The
Forerunner John the Baptist—Then and Today
“There are many professed Christians who, if they
should express their real feelings, would say, What need is there of speaking
so plainly? They might as well ask, Why need John the Baptist have said to
the Pharisees, ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the
wrath to come?’ Luke 3:7.
The following
presentation is adapted in part from a study on John the Baptist by Vance
Ferrell Click to go to our Home Page
Dear Reader, Imagine, if you will, the
greatest prophet who ever lived (other than Christ Jesus,) saying to the
leaders of his day: “O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Luke 3:7. Were
the Spirit of John the Baptist to repeat those words today, how many among
professing new movement Seventh-day Adventists would reprove John and
criticize him as being unkind and unloving and going about his task all
wrong?!
There is an ex-SDA pastor, who is claiming to fulfill the role as John the Baptist as FORERUNNER in preparing God’s people for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Let’s see how that pastor measures up to John the Baptist. He uses the pseudonym FORERUNNER. The objective of this document is to demonstrate the duties of every professing Seventh-day Adventist and to measure self-proclaimed “forerunners” and their teachings, by those duties incumbent upon all God’s people. It follows that any “forerunner” of John the Baptist, would excel beyond the average Christian in ALL those duties, and not just the teaching of the gospel as important as that is. We are also to teach the consequences of violating The Everlasting Gospel and the Midnight Cry of Matthew 25. I
am now instructed that I am not to be hindered in my work by those
who engage in suppositions regarding its nature, whose minds are struggling
with so many intricate problems connected with the supposed work of a
prophet. My commission embraces the work of a prophet, but it does not end there. It
embraces much more than the minds of those who have been sowing the seeds of
unbelief can comprehend.--Letter
244, 1906. (Addressed to elders
of Battle Creek church.) {1SM 36.2} It is interesting that both John the Baptist and Ellen White are referred to as being “more than a prophet.” Their work was very varied. They did not give only the gospel as our modern-day self-appointee claims is the proper course. They fearlessly reproved spiritual crime among God’s chosen people as well as the Gentiles. They sighed and cried for ALL the abominations in the land and in the church. The current FORERUNNER claims to be teaching a true gospel, though it is admixed with the pantheism of Jones and Waggoner (the both later went into pantheism), and an easy religion which Ellen which Ellen White said God’s servants will not teach: Said Christ, in vindication of John, "But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Not only was John a prophet to foretell future events, but he was a child of promise, filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth, and was ordained of God to execute a special work as a reformer, in preparing a people for the reception of Christ. The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. {RH, April 8, 1873 par. 14} The Old Testament dispensation foretold of John the Baptist in Ezekiel 20:34-38: 34And I will bring you out from the people, and will
gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand,
and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the
people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the
wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord
GOD. 37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I
will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38And I will purge out from among you the rebels,
and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the
country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel:
and ye shall know that I am the LORD. That (above)
is exactly what took place centuries later under John the Baptist. John
prepared a bride for Jesus, Desire of
Ages, 232. John was a lone voice crying from the wilderness, repent and
be baptized. That bride formed the first members of Jesus’ “gathered out”
faithful who took the gospel to the world. But what our modern-day forerunner
does not seem to be capable of realizing (even though I have told him this
many times) is that there had been separations from apostasy dating centuries
back to the time of Israel’s sojourn at Shiloh Eli and his sons served as
priests in God’s Tabernacle, to wit: "The
recreant priests added licentiousness to the dark catalogue of their crimes
yet they still polluted by their presence the tabernacle of the Lord, and,
laden with sin, dared to come into the presence of a holy God. As the men of
Israel witnessed the corrupt course of the priests, they thought it safer for
their families not to come up to the appointed place of worship. Many went
from Shiloh with their peace disturbed, their indignation aroused, until they
at last determined to offer their sacrifices themselves, concluding that this
would be fully as acceptable to God, as to sanction in any manner the
abominations practiced in the Sanctuary." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, vol. 1, p. 264, col. 3, December 1, 1881.
