Is This Ship is
Unsinkable!
"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], shall be brought down to hell’...‘therefore will I do unto this
house, which is called by My name, wherein ye trust, and unto this place which
I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast
you out of My sight...’" Review
and Herald, August 1, 1893 (brackets
by Sister White).
Which
Ship
"A
very small leak will sink a ship." Testimonies, vol. 8, p 158.
"...one
poor timber will sink a ship..." Testimonies, vol. 4, p 606.
There
is not just one leak, or one poor timber in the SDA church today. There are so
many leaks and so many poor timbers that it is impossible to count them. In
fact, God had already told His people that if men take the control of the
church away from Christ, then their SDA ship would surely sink!
"Those
who are destitute of heavenly wisdom, destitute of living power with God, are
not competent to steer the gospel ship amid icebergs and tempests. The church
is passing through severe conflicts, but in her peril many would trust her
to hands that will surely wreck her." Testimonies, vol. 5, p 104-105.
The
SDA church leadership have definitely cast Christ out of the church (see Notebook Leaflets, p 99; Testimonies, vol. 8, p 250), and they
have also shut, locked, bolted, and barred the door so that the Holy Spirit can
not enter either (see Battle Creek
Letters, p 55-56). Thus this Christ-less man-powered SDA corporate ship is
destined to go down to destruction, and all who refuse to separate from this
deceptive and spurious ship will go down with her. And God even sent warnings
of this possibility!
"I
inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing?
You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord....
"What
does God say in regard to His people? ‘But this is a people robbed and spoiled;
they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses;
they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, restore’
[Isaiah 42:22]. (See also Isaiah 43.) These are prophecies that will be
fulfilled....
"Let
me prophesy unto you: unless you speedily humble your hearts before God,
and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late, see that
you have been fighting against God. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no
longer unto reformation and pardon, you will see that men whom you have spoken
against have been a sign in the world, as witnesses for God....Your turning
things upside down is known of the Lord. Go on a little longer as you have
gone in rejection of light from heaven, and you are lost. ‘The man that
shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from
among the congregation’ [Numbers 19:20]." Testimonies to Ministers, p 89, 96-97.
"A
sin-hating God calls upon those who profess to keep His law to depart from all
iniquity. Neglect to repent and obey His word will bring as serious
consequences upon God's people today as did the same sin upon ancient Israel.
There is a limit beyond which He will no longer delay His judgments. The
desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before the eyes of modern
Israel, that the corrections given through His chosen instruments cannot be
disregarded with impunity." Testimonies,
vol. 4, p 166-167.
"America,
and especially Battle Creek [then General Conference headquarters], where the
greatest light from heaven has been shining upon the people, can become the place
of greatest peril and darkness because the people do not continue to practice
the truth and walk in the light....If at the great heart of the work
the pulse beats are violent and erratic, the peril to spiritual life affect the
whole body....
"It
is time that there was a different order of things in Battle Creek, else the
judgments of God will surely fall upon this people....When the church
has had great light, then is her peril if she does not walk in the light, and put
on her beautiful garments, and arise and shine; darkness will becloud the
vision, so that light will be regarded as darkness, and darkness as
light." Letter 23c, July 20, 1894, Pamphlet #84, p 2-5 (see Last
Day Events from the Letters and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 40-42; Selected Messages, book 3, p 387).
"The
time is soon coming when the work of God's judgments will begin at His
sanctuary. God Himself is now drawing the separating line. He says,
‘As for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will
recompense their way upon their head’ [Ezekiel 9:10]." Letter 3, January
1, 1900, Last Day Events from the Letters
and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 90-91.
"One
thing it is certain is soon to be realized,--the great apostasy, which is
developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so
until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. Special Testimonies,
Series B#7, p 56-57.
"Here
are plainly represented two distinct parties, formed from a company that
was once united. The members of one of these parties are in resistance
to the will of God. They have taken themselves from the side of the loyal and
true, and are now resisting the warnings of the Spirit of God....The ruin of
this class is certain." Review and
Herald, vol. 5, p 341 (July 18, 1907).
But
the only ship that will go through safely into the harbor of heaven, will be
truth--the gospel ship--in which Christ is the only Captain. If we are
connected with the truth, then we are connected with Christ. If we are faithful
to the truth (refusing to get off this gospel ship no matter how hard the
sailing), then we will make it to heaven's port.
Our
infinitely merciful and gracious God, who is not willing that any should perish,
has even warned His SDA people of this very thing!
"...I
had an impressive dream last night. I thought that you were on a strong vessel,
sailing on very rough waters. Sometimes the waves beat over the top, and you
were drenched with water. You said: ‘I shall get off; this vessel is going
down.’ ‘No,’ said one who appeared to be the captain, ‘this vessel sails into
the harbor. She will never go down.’ But you answered: ‘I shall be washed
overboard. As I am neither captain or mate, who cares? I shall take my chances
on that vessel you see yonder.’ Said the captain: ‘I shall not let you go
there, for I know that vessel will strike the rocks before she reaches the
harbor.’ You straightened yourself up, and said with great positiveness: ‘This
vessel will become a wreck; I can see it just as plain as can be.’ The captain
looked upon you with piercing eye, and said firmly: ‘I shall not permit you to
lose your life by taking that boat. The timbers of her framework are
worm-eaten, and she is a deceptive craft. If you had more knowledge
you could discern between the spurious and the genuine, the holy and that appointed
to utter ruin.’" Testimonies, vol.
