"Adventist Sunday Church"— Shocking? It ought to be by Vance
Ferrell Click to go to our Home Page
Foreword by Ron Beaulieu:
Dear fellow Seventh-day Adventist, you are responsible for this act of
the church whether or not you should choose to remain ignorant of it. "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 Regular lines
- “So often the same old difficulties
arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the ‘regular lines.’ But God
will work in some way to make His people understand that THE REGULAR LINES
HAVE BECOME FULL OF IRREGULAR PRACTICES…God alone can make men understand
that working on REGULAR LINES has led to IRREGULAR PRACTICES. God alone can make men’s minds as they
should be. The time has come when we
should hear les in favor of the REGULAR LINES. If we can GET AWAY FROM THE REGULAR LINES
into something which, THOUGH IRREGULAR, IS AFTER GOD’S ORDER, it may cut away
something of the IRREGULAR WORKING which has led away from Bible
principles.” E.G. White, Manuscript
Release, #1450, p. 3, 4, 1901. “When we see the
regular lines are altered and purified and refined, and the God of the
heaavens mold is upon the regular lines, then it is our business to establish
the regular lines.” E.G. White,
Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 162-168. “The present
showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that
the regular lines [organization] may prove to be a failure.” E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p.
175. Written to Brother Daniels, June
28, 1901. *** I did not give it that name; the Pacific
Union Recorder did. They emblazoned it across the top of page one of a
two-page article in their February 2000 issue. It is not only being done by
at least one local congregation, it is recommended for other churches to do.
The article says it is being done elsewhere in our denomination. As the apostasy deepened in our denomination
in the 1980s, I wondered what would be the key points, on which our journey
down the slippery slope would accelerate. One would be required obedience to
God’s law. We began discarding that in the 1980s. An advanced step much further
downward would be Sunday morning worship services. The key issues are summed up in Revelation
14:12, one of the most-quoted, most-emphasized Bible verses in the Spirit of
Prophecy. "Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
[can be translated, "by faith in Jesus"]. This verse teaches obedience to the law of
God through the enabling grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the
identifying mark of God’s true people in the last days. It is the definition
by which we can identify those who are in the "remnant." And how do
we identify the "remnant"? The definition is given in Revelation
12:17: "And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Obedience to the law of God through the grace
of Christ. This is a cooperative act. It requires divine power combined with
human decision and effort. Without that combination, no man can be saved; for
God saves no man apart from his decision to repent of his sins and, with
divine help, put them away. The Bible Sabbath is a key issue in these last
days. Seventh-day Adventists do a lot of compromising with the Sabbath truth:
in the way they keep it and what they say about it. Not only do many of our people hardly keep it
properly, but they are now being taught that it does not matter much whether
they keep it or not. "Only believe, and you are saved," is the cry
of apostasy in Protestantism and liberal Adventism. At the present time, it appears that there is
hardly a historic truth, principle, or standard, given us as a people, which
we have not gutted. Talk about the "patience of the saints," how
much further shall we try the patience of God? To see where the trail ends, we need only ask
ourselves What does the Spirit of Prophecy say about " Checking into the matter, we find that a
crucial issue is Sunday morning worship services. Do not underestimate this;
it is important. When any of our people begin worshiping God on Sunday
morning, the people doing it have clearly identified themselves with the
beast power. (See the references at the end of this study.) Someone will say that the Spirit of Prophecy
speaks in favor of holding meetings on Sunday. Yes, but those meetings are
clearly evangelistic meetings, not worship services. There is a big
difference. And, historically, we have held our Sunday evangelistic meetings
on Sunday night, not Sunday morning. —and we do not give the audience the
impression that they are Sunday church services! We are told that it is all right to go out
and pass out papers, look for Bible study interests, give Bible studies, and
hold evangelistic meetings on Sunday. —But we are not to hold worship
services on Sunday, never! Not once are we told in the Spirit of Prophecy
that we should even hold branch "Sabbath" schools on Sunday.
