The Variable Facets of Unpardonable Sin

Click to go to our Home Page


 

 

 

 

Dear Reader, 

There are a number of SDA preachers and members who are sighing and crying about many of Rome’s abominations and some of them like Walter Veith, Stephen Bohr, Vance Ferrell[R1]  and some lay members like Charles Wheeling and Kirk Weedman sigh and cry about some of the abominations in the SDA church. This has led some into wonderment as to who is really standing in the counsel of God at this time. Can one remain in an apostate church as long as he/she sighs and crys for all the abominations?

“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God, and murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? It is those who take their stand against them, and sympathize with those who commit wrong?--No, indeed! These, unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work, and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, will never receive the mark of God's sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of all the wicked, represented by the five men bearing slaughter weapons. 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 the man in linen, are those "that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in an agony, even sighing and crying.” {RH, June 8, 1886 par. 2}

In answer to my own question as to whether or not one can remain in an apostate church as long as he/she sighs and cries for ALL the abominations IN THE CHURCH, I will answer that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO, for if one told ALL the truth involving corporate responsibility and all the counsel of Scripture and Ellen White, he/she would be summarily dismissed from church membership.

Let’s take SDA pastors Stephen Bohr, Vance Ferrell Walter Veith and lay workers Charles Whelling and Kirk Weedman, as examples. Are they really teaching ALL the abominations that are done in the SDA church? I answer: Far from it!

·       Do they deal with the principle of corporate responsibility as taught by Scripture in Joshuah chapters 5 and 7 and by Ellen White? Not from what I have heard from them!

·       If they taught the Biblical principle of corporate responsibility, would they not be corporately guilty of the very abominations they decry?

·       Do they deal with what God defines as unpardonable sin in Jeremiah 11:9-15 [KJV]? Not from what I have heard from them!

·       Do they deal with the “strange fire” of the Celebration movement insofar as strange fire being unpardonable sin? Notice Jer. 11:15—when they do evil they rejoice. Is that not what SDA’s have done? They have committed much unpardonable sin evil, the very same things listed in Jer. 11:9-15, in principle, (and if you don’t know how and why ask me), and then they rejoice in their Celebration Movement which is straight from the Pentecostal movement, Vatican II, and Satan!

·       If Walter Veith, Stephen Bohr, Vance Ferrell, Kirk Weedman, and Charles Wheeling, as well as a host of other “in house reformers,” dealt faithfully with Jeremiah 11:9-15, they would have to instruct us not to pray for the leaders and a church that has committed unpardonable sin by committing the very same acts depicted in those verses of God’s Word.

·       Jeremiah 11:9-15 proves that any generation of God’s professed people can commit unpardonable sin on a generational basis, because probation had not closed for Israel in Jeremiah’s day and did not close until the stoning of Stephen, centuries later.

·       Do Walter Veith, Stephen Bohr, Charles Wheeling and Vance Ferrell decry the unpardonable sin of embracing the Trinity Doctrine? Not that I have heard from them! And what if they should do so? You know the result! Let me rephrase that: You SHOULD KNOW the result!

·       A.T. Jones quoted Martin Luther as saying that any Catholic could say anything he/she wanted to say against the church as long as they did not advocate separation from it because of the apostasy.

·       Is sighing and crying for the abominations enough? Is there a duty to separate from apostasy? Is it absolutely essential for spiritual maturity and purity?

"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.

"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature

 (see Luke 8:14). In the same way secular interests prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies. That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation [E.G. White, Christ's Object Lessons,  p. 50]  To them, justification is the sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of Jesus Christ." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 405.

If thorns make it IMPOSSIBLE for the wheat to mature, then it is logical to conclude that thorny-ground hearers are open sinners who should be removed from the camp. They are different from tares because the wheat and tares dwell together until the harvest. But the thorns are open, apostate sinners in the personal life and in the church. They should be removed, but they are not.

"Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive.  He knows our nature too well to entrust this work to us.  Should we try to uproot from the church those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make mistakes.  Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very one whom Christ is drawing to Himself, it would perhaps extinguish their last hope.  Many who think themselves Christians will at last be found wanting.  Many will be in heaven who their neighbors supposed would never enter there.  Man judges from appearance, but God judges the heart.  The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time." COL 71.

One does not have to judge the motives of an open sinner (thorn). So the tares must not be open sinners for one would have to judge their motives to remove them.

"Sins exist in the church that God hates, but they are scarcely touched for fear of making enemies. Opposition has risen in the church to plain testimony. Some will not bear it. They wish smooth things spoken unto them. And if the wrongs of individuals are touched, they complain of severity, and sympathise with those in the wrong .... When the church departs from God they despise the plain testimony, and complain of severity and harshness. It is a sad evidence of the lukewarm state of the church." Spiritual Gifts, Vol. II, pp. 283-284.

“For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the city. By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge: "A voice from the east! a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against Jerusalem and against the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides! a voice against the whole people!"-- Ibid . This strange being was imprisoned and scourged, but no complaint escaped his lips. To insult and abuse he answered only: "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" "woe, woe to the inhabitants thereof!" His warning cry ceased not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold.” The Great Controversy, p. 30.

 It was not enough to sigh and cry for all the woes of Jerusalem! (Ezekiel 9:6). The man should have separated with Christ and His disciples, Desire of Ages, 232. But he did not choose to heed that example of Christ and His followers, so he died in the slaughter he warned against. Will the “in house” reformers meet the same fate as the man who cried the woes of Jerusalem, but would not follow Jesus and His followers OUT?

"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.

The incidence of ignorance among all professing Christians concerning something as serious as corporate responsibility for unpardonable sin is most alarming.  Actually, there are quite a number of ways and means by which one can commit unpardonable sin.  Most professing Christians seem quite unaware of more than one or two ways man may commit such serious sin.  With the current popular concept that all one has to do to be saved is mentally assent to a belief in God, the concept of unpardonable sin is a remote, if not totally non-understood knowledge by the majority of professing Christians.  For that reason, I have compiled the following document so that no true reformer will come up short on this important issue which defines the different ways we may commit unpardonable sin.

