Erroneous and Subversive Movements
Versus
All the Weight of Evidence
Periodically, Satan and his agents like to
circulate the following dossier on what they regard as erroneous and subversive
movements, which to them, include all ministries that do not work under the
direct umbrella of, and/or support the professing SDA new movement, new
organization “church, and/or those who do not believe that the professing SDA
church is a new movement, new organization.” Such agents believe the fallacy
that the bad are shaken out of that church to leave it purged and purified.
Were that true, Ezekiel 9 would not literally begin at His Church, His
Sanctuary, and the “dumb-dog” watchmen would not NEVER AGAIN show the House of
Jacob its sins, Testimonies, Vol. 5,
p. 211.
Erroneous and Subversive Movements
Introduction
Through the years several erroneous or subversive
movements, based on misinterpretation of Scripture or supposed divine
illumination, have arisen among Seventh-day Adventists. These were firmly and
squarely dealt with by the Spirit of Prophecy counsels given to meet these
situations as they arose. Some of these counsels are included in this section.
{2SM 62.1}
Usually closely linked with the supposed new light was
a message of condemnation of the church and its leaders, and often there was
some phase of time setting. One such movement, known as the Loud Cry of the
Third Angel, led by a Mr. Stanton, was met through a series of articles
published in 1893 in the Review and Herald under the title of The Remnant
Church Not Babylonť (now found in Testimonies to Ministers, pages 32-62, and
also in The Remnant Church, pages 23-53). The materials drawn together in this
section make further reference to this movement and deal in considerable detail
with several like movements. {2SM 62.2}
Ron’s comments: Is there a difference between all the
abominations for which we are to sigh and cry in order to receive the Ezekiel 9
sealing, and critical condemnation? Yes, don’t critically condemn the personal
faults and defects of others. However, gross apostasy by the leaders in
bringing in heretical doctrines to replace pillar doctrines of Adventism, are
more than personal faults and defects such as we all have!
"Mark this point with
care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of
the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those 'that sigh
and that cry for all the abominations that be done' in the church.' Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 266-267. End Ron’s Comments.
“Two prominent cases involving claims to the prophetic
gift are also presented here in the form of counsel given by Mrs. White to
those directly or indirectly concerned. She was in an extremely delicate
position in dealing with situations of this character, but in fulfilling her
office as God messenger, she was given instruction that protected the church
from these pretenders to the prophetic office. She emphasized the point that
the genuine manifestation of the prophetic gift would bear its own credentials,
accompanied by ample clear, convincing evidence.” {2SM 62.3}
“As long as there is an adversary to truth, subversive
and erroneous movements will arise and must be met. The Ellen G. White
depiction of several of these movements with their characteristic teachings,
and the counsel given in analyzing the work and teachings, offer much that may
prove of great service in easily and clearly identifying and meeting again such
situations when they appear.” {2SM 62.4}
White Trustees.
Chapter 7 The Divine
Credentials
“Dear Brother M,
[Letter to one who had come to the conclusion that the
Seventh-day Adventist Church had fallen into the low spiritual state described
as Babylon.Compilers.]
Your letter addressed to me was received at the
beginning of the Sabbath I should advise you to attend the school, and not to
leave this country until you become thoroughly settled in your mind as to what
is truth. I sincerely hope that you will attend this term of school and learn
all you can in regard to this message of truth that is to go to the world.”{2SM
63.1}
“The Lord has not given you a message to call the
Seventh-day Adventists Babylon, and to call the people of God to come out of
her. All the reasons you may present cannot have weight with me on this
subject, because the Lord has given me decided light that is opposed to such a
message.” {2SM 63.2}
“I do not doubt your sincerity or honesty. I have
written long letters at different times to those who were accusing the church
of Seventh-day Adventists of being Babylon, that they were not handling the
truth. You think individuals have prejudiced my mind. If I am in this state, I
am not fitted to be entrusted with the work of God. But this matter has been
brought before my mind in other cases where individuals have claimed to have messages
for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, of a similar character, and the word has
been given me, Believe them not. I have not sent them, and yet they ran.” {2SM
63.3}
A Few Cases Recalled
“Elder K, [See p. 96, also Selected Messages 1:176-184.] a dying man, had his
room filled with interested people, while he was at the hospital at Battle
Creek. Many were deceived. The man seemed to be inspired. But the light that
was given me was, This work is not of God. Believe not
the message.” {2SM 64.1}
“A few years since, a man named N, of Red Bluff,
California, came to me to deliver his message. He said it was the loud cry of
the third angel which was to lighten the earth with his glory. He thought God
had passed all the leading workers and given him the message. I attempted to
show him that he was mistaken. He said Seventh-day Adventists were Babylon, and
when we told him our reasons and set the matter before him, that he was in
error, he had great power come upon him, and he certainly gave a loud cry We
had much trouble with him; his mind became unbalanced, and he had to be placed
in the insane asylum.” {2SM 64.2}
“One, Garmire,
[See ch. 9.] advocated and published a
message in regard to the loud cry of the third angel; he accused the church in
a similar manner to what you are now doing. He said the leaders in the church
would all fall through self-exaltation, and another class of humble men would
come to the front, who would do wonderful things. This
man had daughters who claimed to have visions.” {2SM 64.3}
Ron’s response: Did Ellen White say that humble men
rather than the leaders would finish the work?
“There are many who will spend and be spent to win souls to Christ. In
obedience to the great commission, they will go forth to work for the Master.
