My Vision on Ernie Knoll’s Dream
Entitled
“The SDA Church”
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Dear Reader, Early Friday a.m., January 16, 2009,
I was taken into vision concerning the symbolisms of Ernie Knoll’s dream and
how Satan has used those symbolisms to achieve the objective of destroying
God’s people in the end-time. The entire dream is produced in another
document which appears below my vision, so I won’t repeat that except to
describe the symbols used to infer, imply, suggest and deceive. The symbology
is a very large, “massive” church building which Ernie and his angel see.
They see the name Seventh-day Adventist on the top of that building. After
entering the foyer of the church, Ernie and his “Herald,” notice that there
are many Sanctuaries branching off from the foyer. The building experiences a
violent shaking, but no one is hurt and the building remains in-tact. I had been praying for confirmation
as to the meaning of the symbology applied in the dream and why it was used.
Without that knowledge, the dream is meaningless. It would be like speaking
in tongues without any after translation. I was shown that the large, massive
building symbolized the General Conference corporate church, and that all the
sanctuaries branching off from the foyer symbolize all the churches under the
umbrella of the General Conference hierarchy. I was shown that the shaking of
the building means just what I thought—the shaking of the good from the bad. I
was shown that because of the admitted hierarchical organization of the
church, corporate responsibility for the KNOWN sins of the members does rest
with each member until those the person(s) performing those sins are either
readily reformed or removed from the church if they will not reform. I was also shown that the one
faithful sanctuary that Ernie and his Herald saw, was still held as a body
for the unfaithfulness of all the other apostate ones, based on the account
of Achan in Joshua Chapter 6 and 7, and the following statement by Ellen White: "The plain straight testimony
must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as
surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His
people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins existing in
individuals among them." Testimonies,
vol. 3, p. 269. I was shown that this corporate
responsibility factor is Satan’s main tool in his objective to destroy God
people, for if he can get us to remain in a church that has already committed
strictly forbidden, unpardonable sin, vial ecumenical fraternity with Satan’s
World Council of Churches and its subsidiaries, this is a violation of the
second angel’s message and the Midnight Cry and God and Ellen White say that
such violation after one knows the truth is a shut door and unpardonable sin
making it IMPOSSIBLE to get back on the pathway to heaven. “I was shown that some are applying
what happened in the Alpha of Apostasy in regard to the meeting of the
Iceberg, are misapplying what was to happen should a new movement transpire
in the Omega of Apostasy. “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,
Bk. 1, 205. Does that sound like a noble ship
moving on unscathed, violently shaken, but no lives lost? Folk in the church
are grievously misapplying Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy regarding
end-time events and who is shaken from whom. For example, Ezekiel 22 is just
an extension of Ezekiel 9 because in the original manuscripts there were no
chapter divisions. Go to Ezekiel 22:17-31 to discover where the tares (dross)
are shaken and this finally includes ALL APOSTATE CHURCHES. God to Isaiah
4:1-4 to find how many churches are doing their own thing at the end-time,
eating their own bread (the commandments and traditions of man) and wearing their
own apparel—their own works of self-righteousness, while believing the Christ’s
robe of Righteousness covers sin rather than providing the power to overcome
sin. It does cover past sins accruing until the born again experience, but
after that it is to be dying to self and subscribing to the power of the Holy
Spirit for living the indwelling life of Christ. But folk want salvation
without any bother, sacrifice, or inconvenience to them. I was reminded to tell you of the
story of the Old Man who roamed Jerusalem for seven years, sighing and crying
for all its abominations. That story is recorded for us in Chapter 1 of The Great Controversy, and goes like
this: “For seven years a man continued to go up and
down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the
city. By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge: "A voice from the
east! a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against
Jerusalem and against the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and the
brides! a voice against the whole people!"-- Ibid . This strange
being was imprisoned and scourged, but no complaint escaped his lips. To
insult and abuse he answered only: "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!"