 

1Jo 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  

Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.  

1Jo 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  

If all unrighteousness is sin and there is a sin unto death that we are not to pray for, it behooves us to understand the standard of all righteousness and when sin becomes unto death and to the point we are not to pray for it.

Jer 7:16 Therefore 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.

Jer 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Jer 14:11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for [their] good.

Jhn 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

I—Salvation Impossible for Those Who Have Once Been Enlightened, Partaken of the Holy Ghost, and then Fall Away 

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  Heb. 6:4. 

II—Willful, Persistent Rebellion After Receiving the Knowledge of Truth 

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:26-39. 

It is generally understood that the part about sinning wilfully means persisting in rebellion against God's commands. 

III—The SDA Church Leadership Committed Unpardonable Sin in 1930 by Speaking Against the Holy Ghost by Their Adoption of the Trinity Doctrine 

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come. 

Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Something About the Sacrifice of the Son Must be Eternal in Nature

The Everlasting Covenant or Testament, is what the Son of God did in order to Atone for sin. The wages of our sin is eternal death. The Son had to perform a sacrifice that was eternal to meet man’s penalty. That eternal sacrifice consisted of taking man’s humanity forever and thereby eternally forfeiting His DIVINE ONLY NATURE OF BEING—EXISTENCE.

Three days and nights in a tomb would not meet the conditions of the Everlasting Testament (Covenant). There would have been no atonement had the Saviour not met some form of everlasting death in the heavenly Sanctuary sacrifice. The Trinity Doctrine of Rome precludes this truth by teaching that the Holy Spirit was a separate person other than the life and soul of Christ for eternity. This is why Ellen White prophesied that the omega of apostasy would involve the Sanctuary and the Atonement GONE. That is what the Trinity Doctrine achieves: 

Sanctuary Gone Atonement Gone -- "In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done by medical missionary workers. Our ministering brethren were looking on, watching what was being done, but they did not seem to understand. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 152.

Is correct teaching on the personality of God and Christ (the Godhead) a pillar doctrine? Listen:

"Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor." {MR760 9.5}

One man, Leroy Froom, brought in the Trinity Doctrine in 1930, 15 years after Ellen White’s death. That doctrine removes the pillar, landmark, definition of the Holy Spirit by Ellen G. White, the gift of prophecy to the church.

The fact that the Atoning Act had to be of an eternal nature is verified by the following scripture:

Hbr 9:16 For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 

Hbr 9:17 For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

If Christ did not make any sacrifice of an eternal nature in the heavenly Sanctuary from the foundation of the earth, then the Testator Testament (Covenant) would have been void when He rose from the Tomb on day three, because at that time nothing about His nature would be dead eternally. He died eternally to His DIVINE ONLY STATE OF BEING to be combined with man forever.

    "In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.' He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the 'fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder." Isa. 9:6. God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. . . . Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love." {FLB 45.4}

     Christ bowed down in unparalleled humility, that in His exaltation to the throne of God, He might also exalt those who believe in Him, to a seat with Him upon His throne." {FLB 45.5}

The reason it is unpardonable to speak against the Holy Ghost is because that is the only medium whereby man may be reconciled and regenerated back into the image of God.  Ellen White says that the Holy Spirit is the life and soul of Christ.  She said that at His Incarnation, the Son was divested of (emptied Himself of) His Holy Spirit ONLY existence.  She said that Christ could not be in every place personally while cumbered with humanity. That means FOREVER—A FOREVER SACRIFICE, because she said that Christ retains His Humanity—thus, the attributes of His former Holy Spirit state of being are cumbered forever by His humanity. That is a sacrifice far exceeding the cross! And the Trinity Doctrine denies that eternal sacrifice—makes it IMPOSSIBLE by teaching that the Holy Spirit was always a third person, when that was not true until the sacrifice made at the foundation of the earth when the Son was slain in the Heavenly Sanctuary for man’s benefit. Thus, the plan of salvation was made BEFORE man was created.

Any doctrine that teaches against the “highest good, crowing sacrifice that heaven could bestow,” is speaking, teaching, against the Holy Spirit, and that is unpardonable sin. That is the greatest sin Rome has committed along with the changing of God’s law, but to teach against the highest good, crowing sacrifice has to be the greatest abomination. And Rome brags about that abomination being its central doctrine. Such a teaching served Rome and even apostate Judaism well, because in not teaching the people about the highest good, crowning sacrifice of Christ, they did not appreciate Him as they should have. If the cross is supposed to generate love and appreciation for our Saviour, what would knowledge of the Heavenly Sanctuary Sacrifice achieve when that sacrifice on the part of Christ involves eternity?!

Ellen White said that the greatest good, crowning gift, is the gift of Christ’s Holy Spirit as a reconciling agency and a power that takes away sin.  Without that power, no one can be saved.

Nothing could speak more against the Holy Spirit than to deny the “highest good, crowning sacrifice that heaven can bestow”—namely the gift of the Divine Nature Holy Spirit of the Son of God for our regeneration and power to overcome sin. That is what the Trinity Doctrine achieves because it teaches that the Holy Spirit existed as a third person before the Incarnation of the Son of Man. Thus, the “highest good, crowning sacrifice of the Incarnation in the heavenly Sanctuary when the Son was “slain from the foundation of the earth[R2] , is totally denied by the Trinity Doctrine, which Rome boasts as its central doctrine.