The life and mission of John were ended. Christ had said of him that he was more than a prophet. Again he said, "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." He had been executed as a criminal, not because of any guilt resting upon him, but for the reason that he had fearlessly reproved crime. His spotless life, his practical piety, his virtue and justice, condemned the dishonest and sinful lives of the Jews as well as the Gentiles. {RH, April 8, 1873 par. 13} Clearly, John the Baptist did not merely give the gospel. He condemned dishonest and sinful practices—the abominations of not only Israel, but the Gentiles as well. Said Christ, in vindication of John, "But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Not only was John a prophet to foretell future events, but he was a child of promise, filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth, and was ordained of God to execute a special work as a reformer, in preparing a people for the reception of Christ. The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. {RH, April 8, 1873 par. 14} "The messengers sent by God to deliver His warnings are hated by those whom they warn. The people charge upon them the calamities which are the result of their own departure from righteousness. Those who thus place themselves in Satan's power do not see things as God sees them. They are blinded by Satan. When God's mirror is held up before them, instead of repenting and turning from sin, they become indignant to think that they should be reproved. They think that an uncalled-for attack is being made upon them, and that the messengers of God are their enemies." {RH, October 22, 1901 par. 10}' E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 4, 345. John the Baptist Those who have been thrust out to bear a plain, pointed testimony, in the fear of God to reprove wrong, to labor with all their energies to build up God's people, and to establish them upon important points of present truth, have too often received censure instead of sympathy and help, while those who...have taken a noncommittal position, are thought to be devoted, and to have a mild spirit. God does not thus regard them. The forerunner of Christ's first advent was a very plain-spoken man. He rebuked sin, and called things by their right names. He laid the ax at the root of the tree. He thus addressed one class of professed converts who came to be baptized of him in Jordan: "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. . . . And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." {1T 321.1} In this fearful time, just before Christ is to come the second time, God's faithful preachers will have to bear a still more pointed testimony than was borne by John the Baptist. A responsible, important work is before them; and those who speak smooth things, God will not acknowledge as His shepherds. A fearful woe is upon them. {1T 321.2} “When a
prophet’s statements contradict cherished ideas and behaviors, disputing the
prophet’s credibility becomes a convenient recourse.” Kevin Paulson, THE PEOPLE WHOM GOD ESPECIALLY USES The end of God’s forbearance with those who persist in disobedience is approaching rapidly. “Ought men to be surprised over a sudden and unexpected change in the dealings of the Supreme Ruler with the inhabitants of a fallen world? Ought they to be surprised when punishment follows transgression and increasing crime? Ought they to be surprised that God should bring destruction and death upon those whose ill-gotten gains have been obtained through deception and fraud? Notwithstanding the fact that increasing light regarding God’s requirements has been shining on their pathway, many have refused to recognize Jehovah’s rulership, and have chosen to remain under the black banner of the originator of all rebellion against the government of heaven. The forbearance of God has been very great—so great that when we consider the continuous insult to His holy commandments, we marvel. The Omnipotent One has been exerting a restraining power over His own attributes. But He will certainly arise to punish the wicked, who so boldly defy the just claims of the Decalogue. God allows men a period of probation; but there is a point beyond which divine patience is exhausted, and the judgments of God are sure to follow.”—Prophets and Kings, 276. “In the places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High, the voice of stern rebuke will be heard. Boldly will men of God’s appointment denounce the union of the church with the world.”—Prophets and Kings, 187. “As the people had been held responsible for Achan’s sin, and had suffered from its consequences, they were, through their representatives, to take part in its punishment. ‘All Israel stoned him with stones.’ ”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 495. [In ancient Israel, under a theocracy, the wicked in the church were slain; today they should be disfellowshipped, as indicated in the following three quotations.] “Many make a superficial change in their habits and practices, and then suppose that they are Christians. They are received into church fellowship, but they are a great trouble and a great care.”—8 Testimonies, 184. “The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds. Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they should be separated from church fellowship, in accordance with the rules laid down in the Word of God . . Those who refuse to hear the admonitions and warnings
given by God’s faithful messengers are not to be retained in the church.
