The
Star of the New Evangelization of America—Part
2 BY DANNY VIERRA Click to go to our Home Page
In part one, we saw how the world is readyfor
Satan’s final great delusion—spiritualism.In part
two we will learn how important itis for Adventists
today to be prepared for theseovermastering
deceptions. WILL SHE DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT? And will Seventh-day Adventists also be overcome by this
wonder-working demon? Please study the prophecies of Ezekiel 8 and 9. Ellen
White alludes to Ezekiel 9 in Volume 5 of the Testimonies in the
chapter called The Seal of God, 207-216. Here she likens the
destruction of apostate Seventh-day Adventists to the destruction by the
slaughtering angels of Ezekiel 9, which begins in the sanctuary, or the
church. "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
interest of the people, had betrayed their trust.... 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." Testimonies, vol. 5, 211. And for
what reason will the Lord destroy the people called by His name? Because the
"abominations" in Ezekiel 8 are being practiced in the Lord's
house—His church—one of which is the worship of the "image of
jealousy." "The faithful few... lament and afflict their souls
because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind
are in the church." Testimonies, Vol. 5, 210. Historian Alexander Hislop tells us
in his book, The Two Babylons, that the
"image of jealousy" is that of the Babylonian Madonna, the
"queen of heaven." Therefore, what provokes the wrath of God today
is that "the child she [modern Babylon] holds forth to adoration is
called by the name of Jesus, His son." The Two Babylons,
88. Modern Babylon's image is the Virgin Mary (Madonna) and baby
Jesus, and it is set up in the church and the faithful are called to worship
it as the true God. The Lord commanded: "Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven image or any likeness of any thing that
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath .... Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord
thy God am a jealous God." Exodus 20:4, 5. Is it any wonder that the
Catholic Church removed the second commandment from the moral law? Jeremiah recorded that God’s people obeyed not "the
voice of the Lord, nor walked in His law, nor in His statutes, nor in His
testimonies, for they were burning "incense to the queen of heaven. "Jeremiah
44:23, 25. Is this another example of "the sure word of prophecy?” (2 Peter 1:19.) Ellen White was shown in vision many
years ago that "Modern Israel are in greater
danger of forgetting God and being led into idolatry than were His ancient
people." Testimonies, vol. 1, 609. "It is to be remembered that the greater the light
bestowed, the greater the delusion and darkness of those who reject the word
of God and accept fables." Signs of the Times, November 8,
1899. After all, was it not the leaders of the Jewish nation that had Christ
murdered with the aid of the Roman power? Will history be repeated?
"However high any minister may have stood in the favor of God, if he
neglects to follow out the light given him of God, if he refuses to be taught
as a little child, he will go into darkness and satanic delusions and will
lead others in the same path." Testimonies, vol. 5, 214. THE BETRAYAL One may ask, "Will Seventh-day Adventists really accept
spiritualism and the false Mary?" To this I ask, "Will the majority
of Seventh-day Adventists worship on Sunday when it is enforced by law?"
Here are some very sobering comments from inspiration bearing on this matter:
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold'...
Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion
of those who now appear as genuine and true will prove to be base metal .... They will cowardly take the side of the
opposers. The promise is: 'They that honor Me I will honor'...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." Testimonies, vol. 5, 136. "I was
shown the startling fact that but a small portion who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be
saved." Testimonies, vol. 1, 608. The Spirit of Prophecy has also told us that
ministers in the "open air will urge upon the people the
necessity of keeping the first day of the week." Review and
Herald, March 18, 1884. (If you read the context of this statement,
you will discover that she is referring to Seventh-day Adventist ministers).
She has also given this warning: "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. By uniting with the world and partaking of
its spirit they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and
when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side.
Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth,
employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When
Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith,
these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and
accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations
to stir up the rulers against them." The Great Controversy, 608.
