My
Vision on the State of
The
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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In the night hours of
March 28, 2012, what began as a dream, transformed into a vision that
interpreted the dream. I was shown a view that
appeared as the largest tornado I have ever seen, and it was bearing down on
the General Conference Office and facilities. It was so enormous in scope,
seemingly spanning in every direction I looked to either side of me. I then saw
similar devastatingly angry appearing tornadoes bearing down, in what I can
only describe as a kaleidoscopic fashion, on what my angel said was every
Seventh-day Adventist church in the world. The visuals were terrifying to me. I
heard the wind twirling extremely loud, and any thought of it still sends
chills up and down my spine.
I saw and heard the
storm hit the General Conference offices, and the sights and sounds were beyond
description. I kept calling on the name of Jesus of Nazareth, God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob until the ear piercing noise subsided. No one at the General
Conference and its offices was spared. No members of the organized SDA church
around the world at that time, were spared. Noone who had heard the final message to God’s
church, but rejected it, was spared. Men, maidens and little children were strewn over the earth. This was unmistakenly symbolic
of the literal fulfillment of the Ezekiel 9 slaughter upon the professing SDA
Church around the world. Ezekiel chapter 5 depicts the church being made and example of and this is it. It was a most terrible sight to behold. I shrank back
in abject horror. I glanced at my angel for I was anxious to see his response.
At first He appeared very sad, but, readily that appearance changed to calm,
and his apparent manner was that justice had finally been meted out.
I was reminded of how
God’s people had become lax and careless because judgment had long been delayed
in the hope that more would repent, and for the reason that the bride was
making herself ready by the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Then I was made to
understand that the tornados were of metaphorical inference, not literal, and were indicative of the Ezekiel 9 destruction that will
surely come. The faithful of God’s fold will have left the apostate SDA
denomination before the Ezekiel 9 slaughter, just as all the faithful amongst
the Jews separated from the apostate Temple to join the disciples in home
churches from A.D. 34 and on, until they fled to Pella, 3 ½ years before the
Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in A.D. 70.
I was then shown that
the flagship paper of the church, the Adventist
Review, is in a state of abomination; that it has never been so shallow and
without substance. I saw that it’s publishers were
indifferent and careless, and that they are as deaf and dumb regarding what is
about to engulf the church on a world scale. I was shown that they are not
warning the members of the church of what is coming because the leaders are
filled with the scourge of unbelief, and that when the crunch comes, they plan
to join in with the fallen and play things out to their bitter end, for when
they wake up to their plight, it will be well nigh too late.
I saw that there are
some amongst the leadership who are secretly members of secret societies and
that their indifference to the principles of true Adventism has had an
impressionable affect on the others, so that they are in a state of stupor and
disarray as to what to do by way of making any meaningful attempt at preparing
God’s people for what is about to engulf the entire world. Like Judas, the
leaders have betrayed their sacred trust and now they can only fatalistically
await their eternal doom.
I was shown that the
number of the lost in the church will be in proportion to the spirit of
indifference to present truth and the state of the world. I saw that not one in
one-thousand is preparing for the greatest time of trouble that has ever tested
and plagued mankind and that they are merely playing church for social and/or
job related reasons. I was told that the leaders are responsible for this state
of the church, and that the sheep they lead tend to never aspire much higher
than those they follow. The members reflect the peace and safety carelessness,
and clamor for the world that their leaders demonstrate by their lives, and
their disregard for the counsels of God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy.
My angel Gabriel
expressed disdain and utter disgust at how church leaders have consulted and
relied upon the counsel of fallen Babylon, and the world, over and above the
gift of prophecy that God so lovingly provided to the church for its
edification. “And ah, the price, the price,” my angel said, with bowed head,
and a forlorn look, as one who had just experienced the loss of all in life
that he held dear. The strong emotion emitted by the painful look was
contagious and emotive, and it caused me great pain of heart.
I was told how
ignorant the Seventh-day Adventist people are of the abominations of the
church, and how even some who are aware of them are reticent to sigh and cry
about them and warn their fellow Adventists. God tells us to sigh and cry for
the abominations in the church, while the sheeple and
their leaders, by their “We are the people of the Lord” arrogance, act out the
exclamation: WHAT ABOMINATIONS?!
I saw the following
words as written across the sky outlined with what appeared as blood admixed
with burning flame. I was emphatically told that these words apply to every
person who has ever had the privilege of hearing the truth. I was told that
this process is part and parcel of the duty to sigh and cry for all the
abominations in the church:
18When
I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning,
nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same
wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine
hand.
19Yet
if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou
hast delivered thy soul.
20Again,
When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness,
and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because
thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness
which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at
thine hand.
21Nevertheless
if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not
sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy
soul. Ezekiel 3:18-21
By way of
confirmation, I was shown that SDA leaders have committed whoredom with
Babylon. I was told that by means of this whoredom, SDA leaders have stepped
off the Midnight Cry lighted path and just how serious this error is.
Inspiration says that it is then impossible to get back on that pathway to heaven. WTLF, p. 14.
That, my friends, connotes unpardonable sin.
My angel told me that
for SDA leaders to think they can convert members of fallen Babylon by joining
their brothel associations, councils, girdings and
confederacies, is like a prostitute thinking she can
convert other prostitutes by joining their brothel while doing what they do.
