My
Vision on SDA’s Consulting the Witch of Endor
Part
3
The
Anatomy of Corporate Responsibility and The Laodicean Church
“The evidence given one
day, if rejected, may never be repeated.” {RH September 16, 1873, par.
22}
“The angel with the writer's ink horn is to place a
mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the
destroying angel follows this angel (Letter 12, 1886).” {4BC 1161.5}
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken
than the fat of rams. For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry.” {1T 322.2}
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast
rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
2Ch 33:6 And he caused his children to pass
through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also
he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and
with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to
anger.
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Dear Reader,
In this Part 3 of my vision on
the state of the new movement posing as professing Seventh-day Adventism, I was
shown the relationship between corporate responsibility and the Laodicean
condition of the church. As many of you know, the new movement is proud of its
Laodicean status as what it regards as the last church of the seven, when Ellen
White says that all of the messages (plural) apply to
the end of time.
“The names of the seven churches
are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The
number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of
the fact that the messages
[Plural] extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition
of the church at different periods in the history of the world.” {AA 585.3}
I was instructed that because
many are ignorant of the fact that the Laodicean message applies to the entire
CORPORATE church AS A BODY, and that Ellen White said that the Laodicean
condition is the foolish virgin state of the church, that it is important to
keep reminding the members of the following statements:
"The
state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state."
E.G. White, Review and Herald, 8/19/1890.
"To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide
with the true church."
E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 55.
"The
church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst."
E.G. White, Notebook Leaflets, p. 99, 1898.
“The
Testimony For The Church—The Laodicean Church—What greater deception can come
upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are ALL WRONG?” Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 253, 254.
Weight of Evidence Formula: "1. Every word must have its
proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and
study 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in
faith, not wavering 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures
together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper
influence and if you can
form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error 5.
Scripture must be its own expositor, [interpreter] since it is a rule of
itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its
meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be
thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not
the Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent Review and Herald, 11-25-84, pr. 24.
Remember the weight of evidence formula when
attempting to answer any question posed in this document.
QUESTIONS:
· Are the foolish virgins saved
according to your bible?
· If Laodicea is the foolish
virgin state of the church, how is she the noble ship that goes forth to port
heaven?
· Ellen White says that only the
presence of God can constitute a church. The Upward Look, p. 315.
· If the presence of God in not in the midst of Laodicea, the foolish virgin church, how can
she be a noble ship church
that goes forth to port heaven?
· How can she be the final
church? If she is the final church, no one would be saved because the foolish
virgins are not saved.
· James White said that
Philadelphia is the church triumphant, the final church.
· Philadelphia is not faulted
for anything. Why would she not be the final church of Revelation 14;1-4, WHICH
IS WITHOUT FAULT? Would this mean that only the original church of
Philadelphia, circa the first century, would be the only final church?
· Philadelphians are told they
will be made pillars in the Temple on Mt. Zion. Rev. 3:10-12. Ellen White said
that only the 144,000 who are translated without seeing death would go into
that Temple, Early Writings, p. 19. How does original Philadelphia
qualify? We know the answer. Do you? Does your “church?” How would your pastor
answer this question, so as not to make Ellen White a self-contradictory false
prophet? Can he? We can.
The
church’s perennial claim that it is not in apostasy, is to claim that it is right
and has nothing to repent of. That is exactly what the Laodicean message is
designed to remediate, but alas the once church militant discerns
nothing to repent of. And since the sin of Laodicea is corporate, as the
message is addressed to the corporate church AS A BODY, the repentance would
have to be of a corporate nature for Laodicea to be the final church that is
saved, and Ellen White said that will never happen.
“From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on
earth. In every age
the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the
generation in which they lived. These
sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off
their armor, others took up the work.
God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting
the church on earth with the church in heaven.
He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to
prevail against His people.”
E.G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 12.
Laodicea
is instructed to repent of being lukewarm. Lukewarmness
by itself is apostasy, because it is the foolish virgin state of the church.