 Mrs. White defined the Holy Spirit as the life and soul of Christ. That means that the Son was the Holy Spirit before His Incarnation. So both always existed as eternal dignitaries, but the Son emptied Himself of His Holy Spirit ONLY existence at His Incarnation and took on our humanity

 To speak against that power, that greatest good, crowning sacrificial gift, is unpardonable sin.  Also, she said that to attribute manifestations of the Holy Spirit to Satan, is unpardonable sin.  So be careful as to what you brand as being of Satan.  You might thereby be committing unpardonable sin[RB3] .

"Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin.

In the gift of the Spirit [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE], Jesus gave to man the highest good that heaven could bestow....

The Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail....

It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress his own character upon the church." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, May 19, 1904, vol. 5, p. 42.

“Cumbered with humanity Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them to go to His Father and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit.” E.G. White, (Manuscript Releases Volume 14 (No’s 1081-1135) MR No.1084.

IV—Offering Strange Fire unto the Lord and The SDA Celebration Movement 

Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 

Num 3:4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. 

Num 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. 

Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

The following dissertation on strange fire is by Ellen G. White, and comes from the pamphlet entitled Confrontation 

     Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who ministered in the holy office of priesthood, partook freely of wine and, as was their usual custom, went in to minister before the Lord. The priests who burned incense before the Lord were required to use the fire of God's kindling, which burned day and night and was never extinguished. God gave explicit directions how every part of His service should be conducted, that all connected with His sacred worship might be in accordance with His holy character. And any deviation from the express directions of God in connection with His holy service was punishable with death. {Con 80.1}  

     No sacrifice would be acceptable to God which was not salted or seasoned with divine fire, which represented the communication between God and man that was opened through Jesus Christ alone. The holy fire which was to be put upon the censer was kept burning perpetually. And while the people of God were without, earnestly praying, the incense kindled by the holy fire was to arise before God mingled with their prayers. This incense was an emblem of the mediation of Christ. {Con 80.2}  

     Aaron's sons took the common fire, which God did not accept, and they offered insult to the infinite God by presenting this strange fire before Him. God consumed them by fire for their positive disregard of His express directions. All their works were as the offering of Cain. There was no divine Saviour represented. Had these sons of Aaron been in full command of their reasoning faculties they would have discerned the difference between the common and sacred fire. The gratification of appetite debased their faculties and so beclouded their intellect that their power of discernment was gone. They fully understood the holy character of the typical service, and the awful solemnity and responsibility assumed of presenting themselves before God to minister in sacred service. {Con 81.1}  

     Some may inquire, How could the sons of Aaron have been accountable when their intellects were so far paralyzed by intoxication that they were not able to discern the difference between sacred and common fire? It was when they put the cup to their lips that they made themselves responsible for all their acts committed while under the influence of wine. The indulgence of appetite cost those priests their lives. God expressly forbade the use of wine that would have an influence to becloud the intellect. {Con 81.2}  

     "And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." {Con 81.3}  

     The special injunction of God to the Hebrews in reference to the use of intoxicating liquors should be regarded in this dispensation. But many who are holding the highest responsibilities in our country are, in too many cases, liquor-and-tobacco slaves. {Con 82.1}  

     Jurors in our courts, by whose verdict the innocence or guilt of their fellow men is decided, are many of them liquor-drinkers and tobacco-inebriates. And, while under the influence of these, which becloud the intellect and debase the soul, judgment is given upon the liberty and life of their fellow men. {Con 82.2}  

     Perverted judgment in many cases clears from all punishment the greatest criminals, when the safety of society demands they should receive the full penalty of the law which they have violated. {Con 82.3}  

     The men who are legislating, and those who are executing the laws of our government, while they are violating the laws of their being in debasing appetites, which stupefy and paralyze the intellect, are not fitted to decide the destiny of their fellow men. Those only who feel the necessity of keeping soul, body, and spirit in conformity to natural law, to the end that they may preserve the right balance of their mental powers, are fitted to decide important questions in reference to the execution of the law of our land. This was the mind of God by decrees to the Hebrews that wine should not be used by those who ministered in holy office. {Con 82.4}  

     Here we have the most plain directions of God, and His reasons for prohibiting the use of wine; that their power of discrimination and discernment might be clear, and in no way confused; that their judgment might be correct, and they be ever able to discern between the clean and unclean. Another reason of weighty importance why they should abstain from anything which would intoxicate is also given. It would require the full use of unclouded reason to present to the children of Israel all the statutes which God had spoken to them. {Con 82.5}  

     Anything in eating and drinking which disqualifies the mental powers for healthful and active exercise is an aggravating sin in the sight of God. Especially is this the case with those who minister in holy things, who should at all times be examples to the people and be in a condition to properly instruct them. {Con 83.1}  

     Notwithstanding they have this striking example before them, some professed Christians will desecrate the house of God with breaths polluted with the fumes of liquor and tobacco. And the spittoons are sometimes filled with the ejected spittle and quids of tobacco. The effluvia is constantly arising from these receptacles, polluting the atmosphere. Men professing to be Christians bow to worship God, and dare to pray to Him, with their lips stained by tobacco, while their half-paralyzed nerves tremble from the exhausting use of this powerful narcotic. And this is the devotion they offer to a holy and sin-hating God. Ministers in the sacred desk, with mouth and lips defiled, dare to take the sacred word of God in their polluted lips. They think God does not notice their sinful indulgence. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." God will no more receive a sacrifice from the hands of those who thus pollute themselves, and offer with their service the incense of tobacco and liquor, than He would receive the offering of the sons of Aaron, who offered incense with strange fire. {Con 83.2}  

   God has not changed. He is as particular and exact in His requirements now as He was in the days of Moses. But in the sanctuaries of worship in our day, with the songs of praise, the prayers, and the teaching from the pulpit, there is not merely strange fire but positive defilement. Instead of truth being preached with holy unction from God, it is sometimes spoken under the influence of tobacco and brandy. Strange fire indeed! Bible truth and Bible holiness are presented to the people, and prayers are offered to God, mingled with the stench of tobacco! Such incense is most acceptable to Satan! A terrible deception is this! What an offense in the sight of God! What an insult to Him who is holy, dwelling in light unapproachable! {Con 84.1}  