"woe, woe to the inhabitants thereof!" His warning cry ceased not
until he was slain in the siege he had foretold. Not one Christian perished in the destruction
of Jerusalem. Christ had given His disciples warning, and all who believed
His words watched for the promised sign. "When ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies," said Jesus, "then know that the desolation
thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and
let them which are in the midst of it depart out." Luke 21:20, 21. After
the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned
the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. The
besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were on the point of
surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces without the least
apparent reason. But God's merciful providence was directing events for the
good of His own people. The promised sign had been given to the waiting
Christians, and now an opportunity was offered for all who would, to obey the
Saviour's warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans
should hinder the flight of the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the
Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army; and while
both forces were thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to
leave the city. At this time the country also Page 31
had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavoured
to intercept them. At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at
Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus the Christians
throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested. Without delay
they fled to a place of safety--the city of Pella, in the land of Perea,
beyond Jordan.” E.G. White, The Great
Controversy, pp. 30, 31. The man sure did sigh and cry for all the
abominations! Ernie does some of that as well. But consider this interesting
fact: The man died in the destruction he foretold. All true Christians fled
to the mountains of Pella in A.D. 66. Sixty-six from 70 is 4 years. So for
four years AFTER he should have left to be with all the true Christians in
their flight, he was in the murderous city decrying its abominations. So what does Satan want? What is his
objective in Ernie Knoll’s dream? The objective is to get SDA’s to remain
with an apostate church because of believing the lie that in the shaking, the
bad will leave the new movement and that SOMETHING will stand in its way and
the bad will be shaking out, when according to Scripture and the LITERAL
account of the last LITERAL fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, the bad were shaking
into the apostate Jewish Sanctuary, Temple, Church! So it must be in any
FUTURE LITERAL FULFILLMENT OF EZEKIEL 9. God says NOTHING WILL STAND IN THE
WAY OF THE NEW MOVMENT. Ernie Knoll’s “Herald” says every sanctuary will be
purged and purified and doing the right thing. Then why, pray tell, would
there be any need for any literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, for such a thing
could never be because there would be no apostate Sanctuary to BEGIN at,
Ezekiel 9:6, 5T 211. Ernie’s Herald clearly contradicts Scripture (Ezekiel
22:17-31, Isaiah 37:31, 32, Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel 5 and Testimonies, Vol. 5:211, which chapter begins on page 207,
quoting Ezekiel 9. Who will you believe, Ernie Knolls, or God and Ellen White. Leave me out of it.
I have just presented the clear evidence. He wants God’s people to be ignorant
of the fact that every Ellen White statement that “seems” to mean that the
bad are shaking from the church militant to leave it the purged and purified
church triumphant, contradicts scripture and what happened in the last
literal fulfillment of Matthew 22:1-12 and Ezekiel 9:6 and Ezekiel 22:17-31.
All of Ellen White’s statements must be reckoned by the Bible on this issue,
ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE SAYS THAT EZEKIEL 9 WILL HAVE A LITERAL FUTURE
FULFILLMENT. All we have to do is look at the typical fulfillment to know how
it will work in the antitypical fulfillment. It was Ellen White, not I, who
said that Ezekiel 9 was a prefigure in the case of the destruction of
Jerusalem, A.D. 70. It was God Almighty, not I, who gives the entire scenario
in Matthew 22:1-12, in perfect order of sequence, and history proves that. It
was God, not I who said: “Begin at My Sanctuary,” Ezekiel 9:6, Matthew 22:7,
and Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211.
When Ellen White said that Ezekiel 9 will have a LITERAL fulfillment, that
demands a literal Sanctuary or church—inclusive of a world church in the
final application of Ezekiel 9 (because of the principle of corporate
responsibility if nothing else). My detractors try to say that
Ezekiel 9 means stray backsliders and offshoots who leave the church. That is
not true. They do not constitute God’s Sanctuary, the House of Jacob,
mentioned in 5T 211. The prefigure type involved a literal apostate church
temple sanctuary and so must the antitypical fulfillment. I was reminded to tell God’s people
that Isaiah 37:31, 32, was written more for them than the Jews, said Ellen
White, and obviously the final REMNANT is at the end-time. All Bible
commentaries agree that Isaiah Chapters 1-4 are end-time in context. All
formally organized churches, symbolized by 7 women are found doing their own
thing, except for a separated remnant. Seven is God’s ALL INCLUSIVE NUMBER,
and woman, in Scripture, symbolizes the church—ALL PROFESSING CHURCHES, but
BEGINNING WITH JERUSALEM, His once Sanctuary, and progressing to Babylon and
finally the destruction of the world. That ends what I was shown in vision. Below is a prior document I wrote on
the issue. My view was correct. -----
Original Message ----- From: Ron Beaulieu To: remnantSDA@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January
08, 2009 7:28 PM Subject: Ernie Knoll's
Dream entitled The SDA Church Brian, Here is the
entire vision with the parts I dispute. The title says it all. The vision
applies to the SDA church. Ernie enters not one, but many representative
sanctuaries that are part of the SDA church. THE SDA CHURCH September 28, 2007 by Ernie Knoll
In my dream, I am standing on a sidewalk looking at the right side of the front of a very large church. The church is massive in size. It appears that it must take up an entire city block because of its size. I notice there are many windows on the sides and more windows above these. I notice there are several very large columns in front of the church. The base of the columns are at the top of the steps and they extend way up to support the roof.
Suddenly, I feel a tap on my right shoulder and someone calls me by my heavenly name. I turn and see “The Herald” standing behind me. I immediately tell him I have several questions to ask him. He smiles a patient smile and says, “You always have questions.” The Herald says, “Come, I am to show you many things.”