Under the ministration of angels ordinary men will be moved by the Spirit of God
to warn people in the highways and byways. Humble
men, who do not trust in their gifts, but who work in simplicity,
trusting always in God, will share in the joy of the Saviour as
their persevering prayers bring souls to the cross.” --Letter 109, 1901,
pp. 3, 4. (To J. O. Johnston, Aug. 6, 1901.)
"The
Holy Spirit attending the worker, together with God, enables him to gather in
the sheaves. It is not learned men, not eloquent men, who are to be depended upon to
do the work now needed, but humble
men, who are learned in the school of Christ, who are meek and lowly in
heart, who will give the invitation to the supper, "Come, for all things
are now ready." Those who beg at midnight for loaves to feed the hungry souls, will be
successful. The law of God is that as we receive we are to impart. All the
churches in our land need the self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit of Christ.
God's people are no longer to continue in sin; they are to lay hold of the
merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. If human hands have never been
laid upon them in ordination, there is One who will give fitness for the work,
if they ask for it in faith. In the name of the Lord I entreat you, Ask and
receive the Holy Spirit. Press to the side of Christ. But this Spirit can only be
received by those who are consecrated, who will deny self, lifting the cross
and following the Lord. Who will be on the Lord's side?"--Letter 10, 1899, pp. 9, 10, 14. (To J. H. Kellogg, Jan. 14, 1899.)
{2MR 32.3}
“God can use the
human agent just to the extent that he will be worked by the Holy Spirit. To
men who accept positions of responsibility as presidents, ministers,
physicians, or workers in any line, I am bidden to
say: God will test every man who enters His service. He does not measure our ability by the standard of the world. He does not ask, Do they possess learning and eloquence? Have they
ability to command and control and manage? He asks, Will they represent My
character? Will they walk in humility, that I may teach them My way? The soul temple must not be defiled by any loose or unclean practice.
Those whom I will acknowledge in the courts of heaven must be without spot and
wrinkle. {2MR 40.3}
“The Lord will use humble men to do a
great and good work. Through them He will represent
to the world the ineffaceable characteristics of the divine nature.--Letter
270, 1907, p. 2. (To J. E. White, Aug. 30, 1907.)
“The Lord will use humble men to do a
great and good work. Through them He will represent to the world the ineffaceable
characteristics of the divine nature (Letter
270, 1907).” {7BC 969.7}
“Multitudes Will Join the Armies of the
Lord.-- Many . . . will be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the
Spirit of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the Word of God, is as a
fire in their bones, filling them with a burning desire to enlighten those who
sit in darkness. Many, even among the uneducated, now proclaim
the words of the Lord. Children are impelled by the Spirit to go
forth and declare the message from heaven. The
Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings, and, casting
off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will
declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power. Multitudes will receive
the faith and join the armies of the Lord.”--Review
and Herald, July 23, 1895. {Ev 700.1}
“In the last solemn work few
great men will be engaged. . . . God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by
the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific
institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or
condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior
qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on
learned, self-important mortals.”--5T 80, 82 (1882). {LDE
204.3}
Did God use more humble men
than the Pharisees and Scribes in the prefigure ensample of Israel’s
experience? Did He use humble fishermen instead?
Will SDA Leaders Give
the Last Message to the World?
"Here we see that the church-the Lord's sanctuary-was
the first ["For the time is come
that judgment must begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17] to feel the
stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men [the leaders], those who had stood
as guardians of the spiritual interest of the people, had betrayed their
trust. They had taken the position that we need not look
for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days.
Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He
is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. ["He loves us so much, no matter what we do, we'll always be the
apple of His eye."] Thus Peace and safety' is
the cry from men who will never again
lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions
and the house of Jacob (the leadership) their sins. These
dumb
dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the
just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children ALL perish
together." Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211. (The chapter this is taken
from begins on page 207, quoting Ezekiel 9).
Questions:
· Why would Ezekiel 9
begin at HIS CHURCH, HIS SANCTUARY, if that church goes through?
· How could leaders who
had betrayed their sacred trust give the last message?
· How could leaders
charged with UNBELIEF by the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church, deliver the last message?
· How could leaders who
will NEVER
AGAIN,
show God’s people, THE HOUSE OF JACOB their sins, deliver the final message?
How could they prepare anyone to give that message?
· How could leaders
teaching peace and safety give the final message?
Ellen White’s Prophecy
on the Final Fate of the SDA Church Militant
"Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning
to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing
work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour
of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].
The angel
represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful
men, who, obedient to
the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this
warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the
religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their
connection with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul:
'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not
of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5].
The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to
lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare
for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the
people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS
CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet
destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of
religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence and faith--which alone
could render the service acceptable to God--was lacking. Instead of the graces
of the Spirit, there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness,
oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed their eyes
to the signs of the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness
to fail but they departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES
from his love. As they REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were
NOT FULFILLED to them." E.G. White, The
Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The Great
Controversy, 199, 200]. End of response.
Back to the Subversive movements document:
“This delusion was opened to me. This is an
intelligent man, of an acceptable address, and self-denying and full of zeal
and earnestness, and carrying an appearance of consecration and devotion. But
the word of God came from God to me, Believe them not,
I have not sent them!” {2SM 64.4}
“He claimed to believe the testimonies. He claimed
them to be true, and used them in the same manner you have used them to give
force and appearance of truth to his claims. I told them this message was not
of God; but it was deceiving the unwary. He would not be convinced. I told them
the visions of his daughter [Anna] were spurious, yet these visions, he
claimed, were like the visions of Sister White, testifying to the same things.