5, p 571-572.
The
only ship which makes it safely into the heavenly harbor is the ship with
Christ as its only Captain--the holy ship of genuine truth. Hence, the
Laodicean SDA corporate ship, which is Christ-less and has given up the truth,
will strike the rocks and sink. Her timbers and structure are worm-eaten with
the doctrines of devils, being a deceptive craft with hypnotism and spiritualism
on board, and is thus "appointed to utter ruin."
The
SDA church cannot go through to heaven. She will be destroyed by the judgments
of God. But what is the SDA church leadership telling our people? "Stay
with the SDA ship, or you have been shaken out." Is this true? Has the
shaking already started?
Way
back in 1850, God told us:
"The
mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken out
who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth
and to sacrifice for God and His cause." Early Writings, p 50 (January 26, 1850).
The
shaking had already started in 1850, and it would continue to increase. But
there was no SDA church organization until 1863! So what could the people have
been shaken out of? They were shaken out of the truth, if they did not take a
bold and unyielding stand for it! It is the truth that the people are shaken
out of, not a church denomination!
If
you accept and follow God's truth it will make you firm as a rock, nothing
wavering, and you cannot possibly be shaken out of the true SDA faith. You may
be compelled to willingly separate yourself from the apostate SDA church, but
this does not mean that you have been shaken out of the truth, or that you have
become an offshoot.
God's
true people and true church are "faithful souls" who are purified by
the truths that God has given (see Acts
of the Apostles, p 11; SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 7, p 931, p 949; Spirit
of Prophecy, vol. 4, p 237; Upward
Look, p 315, see also The True Church is not new movement SDA). But there are also those people who profess to be
God's true people, yet do not live up to the precious light and truths that God
has given. Being part of the latter group will doom you for eternal
destruction, but belonging to the truth will seal you for heaven.
The
SDA church has completely rejected, given up, and changed God's truth into
falsehoods. This means that the SDA church has been shaken out of the truth,
and she is an offshoot! The SDA church is the biggest offshoot ever because she
has rejected the greatest light this world has ever seen! And the leadership
are building the entire SDA structure upon a false foundation; yet they claim
that the SDA church will go through to heaven. But God has already warned the
church:
"I
tell you, in the fear of God, I have been shown that many of you will fail of
everlasting life because you are building your hopes of heaven on a false
foundation." Testimonies, vol.
5, p 49.
What
happened to the Jewish church and the false foundation they had built their
church and hopes upon?
"They
[Jews] followed their own standard, walking in the light of the sparks of their
own kindling, and they perished in their delusion. They followed the
imagination of their own hearts, and God gave them up to be crushed by their
own ambition, destroyed by the falsehoods and delusions upon which they
had built." Review and
Herald, May 18, 1897.
This
will also happen to the SDA church! After all the apostasy, rebellion,
harlotry, after the giving up of the Everlasting Gospel and the real three
angels' messages, after connecting themselves with spiritualism, using hypnotism
on our people, and with corporate probation being closed--becoming Babylon
fallen, the SDA leaders and ministers have the gall to teach the lie that the
SDA church will go through to heaven--that not even the gates of hell can stop
her!
"...in
the case with the [SDA] Laodicean Church, as a church, is different, the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. The last church will not be spewed out;
it will not be rejected; it will go through triumphantly." Review, November 9, 1939.
"The Laodicean Church is the translation church...this
is the very church that will be translated into the Kingdom of God." Review, November 30, 1939. (General
Conference president J. L. McElhany)
"...because
the church is under God's grace it ‘may appear as about to fall, but it does
not fall.’" Adventist Review, September 22, 1983, p 14.
"The
prophetic scenario assures us of the church's survival....[It will] go through
until the very end....it does not fall..."
Adventist Review, May 4, 1989, p 9.
"The
Seventh-day Adventist Church will triumph gloriously and will go through triumphantly,
as a corporate body, to the sea of glass." The Early and Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit, p 183, by Gordon W.
Collier, Sr., 1973.
When
it comes to membership in the apostate SDA movement, all of a sudden the
leaders believe in corporate responsibility!
The
church leaders do not stop here, but even teach that the SDA church, which we
have already discovered will fall, is the same as the place or city of refuge:
"...[finding
the SDA church is] Finding a Refuge." Adventist
Review, November 2, 1989, p 28.
They
teach that the SDA church is the same as the ark--the ship of safety:
"Many
times pastors have compared the church to an ark of safety, and I believe it
is....The church is a place to preserve our lives..." Adventist Review, August 7,
1986, p 23.
"Like
the ark, the church will help save God's people..." Adventist Review, August 9,
1984, p 18.