Nothing giving the appearance of a worship service is to be held by our
people on Sunday. While we are on this, it should be mentioned
that we are also told that we are not to regularly attend Sunday church
services in Protestant churches. Someone may attend a service once with a
friend, in order to get him to attend ours on Sabbath. But we are distinctly
told not to regularly attend Sunday worship services. This is not to be done. This point is one of the very, very few which
is in the 1884 edition of Great Controversy, and not in the later editions.
The reason it was omitted in the later ones is that, like the Satan monologue
at the front of the Snares chapter, it dealt with an issue of concern to
Advent believers. The 1888 edition was written for the world; whereas the
1884 was for our own people. Both editions are fully inspired (as is the 1911
revision), but different purposes were fulfilled in their writing. Here is the statement, taken directly from
our 1884 edition of Great Controversy, page 155: "In the seventeenth century there were
several Sabbatarian churches in "Some years later, a church was formed
in Do you see? If the Sabbathkeepers in the
early American colonies had continued to attend church on Sunday
morning,—they would soon have abandoned the Sabbath truth entirely! We are
not to honor the "child of the papacy." To do so is to prepare ourselves
to receive the mark of the beast. Someone will say, "Oh, it is all right;
for even though we hold worship services on Sunday, we still believe in the
Sabbath truth." But where is the mark placed? "In their right hand,
or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16). If you regularly worship on
Sunday, you will receive the mark when it is applied, whether or not you
mentally believe in Sundaykeeping. I have waited for years to see if our people
would begin holding worship services on Sunday morning. Others also realize
the significance of the act. Friends have inquired of me whether it has
started yet. Well, a variant of it is now beginning. Does
this mean that the entire denomination is doing it? No, it does not. But this
is still a very significant step downward! Do not underestimate its
importance! Indeed, what is more? Our largest union paper boldly published
and praised the fact that one of our local congregations is doing it! This
adds greatly to the significance! Some of our high-placed church leaders do
not see anything wrong with our holding Sunday morning worship services! I have tried to figure out what is it that we
are specifically NOT to do when the National Sunday Law is enacted! We are
advised not to work openly. We are advised to use the day to do door-to-door
missionary work. But there is one special prohibition: We are
not to attend Sunday morning worship services! Read the Spirit of Prophecy
writings. Locate everything you can on the subject. It is attendance at
Sunday morning worship services which—when the mark is applied—will place it
on men and women. Will Seventh-day Adventists who have so
little regard about the matter—that they now attend such services, encourage
other Advent believers to do so, and try to get non-Adventists to come to
them—be likely to later receive the mark? Of course they will, when the
"threat of imprisonment and death" is made, requiring that
attendance; they will quickly capitulate. Sunday worship services is a matter
which they are already in accord with. For those who may not be clear on this
point: The mark of the beast will not begin to be applied to Sunday
worshipers until the U.S. National Sunday Law is enacted, and the worshipers
understand the issues involved (7 Bible Commentary, 976-980). This Pacific Union Recorder article is
extremely significant—and in nine ways: • We are told of at least one local Adventist
congregation which is now beginning to hold Sunday morning worship services. • We are told that it is being done at • We are told that it is a good thing to do,
since other churches in • Adventists are inviting non-Adventists to
attend their Sunday services(!), thinking that is a good thing to do. What a
way to "teach the truth"! • Our largest union paper has published an
article on it, praising the activity and recommending it to other local
congregations in Pacific Union Conference territory (seven conferences in
five states, plus several western Pacific islands) as something good for them
to also begin doing. • This Sundaykeeping congregation has
repudiated the name, "Seventh-day Adventist." On their church sign,
they call themselves the " • They declare that attending regular church
services is like "a sentence to prison." • They divide the worship service between a
song service with drums and mike-amplified guitars, followed by a sermon. • This strange " We have here an apostate time, an apostate
name, and an apostate program. Yes, hold evangelistic meetings on Sunday, but
do not call them church services. Here are several Spirit of Prophecy
passages to look up with your family or group. Do you want to become
knowledgeable about this matter, regarding Sunday observance? We are told: • It is a virtual recognition of the
fundamental principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). • The papacy will receive honor in the homage