This daughter was deceiving the family and several others who believed these
false messages. I was shown that the young girl was not virtuous; but was
corrupt.” {2SM 65.1}
“If ever a man that I looked upon was inspired, this
man certainly was; but I told him plainly his inspiration was of Satan, not of
God. His message bore not the divine credentials.” {2SM 65.2}
“In order for him to give this message broadcast to
the world, he made an honest, conscientious young man believe it to be his duty
to steal the Review and Herald list. This is a State-prison crime, and the
young man ran away from Battle Creek. He did not dare return to Battle Creek
for some time. The time was set [by this fanatical teacher] for probation to
close, and as every prediction failed, the young man saw he had been deceived,
and he confessed his sin and is now an honorable member of the Battle Creek
church.” {2SM 65.3}
“Only two years since another man, by the name of O,
from Connecticut, came out with a message which he called new light in regard
to the message of the third angel. This intelligent family have, through this
delusion, separated from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Because I had borne
a decided testimony against this new light, so-called, in _____, Connecticut,
where he lived, he opposed me and my work and testimonies.” {2SM 65.4}
“The father of the O children attended the Conference
and Ministers Bible Institute held in Battle Creek; but he held himself aloof
and did not harmonize with the spirit of the meeting. He left for his home, and
began to leaven the little church in _____. If I had not labored in that place
they might have broken up the whole church withtheir
repudiating the truth and position of Seventh-day Adventists, and Mrs. White in
particular.” {2SM 65.5}
“At this same time, one, Mrs. P, came from Washington,
D.C., claiming to be wholly sanctified and to have the power of healing. This
spirit led many to become bewildered. The same accusing spirit was with themthat is, that the church was all wrong and God was
calling out a people who would work miracles. A large class of our people in
Battle Creek were being severed. I was moved upon by the Spirit of God, in the
night season, to write to our people in Battle Creek.” {2SM 66.1}
The Message to the Laodiceans
“God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people,
a church on the earth, whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has
committed to them sacred trust and
eternal truth to be given to the world. He would reprove and correct them. The
message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had
great light and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great
profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed
out of His mouth unless they repent. The message to pronounce the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church Babylon, and call the people of God out of her, does not come
from any heavenly messenger, or any human agent inspired by the Spirit of God.
{2SM 66.2}
Ron’s response: Ellen White said to consider time, place
and circumstance regarding her statements. In 1893, the time of the above
statement, she said that the church was heeding the Laodicean message and
receiving a refreshing from the Holy Spirit. However, the fact that the church
could and has become a sister to fallen Babylon, did
come from a heavenly messenger in the person of Ellen G. White. How? Why?
Because she prophesied the ultimate fall of the SDA church militant and Ezekiel
9 destruction beginning at that church. She stated under what conditions the
church would become the hold of every unclean and hateful bird. She said it
would become no better viewed by God, than Babylon, should the church
become/remain Laodicean, and the new movement, new organization, did worse than that! It became cold apostate committing
unpardonable sin in violation of Isaiah 8:9-12, via ecumenical liaison with
Babylon and forming a confederacy with it. End note.
“The True Witness says, I counsel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:18-21). {2SM
66.3}
I Rebuke and Chastenť
“Jesus is coming in to give the individual members of
the church the richest blessings, if they will open the door to Him. He does
not once call them Babylon, nor ask them to come out. But He says, As many as I love, I rebuke and chastenť (with messages of
reproof and warning) (Revelation 3:19). These reproofs I am not ignorant of. I
have given warnings because the Spirit of the Lord has constrained me to do so,
and have uttered reproofs because the Lord has given me words of reproof. I
have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God,
which has been given me for the church.” {2SM 67.1}
Ron’s response: Ellen White clearly stated the
conditions under which the church would become “the cage of every unclean and
hateful bird,” and those conditions have been fulfilled. There is no
consolation to being only a “sister to fallen Babylon,” when you receive the
same fate with judgment beginning at His Sanctuary, HIS CHURCH, 5T 211. End
note by Ron.
“I will say in the fear and love of God, I know the
Lord has thoughts of love and mercy to restore and heal them of all their
backslidings. He has a work for His church to do. They are not to be pronounced
Babylon, but to be as the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are
to be the living messengers to proclaim a living message in these last days.”
{2SM 67.2}
Babylon of Revelation 18
“And after these things I saw another angel come down
from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen,
is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul
spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all
nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings
of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I
heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be
not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her
double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her
double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much
torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am
no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death,
and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong
is the Lord God who judgeth her (Revelation 18:1-8).” {2SM 67.3}\
“The whole chapter shows that Babylon that has fallen
is the churches who will not receive the messages of warning the Lord has given
in the first, second, and third angels messages. They
refused the truth and accepted a lie. They refused the messages of truth. See2
Thessalonians 2:1-12. The message in the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is
plain and clearly defined. For all nations have drunk of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed
fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the
abundance of her delicaciesť (Verse 3). Anyone who reads this chapter
need not be deceived.” {2SM 68.1}
Ron’s comments: The SDA church has rejected the
warnings of the first, second and third angel’s messages, along with the
Midnight Cry of Matthew 25, by returning like a dog to its vomit to ecumenical
liaison with Babylon. End comments.