But the church leaders declare that the church IS NOT in apostasy, and that
foolish virgins are saved because they are the final church in the list of
seven addressed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
“The old standard bearers knew
what it was to wrestle with God in prayer, and to enjoy the outpouring of His
Spirit. But these are passing off from the stage of action; and who are coming
up to fill their places? How is it with the rising generation? Are they
converted to God? Are we awake to the work that is going on in the heavenly
sanctuary, or are we waiting for some compelling power to come upon the church
before we shall arouse? Are
we hoping to see the whole church revived? That time will never come.”
{1SM 122.1}
Most Adventists believe that the
Laodicean church is the ship that is going through to port heaven. That is
simply not true. There are two noble ships, and one of them sinks to rise no
more, and the one that sinks is the new movement that Satan formed “AMONG”
“WITHIN,” while the virgins were sleeping.
What About the Noble Ship Drifting at Sea Without Chart
or Compass and that Sinks to Rise No More?
Ship Drifting at Sea Without Chart or Compass: "The facts concerning the real condition of the
professed people of God, speak more loudly than their profession, and make it
evident that some power has cut the cable that anchored them to the Eternal
Rock, and that they are drifting away to sea, without chart or compass."
E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol.
2, p. 128, (Review and Herald, Vol.
2, p. 231). (Also see Fundamentals of
Christian Education, p. 348).
#1: "I lately read of a NOBLE SHIP that was
plowing its way across the sea, when at midnight, with a terrific crash, it
struck upon a rock; the passengers were awakened only to see with horror their
hopeless condition, and
with the ship they sank to rise no more. The MAN AT THE HELM [VERSUS CHRIST]
had mistaken the beacon light, and hundreds of souls were at a moment's warning
launched into eternity." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2,
128.
Noble Ship #2: "There is no need to doubt, to
be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and
He will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the
work, God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith
that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port."
E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, 390.
QUESTIONS:
· Who are
the people of God?
· Is a cold apostate new
movement that has removed God, (1SM 205) the head of the work?
· Where was the HEAD OF THE WORK
when Jesus and His followers separated from the apostate “church” of their day?
DA 232.
· How did Christ set everything
in order at the HEAD OF THE WORK in His day?
· Does Christ attempt to set a
new movement that removes Him, in order? Or does He choose othesr?
TUL 131.
· If NOTHING
is allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT,
(1SM 204-205) does that include Christ?
· Does Christ stand in the way
of the Noble Ship that sinks to rise no more?
· Did Christ stand in the way of
the apostate Jewish Temple that was destroyed in A.D. 70?
· Will Christ stand in the way
of HIS CHURCH, HIS SANCTUARY, THE HOUSE OF JACOB, where men, maidens and little
children all perish without mercy in the next literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9,
Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211,
which begins on page 207, quoting Ezekiel 9?
· Why don’t the leaders tell us
that there are TWO noble ships, and one of them sinks to rise no more?
· Why don’t the leaders admit
that a ship drifting at sea without chart or compass, is a ship that is in
apostasy and without Jesus as its Captain?
· Do you see why these questions
are too hot for the apostate leaders to handle?
· Do you see why those who pose
these and like questions are called “troublers of Israel?”
·
Will Walter Veith and Andrew Henriques answer these questions? Don’t
hold you breath! Will any leader in, or advocate of,
the new movement, answer these questions? Try asking them!
·
Where was the head
of the work when Christ and His followers separated from the apostate Jewish
church of their day?
·
Jesus’ most
effective tool was asking TOUGH QUESTIONS. Are these tough, valid questions?
·
When the SEPARATED
disciples were told that whomever they bound (Sealed) on earth) would be bound
(Sealed) in heaven, where was the head of the work working to right every
wrong?
·
Were there TWO
JERSUALEM HEADQUARTERS—that of the disciples and that of the apostate Jews?
·
Did the TWO
JERUSALEM HEADQUARTERS represent two NOBLE SHIPS, with only one going forth to
port heaven?
·
Who was captain of
the once Noble Ship of Jews which sank to rise no more?
·
Who was captain of the
Noble Ship that will go forth to port heaven?
"Christ was a protestant...The Reformers date back to Christ and
the apostles. They came out and separated themselves from a religion of forms
and ceremonies. Luther and his followers did not invent the reformed religion.
