Church

We Have Nothing to Fear Save We Forget

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The Bible says: “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:11,12.

Why did the Lord go to so much trouble to produce His written Word and why have so many lives been lost in the defense of it? Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are very clear in their answer. It is because God saw that those who live in the last days would need all the help that He could provide. He tells us, both through prophets of old, and a modern day prophet, that if we study and take warning from the past, we will be protected from the devices and deceptions of Satan in the present. God knows that we are about to go through the greatest ordeal in the history of the world. Do we truly understand what is about to crash upon us?

One of Satan’s greatest fears is that we will learn how he operates. He knows that if we follow the counsel of the Lord, if we learn from the past and the mistakes of others, he will be seriously disadvantaged and finally overcome. This is why his most subtle schemes are perpetrated on those who adhere to the claims of Adventism. There have been, and presently are those who would have us believe that there is no danger from within. But, just as surely as God has supreme regard for the church (God’s true and faithful), Satan has supreme hatred for it. He works the hardest to deceive Adventists.

Cain and Abel were brothers. Not only that, but they both claimed to be spiritual brothers as well. They both made the claim to true Christianity, and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.

It is in the life of Cain that the infiltration of the enemy is brought to view. Over what did the battle surface? True worship of the Creator. Following in the spiritual sense, Abel was truly converted to Adventism; Cain to professed Adventism.

Abel had received the Holy Spirit. Cain also had a spirit controlling him, but it was certainly not holy. Cain became possessed by the devil. The younger brother was concerned for the elder and sought to expose his danger, and lead him to the path of salvation. The elder brother was offended by this straight testimony, and not only rejected the message, but killed the messenger. This has happened again and again ever since.

In Selected Messages, vol. 1, 122 it says, “We have far more to fear from within than from without.” When God shows a person the truth and they are convicted of it, they then have a responsibility to follow it. That person will be held accountable in the judgment day for his acceptance or rejection of the truth. Many today think they can, like the proverbial ostrich, bury their heads in the sand and still fare well in the judgment. This my friends, is a fatal deception. People like this will make comments such as, “I do not want to hear about the apostasy,” or “I am so tired of hearing about it.” If you feel this way, I strongly encourage you to take very seriously the next few lines. God is not going to adjust His program based on the feelings of human beings. In this context, it does not matter how you or I feel. We must stop fighting against God because we do not care for a portion of His program.

“Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Savior could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.” Desire of Ages, 753.

Please take just a few moments to mediate upon the italicized words above. As Adventists we have the greatest opportunity for our spiritual hopes to be realized, but only if these hopes are based in reality and truth. It is amazing that human beings find it so hard to take God at His Word. Let me illustrate.

“For one hundred and twenty years Noah proclaimed the message of warning to the antediluvian world; but only a few repented. Those who believed when Noah began to build the ark, lost their faith through association with unbelievers who aroused all the old passion for amusement and display. In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day, just so will it be before Christ’s second coming.” Last Day Events, 23.

Could anything describe our world, and the movement we are in any better? Does not this bring the words of Christ, concerning how our world would be just before His return, into sharp focus? Look at this next inspired quotation carefully. “Before the destruction of the old world by a flood, there were talented men, men who possessed skill and knowledge. But they became corrupt in their imagination, because they left God out of their plans and councils. They were wise to do what God had never told them to do, wise to do evil. The Lord saw that this example would be deleterious to those who should afterwards be born, and He took the matter in hand. For one hundred and twenty years He sent them warnings through His servant Noah. They used the probation so graciously granted them in ridiculing Noah. They caricatured him and criticized him. They laughed at him for his peculiar earnestness and intense feeling in regard to the judgments which he declared God would surely fulfill. They talked of science and of the laws controlling nature. They held a CARNIVAL over the words of Noah, calling him a crazy fanatic.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 454.

This very well describes Adventism today. Did you notice the words imagination and carnival? How clearly this portrays the use of NLP and the Celebration style of worship, “imagination and carnival.” Notice, this course of action was taken in direct response to Noah’s end-time messages.

I want to point out another part of the modern-day apostasy agenda, one that is effective and very dangerous, that you need to be aware of and warned against.

Within the community of Christianity, Satan’s plan of destruction from the inside out is moving rapidly forward. In the many Adventist retreats we see being conducted around the world, there is a plan of indoctrination that is destructive to the pillars of our faith. Just recently as I was speaking at a camp meeting in New Zealand, I learned that I was not the only one from America who had come to that part of the world to preach. The North American Division was and is at work spreading their message as well. The push for women’s retreats is on and it is gaining ground.

Just a week or so before I arrived in New Zealand, Hyveth Williams held a women’s retreat there. One of many still being held around the globe. Here are a few things that this North American Division leader said with authority. Please take note that this woman is the speaker, to the people, sent from the North American Division and the General Conference. You have seen her picture, more than once, in the Review and on its cover. Buckle up, for what you are about to read is quite shocking!

“A lot of people say that 666 means all kinds of things, you know, it means the pope, it means Ellen White, it means Ronald Reagan, anyone’s name that’s letters can number 666, but it means none of those things.

