Will
the Corporate SDA Church be Revived and Cleansed?
Recently I read the following defence of the new movement SDA
church on an SDA internet group. Remember the date, 1913:
“When Ellen White addressed the General Conference in 1913 she did not condemn
the Church! There was no indication that it was Babylon or worse the [a] n
Babylon or would become such! There was no "Call Out" Message! BUT
she says "I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel
is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to
the end...." She says”---
Ron responds: I know no true SDA Reformer who believes that the
church was Babylon in 1913. God was guiding “His people.” Certainly, God will
continue to guide “His people” and will be with them even to the end.
“I have words of encouragement for you, my brethren. We are to move forward in faith and hope, expecting large things
from God. The enemy will seek in every way to hinder the
efforts that are being made to advance the truth, but in the strength of the
Lord you may gain success. Let no discouraging words be spoken, but only such
words as will tend to strengthen and sustain your fellow workers....
Ron responds: Did the church move forward in faith and hope,
expecting large things from God, when it formed a new movement from 1930 and on
that has fulfilled all the specifications of Selected Messages, Bk. 1, 204-205?
·
Did the church move
forward in faith and hope when it began in 1949 to teach the heresy that Jesus
took the nature of Adam before the fall?
·
Did the church move
forward in faith and hope when it endorsed Rome’s Trinity Doctrine in 1980,
which destroys the entire Christian economy by destroying the heavenly Sanctuary
and Atonement sacrifice of the former soul of the life of Christ, His Holy
Spirit, that it might be given to us as a regenerating gift?
·
Did the church move
forward in faith and hope when in the early 1960’s it began to join Babylon’s
associations, counsel’s/councils, girdings and confederacies in violation of
Isaiah 8:9-12, as well as the Midnight Cry and the second angel’s message?
“I pray earnestly that the work we do at this time shall impress itself deeply
on heart and mind and soul. Perplexities will increase; but let us, as
believers in God, encourage one another. Let us not lower the
standard, but keep it lifted high, looking to Him who is the Author and
Finisher of our faith. When in the night
season I am unable to sleep, I lift my heart in prayer to God, and He
strengthens me, and gives me the assurance that He is with His ministering
servants in the home fields and in distant lands. I am encouraged and blessed
as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He
will continue to be with them, even to the end....
Ron responds: Did the church lower the standard and remove its
corporate eyes from the author and finisher of our faith, when it committed the
above listed abominations for which we are to sigh and cry?
“We are to hold as very sacred the
faith that has been substantiated by the instruction and approval of the Spirit
of God from our earliest experience until the present time. We are to cherish as very
precious the work that the Lord has
been carrying forward through His
commandment-keeping people, and which, through
the power of His grace, will grow stronger and more efficient as time advances.
The enemy is seeking to becloud the discernment of God’s people, and to weaken
their efficiency; but if they will labor as the Spirit of God shall direct, He
will open doors of opportunity before them for
the work of building up the old waste places.
Their experience will be one of constant growth, until the Lord shall descend from heaven with power and great
glory to set His seal of final triumph upon His faithful ones.” — GCB May 28, 1913. (Partially quoted in LS 437-439.)
Ron responds: As part of the full weight of evidence, who did
Ellen White say would build up the old waste places?:
"Characteristics
of True Reformers.--Here are given the characteristics
of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel's
message, those who avow themselves God's commandment-keeping people,
and who honor God, and are earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe,
in building up the old waste places.
Who is it that calls them, The repairers of the breach, The restorers of paths
to dwell in? It is God. Their names are registered
[written--Heb. 12:22, 23] in heaven as reformers,
restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations." E.
G. White, SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 4, 1151.
On May 29, 1913 Sister White says to the General Conference
“I have been deeply impressed by scenes that have recently
passed before me in the night-season. There seemed to be a great movement--a
work of revival--going forward in many places. Our people were moving
into line, responding to God's call. My brethren, the Lord is speaking to us. Shall
we not heed his voice? Shall we not trim our lamps, and act like men who look
for their Lord to come? The time is one that calls for light-bearing for
action.” {RH, May 29, 1913 par. 15} ---Ellen G. White.