They only feel more justified because of being joined by yet another of their
kind.
I was shown that it is
just as impossible to give the truth in a fallen church, as it would be for a
prostitute to convert the madam of a brothel, while playing the role of a harlot
herself. Jesus went amongst sinners for the purpose of recovering them from
their sins, but He did not join their associations, seek their counsel, and
gird with their councils and confederacies in order to influence them. Jesus
did not join Mary Magdalene in her harlotry in order to convert her, but I was
shown that is exactly what the church has done with Babylon by joining her
councils, listening to, and heeding her antichrist counsel on issues of eternal
consequence, and finally confederating with her (betrothing her) in lieu of
Christ Jesus. Inspiration to the church instructs that we are not to even hear
their counsel! I was reminded that the only option for all who commit such sin
is being broken in pieces, Isaiah 8:9-12.
The history of Solomon
was recounted to me and I was told to show God’s people and the world the
subtle, deceptive path pursued by the once wisest man the world has ever known.
My angel told me that some foolish individuals are of the notion that the
church can do as Solomon did and be saved anyway. Said my
angel: “There is no excuse for such a course, because God’s people have the
history of Solomon’s mistakes, and his history was given in Holy Writ for the
express purpose that all should avoid his pitfalls.”
I was shown that the
foolish virgins imagine in their minds that we can commit all the follies of
God’s first chosen people and still be saved, regardless of having their
history as an example. I was shown that the reason for their false security in
light of the abominations they commit, is that they
take presumptuous refuge in their superficial Sabbath-keeping, and use their
knowledge as a license to violate what they know, as though knowledge, without
obedience, could save them in spite of themselves.
I was vividly shown that
God’s people harbor the misconception that since the end-time test is on the
Sabbath, they think that if they keep the right day, they are holy, and will
pass all God’s tests of character, but this is the folly of all foolish
virgins. I was also shown that refuge in Sabbath keeping is why Seventh-day
Adventists don’t heed the Laodicean message to buy gold tried in the fire,
faith that works by the self-sacrificing love of Christ indwelling the heart,
mind and soul. They tend to feel that their salvation is secure if they keep
the Sabbath, and this is the ultimate false sense of security and deceptive
legalism.
It was primarily
apostasy outside the realm of the Sabbath-keeping of the Jews that sealed their
fate, and so it will be with God’s second chosen people. Because of the
apostasy of both of God’s chosen peoples, they really didn’t/don’t keep the
Sabbath properly as well.
My angel pointed to
the fall of God’s first chosen people, the Jews, and their destruction in A.D.
70, as constituting the fallaciousness of such notions that we can imperviously
imbibe their same errors in principle. I was shown that the same principle
applied to Solomon and his apostasy. The truth of this principle was stressed
three times to me! My angel then stated: “It is a distinct mystery to the
unfallen angel’s why God’s second chosen people think they can apostatize and
be saved anyway, when His first chosen were destroyed for their apostasy even
though they prided themselves on Sabbath observance and law-keeping, while
being neglectful of the broader principles of the law?”
Here is the history of
Solomon I was told to relate from Prophets
and Kings. My angel told me that discerning minds will see the parallel
between Solomon’s errors and those of the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist
church, as regards the 1957 Evangelical Conferences with Dr.’s Walter Martin
and Donald Grey Barnhouse, and additional violations of God’s Word in seeking
out the counsel of unbelievers (fallen Babylon), and ecumenically compromising
with those who cannot be distinguished from the world. Early Writings, pp. 273, 274. I was told to stress the similarities between the
ecumenical pursuits of Solomon with unbelievers, and those of Seventh-day
Adventist leaders with the support of the laity.
I’m not enclosing the
following treatise on Solomon in quotation marks, but if I add notes, I will
say: Note by Ron. If we cannot learn from the mistakes of the wisest man who
ever lived, then we are no more than foolish virgins.
While Solomon exalted
the law of heaven, God was with him, and wisdom was given him to rule over
Israel with impartiality and mercy. At first, as wealth and worldly honor came
to him, he remained humble, and great was the extent of his influence.
"Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the
land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt." "He . . . had
peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every
man under his vine and under his fig tree, . . . all
the days of Solomon." I Kings 4:21, 24, 25. {PK 51.1}
But after a morning of
great promise his life was darkened by apostasy. History
records the melancholy fact that he who had been called Jedidiah,--"Beloved
of the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:25, margin),--he who had been honored by God
with tokens of divine favor so remarkable that his wisdom and uprightness
gained for him world-wide fame, he who had led others to ascribe honor to the
God of [BEGIN P.52] Israel, turned from the worship of Jehovah to bow
before the idols of the heathen. {PK 51.2}
Hundreds
of years before Solomon came to the throne, the Lord, foreseeing the perils
that would beset those who might be chosen as rulers of Israel, gave Moses
instruction for their guidance. Directions were given that he who should sit on
the throne of Israel should "write him a copy" of the statutes of
Jehovah "in a book out of that which is before the priests the
Levites." "It shall be with him," the Lord said, "and
he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the
Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside
from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may
prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of
Israel." Deuteronomy 17:18-20. {PK 52.1}
In connection with
this instruction the Lord particularly cautioned the one who might be anointed
king not to "multiply wives to himself, that his heart
turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself
silver and gold." Verse 17. {PK 52.2}
With these warnings
Solomon was familiar, and for a time he heeded them. His greatest desire was to
live and rule in accordance with the statutes given at Sinai. His manner of
conducting the affairs of the kingdom was in striking contrast with the customs
of the nations of his time--nations who feared not God and whose rulers
trampled underfoot His holy law. [BEGIN P.53] {PK 52.3}
[Solomon’s Apostasy]
In seeking to
strengthen his relations with the powerful kingdom lying to the southward of
Israel, Solomon ventured upon forbidden ground. Satan knew the
results that would attend obedience; and during the earlier years of Solomon’s reign--years glorious because of the wisdom, the
beneficence, and the uprightness of the king--he sought to bring in influences
that would insidiously undermine Solomon’s loyalty to principle and cause him
to separate from God. That the enemy was successful in this effort, we know from
the record: "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king
of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the City of
David." I Kings 3:I. {PK 53.1}
From a human point of
view, this marriage, though contrary to the teachings of God’s law, seemed to
prove a blessing; for Solomon’s heathen wife was converted and
united with him in the worship of the true God. Furthermore,
Pharaoh rendered signal service to Israel by taking Gezer, slaying "the
Canaanites that dwelt in the city," and giving it "for a present unto
his daughter, Solomon’s wife." I Kings 9:16. This city Solomon rebuilt and
thus apparently greatly strengthened his kingdom along the Mediterranean
seacoast. But in forming an alliance with a heathen nation, and sealing
the compact by marriage with an idolatrous princess, Solomon rashly disregarded
the wise provision that God had made for maintaining the purity of His people.
The hope that his Egyptian wife might be converted was but a feeble excuse for
the sin. {PK 53.2}
For a time God in His
compassionate mercy overruled this terrible mistake; and the king, by a wise
course, could [BEGIN P.54] have checked at least in a large measure the evil
forces that his imprudence had set in operation. But Solomon had
begun to lose sight of the Source of his power and glory.
As inclination gained the ascendancy over reason, self-confidence increased,
and he sought to carry out the Lord’s purpose in his own way. He
reasoned that political and commercial alliances with the surrounding nations
would bring these nations to a knowledge of the true
God; and he entered into unholy alliance with nation after nation. Often these
alliances were sealed by marriages with heathen princesses. The commands of
Jehovah were set aside for the customs of surrounding peoples.
{PK 53.3}
Solomon flattered
himself that his wisdom and the power of his example would lead his wives from
idolatry to the worship of the true God, and also that the alliances thus
formed would draw the nations round about into close
touch with Israel. Vain hope! Solomon’s mistake in
regarding himself as strong enough to resist the influence of heathen
associates was fatal. And fatal, too, the deception that led him to hope that
notwithstanding a disregard of God’s law on his part, others might be led to revere
and obey its sacred precepts. {PK 54.1}
The king’s alliances
and commercial relations with heathen nations brought him renown,
honor, and the riches of this world. He
was enabled to bring gold from Ophir and silver from Tarshish in great abundance. "The king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as
plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the
sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance." 2 Chronicles 1:15.
Wealth, with [BEGIN P.55] all its attendant temptations, came in Solomon’s day
to an increasingly large number of people; but the fine gold of character was
dimmed and marred. {PK 54.2}
So
gradual was Solomon’s apostasy that before he was aware of it; he had wandered
far from God. Almost imperceptibly he began to trust less
and less in divine guidance and blessing, and to put confidence in his own
strength. Little by little he withheld from God that unswerving
obedience which was to make Israel a peculiar people, and he conformed more and
more closely to the customs of the surrounding nations. Yielding
to the temptations incident to his success and his honored position, he forgot
the Source of his prosperity. An ambition to excel all other nations in
power and grandeur led him to pervert for selfish purposes the heavenly gifts
hitherto employed for the glory of God. The money which
should have been held in sacred trust for the benefit of the worthy poor and
for the extension of principles of holy living throughout the world, was selfishly absorbed in ambitious projects. {PK
55.1}
Engrossed in an
overmastering desire to surpass other nations in outward display, the king
overlooked the need of acquiring beauty and perfection of character. In seeking
to glorify himself before the world, he sold his honor and integrity. The
enormous revenues acquired through commerce with many lands were supplemented
by heavy taxes. Thus pride, ambition, prodigality, and
indulgence bore fruit in cruelty and exaction. The
conscientious, considerate spirit that had marked his dealings with the people
during the early part of his reign, was now changed. From
the wisest [BEGIN P.56] and most merciful of
rulers, he degenerated into a tyrant. Once the
compassionate, God-fearing guardian of the people, he became oppressive and
despotic. Tax after tax was levied upon the people, that means might be
forthcoming to support the luxurious court. {PK 55.2}
The people began to
complain. The respect and admiration they had once cherished for their king was
changed into disaffection and abhorrence. {PK 56.1}
As a safeguard against
dependence on the arm of flesh, the Lord had warned those who should rule over
Israel not to multiply horses to themselves. But in
utter disregard of this command, "Solomon had horses brought out of
Egypt." "And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out
of all lands." "Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen:
and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen,
whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles I:16; 9:28; I Kings 10:26. {PK 56.2}
More and more the king
came to regard luxury, self-indulgence, and the favor of the world as
indications of greatness. Beautiful and attractive women were brought from
Egypt, Phoenicia, Edom, and Moab, and from many other places. These women were
numbered by hundreds. Their religion was idol worship, and they had been taught
to practice cruel and degrading rites. Infatuated with their beauty, the king
neglected his duties to God and to his kingdom. {PK 56.3}
His wives exerted a
strong influence over him and gradually prevailed on him to unite with them in
their worship. Solomon had disregarded the instruction that
God had given to serve as a barrier against apostasy, and [BEGIN P.57] now
he gave himself up to the worship of the false gods. "It
came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after
other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the
heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of
the Zidonians, and after Milcom
the abomination of the Ammonites." I Kings II:4,5. {PK 56.4}
On the southern
eminence of the Mount of Olives, opposite Mount Moriah, where stood the
beautiful temple of Jehovah, Solomon erected an imposing pile of buildings to
be used as idolatrous shrines. To please his wives, he placed huge idols,
unshapely images of wood and stone, amidst the groves of myrtle and olive.
