Ron's Second Response to David Curtis' Reply to Ron

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Brother Ron,

All of this which you write is rightly understood with a correct understanding
of the Shaking time in the church. The Church does go through a
terrible ordeal, which purifies the church of these elements. Note from Voice of Prophecy,

The chapter on "The Shaking" in Last Day Events is another source
where the idea is clearly refuted that God's true remnant are the ones
who leave the church. Rather, it is the "sinners in Zion" who are
shaken out. My point is that her testimony is readily available for
those who are honestly seeking to know and follow the truth, to those
who are open to the Spirit's teaching.

Tim Poirier
Vice-Director/Archivist
Ellen G. White Estate
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Phone: 301 680-6540
FAX: 301 680-6559
Website: www.WhiteEstate.org

Ron's response: Tim Poirier makes a great mistake which Ellen White warned against. That great mistake is confusing the church triumphant Zion, with the church militant.

"Those who think that the church militant is the church triumphant make a great mistake." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 152.

In the above paragraph by Tim Poirier, (Note from Voice of Prophecy) Poirier admits that it is the "sinners in Zion" who are shaken out. This truth is most crucial and is pivotal to all other statements concerning the shaking. The pivotal part revolves around the proper idenfification of Zion. Therefore, I am posting a study on Zion below. We will make no progress until Zion is properly defined by both of us David. Here is a Biblical and Spirit of Prophecy definition of Zion:

  • The entire matter of the shaking is defined by a proper understanding of Zion.
  • Zion is the bride of Jesus Christ.
  • She is married, Isaiah 62:1-5.
  • She is different from the guests, The Great Controversy, p. 426-7.
  • She awakens the 10 virgins, Christ's Object Lessons 405-6.
  • She is a strictly pure virgin (bethulah) which is the meaning of virgin in Isaiah 62:5.
  • The ten-virgins are concubines.
  • She is the holy woman who has sons and daughters: Isaiah 62 and the following statement:
  • The church militant is not the pure bride of Christ ALONE.
  • The Church Triumphant is the bride of Christ, Zion, the earthly representative of the Heavenly Zion Church, Heb. 12:22, 23.
  • Zion is taken to the wilderness away from the people and from there she gives the Loud Cry. The bad are shaken (purged from her) there, Ezekiel 20:34-38.
  • "The members of the church triumphant--the church in heaven--will be permitted to draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity." E. G. White, The Southern Watchman, Sep. 8, 1903.

    The church triumphant co-exists with the church militant in order to aid them in their necessity if the church militant will accept that aid from the representatives of the heavenly church Zion, Heb. 12:22, 23. Thus, it is proved that the church militant is not purged and purified to become the church triumphant. The church triumphant has existed in every generation of the church. It is Philadelphia, the church that is not faulted by God.

  • If the church militant is purged and purified leaving it the church triumphant as you intimate David, then one huge questions looms in my mind. Why, according to Ezekiel and Ellen White, does a slaughter of men, maidens and little children occur at His Sanctuary, those who have been priviledged with great light? Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. This one quote throws off all of Tim Poirier's scenario.

Sinners are gathered into and purged out of Zion, the Church Triumphant during the Loud Cry. Many sinners (tares) will attach themselves to the church triumphant for a time, but as the time of trouble heats up, they will leave in droves, just as the apostate Laodicean church apostatized even before the Loud Cry. Zion may choose to dwell with a church until she commits apostasy, after which she must leave or she would be defiled. If united in membership with a church which violates Isaiah 8:9-12, and Jeremiah 11:9-15, she would be defiled with those who remain in such a church because such a church commits lewdness with many via ecumenical adultery, see Jer. 11:15. Here is a study on Zion by Ron:

Arguments About Zion

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Dear Forum,

Yesterday, Dec. 11, 00, on the Truths of Adventists Forum, Albert Podorski said that the church in heaven, Hebrews 12:22, 23, was comprised of only angels and other celestial beings of other worlds, and "not the faithful human servants, because they are the CHURCH ON EARTH."

First of all, let us consider that Hebrews 12:22, 23, is defining not only the heavenly church, but Zion, and Zion is the bride of Christ, Isaiah 62:1-5. Is Zion, the bride of Christ, on earth?! Does not Hebrews 12:23, say that Zion also consists of men made perfect?

