Below I respond to the contentions of those who defend
remaining in a new movement formed “among” Seventh-day Adventists, which we
were never to join. Satan well knew that Adventists would not leave the
church to join any new movement, so he came in “among” the church, within it,
and formed a new movement that removed God, and the sleeping virgins remain
clueless except for a remnant whom the voice of God will awaken. My responses
will be in this color print. The parts in black print are the personal,
private interpretation meanderings of the person I often refer to as Gar.
Some of his sentences don’t make sense, but I have quoted him exactly.
The Remnant Church Not Babylon, was first
presented—March 23, 1893; and another date—one of incomparable importance in
the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—that is April 21, 1903.… A
most vital truth is herein involved.
Ron responds: Of course the true remnant is not Babylon. But
that does not mean that a new movement formed within the church by Satan, would
not be a part of Babylon by becoming fallen.
"The fact of the church’s Spirit
pronounced condemnation and final renouncement was made known to her in a
Testimony given April 21, 1903....that was a decade, approximately, after the
servant of God stated that the church was not Babylon.
"Let us consider calmly and unprejudicedly, this most remarkable message
in which is contained the startling exposure of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church’s spiritually corrupt condition, also her just condemnation as
declared by Christ Himself (‘our Instructor’) on that fateful day, April 21,
1903."
Ron responds: The presentation Gar gives is not without great
bias and prejudice. He implies that being called a harlot is just a kind and
loving nudge from God to repent. He distracts from the seriousness of that
charge, by concluding that all will come out in the wash and the church will
be purified and saved. God says that the church (spiritual Jerusalem) will
not be rained upon (Holy Spirit outpouring) and cleansed in the day of
indignation (end-time), and that a remnant will go forth OUT OF JERUSALEM,
and the fallen churches of Babylon cannot represent modern-day spiritual
Jerusalem:
“23 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 24
Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained
upon in the day of indignation. 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets [leaders] in the midst thereof, like a roaring
lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the
treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst
thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned
mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane,
neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and
have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27
Her
princes [leaders] in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to
shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her
prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining
lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not
spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and
exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have
oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among
them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the
land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore
have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the
fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith
the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 22:23-31.
The
conspiracy of her prophets (leaders) is that they secretly conspired to
confederate the church to Babylon’s associations, counsels/councils, girdings
and confederacies without the people having the least clue of such for years.
End Ron’s comment.
The passage in the Testimony is then
quoted, but the editor finds it necessary to make two interpolations in order
to put into the mind of the reader the false interpretation he wishes him to
accept. I order to make clear this addition of this private interpretation,
we quote the sentences again as the critic set them forth:
"Who can truthfully say, ‘Our [meaning
the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s] gold is tried in the fire; our garments
are unspotted by the world’? ... ‘How is the faithful city become a HARLOT’
[or Babylon]?"
Both these interpolations are misleading.
True, Babylon is called a "harlot" in the Scriptures. But in the
passage as quoted from Isaiah 1:21 there is no reference to Babylon. On the
contrary, the words were spoken to God’s backslidden people, and in close
connection with that wonderful assurance that "though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Let us note the earmarks of
the enemy of our souls in any effort today to disconnect these words from the
promise and assurance of a possible forgiveness.
Ron responds: Apostate Israel was finally called the Synagogue
of Satan by Jesus. He said they were of their father the Devil. So there is
little consolation to Israel not being called Babylon per se. They were
called the Synagogue of Satan and Babylon is part of that Synagogue. Babylon
is the religious element of Satan’s synagogue.
The person (Gar) who wrote the above evaluation, is seemingly
oblivious to the final outcome to the apostasy of ancient Israel. It was not
unpardonable sin for Israel or any church to “play the harlot.” But there is
a point beyond which a “chosen people” cross God’s line, and that point is
when they conspire to confederate (join) with God’s enemies. They then marry
into Satan’s synagogue. Jeremiah 11:9-15 is a classic example of how such a
people can close their probation eternally on a generational basis.
The close of probation for apostate Israel in A.D. 34, is the
final example of what happens to a chosen people who cross God’s line. The
destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70, is certainly testament
that a large segment of Israel, except for a relatively small remnant, was
forever destroyed, and their sins were not made as white as snow.
The preceding paragraph, as we have seen,
brings to view two classes in the church. How fitting, then, to ask a
question to be answered individually: "Who can truthfully say, ‘Our gold
is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world’?"
Is it correct to assume that in this
quotation from the Testimonies the pronoun "our" refers to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church as a body? Evidently not. It is plain that the
insertion of "The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s" as the antecedent
of this interrogatory pronoun is inconsistent with the call to purification
and reformation set forth as the precious privilege of the backslidden, yet
divinely beloved church. The Lord condemns, that He may pardon and save. It
is Satan who uses the Lord’s rebukes to discourage and destroy.
Ron responds: Ellen
White called the church a harlot on four different occasions, the last being
in 1903.
https://omega77.tripod.com/harlotstat1.htm
There is no doubt that Ellen White was referring to the church
as a body. A novice in the Word would hastily conclude that if it included
the church as a body, that this would indict Ellen White with the body. That
is not the case. The real truth that would omit Ellen White and any truly
faithful overcomer from being any part of the harlot indictment will be
discovered in the context of the following statements:
"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 in Heaven is the Church
Triumphant of Men Made Perfect
"But
ye are come unto mount Sion [Zion], 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, which
are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of
just men MADE PERFECT." Hebrews 12:22, 23.