There, before the altars of heathen deities, "Chemosh,
the abomination of Moab," and "Molech, the
abomination of the children of Ammon," were practiced the most degrading
rites of heathenism. Verse 7. {PK 57.1}
Solomon’s course
brought its sure penalty. His separation from God through communication with idolaters was his ruin.
As he cast off his allegiance to God, he lost the mastery of himself. His moral
efficiency was gone. His fine sensibilities became blunted, his conscience
seared. He who in his early reign had displayed so much wisdom and sympathy in
restoring a helpless babe to its unfortunate mother (see I Kings 3:16-28), fell so low as to consent to the erection of
an idol to whom living children were offered as sacrifices.
He who in his youth was endowed with discretion and understanding, and who in
his strong manhood had been inspired to write, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways
of death" (Proverbs 14:12), in later years departed so far [BEGIN P.58]
from purity as to countenance licentious, revolting rites connected with the
worship of Chemosh and Ashtoreth. He who at the
dedication of the temple had said to his people, "Let your heart therefore
be perfect with the Lord our God" (I Kings 8:61), became himself an
offender, in heart and life denying his own words. He mistook license for
liberty. He tried--but at what cost!--to unite light with darkness, good
with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial. {PK
57.2}
From being one of the
greatest kings that ever wielded a scepter, Solomon became a profligate, the
tool and slave of others. His character, once noble and manly, became enervated
and effeminate. His faith in the living God was supplanted by
atheistic doubts. Unbelief marred his happiness, weakened his principles, and
degraded his life. The justice and magnanimity of his early
reign were changed to despotism and tyranny. Poor, frail human nature! God can
do little for men who lose their sense of dependence upon Him. {PK 58.1}
During these years of
apostasy, the spiritual decline of Israel progressed steadily.
How could it be otherwise when their king had united his interests with satanic
agencies? Through these agencies the enemy worked to confuse the minds of
the Israelites in regard to true and false worship, and they became an easy
prey. Commerce with other nations brought them into intimate contact
with those who had no love for God, and their own love for Him was greatly
lessened. Their keen sense of the high, holy character of God was deadened.
Refusing to follow in the path of [BEGIN P.59] obedience, they transferred
their allegiance to the enemy of righteousness. It came to be a
common practice to intermarry with idolaters, and the Israelites rapidly lost
their abhorrence of idol worship. Polygamy was countenanced. Idolatrous mothers
brought their children up to observe heathen rites. In the lives of some, the
pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of the
darkest hue. {PK 58.2}
Christians are to keep
themselves distinct and separate from the world, its spirit, and its
influences. God is fully able to keep us in the world, but we are not to be
of the world. His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches over
His children with a care that is measureless. But He requires
undivided allegiance. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will
hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24.
{PK 59.1}
Solomon was endued
with wonderful wisdom, but the world drew him away from God. Men
today are no stronger than he; they are as prone to yield to the influences
that caused his downfall. As God warned Solomon of his danger, so today
He warns His children not to imperil their souls by affinity with the world.
"Come out from among them," He pleads, "and be ye separate, . . . 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." 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. {PK 59.2}
In the midst of
prosperity lurks danger. Throughout the ages, riches and honor have
ever been attended with peril to humility and spirituality. It
is not the empty cup [BEGIN P.60] that we have difficulty in carrying; it is
the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction
and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to
spiritual life. Unless the human
subject is in constant submission to the will of God, unless he is sanctified
by the truth, prosperity will surely arouse the natural inclination to
presumption. {PK 59.3}
In the valley of
humiliation, where men depend on God to teach them and to guide their every
step, there is comparative safety. But the men who stand, as it were, on a
lofty pinnacle, and who, because of their position, are supposed to possess
great wisdom--these are in gravest peril. Unless such men make God their
dependence, they will surely fall. {PK 60.1}
Whenever pride and
ambition are indulged, the life is marred, for pride, feeling no need, closes
the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven.