“The number six represents man. Human beings were created on the sixth day. So the number six represents human beings. And when human beings usurp the role of God and take the place of God, we present ourselves as the trinity. So we write our names, like the trinity, three times. So that’s all that is. Simple isn’t it? It’s just saying that a human being is taking the role of God, is taking the place of God.

“So, 666 simply means anyone. I can be 666 if I come here, and try to steal your heart from God. Then I’m Antichrist. I’m against Christ. That’s all it is, it’s as simple as that. So anyone, regardless of which denomination or affiliation, that takes the place of God in the lives of human beings is Antichrist, and has written their names, 666. That’s it.

“The word here for mark [of the beast] comes from a Hebrew word which originally meant ‘snake bite.’ The original word for ‘mark’ originally meant ‘snake bite’ and I’m going to show you where it was first used in the Bible in a minute. But listen to this, the serpent, the dragon, the devil, he caused all, the rich, the small and the great, the rich and poor and the free man and the slave to be bitten, to be given that snake bite. The Bible tells us that we’re all born in sin from [when] Adam and Eve fell, all human beings have been born in sin and shaped in iniquity, because we’ve all been given that snake bite, great and small, rich and poor, it doesn’t matter who you are, we have that snake bite. [What you just read is the doctrine of original sin].

“And when we have that snake bite it pours a venom inside of our bodies that makes us hate God. There has never been anyone born, after Adam and Eve, who were lovers of God. We naturally hate God. It is contradiction to our nature to love God. That is why there is this great act of reconciliation. [This word, “reconciliation,” like “celebration” is another buzz word, and very much a part of the false revival within the ranks of the ecumenical movement.]

“And, and it says that all of them had this mark, and, and they had it in their minds, and it influenced what they did. It influenced what they did to the point where those who, who no longer had the mark because of the gift of Jesus Christ have difficulty living with those who do. It influences the way we do our economics. It says that those who, who have the mark, he provided that no one who, who had, and he, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell except those who have the mark. And when we have the bite of the snake, before the transforming work of Jesus Christ, it influences how we buy and sell. We do things correctly. We don’t mind fudging a little bit. We don’t mind stealing a little bit. We don’t mind lying a little bit. But when that venom is stopped, we cease to do these things. [Transcribed exactly from the original].

“And a lot of people have been teaching that the Sabbath is the seal of God and not even our founder Ellen White said so. [Can you believe this?!]

“Now here’s the gospel. He made us who are sinners, to be so reconciled with God that we become the righteousness of God in Christ. That is awesome to me. That is awesome.

“I once read a statement that said ‘When the will of man cooperates fully with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent.’ Can you believe that?! We’re scared of it, you know.

“I remember one time I preached at a camp meeting, and I preached about the Holy Spirit. And this particular lady, and people were getting on fire, and people were singing with power, and people were praising God with power and people were reading the scriptures with power, and this lady came up to me, when we had a break and she said I want you to stop preaching about the Holy Spirit. She said, I don’t want you to say another thing about the Holy Spirit because I don’t know what He’s going to ask me to do, and I’ve been a quiet, conservative lady all my life.

“See, the Spirit was about to break her chains and she was going to go boogeying [dancing] from one end of the stage to the other. And she was scared of it! Freedom scares us!”

Here is what Hyveth says the sealing of God is: “So then, the sealing of God’s people by the Holy Spirit, is the cross of Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit seals us, He imprints on our place of decision the cross of Jesus Christ. That’s what the sealing of the Holy Spirit is.”

These blatant falsehoods are a startling revelation of two things. First, the agenda we keep warning people about, and second, the ignorance of professed Adventists at large! There is more, but I think the point has been thoroughly demonstrated. There are a few of us who keep making efforts to convince people that the agenda to destroy Adventism from the inside out is very real, and very dangerous. I have two words of counsel which I think what you should know about most, if not all, Conference retreats. STAY AWAY!!! The last deception inside of the Adventist movement is to make of none effect the testimony of Jesus Christ and we have seen, from sources that both shock us and sear our hearts, the truth of this. We must be convinced, for we are seeing the very last demonstrations of God’s mercy to a rebellious people, and our last few minutes of probation are quickly being spent. Soon, very soon, judgment will fall on Modern-day Israel and that program will proceed just exactly as the Lord has predicted.

We are truly living in the fulfillment of Ezekiel 8 and are suffering the agony of the shaking, even within the ranks of professed historic Adventism. We must realize that we must know the truth for ourselves. God still has a few men who will continue to stand. As truth is now being openly attacked, a few men in leadership positions are standing firm on the wall. We need to be earnestly praying and supporting and encouraging the efforts of these people. God is still in charge and HE WILL WIN!! Do not ever let the enemy plant any doubt in you about this. We need to be like Gideon’s army. Not concerned ourselves with numbers, but with the awesome task ahead of us. We have a glorious opportunity. Do not pass it by. This is our last chance to make good on our professed appreciation of what God has done and is doing for us. We have nothing to fear in the future save we forget how He has lead us in the past.