paid in doing it (Great Controversy, 579). • Revelation 13:11-16 will be fulfilled by it
(GC 578-579). • It will be the worship of the beast and his
image (Great Controversy, 449). • Its enforcement [by a Sunday Law] will be a
sign that the end is near, and that God’s forbearance has been reached (5 Testimonies,
451). • It is a plain contradiction of God’s law,
for those who do it after light has come (6 Testimonies, 193). • It is a homage paid to • For those who do so, knowing they should
not do so, it is idolatry (Fundamentals of Education, 287). • It is a recognition of the cornerstone
principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). • It is the mark of the authority of • It honors the pope above God (Great
Controversy, 449). • It is the Mark of the Beast (7 Bible
Commentary, 976-980; Evangelism 234-235; Great Controversy, 449; 8
Testimonies 117; Testimonies to Ministers, 133). • It is allegiance to a power opposed to God
(Great Controversy, 605). • It is the worship of the beast and his
image (Testimonies to Ministers, 133). • It is an act of homage to the papacy (Story
of Redemption, 383). • Men in responsible positions will urge it
upon the people (Christian Service, 155). What is this Pacific Union Recorder article talking
about—a church service or an evangelistic effort? The article says it is an
evangelistic effort. But four facts loudly declare that it is a
new type of Sunday morning worship service: First, in the bold title, the Recorder calls
it an " Second, the subtitle states "Reaching
the Unchurched in Third, the name of the place has a churchy
name: " Fourth, the advertising flyers, mailed out by
the thousands, refer to it as a church. "Is this your idea of
church?" "It’s for people who have given up on the traditional
church." Fifth, it is an ongoing church meeting, month
after month, for at least a year in duration. —We urgently need to discuss this matter of
Adventist Sunday worship services. " I did not give it that name; the Pacific
Union Recorder did. They emblazoned it across the top of page one of a
two-page article in their February 2000 issue. It is not only being done by
at least one local congregation, it is recommended for other churches to do.
The article says it is being done elsewhere in our denomination. As the apostasy deepened in our denomination
in the 1980s, I wondered what would be the key points, on which our journey
down the slippery slope would accelerate. One would be required obedience to
God’s law. We began discarding that in the 1980s. An advanced step much
further downward would be Sunday morning worship services. The key issues are summed up in Revelation
14:12, one of the most-quoted, most-emphasized Bible verses in the Spirit of
Prophecy. "Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
[can be translated, "by faith in Jesus"]. This verse teaches obedience to the law of
God through the enabling grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the
identifying mark of God’s true people in the last days. It is the definition
by which we can identify those who are in the "remnant." And how do
we identify the "remnant"? The definition is given in Revelation
12:17: "And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Obedience to the law of God through the grace
of Christ. This is a cooperative act. It requires divine power combined with
human decision and effort. Without that combination, no man can be saved; for
God saves no man apart from his decision to repent of his sins and, with
divine help, put them away. The Bible Sabbath is a key issue in these last
days. Seventh-day Adventists do a lot of compromising with the Sabbath truth:
in the way they keep it and what they say about it. Not only do many of our people hardly keep it
properly, but they are now being taught that it does not matter much whether
they keep it or not. "Only believe, and you are saved," is the cry
of apostasy in Protestantism and liberal Adventism. At the present time, it appears that there is
hardly a historic truth, principle, or standard, given us as a people, which
we have not gutted. Talk about the "patience of the saints," how
much further shall we try the patience of God? To see where the trail ends, we need only ask
ourselves What does the Spirit of Prophecy say about " Checking into the matter, we find that a
crucial issue is Sunday morning worship services. Do not underestimate this;
it is important. When any of our people begin worshiping God on Sunday
morning, the people doing it have clearly identified themselves with the
beast power. (See the references at the end of this study.) Someone will say that the Spirit of Prophecy
speaks in favor of holding meetings on Sunday. Yes, but those meetings are
clearly evangelistic meetings, not worship services. There is a big
difference. And, historically, we have held our Sunday evangelistic meetings
on Sunday night, not Sunday morning. —and we do not give the audience the
impression that they are Sunday church services! We are told that it is all right to go out
and pass out papers, look for Bible study interests, give Bible studies, and
hold evangelistic meetings on Sunday. —But we are not to hold worship
services on Sunday, never! Not once are we told in the Spirit of Prophecy
that we should even hold branch "Sabbath" schools on Sunday.