They are to be disfellowshipped; for they will be as
Achan in the camp of Israel—deceived and deceiving. “Who, after reading the record of Achan’s sin and punishment, can think it according to the will of God that those who do wickedly, refusing to repent, are to be retained in the church? To retain them would be an insult to the God of heaven.”—Letter 215, 1902; 5 SDA Bible Commentary, 1096. “The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism. It should be understood whether those who profess to be converted are simply taking the name of Seventh-day Adventists or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord’s side to come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. When they give evidence that they fully understand their position, they are to be accepted. But when they show that they are following the customs and fashions and sentiments of the world, they are to be faithfully dealt with. If they feel no burden to change their course of action, they should not be retained as members of the church. The Lord wants those who compose His church to be true, faithful stewards of the grace of Christ.”—Testimonies to Ministers, 128. “In
the work of reform to be carried forward today, there is need of men who, like Ezra and Nehemiah, will not palliate or excuse
sin, nor shrink from vindicating the honor of God. Those upon whom rests the burden of this work will not
hold their peace when wrong is done, neither will they cover evil with a
cloak of false charity. They will remember
that God is no respecter of persons, and that severity to a few may prove
mercy to many. They will remember also that in the one who rebukes evil
the spirit of Christ should ever be revealed. “In their work, Ezra and Nehemiah humbled themselves before God, confessing their sins and the sins of their people, and entreating pardon as if they themselves were the offenders. Patiently they toiled and prayed and suffered. That which made their work most difficult was not the open hostility of the heathen, but the secret opposition of pretended friends, who, by lending their influence to the service of evil, increased tenfold the burden God’s servants. These traitors furnished the Lord’s enemies with material to use in their warfare upon His people. Their evil passions and rebellious wills were ever at war with the plain requirements of God. “The success attending Nehemiah’s efforts shows what prayer, faith, and wise, energetic action will accomplish. Nehemiah was not a priest; he was not a prophet; he made no pretension to high title. He was a reformer raised up for an important time. It was his aim to set his people right with God. Inspired with a great purpose, he bent every energy of his being to its accomplishment. High, unbending integrity marked his efforts. As he came into contact with evil and opposition to right he took so determined a stand that the people were roused to labor with fresh zeal and courage. They could not but recognize his loyalty, his patriotism, and his deep love for God; and, seeing this, they were willing to follow where he led.”—Prophets and Kings, 675-676. “We are near the close of time. I have been shown that the retributive judgments of God are already in the land. The Lord has given us warning of the events about to take place. Light is shining from His Word; yet darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. ‘When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them . . and they shall not escape.’ “It is our duty to inquire the cause of this terrible darkness, that we may shun the course by which men have brought upon themselves so great delusion. God has given the world an opportunity to learn and to obey His will. He has given them, in His Word, the light of truth; He has sent them warning, counsel, and admonition; but few will obey His voice. Like the Jewish nation, the majority, even of professed Christians, pride themselves on their superior advantages, but make no returns to God for these great blessings. In infinite mercy a last warning message has been sent to the world, announcing that Christ is at the door and calling attention to God’s broken law. But as the antediluvians rejected with scorn the warning of Noah, so will the pleasure lovers of today reject the message of God’s faithful servants. The world pursues its unvarying round, absorbed as ever in its business and its pleasures, while the wrath of God is about to be visited on the transgressors of His law. Our compassionate Redeemer, foreseeing the perils that would surround His followers at this time, has given them special warning: ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’ If the church pursue a course similar to that of the world, they will share the same fate. Nay, rather, as they have received greater light, their punishment will be greater than that of the impenitent.”—5 Testimonies, 99-100. “When the church is in difficulty, when coldness and spiritual declension exist, giving occasion for the enemies of God to triumph, then, instead of folding their hands and lamenting their unhappy state, let its members inquire if there is not an Achan in the camp. With humiliation and searching of heart, let each seek to discover the hidden sins that shut out God’s presence.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 497. “Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke; for grievous sins have separated the people from God. Infidelity is fast becoming fashionable. ‘We will not have this man to reign over us,’ is the language of thousands. Luke 19:14. The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression; the trumpet does not give a certain sound. Men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God’s Word. “There are many professed Christians who, if they should express their real feelings, would say, What need is there of speaking so plainly? They might as well ask, Why need John the Baptist have said to the Pharisees, ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’ Luke 3:7. Why need he have provoked the anger of Herodias by telling Herod that it was unlawful for him to live with his brother’s wife? The forerunner of Christ lost his life by his plain speaking. Why could he not have moved along without incurring the displeasure of those who were living in sin? “So men who should be standing as faithful guardians of