     If the faculties of the mind were in healthful vigor professed Christians would discern the inconsistency of such worship. Like Nadab and Abihu, their sensibilities are so blunted that they make no difference between the sacred and common. Holy and sacred things are brought down upon a level with their tobacconized breaths, benumbed brains, and their polluted souls, defiled through indulgence of appetite and passion. Professed Christians eat and drink, smoke and chew tobacco, and become gluttons and drunkards, to gratify appetite, and still talk of overcoming as Christ overcame! {Con 84.2}  

V— Strange Fire and SDA Celebration, Carnival Type Worship 

God said that when Israel did evil, they rejoiced, Jeremiah 11:9-15.  I have in my possession a video taped at the youth meeting of an SDA Campmeeting in Oregon.  The tape is distributed by Kirk Weedman, an engineer and member of the church.  He proves from SDA sources that the celebration movement is being sponsored by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.  He quotes them as saying that as of 1996, they intended to plant 10 new Celebration churches per month in North America alone.  There is shouting, loud, rock music, drums, dancing, drama with crude and lewd gestures, and the entire procession is uncouth, to put it mildly, and especially since this type of goings on is supposed to be worship offered to the Lord.  Ellen White predicted such eventualities JUST BEFORE PROBATION CLOSES.  The Lord has shown this writer that He regards all such presentations of “worship” as “strange fire.”  SDA leaders went to Babylon in search of the Holy Spirit.  This is what they found and term “the working of the Holy Spirit:”

"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. 

VI—Jeremiah 11:9-15 – Conspiring (Syn. Confederating) With God’s Enemies and Returning to the Iniquities of our Forefathers 

The adept will recognize a fulfillment of the following Scripture within the apostate SDA church: 

 9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy[RB4]  is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. 14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. 15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest[RB5] 

VI Isaiah 8:9-13 – Association, Counsel, Girding and Confederacy With God’s Enemies 

·       I realize that most SDA’s do not understand the dangers of belonging to the World Council of Churches and its subsidiary organizations such as National Councils of Churches and local Ministerial Associations.  But God, Ellen White, and quite a few reformer SDA's do understand the implications, some of which are:

·       We cannot call folk out of Babylon when we are in liaison with it ourselves.

·       God says an emphatic "unpardonable sin" NO, in Isaiah 8:9-16 and Jer. 11:9-15.

·       The church must agree not to "steal sheep" in order to be a member of the WCC.

·       The church has watered down its three angel's message commission to call out of Babylon.

·       The church now goes primarily for the "unchurched," as the WCC demands.

·       The Celebration video I have stresses over and over that its mission is to the unchurched, even though the commission of Rev. 14 is to the world.

·       Ellen White said not to even hear their counsel.  As "observers," the church hears their counsel.

·       The church has NEVER, in over 40 years of ecumenical liaison, converted one person via its contacts with Babylon via ecumenism.  Dr. B.B. Beach admitted that to me.

·       The SDA church lost Dr. Earl Hilgert, its first representative to the ecumenical movement from Andrews.  He converted to become a Babylonian preacher.

·       The 144,000 bride of Christ is not defiled with "women," fallen churches, Rev. 14:1-4.

·       The WCC is controlled by Babylon and Babylon is controlled by Satan.  Would Jesus become a member of Babylon, Satan's Synagogue? Would He support those who did so?  Considering the coarse of Nehemiah, would Jesus even hear the counsel of Satan?


Those employed in any department of the work whereby the world may be transformed, must not enter into alliance with those who know not the truth. The world know not the Father or the Son, and they have no spiritual discernment as to the character of our work, as to what we shall do or shall not do. We must obey the orders that come from above. We are not to hear the counsel or follow the plans suggested by unbelievers. Suggestions made by those who know not the work that God is doing for this time will be such as to weaken the power of the instrumentalities of God. By accepting such suggestions, the counsel of Christ is set at nought. . . . {TM 463.2} 

If I joined and/or supported the Church of Satan, would I be responsible for either or both?  The SDA church pays large sums to Babylon as annual dues.  Those payments are used to support Babylon and her errors.  If the sacred tithe is so used, and it is, is every tithe payer responsible? 

These are just a few of the reasons we should not be so aligned.  Is violation of Isaiah 8:9-13 unpardonable sin?  Jeremiah 11:9-15 leaves no room for doubt that it is unpardonable if engaged willfully, knowingly.  The penalty is not reconciliation, but being broken in pieces.  Ellen White said that all who heard and understood the first and second angel’s messages in 1844, but then or later rejected them, received a “shut door” on salvation.  

"Any connection with infidels and UNBELIEVERS which would identify us with them is FORBIDDEN by the word. We are to come out from them and be separate. in no case are we to link ourselves with them in their plans or work." E. G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, 482.

"I saw that since the second angel proclaimed the fall of the churches, they have been growing more and more corrupt. They bear the name of being Christ's followers yet it is IMPOSSIBLE to distinguish them from ...Satan has taken FULL POSSESSION of the churches as a body." E.G. White, Early Writings, 273. 

If any church should link itself with unbelievers, we are to come out from them and be separate. The instruction is clear. Notwithstanding the SDA church’s' links with the ecumenical movement, it has linked in PARTNERSHIP with the Catholics at their hospital in Colorado. Every MEMBER of the church is responsible for this corrupt liaison with unbelievers. This act alone calls for separation.

VIIAnanias and Sapphira  and Their Unfulfilled Pledge to the Lord

In Acts 4:34, 34, we read that the Christians attending Peter’s sermon, decided to sell their lands and houses and dedicate the money to the cause.  In chapter 5:1,2, we find that Ananias with Sapphira his wife, sold their possession and Ananias kept back part of the price, that had been dedicated to the Lord. Both Ananias and Sapphira fell dead when confronted by their dishonest act.  This is another example of unpardonable sin. 