He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of the
grace of God, through whose efficiency the truest riches and the most
satisfying joys are won. But he who gives all and does all for Christ will know
the fulfillment of the promise, "The blessing of
the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow
with it." Proverbs 10:22. With the gentle touch of grace the Saviour
banishes from the soul unrest and unholy ambition, changing enmity to love and
unbelief to confidence. When He speaks to the soul, saying,
"Follow Me," the spell of the world’s enchantment is broken. At the
sound of His voice the spirit of greed and ambition flees from the heart, and
men arise, emancipated, to follow Him. [BEGIN P.61] {PK
60.2}
Chap.
4 - Results of Transgression
Prominent among the
primary causes that led Solomon into extravagance and oppression was his
failure to maintain and foster the spirit of self-sacrifice.
{PK 61.1}
When, at the foot of
Sinai, Moses told the people of the divine command, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them," the
response of the Israelites was accompanied by the appropriate gifts. "They
came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made
willing," and brought offerings. Exodus 25:8; 35:21. For the building of
the sanctuary, great and extensive preparations were necessary; a large amount
of the most precious and costly material was required, but the Lord accepted
only freewill offerings. "Of every man that giveth it willingly
with his heart ye shall take My offering," was
the command repeated by Moses to the congregation. Exodus 25:2.
Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice were the [BEGIN P.62] first
requisites in preparing a dwelling place for the Most High. {PK 61.2}
A similar call to self-sacrifice
was made when David turned over to Solomon the responsibility of building the
temple. Of the assembled multitude David asked, "Who then is willing to
consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?" 1 Chronicles 29:5. This
call to consecration and willing service should ever have been kept in mind by
those who had to do with the erection of the temple. {PK 62.1}
For the construction
of the wilderness tabernacle, chosen men were endowed by God with special skill
and wisdom. "Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath
called by name Bezaleel, . . . of the tribe of Judah;
and He hath filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and
in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. . . . And He hath put in his
heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, . . . of the tribe of Dan. Them hath He filled with wisdom
of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning
workman, and of the embroiderer, . . . and of the weaver, even of them that do
any work. . . . Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wisehearted
man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding." Exodus 35:30-35;
36:1. Heavenly intelligences co-operated with the workmen whom God Himself had
chosen. {PK 62.2}
The descendants of
these workmen inherited to a large degree the talents conferred on their
forefathers. For a time these men of Judah and Dan remained humble and
unselfish; but gradually, almost imperceptibly, they lost their hold upon God and
their desire to serve Him unselfishly. They [BEGIN P.63] asked higher wages for
their services, because of their superior skill as workmen in the finer arts. In
some instances their request was granted, but more often they found employment
in the surrounding nations. In place of the noble spirit of self-sacrifice that
had filled the hearts of their illustrious ancestors, they indulged a spirit of
covetousness, of grasping for more and more. That their selfish desires might be
gratified, they used their God-given skill in the service of heathen kings, and
lent their talent to the perfecting of works which were a dishonor to their
Maker. {PK 62.3}
It was among these men
that Solomon looked for a master workman to superintend the construction of the
temple on Mount Moriah. Minute specifications, in writing, regarding every
portion of the sacred structure, had been entrusted to the king; and
he could have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers, to whom would
have been granted special skill for doing with exactness the work required. But
Solomon lost sight of this opportunity to exercise faith in God. He sent to the
king of Tyre for a man, "cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in
brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to
grave with the cunning men . . . in Judah and in Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles
2:7. {PK 63.1}
The Phoenician king
responded by sending Huram, "the son of a woman
of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre." Verse 14. Huram was a descendant,
on his mother’s side, of Aholiab, to whom, hundreds
of years before, God had given special wisdom for the
construction of the tabernacle. {PK 63.2}
Thus at the head of
Solomon’s company of workmen [BEGIN P.64] there was placed a man whose efforts
were not prompted by an unselfish desire to render service to God. He served
the god of this world, mammon. The very fibers of his being were inwrought with
the principles of selfishness. {PK 63.3}
Because of his unusual
skill, Huram demanded large wages. Gradually
the wrong principles that he cherished came to be accepted by his associates.
As they labored with him day after day, they yielded to the inclination to
compare his wages with their own, and they began to lose sight of the holy
character of their work. The spirit of self-denial left them, and in its place
came the spirit of covetousness. The result was a demand for higher wages,
which was granted. {PK 64.1}
The baleful influences
thus set in operation permeated all branches of the Lord’s service, and
extended throughout the kingdom. The high wages
demanded and received gave to many an opportunity to indulge in luxury and
extravagance. The poor were oppressed by the rich; the spirit of self-sacrifice
was well-nigh lost. In the far-reaching effects of these influences may be
traced one of the principal causes of the terrible apostasy of him who once was
numbered among the wisest of mortals. {PK 64.2}
The sharp contrast
between the spirit and motives of the people building the wilderness
tabernacle, and of those engaged in erecting Solomon’s temple, has a lesson of
deep significance. The self-seeking that characterized the workers on the
temple finds its counterpart today in the selfishness that rules in the world.