“How Satan would exult to have a message go broadcast
that the only people whom God has made the repositories of His law are the ones
to whom this message applies. The wine of Babylon is the exalting of the false
and spurious sabbath above the Sabbath which the Lord
Jehovah hath blessed and sanctified for the use of man, also [it is] the
immortality of the soul. These kindred heresies, and the rejection of the
truth, convert the church into Babylon. Kings, merchants, rulers, and religious
teachers are all in corrupt harmony.” {2SM 68.2}
Ron’s comments: How Satan has exulted that the
professing SDA church became Laodicean and has exceeded that foolish virgin
state by becoming cold apostate, by removing God and pillar doctrines of
pioneer Seventh-day Adventism. That is why Ezekiel 9 begins at His Sanctuary,
His church, and Satan will finally exult when that occurs as prophesied by
Ellen G. White.
The Church Not to Be Broken Up
Again I say, The Lord hath
not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the commandments of
God, Babylon. True, there are tares with the wheat; but Christ said He would
send His angels to first gather the tares and bind them in bundles to burn
them, but gather the wheat into the garner. I know that the Lord loves His
church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There
is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such
a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven
others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they
will come to nought. {2SM 68.3}
Ron’s comments: In 1893, when the above statement was
made, it seemed that there was no evidence that such a thing would be. But in
1905, Ellen White changed her mind and realized that a new movement, new
organization would be formed that would remove God. By prophesying that Ezekiel
9 would BEGIN at His church, His Sanctuary, 5T 409-411, and that the leaders
would NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob its sins, and cry only peace and
safety, as well as prophesying the final fate of the church in Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, pp. 199, 200
(quoted in this document), she surely knew that a separation would be
necessary, for that is exactly what occurred in the Jewish counterpart. Ellen
White called what happened in the last Ezekiel 9 destruction of Jerusalem, A.D.
70, a prefigure, GC p. 25, so what happened then must occur again in the next
literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. What happened then, in that TYPE?:
· First, Jesus gathered
out those who would take the gospel to the world, DA 232 and the following
statements:
"Christ was a
protestant...The Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They came out
and separated themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and
his followers did not invent the reformed religion. They simply accepted it as
presented by Christ and the apostles." E.G. White, Review
and Herald, vol. 2, 48, col. 2.
Paul left
“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9But when divers were hardened, and believed
not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them,
and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.” Acts 19:8, 9.
“Fearing that the
faith of the believers would be endangered by continued association with these
opposers of the truth, Paul separated from them, and gathered the disciples
into a distinct body.” E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles,
p. 285, 286.
"The recreant
priests added licentiousness to the dark catalogue of their crimes yet they
still polluted by their presence the tabernacle of the Lord, and, laden with
sin, dared to come into the presence of a holy God. As the men of Israel
witnessed the corrupt course of the priests, they thought it safer for their
families not to come up to the appointed place of worship. Many went from
Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they at
last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this
would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the
abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264,
col. 3, December 1, 1881.
"The
Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the
priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed
in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather
out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.
As the light and
life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of
Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again
the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the
Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating
themselves from the established church but the religious leaders would not
tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class,
who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of
the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of
God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often
those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the
churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God.
And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged
to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience."
E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 232.
"Even though
you may not be able to speak a word to those who are working on wrong
principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and silence may do more than words. Nehemiah refused
to associate with those who were untrue to principle, and he would not permit
his workmen to associate with them. The love and fear of God were his
safeguard-Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone. Thus as did Moses, you will
endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve
before evil associates, while you listen to their devices makes you one with
them. Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and
ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Review
& Herald Vol. 4, p. 42.
· Secondly, in the prefigure (type), the disciples gathered out all true
Christians from the apostate Temple organization from A.D. 34 – A.D. 66, into
home churches, at which time, they all fled to Pella to escape the Ezekiel 9
destruction which materialized 3 ˝ years later in A.D. 70. Fleeing to Pella was
in parallel to Ellen White’s counsel (5T 451, 464) to flee from the large
cities (last opportunity) at the Sunday Law legislation (not enforcement), and
then to the solitary places later. Pella was surrounded by mountains and all
the Israelites had to do was flee to the surrounding mountains 3 ˝ years later
when Titus returned to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem.
· Thirdly, if all the bad were to leave the church when the time of
trouble begins, Ezekiel 9 would not have to BEGIN AT HIS CHURCH, HIS SANCTUARY,
THE HOUSE OF JACOB, 5T 211.
· And fourthly, if there was no evidence that the SDA church militant
would fall, what about this statement from the 1884 Great Controversy,
pp. 199, 200:
"Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning
to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing
work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour
of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].
The angel
represented in prophecy as delivering this message,
symbolizes a class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of
his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was
not to be committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to
preserve their connection with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul:
'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5].
The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to
lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to
warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and
safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered with
pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful
observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility,
penitence and faith--which alone could render the service acceptable to God--was
lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit, there were
manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A BACKSLIDING
CHURCH closed their eyes to the signs of
the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail but they
departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his
love. As they REFUSED
TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were NOT FULFILLED to
them." E.G. White, The Spirit of
Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The Great
Controversy, 199, 200].
There is a statement by Ellen White wherein she
says that God reproves the Laodiceans that at last He might approve. According
to the above statement, does God end up approving of the SDA church militant?