God’s law have argued, till policy has taken the place of faithfulness and
sin is allowed to go unreproved. When will the voice of faithful rebuke be
heard once more in the church? “
‘Thou art the man.’ 2 Samuel 12:7. Words as
unmistakably plain as these spoken by Nathan to David are seldom heard in the
pulpits of today, seldom seen in the public press. If they were not so rare,
we should see more of the power of God revealed among men. The Lord’s
messengers should not complain that their efforts are without fruit until
they repent of their own love of approbation and their desire to please men,
which leads them to suppress truth. There is no doubt that the current day “FORERUNNER” has
not repented of his love of approbation which has lead him to suppress truth
and proper dealing with sin in the church. When and where sin is not expelled
from the church, we must separate from such a church. “Those ministers who are men pleasers, who cry, Peace, peace, when God has not spoken peace, might well humble their hearts before God, asking pardon for their insincerity and their lack of moral courage. It is not from love for their neighbor that they smooth down the message entrusted to them, but because they are self-indulgent and ease-loving. True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls. Those who have this love will not evade the truth to save themselves from the unpleasant results of plain speaking. When souls are in peril, God’s ministers will not consider self, but will speak the word given them to speak, refusing to excuse or palliate evil. “Would that every minister might realize the sacredness of his office and the holiness of his work, and show the courage that Elijah showed! As divinely appointed messengers, ministers are in a position of awful responsibility. They are to ‘reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering.’ 2 Timothy 4:2. In Christ’s stead they are to labor as stewards of the mysteries of heaven, encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient. With them worldly policy is to have no weight. Never are they to swerve from the path in which Jesus has bidden them walk. They are to go forward in faith, remembering that they are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. They are not to speak their own words, but words which One greater than the potentates of earth has bidden them speak. Their message is to be, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ God calls for men like Elijah, Nathan, and John the Baptist—men who will bear His message with faithfulness, regardless of the consequences; men who will speak the truth bravely, though it call for the sacrifice of all they have. The only person(s) the current self-proclaimed FORERUNNER reproves and rebukes, are the very ones who are dealing with abominable sins the way John the Baptist did! “God cannot use men who, in time of peril, when the strength, courage, and influence of all are needed, are afraid to take a firm stand for the right. He calls for men who will do faithful battle against wrong, warring against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. It is to such as these that He will speak the words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ Matthew 25:23.”—Prophets and Kings, 140-142. That you might know the current day dangers God’s people are in, read Satan’s plans to destroy the Advent people: Testimonies to Ministers, 472-475. (Originally in Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, pp. 337-340, which is the beginning of the “Snares of Satan” chapter, in the 1884 Great Controversy. We have a two-fold responsibility to the church first and to the world, just as was the case with the disciples who were to go to apostate Jerusalem first. It does no good to cross land and sea to bring converts to a church that is steeped in apostasy, lest one make them twice the child of hell they already were, Matthew 23:15. “As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavouring to keep all the commandments of God. “Says the great deceiver: ‘We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also. “ ‘The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls. We must exalt the sabbath of our creating. We have caused it to be accepted by both worldlings and church members; now the church must be led to unite with the world in its support. We must work by signs and wonders to blind their eyes to the truth, and lead them to lay aside reason and the fear of God and follow custom and tradition. “ ‘I will influence popular ministers to turn the attention of their hearers from the commandments of God. That which the Scriptures declare to be a perfect law of liberty shall be represented as a yoke of bondage. The people accept their minister’s explanations of Scripture and do not investigate for themselves. Therefore, by working through the ministers, I can control the people according to my will. “ ‘But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbathkeepers. We must excite popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish Church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side. “ ‘But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety do deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall.