Does this mean that apostate Seventh-day Adventists will turn
in faithful Adventists to the Catholics? Ellen White was shown in vision that
"the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us
to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The
saints will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the
churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs ... will
betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard
the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath
and disregard Sunday." Spalding and Magan
Collection, 1. If professed Seventh-day Adventists will accept one of the two
great errors namely, Sunday-keeping, why won't they accept the other—the
immortality of the soul. After all, the easy, popular side will already be
worshipping the "demon Mary." In fact, goddess worship today ties
together approximately 75% of the world's population: • Roman Catholicism, 974 million • Eastern Orthodox, 164 million • Buddhism/various sects, 1 billion 100
million • Hinduism, 690 million • Japanese Religions, 230 million • Tribal Religions, 100 million (approx.) • Mohammedism, 924
million • Protestants, 351 million (Information taken from Almanac 1991)
A TERRIFYING DREAM Ellen White, the messenger of the Lord, once had a terrifying
dream that she could not understand at the time. It occurred while on a
journey with her husband to Battle Creek. "I dreamed that I was
in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a
company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined.
I knew them well and turned to open the parlor
door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene had changed.
The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One
bore in his hand a cross, and another a reed. And as they approached, the one
carrying the reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: 'This
house is proscribed. ["In ancient Rome, to announce the name of a
person as condemned to death and subject to confiscation of
property." Webster’s College Dictionary]. The goods must be
confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order. 'Terror seized me, and
I ran through the house, through the north door, and found myself in the
midst of the company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to
them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where
I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I
turned. I repeated frequently: 'If I could only understand this! If they will
tell me what I have said or what I have done!... Testimonies,
Vol. 1, 578. Had she seen the omega! THE BETRAYAL HAS ALREADY BEGUN Dear friends, has the betrayal already begun in light of the
recent official compromises and associations between Seventh day Adventists
and Catholics? Such as the Week of Prayer at Pacific Union College that was
led by an ex-priest, who had the students recite several times after him:
"We are Easter men and Easter women, Alleluia, that's our name." I
heard the cassette recordings with my own ears. Another example is PorterCare of Adventist Health Systems, which has lost
its investment grade rating due to its involvement with financially
struggling Centura Health—Colorado's largest
hospital system. Centura is a jointly managed
company, formed in 1995 between PorterCare
and the Sisters of Charity Health Services, now part of Catholic Health
Initiatives. And what about Willow Creek Church, an
inter-denominational, Pentecostal-style church near Chicago that focuses
on church growth and celebration-style worship—an ecumenical ploy of Vatican
II? Since at least 56 SDA churches have joined the Willow Creek Association,
I wonder if we will soon see charismatic SDA churches as a result.
Unsurprisingly, an SDA pastor just informed me that Adventists in Southern
California are speaking in false tongues another spiritualistic
manifestation that will be used by Satan to unify the churches of all
denominations! And what about the tragedy at College View Church in Lincoln,
Nebraska, where the Cardinal and Archbishop of Baltimore preached on baptism
and sprinkled the heads of those present as a symbol of baptism!! And why,
during communion, are some SDA ministers calling their congregations
forward—a standard procedure of the Catholic mass—to receive the "Holy
Eucharist'—a Roman Catholic term applied to the wafer, which according to
Catholic doctrine, becomes the "literal body of Jesus Christ"? In
the meantime, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has filed a
trademark lawsuit against a brother who is placing ads in major newspapers,
warning the world of Dies Domini and the coming Sunday Law—the mark of
the beast—the mark of Rome! And, sad to say, they may be using tithe money to
pay their legal fees. Undoubtedly, Rome has infiltrated the headquarters of
the corporate church; and when the headquarters is infected, it affects the
whole body of believers. "Satan's chief work is at the headquarters of
our faith. He spares no pains to corrupt men in responsible positions and to
persuade them to be unfaithful to their several trusts." Testimonies,
vol. 4, 210. The prophet has warned us that Satan's threefold union will be
formed when Protestantism and spiritualism "reach over the abyss to clasp
hands with the Roman power" and trample "on the rights of
conscience." The Great Controversy, 588. You can, then,
understand the shock I felt when I read the following in Sunday—a
quarterly magazine published by The Lord's Day Alliance of
the United States. In a special tribute to Dr. James Wesberry,
Executive Director-Editor and Administrative Assistant, for his loyal service
from 1975 - 1992, it was noted: "He also made history for the alliance
when he spoke at Andrews University and Theological Seminary in Berrien
Springs, Michigan, and led in exploration of ways The Lord’s Day, Alliance
and Seventh-day Adventists could work together. 'In spite of differences
of opinion in reference to the Sabbath question,' Wesberry
explained, 'we had clasped hands across these differences and
denominational lines and felt the warm, sincere grip and gracious
friendship among brothers and sisters in Christ."' Sunday, Vol.