Podorski says: "We should always remember that the controversy stated in heaven and that the faithful ones, that is, the faithful celestial creatures -- angels and other inhabitants of other worlds - constitute the Church in heaven. This church in heaven is indeed a church triumphant."

Podorski denies that Zion is comprised of the earthly Zion, or the bride of Jesus Christ, as described in Isaiah 62:1-5, and The Great Controversy, 426-7, as well as Rev. 3:10-12. The bride of Christ, Zion, is defined by Ellen White as follows: "The Holy City, the New Jerusalem which is the capital and REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM, is called 'the bride, the Lamb's wife.'...Clearly, then, the bride [Zion, the church triumphant] REPRESENTS [IS THE EARTHLY AMBASSADOR OF] the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church [militant]. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented as the bride....He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.'" E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 426-7.

Philadelphia, in Rev. 3:12, gets the name NEW JERUSALEM written on her. So Philadelphia is the bride of Christ, and she was an earthly church, an earthly body of faithful men, representative of the church triumphant Zion in heaven, which, as stated is comprised not only of an assembly of angels who assist the church militant, but also "men made perfect," who have entered the Holy of Holies by faith, Early Writings, 255.

Also, in Isaiah 62, the chapter begins by defining Zion. Verse 2 says that she will be called by a NEW NAME. That NEW NAME, according to Revelation 3:12, is the NEW JERUSALEM, which is Philadelphia, which is an earthly church of men made perfect, or the church triumphant, because Philadelphia is not faulted for any thing other than being weak.

Is Philadelphia around now? Of course, because there has been a bride in every generation, Acts of the Apostles, p. 11, 12. In Desire of Ages, 179, the disciples of Jesus Christ are referred to as the bride. Also, Rev. 3:10, says that Philadelphia is kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. So here again is the bride, or the remnant, kept through the time of trouble that is to come upon all the world.

Podorski says: "...the Church triumphant on earth will have no chaff or tares, she will reflect perfectly the character of Christ and above all His love."

Ellen White says: "The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time." Christ's Object Lessons, p. 72.

So how could the tares be separated from the professing SDA Church militant, for it to become the church triumphant to give the loud cry, if the tares and wheat grow together until the harvest or the end of probationary time?

The tares are separated from the wheat by and from Zion. They are not "members" of Zion in truth and spirit, but they attach themselves to Zion, as Judas attached himself to the bride of Jesus Christ, the disciples, Desire of Ages, 179.

Zion, or the THIRD ANGEL, separates them by a shaking message, whether or not they are ever members of Zion or not. Who Separates the wheat from the tares AFTER THE CLOSE OF PROBATIONARY TIME? The Bible says the angels. Ellen White says that these angels are faithful men:

"I then saw the THIRD ANGEL. Said my accompanying angel, 'Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner." E.G. White, Early Writings, 118.

"The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, [THE THIRD ANGEL IN CONTEXT] 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." E.. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 199, 200.

Zion is the remnant. Zion is the bride of Christ. Zion is the New Jerusalem. Zion is Philadelphia. Zion is Translated without seeing death. Zion is the MOTHER, (Woman), and the 10 virgins are her children:

"The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman [Zion] and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they 'which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." E. G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972.

Does Zion have children. Yes, sons and daughters, Isa. 62:5 (sons) and verse 11 (daughters). Is she earthly? Yes indeed! Does she have earthly Watchmen on her walls? Yes indeed, Isa. 62:6.

Are there sinners in Zion? Sinners are shaken out of Zion: "The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners IN ZION will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat [AFTER THE CLOSE OF PROBATIONARY TIME--CHRIST'S OBJECT LESSONS 72]. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, 380.

Contrary to one of the biggest untruths of professing SDA's, The sinners ARE NOT shaken out of Laodicea to leave it purged and purified and the Church Triumphant! They are shaken out of Zion, the earthly Philadelphia church triumphant, the bride of Christ, the true Remnant, the True Reformers.

"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them. "The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27.

I believe, Mr. Albert Podorski, that you owe this forum a retraction for the obvious errors you have advanced.