The good news of Adventism is that although we have come to a time where willful ignorance and political correctness rules, we as individuals need not be robbed of our invitation to be real Adventists. In order to do this we must be willing to have several things, which God wants to give us. Here are a few:

  • An honest and willing heart.
  • A humble, teachable, subjective, spirit to God alone, and to our fellow man as long as it does not conflict with God.
  • We must understand that God means exactly what He says.
  • We must understand that He is the Creator and we are the created.
  • We must understand that our salvation depends on Christ.
  • We must stop blaming others for our unnecessary failures and rebellion.
  • We must be willing to trust God and accept the call to eternal life and true Adventism.

If we do not do the above we are not going to fare well in the very near future. Friends, we cannot afford to be the chaff in the parable any longer. If we think riding on the experience of someone who has a true relationship with the Lord will provide us a mansion in heaven, we are deluding ourselves.

We will continue to expose the overwhelming and ongoing apostasy to keep all informed and invited to take the straight and high road, which leads to heaven and immortality.

Please do not be caught telling God that you are the exception to His plan so you do not need to engage in the battle against apostasy. To do so is to sink willfully deeper into self deception; the kind that kills! “Satan is now seeking to hold God’s people in a state of inactivity, to keep them from acting their part in spreading the truth, that they may at last be weighed in the balance and found wanting.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 260.

This battle has been raging for almost 6,000 years. It started in heaven, and it will not end until the redeemed are on their way to heaven. It is called the Great Controversy. I am alarmed at those, even in the historic camp who are fighting against these obvious plans of the Lord. The shaking time is upon us, and all that can be shaken will be shaken. It should cause us to tremble and prostrate ourselves before the Lord, asking Him in mercy to forgive us and give us the eyesalve we so desperately need. The good news of true Adventism is that He will! He longs to, and is more anxious to give us these life saving gifts than is a good earthly father willing to give good gifts to his children. We have but a very short time left, my dear brothers and sisters. Let those who have an ear choose wisely.

 

 

The Shadow of the Stanton Controversy, part 3

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Editor’s note:

In the first article, a brief history of the Stanton Controversy was given: In the early part of 1893 two brethren, one whose last name was Stanton, after attending the General Conference, published a pamphlet called the Loud Cry. In this tract the Seventh-day Adventist Church was denounced as Babylon (the great Spiritual Babylon of Revelation 18). This tract proclaimed the fall of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as Babylon and called upon the people to come out of her. This tract was widely circulated. Ellen White began writing pointed rebuttals against this pamphlet and the two men publishing and circulating it. Our first article gave some of the Ellen White definitions about who and what the church is as found in these “Stanton manuscripts.” The church was defined in these manuscripts as God’s chosen people who are keeping His commandments, especially the fourth commandment and are receiving the Holy Spirit, and who will give the final warning to the world. The church is that group of people breasting the opposition from the world and uplifting God’s down-trodden law. It has the added qualifying definition as those who are laborers together with God. These definitions of the church quoted from Ellen White in the first article are paramount if the rest of the manuscripts now to be discussed are to be understood.

In the second article we began to show, from the Stanton manuscripts, the “big picture” about what was really going on—the nine objectives of the devil to harass and eventually destroy the second advent movement. First, by an attempt to separate the true and faithful from the movement. The second article showed how this very same objective of the devil is being carried out today around the world.

Now, we turn to the even bigger picture, the overall focal point of attention in the Great Controversy, at the present time. This should also be our focal point in these closing days of earth’s history.

When we understand this bigger picture, we will be able to keep the rest of the picture in focus. We will not lose our bearings because there is some hard text of scripture or some statement in the Spirit of Prophecy that we cannot immediately understand. What is the really big picture? Here it is from the Stanton manuscripts: “In place of working with divine agencies to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord, they have taken their stand with him who is an accuser of the brethren, who accuses them before God day and night.” Review and Herald, August 22, 1893. What are God and heaven doing today? “Oh, that you could see that you are doing nothing while all heaven is engaged in intense activities to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God.” The Signs of the Times, February 8, 1892.

Ellen White asked the following question of those teaching the message with Stanton about the Adventist church being Babylon: “Have they gone to those who are chosen of God to bear a living testimony, and given them evidence that this light would better qualify them to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God?” Review and Herald, September 5, 1893.

To understand the really big picture that emerges from the Stanton manuscripts we must understand what is involved in preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. This was the biggest concern expressed by Ellen White in the Stanton manuscripts.

One of the reasons why Ellen White always opposed any manner of time-setting was because of what the Lord showed her in regard to the magnitude of the task of preparing a people for the end. See Appendix #10.