The spirit of covetousness, of seeking for the highest position and the highest
wage, is rife. [BEGIN P.65] The willing service and joyous self-denial of the
tabernacle workers is seldom met with. But this is the only spirit that should
actuate the followers of Jesus. Our divine Master has given an example of how
His disciples are to work. To those whom He bade, "Follow Me, and I will
make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), He offered no
stated sum as a reward for their services. They were to share with Him in
self-denial and sacrifice. {PK 64.3}
Not for the wages we
receive are we to labor. The motive that prompts us to work for God should have
in it nothing akin to self-serving. Unselfish
devotion and a spirit of sacrifice have always been and always will be the
first requisite of acceptable service. Our Lord and Master
designs that not one thread of selfishness shall be woven into His work. Into
our efforts we are to bring the tact and skill, the exactitude and wisdom, that
the God of perfection required of the builders of the earthly tabernacle; yet
in all our labors we are to remember that the greatest talents or the most
splendid services are acceptable only when self is laid upon the altar, a
living, consuming sacrifice. {PK 65.1}
Another of the deviations
from right principles that finally led to the downfall of Israel’s king was his
yielding to the temptation to take to himself the glory that belongs to God
alone. {PK 65.2}
From the day that
Solomon was entrusted with the work of building the temple, to the time of its
completion, his avowed purpose was "to build an
house for the name of the Lord God of Israel." 2 Chronicles 6:7. This
purpose was fully recognized before the assembled hosts of Israel [BEGIN P.66]
at the time of the dedication of the temple. In his prayer the king
acknowledged that Jehovah had said, "My name shall be there." 1 Kings
8:29. {PK 65.3}
One of the most
touching portions of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer was his plea to God for the
strangers that should come from countries afar to learn more of Him whose fame
had been spread abroad among the nations. "They shall hear," the king
pleaded, "of Thy great name, and of Thy strong hand, and of Thy
stretched-out arm." In behalf of every one of these stranger worshipers
Solomon had petitioned: "Hear Thou, . . . and do according to all that the
stranger calleth to Thee for: that all people of the earth may know Thy name,
to fear Thee, as do Thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house,
which I have builded, is called by Thy name." Verses 42, 43. {PK 66.1}
At the close of the
service, Solomon had exhorted Israel to be faithful and true to God, in order
that "all the people of the earth may know," he said, "that the
Lord is God, and that there is none else." Verse 60.
{PK 66.2}
A Greater than Solomon
was the designer of the temple; the wisdom and glory of God stood there
revealed. Those who were unacquainted with this fact
naturally admired and praised Solomon as the architect and builder; but the
king disclaimed any honor for its conception or erection.
{PK 66.3}
Thus it was when the
Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon. Hearing of his wisdom and of the
magnificent temple he had built, she determined "to prove him with hard
questions" and to see for herself his famous works.
Attended by a retinue of servants, and with camels bearing [BEGIN P.67]
"spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones," she made the
long journey to Jerusalem. "And when she was come to Solomon, she
communed with him of all that was in her heart." She talked with him of
the mysteries of nature; and Solomon taught her of the God of nature, the great
Creator, who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all. "Solomon
told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king, which he
told her not." 1 Kings 10:1-3; 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2. {PK
66.4}
"When the Queen
of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, . . . there was no more spirit in her." "It
was a true report," she acknowledged, "which I heard in mine own land
of thine acts, and of thy wisdom: howbeit I believed not their words, until I
came, and mine eyes had seen it:" "and, behold, the half was not told
me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy
servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom."
1 Kings 10:4-8; 2 Chronicles 9:3-6. {PK 67.1}
By the time of the
close of her visit the queen had been so fully taught by Solomon as to the
source of his wisdom and prosperity that she was constrained, not to extol the
human agent, but to exclaim, "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted
in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel
forever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice." 1 Kings
10:9. This is the impression that God designed should be made upon all
peoples. And when "all the kings of the earth sought the presence of
Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had [BEGIN P.68] put in his heart"
(2 Chronicles 9:23), Solomon for a time honored God by reverently pointing them
to the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Ruler of the universe, the
All-wise. {PK 67.2}
Had Solomon continued
in humility of mind to turn the attention of men from himself to the One who
had given him wisdom and riches and honor, what a history might have been his!
But while the pen of inspiration records his virtues, it also bears faithful
witness to his downfall. Raised to a pinnacle of greatness and
surrounded with the gifts of fortune, Solomon became dizzy, lost his balance,
and fell. Constantly extolled by men of the world, he was at length unable to
withstand the flattery offered him. The wisdom entrusted to him that he might
glorify the Giver, filled him with pride. He finally permitted
men to speak of him as the one most worthy of praise for the matchless splendor
of the building planned and erected for the honor of "the name of the Lord
God of Israel." {PK 68.1}
Thus it was that the
temple of Jehovah came to be known throughout the nations as "Solomon’s temple."
The human agent had taken to himself the glory that belonged to the One "higher than the highest." Ecclesiastes 5:8.
Even to this day the temple of which Solomon declared, "This house which I
have built is called by Thy name" (2 Chronicles 6:33), is oftenest spoken
of, not as the temple of
Jehovah, but as "Solomon’s temple." {PK 68.2}
Man cannot show
greater weakness than by allowing men to ascribe to him the honor for gifts
that are Heaven-bestowed. The true Christian will make God first and
[BEGIN P.69] last and best in everything. No ambitious motives will chill his
love for God; steadily, perseveringly, will he cause honor to redound to his
heavenly Father. It is when we are faithful in exalting the
name of God that our impulses are under divine supervision, and we are enabled
to develop spiritual and intellectual power. {PK 68.3}
Jesus, the divine
Master, ever exalted the name of His heavenly Father.