We walk down the sidewalk and stand at the base of the many stairs that go up to the front of the church. I watch as many, many people begin walking up the steps. My angel points out that some of the men are not thinking about what they might hear in church or the blessing they will receive. Many are thinking about their job and what they need to do to excel to get a higher position. Others are thinking about how good they look all dressed up. Others are thinking of who they might meet to find a mate. I see others dressed as if going to a picnic or a ball game. Some are even dressed in sports jerseys.
I watch as many, many women ascend the steps wearing expensive stylish shoes. The outfits they have selected are inappropriate for church. Some wear dresses and skirts that are very short. Many have tops which are cut very low, exposing much of themselves. Others are wearing tight form fitting clothes. Some have painted toenails and fingernails. Many wear jewelry and proudly display their wedding rings. They sport the latest decorative hairdos that say, “Look at me; I’m beautiful.”
We climb the stairs and enter into the foyer of this large church. In the foyer, I find it is very noisy. I see vending machines along the walls. There are also aluminum and wood carts offering tea, milk and coffee as well as bagels, pastries and a small assortment of very ripe fruit.
I notice that there are many sanctuaries that branch off from the foyer. My angel and I enter the first sanctuary and I notice many people inside. We listen as the preacher is explaining, “Jesus paid for each of us on the cross. We’re saved; don’t worry about a thing. We have been saved in our sins.” He continues, “All we have to do each day is ask for forgiveness and we will have eternal life. We are not to worry if we sin again as Jesus has paid for our right to be in heaven.” The people exclaim together, “Amen! Sin and be forgiven; Jesus has saved us.”
We leave this sanctuary and enter the next. In this sanctuary there is a large baptistery up front. I notice this sanctuary is filled with many people. There is a long line of people waiting to go up the stairs to the baptistery to be baptized. I see above and to the right of the baptistery a large digital counter, like a scoreboard, that increments each time an individual is baptized. I watch as some in line to be baptized are carrying suitcases. Others are carrying shopping bags full of items they just purchased at the store. The bags contain food items, reading material and other things a Christian would not bring with them to church, especially when they are going to be baptized. I see some with cigarettes in their pockets and still others eating unclean foods as they stand in line. I watch as individuals are placed under the water and then handed off to climb out of the baptistery. I see men in black suits discussing the counter. I know these are important men connected with the church. I hear them discuss how the counter needs to increase faster. I watch as they decide to place more helpers in the baptistery to move the people in, under and out faster. They exclaim, “IN, UNDER and OUT!” I watch as the counter goes faster. I notice the water they are in is very dirty as are those in the water. As they come out of the water, they are still dirty, but have now picked up additional dirt from others who have been previously baptized. I look at their faces and they appear tired and not very happy. I look to my angel and begin to cry and shake my head.
We leave this sanctuary and return to the foyer. My angel and I stop for a bit and he says, “Do not cry. I have been sent to show you these things. Conserve your courage.”
We then go to the next sanctuary where I notice a banner over the door which says “Team Church.” In the sanctuary I see that the pews have been removed and recliners installed. I see many visiting and talking. They are wearing football, baseball, basketball and other sports related clothing. Up front, the pastor is wearing his favorite team’s uniform. I hear him exclaim, “Jesus will beat the opposing team. We have a victory at his touch down, the game is won!” I hear the people cheer, holding their drinks and snacks up, saying, “Go team Jesus.” My angel and I walk back out to the foyer, where my angel reaches up and takes hold of the banner – beginning to pull it away. I notice underneath the words that begin, “The Problem of Many Athletic Sports....” {1} Adventist Home page 500.
As I begin reading this, several men, seeing us do this, become very angry and begin placing the banner back up.
We then walk to the next sanctuary and find the pastor talking very smoothly to the many people. He is preaching that all we need is love and grace. We need not worry about anything else, just love and grace. I watch as he uses certain hand and arm movements, slowly walking from one side of the platform to the other. The people become very relaxed. He speaks about only certain parts of the Bible and shares how we are to learn new ideas. He speaks of a “Community of Faith” and of “innovation.” I see the people are listening; but they are lulled into a sleepy stupor. As we leave this room, I look up to my angel with a disgusted look.
We walk into another sanctuary where once again I see that there are many people. They are standing and singing. There is a large screen up front that has words displayed on it. As the people sing, they raise their hands and wave them back and forth. The song they are singing constantly repeats itself. There is no verse of inspiration. I then see many step out into the aisle where they begin slowly walking up and down, singing and waving. Gradually they begin skipping, and after a little more time they begin running up and down the aisle proclaiming that they have the “spirit.” They begin speaking with unintelligible languages. I look to my angel and ask if we may leave.