Sincerely, Ron Beaulieu

The Difference Between the Bride and the Guests

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Isaiah 62 Distinguishments Between Zion, the Bride, and her Daughter Guests

Zion is Married--"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will no rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a NEW NAME, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and . For as a young man marrieth a virgin [bethulah in Hebrew--a strictly pure virgin versus the 10 virgins, some of which were even concubines], so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." Isaiah 62:1-5.

Zion's Daughter

"Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation [Christ the bridegroom] cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." Isaiah 62:11.

The above verse is a paraphrase of the Matthew 25 Midnight Cry Awakening call which awakens the ten virgins:

"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Matthew 25:6-12.

"Lingering near the bride's house [not at it] are ten young women robed in white. Each carries a lighted lamp and a small flagon for oil. All are anxiously watching for the appearance of the bridegroom. But there is a delay [the tarrying time since 1844]. Hour after hour passes; the watchers become weary and fall asleep. At midnight the cry is heard, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.' The sleepers, suddenly awaking, spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride." E. G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, 405, 406.

It is the Voice of God and the voice of the bride that awaken the ten sleeping virgins. This fact alone distinguishes the bride from the main body of the church. Ellen White equates the bride with the 144,000; the 144,000 with Philadelphia; and both as the final generation of faithful men living on the earth at Christ's coming, who are translated without seeing death.

Who Awakens and Calls the Bride?

It was an Eastern custom for the father to choose the bride for the son. God the Father chooses and directly calls the bride for His son.

"Characteristics of True Reformers.--Here [Isa. 58:11-14] are given the characteristics of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel's message, those who avow themselves God's commandment-keeping people, and who honor God, and are earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe, in building up the old waste places. Who is it that calls them, The repairer of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell in? It is God. Their names are registered [written--Heb. 12:22, 23] in heaven as reformers, restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations." E. G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1151.

Above, Ellen White is commenting on Isaiah 58:11-14. She says that those verses give the characteristics of True Reformers. It behooves us to study those verses:

"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt rise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor seeking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

One of the great breaches is the breach or violation of God's holy Sabbath day commandment. True Reformers will try to restore that breach in God's Holy Law.

Zion's Daughter, the Ten Virgins, All Sleep

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, THEY ALL [ALL TEN] SLUMBERED AND SLEPT. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Zion, the Mother, the True Watchmen, Never Sleep Day nor Night

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence." Isaiah 62:6.

Zion the Holy, Righteous Mother or True Shepherd of God's People, Versus the Daughter of Zion, the 10 Virgins Who All Slept

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." Matthew 25:5.
"The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they 'which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." E. G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972.

"But the Jerusalem [Zion] which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Gal. 4:26.

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn [FIRSTFRUITS Rev. 14:1-4]] which are written in heaven, and to God and judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." Hebrews 12:22, 23.

Church Leader [Ministers] Shepherd Watchmen as Compared to the True Watchmen (Prophet Messengers) on the Walls of Zion

Isaiah, the prophet, DOES NOT contradict himself! In Isaiah 56:10-12, he describes the shepherd watchmen who should be the true watchmen, and in Isaiah 62, he describes the true watchmen on the walls of Zion. The distinctions are very dramatic. Please notice:

"His WATCHMEN are blind: they are ALL ignorant, the are ALL dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and THEY ARE SHEPHERDS that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." Isaiah 62:10-12.

Ellen White included professing Seventh-day Adventist shepherds in the class of dumb dogs that will never bark again:

"Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, and betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.

The True Watchmen on the Walls of True Zion

Now notice the characteristics of the true watchmen on the walls of Zion who are called and chosen directly by God, as the bride for His Son Jesus: "I have set WATCHMEN upon thy walls, O [NEW] Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.... Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people [the guests]; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter [guests] of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." Isaiah 62:6, 7, 10, 11.

How do we know Isaiah means NEW Jerusalem? Because verse two says: "...thou shalt be called by A NEW NAME, which the mouth of the Lord shall name," and Revelation 3:10-12, says that it is Philadelphia, who is kept through the time of temptation that is to come upon the all the world, who gets the NEW NAME, and that the NEW NAME is NEW JERUSALEM.
Church militants are like OLD JERUSALEM in that they are comprised of wheat and tares, or wise and foolish virgins. But earthly representatives of the Heavenly Kingdom Church triumphant comprised of "perfect men" (Heb. 12:22, 23) are always present as true reformers to aid the church militants who will receive their aid:

"The members of the church triumphant--the church in heaven--will be permitted to draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity." E. G. White, The Southern Watchman, Sep. 8, 1903.
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city o my God, which is NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him MY NEW NAME." Revelation 3:12.