LXXIX, NO. 3, 11. Why did the SDA Theological Seminary join hands with one of
the most ardent promoters of the Sunday-sabbath? Is
the answer betrayal? I would like to conclude my summary of events in this growing
apostasy in Adventism with the most recent stab to my already aching
heart. On January 26 and 27, 1999, Modern Manna went to St. Louis
for the papal visit with 100,000 copies of, Is the Virgin Mary Dead
or Alive? At the same time, The Eternal Gospel Church of Seventh-day
Adventists had also run The Earth's Final Warning in the St.
Louis Post Dispatch. Were we justified in feeling betrayed
when we learned that Seventh-day Adventist men, in responsible positions,
were already apologizing to the beast of Bible prophecy, "Pope John Paul
II and the Catholic Church, for discrimination, hatred and persecution
inspired by offshoot groups” in St. Louis. Adventist Today,
January, 1999. E. G. White hit the nail on the head when she
prophesied: "Instead of standing in defense of
the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing
to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for
their bigotry." The Great Controversy, 572. The
Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters raised the white flag
to Rome! (See Adventist News Network News Release: 27 January
1999). But this is not the end of the story, friends, for I am sad to
say there is more. During the ecumenical service held on January 27 at the
Basilica of St. Louis, B.T. Rice, pastor of the Northside
Seventh-day Adventist Church and president of the St. Louis Clergy Coalition,
presented a document to the "man of sin" welcoming him to the
community and acknowledging "his tireless example on behalf of interfaith
understanding and community relations." He also presented him
with "a handmade banner, bearing the logo Faith Beyond Walls."
(St. Louis Post Dispatch, Jan. 27, 1999, in the article entitled
"Many faiths join to work for a better community"). How symbolic! The wall of separation between Catholicism and
Seventh-day Adventism is certainly breaking apart. This is a clear example of
pure ecumenicalism—a movement promoting cooperation and unity among religious
groups—of which the Demon Mary will be the "Star!" Friends, certainly this is a time to be "sighing and
crying for the abominations that are done in ... the church!" Testimonies,
vol. 5, 209, 210. I am trembling for our people, for they have drunk
deeply from Rome's intoxicating cup, and the omega is just
around the corner! THE VERY LAST DECEPTION Did not E. G. White foresee, in the terrifying dream referred
to earlier in this article, a future time when Seventh-day Adventists will
betray their own people including their prophet. Could this dream have its
fulfillment when Seventh-day Adventists betray not only their
brethren, but also the truths entrusted to them by God—by
rejecting or "betraying" the Spirit of Prophecy, or Testimonies,
written by the prophet herself? Remember, "In rejecting the
truth, men reject its author." The Great Controversy, 583.
"Satan is ... constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the
truth. 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.' Proverbs 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. "There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies
which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of
the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls
in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of
God are heeded." Selected Messages, Book 1, 48. This is my reason
for writing these articles! Will we forget the lessons of the past? During
the alpha of apostasy, the Spirit of Prophecy also came under attack.
Please remember, beloved, the Spirit of Prophecy is one of the
two identifying marks of the remnant church of Bible prophecy. (See
Revelation 12:17.) It is a gift from God! Why, then, must we continue to
rebel against God's Word when He has so clearly warned us of the following:
"One thing it is certain is soon to be realized,—the great apostasy,
which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, will continue to
do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold
fast the first principles of our denominated faith!" Special
Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 57. ELLEN WHITE'S MOST SOLEMN WARNING Ellen White, perhaps, issued her most solemn warning to
Seventh-day Adventists when she penned what would happen if they disseminated
the seductive, spiritualistic theories of the alpha of apostasy:
"I was shown a platform braced by solid timbers,—the truths of the Word
of God. Someone high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this
man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting the platform. I heard a
voice saying, ‘Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the
walls of Zion? Are they asleep? This foundation was built by
the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this
man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God?