They simply accepted it as presented by Christ and the apostles." E.G.
White, Review
and Herald,
vol. 2, 48, col. 2.
Paul left
"And as they persisted in their rejection of the gospel the
apostle (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three
months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But
when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before
the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing
daily in the school of one Tyrannus." Acts, 19:8, 9.
"Fearing that the faith of the believers would be endangered by
continued association with these opposers of the truth, Paul separated from
them, and gathered the disciples into a distinct body." E.G. White, Acts
of the Apostles, p. 286.
Home churches
Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and
Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the
tetrarch, and Saul.
Rom 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my
well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Phm 1:2 And to [our] beloved Apphia,
and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:
1Cr 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in
their house.
ol 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and
Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
1 Corinthians 14:26 describes an early church meeting, in which
everyone present shared in providing hymns, instruction, revelation, tongues,
or interpretation.
1Cr 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of
you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Act 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and
had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they
believed.
Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church
together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened
the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
1Pe 5:13 The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you],
saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son.
Rom 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the
church which is at Cenchrea:
Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read
also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the [epistle]
from Laodicea.
1Cr 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
"There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in
contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is
current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a
Christian." E.G. White, Manuscript Release #995, p. 5.
· Did Ellen White prophesy a NEW
MOVEMENT, NEW ORGANIZATION, 1SM 204-205?
· Did Ellen White say that ANY
NEW ORGANIZATION would mean apostasy from the truth?
· Did her prophecy of a New
ORGANIZATION/MOVEMENT occur since the mid 1950’s?
· Did the once church militant change
leaders when Christ was removed?
· When folk ask you why you left
their “church,” have a print out of these questions ready to give to them and
request that they answer ALL the questions. BUT DON’T EXPECT YOUR REQUEST TO BE MET!
"We cannot now step off the foundation that
God has established. We
cannot now enter into any new organization for this
would mean apostasy from the truth.--Manuscript 1290, 1905. Selected
Messages, vol. 2, 390.
In light of all the statements involving
two noble ships, and a new movement/organization, we must interpret them all so
that none contradict. The best way to achieve this goal is to look for
qualifying words. In the above statements the qualifying words are NOBLE
SHIP(S) and THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Who
are the people of God? Those who keep His commandments
and heed the Laodicean message.
Change Leaders
and Know it Not:
Change Leaders: "There is manifested on the
part of men in responsible positions an unwillingness to confess where they have been in the wrong
and their neglect is working disaster, not only to themselves, but to the
churches....You will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will
continue to lack wisdom, and
will can sin righteousness and righteousness sin. The multitude of
deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you will change leaders,
and not know that you have done so." E.G. White, Review and
Herald, Vol. 2, 448.
Sort of (above) like being hypnotized by Eriksonian Hypnosis, a method of hypnotizing without the
subject knowing he/she is being hypnotized.
Change Leaders: "Men in positions of
responsibility are in danger of changing leaders. This I know, for it has been
plainly revealed to me." E.G. White, Series B, #2, p. 48.
Change Leaders: "Men who might have stood in
clear light, doing valiant service as ministers of the gospel and medical
missionaries, have been
accepting false theories and sophistries which originated with the father of
lies, and yet they do not realize that they have changed." E.G.
White, Special Testimonies, Series B, #7, p. 13-16, November 20, 1905.
Change Leaders: "Satan will set up his hellish
banner right in your homes, and
you will be so blinded to the real nature of his deceptions that you reverence
it as the banner of Christ." E.G. White, The 1888 Materials,
p. 505.
Change Leaders: "They will not recognize him
[Satan] as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a FRIEND, one who is doing a
good work." Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 294.
Change Leaders: Satan has laid his plans to
undermine our faith in the history of the cause and work of God. I am deeply in
earnest as I write this. Satan
is working with men in prominent positions to sweep away the foundation of our
faith. Shall we allow this to be done, brethren?" E.G. White, Review
and Herald, Nov. 19, 1903.