"Christ's
statement is ‘that the gates of hell shall not prevail against’ the
church....Let us stay with the ship. The church...is going through and will
surely drop anchor on the ‘sea of glass’ because a ‘Divine hand is on the
wheel’--the hand of Christ." Adventist
Review, July 28, 1983, p 5.
They
teach that the SDA church supplies a ticket to heaven, and hence our walk with
God and our salvation is connected to church membership:
"The
local [SDA] church becomes the ‘port of entry’ to the kingdom of God." Adventist Review, October 1, 1992, p 23.
"Your
walk with God has a great deal to do with your desire to come back to
church....As you return, seek Him. He has promised that you will find Him....You
won't drop out again as long as you continue to grow in Him." Adventist Review, November 2, 1989, p 27.
"There
is some relationship between salvation and church membership." Adventist Review, August 9, 1984, p 18.
They
teach that no matter how bad the church is, God will purify it, and the corporate
body will make it to the sea of glass.
"This
church to which we belong will emerge a victorious company to stand some
day on the sea of glass....Adventism is destined to triumph
gloriously....They [God's people] will patiently watch and pray until God in
His own time and in His own way purifies His church...The church will fulfill
its prophetic role and will triumph. Let us stay with the church so that we can
share in that victory." Messenger,
October, 1994, p 11.
They
also teach that the SDA church will always be the Remnant church, simply
because it knows, but does not follow the truths necessary to be the Remnant
church.
General
Conference president, Robert Folkenberg, states:
"The
idea of a remnant does not mean that those who claim to be part of it are
necessarily better than others, that somehow they are more holy than others. The
remnant is identified simply by the truths that it knows, not even the
truths that it believes or that it practices or that this corporate remnant
shares, but simply that it knows....I affirm that this remnant is
the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Transcript of Robert Folkenberg's
address "Movement of Destiny" at the Scottish Mission Session,
Edinburgh, Scotland, June 4, 1994.
In
fact, the apostate SDA leadership even teaches that the SDA church is on a par
with God Himself!
"I
appeal to all who are outside the fold [SDA church] just now....If you are not
here, He [Christ] misses you....The Father owns the house. Return to Him.
For every good love story should have a happy ending." Adventist Review, November 2, 1989, p 8.
"...when
we backslide from the church, we also backslide from God." Adventist Review, June 2, 1988, p 9.
But
is this true? Is the SDA church, or any church--even the true church, the city
of refuge or the ark of safety for God's people today? No! Then where is the
real "city of refuge" for sinners? Where is the real "ark of
safety" in which we must find shelter from the coming storm and tempest?
This is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour!
Jesus
is the city of refuge (Patriarchs and Prophets,
p 516-517; Christ's Object Lessons, p
158; Sons and Daughters of God, p
79); Jesus is the place for the weary to find rest in (Isaiah 28:12; Sons and Daughters of God, p 298; Desire of Ages, p 328-332; Testimonies, vol. 5, p 410; vol. 2, p
562-563); Jesus--the truth--is the ark of safety (Testimonies, vol. 5, p 279; Evangelism,
p 397; Medical Ministry, p 317; Review and Herald, vol. 2, p 102); and
Jesus is the shelter from the storm and tempest soon to come! (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 182; Great Controversy, p 654).
No
church--including the true church--can be our city of refuge or our ark of
safety! We must be hid in Jesus and Him only, not in any group or any church!
Jesus is our only hope!
When
the SDA church teaches that it is the city of refuge or the ark of safety, that
she will always be the remnant and will never fall, they are brainwashing our
SDA people with pure Catholic doctrine--that salvation can only be found in the
church. The SDA church has removed Christ from the hearts of our people, and
has put the church in His place. Thus, the SDA church has become god to our people.
This is the same erroneous doctrine which the Jewish church leaders taught
their people, and their church became god to them!
"The
Jews worshiped the temple and were filled with greater indignation at anything
spoken against that building than if it had been spoken against God." Early Writings, p 198.
This
false Catholic teaching, that the apostate church is the city of refuge, the
ark of safety, and that it is corporately bound for heaven, results in the implied
or overt threat that if any SDA drops their membership and leaves the safety of
the SDA church, they are lost! How? The SDA leaders and ministers have replaced
Christ with themselves and replaced God with the church: hence if one separates
from the SDA church then he would believe that he has separated from God and
Christ and is lost. Many Adventists do believe that if they leave the SDA
church, they are doomed as being apostates from Christ until they return back
to the church.
In
fact, the SDA church states just that!
"Regardless
of the pretext, or how righteous the cause may appear, separation from the
visible remnant [the SDA church] is apostasy from the body of Christ."
Messenger, October, 1994, p 2.
Yet
this Catholic teaching is so firmly entrenched in their minds that even after
they have discovered that the SDA church is in apostasy, and have decided to physically
leave the corrupt SDA church, some still retain their names on the corporate
membership roll. They still retain a foot in the door of the church, still
holding on to "Mother's" apron string, still touching or remaining
connected with the corrupt church just in case the corporate church, with all
its listed members, does indeed make it to heaven in the end!
But
is this position acceptable in God's sight? Does your name on the membership
rolls of an apostate church of Babylon, who has rejected the light from heaven,
mean anything?