“ ‘Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the up-build-ing of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people. “ ‘Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion. “ ‘Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance and employ all our seductive arts, to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it. “ ‘I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn and He will give them up to our full control. “ ‘We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.’ ”—Testimonies to Ministers, 472-475. It is impossible for a church, over a period of time, to remain uncorrupted—if there are none in it who are calling attention to the ways it is veering away from Scripture; and, in the name of the Lord, warning, pleading, weeping, urging, and demanding that changes be made before it is forever too late. Who are some of the men of God most honored of Heaven in the Bible? The names of Enoch, Moses, Daniel Elijah, Paul come to mind as some of the foremost in the cause of God, and of course we must not forget the greatest prophet of them all, John the Baptist What are some traits of character they all had in common? They certainly loved their brethren and were kind, but some of them made some very terse remarks concerning God’s people that they would undoubtedly condemned and criticized for by most SDA’s today. There is one special trait that they possessed superior to that of most Bible heroes. That trait sets them apart as special men whom God could use to do a special work. They fearlessly reproved sin. Forgetful of how doing so would surely cause problems for themselves, they defended God and His law at a time in history when others were afraid to do so. To
that list, we could have added the names of Noah, Christ, and Ellen White,
all of whom strongly rebuked wrongdoing. It is not by accident that all those individuals ranked high in the estimation of God. Their sincere concern for the honor and defense of God could not permit them to be content with merely living a good life. What special trait did all the major and minor prophets have in common? Men such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Joel, and Malachi and their brethren. It was not ordination into the ministry. Not one of them was a minister or priest. They fearlessly reproved sin. That is why God called them to be His special messengers. You and I cannot read a page in their writings without quickly coming across their strong denunciation of iniquity. What is it that made Samuel and Nathan so special? They defended God, even in the presence of kings. (Read PK 147-148, not quoted here.) Strangely, the modern-day self-appointed forerunner never reproves sin. He believes that giving the gospel is all that is necessary. Throughout human history, the people of God have continually veered toward apostasy. Enticed by Satan’s temptations, compromise and sin has always been thought the pleasant way to go. And in every age, there have been the seven thousand who have not bowed the knee. But a few have stepped forward; and, in spite of the reviling and contempt it would bring upon themselves, they declared to everyone, “There is sin in the camp. Unless you put it away, you will erelong share in it. We must return to God in humility of soul and heartfelt surrender—or we will be lost!” Would you like to be among that special number? Think not
that it is predestination which selects the special ones whom God appoints to
defend Him in a time of growing apostasy. He selects those who are
selectable! Individuals who love Him, His Word, and His cause more than they
love their own ease and security. There is a reason why, of the millions who lived before the time of Christ, that only Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven without seeing death, and Moses alone was raised from the dead. There is a reason. Read again their bibliographies, as given in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. There is a reason why Jesus spoke so highly of John the Baptist. Read his story too, and be inspired to emulate his life of self-sacrificing devotion to God. Read about Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and Noah. Who were the martyrs? Men and women who openly defended God, when they knew it would cost them their lives. Who were the leaders in the Great Reformation? Men who, at the peril of their lives, condemned religious apostasy. God wants to use you also. The current day self-appointed John the Baptist, is separated from the church. He does not attend it and has not attended it since 1983. He sees himself as being in an elite class of called out ones who is to give only the gospel. God did not predestine a certain elite to be the 144,000. John the Baptist made his plea to all who would hear him. Indeed, Ellen White says that true reformers have left the church of their fathers in every succeeding generation, and for ONE REASON ONLY—the ecclesiastical leaders would not tolerate the light of truth. Desire of Ages, 232. A new century has begun, and our denomination is now nearly 150 years old. With the passing of years, it has steadily moved closer to the world. Its preachers are trained under men who were taught liberal religion in outside universities. On all sides, we see lowered standards; restructured doctrines; worldly entertainment; changed church services; sports and music; and ecumenical books. Public sins, lowered standards, changed doctrines in our church should be publicly reproved. Yet none of us can name even one of our ministers or leaders who does it. God has a work for you to do. Oh, but you say, “I will get into trouble if I openly defend our historic beliefs and standards.” But is it better to be honored by God or by men? There are those around you who need the encouragement you can give them. They are watching your example. Many of our people will awaken, as from a dream, when they discover how very far we have wandered from God’s blueprint. Show it to them. Explain the utter seriousness of the situation 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Why
Separation From Apostasy is Essential in any Given Generation It is one of the first duties of any true shepherd of
God’s flock to protect the sheep from the wolves. For years, like most SDA’s,
I thought of the wolves as outsiders, offshoots etc. That clearly is a
mistaken notion as the following Scripture conveys: Eze 22:27 Her princes [leaders] in the midst thereof [are] like wolves ravening the prey,
to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. Zep 3:3 Her princes [leaders] within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening
wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause [them] to
err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed. "The members of our churches
are not incorrigible; the fault is not so much to be charged upon them as
upon their teachers. Their ministers do not feed them." Special Testimonies, Series A, No.1, p.46. When any church will not separate open sinners and
false teachings from its camp, those who would be faithful followers of