Everything done or taught, every project big or small in the second advent movement, every significant development in the work of God in these last days, revolves around this one worldwide supreme objective. This is the big picture—everything else must fit into this picture. If we are going to pull all lines evenly we must see how everything else fits into the really big picture, for example:

  1. The reason why Adventists developed medical institutions and began to teach health reform was to prepare a people for the great day of God. See Appendix #1.
  2. This is the reason for developing an educational system. See Appendix #2.
  3. This is the reason for developing the restaurant work. See Appendix #3.
  4. This is the reason for preaching the Three Angels’ Messages, righteousness by faith. See Appendix #4.
  5. This is the reason for music in our worship services. See Appendix #5.
  6. This is the reason for all the reforms of belief and life that God has given the second advent movement. See Appendix #6.
  7. This is the reason for the importance of the sanctuary message that was given to us. See Appendix #7.
  8. Preparing a people for the day of God is the reason for everything in Adventism. See Appendix #8.

The big picture is that God is preparing a people for translation. He is bringing these people, whom He is preparing for translation, into the second advent movement. They are not being put to sleep by the new theology, but are learning the historic doctrines that our pioneers taught. Not only are they studying how God has taught us in our past history—the historic Adventist message, but they are also learning how God has led us in the past, and how God led us to New Testament organization. They are returning to the old landmarks both in terms of church organization and theology.

 

The Spiritual Temple Being Built

 

“The living church of God is individually a habitation of God through the Spirit, that man may become a well-built temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, that the Lord Jesus Christ may dwell in his innermost being, ennobling and sanctifying his human nature by His divine attributes.” In Heavenly Places, 283.

This is the reason for the shaking we are presently going through—all defective members must either correct their defects of character or the angels will remove them from the spiritual building. If you are in earnest, God will perfect a spiritual experiment on you that will bring you to character perfection. (This is a major subject of the Stanton manuscripts.) See Appendix #9.

“One stone mislaid affects the whole building. This figure represents human character, which is to be wrought upon, point by point. There is not to be a flaw in it, for it is the Lord’s building. Every stone must be perfectly laid, that it may endure the pressure placed upon it.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 340.

“ ‘Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.’ [1 Corinthians 3:9.] This figure represents human character, which is to be wrought upon, point by point. Each day God works with His building, stroke upon stroke, to perfect the structure, that it may become a holy temple for Him. Man is to co-operate with God. Each worker is to become just what God designs him to be, building his life with pure, noble deeds, that in the end his character may be a symmetrical structure, a fair temple, honored by God and man. There is to be no flaw in the building, for it is the Lord’s. Every stone must be perfectly laid, that it may endure the pressure placed upon it. One stone laid wrong will affect the whole building.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 173.

This is the temple that the Lord, “through His human agents, has been building up.” The devil is “full of anger because he cannot bind the people of God,” God’s “saints,” “the loyal people of God.” They are “the chosen ones whom he [the devil] cannot deceive.” They are not perfect yet. “The church of Christ on earth will be imperfect, but God does not destroy his church because of its imperfection.” They have turned “from disloyalty to God . . . and come back to their allegiance, standing to vindicate the holy law of God . . . a people in which all heaven is interested, and they are the one object on earth dear to the heart of God.” Through these people “will be made manifest the final and full display of the love of God to the world that is to be lightened with its glory. The prayer of Christ that his church may be one as he was one with his Father, will finally be answered. The rich dowry of the Holy Spirit will be given, and through its constant supply to the people of God, they will become witnesses in the world of the power of God unto salvation.” Some of the most wonderful promises in the Spirit of Prophecy are made to this group of people: “Jesus sees his true church on the earth, whose greatest ambition is to co-operate with Him in the grand work of saving souls. He hears their prayers, presented in contrition and power, and Omnipotence cannot resist their plea for the salvation of any tried, tempted member of Christ’s body.” (Quotations from the Stanton manuscripts: Review and Herald, July 22, 1893; August 29, 1893; September 5, 1893; October 17, 1893.)

This group of people will not apostatize when the National Sunday Law comes: “Will God’s commandment-keeping people be carried away with the prevailing iniquity? Will they be tempted, because universal scorn is placed upon the law of God, to think less of that law which is the foundation of his government both in heaven and in earth?—No. To his church his law becomes more precious, holy, honorable, as men cast upon it scorn and contempt.” Review and Herald, October 17, 1893.

This group of people receive the reproof, rebuke and chastening of God: “He reproves, he rebukes, he chastens; but it is only that he may restore and approve at last.” Review and Herald, October 17, 1893.

 

Hindering God’s Work

 

Those who try to cut off these true and faithful commandment-keepers from the second advent movement are doing a similar work to Stanton who received some of the most severe rebukes given in the Spirit of Prophecy. To attempt to cut off a true commandment-keeper from the second advent movement, is according to the Stanton manuscripts, “error,” “greatly deceived,” “is not bearing the message of truth. Receive him not, nor bid him God-speed; for God has not spoken by him,” “they will deceive the people.” “The Lord forbids us to proceed in any violent way against those whom we think erring, and we are not to deal out excommunications and denunciations to those who are faulty.”

Would to God that all who profess to be Seventh-day Adventists would heed this counsel from the Stanton manuscripts. It would bring a halt to the suing, the burning of churches, the stoning, the beatings of one professed Adventist by another, or by structure church officials. If it were carefully heeded, it would bring all Adventists to a position of greater humility and heartsearching than we have ever seen. Instead of having a judgmental attitude, if we would heed God’s counsel, it would force us to completely cease from all politicking, from all cover-up of sin or worldly policy.