"My
[Ellen White's] brother continued to fail rapidly. If he felt a cloud shutting
Jesus from him, he would not rest until it was dispelled, and bright hope again
cheered him. To all who visited him, he conversed upon the goodness of God, and
would often lift his emaciated finger, pointing upwards, while a heavenly light
rested upon his countenance, and say, ‘My treasure is laid up on high.’ It was
a wonder to all that his life of suffering was thus protracted. He had a
hemorrhage of the lungs, and was thought to be dying. Then an unfulfilled duty
presented itself to him. He had again connected himself with the Methodist
church. He was expelled in 1843 with the other members of the family, on
account of his faith. He said he could not die in peace until his name was
taken from the church-book, and requested father to go immediately and have it
taken off.
"In
the morning father visited the minister, stating my brother's request. He said
that he would visit him, and then if it was still his wish to be considered
no longer a member of their church, his request should be granted. Just
before the minister arrived my brother had a second hemorrhage, and whispered
his fears that he should not live to do this duty. The minister
visited him, and he immediately expressed his desire, and told him he
could not die in peace until his name was taken from the church-book;
that he should not have united with them again if he had been standing in the
light....Soon after this my brother fell asleep in Jesus, in full hope of
having a part in the first resurrection." Spiritual Gifts, vol.. 2, pp. 163-164.
There
is nothing written in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy that is not for our
edification. So this testimony has significance for us today! Removing our
names from the membership rolls of a church which has apostatized from God,
rejected and changed the truths of the three angels' messages into falsehood,
and has become Babylon fallen, is called "an unfulfilled DUTY." And
this duty was carried out before Ellen White's brother had "full hope
of having a part in the first resurrection"! Hence, there is a duty to
leave any church which has rejected the three angels' messages. And especially
is this the case with the Seventh-day Adventist church. What other church has
had, and has rejected, greater light than the SDA church? It is true that we
are not saved by being members of a church, but we can be lost by remaining
members in a Babylonian one!
The
SDA church and its leadership are leading the entire membership into the deception
that the church cannot possibly be destroyed--no matter how rebellious and
corrupt it becomes. But was it any different with the Jewish church leadership?
"The
long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem, only confirmed the Jews in their
stubborn impenitence....The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at
the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were
under his sway.
"Yet
in their [Jewish church leadership] blind and blasphemous presumption the
instigators of this hellish work publicly declared that they had no fear
that Jerusalem would be destroyed, for it was God's own city. To establish
their power more firmly, they bribed false prophets to proclaim, even when
the Roman legions were besieging the temple, that the people were to wait
[in Jerusalem] for deliverance from God." Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, p 30-31.
Was
the church leadership successful in the deception of their church membership?
"To
the last, multitudes held fast to the belief that the Most High would interpose
for the defeat of their adversaries. But Israel had spurned the divine protection,
and now she had no defense." Spirit
of Prophecy, vol. 4, p 31.
The
Jewish church and its leadership had a form of being God's church, but they
rejected God's Son, His truth, and His power to work His righteousness among
them. This exactly--only in greater magnitude--has been done by the SDA church
and its leadership. They have also rejected Jesus Christ, (see Testimonies to Ministers, p. 97, p. 131,
pp. 467-468; 1888 Materials, p
1565-1566; Special Testimonies, Series
A#6, p. 19-20, Series B#7, p 15), rejected His truth and His power to work
His righteousness among them (see Testimonies,
vol. 5, pp 71-72, 719-720; Paulson
Collection, p 54-55, 60-61; Selected
Messages, book 1, pp 234-235; Testimonies
to Ministers, pp 465, 468, 89-91, 363-364, 366-367, 413; 1888 Materials, p 1565; Review and Herald, December 23, 1890,
August 1, 1893; Manuscript Releases, vol.
15, p 292-293, vol. 13, p 122-123, 378-381; Battle
Creek Letters, p 55-56; Special Testimonies,
Series B#2, p 22, B#7, p 13).
How
does God want His people to respond to a church that has a form of godliness,
but denies the power? Does God want His people to touch, be connected to, or
retain a foot in the door--continuing to hold on to a corrupt, apostate,
unclean, Babylonian church?
"Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
2 Timothy 3:5.
"And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them." Ephesians 5:11.
"Depart
ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out
of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord."
Isaiah 52:11.
"Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with
darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
One
area which is often overlooked is the command to "touch not the unclean
thing." This means that even if you have left an apostate harlot church,
but have not removed your membership from the roll books, your membership still
connects you to that unclean church. Hence you would be touching the unclean
thing by retaining your church membership! You would be unclean by this touch,
and a partaker with the harlot church in her sins!
When
a priest of Israel, who was consecrated and made holy to minister before God,
came in contact with a dead body--even if it was but the slightest touch of the
hem of his garments--his whole person was contaminated and declared unclean.
According to the God-given process of cleansing found in Numbers 19, the
unclean priest had to separate himself from the camp of Israel, go out into the
wilderness, and be cleansed twice. This cleansing process involved running
water being poured through the ashes of a red heifer which had been sacrificed.