Nothing giving the appearance of a worship service is to be held by our
people on Sunday. While we are on this, it should be mentioned
that we are also told that we are not to regularly attend Sunday church
services in Protestant churches. Someone may attend a service once with a
friend, in order to get him to attend ours on Sabbath. But we are distinctly
told not to regularly attend Sunday worship services. This is not to be done. This point is one of the very, very few which
is in the 1884 edition of Great Controversy, and not in the later editions.
The reason it was omitted in the later ones is that, like the Satan monologue
at the front of the Snares chapter, it dealt with an issue of concern to
Advent believers. The 1888 edition was written for the world; whereas the
1884 was for our own people. Both editions are fully inspired (as is the 1911
revision), but different purposes were fulfilled in their writing. Here is the statement, taken directly from
our 1884 edition of Great Controversy, page 155: "In the seventeenth century there were
several Sabbatarian churches in "Some years later, a church was formed
in Do you see? If the Sabbathkeepers in the
early American colonies had continued to attend church on Sunday
morning,—they would soon have abandoned the Sabbath truth entirely! We are
not to honor the "child of the papacy." To do so is to prepare
ourselves to receive the mark of the beast. Someone will say, "Oh, it is all right;
for even though we hold worship services on Sunday, we still believe in the
Sabbath truth." But where is the mark placed? "In their right hand,
or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16). If you regularly worship on
Sunday, you will receive the mark when it is applied, whether or not you
mentally believe in Sundaykeeping. I have waited for years to see if our people
would begin holding worship services on Sunday morning. Others also realize
the significance of the act. Friends have inquired of me whether it has
started yet. Well, a variant of it is now beginning. Does
this mean that the entire denomination is doing it? No, it does not. But this
is still a very significant step downward! Do not underestimate its
importance! Indeed, what is more? Our largest union paper boldly published
and praised the fact that one of our local congregations is doing it! This
adds greatly to the significance! Some of our high-placed church leaders do
not see anything wrong with our holding Sunday morning worship services! I have tried to figure out what is it that we
are specifically NOT to do when the National Sunday Law is enacted! We are
advised not to work openly. We are advised to use the day to do door-to-door
missionary work. But there is one special prohibition: We are
not to attend Sunday morning worship services! Read the Spirit of Prophecy
writings. Locate everything you can on the subject. It is attendance at
Sunday morning worship services which—when the mark is applied—will place it
on men and women. Will Seventh-day Adventists who have so
little regard about the matter—that they now attend such services, encourage
other Advent believers to do so, and try to get non-Adventists to come to
them—be likely to later receive the mark? Of course they will, when the
"threat of imprisonment and death" is made, requiring that
attendance; they will quickly capitulate. Sunday worship services is a matter
which they are already in accord with. For those who may not be clear on this
point: The mark of the beast will not begin to be applied to Sunday
worshipers until the U.S. National Sunday Law is enacted, and the worshipers
understand the issues involved (7 Bible Commentary, 976-980). This Pacific Union Recorder article is
extremely significant—and in nine ways: • We are told of at least one local Adventist
congregation which is now beginning to hold Sunday morning worship services. • We are told that it is being done at • We are told that it is a good thing to do,
since other churches in • Adventists are inviting non-Adventists to
attend their Sunday services(!), thinking that is a good thing to do. What a
way to "teach the truth"! • Our largest union paper has published an
article on it, praising the activity and recommending it to other local
congregations in Pacific Union Conference territory (seven conferences in
five states, plus several western Pacific islands) as something good for them
to also begin doing. • This Sundaykeeping congregation has
repudiated the name, "Seventh-day Adventist." On their church sign,
they call themselves the " • They declare that attending regular church
services is like "a sentence to prison." • They divide the worship service between a
song service with drums and mike-amplified guitars, followed by a sermon. • This strange " We have here an apostate time, an apostate
name, and an apostate program. Yes, hold evangelistic meetings on Sunday, but
do not call them church services. Here are several Spirit of Prophecy
