The following treatise was written for an Internet Chat Group
Dear Fellow SDA Brothers and Sisters,
Many SDAs teach that there will be a primitive revival WITHIN the church before the end-time. They and SDA preachers, sad to say, teach that the Reformers today are a representation of the false reformation that was to come before the true. SDA preachers are NOW saying this very thing on Internet talk groups. Let us analyze this teaching in light of Ellen White's teachings and the Bible.
Reality Check
The false reformation has been on-going for many years now, since the charismatic movement was initiated by Vatican II. In fact, this movement has been the charismatic celebrations on the banks of the Jordan, when we are instructed to sigh and cry for the abominations in the church, and weep between the porch and the altar. Many so-called "mysterious signs and wonders" have increased since Vatican II, ranging from photos of Mary weeping, to holy (unholy) laughter and rolling on the floor, to bedlams of noise in music and entertainment in many forms including magic. Little children are led to believe that Christ was just a good magician. Has this type of false reformation been on-going in the professing SDA church? Will it continue to just before the close of probation? Notice:
False Reformation Number One
"The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit [or a great reformation.] The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music, than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working." E. G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, 36.
False Reformation Number 2
"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, vol. 1, 204-205.
Who is it that says a great reformation will take place AMONG Seventh-day Adventists? It is Satan, the enemy of souls. Have you heard those words on this forum in the last few hours?
Has any independent ministry such power that it can wield that "Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT?"
The NEW MOVEMENT, NEW ORGANIZATION mentioned above, as being the Omega of Apostasy [in context with the chapter it appears as part of], is indeed so powerful that "Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT." There is no independent ministry that is so powerful that the SDA church could not stand in its way! But the NEW MOVEMENT SDA CHURCH is so powerful that no independent ministry will ever stand in the way of its apostasy, until it is destroyed by another literal manifestation of Ezekiel 9, according to Ellen White.
We were never to join ANY NEW MOVEMENT, and so Satan formed one within in a Trojan horse manner, and the sleeping virgins are non-the-wiser! The fact is, of course, that we cannot join ANY NEW MOVEMENT, even one that now comprises the professing Seventh-day Adventist Church. God can no longer use such a church. OTHERS SECTION:
"He will take his Holy Spirit from the church and Give it to OTHERS who will appreciate it." E. G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 3, 272.
"The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.
God is not 'worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25)." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 131.
More on Ellen White's Description of False Reformations
"I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders, and false reformations would increase, and spread. The reformations that were shown me, were not reformations from error to truth; but from bad to worse; for those who professed a change of heart, had only wrapt about them a religious garb, which covered up the iniquity of a wicked heart. Some appeared to have been really converted, so as to deceive God's people; but if their hearts could be seen, they would appear as black as ever." My accompanying angel bade me look for the travail of soul for sinners as used to be. I looked, but could not see it; for the time for their salvation is past." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, vol. 1, p. 9, col. 3.
The above statement is why I do not come on this talk group or anywhere else, trying to appear as "really converted." Some of the ministers who advocate the false reformation modes of worship, and/or who criticize those true Reformers who are taking the gospel to the world, have bragged on this forum about their conversion. Their actions and spirit speak otherwise. They are priests for hire in the New Movement Organization that has "removed God."
The Final Stance of the Professing, Organized, Nominal SDA Church
First, we should get a solid definition of "nominal." What does this term include? Does it include the professing SDA Church organization or New Movement?
"Nominal Adventists--.....those who 'reject the present truth." Early Writings, p. 299.
Do you suppose this would include a people, a church, that is "bringing in every uncouth thing just before probation closes?" Would this include a church that professes to bring in a great reformation that would remove our pillar doctrines and remove God? Does this include a church that is already agreeing with the Catholics that those who are taking the three angel's messages to the streets and newspapers of the world are just a few "lunatic fringe" "tunneled vision," "beast bashing" reformers, such as every church has?
"I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure [hidden] people, little known to the Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hate us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday." E.G. White, Dorchester, Maine, October 23, 1850, Spalding--Magan's Unpublished Ms., pp. 1, 2.
Where and When the Real Primitive WorldWide Revival and Final Shaking of True SDAs Will Take Place
"But where, in the popular churches of today, is the spirit of consecration to God? The converts do not renounce their pride and love of the world. They are no more willing to deny self, to take up the cross, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus, than before their conversion....
Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word." Great Controversy, p. 464.
The entire context of the above statement is the final loud cry call out of the "popular churches." The first sentence establishes the context. However, since Adventism has numbered itself with these "popular churches," and since there are some true followers of Christ in all churches, the call will go to all churches, because they all will be doing after the manner of the world. Does that include MEMBERS of the professing SDA Church? Notice:
"The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and depression of the church are GREATEST [TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE], the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are don in the land. But more especially will their prayer arIse IN BEHALF OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE ITS MEMBERS ARE DOING AFTER THE MANNER OF THE WORLD." Testimonies, vol. 5, 209, 210.
The above statement has been totally misrepresented by SDA leaders as meaning that the SDA Church will revive and shake out the bad. That is a lie! Here (above) we see that the MEMBERS of the church will be doing after the manner of the world, at the time of greatest danger. Does that sound like a primitive revival that revives the members of the church? Not to me! The true and faithful who are "standing in the light," must not be MEMBERS, else they would be doing after the manner of the world.
"And I will bring you OUT FROM THE PEOPLE, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered [Worldwide], with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, and I will bring you INTO THE WILDERNESS [OUTPOSTS] of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your father in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge [SHAKE] out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 20:34-38.
Where the Tares Will be Gathered
Read Ezekiel 22:17-31.
What will Happen to the Organized Church?
Read Ezekiel 5 and 9. For all the reasons why Ezekiel 5 and 9 are executed again, LITERALLY, according to Ezekiel 5:9, and Ellen White, read Ezekiel from chapter 1 to chapter 9, and read Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 209-211 and on.
Ezekiel 9 Literally Repeated
Ezekiel 9 in its last manifestation, was the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. That destruction began with the Sanctuary, the Temple and spread to the City of Jerusalem. In its final manifestation, it will begin at the Sanctuary of God's professing people, and will end with the World as "Jerusalem," after the world has heard the gospel.
"Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will YOU hear? Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 260.
In the above statement, Ellen White is merely agreeing with Scripture--Ezekiel chapters five and nine. Ezekiel chapter five, verse 9, says that God is going to do the worst thing He has ever done or will ever do again. Compare this with Matthew 24:21, to find that Ezekiel, chapter 5 and 9, are definitely end-time in context of final fulfillment.
Ron Beaulieu