We walk to the next sanctuary and I find there are very few people inside. The few that are there are sitting quietly and listening intently. The pastor is speaking of preparing for the coming of Jesus. He talks from the heart. I look to my angel and I smile. He puts his left hand on my right shoulder and says, “Look closely at the pastor.” As I look I notice that a very bright light is shining down on him from heaven. I notice what looks like a flame is burning on top of his head. I see many angels carrying books. They are instructing him what to say.
We leave this sanctuary and return to the foyer. We walk past many other sanctuaries, the vending machines, and the many carts of tea, milk, coffee, bagels and pastry. We walk out of this massive church building. The Herald looks at me and asks, “May I have your hand?” I hold up my right hand to him and he takes a firm hold. We ascend into the air about a hundred feet. We turn, and for the first time I see the entire front of this massive church. I notice the large pillars that support the roof. Just below the roof is a large sign, deeply engraved with the words “SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.”
He looks at me and says, “Hold strong to your faith.” As I watch, the church suddenly starts shaking left and right, forward and backward. The whole church begins twisting from side to side. I watch as many people are thrown from the windows. Many come running out and down the steps. I see the vending machines and pastry carts tumble out and down the steps. I see many, many people falling and rolling down the steps. I watch as this large building shakes. {2} I expect to see it crumble to the ground. {3} I squeeze my angels hand as I am afraid of what is going to happen to my church. He looks at me and says, “Hold tight to your faith.” As suddenly as it began, the shaking stops. I look and see that the many large pillars are still intact. We descend back to the ground and stand on the top step. I notice there is no damage to the steps. I turn and see many people now walking up the steps of the church. Their appearance is modest and many are singing an inspirational hymn. I notice all have laid self aside and are focused on Jesus. All worldly thoughts are put away. I watch as they enter the foyer. We walk into the foyer and notice that some are quietly whispering and there is a sense of reverence throughout the long foyer.
Ron's commentary: Knoll's is obviously referring to the great shaking that will occur in the SDA church. He is teaching just as Adventists have errantly taught since Ellen White's demise--that the bad will be shaken out of the church. Were that true, there would be no need of any LITERAL Ezekiel 9 slaughter. That directly contradicts Ellen White's statement that Ezekiel 9 will have a future LITERAL FULFILLMENT, because any LITERAL FUTURE FULFILLMENT would have to be antitypical of the last literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. Were apostate Jewish synagogues and the Temple at Jerusalem cleansed by the bad leaving? Nay. They were rather gathered into the midsts of those apostate churches for burning and melting, Ezekiel 22:17-31. Not ONE faithful man was left therein. The true people left and formed home churches.
My angel and I begin going from sanctuary to sanctuary. I notice that each service is reverent, and each pastor is teaching the way to Jesus. My angel and I continue to the sanctuary where they were baptizing people. I notice here that ministers are praying and studying with each individual before they get in line. I see there is a room where the individuals go to get rid of their suitcases and shopping bags. There is a trash receptacle where they throw away their cigarettes and other tobacco items. I watch as an individual slowly walks into the baptistery. The minister stands next to them. He speaks of the commitment they are about to make before not only to those watching, but all of heaven. As the individual is lowered under the water I notice they are dirty. My angel directs me to look up. As I look up through the roof and all the way through the sky to heaven, I see angels cheering and singing as each individual is baptized. I look back at the individuals as they slowly exit the baptistery. I notice that as they come out, they are very clean. The garments they are wearing are bright white and their faces beam with happiness.
Ron's commentary: Again, were this to occur, there would be no need of any literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, BEGINNING AT HIS SANCTUARY, Ezekiel 9:6 and Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.
As we continue down the foyer to each sanctuary, I notice that the church stood without any damage. There is not even a crack in the walls. I think of how I watched as this building twisted and shook and how I was so afraid that it would fall.
Ron's commentary: Brian's suggestion to me was that only one sanctuary was reformed and purified. That is not true Brian. Each sanctuary was shaken of all its bad and stood without any damage. Ernie is repeating Ellen White's vision concerning the Alpha of Apostasy. That is what occurred in the Alpha, but that is not what occurs in the Omega of Apostasy! Nothing is allowed to stand in the way of the New Movement--1SM 204-5. That is why Ezekiel 9 begins LITERALLY at His Sanctuary, the SDA churches around the world. Here is Brian's statement that ONLY ONE SANCTUARY WAS INVOLVED:
----- Original Message ----- From: luke19v10 To: remnantSDA@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:37 PM Subject: [remnantSDA] Re: Difficult Bible verse Ron, there was once sanctuary depicted before the shaking in the dream that had not apostatized. "We walk to the next sanctuary and I find there are very few people inside. The few that are there are sitting quietly and listening intently. The pastor is speaking of preparing for the coming of Jesus. He talks from the heart. I look to my angel and I smile. He puts his left hand on my right shoulder and says, "Look closely at the pastor." As I look I notice that a very bright light is shining down on him from heaven. I notice what looks like a flame is burning on top of his head. I see many angels carrying books. They are instructing him what to say." How do you explain this? Brian
The Herald and I turn, walk outside and down the steps. I look at him and ask when this will happen. He smiles a loving smile, and again, as in other dreams, I notice his dimples. He puts a hand on each of my shoulders and says, “After you awake, prepare what I have shown you. Send it to Sister Z. She will serve in editing. When she is finished she is to have her husband review it. He will know if anything has been left out as he has already been shown. When he is in agreement with what has been prepared, it is to be sent straightaway to Brother S for posting for His people”. I asked the Herald if Brother Z has received the dream. He said that many are shown and they share. Many are shown and they are afraid to share. Many are shown and they do not recall. Many are shown and they recall after the appointed time. And many are shown through the Father’s Spirit.