The Trinity Doctrine by and of itself sweeps away
the entire Christian economy, as Ellen White said Kellogg’s error did. How? The
Trinity Doctrine teaches that there are three CO-ETERNAL,
persons to the Godhead. The humanity of Christ became part of the Godhead at
the Incarnation. So how can His humanity be co-ETERNAL with the other two
persons? Thus, the Trinity doctrine, in effect, does away with the Atonement
which produced a THIRD PERSON in the human personality of Christ. This sweeps
away the entire Christian economy, just as Satan would have it so.
Froom’s book Movement of
Destiny,
teaches that Christ took the nature of Adam BEFORE the fall. That would mean
that He did not come in our sinful flesh, and the Bible says that all who do
not believe that Christ came in our flesh, our sinful flesh, are antichrist. So this is another way in which the new movement is
antichrist. Oh, Let us count the ways. For we are to sigh and cry for all the
abominations that be done IN THE CHURCH. We will not be marked (sealed) by the
Man in Linen unless we do this:
“Mark this point with care; those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in
them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by the man in linen, are those
"that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done" in the church.
Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they
are represented as being in an agony, even sighing and crying.” {RH, June 8,
1886 par. 2}
Do you cry to yourself in the closet as some
ministers are teaching? God says to CRY ALOUD. Read Isaiah 58:1 for the answer!
Read Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211 for the answer about the “dumb-dog” who
will NEVER AGAIN
BARK to show THE HOUSE OF JACOB their sins. Read Isaiah 58:10-12 for the
answer.
Change Leaders if Mistakes are not Admitted and
Changed: "If when the Lord reveals your errors you do not repent or make
confession, his providence will bring you over the ground again and again. You
will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to lack
wisdom, and will call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. The multitude
of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you
will CHANGE LEADERS, AND NOT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO." E.G. White, Review and
Herald, vol.
2, p. 449.
Change Leaders: "Satan has COME IN with his
specious temptations, and has led the professed
followers of Christ away from the [PILOT] Leader (Christ), classing them with
the foolish virgins." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 130.
Change Leaders: "Refusing to follow in the
path of obedience, they transferred their allegiance to Satan. The enemy
rejoiced in his success in effacing the divine image from the minds of the
people that God had chosen as His representatives. Through [ECUMENICAL]
intermarriage with idolaters and CONSTANT ASSOCIATION WITH THEM [Isa. 8:9-20],
Satan brought about that for which he had long been working,--a national
apostasy." Fundamentals to Christian Education, p. 449.
Change Leaders: "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.
Corporate Responsibility
"The Lord gave Joshua to
understand that the sin of even one man would bring the divine wrath upon the
whole congregation.
There was work for both
magistrate and people, to keep the camp free from iniquity. They must have
vigilant care, not only for themselves, but for one another, lest sin should
prevail, and the Lord's name be dishonored. God's character changes not."
ST 12/8/81
"Except in his
neglect to restrain and control his sons, Eli had faithfully performed the
duties of his office. But his failure to maintain the honor of God by repressing
sin with an impartial hand, gave rise to a long train of evils, bringing crime
and anguish upon a whole nation. In the history of Eli and his sons is a
solemn warning for all the ministers of Christ—an admonition to guard their own
hearts with diligence, to keep holy all God's requirements, that his blessing
may rest upon the workmen, and that the work may bear the signet of Heaven. It should also impress upon them their duty to rebuke sin in the members of the church,
be they high or low, rich or poor. Even our dearest friends are not to come
between us and our allegiance to God. We need not expect to receive the divine blessing until all
that has been left for man to do is done to correct error and repress sin.
To neglect this duty, or to be
slothful and careless in its performance, is to disobey God, to sanction sin,
and to bring his wrath upon his people.
Note by Ron: These words should
be fully emphasized: It should also impress upon them their duty
to rebuke sin in the members of the church, be they high or low, rich or poor.
Even our dearest friends are not to come between us and our allegiance to God.
We need not expect to receive
the divine blessing until all that has been left for man to do is done to correct
error and repress sin. To
neglect this duty, or to be slothful and careless in its performance, is to
disobey God, to sanction sin, and to bring his wrath upon his people.
End note.