Acts 5


1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 

VIII—Achan’s Disobedience to an Express Command of God and Corporate Responsibility 

 "The plain straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them." Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 269.

I asked the Lord to show me how the above statement could be supported from the Bible.  He showed me the story of Achan. The following verses demonstrate Biblical basis for Ellen White’s above statement that teaches corporate responsibility for open sin in the church.

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.  Joshua 6:18, 19. 

In the following verse, the anger of the Lord is kindled against the entire camp of Israel because of the sin of one man, Achan.  Thirty-six men perished because of Achan’s sin.  His immediate family who knew of his sin, but did not disclose it to Joshua, also perished with Achan.  This demonstrates the principle of corporate responsibility open sin in the church as clear as anything could.  But Christians in general and professing Seventh-day Adventists in particular, are not amenable to this principle of God’s justice. 

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.  Joshua 7:1 

Why would God curse the entire camp because of one man’s sin?  I will tell you why friend.  Because God knows better than anyone else that open sin corrupts and effects the wheat, making it impossible for the wheat to mature.  God says that it is impossible to unite or be united with the corrupt and remain pure.  If there is anything “automatic” in the Christian experience, it is this truth.  One will be automatically corrupted by joining with the corrupt.  It is a fact of Biblical principle.  We know the Biblical example of how leaven affects the whole lump of flour.  The leaven of open sin in the church does the same thing to the wheat. 

"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.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

But there is even more pertinent Bible evidence of the effects of uniting with the corrupt.  The thorns (open sin) will choke the wheat making it impossible to mature.

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.  Luke 8:4-7.

"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature (see Luke 8:14). In the same way secular interest prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies. That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation (COL 50). To them, justification is the sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of Jesus Christ." SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 405.  

Joshua 7 

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. 4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! 8 O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? 10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. 14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man. 15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. 16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: 17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: 18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. 

VIX—Ellen White and the Shut Door of 1844 

Ellen White said that all who heard and understood the Midnight Cry and the first and second angel’s messages in the spring and summer of 1844, and afterward rejected those messages, had a shut door as far as their salvation was concerned.  Here is her statement:

"I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844. All who saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and rejected that light were left in darkness. And those who accepted it and received the Holy Spirit which attended the proclamation of the message from heaven, and who afterward renounced their faith and pronounced their experience a delusion, thereby rejected the Spirit of God, and it no longer pleaded with them." {1BIO 260.8}

Clearly, it was unpardonable sin for all who heard and understood, but thereafter rejected the messages of 1844.  That same principle now applies to the members of the SDA church who KNOWINGLY violate the same messages by ecumenical liaison with Babylon.  I recognize that many do not know of the church’s involvement in realigning the church with Babylon, in violation of those messages to come out and be a separate, holy, and peculiar people, but for those who do, if they remain members, they have a shut-door on salvation.   This is a most serious warning because Ellen White saw in vision that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to get back on the heavenly pathway again:

 "While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me, 'Look again, and look a little higher.' At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way of, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming....

By this time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new name." E.G. White, Word to the Little Flock, p. 14.  

The Midnight Cry of Matthew 25, gave power to the first and second angel’s messages that called people out of the fallen churches. All who ever hear and understand the Midnight Cry, and thereafter take their eyes off the path lighted by that cry, by re-joining the fallen churches they were called out of by membership or confederacy in ASSOCIATION, COUNSEL AND/OR COUNCIL, GIRDING, OR LINKING WITH THEM IN ANY WAY WHICH WOULD IDENTIFY US WITH THEM, FALL OFF THE PATH AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET ON THE PATH AGAIN, WHICH IMPLIES SHUT DOOR UNPARDONABLE SIN! God's Word implies the same unpardonableness for such offense in Isaiah 8:9-20, and Revelation 14:9, 10. This is what Ellen White really meant by "shut door!" Those who have committed this unpardonable sin have grossly perverted her meaning. This is a most serious consideration every SDA should weigh heavily before he/she determines to enter ecumenical relationship with and/or join any of the fallen churches.

X—Unrepentent Continuum Violation of God’s Law

The commandments of God were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant.  The civil laws as contained in ordinances were placed in a pocket on the outside of the Ark of the Covenant.  It was the civil laws that were nailed to the cross—the laws as contained in ordinances, or commonly referred to as the laws of Moses.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

The commandments of God are not after the commandments and doctrines of men.  They define sin for all mankind.

Rev 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.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  

Psa 32:1 [[[A Psalm] of David, Maschil.]] Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.  

XI—All Who Change the Truth of God Into a Lie Commit Unpardonable Sin

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  Romans 1:21-31.

XII—All Who Change One Jot or Tittle of the Law Commit Unpardonable Sin

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

At the cross of Jesus Christ, all was finished as far as the required sacrifices for man’s sins was concerned.  But all is not fulfilled in the Sanctuary of Heaven, until sin is eradicated from the universe.  All who change one jot or one tittle of God’s ten commandment law and/or do away with it entirely, commit unpardonable sin and serve the greatest mission of Satan.  Satan is the great rebel who contested the need for God’s law and says that it cannot be kept even with the aid of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, just as Christ overcame with all of the weight of the world’s sin laid upon Him. 

Without a law or standard defining sin, God would have to impugn and impute sin after the fact in order to judge man as guilty of anything.  That would be like a judge giving you a speeding ticket when there was no speed sign defining the speed limit.  Only an unjust God would do such a thing, and if the law was nailed to the cross, we would have an unjust God.  Satan is the great rebel against God’s law, and all who teach that the law was done away with at the cross, are Satan’s agents.