The Herald calls me by my heavenly name and says, “You are to now awake and share what I have shown you.”
Ron's commentary: Notice the angel does not answer Ernie's quest as to WHEN this will happen. Interesting!
1. Adventist Home, p. 500 The Problem of Many Athletic Sports.--Vigorous exercise the pupils must have. Few evils are more to be dreaded than indolence and aimlessness. Yet the tendency of most athletic sports is a subject of anxious thought to those who have at heart the well-being of the youth. Teachers are troubled as they consider the influence of these sports both on the student's progress in school and on his success in afterlife. The games that occupy so much of his time are diverting the mind from study. They are not helping to prepare the youth for practical, earnest work in life. Their influence does not tend toward refinement, generosity, or real manliness. Some of the most popular amusements, such as football and boxing, have become schools of brutality. They are developing the same characteristics as did the games of ancient Rome. The love of domination, the pride in mere brute force, the reckless disregard of life, are exerting upon the youth a power to demoralize that is appalling.
Other athletic games, though not so brutalizing, are scarcely less
objectionable because of the excess to which 2. John 2:13-16 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Ron's commentary: Jesus cleansed the apostate Jewish temple during His ministry on earth, but that did not stop its destruction some 40 years later in A.D. 70 when the Romand began with the Temple and then destroyed the city proper of Jerusalem, Chapter 1, The Great Controversy, and the following statement from the SDA Bible Commentary:
Jews flee before A.D. 70 fulfillment of Ezekiel 9: “In the autumn of A.D. 66, Cestius next concentrated his entire force
upon Jerusalem. He arrived during the
celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, and although it was Sabbath, the
Jews abandoned their religious rites and rushed out to attack Cestius’ troops. To the amazement of both Romans and Jews,
they broke the Roman ranks. Indeed,
Josephus declares that only a flank attack by a force of footmen and cavalry
saved Cestius’ forces. More than 500
Roman soldiers were killed whereas the Jews lost only 22 men (War ii. 198, 2 [519]). At this point Agrippa sent an embassy to
the Jews; their reaction was to attack his representatives, killing one and
wounding the other. Encouraged by a
promise of the royalist party in Jerusalem to open the gates for him, Cestius
then gathered his troops to a fresh assault, and penetrated as far as the
north wall of the Temple. Then an
astounding thing happened: Cestius withdrew his troops, and placed himself
strategically in such a poor position among the Judean hills that the Jews
were able to attack him and kill more than 5,000 infantry and nearly 500
cavalry, including many officers, as well as to capture much materiel. A Lull in the Storm.—The defeat and withdrawal of Cestius gave many
of the conservative Jews a chance to flee from Jerusalem. Some of them joined Agrippa, others sought
quiet in country places, and still others left the country entirely. It was at this time that the Christians in
Jerusalem fled in accordance with the warning of Jesus recorded in Matt. 24:15-19. According to Eusebius, the 4th-century
historian, the Christians in Jerusalem had been warned by prophets before the
war began that they should leave the doomed city and find refuge at Pella in
Peraea. They now took this opportunity
to make good their escape (Ecclesiastical History iii. 5, 3).” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 74, 75. Chap. 1 - The Destruction of Jerusalem (Great Controversy). "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:42-44. {GC 17.1} From the crest of Olivet,
Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. Fair and peaceful was the scene spread out
before Him. It was the season of the Passover, and from all lands the
children of Jacob had gathered there to celebrate the great national
festival. In the midst of gardens and vineyards, and green slopes studded
with pilgrims' tents, rose the terraced hills, the stately palaces, and
massive bulwarks of Israel's capital. The daughter of Zion seemed in her
pride to say, I sit a queen and shall see no sorrow; as lovely then, and
deeming herself as secure in Heaven's favor, as when, ages before, the royal
minstrel sang: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is
Mount Zion, . . . the city of the great King." Psalm 48:2. In full view
were the magnificent buildings of the temple. The rays of the setting sun
lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed from golden
gate and tower and pinnacle. "The perfection of
18 beauty" it stood, the pride of the Jewish nation. What child of
Israel could gaze upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration! But
far other thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus. "When He was come near,
He beheld the city, and wept over it." Luke 19:41. Amid the universal
rejoicing of the triumphal entry, while palm branches waved, while glad
hosannas awoke the echoes of the hills, and thousands of voices declared Him
king, the world's Redeemer was
overwhelmed with a sudden and mysterious sorrow. He, the Son of God,
the Promised One of Israel, whose power had
conquered death and called its captives from the grave, was in tears,
not of ordinary grief, but of intense, irrepressible agony. {GC 17.2} His tears were not for
Himself, though He well knew whither His feet were tending. Before Him lay
Gethsemane, the scene of His approaching agony. The sheepgate also was in
sight, through which for centuries the victims for sacrifice had been led,
and which was to open for Him when He should be "brought as a lamb to
the slaughter." Isaiah 53:7. Not far distant was Calvary, the place of
crucifixion. Upon the path which Christ was soon to tread must fall the
horror of great darkness as He should make His soul an offering for sin. Yet
it was not the contemplation of these scenes that cast the shadow upon Him in
this hour of gladness. No foreboding of His own superhuman anguish clouded
that unselfish spirit. He wept for the doomed thousands of Jerusalem--because
of the blindness and impenitence of those whom He came to bless and to save.