The example of ministers should be such as to impress the people with reverence for God, and with fear to offend him. They should honor the Lord at all times, ever acknowledging that of themselves they can do nothing, that their strength and wisdom must come from God, and that all the glory belongs to him. Those who occupy responsible positions, where if connected with God they might do much good, yet who abuse these privileges by the gratification of appetite or unlawful passion, will be visited with the wrath of God according to the gifts which they have perverted." ST 12/8/81
"The plain straight testimony
must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as
surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body [corporately],
responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them." Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 269.
"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}
“Achan’s sin brought disaster upon the whole nation. For one man’s sin the
displeasure of God will rest upon His church till the transgression is searched
out and put away. The influence most to be feared by the church is not
that of open opposers, infidels, and blasphemers, but of inconsistent
professors of Christ. These are the ones that keep back the blessing of the God
of Israel and bring weakness upon His people.” {PP 497.2}
“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.” {PP 497.3}
"When I say unto the
wicked, Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to
warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life the same wicked man shall
die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at
thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness,
nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered
thy soul." Ezekiel 3:18-19.
Same Responsibility as Ezekiel
Some believe
God’s counsel to Ezekiel applies only to him. That is not the case.
“So
far as his opportunities extend, every one who has received the light of truth is under the same solemn
and fearful responsibility as was the prophet of Israel, to whom the word
of the Lord came, saying: "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them
from me. When I say unto the wicked, O
wicked man surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way,
that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at
thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn
the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not
turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou has delivered thy
soul.” Eze
33:7-9. The Great Controversy, p. 459.
September 16,
1873
The Laodicean
Church
The
message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation,
and is applicable to the people of God at the present time. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 1}
“And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and True Witness,
the beginning of the creation of God: I know thy works, that thou art neither
cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,
and poor, and blind, and naked.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 2}
The Lord here shows us that the message to be
borne to his people by ministers whom he has called to warn the people, is not a peace-and-safety
message. It is not merely theoretical, but practical in every
particular. The people of God are represented in the message to
the Laodiceans in a
position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves in an exalted condition of
spiritual attainments. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 3}
“Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 4}
What
greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are
right, when they are all wrong? The message of the True Witness finds the
people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their
condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are
flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the
message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation
of their true situation of
spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and
severe, cannot be a mistake; for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his
testimony must be correct. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 5}
It is
difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, who are believing
themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge, to receive the message which
declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. The
unsanctified heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 6}
God leads his people on, step by step. The
Christian life is a constant battle, and a march. There is no rest from the warfare. It is by constant, unceasing effort
that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. We are, as a people, triumphing
in the clearness and strength of the truth. We are fully sustained in our
positions by an overwhelming amount of plain scriptural testimony. But we are very much wanting in
Bible humility, patience, faith, love, self-denial, watchfulness, and a spirit
of sacrifice. We need to cultivate Bible holiness. Sin prevails among
the people of God. The plain
message of rebuke to the Laodiceans is not received. Many cling to their doubts and their darling sins, while they are
in so great a deception as to talk and feel that they are in need of nothing. They think the testimony of the
Spirit of God in reproof is uncalled for, or that it does not mean them.
Such are in the greatest need of the grace of God and spiritual discernment,
that they may discover their deficiency in spiritual knowledge. They lack almost every essential
qualification necessary to perfect Christian character. They have not a practical
knowledge of Bible truth, which leads to lowliness of life, and a conformity of
their will to the will of Christ. They are not living in obedience to all God’s
requirements. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 7}
It is
not enough to merely profess to believe the truth. All the
soldiers of the cross of Christ virtually obligate themselves to enter a crusade
against the adversary of souls, to condemn wrong, and sustain righteousness. But the message of
the True Witness reveals the fact that a terrible deception is upon our people, which makes it necessary to come
to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and arouse them to
decided action. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 8}
This message of the True Witness has not
accomplished the design of God. The people slumber on in their sins. They continue to declare
themselves “rich, and having need of nothing.” Many
inquire, Why are all these reproofs given? Why do the testimonies continually
charge us with backsliding and grievous sins? We love the truth. We are
prospering. We are in no need of
these testimonies of warning and reproof. But let these murmurers see
their hearts, and compare their lives with the
practical teachings of the Bible; let them humble their souls before God; let
the grace of God illuminate the darkness, and the scales will fall from their
eyes, and they will sense their true spiritual poverty and wretchedness. They will feel the necessity
of buying gold, which is pure faith and love; white raiment, which is a
spotless character,
made pure in the blood of their dear Redeemer, and eye-salve, which is the
grace of God, and will give clear discernment of spiritual things, and detect
sin. These attainments are more precious than the gold of Ophir. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 9}
I am
very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this
state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many
have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True
Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan
great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud,
and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections
to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of
intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling.
Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for
unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble
mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 10}
Eternal life is of infinite value,
and will cost us all that we have. It is evident that we do not place a
proper estimate upon eternal things. Everything worth possessing, even in this
world, must be secured by effort, and sometimes by most painful sacrifice. And
this is merely for a perishable treasure. Shall we be less willing to endure
conflict and toil, and to make earnest efforts and great sacrifices for the
infinite treasure, which passes all estimate in value, and the duration of life
which will measure with the Infinite? Can Heaven cost us too much? Faith and love are golden
treasures, elements that are greatly wanting among God’s people. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 11}
Faith in the soon coming of Christ is waning.
“My Lord delayeth his coming” is said not only in the
heart, but expressed in words, and most decidedly in works. Stupidity in this watching time
is sealing the senses of God’s people as to the signs of the times. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 12}
The
terrible iniquity abounding calls for the greatest diligence, and for the
living testimony, to keep sin out of the church. Faith has been decreasing to a
fearful degree. Faith can only increase by exercise. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 13}
In the first rise of the third angel’s
message, those who engaged in the work of God had something to venture. They
had sacrifices to make. They started this work in poverty,
and suffered the greatest deprivations and reproach. They met determined
opposition, which drove them to God in their necessity, and kept their faith
alive. Our present plan of Systematic Benevolence amply sustains our ministers.
And there is no want and no call for the exercise of faith as to a support. Those who start out now to preach
the truth have nothing to venture. They have no risks to run, no especial
sacrifices to make. The system of truth is made ready to their hand.
Publications are provided for them, vindicating the truths they advance. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 14}
Some young men start out with no real sense of
the exalted character of the work. They have not privations, and hardships, and
severe conflicts to meet, which call for the exercise of faith. They do not
cultivate practical self-denial, and cherish a spirit
of sacrifice. Some are becoming proud and lifted up, and
have no real burden of the work upon them. The True Witness speaks to these
ministers, “Be zealous, therefore, and repent.” These ministers are some of
them so lifted up in pride that they are really a
hindrance and a curse to the precious cause of God. They do not exert an
influence which is saving upon others. There is need of these men being
thoroughly converted to God themselves, and sanctified
by the truths they present to others. {RH September 16, 1873, par.
15}
Very many
feel impatient and jealous because they are frequently disturbed with warning
and reproofs which keep their sins before them. Says the True Witness, “I know thy
works.” The motives, the purposes, and the unbelief, suspicions, and jealousies
may be hid from men, but not from Christ. The True
Witness comes as a counselor; “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne.” {RH September 16, 1873, par.
16}
Those
who heed the testimony of warning, and zealously go about the work of
separating their sins from them, in order to have the needed graces, will be
opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell
with them. This
class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the Spirit of
God. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 17}
Ministers who are preaching present truth
should not neglect the solemn message to the Laodiceans. The testimony of the True Witness is
not a smooth message. The Lord does not say to them, You are about
right, you have borne chastisement and reproof that you never deserved, you
have been discouraged unnecessarily by severity, you are not guilty of the
wrongs and sins of which you have been reproved. {RH September 16, 1873, par.