How do we explain the
above statement with the following statement without making Ellen White
directly contradictory of
herself? If she made the above statement in 1884, and then the
following statement in 1893, how do we explain the “apparent” contradictions
she HERSELF made. I don’t believe she contradicter
herself and will explain further along.
The Church Not to Be Broken Up
“Again I say, The
Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the
commandments of God, Babylon. True, there are tares with the wheat; but Christ
said He would send His angels to first gather the tares and bind them in
bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into the garner. I know that the
Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into
independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the
least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false
message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive
advanced delusions, and they will come to nought.” {2SM 68.3}
The only way to interpret the above statement
so that Ellen White does not contradict herself when considering her 1884
statement that the church would fall, is:
· Consider time, place
and circumstance. In 1893, the church was receiving a refreshing and heeding
the Laodicean message said Ellen White to Stanton and Caldwell, the two men
calling the church Babylon at that time.
· If Ellen White truly
meant that there was no evidence that the SDA church militant would ever be
broken up or disorganized, she would have contradicted herself when she said
that Ezekiel 9 destruction begins at that church!
· If Ellen White truly
meant that there was no evidence that the SDA church militant would fall, she
would have grossly contradicted herself in Spirit
of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 199, 200, wherein in 1884, she prophesied the final
fate of the church; that God’s promises would not be fulfilled to that church.
· Another factor is
this: If the SDA apostate church militant was broken up or disorganized, there
would be no place for Ezekiel 9 to begin—no church, no sanctuary to begin at!
· Ellen White must have
meant that at the particular time (1893), because the church was doing right,
there was no evidence that the church was any part of Babylon at that time, and
the two men calling it Babylon were dead wrong, and her statement was
addressing this context. There was no evidence in 1893 that the church was any
part of Babylon, nor that it would be broken up into
pieces or independent atoms. By the way, that is not what happened in the prefigure with Israel, when the faithful left the
apostate Temple. The true church was preserved in home churches established by
the disciples, to wit:
Scripture on Home Churches
• Act 16:32 And they
spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
• Act 16:34 And when
he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
believing in God with all his house.
• Act 16:40 And they
went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they
had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
• Act 18:7 And he departed thence, and entered
into a certain [man's] house, named Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose
house joined hard to the synagogue.
• Rom 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is
in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of
Achaia unto Christ.
• 1Cr 1:11 For it hath
been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of
Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
• 1Cr 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know
the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they
have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
• 1Cr 16:19 The
churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord,
with the church that is in their house.
Ellen White on Home Churches
When the young men and women were
kept away from the Alpha of apostasy in the church, what did they do where did
they meet for worship?
Ellen White on Home Churches in
the Alpha of Apostasy:
"There is a little hope in
one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will
come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of
piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it
means to be a Christian." E.G. White, Manuscript Release #995, p. 5.
"Brother and sister Haskell
have rented a house in one of the best parts of the city, and have gathered
round them a family of helpers, who day by day go out giving Bible readings,
selling our papers, and doing medical missionary work. During the hour of
worship, the workers relate their experiences. Bible studies are regularly
conducted in the home, and THE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN connected with the
mission receive a practical, thorough training in holding Bible readings and in
selling our publications. The Lord has blessed their labors, a number have
embraced the truth, and many others are deeply interested." Review and Herald, September 7, 1905, Evangelism, p. 108. End Ron’s comments.
“There is in some of the members of the church, pride,
self-sufficiency, stubborn unbelief, and a refusing to yield their ideas,
although evidence may be piled upon evidence which makes the message to the
Laodicean church applicable. But that will not blot out the church that it will
not exist. Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is
the angels that do the work of separation.” {2SM 69.1}
Ron’s comments: Of course that is a true statement of
necessity, because if the professing SDA church were blotted out of existence,
how could Ezekiel 9 LITERALLY begin at HIS SANCTUARY, HIS CHURCH?
What about the tares and wheat dwelling together until
the harvest, which Ellen White defines as the end of probationary time. Here
are the problems. You decide for yourself:
Ellen White taught corporate responsibility
for evils in the church, to wit:
"There are fearful woes for those who
preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent
to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and
doctrine." Testimonies, vol. 1, p
261-62.
"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.
"It is IMPOSSIBLE for
you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. (II Corinthians
6:14-15 quoted). God and Christ and the heavenly host would have men know that
if he unites with the corrupt he will become corrupt." E. G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 4, p. 137.
"Christ has
plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the
church..." Christ's Object
Lessons, 71.
“This labor of
purifying the church is a painful work, but one that must not be neglected, if
the church would have the commendation of God.” E. G. White, Review and Herald Articles, 06-07-1887,
paragraph 16.
Jesus separated the disciples from open sin
apostasy. In every generation since there has been separation because of ONE
THING. The leaders would not accept light, DA 232. In 1844, Adventists
separated from open sin apostasy.
"Even though
you may not be able to speak a word to those who are working on wrong
principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and silence may do more than words. Nehemiah refused
to associate with those who were untrue to principle, and he would not permit
his workmen to associate with them. The love and fear of God were his
safeguard-Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone. Thus as did Moses, you will
endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve
before evil associates, while you listen to their devices makes you one with
them. Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and
ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Review
& Herald Vol. 4, p. 42.
Questions:
· Ellen White said to
leave those who are working on wrong principles? Is it working on wrong
principles for SDA leaders to NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob its sins?