In Revelation 3:12, says that it is Philadelphia which gets this NEW NAME, and Philadelphia is the end-time Church Triumphant, which is "kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Verse 10). And that hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try the world, will be the great time of Jacob's trouble, such as never was, nor never will be again.

Ellen White Understood The Bride of Jesus Christ and Who Directly Called and Chose the Bride

Ellen White's mission was to prepare a bride for Jesus Christ, and she understood the difference between the bride and the guests:

"The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and REPRESENTATIVE of the kingdom, is called 'the bride, the Lamb's wife.' ...Clearly, then, the bride REPRESENTS [speaks on behalf of] the Holy City, and the [ten] virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church [militant body consisting of wheat and tares, wise and foolish, while the bride is the representative of the "invisible" church triumphant on earth and the heavenly kingdom church of Hebrews 12:22, 23]. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, 'dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;' He will receive the NEW JERUSALEM, the capital of His kingdom, 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.'" E. G. White, The Great Controversy, 426, 427, the 1911 Edition.

The disciples of Christ were the bride of Jesus Christ, Desire of Ages, 179. The bride is the channel of communication, or God's representative to the people:

"The disciples were the channel of communication between Christ and the people. This should be a real encouragement to His disciples today. Christ is the great center, the source of all strength. His disciples are to receive their supplies from Him. The most intelligent, the most spiritually minded, can bestow only as they receive. Of themselves they can supply nothing for the needs of the soul. We can impart only that which we receive from Christ; and we can receive only as we impart to others. As we continue imparting, we continue to receive; and the more we impart, the more we shall receive. Thus we may be constantly believing, trusting, receiving, and imparting." The Desire of Ages, 370.

It is most clear that Ellen White understood the subjective object of her mission, the bride of Jesus Christ. She demonstrated further understanding when she equated Philadelphia with being the 144,000 final generation of men living on the earth at the coming of Jesus Christ:

The Spirit of Prophecy Identifies Philadelphia as the 144,000

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, ad no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works" behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 3:7-13.
"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruit unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guild; for they are without fault before the throne of God. Rev. 14:4, 5." E.G. White, Early Writings, p. 30.

The Remnant as the last generation of men

"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts planted in the Christian church b Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them.
"The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27. Definition of REPRESENTATIVE: "...acting or speaking, esp. by due authority, in the place or on behalf of another or others..."

So the bride of Christ acts or speaks by due authority in the place or on the behalf of the Kingdom of God. The bride is the same as the 144,000, is the same as Philadelphia, is the same as New Jerusalem, is the same as the Representative of the heavenly Kingdom church triumphant of Hebrews 12:22, 23.

Only the 144,000 Enter the Temple on Mt. Zion

Ellen White said that she saw that only the 144,000 enter the temple on Mt. Zion, Early Writings, p. 19. This is corroborated by scripture in Revelation 3:12, wherein Philadelphia is made "a pillar in the temple of my God." Zion is the leadership, the royal priesthood of the heavenly kingdom church. On earth she is an army of Swift Messengers, True Reformers, who give a mesage of warning and truth to the people, the church body, if they will accept that message. Their salvation depends on their acceptance of God's representatives and their shaking, sifting message.

The Bride is not the Guests and the Guests are Not the Bride

"The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and REPRESENTATIVE of the kingdom, is called 'the bride, the Lamb's wife.' ...Clearly, then, the bride REPRESENTS [speaks on behalf of] the Holy City, and the [ten] virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church [militant body consisting of wheat and tares, wise and foolish, while the bride is the representative of the "invisible" church triumphant on earth and the heavenly kingdom church of Hebrews 12:22, 23]. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, 'dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;' He will receive the NEW JERUSALEM, the capital of His kingdom, 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.'" E. G. White, The Great Controversy, 426, 427, the 1911 Edition.

It is most clear that Ellen White understood the subjective object of her mission, the preparation of the bride of Jesus Christ. She demonstrated further understanding of this mission when she equated Philadelphia with being the 144,000 final generation of men living on the earth at the coming of Jesus Christ:

The Spirit of Prophecy Identifies Philadelphia as the 144,000

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, ad no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works" behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 3:7-13.
"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruit unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guild; for they are without fault before the throne of God. Rev. 14:4, 5." E.G. White, Early Writings, p. 30.