{GC 18.1} The history of more than a
thousand years of God's special favor and guardian care, manifested to the
chosen people, was open to the eye of Jesus. There was Mount Moriah, where
the son of promise, an unresisting victim, had been bound to the
altar--emblem of the offering of the Son of God. There the covenant of
blessing, the glorious Messianic promise, had been confirmed to the father of
the faithful. Genesis 22:9, 16-18. There the flames of the sacrifice
ascending to heaven from the threshing floor of Ornan had turned
19 aside the sword of the destroying angel (1 Chronicles 21)-- fitting
symbol of the Saviour's sacrifice and mediation for guilty men. Jerusalem had
been honored of God above all the earth. The Lord had "chosen
Zion," He had "desired it for His habitation." Psalm 132:13.
There, for ages, holy prophets had uttered their messages of warning. There
priests had waved their censers, and the cloud of incense, with the prayers
of the worshipers, had ascended before God. There daily the blood of slain
lambs had been offered, pointing forward to the Lamb of God. There Jehovah
had revealed His presence in the cloud of glory above the mercy seat. There
rested the base of that mystic ladder connecting earth with heaven (Genesis
28:12; John 1:51)--that ladder upon which angels of God descended and
ascended, and which opened to the world the way into the holiest of all. Had
Israel as a nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven, Jerusalem would have
stood forever, the elect of God. Jeremiah 17:21-25. But the history of that
favored people was a record of backsliding and rebellion. They had resisted
Heaven's grace, abused their privileges, and slighted their opportunities.
{GC 18.2} Although Israel had
"mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His
prophets" (2 Chronicles 36:16), He had still manifested Himself to them,
as "the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in
goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6); notwithstanding repeated rejections, His
mercy had continued its pleadings. With more than a father's pitying love for
the son of his care, God had "sent to them by His messengers, rising up
betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His
dwelling place." 2 Chronicles 36:15. When remonstrance, entreaty, and
rebuke had failed, He sent to them the best gift of heaven; nay, He poured
out all heaven in that one Gift. {GC 19.1} The Son of God Himself was
sent to plead with the impenitent city. It was Christ that had brought Israel
as a goodly vine out of Egypt. Psalm 80:8. His own hand had cast
20 out the heathen before it. He had planted it "in a very fruitful
hill." His guardian care had hedged it about. His servants had been sent
to nurture it. "What could have been done more to My vineyard," He
exclaims, "that I have not done in it?" Isaiah 5:1-4. Though when
He looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes, yet
with a still yearning hope of fruitfulness He came in person to His vineyard,
if haply it might be saved from destruction. He digged about His vine; He
pruned and cherished it. He was unwearied in His efforts to save this vine of
His own planting. {GC 19.2} For three years the Lord of
light and glory had gone in and out among His people. He "went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil," binding
up the brokenhearted, setting at liberty them that were bound, restoring
sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, cleansing
the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor. Acts
10:38; Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5. To all classes alike was addressed the
gracious call: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and
I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. {GC 20.1} Though rewarded with evil
for good, and hatred for His love (Psalm 109:5), He had steadfastly pursued
His mission of mercy. Never were those repelled that sought His grace. A
homeless wanderer, reproach and penury His daily lot, He lived to minister to
the needs and lighten the woes of men, to plead with them to accept the gift
of life. The waves of mercy, beaten back by those stubborn hearts, returned
in a stronger tide of pitying, inexpressible love. But Israel had turned from
her best Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His love had been despised,
His counsels spurned, His warnings ridiculed. {GC 20.2} The hour of hope and pardon
was fast passing; the cup of God's long-deferred wrath was almost full. The
cloud that had been gathering through ages of apostasy and rebellion, now
black with woe, was about to burst upon a guilty people;
21 and He who alone could save them from their impending fate had been
slighted, abused, rejected, and was soon to be crucified. When Christ should
hang upon the cross of Calvary, Israel's day as a nation favored and blessed
of God would be ended. The loss of even one soul is a calamity infinitely
outweighing the gains and treasures of a world; but as Christ looked upon
Jerusalem, the doom of a whole city, a whole nation, was before Him--that
city, that nation, which had once been the chosen of God, His peculiar
treasure. {GC 20.3} Prophets had wept over the
apostasy of Israel and the terrible desolations by which their sins were
visited. Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a fountain of tears, that he
might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people, for the