· If it is
impossible for the wheat to mature amongst corrupt, open sinning thorns, how
could the wheat ever mature if they did not separate from such.
· Ellen White
said that those who persist in open sin must be separated. That is what Moses
did! But what if “dumb dog” watchmen will never again show the House of Jacob
its sins? How do you remove open sinners without showing them their sins? You
tell me friend, if you know the answer!
· If it is
impossible for the wheat to unite with the corrupt apostates (open sinners) and
become/remain pure, how can the wheat dwell with open sinners?
· Are open
corrupt sinners tares when we are not supposed to
pluck up the tares until the time of harvest? No, open sinners are not tares,
for they are to be removed if they persist in open sin. But what if the leaders
won’t remove the open sinners, and are indeed open sinning, apostate sinners
themselves? What then?
· Ellen White
defines tares as insincere Christians whose motives we would have to judge in
order to remove them, COL, 70-72.
· Do you see a
difference between tares and wheat dwelling together versus open sinning
corrupt thorns dwelling together?
· If open
apostate sinners are mere tares that can dwell together with the wheat until
the harvest, why did we leave the apostate open sinning churches in 1844? Why
did Jesus separate His followers from the apostate open sinning Jewish
organization of His day? Why did His disciples do the same?
· Do you see the
problem when the leaders will NEVER AGAIN show the House of Jacob its sins, so
how could they remove persistent open sinners?
· Do you see the
problem when Ellen White says that the members are corporately responsible for
the open sinners amongst them?
· If you can
answer all of the above questions for me in the church’s favor, I will close
down my website and go back to church. Get all the answers you can from your
leaders whom you pay to lead you, and answer all of the above problems! End
Ron’s comments.
“I warn the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be careful
how you receive every new notion and those who claim to have great light. The
character of their work seems to be to accuse and to tear down.” {2SM 69.2}
Ron’s comment: I’m presenting Ellen White’s LIGHT, and
trying to interpret it so that nothing contradicts, just as she instructed us
to do! End comment.
“My brother, I would say to you, Be
careful. Go not one step farther in the path you have entered upon. Walk in the light while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you
(John 12:35).” {2SM 69.3}
Ron’s comment: My brothers and sisters, Go not one
step farther until you can answer the questions posed by Ellen White’s teaching
which I enumerated further up. End comment.
“You complain of being treated coldly in Battle Creek.
Did you go with a humble spirit to those who are spiritual and say, Will you
examine the Scriptures with me? Shall we pray over this matter? I have not the light, I want it; for error will never sanctify the soul.ť
Can you be surprised that they would not give you all that confidence you might
think they should, after the experience they have passed through? Should not
the words of Christ have any weight? Beware of false prophets, which come to
you in sheep clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolvesť (Matthew 7:15).
Lo here and lo there is Christť will be multiplied. Let the believers heed the
voice of the angel who has said to the church, Press together.ť In unity is your strength. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. God hath a church, and Christ hath declared, The gates of hell shall not prevail against itť (Matthew
16:18). The messengers the Lord sends bear the divine credentials. I have
tender feelings toward you, but come to the light, I beseech of you.” Letter
16, 1893. {2SM 69.4}
Ellen White on the
Church Becoming Babylon—The Cage of Every Unclean and Hateful Bird
One of the greatest deceptions by professing SDA
leaders is the teaching that the church could never become Babylon or any part
of Babylon!
The SDA COUNTERPART FACTOR to the Jews
COUNTERPART:
"The Lord commanded one of his ancient servants, 'Pray not thou for this people [Jer. 7:16 and 11:14], neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to
me for I will not hear thee.' The prophet thus describes the sins which had
called forth this fearful denunciation: 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the
priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so and what will
ye do in the end thereof?' 'From the least of them even unto the greatest of
them, every one is given to covetousness and from the prophet even unto the
priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the
daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.' The apostles
declare that this state of things will find its COUNTERPART in the last days. Many have a form of godliness, but in their daily life deny the power
thereof. They have ceased to be convicted of their sins or alarmed at their
state. They say in their hearts, 'The church is flourishing. Peace and
spiritual prosperity are within her borders.' The words of the prophet may well
apply to these self-deceivers, 'They have chosen their own ways, and their soul
delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will
bring their fears upon them." E. G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-07-82.
"Shall the
Lord be compelled to say, `Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry
nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear thee'
[Jeremiah 7:16]? `Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath
been no latter rain....Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father,
thou art the guide of my youth' [Jeremiah 3:3-4]?...
We are to be judged by the light that has been given us,(159) and we can find
no excuse by which to extenuate our course." Review and Herald, Vol. 3, p 69-70
(August 1, 1893). (Brackets by Ellen White)
COUNTERPART: "In the time of the Saviour, the Jews had so covered over the
precious jewels of truth with the rubbish of tradition and fable, that it was
impossible to distinguish the true from the false. The Saviour came to clear
away the rubbish of superstition and long-cherished errors, and to set the
jewels of God's word in the framework of truth. What would the Saviour do if he
should come to us now as he did to the Jews? He would have to do a similar work
in clearing away the rubbish of tradition and ceremony. The Jews were greatly
disturbed when he did this work [As are SDAs today!]. They had lost sight of
the original truth of God, but Christ brought it again to view. It is our work
to free the precious truths of God from superstition and error." E.G.
White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 308.