The Remnant as the last generation of men

"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts planted in the Christian church b Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them.
"The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27. Definition of REPRESENTATIVE: "...acting or speaking, esp. by due authority, in the place or on behalf of another or others..."

So the bride of Christ acts or speaks by due authority in the place or on the behalf of the Kingdom of God. The bride is the same as the 144,000, is the same as Philadelphia, is the same as New Jerusalem, is the same as the Representative of the heavenly Kingdom church triumphant of Hebrews 12:22, 23. Ellen White said that she saw that only the 144,000 enter the temple on Mt. Zion, Early Writings, p. 19. This is corroborated by scripture in Revelation 3:12, wherein Philadelphia is made "a pillar in the temple of my God." Zion is the leadership, the royal priesthood of the heavenly kingdom church. On earth she is an army of Swift Messengers, True Reformers, who give a mesage of warning and truth to the people, the church body, if they will accept that message. Their salvation depends on their acceptance of God's representatives and their shaking, sifting message.

The Bride is Nearest the Throne

It is common sense to deduce that the bride of Christ, His beloved, would be seated nearest to Him on His throne:

"Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause of Satan, but who, plucked as brands from the burning, have followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion. Next are those who perfected Christian characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity, those who honored the law of God when the Christian world declared it void, and the millions, of all ages, who were martyred for their faith. And beyond is the "great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, . . . before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Revelation 7:9. Their warfare is ended, their victory won. They have run the race and reached the prize. The palm branch in their hands is a symbol of their triumph, the white robe an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ which now is theirs." E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 665.

End Document by Ron Beaulieu

Note: What follows is David Curtis' study on the shaking. If the above manuscript by Ron Beaulieu does not answer to every question posed by Curtis' document, please ask any questions you have and I will explain any matter connected with the shaking. Ron Beaulieu

Now back to David Curtis' Document and Ron will respond below David's statements: Written with Christian charity and warm regards,

David M. Curtis

Last Day Events

Chap. 12. - The Shaking

Church Membership No
Guarantee of Salvation


It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.--ChS 41 (1893).

Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive of the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God.--19MR 176 (1898).

The Chaff Separated From the Wheat

Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.--2SM 114 (1896).

There will be a shaking of the sieve. The chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. It is the very time when the genuine will be the strongest.--Letter 46, 1887.

The history of the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram is being repeated, and will be repeated till the close of time. Who will be on the Lord's side? Who will be deceived, and in their turn become deceivers?--Letter 15, 1892.

The Lord is soon to come. There must be a refining, winnowing process in every church, for there are among us wicked men who do not love the truth or honor God.--RH March 19, 1895.

We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.--6T 332 (1900).

Persecution Cleanses the Church

Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church.--4T 89 (1876).

The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church.--5T 81 (1882).

Ron responds: The above refernece taken in the context of the first and last paragraphs, makes it abundantly evident that this statement applies to all churches. This occurs during the Loud Cry to all churches and the bad will be shaken out of Zion, the bride, the 144,000 remnant who are operating from outposts in the wilderness. They are the earthly representatives of heavenly Zion, Hebrews 12:22, 23, and it is from Zion, the SDA church triumphant, from which and by which the tares are shaken, not the SDA church militant as is held as a cherished error by SDA's. This purging from Zion, the church triumphant, is depicted in Ezekiel 20:34-38. First the bride is brought out from the people of the church militant. Then she gives the loud cry, and it is at this time that all who refurse her call are shaken out of heavenly Zion. All who accpet her call will be shaken into the heavenly Zion, and thousands will join this SDA Church Triumphant in a day. This is the antitypical Day of Pentecost Loud Cry.

In the absence of the persecution there have drifted into our ranks men who appear sound and their Christianity unquestionable, but who, if persecution should arise, would go out from us.--Ev 360 (1890).

Ron responds: Ellen White is speaking of a hypothetical conditional circumstance about what would happen if persecution should arise. Yes, when persecution should arise, unfaithful, ungrounded folk will go out from the SDA Church triumphant. Proof? Yes indeed! She says very clearly that just before probation closes every uncouth thing will be brought into nominal SDA campmeetings. She says that nominal, Laodicean Adventist leadership will instruct its members to keep Sunday sacred.