He taught His disciples to pray, "Our Father who
art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." Matthew 6:9, A.R.V. And they were
not to forget to acknowledge, "Thine is . . . the glory." Verse 13. So careful was the
great Healer to direct attention from Himself to the Source of His power, that
the wondering multitude, "when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to
be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see," did not glorify Him,
but "glorified the God of Israel." Matthew 15:31. In
the wonderful prayer that Christ offered just before His crucifixion, He
declared, "I have glorified Thee on the earth." "Glorify Thy
Son," He pleaded, "that Thy Son also may glorify Thee." "O
righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and
these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have
declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou
hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:1, 4, 25, 26. {PK 69.1}
"Thus saith the
Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man
glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth
glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me,
[BEGIN P.70] that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and
righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the
Lord." Jeremiah 9:23, 24.
"I will praise
the name of God, . . .
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving."
"Thou art worthy,
O Lord, to receive glory and honor
and power."
"I will praise
Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart:
And I will glorify Thy name forevermore."
"O magnify the
Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together."
Psalm 69:30; Revelation 4:11; Psalms 86:12; 34:3. {PK 69.2}
The introduction of
principles leading away from a spirit of sacrifice and tending toward self-glorification, was accompanied by yet another gross
perversion of the divine plan for Israel. God had designed that His people
should be the light of the world. From them was to shine
forth the glory of His law as revealed in the life practice.
For the carrying out of this design, He had caused the chosen nation to occupy
a strategic position among the nations of earth. {PK 70.1}
In the days of Solomon
the kingdom of Israel extended from Hamath on the
north to Egypt on the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the river
Euphrates. Through this territory ran many natural highways of the world’s
commerce, and caravans from distant lands were constantly passing to and fro.
Thus there was given to Solomon and his people opportunity to reveal to men of
all nations the character of the King of kings, and to teach them to reverence
and obey Him. To all the world this knowledge was
[BEGIN P.71] to be given. Through the teaching of the sacrificial offerings,
Christ was to be uplifted before the nations, that all who would
might live. {PK 70.2}
Placed at the head of
a nation that had been set as a beacon light to the surrounding nations, Solomon
should have used his God-given wisdom and power of influence in organizing and
directing a great movement for the enlightenment of those who were ignorant of
God and His truth. Thus multitudes would have been won to
allegiance to the divine precepts, Israel would have been shielded from the
evils practiced by the heathen, and the Lord of glory would have been greatly
honored. But Solomon lost sight of this high purpose. He failed of improving
his splendid opportunities for enlightening those who were continually passing
through his territory or tarrying at the principal cities. {PK 71.1}
The missionary spirit
that God had implanted in the heart of Solomon and in the hearts of all true
Israelites was supplanted
by a spirit of commercialism. The opportunities
afforded by contact with many nations were used for personal aggrandizement.
Solomon sought to strengthen his position politically by building fortified cities
at the gateways of commerce. He rebuilt Gezer, near Joppa, lying along the road
between Egypt and Syria; Beth-horon, to the westward
of Jerusalem, commanding the passes of the highway leading from the heart of
Judea to Gezer and the seacoast; Megiddo, situated on the caravan road from
Damascus to Egypt, and from Jerusalem to the northward; and "Tadmor in the wilderness" (2 Chronicles 8:4), along
the route of caravans from the east. All these cities were strongly [BEGIN
P.72] fortified. The commercial advantages of an outlet at the head of the Red
Sea were developed by the construction of "a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, . .
. on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom." Trained
sailors from Tyre, "with the servants of Solomon," manned these vessels
on voyages "to Ophir, and fetched from thence
gold," and "great plenty of almug trees,
and precious stones." Verse 18; 1 Kings 9:26, 28; 10:11. {PK 71.2}
The revenue of the
king and of many of his subjects was greatly increased, but at what a cost! Through
the cupidity and shortsightedness of those to whom had been entrusted the
oracles of God, the countless multitudes who thronged
[BEGIN P.73] the highways of travel were allowed to remain in ignorance of
Jehovah. {PK 72.1}
In striking contrast
to the course pursued by Solomon was the course followed by Christ when He was
on this earth. The
Saviour, though possessing "all power," never used this power for
self-aggrandizement. No dream of earthly conquest, of worldly
greatness, marred the perfection of His service for mankind. "Foxes have
holes, and the birds of the air have nests," He said, "but the Son of
man hath not where to lay His head." Matthew 8:20.
Those who, in response to the call of the hour, have entered the
service of the Master Worker, may well study His
methods. He took advantage of the opportunities to be found along the great
thoroughfares of travel. {PK 73.1}
In the intervals of
His journeys to and fro, Jesus dwelt at Capernaum, which came to be known as
"His own city." Matthew 9:1. Situated on the highway from Damascus to
Jerusalem and Egypt and to the Mediterranean Sea, it was well adapted to be the
center of the Saviour’s work. People from many lands passed through the city or
tarried for rest. There Jesus met with those of all nations and all ranks, and
thus His lessons were carried to other countries and into many households. By
this means interest was aroused in the prophecies pointing forward to the
Messiah, attention was directed to the Saviour, and His mission was brought
before the world. {PK 73.2}
In this our day the
opportunities for coming into contact with men and women of all classes and
many nationalities are much greater than in the days of Israel. The
thoroughfares of travel have multiplied a thousandfold.