Conditional Aspects to
the Above Statements by Ellen White
Ellen White prophesied a primitive revival in all churches at
the end-time. That primitive revival did not change those churches from
Babylon, but the revival involved individuals in all churches. The sincere amongst
them will come out in obedience to another call of The Midnight Cry:
A Primitive Revival in All Churches
Revivals True and Counterfeit
Ye shall
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit. Matt. 7:16, 17. {FLB 326.1}
“Before
the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not
been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be
poured out upon His children. At
that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love
of this world has supplanted love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly
accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time,
to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to
hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will
endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he
can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special
blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great
religious interest. . . .” {FLB 326.2}
Ron’s commentary: It is clear that the primitive
revival occurs in ALL CHURCHES, and that the faithful will come out of the apostate
structure of those churches.
What will SDA church members be doing just before the close of probation when
the danger and depression to the church is greatest?
"The leaven if godliness has not entirely lost
its power. At the time when the danger and
depression of the church are greatest,
the little company who are standing in
the light will be sighing and crying for the
abominations that are done in the land. But MORE ESPECIALLY will their prayers
arise in behalf of the church because ITS
MEMBERS are doing after the manner of the world." Testimonies, vol. 5, 209, 210.
"The things you have described as taking place
in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take
place just before the close of probation. Every
uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be
shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will
become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And
this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such
methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up
his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating,
ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of
God blended with music, than to use musical instruments to do the work which
last January was represented to me would
be brought into our camp
meetings. The truth for this time needs
nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks
the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The
powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival,
and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working." E. G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 2, 36.
Some are misrepresenting the weight of evidence of
Ellen White’s statements concerning the corporate church. We cannot have both—a
revival of the church structure while its members are doing after the manner of
the world and are bringing every uncouth thing into our campmeetings just
before the close of probation!
“The Lord calls for a renewal of the straight testimony borne in
years past. He calls for a revival of spiritual life. The spiritual energies of
His people have long been torpid, but there will be a resurrection from
apparent death.” {SpTB07 41.3}
“Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible,
turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial
and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God's blessing is not
bestowed. . . .” {FLB 326.3}
“A wrong conception of the character, the
perpetuity, and the obligation of the divine law, has led to errors in relation
to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of
piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit
and power of God in the revivals of our time. . . .” {FLB 326.4}
“It is only as the law of God is restored to its
rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness
among His professed people. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways,
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest for your souls." Jer. 6:16. {FLB 326.5, 327}
In the first paragraph, I asked you to remember the
date of 1913, the date of Ellen White’s statement that is often used to prove
that the church will come out well in the final analysis. However, in God’s
Word, Ezekiel 5:9 updates Ezekiel 9 to the end-time. That supersedes any 1913
statement by Ellen White, although here statement was correct in its proper
context as measured with the rest of the weight of evidence.
In 1882, Ellen White said that Ezekiel 9 would
begin at His Sanctuary:
Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of
God. The ancient men, those
to whom God had given great light and
who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had
betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for
miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times
have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord
will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people
in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never
again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their
transgressions and the house of
Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that
would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God.
Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.
In Ezekiel 5:9, God implied that Ezekiel 9 will
begin at His sanctuary, the SDA church, at the end-time, because that is when
He does the worst thing He have did or ever will do. Cf. Matthew 24:21.
In 1909, Ellen White said:
Study Ezekiel 9
"Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the time is passing, and the people are
asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great
while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and
important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into
their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling will YOU hear?
Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late?
Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp.
2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume
One, p. 260.
“The
time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that
prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.
“The time will soon come when the
prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully
studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G.
White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.
The Signs of the Times,
February 12, 1880: “The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn
warning before the eyes of modern Israel.”