W. W. Prescott on Unpardonable Sin

     "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope;" and it will certainly be helpful to recall the lessons of the past in god's dealing with his people, and to know the interpretations that he himself gives to these experiences, and then to see how they apply to our own times and to our own experience. Although god's people had departed from him, and had done those things that dishonored him, yet there was provision so that it was not necessary that Jerusalem should be overthrown, or that they should go into captivity. God makes abundant provision for sins of ignorance, but he makes no provision for willful sins. The unpardonable sin is the sin that refuses to be pardoned; it is the refusal to hear him concerning a sin, and to turn from that sin; it is the sin of refusing his instruction; it is the sin of unbelief concerning his warnings; it is the stubbornness of the heart that will not turn from sin, which seals the fate of any people or any individual. {RH, may 19, 1903 par. 2}

Ellen White Statements on Unpardonable Sin

  In rejecting Christ the Jewish people committed the unpardonable sin; and by refusing the invitation of mercy, we may commit the same error. We offer insult to the Prince of life, and put Him to shame before the synagogue of Satan and before the heavenly universe when we refuse to listen to His delegated messengers, and instead listen to the agents of Satan, who would draw the soul away from Christ. So long as one does this, he can find no hope or pardon, and he will finally lose all desire to be reconciled to God. {DA 324.3}

24-32 (ch. 9:34; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15). Eyes Closed to Evidence.--They [the Pharisees] attributed to satanic agencies the holy power of God, manifested in the works of Christ. Thus the Pharisees sinned against the Holy Ghost. Stubborn, sullen, ironhearted, they determined to close their eyes to all evidence, and thus they committed the unpardonable sin (RH Jan. 18, 1898). {5BC 1092.4} 

Did Ellen White say That the SDA Church Militant Would Commit Unpardonable sin?

It has been maintained by some that Ellen White never said that the SDA Church militant would commit unpardonable sin. The following statement indeed says just that, and it is written in the past-perfect tense, which goes into the future and speaks of the future as though it were already fulfilled. The statement appears in the 1884 Great Controversy, and Vance Ferrell, an SDA minister who did much research into that book, before deciding to re-publish it, says that the 1844 edition was written specifically for Seventh-day Adventist, with the 1884 and 1911 editions being written for the world. Here is Ellen White statement that clearly implies that the corporate church would commit unpardonable sin. This does not mean that a remnant would escape out of it:

"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, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH TESTIMONIES, VOL 4].

No wonder the church stopped the publication of the 1884 Great Controversy, until an Adventist doctor re-published it. The church took him to court, but the doctor won on the grounds that prophetic material out of copyright dating is not copyrightable.

Some try to maintain that the above statement refers only to the fallen churches since 1844. That is not correct, and we will prove such. First of all, the statement begins in the present tense with the words: "Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning to prepare them for his coming. The statement was written in 1884, so it must apply to God's people since that time also.
The words "...a backsliding church..." must refer to a church that was once not backslidden, and that can refer only to the SDA church militant. Ellen White said in 1893, that the church was keeping the commandments of God, and heeding the Laodicean Message. Since that time, the professing SDA Church has grossly backslidden from that stance, to the point that on April 21, 1903, Ellen White called the church a harlot, Testimonies, vol. 8, 250.

However, a more important "greater light" proof that the above statement is inclusive of the current day professing Seventh-day Adventist Church is found in Ezekiel 5 and 9. Ellen White said that Ezekiel 9 would have another literal fulfillment involving the entire world, but that it would "begin at His sanctuary," Testimonies, vol. 5, 211. Ezekiel chapter 5 is another description of Ezekiel 9, and in verses 1-5 of Ezekiel 5, we find that only a small remnant is "taken in thy skirts," and the remaining three-thirds of the church, symbolized by Ezekiel shaving his head and forming the hairs into three separate parts, is destroyed.

How do we know from the "greater light" of Scripture that Ezekiel 9 will be literally repeated? We can reasonably conclude such from Ezekiel 5:9, where God mentions that in connection with the scenario of Ezekiel 5, He will do the worst thing He has ever done or will ever again do, and of course that refers to the great time of Jacob's trouble at the end-time, depicted in Matt. 24:21. If the AD 70 fulfillment of Ezekiel 5 and 9, was the worst thing God has ever done or will ever do again, then such would not occur at the end-time. So Ezekiel 5 and 9, prove that Ellen White's 1884 Great Controversy statement is most apropos to the current day professing Seventh-day Adventist church, and aptly, prophetically, if you will, describes its ultimate outcome.

"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.

And then there is the alarming statement by Ellen White that the corporate SDA church would be brought down to hell:

"And thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than for thee." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, vol. 3, p. 69, col. 3.

One SDA Pastor, posting on an internet chat group, said that the above statement was written by Ellen White on a day when she was just discouraged with the church! Mighty powerful statement for a prophetess to make about the SDA Church, just because she might have been "discouraged with the church." And what right would anyone have to interpolate Ellen White's words? Does the Pastor in mention, propose to read Ellen White's mind?

These statements along with Ellen White's many statements that the SDA church was and obviously still is following in the tracts of ancient Israel, demonstrate that her 1884 Great Controversy, pp. 199-200 statement is applicable to the professing SDA Church today.

"If those who have been in the church for weeks and months have not learned the straightness of the way, and what it is to be Christians, and can not hear all the straight truths of the word of God, it were better that they were cut off from Israel.  It is too late in the day to feed with milk.  If souls, a month or two old in the truth, who are about to enter the time of trouble such as never was, can not hear all the straight truth, or endure the strong meat of the straightness of the way, how will they stand in the day of battle?  Truths that we have been years learning must be learned in a few months by those who now embrace the Third Angel's Message....There is no need of milk after souls are convinced of the truth.  As soon as the conviction of truth is yielded to and the heart willing, the truth should have its effect, the truth will work like leaven, and purify and purge away the passions of the natural heart.  It is a disgrace for those who have been in the truth for years to talk of feeding souls who have been months in the truth, upon milk.  It shows they know little of the leadings of the Spirit of the Lord, and realize not the time we are living in.  Those who embrace the truth now will have to step fast.  There will have to be a breaking up of heart before the Lord, a rending of heart, and not the garment."  E.G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 33-34 (Manuscript 1, February 12, 1854).