If
after being cleansed, the worker of God went back to the camp of Israel and
touched the dead body again, he would become unclean and would have to go
through the whole process once again of separation out of the camp in order to
be cleansed.
The
sacrificed red heifer represents Christ--the Word of God. The running water represents
the purifying action of the Holy Spirit cleansing us through the Word of God.
And the dead body represents a spiritually dead church. So by our connection to
and membership in a spiritually dead church body, even in the slightest way, we
are unclean by this touch and unfit to minister or work for a holy God. And the
only God-given way in which we can become cleansed and accepted back into His
service, is to separate ourselves completely from that unclean church, be
cleansed twice by Christ's sacrifice and the purifying work of the Holy Spirit
through the word of God, and then not reconnect ourselves with that dead
unclean church. We can warn others about where the unclean and dead church is,
and what to do if they are connected to it. But if we want to serve and witness
for a holy God, we dare not touch or reconnect ourselves to the church.
This
same issue can be clearly seen in the illustration of a mud puddle. While
standing in a pool of muddy water, even if we move to its shallowest edge, we
are still contaminated by the mud. We can use all the soap and pour clean, pure
water over our heads, and yet we are not completely cleansed because our feet
are still connected with the mud. We may even manage to be clean and spotless
everywhere else on our body, but while our feet remain in the mud, we are not
fully cleansed or completely spotless. We can never be fully cleansed or completely
spotless until we break all connection with the muddy pool, get out of the mud,
and are again cleansed. And in order to remain fully clean, we must not touch
or reconnect ourselves with that unclean muddy pool. We can and must warn
others about where the unclean and muddy pool is, and what to do if they are
touching it and thus contaminated. But if we want to remain clean and spotless,
we dare not touch or reconnect ourselves to it again.
"Can
a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon
hot coals, and his feet not be burned?" Proverbs 6:27-28.
"Can
two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3.
"We
are exhorted, ‘touch not the unclean’ [2 Corinthians 6:17]. Those who
associate with the impure, themselves become impure. If we choose
the society of the ungodly, we shall be affected by their ungodliness." Review and Herald, October 23, 1888.
"You
are exhorted to touch not the unclean thing; for in touching this, you will
yourself become unclean. It is impossible for you to unite with those
who are corrupt, and still remain pure. ‘What fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what
concord hath Christ with Belial?’ [2 Corinthians 6:14-15] God and Christ and
the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he
will become corrupt." E.G.
White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p 1102.
By
our willing choice to remain associated with, or by retaining our membership
in, the corrupt, apostate, Babylonian SDA church, we are made partakers in the
sins of the church--being made corporately responsible in all the church's
wickedness. Thus we are one with this unclean woman in harlotry, and we will
receive the same punishment as the SDA church does!
"Know
ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the
members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know
ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith He,
shall be one flesh." 1 Corinthians 6:15-16.
"And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues..."
Revelation 18:4.
If
we choose to remain connected with the apostate Babylonian SDA church--whether
by our presence or by our names on the roll books, then we choose to be a partaker
in all the sins of the church, and thus we will receive the plagues along with
the church we love more than following the will of God.
The
SDA church has chosen to follow--in a greater degree--the same path that the
Jewish church followed in rejecting God and His will. But because of the
leadership's choice to follow their own stubborn wills, what occurred to the
Jewish church?
"For
the rejection of Christ, with the results that followed, they were responsible.
A nation's sin and a nation's ruin were due to the religious leaders."
Christ's Object Lessons, p 304-305.
"All
the predictions given by Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem were fulfilled
to the letter." Spirit of Prophecy, vol.
4, p 31.
"...the
fate of the temple of Jerusalem. That magnificent structure fell.
Angels of God were sent to do the work of destruction..." SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p 1098-99.
As
angels of God were involved in the destruction of the Jewish church, so angels
of God will be involved in the destruction of the Adventist church. About the
destruction that will occur to the SDA church and its people:
"The
Lord commissions His messengers [angels], the men with the slaughtering weapons
in their hands: ‘Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye
spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little
children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and
begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before
the house’ [Ezek 9:5-6].
"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....These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones
who feel the just vengeance of an offended God." Testimonies, vol. 5, p 211.
Will
this terrible destruction actually occur?
"Study
the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled...God
is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message?...Soon, very soon,
every case will be decided for eternity." Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p 260.
Why
did Jerusalem and the entire system of the Jewish church have to be destroyed?
"They
[Jews] robbed God of His glory, and defrauded the world by a counterfeit of
the gospel. They had refused to surrender themselves to God for the
salvation of the world, and they became agents of Satan for its destruction.
"The
people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of truth had become representatives
of Satan....God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole
system must be swept away." Desire
of Ages, p 36.
Having
given up the real three angels' messages, the entire SDA church is now founded
upon a counterfeit gospel. Thus the SDA church is defrauding its people and the
world of the truth. Instead of being God's obedient representatives, they have
become the representatives of Satan. Hence, God can do no more for man through
the channels of the SDA church, and the whole system must be swept away!
The
SDA church and its leadership have verily fulfilled the following prophecy:
"For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their
own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
"And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness." 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.
This
destruction of the SDA church will also be "fulfilled to the letter."