“The desolation of Jerusalem in the
days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels
and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be
disregarded with impunity.” Prophets and Kings,
416.
Who is modern Israel (below) in your estimation? Is it BABYLON
or fallen spiritual Israel?
“The time will soon come when the
prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully
studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G.
White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.
The Signs of the Times,
February 12, 1880: “The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn
warning before the eyes of modern Israel.”
“The desolation of Jerusalem in the
days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels
and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be
disregarded with impunity.” Prophets and Kings,
416.
“I was confirmed in all I had stated
in Minneapolis, that a reformation must go through the churches. Reforms must
be made, for spiritual weakness and blindness were upon the people who had been
blessed with great light and precious opportunities and privileges. As
reformers they had come out of the denominational churches, but they now act a
part similar to that which the churches acted. We hoped that there would not be
the necessity for another coming out. [THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN STATEMENT FROM
THE PEN OF ELLEN WHITE INDICATING THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH ORGANIZATION. THE DOUBT WHICH SHE EXPRESSED HERE
WAS NEVER REPEATED DURING THE REMAINING TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF HER LIFE.] While we
will endeavor to keep the "unity of the Spirit" in the bonds of
peace, we will not with pen or voice cease to protest against bigotry.--EGW '88
356, 357 (1889). {LDE 48.1}
Ron’s Commentary: The bracketed part
of the above quote is by the editors of the compilation book Last Day Events. That
is not a true statement. There are many statements that expressed Ellen White’s
loss of confidence in the church as a corporate body, for example:
https://omega77.tripod.com/leavestate.htm
The red print portion in brackets is
a notation in the book Last Day Events, within the statement just as it
appears above. Only "dumb-dog" watchmen (Isa. 56:10-12 and 5T 211)
would place the following statement immediately after the above one ON THE SAME
PAGE, after saying that the above statement was the only one wherein Ellen
White expressed a lack of confidence in the church. That is an absolute lie.
Here is a listing of some of the many statements expressing Ellen White’s lack
of confidence in the professing church militant:
https://omega77.tripod.com/leavestate.htm
“Of those who boast of their light
and yet fail to walk in it Christ says, "But I say unto you, It shall be
more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. And
thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had
great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell:
for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it
would have remained until this day." Ellen G. White, Review and Herald
Articles, Aug. 1, 1893. [THE BRACKETED COMMENTS ARE BY ELLEN
WHITE.] {LDE 48.2}
The COUNTERPART to Ancient Apostate
Israel
There can be only one counterpart to apostate
Israel that claimed to keep the commandments, to be a “chosen remnant,” and to
be the people of God, the Temple of God. That counterpart is the professing SDA
people.
COUNTERPART: "The Lord commanded one of his
ancient servants, 'Pray not thou for this people [Jer. 7:16 and 11:14], neither
lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not
hear thee.' The prophet thus describes the sins which had called forth this
fearful denunciation: 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule
by their means and my people
love to have it so and what will ye
do in the end thereof?' 'From the least of them even unto the greatest of them,
every one is given to covetousness and from the prophet even unto the priest,
every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my
people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.' The apostles
declare that this state of things will find its COUNTERPART in the last days.
Many have a form of godliness, but in their daily life deny the power thereof.
They have ceased to be convicted of their sins or alarmed at their state. They
say in their hearts, 'The church is flourishing. Peace and spiritual prosperity
are within her borders.' The words of the prophet may well apply to these
self-deceivers, 'They have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in
their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their
fears upon them." E. G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-07-82.
COUNTERPART: "In the time of the Saviour, the
Jews had so covered over the precious jewels of truth with the rubbish of
tradition and fable, that it was impossible to distinguish the true from the
false. The Saviour came to clear away the rubbish of superstition and
long-cherished errors, and to set the jewels of God's word in the framework of
truth. What would the Saviour do if he should come to us now as he did to the
Jews? He would have to do a similar work in clearing away the rubbish of
tradition and ceremony. The Jews were greatly disturbed when he did this work
[As are SDAs today!]. They had lost sight of the original truth of God, but
Christ brought it again to view. It is our work to free the precious truths of
God from superstition and error." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2, 308.