“The Lord commanded
one of his ancient servants, ‘Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up
cry nor prayer for them; neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear
thee.’ The prophet thus describes the sins which had called forth this fearful
denunciation: "The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and
what will ye do in the end thereof?" ‘From the least of them even unto the
greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even
unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly,
saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.’" {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 8}
“The apostles declare that this state of things will find its counterpart in
the last days. Many have a form of godliness, but in their daily life deny the
power thereof. They have ceased to be convicted of their sins or alarmed at
their state. They say in their hearts, "The church is flourishing. Peace
and spiritual prosperity are within her borders." The words of the prophet
may well apply to these self-deceivers, "They have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their
delusions, and will bring their fears upon them.” {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 9}
Who else but SDA’s could qualify as the COUNTERPART of the Jews when
they both are “chosen people” who claim to keep the commandments of God and
constitute a remnant?!
If I can produce one statement by Ellen White
that says the church could become Babylon, SDA leaders and many of the laity
are dead wrong in their interpretation of other EGW statements they use to say
it will never happen! Here is more than one such statement that the church
could become part of Babylon:
"The
world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church,
forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed
corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, 'a cage of every unclean and hateful
bird.'" Testimonies to Ministers, p. 265.
The church was
married to the world in the early 1930's when a few leaders adopted the world's
Accreditation Standards for our educational facilities. Satan could have no
finer track to the youth of the church than through the world's education
curriculum.
"If the church
of God becomes LUKEWARM [LAODICEAN] it does not stand in favor with God any
more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the
habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every
unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive
the truth, and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling
themselves the commandment keeping people of God, and yet possess no more
vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of
the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of
God." E.G. White, Letter 35, 1898.
Did the church
become Laodicean? Has the church remained Laodicean? No! It has become both
COLD APOSTATE AND LUKEWARM. The liberals are cold apostate, and the
conservatives are lukewarm.
If Laodicea is not
regarded with any more favor by God than the fallen churches, and the call of Laodicea
is to all churches, then there is no difference between Laodicea and the fallen
churches as far as being in a fallen state is concerned. Different churches
believe different aspects of Babylonian teachings, but Ellen White equates them
all as far as falling from the favor of God is concerned, and as far as
constituting the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the
cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
"We must as a
people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel. Licentiousness, unlawful
intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us in a large degree...We are in danger of becoming a
sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches to become corrupted
and filled with every foul spirit, a
cage for every unclean and hateful bird, and will we be
clear unless we make decided movements to cure the existing evil? E. G. White,
Manuscript Releases No. 449, pp. 17, 18. (Letter 51, 1886 to Elder Butler) Testimonies
on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p. 193.
Does Sister White
say the GC SDA could become Babylon? Do the words: “The cage of every unclean and hateful bird” in Revelation 18,
define Babylon?
In The
Great Controversy, the first page of the first chapter, it says that the
apostate Jews felt themselves sitting as a queen that should see no sorrows.
Ellen White says that Adventists are walking exactly in the footsteps of the
ancient Jews who experienced Ezekiel 9 in A.D. 70 when their Temple and city of
Jerusalem were destroyed. She says that was a prefigure of the
end-time, ibid., p. 25.
“From the crest of Olivet, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. Fair and peaceful
was the scene spread out before Him. It was the season of the Passover, and
from all lands the children of Jacob had gathered there to celebrate the great
national festival. In the midst of gardens and vineyards, and green slopes
studded with pilgrims' tents, rose the terraced hills, the stately palaces, and
massive bulwarks of Israel's capital. The
daughter of Zion seemed in her pride to say, I sit a queen and shall see no
sorrow; as lovely then, and deeming herself as secure in Heaven's
favor, as when, ages before, the royal minstrel sang: "Beautiful for
situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, . . . the city of the
great King." Psalm 48:2. In
full view were the magnificent buildings of the temple. The rays of the setting
sun lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed from golden
gate and tower and pinnacle. "The perfection of beauty" it stood, the
pride of the Jewish nation. What child of Israel could gaze upon the scene
without a thrill of joy and admiration! But far other thoughts occupied the
mind of Jesus. "When He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over
it." Luke 19:41. Amid the universal rejoicing of the triumphal entry,
while palm branches waved, while glad hosannas awoke the echoes of the hills,
and thousands of voices declared Him king, the world's Redeemer was overwhelmed
with a sudden and mysterious sorrow. He, the Son of God, the Promised One of
Israel, whose power had conquered death and called its captives from the grave,
was in tears, not of ordinary grief, but of intense, irrepressible agony.” The Great Controversy, p. 17.
Now notice what God says Babylon
thinks of herself!
Revelation 18
1And after these things I saw
another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was
lightened with his glory.
2And he cried mightily with a
strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the
habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird.
7How much she hath glorified
herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her
heart, I sit a queen, and am no
widow, and shall see no sorrow. Revelation 18:1, 2, 7.
An Adventist Review
article says that the church has the same divorce rate per capita percentage
ratio as the world. Does that sound like the unlawful intimacies have been
curbed and the camp has been cleansed?
"In the
balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed.
She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. . . .I
saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness.
Stripping them of, He laid bare he defilement beneath. Then He said to me: 'Can
you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and
rottenness of character? How is the faithful city become an harlot?" E. G.
White, Testimonies, Vol. 8, pp.
247-250.
Can anyone tell me
when the church reformed and revived from it's harlot stance?