18}
The True
Witness declares that when you suppose you are really in a good condition of
prosperity you are in need of everything. It is not
enough for ministers to present theoretical subjects. They need to study the practical lessons Christ gave
his disciples, and make a close application of the
same to their own souls and to the people. Because Christ bears this
rebuking testimony, shall we suppose that he is destitute of tender love to his
people? Oh, no! He who died to
redeem man from death, loves with a divine love. He rebukes those he loves. “As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” But many will not receive the message
Heaven in mercy sends them. They cannot endure to be told of their wrongs, and
of their neglect of duty, of their selfishness, their pride, and love of the
world. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 19}
The
servants of the Lord should bear a plain testimony. They should cry aloud and
spare not, and show the people their transgressions, and the house of Israel
their sins. But there
is a class who will not receive the message of reproof, and they raise their
hands to shield those whom God would reprove and correct. They will ever be found sympathizing
with those whom God would make to feel their true poverty. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 20}
The word of the Lord spoken through his
servants, is received by many with questionings and fears. And many will defer
their obedience to the warnings and reproofs given, waiting till every shadow
of uncertainty is removed from their minds. The unbelief that demands perfect knowledge will never
yield to the evidence God is pleased to give. God requires of his people faith that rests upon the
weight of evidence, not perfect knowledge. The followers of Jesus Christ, those who accept of the
light God sends them, must obey the voice of God speaking to them, when there
are many other voices crying out against it. It requires discernment to distinguish the voice of
God. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 21}
Those
who will not act when the Lord calls upon them, waiting for more certain
evidence, and more favorable opportunities, will walk in darkness, for the
light will be withdrawn. The evidence given one day, if rejected, may never be
repeated. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 22}
Tempted
souls, whose hearts have ever been at war with the faithful reproving of sin,
would cry, Speak unto us smooth things. What disposition will these make of the
message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans? There can be no deception here.
This message must be borne to a lukewarm church by God’s servants. This message
must arouse the people of God from their security and dangerous deception in regard to their real standing before God. This testimony, if received, will
arouse to action, and lead to self-abasement, and confessions of sins.
The True Witness says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.”
And again, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.” Then
comes the promise, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me.” “To
him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 23}
These
wrongs and sins, which have brought the people of God in their state of
wretchedness, blindness, and poverty, must be seen, and they arouse to zealous
repentance, and a putting away of these sins which have brought them into such
a deplorable condition of blindness and fearful deception. The pointed testimony must live in
the church. And this alone will answer to the message to the Laodiceans. Wrongs must be reproved, sins
must be called sins, and iniquity must be met promptly and decidedly, and put
away from us as a people. {RH September 16, 1873, par.
24}
Note by Ron: The words “AS A PEOPLE,” MEAN
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. End note.
Those whom
God has chosen for an important work, have ever been received with distrust and
suspicion. Anciently,
when Elijah was sent with a message from God to the people, they did not heed
the warning. They thought Elijah unnecessarily severe. He must, they thought,
have lost his senses, that he would denounce them, the favored people of God,
as sinners, and their crimes, so aggravating, that the judgments of God would
awaken against them. {RH September 16, 1873, par.
25}
Satan
and his host have ever been arrayed against those who bear the message of
warning and reprove sins. The unconsecrated
will be united with the adversary of souls, to make the work of God’s faithful
servants as hard as possible. Elijah, one of God’s great and mighty
prophets, as he fled for his life from the rage of Jezebel, an infuriated
woman, a fugitive, weary and travel worn, desired to die rather than live. His
bitter disappointment in regard to Israel’s
faithfulness crushed his spirits, and he felt that he could no longer put
confidence in man. In the day of Job’s affliction and darkness, he utters these
words: “Let the day perish wherein I was born.” {RH September 16, 1873, par.