And God mercifully reveals, as a warning, this future destruction of our professed
SDA people who choose to remain within the SDA church:
"Go
ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have
ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and
women...and begin at My sanctuary....And He said unto them, Defile the
house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth,
and slew...And as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity,
but I will recompense their way upon their own head." Ezekiel 9:5-10.
"The
time is soon coming when the work of God's judgments will begin at His
sanctuary. God Himself is now drawing the separating line. He says,
‘As for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will
recompense their way upon their head’ [Ezekiel 9:10]." Letter 3, January
1, 1900, Last Day Events from the Letters
and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 90-91.
"Men,
maidens, and little children all perished together." Testimonies, vol. 5, p 211.
OH,
MY PROFESSED SDA PEOPLE; TURN YE, TURN YE, FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS AND FROM YOUR
FALLEN CHURCH, FOR WHY WILL YE DIE ALONG WITH HER?
"In
the General Conference the counsels of God have been set aside, and the
counsels and wisdom of men have been relied upon....The General
Conference--what is it? What does it comprehend? Is it a General Conference, or
is it something wrapped up and called by that name? With the exception of a
limited number, the people who ought to know are not intelligent in regard to
its workings....and the people at large know scarcely anything of what is being
done at the heart of the work...
"As
I was made to understand something of the management of the work in this great
center, it was all that I could bear. My spirit was pained within me, for I had
lost confidence in that which I had ever presented before the people as the
voice of God to His children. It has not been the voice of God. There has
been a lording power exercised over God's heritage...Their own principles
have been counterworking the principles of truth and righteousness. We cannot
therefore present before the people that the voice of the General Conference in
its decisions must move and control them; for its propositions and decisions
cannot be accepted. They are not in the right line of progress. God is cropped
out of their counsels....
"The
men who are guiding and planning, who carry large responsibilities, have separated
themselves from God, and the righteousness of true principles is not in them; and
if their plans are not counterworked they will cause ruin....
"‘Come
out from among them,’ God says, ‘and be ye separate,...and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye
shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty’ [2 Cor. 6:17,18].
We all need a Father with whom to consult. The Holy Spirit has been refused by
men who are puffed up with vain conceit and believe themselves capable of
managing wonderful responsibilities....
"If
our people were not blinded by deception they would see that these men are
walking contrary to God. God has been speaking to them by His Word, through His
Testimonies, by His Spirit. Why do they not take heed? They have closed their
eyes that they should not see, and their ears that they should not hear. They
have rushed madly on in their uncontrollable spirit, unsanctified and separated
from God; and yet they suppose that they can bring God's people to their terms
and under their control....It cannot be done. God will put a voice in the
stones to cry out against it....
"The
refuge of lies will fail. God will strike a blow to deliver His oppressed people....
"I
must speak plainly. We are reaching a time when a just standard of right and
wrong, of honor and dishonor, of truth and error, is becoming a thing of
naught. ‘Truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter’ [Isaiah
59:14]....The man who sits at the feet of Jesus and learns His lessons will say
as did one of old, ‘Unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united’
[Genesis 49:6]....
"Little
by little have the barriers been broken away, showing that the foundation of
the structure is built upon the sand." Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p 221-234.
"Their
foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep
away the structure." Selected
Messages, book 1, p 205.
"...the
foundations shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed
in the midst thereof..." Ezekiel 13:14.
SDA
APOSTASY ENDS IN DESTRUCTION
"The
enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation
was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would
consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and
engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place,
what would be the result?--The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has
given to the remnant church would be discarded. Our religion would be changed.
The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty
years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established.
Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy
would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities and
do a wonderful work. The Sabbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, as also
the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new
movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God
being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without
God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm
and tempest would sweep away the structure." Selected Messages, book 1, p 204-205.
God
has already tried to warn the SDA church and its leadership that there were
conditions which they must fulfill in order to continue to be His people, and
thus be saved from being destroyed!
"The
gift of God is eternal life on condition of entire obedience." Review
and Herald, July 31, 1900.
"God
would in no wise excuse sin in a people who had been enlightened, even if He
had, in their days of faithfulness and purity, loved them, and given them especial
promises. These promises and blessings were always upon condition of obedience
upon their part." Spirit of Prophecy,
vol. 2, p 54.
God
had gone even further, clearly stating that the SDA church was in no condition
to have His promises fulfilled to them in their state of rejecting light!
"Those
who claim to have the light of truth have not met the conditions on which
the fulfillment of the promises is suspended, neither have they been worthy
of the grace of Christ. The character and service of the church are required to
be according to the talents received. Her faith and obedience should be equal
to the amount which a faithful improvement of her light and opportunities would
have gained for her in moral and spiritual elevation.
"But
many--not a few, but many--have been losing their spiritual zeal and
consecration, and turning away from the light that has been constantly growing
brighter and brighter, and have refused to walk in the truth because its
sanctifying power upon the soul was not what they desired. They might have
been renewed in holiness and have reached the elevated standard that God's word
demands; but condemnation is upon them." Testimonies to Ministers, p 449.