Lord's flock that was carried away captive. Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17. What, then,
was the grief of Him whose prophetic glance took in, not years, but ages! He
beheld the destroying angel with sword uplifted against the city which had so
long been Jehovah's dwelling place. From the ridge of Olivet, the very spot
afterward occupied by Titus and his army, He looked across the valley upon
the sacred courts and porticoes, and with tear-dimmed eyes He saw, in awful
perspective, the walls surrounded by alien hosts. He heard the tread of
armies marshaling for war. He heard the voice of mothers and children crying
for bread in the besieged city. He saw her holy and beautiful house, her
palaces and towers, given to the flames, and where once they stood, only a heap
of smoldering ruins. {GC 21.1} Looking down the ages, He
saw the covenant people scattered in every land, "like wrecks on a
desert shore." In the temporal retribution about to fall upon her
children, He saw but the first draft from that cup of wrath which at the
final judgment she must drain to its dregs. Divine pity, yearning love, found
utterance in the mournful words: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I 22 have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" O that thou, a nation
favored above every other, hadst known the time of thy visitation, and the
things that belong unto thy peace! I have stayed the angel of justice, I have
called thee to repentance, but in vain. It is not merely servants, delegates,
and prophets, whom thou hast refused and rejected, but the Holy One of Israel,
thy Redeemer. If thou art destroyed, thou alone art responsible. "Ye
will not come to Me, that ye might have life." Matthew 23:37; John 5:40.
{GC 21.2} Christ saw in Jerusalem a
symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to
meet the retributive judgments of God. The woes of a fallen race, pressing
upon His soul, forced from His lips that exceeding bitter cry. He saw the
record of sin traced in human misery, tears, and blood; His heart was moved
with infinite pity for the afflicted and suffering ones of earth; He yearned
to relieve them all. But even His hand might not turn back the tide of human
woe; few would seek their only Source of help. He was willing to pour out His
soul unto death, to bring salvation within their reach; but few would come to
Him that they might have life. {GC 22.1} The Majesty of heaven in
tears! the Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit, bowed down with
anguish! The scene filled all heaven with wonder. That scene reveals to us
the exceeding sinfulness of sin; it shows how hard a task it is, even for
Infinite Power, to save the guilty from the consequences of transgressing the
law of God. Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world
involved in a deception similar to
that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was
their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be
their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His government in heaven
and earth. The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought.
Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second
death, would
23 refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation.
Terrible blindness! strange infatuation! {GC 22.2} Two days before the
Passover, when Christ had for the last time departed from the temple, after
denouncing the hypocrisy of the Jewish rulers, He again went out with His
disciples to the Mount of Olives and seated Himself with them upon the grassy
slope overlooking the city. Once more He gazed upon its walls, its towers,
and its palaces. Once more He beheld the temple in its dazzling splendor, a
diadem of beauty crowning the sacred mount. {GC 23.1} A thousand years before,
the psalmist had magnified God's favor to Israel in making her holy house His
dwelling place: "In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place
in Zion." He "chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which He
loved. And He built His sanctuary like high palaces." Psalms 76:2;
78:68, 69. The first temple had been erected during the most prosperous
period of Israel's history. Vast stores of treasure for this purpose had been
collected by King David, and the plans for its construction were made by
divine inspiration. 1 Chronicles 28:12, 19. Solomon, the wisest of Israel's
monarchs, had completed the work. This temple was the most magnificent
building which the world ever saw. Yet the Lord had declared by the prophet
Haggai, concerning the second temple: "The glory of this latter house
shall be greater than of the former." "I will shake all nations,
and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory,
saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:9, 7. {GC 23.2} After the destruction of
the temple by Nebuchadnezzar it was rebuilt about five hundred years before
the birth of Christ by a people who from a lifelong captivity had returned to
a wasted and almost deserted country. There were then among them aged men who
had seen the glory of Solomon's temple, and who wept at the foundation of the
new building, that it must be so inferior to the former. The feeling that
prevailed is forcibly described by the prophet: "Who is 24 left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye
see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?"