The following experience, that the Adventist church structure had in 1893, as reported by the Stanton manuscripts, would be seen again. “Testimonies had been given correcting and counseling the church and many had made a practical application of the message to the Laodicean Church, and were confessing their sins and repenting in contrition of soul. They were hearing the voice of Jesus, the heavenly Merchantman, ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.’ Review and Herald, November 8, 1956. (From Manuscript 21, 1893.)

This is the experience that every Adventist must have before the end, otherwise, the angels will separate us (as tares) from the true and faithful, not necessarily from the structure. We may call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists but that will not make any difference: “Shall Seventh-day Adventists walk in the same path as did the Jewish nation? . . . The true commandment-keeping people of God show to the world a character of unspotted integrity, testifying by their own course of action that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Thus the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, through His obedience to the law of God, exalted and made that law honorable. God will surely condemn every member of every church claiming to be a Seventh-day Adventist, who is not doing Him service, but through pride, selfishness, and worldliness, is showing that the truth of heavenly origin has not worked a reformation in his character . . .

“Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? Will they repent, or will they, notwithstanding that the most solemn message of truth—the Third Angel’s Message—is being proclaimed to the world, go on in sin? This is the last message of mercy, the last warning to a fallen world. If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments.

“ ‘He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him’ [1 John 2:4]. This includes all who claim to have a knowledge of God, and to keep His commandments, but who do not manifest this by good works. They will receive according to their deeds. ‘Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him’ [1 John 3:6]. This is addressed to all church members, including the members of the Seventh-day Adventist churches. ‘Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother’ [1 John 3:7–10].

“All who claim to be Sabbath-keeping Adventists, and yet continue in sin, are liars in God’s sight. Their sinful course is counterworking the work of God. They are leading others into sin. The word comes from God to every member of our churches. [Hebrews 12:13–17 quoted.]

“This is applicable to many who claim to believe the truth. Rather than give up their lustful practices, they venture on in a wrong line of education under Satan’s deceiving sophistry. Sin is not discerned as sinful. Their very consciences are defiled, their hearts are corrupted, even the thoughts are continually corrupt. Satan uses them as decoys to lure souls to unclean practices which defile the whole being.” [Hebrews 10:28–31 quoted]. Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 172–178.

Notice in the above statement, not everybody who claims to be a Seventh-day Adventist is acknowledged as such by God. As always, there is a difference between the professed church and the true church, “God is honored, not so much by the great number, as by the character of those who serve Him. He appreciates moral worth. He draws the dividing line between those who bear His name by profession, and those whose character shows them to be His children.” The Signs of the Times, June 30, 1881.

There are some intelligent and apparently very sincere people who cannot see the big picture that we have been looking at in these Stanton articles. They believe that these Stanton manuscripts are their strongest argument to prove that the structure of Adventism is the church and that it will for sure go through to glory. Of course one might wonder what such people think about the book of Romans, but truth can always afford to be fair and candid and look at every side of an issue. We have already seen in the first article how Ellen White defines who and what the church is in the Stanton articles, but we hope to look directly at these arguments or objections.

Is there any danger that former historic Adventists could overlook the serious warnings in the Stanton articles to the Seventh-day Adventist church, and souls be lost because of it, while they thought they had proved the historic Adventist position wrong (from the Stanton articles) and had salved the conscience of multitudes? Will the following prophecy actually be fulfilled among historic Adventists who decided to go back into fellowship with apostasy? “They mingled with the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a fearful assimilation. Men choose to stand with the first rebel, who tempted Adam and Eve in Eden to disobey God. The tares multiply themselves, for they sow tares, and they have their part with the root of all sin—the devil.” Testimonies to Ministers, 235.

In the past when the protest of the true and faithful could not keep open sin out of the church, then, “They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.

“Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people.” The Great Controversy, 45, 46.

 

Appendix:

 

  1. “The gospel minister should preach the health principles for these have been given of God as among the means needed to prepare a people perfect in character. Therefore, health principles have been given to us that as a people we might be prepared in both mind and body to receive the fullness of God’s blessing. The medical missionary work has its place and part in this closing gospel work. Call to Medical Evangelism and Health Education, 43.

It is for this reason that the historic remnant have had to oppose the new teachings that have come in, which disagree with the health message and teaching, that health reform is not related to a person’s salvation. We still believe that it is heresy to teach that after the cross, eating unclean foods and drinking alcoholic drinks is all right. We still believe that any practice is wrong that harms, weakens or injures the body and is expressly prohibited in the Word of God. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.)