Christ must separate. "Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin
must be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the work of
judging character and motive. He knows
our nature too well to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church
those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make
mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless
subjects the very one whom Christ is drawing to Himself, it would perhaps
extinguish their last hope. Many who
think themselves Christians will at last be found wanting. Many will be in heaven who their neighbors
supposed would never enter there. Man
judges from appearance, but God judges the heart. The tares and the wheat are to grow
together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary
time." Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 71. We can deduce from the above
statement that tares are not open sinners. They are insincere believers who
motives one would have to judge in order to uproot them. However, open
sinners are another matter. It is not necessary to judge their motives, just
the open sin. If an organization or individual is participating in open sin,
it is not part of God's church. Vance Ferrell and the Standish brothers have proved
that the church has made secret agreements with Babylon to tone down the
Sabbath and the mark of the beast messages. Both Vance and the Standish
brothers have multi-million dollar independent ministries that would be
subject to being sued if they are not telling the truth. And we know that the
new movement church is all too ready to sue anyone if such is to its
advantage. “Those
who refuse to give the third angel's message to the world are as guilty as
those who commit open sin: "And through lack of zeal for the
promulgation of the third angel's message, many others, while not apparently
living in transgression, are nevertheless as verily lending their influence
on the side of Satan as are those who openly sin against God. Multitudes
are perishing; but how few are burdened for these souls! There is a
stupor, a paralysis, upon many of the people of God, which prevents them from
understanding the duty of the hour." 8T 119. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPEN SINNING THORNY-GROUND HEARERS--“The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds. Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they should be separated from church fellowship, in accordance with the rules laid down in the Word of God.” {11MR 208.3} "Thorns
sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature (see Luke
8:14). In the same way secular interests prevent the fruits of the Spirit
(Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching maturity. Religion is relegated to the
subordinate position of being only one interest among many. For lack of
cultivation it withers and eventually dies. That which the thorny-ground
hearers lack is a moral transformation [E.G. White, Christ's Object
Lessons, p. 50] To them, justification is the sum and
substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life
consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by
which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of
Jesus Christ." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5,
405. What the above statement refers to is what Ellen White called thorny-ground hearers.
"It is impossible for you to unite with
those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. . (II Corinthians 6:14, 15 quoted). 'What fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ
and the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites with the
corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 (vol 4, p 137). Our modern day self-appointed forerunner, claims that we should not call members out of the church until the Loud Cry. That is totally untrue in light of the fact that we are responsible for truth when we learn it, and the major reason for any separation that has ever taken place in the church is because of the principle of corporate responsibility for the evil in any church and because it is impossible to remain (or become) pure while united to the corrupt. It is impossible for the wheat to mature amongst open sin. That was the reasons for separation in Christ’s day. That was the reasons for separation in the Reformation. That was the reasons for separation in 1844. That was the reasons for separation in every succeeding generation, Desire of Ages, 232. The Adventist “forerunner,” is not warning professing Seventh-day Adventists that they can commit unpardonable sin by being joined to a new movement that has violated the Midnight Cry, the first and second angel’s messages, Isaiah 8:9-13, and the commandments of God by being ecumenically linked with Babylon. "While
praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be
rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the
Advent people in the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me,
'Look again, and look a little higher.' At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight
and narrow path cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people
were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They
had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an
angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path, and
gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their
eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they
were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way
of, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage
them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious
light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others
rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had
led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in
perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost
sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world
below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the
City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way
along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many
waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming.... By this
time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was
written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new
name." E.G. White, Word to the Little Flock,
p. 14. The reason it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who KNOWINGLY stray from the Midnight Cry which gave power to the second angel’s message, is because such a an act is violation of Isaiah 8:9-13, and the only option to crossing that God proclaimed line in the sand, is being broken in pieces. These are serious considerations and our modern day “forerunner” fails to warn God’s people of these very acts which caused God to instruct Jeremiah in Chapters 7 and 11, not to even pray for his people any longer. That implies that Israel and any of God’s chosen people can commit unpardonable sin on a generational basis. If this isn’t serious, nothing is! God bless, —rb |
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