God
also sent other warnings clearly stating that the SDA church would be weighed
in the balances of the sanctuary, and if she was found in apostasy, then she
would be "found wanting".
"The
church cannot measure herself by the world, nor by the opinion of men, nor by
what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are,
must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been
continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of
the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond
with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found
wanting. The light has been shining clear and definite upon her pathway, and
the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are unimproved, if
her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light becomes darkness, she is
indeed found wanting." Testimonies,
vol. 5, p 83-84.
"In
the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed.
She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual
experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost,
has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do
the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: ‘Found
wanting’ [Daniel 5:27]. By the light bestowed, the opportunities given,
will she be judged." Testimonies,
vol. 8, p 247.
"Then
I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written
in large characters, ‘Thou are weighed in the balance, and found wanting’
[Daniel 5:27]. I asked who this company were. The angel said, ‘These are
they who have once kept the Sabbath and have given it up.’...I saw that
they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their
feet--trodden the Sabbath underfoot--and that was why they were weighed in the
balance and found wanting." Early
Writings, p 37.
If
the church would be found wanting, then her probation would close, and God would
be obliged to call His faithful few out--choosing others to entrust with His
gospel truth! And He even sent warnings that such would be the case.
"God
had given them [Jews] His gracious promise that they should become a peculiar
treasure unto Him, on condition of obedience; but if they were disobedient He
would reject them, and choose another people." Signs of the Times, April 22, 1880.
"The
Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people
rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and
gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with
every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the
Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the
Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities.
But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if
they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the
Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will
remove them from their place and make them a reproach." Upward Look, p 131.
Since
the SDA church has refused to obey God's will, has replaced God's original
foundation of truth with another foundation of error (see SDA Apostasy in Doctrine), and has firmly established the SDA church upon it,
then this new foundation cannot possibly stand. Thus the whole SDA church is
destined to fall!
God
has even warned His people of this also.
"Every
structure must be built upon a right foundation, in order to stand." Testimonies, vol. 4, p 563.
"...every
building erected on other foundation than God's word, will fall." Mount of Blessings, p 150.
"If
you build on human theories and inventions, your house will fall." Desire of Ages, p 314.
"There
is no such thing in the Word of God as unconditional election...the Scriptures
make it plain that those who once knew the way of life and rejoiced in the
truth are in danger of falling through apostasy, and being lost."
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p
1114-1115.
Yet
the SDA church and its leadership, just like the Jewish church and its
leadership, have turned a deaf ear to the warnings of God, and brazenly
continued in harlotry!
"We
have enjoyed great light and many privileges. Shall we turn away from all these
blessings, and sacrifice the peculiar, holy character which should distinguish
us as children of God? If we thus slight the mercy of God, the judgments
against Capernaum will surely fall upon us. Our punishment will be heavier
than if we had not enjoyed so great light. Thus the warnings, reproofs, and
counsels, which, accepted and obeyed, would bring us untold blessings, become
a curse when they are rejected....
"Can
Christ say of His professed followers, These are peculiar people; I gave Myself
for them, to redeem them from all iniquity, that they should show forth My praise,
who have called them out from darkness into My marvelous light. Would not
the Lord say, rather, How is the beautiful city become a harlot, and
My Father's house a place of merchandise. Because of your unbelief, I cannot do
many mighty works among you. Review and
Herald, November 7, 1882.
"We
are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches
to become corrupted, and filled with every foul spirit, a cage for every
unclean and hateful bird....
"I
tell you the truth, Elder Butler [then General Conference President], that
unless there is a cleansing of the soul-temple on the part of many who claim to
believe and to preach the truth, God's judgments, long deferred, will
come." Manuscript Releases, vol.
21, p 380, 385.
"One
who sees beneath the surface, who reads the hearts of all men, says of those
who have had great light: ‘They are not afflicted and astonished because of
their moral and spiritual condition.’ ‘Yea, 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; because when I called,
none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine
eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.’ ‘God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie,’ ‘because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,’ ‘but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.’ Isaiah 66:3,4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11,10,12.
"The
heavenly Teacher inquired: ‘What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than
the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts
your works, when in reality you are working out many things according to
worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah?’...
"Who
can truthfully say: ‘Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted
by the world’? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called
righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He
said to me: ‘Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their
defilement and rottenness of character? ‘How is the faithful city become an
harlot’ [Isa 1:21]! My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place
whence the divine presence and glory have departed!’" Testimonies, vol. 8, p 249-250.
The
whole SDA church and organization, is dead in apostasy. The SDA General
Conference leadership have:
–
Discarded the true principles of our historic SDA faith, changed our SDA
religion, and accounted as error the fundamental principles of our faith by
giving up the three angels' messages (see SDA Apostasy
in Doctrine).
–
They have re-organized the church into an image of a Catholic hierarchy (see SDA Apostasy in Organization).
–
Introduced a system of intellectual philosophy, are using techniques of hypnotism
to keep people in the church or to bring them back to church, and have brought
in spiritualism and doctrines of devils to seduce our people (see SDA Apostasy in Education).
–
Threatened and persecuted those who tried to stand in the way of this satanic
reformation (see SDA Threats and
Persecution).