  1. Adventist education was “to educate in spiritual things, to prepare a people to stand in the trying crisis before us; but there has been a departure from God’s plan.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 221. “The whole line of study in our schools should be to prepare a people for the future, immortal life.” Ibid., 383. When the educational program at Battle Creek did not fit the overall objective Ellen White could not advise parents to send their children there anymore. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 21.)
  2. “The restaurant work should be made a means in the purpose of God to prepare a people to stand in the day of judgment.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 402.
  3. The focal point of Adventist preaching is the Three Angels’ Messages because this is the message that will prepare a people for the end. Ellen White states too many times to cite that the Three Angels’ Messages are to prepare a people for the end. A few references are, “These men . . . have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. These messages, received and acted upon, are doing their work to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God. If we search the Scriptures to confirm the truth God has given His servants for the world, we shall be found proclaiming the first, second, and third angels’ messages.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 111. “To you, as God’s servants, has been entrusted the Third Angel’s Message, the binding-off message, that is to prepare a people for the coming of our King.” Review and Herald, November 25, 1909. “The message of the third Angel is to prepare a people to stand in these days of peril. It is to be proclaimed with a loud voice and is to accomplish a work which few realize.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 94. “We need to wake up. The third angel’s message is to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord.” Australian Union Recorder, July 28, 1899.

This is the big reason that historic Adventists have had to start home churches. The churches they were going to were not preaching the Three Angel’s Messages anymore (in name perhaps, but not in reality). Their families were not being prepared for the end of all things and to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. James White wrote, “I know you must be rooted, and built up in present truth, or you will not be able to stand ‘in the battle in the day of the Lord’ (Eze. 13:5).” ref??

  1. “The song of praise, the words spoken by Christ’s ministers, are God’s appointed agencies to prepare a people for the church above, for that loftier worship into which there can enter nothing that is impure, unholy.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 8, 1896.
  2. “To prepare a people to stand in the day of God, a great work of reform was to be accomplished.” The Great Controversy, 311. “When their education there [at Loma Linda] is completed, they should be able to go forth and join the intelligent workers in the world’s great harvest fields who are carrying forward the work of reform that is to prepare a people to stand in the day of Christ’s coming.” Loma Linda Messages, 581.
  3. “All need to become more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the sanctuary above. When this grand truth is seen and understood, those who hold it will work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God, and their efforts will be successful. By study, contemplation, and prayer God’s people will be elevated above common, earthly thoughts and feelings, and will be brought into harmony with Christ and His great work of cleansing the sanctuary above from the sins of the people. Their faith will go with Him into the sanctuary, and the worshipers on earth will be carefully reviewing their lives and comparing their characters with the great standard of righteousness. They will see their own defects; they will also see that they must have the aid of the Spirit of God if they would become qualified for the great and solemn work for this time which is laid upon God’s ambassadors.” Testimonies vol. 5, 575. For this reason the historic remnant, for duty sake and conscience sake, had to raise a protest when the sanctuary message was and is opposed by many. The sanctuary message that God gave to us corroborates the New Testament teaching that we must overcome sin and perfect a character if we are to have eternal life. This is why it is opposed by those who want to preach a different gospel in Adventism.
  4. “I wish to speak about the relation existing between the medical missionary work and the gospel ministry. It has been presented to me that every department of the work is to be united in one great whole. The work of God is to prepare a people to stand before the Son of man at His coming, and this work should be a unit. The work that is to fit a people to stand firm in the last great day must not be a divided work.” Medical Ministry, 237.
  5. “Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world, that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows his supreme regard. The world is a workshop in which, through the co-operation of human and divine agencies, Jesus is making experiments by his grace and divine mercy upon human hearts. Angels are amazed as they behold the transformation of character brought about in those who yield themselves to God, and they express their joy in songs of rapturous praise to God and to the Lamb. They see those who are by nature the children of wrath, converted, and becoming laborers together with Christ in drawing souls to God. They see those who were in darkness becoming lights to shine amid the moral night of this crooked and perverse generation. They see them becoming prepared by a Christ-like experience to suffer with their Lord, and afterward to be partakers with Him in His glory in heaven above.” Review and Herald, September 5, 1893.
  6. “I there stated in public that the Lord had been pleased to show me that there would be no definite time in the message given of God since 1844; and that I knew that this message, which four or five were engaged in advocating with great zeal, was heresy. The visions of this poor child were not of God. This light came not from heaven. Time was short; but the end was not yet. A great work was to be accomplished to prepare a people to be sealed with the seal of the living God.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 73. [All emphasis supplied.] This was one of the problems Ellen White warned against in the Stanton manuscripts: “Let all our brethren and sisters beware of any one who would set a time for the Lord to fulfill his word in regard to his coming, or in regard to any other promise he has made of special significance. ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.’ False teachers may appear to be very zealous for the work of God, and may expend means to bring their theories before the world and the church; but as they mingle error with truth, their message is one of deception, and will lead souls into false paths. They are to be met, and opposed, not because they are bad men, but because they are teachers of falsehood, and are endeavoring to put upon falsehood the stamp of truth.” Review and Herald, September 12, 1893.