passages to look up with your family or group. Do you want to become
knowledgeable about this matter, regarding Sunday observance? We are told: • It is a virtual recognition of the
fundamental principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). • The papacy will receive honor in the homage
paid in doing it (Great Controversy, 579). • Revelation 13:11-16 will be fulfilled by it
(GC 578-579). • It will be the worship of the beast and his
image (Great Controversy, 449). • Its enforcement [by a Sunday Law] will be a
sign that the end is near, and that God’s forbearance has been reached (5
Testimonies, 451). • It is a plain contradiction of God’s law,
for those who do it after light has come (6 Testimonies, 193). • It is a homage paid to • For those who do so, knowing they should
not do so, it is idolatry (Fundamentals of Education, 287). • It is a recognition of the cornerstone
principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). • It is the mark of the authority of • It honors the pope above God (Great
Controversy, 449). • It is the Mark of the Beast (7 Bible
Commentary, 976-980; Evangelism 234-235; Great Controversy, 449; 8
Testimonies 117; Testimonies to Ministers, 133). • It is allegiance to a power opposed to God
(Great Controversy, 605). • It is the worship of the beast and his
image (Testimonies to Ministers, 133). • It is an act of homage to the papacy (Story
of Redemption, 383). • Men in responsible positions will urge it
upon the people (Christian Service, 155). SunWorship THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION—Whether we
like it or not, the A large number of us (who are historic
believers) do not vote. But, whether or not you do, here are some pertinent
facts. Athough this is not a subject with which many of us are much acquainted,
including the present writer, yet, in regard to moral issues, some comment is
needed. (If anyone out there thinks I should not comment on moral issues, he
is wrong.) If a candidate will identify his position,
you can rather quickly know if he is a man of principle or a policy man—by
where he stands on abortion. There are few today who will declare it to be
totally, always wrong. Abortion is baby-killing, plain and simple. It is
killing people. Nothing less, nothing else. Unfortunately, it is difficult to be certain
as to what George W. Bush and John McCain would do in regard to this if
either was elected. Bush’s father did not take a decided stand against
abortion, and, in the Senate, McCain has voted pro-choice at times. Both now claim to be anti-abortion. Allen Keyes is definitely anti-abortion, but
cannot possibly be elected. A crucial issue here, of course, is that the
next president could deeply affect the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In some respects, that is his single, most powerful influence on the nation. Both Al Gore and Bill Bradley have come out
boldly on the side of the abortionists. Pat Buchanan is definitely anti-abortionist,
but he presents problems. Bush could be classified as a moderately conservative
who is a strong policy man, when it comes to working with big business and
other interest groups. McCain has received the approval of Gary
Baur, which is impressive since Baur has high morals and is strongly against
abortion (and probably Sunday laws). But Baur’s close friend, James Dobson
who (despite what you may think of him) knows a lot behind the scenes, says
that Baur made a mistake. Dobson charges that McCain has voted pro-choice in
the past, and committed adultery when he was married to his first wife. McCain is the only Allen Keyes would probably make an excellent
president. He combines a brilliant mind, excellent speaking ability, with
strong, worthwhile principles. But he has no chance of being elected. The two Democratic candidates are moral
disasters. Both have solidly taken their stand with the homosexuals. Both
have told the gay/lesbian coalition they will fully continue The fire that fell on In addition, both Gore and Bradley stand
solidly with the labor unions and the gambling lobby. Regarding anti-tobacco legislation, McCain
continued to vote against big tobacco, when fellow Republicans succombed to
tobacco money a few years ago. Bush is likely to cooperate with the tobacco
interests, for, in Pat Buchanan is against abortion and
gambling. He is also a staunch Roman Catholic. We received a flyer for a
large Catholic rally held in Interestingly enough, a vote for Pat Buchanan
is a vote for the Democratic pro-abortion, pro-gay candidate in November. It
was because of the Independent Party that So who should you vote for? Most of the
faithful will not be voting. Those who decide to vote will try to unravel
some of these issues. We here surely cannot say what their decision should
be. A vote for some men is a vote for extreme
immorality. A vote for most is a vote for men who are regularly bribed with
big money. A vote for at least one is a direct path to a National Sunday Law. |