When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.--2SM 368 (1891).

Ron responds: When the law of God is made void, this is the last time to escape Laodicean nominal Adventism. This is the time when the bride will flee the church to go to wilderness outposts in order to give the loud cry. Three thirds of the church--the whole--will apostatize and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, while the bride is taken from the people (the guests--GC 426-7) and gives the loud cry in the wilderness.

Superficial Believers Will Renounce the Faith


The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative [ELLEN WHITE IS NOT HERE DISTINGUISHING THEOLOGICAL CONSERVATIVES FROM THEIR LIBERAL COUNTERPARTS; SHE IS DESCRIBING THOSE WHO PUT "WORLDLY CONFORMITY" FIRST AND GOD'S CAUSE SECOND.] class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith.--5T 463 (1885).

If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His people and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his master power to bring in fanaticism on the one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls.--2SM 19 (1890).

Those who have had privileges and opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth and yet who continue to counterwork the work God would have accomplished will be purged out, for God accepts the service of no man whose interest is divided.--Ms 64, 1898.

As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges but have not improved them will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.--6T 400 (1900).

The Straight Testimony Produces a Shaking


I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God's people.--1T 181 (1857).

There are those among us who will make confessions, as did Achan, too late to save themselves.. . . They are not in harmony with right. They despise the straight testimony that reaches the heart, and would rejoice to see everyone silenced who gives reproof.--3T 272 (1873).

The Lord calls for a renewal of the straight testimony borne in years past. He calls for a renewal of spiritual life. The spiritual energies of His people have long been torpid, but there is to be a resurrection from apparent death. By prayer and confession of sin we must clear the King's highway.--8T 297 (1904).

Unjust Criticism Causes Loss of Souls

Even in our day there have been and will continue to be entire families who have once rejoiced in the truth, but who will lose faith because of calumnies and falsehoods brought to them in regard to those whom they have loved and with whom they have had sweet counsel. They opened their hearts to the sowing of tares, the tares sprang up among the wheat, they strengthened, the crop of wheat became less and less, and the precious truth lost its power to them.--TM 411 (1898).

False Doctrines Draw Some Away


Science, so-called, and religion will be placed in opposition to each other because finite men do not comprehend the power and greatness of God. These words of Holy Writ were presented to me, "Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" [Acts 20:30]. This will surely be seen among the people of God.--Ev 593 (1890).

When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.--TM 112 (1897).

Not having received the love of the truth, they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and will depart from the faith.--6T 401 (1900).

The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith.--Ev 224 (1905).

Rejection of the Testimonies Results in Apostasy

One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit.--3SM 84 (1903).

The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony.--1SM 48 (1890).

The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies. . . . This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life.--3SM 83 (1890).

It is Satan's plan to weaken the faith of God's people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.--4T 211.

Defections Among Church Leaders

Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.--PK 188 (c. 1914).

Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing scenes of this earth's history, pattern after ancient Israel. . . . A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out of human projects, using the Scriptures to

justify a wrong course of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel.--13MR 379, 381 (1904).

Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.--RH Sept. 11, 1888.

Unsanctified Ministers Will Be Weeded Out

The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of Sunday laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.--3SM 385 (1886).
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Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. . . .

Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these can not make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.--TM 409, 411 (1898).

Ministers and doctors may depart from the faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given His servant declare they will.--7MR 192 (1906).

The Church May Appear as About to Fall

The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves.--4T 89 (1876).

Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.--5T 81 (1882).

Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. . . .

When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.--5T 136 (1882).

The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.--2SM 380 (1886).

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.--GC 608 (1911).

God's Faithful Will Be Revealed


The Lord has faithful servants who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.--5T 80, 81 (1882).

On every occasion that persecution takes place, the witnesses make decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those who show sympathy for the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against them, show their attachment for Christ.--ST Feb. 20, 1901.

Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the half-hearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter than in days of prosperity.--GC 602 (1911).

New Converts Will Take
the Places of Those Who Leave

Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks.--EW 271 (1858).

The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.--Letter 103, 1903.

Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God.--8T 41 (1904).