 

Ye Would Not

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The cry of the human heart is for love and acceptance. There is an irrepressible longing to belong, to have a true friend who sympathizes with us. Nothing else can satisfy the heart. Many have tried to fill this longing with popularity, wealth, education or position. But none of these have ever filled the most basic longing of the human heart—the longing to be loved and comforted, to be needed and respected. Billions have turned to the religions of this world to satisfy the great need of their hearts. But to most, this deep longing has never been satisfied. Bewildered and deceived, they move “on in a gloomy procession toward eternal ruin—to death in which there is no hope of life, toward night to which comes no morning.” The Desire of Ages, 36.

Christians have been promised that their need of joy and love, comfort and satisfaction would be met. God Himself has promised to ravish the heart of men with love and satisfy the longings of the heart. But even here, few have realized the reality of God’s promises. In this article we will look at why such wonderful promises are enjoyed by only a few, why only such a small number realize complete fulfillment.

 

Promises

 

“Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. “Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27. “These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” John 17:13.

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is found in this verse: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18. No one can find love if he is alone. That is why Jesus promised to “come to you.” The realization of love and being loved takes more than one person. That is why our great longing for love can only be fulfilled by having a companion.

We should be amazed that the One who is the Creator of love came to this loveless world and that coming here was the only way to bring us love and joy! The One who basked in the sunlight of His Father’s presence and received the love and admiration of all the angels came here to be despised. The One who was surrounded with admiring friends came to this cold and friendless world. Why did His come? He came to bring love to the unloved, joy to the sorrowing, health to the sick and peace to the restless and troubled heart. Oh, the wonder of His love! He came to understand what it means to be alone and friendless, so He could bring us friendship. He came to save us from hatred and loneliness and sin. The price of this salvation was infinitely expensive. We will never understand the cost until we see Christ in His glory and then realize that He left all that is lovely to come here and die for us.

 

To His Own

 

When Jesus came, He was treated as though He came to His enemies. No one, who was looking on, would have guessed He had come to His friends. His friends treated Him like an enemy. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:11. How could it be? Those who were “His own” did not receive Him. Jesus was the central figure in the economy of the Jewish nation. He was the fulfillment of every sacrifice and ceremony of the Jewish sanctuary. But when He appeared, they refused to recognize Him—to surrender their ways to His way.

It was He—the unrecognized One, who made these marvelous promises that will satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. He gave unsurpassed promises like this one: “If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision. Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend. If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 173. [All emphasis supplied.]

There it is, spelled out clearly. “Whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend.” That promise meets the need of the human heart. Every person longs for a sympathizing Friend. But the promise is given on this condition: “IF we surrender our lives to His service.”

When we realizes the possibility of unsurpassed love and friendship, of acceptance and understanding, we naturally want it. We are quick to want our hearts to be satisfied. The cry of the soul is: “Just give me this love, I want it.” That is what the woman at the well said, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not.” John 4:15.

Christ is quick to answer the request of such a one. He who put the desire for love in our hearts is waiting to satisfy our needs. “To every soul, however sinful, Jesus says, If thou hadst asked to Me, I would have given thee the living water.” The Desire of Ages, 194.

Right here, at this very point, is where a great struggle starts. Christ gladly claims us as His child and He loves to satisfy our longing heart. He came to this world to save just such ones, but, as the woman at the well, He has some things to show us. He wants to reveal Himself to us, but to receive of the water of life, we must give ourselves to Him—“surrender our lives to His service.” Surrender our sin, surrender our pride of opinion, surrender everything to Him—He (and us) will be satisfied with nothing less. So Jesus asked the woman at the well, about her husband and He hit the sore point. This is the point where many walk away from Christ and consequently, never receive the desired blessing. They want all the blessings of Christ’s presence, but they do not want to surrender their own way. They do not want their sin pointed out. They thereby refuse the gift of life.

Just as Jesus blessed the woman at the well, He longed to bless everyone—but the Jews refused to surrender themselves to Him so He could heal their infirmities. They wanted to receive love and admiration, but they did not want their own unloveliness pointed out, so it could be healed. They wanted to be loved and respected, but they did not love and respect others. “Instead of returning His love with gratitude, they thrust Christ from them.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 11. They rejected His love which is the only thing that would give them true happiness. They resisted Him, the giver of every good and perfect gift. Christ weeps for those who refuse His love. He knows the bitterness of loneliness and He longs to deliver us from it. “The tears of Christ as he wept over Jerusalem were for the sins of all time. The Jewish nation was a symbol of the people of all ages who scorn the pleadings of Infinite love. Those who profess to be the representatives of Christ upon earth, yet whose lives are a continual denial of Him, may read their own condemnation in Christ’s denunciation of the self-righteous Jews.” Ibid., 9.

 

Bold Professions

 

All the while the Jews were rejecting Jesus, they kept up a wonderful form of religion. “The Jewish nation were outwardly religious, priding themselves upon their sacred temple, the pomp of priests and the imposing ceremonies of the morning and evening services, gorgeous synagogues and sacrificial offerings.” Ibid., 19. So today, we can send out beautiful papers, hold magnificent meetings and have exciting worship services, but are we following the Lord’s instructions in the Spirit of Prophecy? Are we holding up the law of God? Are we becoming more like Him and less like the world? In spite of our religious activities, it appears that we are departing from God just like the Jews did. Unfortunately, this description of them fits us: “The Jewish religion with its magnificent display of temple, sacred altars, sacrificial pomp, mitred priests and impressive ceremonies, was but a superficial covering under which pride, oppression and iniquity held sway.” Ibid., 18.

