Preach the Word, pp. 6, 7. (1895.) {CW
49.1}
A Device of the Enemy.--“We are to pray
for divine enlightenment, but at the same time we should be careful how we
receive everything termed new light. We must beware lest, under cover of
searching for new truth, Satan shall divert our minds from Christ and the
special truths for this time. I have been shown that it is the device of the
enemy to lead minds to dwell upon some obscure or unimportant point, something
that is not fully revealed or is not essential to our salvation. This is made
the absorbing theme, the "present truth," when all their
investigations and suppositions only serve to make matters more obscure than
before, and to confuse the minds of some who ought to be seeking for oneness
through sanctification of the truth.”--Preach
the Word, p. 4. (1891.) {CW 49.2}
"New Light" Which Unsettles
Confidence.-- Satan hopes to involve the remnant
people of God in the general ruin that is coming upon the earth. As the coming
of Christ draws nigh, he will be more determined and decisive in his efforts to
overthrow them. Men and women will arise professing to have some new light or
some new revelation, whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old landmarks.
Their doctrines will not bear the test of God's word, yet souls will be
deceived. False reports will be circulated, and some will be taken in this
snare. They will believe these rumors, and in their turn will repeat them, and
thus a link will be formed connecting them with the archdeceiver.
This spirit will not always be manifested in an open defiance of the messages
that God sends, but a settled unbelief is expressed in many ways. Every false
statement that is made feeds and strengthens this unbelief, and through this
means many souls will be balanced in the wrong direction.”-- Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 295, 296.
(1885.) {CW 49.3}
Attitude to Those Claiming to Have New
Light.--“Cling close to your Bible, for its sacred truths can purify,
ennoble, and sanctify the soul. You must hold the truth and teach it as it is
in Jesus, else it is of no value to you. Before the
light of God's truth let human opinions and ideas and human wisdom appear as
they are in the sight of God,--as foolishness. . . .” {CW 50.1}
If
a brother differ with you on some points of truth, do
not stoop to ridicule, do not place him in a false light, or misconstrue his
words, making sport of them; do not misinterpret his words and wrest them of
their true meaning. This is not conscientious argument. Do not present him
before others as a heretic, when you have not with him investigated his positions,
taking the Scriptures text by text in the spirit of Christ to show him what is truth. You do not yourself really know the evidence
he has for his faith, and you cannot really clearly define your own position. Take
your Bible, and in a kindly spirit weigh every argument that he presents and
show him by the Scriptures if he is in error. When you do this without
unkind feelings, you will do only that which is your duty and the duty of every
minister of Jesus Christ.-- Letter 21, 1888. {CW
50.2}
God bless,
Ron Beaulieu