There is a modern COUNTERPART to the ancient
apostate "chosen people" of God. That modern COUNTERPART is the
people who claim to be the modern "chosen people" of God, the
remnant, if you will.
There are over 100 statements to the affect that
SDAs are repeating the history of ancient Israel. Here are just a few of them:
"I have been shown that the spirit of the
world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did
ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God's
peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness. Your [ecumenical] concord with unbelievers have provoked he Lord's
displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are
fast being hid from your eyes. [The very words applied to fallen Israel on page
17 of The Great Controversy] Your neglect to follow the light will place you in
a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a
woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 75-76.
"Like ancient Israel, the church has
dishonored her God by departing from the light, neglecting her duties, and
abusing her high and exalted privilege of being peculiar and holy in character.
Her members have violated their covenant to live for God and him only. They
have joined with the selfish and world-loving. Pride, the love of pleasure, and
sin have been cherished, and CHRIST HAS DEPARTED. His Spirit has been quenched
in the church. Satan works wide by side with professed Christians yet they are
so destitute of spiritual discernment that they do not detect him." E.G.
White, Testimonies, Vol. 2, pp. 441-442.
"Among the professed followers of Christ,
there is the same pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, and OPPRESSION,
that existed in the Jewish nation." E.G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 251-252.
"God's professed people are selfish and self-caring....They
are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the heathen,
graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better way." Testimonies,
Vol. 2, 440-441.
Is the corporate SDA church of today worse than
Babylon? If God and Ellen White are correct, it is indeed worse. Ezekiel 5:6
says that God’s people are worse than the nations around them because they have
changed His statutes more than any other people around them.
Ezekiel 5
1 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a
barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then
take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 2 Thou shalt burn
with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are
fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife:
and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword
after them. 3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind
them in thy skirts. 4 Then take of them again, and cast them into
the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come
forth into all the house of Israel. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This
is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are
round about her. 6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations,
and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have
refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. 7 Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are
round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my
judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are
round about you; 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I,
even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the
sight of the nations.
9 And I will do in thee that which I have not
done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine
abominations.
10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee,
and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and
the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds. 11
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my
sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations,
therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will
I have any pity. 12 A third part of thee shall die with the
pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a
third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third
part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 13
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon
them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken
it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. 14 Moreover
I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about
thee, in the sight of all that pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach
and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round
about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in
furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it. 16 When I shall send
upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and
which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and
will break your staff of bread: 17 So will I send upon you famine
and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee: and pestilence and blood shall
pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken
it. Ezekiel 5:1-17.
Ezekiel 8
1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the
fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat
before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. 2 Then
I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of
his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the
appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. 3 And he put forth
the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted
me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to
Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where
was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. 4
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision
that I saw in the plain. 5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up
thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way
toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of
jealousy in the entry. 6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man,
seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel
committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet
again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. 7 And he brought me
to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. 8
Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in
the wall, behold a door. 9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold
the wicked abominations that they do here. 10 So I went in and saw;
and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the
idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. 11
And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel,
and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his
censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then
said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of
Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say,
the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. 13 He said
also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that
they do. 14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's
house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for
Tammuz. 15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man?
turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 16
And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the
door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about
five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their
faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17
Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to
the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here?
for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to
anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore will
I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and
though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
The same author,
Ezekiel, says in chapter 22 that the church will never be revived, cleansed nor
rained upon by the Holy Spirit:
23 And the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying, 24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not
cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
For the time of the indignation, see Rev. 14:10-12.
God says that His
people perish for a lack of knowledge. Part of that lack of knowledge is
because of the misrepresentation of Ellen White’s statements without all of the
weight of evidence on any given issue. The person who cited the first E.G.
White statements at the beginning of this document regularly cites her without
all the critical evidence.
—rwb