26}
When Ahab ruled Israel, the people departed
from God and corrupted their ways before him under his perverted rule. “And
Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the
Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a
light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians,
and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal
in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the
Lord God of Israel to anger than all of the kings that were before him.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 27}
Ahab was
weak in moral power. He did not have a high sense of sacred things. He was
selfish and unprincipled. His union
by marriage with a woman of decided character, and positive temperament,
devoted to idolatry, made them both special agents of Satan to lead the people
of God into idolatry and terrible apostasy. The determined spirit of
Jezebel molded the character of Ahab. His selfish nature was incapable of
appreciating the mercies of God to his people, his obligation to God, as the
guardian and leader of Israel. The fear of God was daily growing less in
Israel. The blasphemous tokens
of their blind idolatry were to be seen among the Israel of God. There were none who dared to
expose their lives by openly standing forth in opposition to the prevailing blasphemous
idolatry. The altars of Baal, and the priests of Baal who sacrificed to
the sun, moon, and stars, were conspicuous everywhere. They had consecrated
temples and groves, wherein was placed the work of men’s hands to worship. The
benefits which God gave to this people called forth from them no gratitude to
the Giver. For all the bounties of Heaven, the running brooks, and streams of
living waters, the gentle dew, and showers of rain to refresh the earth, and to
cause their fields to bring forth abundantly, they ascribed to the favor of their gods. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 28}
Elijah’s
faithful soul was grieved. His indignation was aroused, and he was jealous for
the glory of God. He saw that Israel was plunged into fearful apostasy. He was
overwhelmed with amazement and grief at the apostasy of the people when he
called to mind the great things that God had wrought for them. But all this was
forgotten by the majority of the people. He went
before God, and with his soul wrung with anguish, plead for him to save his
people if it must be by judgments. He plead with God to withhold from his
ungrateful people dew and rain, the treasures of heaven, that apostate Israel
might look in vain to their idols of gold, wood, and stone, the sun, moon, and
stars, their gods, to water the earth and enrich it, and cause it to bring
forth plentifully. God told Elijah he had heard his prayer. He would withhold
from his people dew and rain, until they should turn unto him with
repentance. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 29}
God had
especially guarded his people from mingling with the idolatrous nations around
them, lest their hearts should be deceived by their attractive groves and
shrines, temples, and altars, all of which were arranged in the most expensive,
alluring manner, to pervert the senses, so that God would be supplanted in
their minds. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 30}
Jericho was a city devoted to the most extravagant
idolatry. The inhabitants were very wealthy. All the riches that God had given
them they accredited to the gifts of their gods. Gold and silver were in
abundance. Like the people before the flood, they were corrupt and blasphemous.
They insulted and provoked the God of Heaven by their wicked works. God’s
judgments awakened against Jericho. It was a stronghold. But the Captain of the
Lord’s host came himself from Heaven to lead the armies of Heaven in the attack
upon the city. Angels of God
laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground. God had
said that the city of Jericho should be accursed, and that all should perish
except Rahab and her household. They should be saved because of the favor that Rahab showed the
messengers of the Lord. The word of the Lord to the people was, “And ye in any wise keep yourselves
from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the
accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.”
“And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the
Lord, that riseth up and buildeth
this city Jericho; he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and
in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Joshua 6:18, 26. {RH September 16, 1873, par.
31}
Note by Ron: The words: and make the camp of Israel a curse,
and trouble it,” connote CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. End note.
God was very particular in
regard to Jericho, lest the people should be charmed with the things
that the inhabitants had worshiped, and their hearts be diverted from him. He
guards his people by most positive commands. Notwithstanding the solemn
injunction from God by the mouth of Joshua, Achan ventured to transgress. His covetousness led him to
take the treasures God had forbidden him to touch, because his curse was upon
it. And because of this man’s sin, the Israel of God were as weak as water
before their enemies. {RH September 16, 1873, par. 32}
Note by Ron: Because of one man’s sin, the
Israel of God were as weak as water before their enemies. This teaches
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY.
Joshua and the elders of Israel were in great
affliction. They lay before the ark of God in most abject humility, because the
Lord was wroth with his people. Joshua and the elders of Israel prayed and wept before God. The
Lord spoke to Joshua, “Get thee up; wherefore liest
thou thus upon thy face? Israel
hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded
them; for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and
dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before
their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were
accursed; neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed
from among you.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 33}
Note by Ron: The words “Israel hath sinned, and they
have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them; for they have even
taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and
they have put it even among their own stuff,” connote CORPORATE
RESPONSIBILITY. All Israel is regarded as having sinned—all for the sin of one
man, Achan. End note.
(To be
continued.)
Continued in part 4.
Serious Conclusion: “The evidence given one day, if rejected, may never be repeated.” {RH September 16, 1873, par. 22}
In the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
R. William Beaulieu