–
Removed God and His Holy Spirit from the church (see Battle Creek Letters, p 55-56).
– Placed
their dependence upon man and united with the NCC, WCC, the ecumenical
movement, and various state governments (see SDA Apostasy
in Ecumenism).
–
Lightly regarded the seventh-day Sabbath, and are setting aside God's Sabbath
to worship the sun, and are leading our SDA people to do the same (see SDA Apostasy Regarding the Sabbath).
Thus
probation has closed forever upon the corporate SDA church. She has become
Babylon fallen. The foundation of the entire worldwide SDA church is not
built on Christ or truth, but is built completely on error and it cannot stand.
The SDA church will fall and be destroyed with a sore destruction!
"Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken them unto
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a Rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house
upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."
Matthew 7:24-27.
The
SDA church is not going through to heaven, but is destined to go down to hell!
And our merciful God has even warned His people of this fact!
"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],
shall be brought down to hell’...‘therefore will I do unto this house, which is
called by My name, wherein ye trust, and unto this place which I gave to you
and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of My
sight...’" Review and Herald,
August 1, 1893 (brackets by Sister White).
So
the SDA corporate ship is not going through to the port of heaven, but will be
destroyed before she reaches that harbor! Thus all on board the SDA ship, who
refuse to separate from her, will go down into the black depths of death. Yet
many SDA's have been brainwashed to believe otherwise, and some may even now be
saying, "The ship will go through."
But
our gracious God has sent abundant warnings to His SDA people, so that they
would not be brainwashed into believing this fatal deception.
Defective Ship: We can know that if a ship has
false teaching it will not survive the rigors of the ocean of strife and
turmoil: "You have had too great confidence in the ability of these men. A
ship may be sound in nearly every respect but if there is one defect,--a bit of
timber worm-eaten,--the lives of all on board are imperiled." E.G. White, Testimonies,
vol.. 4, 322.
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).
"The
people to whom God has entrusted eternal interests, the depositaries of truth pregnant
with eternal results, the keepers of light that is to illuminate the whole
world, have lost their bearings." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 397.
"Every ship sailing the sea of life needs to
have the divine Pilot on board but when storms arise, when tempests threaten,
many persons push their Pilot overboard, and commit their bark into the hand of
finite man, or try to steer it themselves. Then disaster and wreckage generally
follow, and the Pilot is blamed for running them into such dangerous
waters." E.G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 348.
Is the Pilot on board the SDA New Movement, New
Organization Ship described in Selected Messages, vol.. 1, 204-5? Page
205 says He [God] has been removed!
Noble Ship #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 maters 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.
Immediately preceding the above statement is the
admonition:
"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.
The church formed a new movement beginning in
1931-41. LeRoy E. Froom says in his book Movement of Destiny that this
time period was a definite change to a new movement. Books began to be changed
to say that Jesus took the sinless nature and flesh of Adam before the fall.
Ellen White said that Jesus took the sinful nature and flesh of Adam after the
fall. The church’s new position, circa 1941 and on, in the antichrist position
of Babylon.
In light of all the statements involving a ship, 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 statement the qualifying
words are NOBLE SHIP 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.
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.
Note: The foundation of our faith involves pillar
doctrines, and Newell Hammond says this is not now, was not and never will be a
problem. Again, Ellen White refutes such foolhardy error.
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.
DOES
GOD HOLD US RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINS OF THE CONFERENCE?
If
we blindly support the conference no matter what sins it commits, does God hold
us responsible for the sins we know are taking place at the head of the work or
at the local level? Mrs. White tells us we are not to vote for politicians,
as we will be held accountable for the sins they commit while in office.
Wouldn’t supporting the conference no matter what it does be the same
thing? If we support a ministry we know is sinning against God, He will
hold us responsible for those sins (Jer. 26:15), as we have chosen to
"vote" for apostasy.
The
sin of Achan, and the sins of Hophni and Phinehas [Story of Redemption, p 183-193]
which caused 34,000 men to die and the Ark to be taken from the Israelites, is
a further example of sinful leaders causing the destruction of those in
the camp. Purity must be found in the organization we support, and most
of all, among the leadership! These leaders would like you to
believe they can do anything, drive the church off the cliff of perdition, and
we are to stand back and say nothing since they are behind the wheel of the
church.
I
have heard many conference leaders, even the leader of the independent ministry
Amazing Facts, tell us that we are not to criticize the church. Many will
liken this criticism to criticizing fellow church members, but that is
incorrect. The word of God tells us we are supposed to stand up against
error and demand purity in the church. "Cry aloud, spare not,
lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and
the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1 God is telling
us to protest the rebellion we see in the church. If we do not, we are
condoning sin and pleasing the devil. How can sins be corrected or
addressed if no one says anything? We have every right to demand purity
in the church, as that is God's desire.
Who is modern Israel (below) in your
estimation? BABYLON??????
"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 Vol.ume 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
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)?
"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 Vol.ume 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
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.
“In some
cases, BEFORE the time specified in the decree, enemies will rush upon the
waiting ones to put them to death.” E.G.
White, The 1884 edition of The Great Controversy, p. 447.