Haggai 2:3; Ezra 3:12. Then was given the promise that the glory of this
latter house should be greater than that of the former. {GC 23.3} But the second temple had
not equaled the first in magnificence; nor was it hallowed by those visible
tokens of the divine presence which pertained to the first temple. There was
no manifestation of supernatural power to mark its dedication. No cloud of
glory was seen to fill the newly erected sanctuary. No fire from heaven
descended to consume the sacrifice upon its altar. The Shekinah no longer
abode between the cherubim in the most holy place; the ark, the mercy seat,
and the tables of the testimony were not to be found therein. No voice
sounded from heaven to make known to the inquiring priest the will of
Jehovah. {GC 24.1} For centuries the Jews had
vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of God given by Haggai had been
fulfilled; yet pride and unbelief blinded their minds to the true meaning of
the prophet's words. The second temple was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah's
glory, but with the living presence of One in whom dwelt the fullness of the
Godhead bodily--who was God Himself manifest in the flesh. The "Desire
of all nations" had indeed come to His temple when the Man of Nazareth
taught and healed in the sacred courts. In the presence of Christ, and in
this only, did the second temple exceed the first in glory. But Israel had
put from her the proffered Gift of heaven. With the humble Teacher who had
that day passed out from its golden gate, the glory had forever departed from
the temple. Already were the Saviour's words fulfilled: "Your house is
left unto you desolate." Matthew 23:38. {GC 24.2} The disciples had been
filled with awe and wonder at Christ's prediction of the overthrow of the
temple, and they desired to understand more fully the meaning of His words.
Wealth, labor, and architectural skill had for more than forty years been
freely expended to enhance its splendors. Herod
25 the Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure,
and even the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts. Massive
blocks of white marble, of almost fabulous size, forwarded from Rome for this
purpose, formed a part of its structure; and to these the disciples had
called the attention of their Master, saying: "See what manner of stones
and what buildings are here!" Mark 13:1. {GC 24.3} To these words, Jesus made
the solemn and startling reply: "Verily I say unto you, There shall not
be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Matthew 24:2. {GC 25.1} With the overthrow of
Jerusalem the disciples associated the events of Christ's personal coming in
temporal glory to take the throne of universal empire, to punish the
impenitent Jews, and to break from off the nation the Roman yoke. The Lord
had told them that He would come the second time. Hence at the mention of
judgments upon Jerusalem, their minds reverted to that coming; and as they were
gathered about the Saviour upon the Mount of Olives, they asked: "When
shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the
end of the world?" Verse 3. {GC 25.2} The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples. Had they at that time fully comprehend the two awful facts-- the Redeemer's sufferings and death, and the destruction of their city and temple--they would have been overwhelmed with horror. Christ presented before them an outline of the prominent events to take place before the close of time. His words were not then fully understood; but their meaning was to be unfolded as His people should need the instruction therein given. The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day. {GC 25.3} Ron's commentary. The destruction of Jerusalem was learly a prefigure.
It prefigured TWO THINGS:
3. Maranatha, p. 203 Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths.... The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy.
Ron's Commentary: Whoever contributed the above statement by Ellen White, Ernie or Brian?, does not understand who Zion is. Zion is the church triumphant. Sinners are shaking out of Zion by Zion. Jesus and His separated church were Zion. No apostate church ever qualifies as Zion, for in Isaiah 62:1-5, Zion is married. Great Controversy, pp. 426-7 say that Zion is the bride of Christ and that the people of the church are guests and if guests they cannot be the bride. The ten virgins are guests. They are ALL TEN awakened by the voice of God AND THE BRIDE, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 405-6. This is supported by the Bible in Ezekiel 20:34-38, wherein the rebels are shaken out of the kingdom of heaven by a church triumphant that is brought into covenant relationship with Christ. They are the 144,000.
If Ernie and Brian are correct, then Ellen White is thus made a false prophet by her following description of the final result of the church:
The Prophesied Fall of The Professing Seventh-day Adventist
Church The outcome Full statement
below: "Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning to prepare them for
his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work in the great
plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud
voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains
of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.]. The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men,
who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his
word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the
religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection
with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN therefore they WERE NOT of
the number described by the apostle Paul: 'But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children
of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of
darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5]. The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the
tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim
him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and
safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH,
like the barren fig-tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of
precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion,
while the spirit of true humility, penitence and faith--which alone could
render the service acceptable to God--was lacking. Instead of the graces of
the Spirit, there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness,
oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed their eyes to the signs of the
times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail but they
departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his love. As they
REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were NOT FULFILLED to
them." E.G. White, The Spirit of
Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The
Great Controversy, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH TESTIMONIES, VOL
4, which is not the Great Controversy, but volume 4 of the Testimonies
serioes of 9 volumes]. END FULL STATEMENT 199, 200.
Ron |