The time has come to take decided action.' "The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the
supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day
Adventists, and this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines
which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of
reorganization. Were this to take place, what would
result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the
remnant church would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The
fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years
would be accounted as error [the sanctuary, the nature of Christ,
sanctification, the beast, etc.]. A new organization would be established [who
is setting up the new organization?] Books of a new order [new theology]
would be written. A system of intellectual theology would be introduced [SDA
ministers are receiving their advanced education and
"philosophies" from the evangelical teachers of the world]. The founders
of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The
Sabbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, and also the God who created
it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement
[lawsuits against faithful Seventh-day Adventists for preaching the Three
Angels' Messages, ordering them to drop the name, etc.]. The leaders would
teach that virtue is better than vice [loving apologies to Rome and
peace and safety sermons], but God being removed, they would place their
dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation
would be built on sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the
structure." Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, 54, 55. Oh,
friends, the structure church is quickly heading down the primrose
path! But, Praise God, not one faithful soul, not one true Israelite, will be
lost! WHAT WILL YOU DO? Now, dear friends, ask yourself this question: "Are you
seeing the inroads of any of the points listed above in your church?"
Or, perhaps, is there just a dead silence from your ministers and church
leaders? Should we be silent at this hour? How about your own heart? Even
Ellen White delayed sending this letter out which the Spirit of the Lord had
impelled her to write. But she realized, in the providence of God, that the
errors that had been coming in must be met. She then alludes to a story about
a ship, in the fog, meeting an iceberg. She was presented in the night the
following scene: "A vessel was upon the waters, in a heavy fog. Suddenly
the lookout cried, 'Iceberg just ahead! 'There, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg [pantheism-spiritualism]. An
authoritative voice cried out, 'Meet it! 'There was not a moment's
hesitation. It was time for instant action.... With a crash she struck the
ice ... and the iceberg broke in pieces....The passengers were violently
shaken ... but no lives were lost." Ibid.,
56, 57. Oh, may the church repent and return to the first principles of
the denominated faith—the "old paths" spoken of by Jeremiah the
prophet! (Jeremiah 6:16.) For history is seeking to repeat itself, and, in
fact, soon will! Friends, not only is the great apostasy waxing stronger,
but its climax, the omega—spiritualism under a Christian guise—as
exemplified by the iceberg, is right before our eyes! Just as the
spiritualistic science of pantheism was the alpha of "deadly
heresies," the "startling nature" of "modern
spiritualism”—pantheism’s big sister—with Satan being "converted
after the modern order of things" will be the omega. The startling
nature of the omega is that spiritualism will closely imitate the nominal
Christianity of the day. What will you do, beloved? Will you meet it head on, even at
the risk of being ostracized or disfellowshipped from the church which you
love? As in the alpha of apostasy, evil angels took captive the mind of John
Harvey Kellogg. So in the omega, Satan will be "using all his science in
playing the game of life for human souls. His angels are mingling with and
instructing them in the mysteries of evil. These fallen angels will draw away
disciples after them, will talk with men, and will set forth
principles that are as false as can be leading souls into paths of
deception. These angels are to be found all over the world, presenting
the wonderful things that will soon appear in a more decided
light." Manuscript Releases, 760, 17. Says spiritualism,
pantheism's big sister, "I'm back!"
Most Seventh-day Adventists have read Isaiah 8:20: "To
the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them." But how many of us have noticed in
what context this verse was written? Isaiah 8:19warns: "And
when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and
unto wizards that peep and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their
God? For the living to the dead?" The admonishment of
Isaiah 8:20 is warning us of spiritualism—in
conversing with our beloved dead, who are really demon impostors!
Incidentally, this is why I refer to the Virgin Mary, universally beloved by
Christians, as the "demon Mary." And what
about the famous Letter 55, written in 1886, that says:
"The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It
remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out." What is it
that threatens the elect to such a magnitude as this? The sentence that
precedes the ones quoted above is rarely mentioned in conjunction with them.
It reads: "Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his
power as supreme." Thus, spiritualism—the omega—will be a great test of a
most startling nature for the people of God —To be
continued Go to: Part
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