The truly
faithful reformers enter the church of heaven (the Sanctuary) now by faith.
Ellen White testifies to this in Early Writings, p. 255.
Further
Distinctions Between the Bride and the Ten Virgin Guests--The Ten-Virgins are
Awakened by the Voice of the Bride
"Lingering near [not at] the
bride's house 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 [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 [all ten slept Matt. 25:5],
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.
The ten maidens seize their lamps and begin to trim them, in haste to go
forth, But five have neglected to fill their flasks with oil [character].
They did not anticipate so long a delay, and they have not prepared for the
emergence." E. G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 405, 406.
If the
voice of the bride awakens the 10 virgins, then the bride is a separate
entity, who is awake before the awakening of the 10 virgins. This is attested
to in Isaiah 62:11, where the mother, Zion, says the same thing, in similar
other words, to her daughter.
Only
Zion, Philadelphia, New Jerusalem, the Bride, the 144,000, the Firstfruits
[Firstborn] go into the Temple on Mt. Zion. Early Writings, p. 19.
"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." Rev. 3:12.
"Characteristics of
True Reformers.--Here [Isa. 8:11-14] are given the characteristics of those who shall
be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel’s message, these
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.
We find from the above volley of statements that there is always
a faithful church on earth that represents heavenly Zion. In every generation
God has had a faithful bride, a holy woman, Zion (Sion) that is registered
(written) in the church of heaven, Heb. 12:22, 23.
"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.
This
is an example of the faithful (holy woman) church triumphant, dwelling with
her children to come to their aid. Ellen White performed that function as did
the faithful of the pioneers. The true reformers fill that function today and
have done so in every succeeding generation since Christ’s first advent.
The
above evidence is further confirmed by Ellen White’s description of the Third
Angel and the function of that Angel:
"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
third angel (faithful men) have selected the wheat from the tares and sealed
and bound them in every generation since the disciples of Christ were given
that work, to wit:
Third
Angel—“No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to
represent the
people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven.
Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through
the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk.
2, p. 387.
"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." E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 199, 200.
"Verily I say unto
you," Christ continued, "whatsoever
ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Verse 18.
This statement holds its force in all ages. On the church has been conferred the power to act in Christ's
stead. It is God's
instrumentality for the preservation of order and discipline among His
people. To it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions
respecting its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the
responsibility of excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who
by their un-Christlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever
the church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God's word
will be ratified in heaven.” 7T,
263.
Those who Have Really Separated
From God
"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, was for
Adventists only. The 1911 edition was written for the world. The above
statement is not found in the 1911 edition.
Conclusions
·
Indeed, God and Ellen White’s indictment of the church as a
harlot was a serious call to reformation.
·
Ellen White said in Testimonies,
Vol. 8, 250, that if the church did not respond to the call for reformation,
she would abhor herself.
·
Gar intimates that being called a harlot by God is nothing
more than a call to reformation that will surely result in “the purification
and reformation set forth as the precious privilege of the backslidden, yet
divinely beloved church. The Lord condemns, that He may pardon and save. It
is Satan who uses the Lord’s rebukes to discourage and destroy.”
·
Based on the above statement by Gar, the ancient and modern
prophets who warned/warn Israel were/are nothing more than the influence of
Satan, using the Lord’s rebukes to discourage and destroy, and that all will
turn out rosy and well because the Lord only wounds that He might heal.
·
We know from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (Chapter
1, The Great Controversy), that all
God’s warnings to Israel did not result in their repentance and turning to
Him. So it will be with apostate Adventists.
·
Jeremiah 11:9-15 is one of the most serious passages in
Scripture. Why? Because it relates how and why a “chosen” people can close
their probation of a generational basis, which is testified to by God telling
Jeremiah not to pray for that generation of Jews who made the violations
cited.
·
Ellen White quotes God as saying that the “chosen” people of
Jeremiah would have a COUNTERPART in the last days. The only “chosen” people
who qualify is professing Seventh-day Adventists.
·
Jeremiah 11:9-15 testifies that it is possible for a “chosen”
people to close their probation AT ANY TIME, by committing the acts therein
defined. New Movement Seventh-day Adventism has committed every one of those
violations in principle—for example the idolatry is in changing pillar
doctrines for the teachings of Babylon on the human nature of Christ and His
flesh and the Atonement, as well as the Godhead via the Trinity Doctrine.
These apostasies sweep away the entire Christian economy and nothing could be
more abominable and/or unpardonable.
·
Three Adventist’s Dr.’s of Theology have said that the new
movement has committed unpardonable sin. They are the late Dr. Ralph Larson,
the late Dr. Marshall Grosboll, and Dr. John Grosboll. They are correct.
·
Isaiah 8:9-15 is implicit and complicit with Jeremiah 11:9-15,
and the only option when going that far is “broken in pieces,” unpardonable
sin, and the church has certainly fulfilled those verses via ecumenical
liaison with Babylon.
|