[BEGIN P.74] {PK 73.3}
Like Christ, the
messengers of the Most High today should take their position in these great
thoroughfares, where they can meet the passing multitudes from all parts of the
world. Like Him, hiding self in God, they are to sow the gospel seed, presenting
before others the precious truths of Holy Scripture that will take deep root in
mind and heart, and spring up unto life eternal. {PK 74.1}
Note by Ron: This is
why I take my position on the great worldwide thoroughfare of the Internet. My
message has gone, and continues to go, into most every country of the world.
End note.
Solemn are the lessons
of Israel’s failure during the years when ruler and people turned from the high
purpose they had been called to fulfill. Wherein they were
weak, even to the point of failure, the Israel of God today, the
representatives of heaven that make up the true church of Christ, must be
strong; for upon them devolves the task of finishing the work that has been
committed to man, and of ushering in the day of final awards.
Yet the same influences that prevailed against Israel in the time when Solomon
reigned are to be met with still. The forces of the enemy of all righteousness
are strongly entrenched; only
by the power of God can the victory be gained.
The conflict before us calls for the exercise of a spirit of
self-denial, for distrust of self and for dependence on God alone, for the wise
use of every opportunity for the saving of souls. The Lord’s
blessing will attend His church as they advance unitedly,
revealing to a world lying in the darkness of error the beauty of holiness as
manifested in a Christlike spirit of self-sacrifice,
in an exaltation of the divine rather than the human, and in loving and
untiring service for those so much in need of the blessings of the gospel.
[BEGIN P.75] {PK 74.2}
Note by Ron: It is
uppermost in importance that we rightly interpret the words: “His church,” for
the following prophecy by Ellen G. White, the gift of prophecy to God’s people,
is true:
"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].
In my
vision of the night, I was told to show Adventists some titles from a recent
edition of the Adventist Review, and enquire of you: Are these issues
the most apropos and salvific oriented for the serious times we are in? Here
are some of the titles. I tell you
before God Almighty, one can find more compelling reading in some of Babylon’s
periodicals as far as the state of the times is concerned, and concerning
preparation for Christ’s coming.
Adventist Review ISSUE FOCUS March 21, 2012
Atlantic Union College still seeks return; center is
unrelated move.
The former Adventist
Review associate editor died on March 11, 2012.
Month-long series gained global audience: Isle of Man,
Fiji, Argentina watched.
Christian Record Service
outreach to provide blind persons with fun--and Jesus.
The Family Radio chief had predicted Christ's return
on May 21, 2011.
Bishop Richard Lennon can appeal the ruling.
New Pew study tracked 214 million migrants.
Researchers surveyed 50,000 people.
Cover Feature: Mark Ferrell on when seeing is still
not believing.
Adventist Life: Allan Martin's shares his thoughts on
raising a teenage daughter.
Editorial: Gerald Klingbeil
invites us to seize our day--even if we're feeling like we are constantly
running through them.
Dateline Moscow: Dig deeper into Matthew 27:24 with
Andrew McChesney.
Editorial: Lael Caesar knows
that we are all works in progress.
Cliff's Edge: Cliff Goldstein asserts that we can go
up against many things when we hold certain beliefs dear.
Web Exclusive: When does TV viewing become excessive?
General Conference physicians Allan R. Handysides and
Peter N. Landless explain.
Cover Feature: Adventist
Review editor Bill Knott talks with Willie and Elaine Oliver about
something near and dear to the heart of this church--family.
Biblical Studies: What does it mean to be confident
and safe in the arms of Jesus? Ask Derick A. Adu.
Searching the Obvious: What has Dixil
Rodríguez really learned about prayer?
Web Exclusive: What's behind the growing fascination
with tattoos? Gary Swanson explores this cultural phenomenon.
Located on the Andrews University campus in Berrien
Springs, Michigan, Pioneer Memorial Church is led by the pulpit ministry of
Pastor Dwight Nelson, who has established a dynamic television and Internet
ministry, streaming weekly services live.
The Adventist
Review staff meets each Wednesday morning
at 8:15 for worship and prayer. We'd love to include your prayer requests, so
send them to prayer@adventistreview.org.
Let's share in each other's lives.
Share your comments, recommendations, and suggestions.
Respond to our articles and posts.
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End of Adventist Review Titles.
Another serious issue I was prompted to apprise God’s people of is how delinquent
members of the church are in recognizing truly serious issues for which we are
to sigh and cry. These are not exactly the worst abominations compared to the
truly abominable apostasies of the church, but here is what some members of the
church regard as things for which we are to sigh and cry:
Here is a list of some of the more serious abominations and some of them
involve antichrist, unpardonable sin, and that is why the Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 199, 200 quote
(cited in this document) on the end-time fate of the church is NOT conditional:
https://omega77.tripod.com/godslinesinthesandfinal.htm
In the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
—rwb