"The church
cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she
ONCE was. Her faith and her position in the world as they NOW ARE must be
COMPARED (JUDGED) with what they would have been if her course had been
continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of
the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond
with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, SHE WILL BE FOUND
WANTING." Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 83, 84.
"When this
church is weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, it is found wanting, having
left its first love....What is the fatal deficiency?--'Thou has left thy first
love...'
The light that
gladdened your heart when you first understood the message for this time is an
essential element in your experience and labors, and this has been lost out of
your heart and life. Christ beholds your lack of zeal, and declares that you
have FALLEN, and are in a perilous position." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, pp. 462-3.
"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.
"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.
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 pervert 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 Spirits
working." Selected
Messages, Vol. 2, p. 36.
Note by Ron: Most
SDA’s believe that all bad is shaken out of the church militant just before the
close of probation, but that is not true. Were that true, Ezekiel 9 would never
need to begin at His Church, His Sanctuary, 5T 211.
"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.
Then the Catholics
bid the Protestants to go forward, and issue a decree that all who will not
observe the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day, shall be slain.
And the Catholics, whose numbers are large, will stand by the Protestants. The
Catholics will give their power to the image of the beast. And the Protestants
will work as their mother worked before them to destroy the saints. But before their
decree bring or bear fruit, the saints will be delivered by the Voice of God.
Then I saw that Jesus' work in the sanctuary will soon be finished. And after
His work there is finished, He will come to the door of the first apartment,
and confess the sins of Israel upon the head of the Scape Goat. Then He will
put on the garments of vengeance. Then the plagues will come upon the wicked,
and they do not come till Jesus puts on that garment, and takes Hs place upon
the great white cloud. Then while the plagues are falling, the Scape Goat is
being led away. He makes a mighty struggle to escape, but he is held fast by
the hand that leads him. If he should effect his escape, Israel would lose
their lives. I saw that it would take time to lead away the Scape Goat into the
land of forgetfulness after the sins were put on his head.
The great white
cloud I saw was not the holy place, but entirely separate from the holy and
most holy place, entirely separate from the sanctuary.
Then the angel
repeated these words, and said, 'This is the time spoken of in Isaiah. He saw
that there was not man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. He had no
mediator between God and man, and these plagues could be withheld no longer,
for Jesus had ceased to plead for Israel, and they were covered with the
covering of the Almighty God, and they could live in the sight of a holy God,
and those who were not covered, the plagues fell upon them, for they had
nothing to shelter or protect them from the wrath of God." E.G. White,
Dorchester, Maine, October 23, 1850, Spalding--Magan's Unpublished Mss. Testimonies,
pp. 1, 2.
More on Ellen White on Babylon
"That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God
to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be--that is
past".--GCB April 3, 1901, p. 25. {Last Day Events 50.4}
Members of the SDA church always apply the
term nominal Adventists to the Adventists of 1844, in Albany, N.Y., who did not
join Ellen White’s group. It is true that Ellen White referred to them as
nominal Adventists, but does that mean that the SDA church could never become
nominal? Of course not, and it has indeed become nominal by forming a new
movement that has removed God, and pillar doctrines.
Important Question: If the church was never to
become nominal, why does Ezekiel 9 begin at His Church, His Sanctuary, just as
it did with the nominal Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70?
"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.
“The time will soon
come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be
carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p.
1303.
Who is modern Israel (below) in your
estimation?
The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1880: “The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a
solemn warning before the eyes of modern
Israel.”
“The desolation of
Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and
admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded
with impunity.” Prophets
and Kings, 416.
"I saw that God has honest children among
the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out,
ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly
receive the truth. Satan knows this and before the loud cry of the third angel
is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies,
that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.
He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working
for the churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the
fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant"
-Early Writings: page 261.
It is Now
Time to Become Obscure to All Nominal Adventists
"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.
Then the Catholics
bid the Protestants to go forward, and issue a decree that all who will not
observe the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day, shall be slain.
And the Catholics, whose numbers are large, will stand by the Protestants. The
Catholics will give their power to the image of the beast. And the Protestants
will work as their mother worked before them to destroy the saints. But before
their decree bring or bear fruit, the saints will be delivered by the Voice of
God. Then I saw that Jesus' work in the sanctuary will soon be finished. And
after His work there is finished, He will come to the door of the first
apartment, and confess the sins of Israel upon the head of the Scape Goat. Then
He will put on the garments of vengeance. Then the plagues will come upon the
wicked, and they do not come till Jesus puts on that garment, and takes Hs
place upon the great white cloud. Then while the plagues are falling, the Scape
Goat is being led away. He makes a mighty struggle to escape, but he is held
fast by the hand that leads him. If he should effect
his escape, Israel would lose their lives. I saw that it would take time to
lead away the Scape Goat into the land of forgetfulness after the sins were put
on his head.
The great white
cloud I saw was not the holy place, but entirely separate from the holy and
most holy place, entirely separate from the sanctuary.
Then the angel
repeated these words, and said, 'This is the time spoken of in Isaiah. He saw
that there was not man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. He had no
mediator between God and man, and these plagues could be withheld no longer,
for Jesus had ceased to plead for Israel, and they were covered with the
covering of the Almighty God, and they could live in the sight of a holy God,
and those who were not covered, the plagues fell upon them, for they had
nothing to shelter or protect them from the wrath of God." E.G. White, Dorchester, Maine, October 23, 1850, Spalding--Magan's
Unpublished Mss. Testimonies, pp. 1, 2.