It is not for us to conclude who has and who has not committed unpardonable sin.  We are to encourage one another to accept and obey the truth.  However, we cannot ignore clear counsel by the Word of God and Ellen White concerning what constitutes unpardonable sin.

God says that His people perish for a lack of knowledge. Is there any excuse for that lack? Nay! There is no excuse for men with the acumen of a Walter Veith, Stephen Bohr, Charles Wheeling, Vance Ferrell, or Kirk Weedman, an engineer.

God bless,

Ron Beaulieu

 


 [R1]Vance Ferrell was an ordained SDA minister. He said in his auto-biography that he resigned his credentials because he felt he could not abide by principle and still remain a pastor. Then he tells his financing patrons that he is not telling them to leave or stay! Is there something wrong with this picture?

 

 Bible on Yea or Nay  2Cr 1:17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

 

Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto [him] they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art [one] of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.

 

Jam 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

 

Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 

 [R2]And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev. 13:8

 

 [RB3]Author Dr. Henry Morris insightfully clarifies the true nature of Pharisees' sin:

"The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways, but the true meaning cannot contradict other Scripture. It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man,' God said long ago (Genesis 6:3). ...In the context of this particular passage (Matthew 12:22-32), Jesus had performed a great miracle of creation, involving both healing and casting out a demon, but the Pharisees rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit. Instead they attributed His powers to Satan, thus demonstrating an attitude permanently resistant to the Spirit, and to the deity and saving Gospel of Christ" [Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Study Bible (Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, 1995), emphasis added.].

 

What is the difference between the two types of blasphemy described in Matthew 12? Why is the sacrifice of Christ ineffective as an atonement for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

 

Respected Christian theologian Dr. F.F. Bruce writes,

 

"...Speaking against the Son of man might be due to a failure to recognize Him for what He is. So Paul recalls how in his pre-Christian days he thought it his duty to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But if, having seen the light on the Damascus road, he had deliberately closed his eyes to it and kicked out against the goad which was directing him into the true path, that would have been the sin against the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit persuades and enables men to accept Christ and enjoy the saving benefits of the gospel [John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; Acts 7:51], but if anyone refuses to submit to the Spirit's gracious constraint, preferring to call good evil and evil good, how can the gospel avail for him? The deliberate refusal of the grace of God is the one sin which by its very nature is irremediable" [F.F. Bruce, Answers to Questions (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973), pp. 46-47.].

 

"Anyone who rejects the Holy Spirit's convicting influence and does not repent will not be forgiven, 'neither in this world, neither in the world to come' (Matthew 12:32)" [Ray Comfort, "The Unpardonable Sin," The Evidence Bible (Gainesville, Florida: Bridge-Logo Publishers, 2001).].

 

"Jesus thus regards blasphemy against the Spirit--permanently rejecting his identity (Matthew 12:18) as attested by the Spirit's works (12:28)--as the worst of sins" [Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 80.].

 

 

The situation was similar at the biblical city of Capernaum, where Jesus Christ performed an extraordinary number of miracles and taught many important public lessons. In the end, most of the people of Capernaum remained unrepentant. Like the Pharisees, they persistently rejected the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit who bore witness to the true identity of Jesus Christ, their Messiah.

 

They turned away from the abundant light graciously provided to them, and chose to remain forever in their unbelief. They persistently refused to listen to anything the Holy Spirit was telling them. Like the Pharisees, they chose self-imposed blindness. For this reason, they were strongly judged. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48). Thus, along with nearby Chorazin and Bethsaida, Capernaum received a very stern warning from Jesus, "It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matt. 11:21-24).

 

How can one know whether or not they have committed "the unforgivable sin?"

 

Bible researcher Larry Richards points out,

 

"This reference to an unforgivable sin has troubled many unnecessarily. Those who are concerned that they have done something for which Jesus will not forgive them show a very different attitude from the Pharisees, who refused to accept even the most compelling evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. The person who rejects the Spirit's message about Jesus will not be forgiven. Anyone who seeks Jesus' forgiveness certainly has not committed the unforgivable sin" [Larry Richards, 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1993), pp. 241-242.].

 

Scholars Morris and Clark further explain:

 

"Persons deeply troubled by a guilty conscience often fear that they have sinned too grievously for God to forgive and save them. Others, dominated by a carnal, calculating attitude, hope to sin to the limit and then come to Christ to escape the consequences. Thus with radically different motives, both ask 'Is it possible to sin beyond the point of being saved?'

 

God's ability to save is not limited by man's sinfulness. In fact, every person, before he accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, is in total rebellion against God, though sinfulness many not manifest itself with equal intensity in every person. The Apostle John taught believers,

 

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world' (1 John 2:1-2).

 

The Bible is filled with examples of people who receive forgiveness for all manner of wickedness, for 'the Lord's hand is not short that it cannot save' (Isaiah 59:1). God's boundless grace prompted Paul to exclaim, 'When sin increased, grace abounded all the more' (Romans 5:20). And Paul's personal testimony showed God's redemptive purpose and power were not limited by man's sinfulness, thus encouraging those who feared they had sinned too grievously to be saved (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

 

While God's ability to save is boundless, the Bible clearly shows that there are certain conditions under which He will not save. For instance, God will not save those who neglect or despise Christ's sacrifice in an effort to find an alternate salvation plan.

 

'For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins' (Hebrews 10:26).

 

 

 

This warning pertains to those who 'trample under foot the Son of God' and regard His blood as unclean (Hebrews 10:29). God the Father has appointed His Son's sacrifice as the sole way of salvation and will not grant salvation to those who seek it by any other means.

 

The book of Romans contains the most concentrated teaching on the subject of salvation to be found in the New Testament, and it begins with a panorama of man's sin. Those who rejected God's revelation concerning Himself and worshipped idols instead were given over by God to a more severe moral defilement (Romans 1:22-24). Those who worshipped man instead of God received equally severe punishment: 'For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions,' the result being rampant immorality and homosexuality (Romans 1:26-27).

 

'And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper' (Romans 1:28).

 

Several conclusions can be drawn from these warnings.

 

First, God actively punishes unconfessed sin not only after the sinner's death, but also during that person's life.

 

Also, moral degradation is a punishment of God upon willful spiritual ignorance.

 

Further, when God gives one over to a depraved mind, that person's sensitivity to sin is deadened and his chances for repentance thereby lessened.

 

Yet, God does not violate man's freedom, forcing man to sin and then judging him for it. Rather, men in this state welcome more extreme degradation and actively embrace it: 'who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness' (Ephesians 4:19).

 

Consequently, Scripture states both that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God, and that God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 8:32; 9:12).

 

The Holy Spirit convicts men of their sin and draws them to the Savior (John 16:8-11; 3:5-6). Yet, at least once in history, God has punished iniquity by withdrawing His Spirit. Prior to the world-wide flood, God said, 'My Spirit will not strive with man forever,' and then He appointed 120 years during which repentance could be made (Genesis 6:3). Instead of repenting, man used God's longsuffering as an occasion for further sin, and only Noah and his family were spared.

 

God has further declared that He will not forgive blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31).

 

...If one's conscience is bothering him to the point that he feels he is too guilty for God to forgive, he has the assurance of God's Word that forgiveness is possible. The very fact that he is bothered by his sinfulness shows that the Holy Spirit has not abandoned him nor has God given him over to a depraved mind.

 

The real danger arises, however, when one can continually violate God's law and never feel the slightest remorse over his rebellion. The Bible's warning should jolt the spiritually flippant out of their complacency:"

 

"It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6).

 

[Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark, The Bible Has the Answer, Revised and Expanded (Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books, 1976), pp. 244-246, emphasis added.]

 

George Standison and staff further clarify,

 

" With this exception [the unforgivable sin], there is nothing in the category of human offenses that is beyond the reach of divine forgiveness. 'Although your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.' is the ancient promise given by God to men; 'though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool' [Isaiah 1:18].

 

This is not to be interpreted, however, as an encouragement to sin, but rather as an inducement to repentance. If the sinner truly repents, imploring God's forgiveness for Jesus' sake; if he accepts him as Saviour and endeavors, with divine help, to live thereafter a Christian life, he will not only be forgiven, but will be kept from falling back into sin. This is the teaching of the Gospel, and it is exemplified in innumerable cases today. We have many instances everywhere of great sinners who have forsaken their evil ways and who are now living the new life, sustained by divine power.

 

'There's a wideness in God's mercy

Like the wideness of the sea.'

 

We have the Saviour's distinct assurance, 'Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out' [John 6:37]. There is no punishment for sins that are forgiven. 'Jesus paid it all'" [Bible Answers for 1000 Difficult Questions (Iowa Falls: World Bible Publishers)].

 

If you, dear reader, have not yet truly repented of your sins and asked our Lord Jesus Christ for the total forgiveness and salvation that only his precious blood can provide, we urge you to do so immediately. It is the wisest decision you can ever make!

 

 

Can a Christian commit "the unpardonable sin?"

 

Authorities agree that the answer is no. Here's why.

 

"If we refuse to accept the testimony given to us by the Holy Spirit, fight off His conviction of our sin, and never accept the truth, we will never come to Christ for salvation. In Christ, all our sins are forgiven. Therefore, no Christian can commit the unpardonable sin. Only an unregenerate person who refuses to come to Christ will die in his or her sins" [Freedom in Christ (Knoxville, Tennessee: FICM.org, 2002).].

 

"...once you accept Jesus, that part of the Holy Spirit's job is complete, thus you can't blaspheme His work. Naturally, He continues to work with you, and you can be stubborn and resist Him as a Christian, but you can't blaspheme Him. Live unproductively, carnal and unspiritual, possible. But commit the unpardonable sin? It's just not possible for a true Christian. Remember what Paul said: [Darrin Yeager (DYeager.org, 2002).]

 

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1).

 

A true Christian cannot commit a sin for which there is no forgiveness. We are protected by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). Although we can certainly grieve the Holy Spirit, he still seals us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). The Apostle Paul was confident "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, NKJV).

 

Bear in mind, however, if someone who claims to be a Christian is responding to the Holy Spirit and Christ in a way very similar to that of the Pharisees, despite the strong witness of the Holy Spirit and abundant exposure to the truth of God's Word, it is highly doubtful that the person was ever saved. Only God knows for sure. The evidence clearly points to an unregenerate heart.

 

"...for a tree is known by its fruit. ...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:33-34, NKJV).

 “The Pharisees had long observed the sinless Jesus Christ. They observed him doing undeniable and powerful miracles that were, at the very least, clear evidence of power supplied by God. These impressive miracles were freely given in pure kindness and love to release people from obvious suffering and the oppression of horrible evil.

 

However, the Pharisees had so firmly set their hearts against accepting Jesus as the Messiah that they rejected the obvious truth before them and perversely twisted it to influence the crowds. They publicly credited the most ultimately evil being in the universe with these precious, godly miracles. In other words, they called the precious and holy Spirit of God, the unclean spirit of Satan. In effect, they charged Jesus Christ with sorcery; one who is in league with Satan. These charges are not only appalling and extremely serious, but clearly absurd.

 [RB4] Syn. Confederacy

 [RB5]Celebrates!  The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, determined in the mid 1990’s to plant 10 new SDA Celebration churches a month within that division.