The forms of religion will never keep us from destruction. A profession of Christ does not satisfy the wants of the soul. Our only remedy is to accept the One who, so often, does not come as we expect. He did not come the way the Jews thought He should—the way they taught from the scriptures that He “had” to come. He did not come to pamper their pride and convenience. So He was unrecognized and rejected. Jesus coming in an unexpected way reminds me of a story that I heard once.

There was a couple who so much wanted a son. One day a baby boy was born into their home. How happy he made his new mother and father. They lavished every gift that money could buy on their son. He grew to be strong and healthy. One sad day he was called away to war. He faithfully wrote his parents, and how they looked forward to his letters.

One day all letters stopped. Months went by with no word from their son and the sad parents supposed he was dead. Then, unexpectedly, they received a letter from the army that their son was discharged and would soon be home. Not long after, they received a phone call from their son. It was so good to hear his voice. He told them he would soon be home, but first he had one request. He wanted to bring a friend home with him. He said his friend had no home but his. His friend had been terribly injured in the war. He was maimed, a leg had been shot and had to be removed. His friend had half of his face badly burned. He explained to his parents that he would do all of the work of taking care of his friend, they only needed to agree to let him come. “I’ll call you back tomorrow,” the son said. “That will give you time to think about it.”

His parents thought about their sons proposal. They could not wait to have their son home—but an invalid? That would be an inconvenience. Certainly, there is someplace else their son’s friend could go, they reasoned. No, they did not want him to come. So they told him of their decision. “OK,” He said, “I wouldn’t want to bother you or be an inconvenience.”

In a week they received a letter from the armed services announcing the unexpected death of their son. He was actually the one who was maimed and burned. It was he, not another, who needed their love and attention. But he was unrecognized and unwanted.

We want Jesus to come and make us great and popular, to give us wealth and fame. We do not want Him to disturb our convenience and comfort. We seldom expect Him the way He comes—despised and rejected of men. Consequently, again today, He is unrecognized and unnoticed. He will not come where He is not wanted. Many, in thinking about their own happiness, end up rejecting Jesus. But when everything is said and done, just as this couple, all they find is grief. This couple thought they were doing the thing that would bring them the most happiness. They thought they did not want to be inconvenienced. But their selfishness brought them unexplainable grief and despair. That is the was sin is. It is very deceitful. It looks like the way to happiness, but it is the way to loneliness and despair. The way to happiness is in forgetting about our own comfort and thinking about others. How differently things would have been for this couple, if they would have forgot about their own convenience and helped someone else.

Jesus forgot about His own comfort to save us. If we are ever to be happy we must be that way too. Sin has fooled us into believing that the way of happiness is found in thinking of our self, our church, our image, our money—anything for self. Oh, the deceitfulness of the mystery of iniquity is terribly cruel and unexplainable! Even though Jesus did everything to save the Jews from grief and destruction, He could not, because they refused to put self aside and receive His love. They wanted their own way. They disregarded and disobeyed His counsel and by that they refused to be loved. Eventually, they rejected love itself. “The sin of Jerusalem was in the rejection of her then present mercies and warnings. As a tender father pities a loved but erring and rebellious son, so had Jesus compassion upon Jerusalem.” Ibid., 10.

Are we committing the same sin as the Jews did? The Lord in His great mercy has sent the message of revival and reformation, of mercy and warning, to the Seventh-day Adventist church. Has the message or the messengers been accepted? Has there been any change towards following God’s counsel in the Spirit of Prophecy? No! Instead, we want our own way. There has been a continual advancement towards the world. There has been a growing and open rebellion towards the Spirit of Prophecy. There has been a hatred for God’s messengers. The reality of the situation is grim, because, the church can no more reject the message today and be saved from destruction, then the Jews could safely reject Jesus. God does not want destruction to come to us, but we are refusing to come to Him so we could receive life. We are rejecting the messengers that God has sent. If we come to hate those who are giving the warning message, we will eventually be destroyed. What a terrible cup of iniquity we are filling up!

It is no wonder that the messengers are hated today! It has always been that way. “The prophets of God did not find favor with apostate Israel because through them their hidden sins were brought to light. Ahab regarded Elijah as his enemy, because the prophet was faithful to unfold the monarch’s secret iniquities. So, today, the servant of Christ, the reprover of sin, meets with scorn and rebuffs. Bible truth, the religion of Christ, struggles against a strong current of moral impurity.” Ibid., 12.

The warning is being given, pleading for God’s people to return to the old paths—to follow the Spirit of Prophecy. This warning is being continually rejected and scorned. Time is marching on. Someday the last warning will be given, the last call of mercy will be heard. “This is our day of mercies and privileges. In every age of the world there is given to men their day of light and privileges, a probationary time in which they may become reconciled with God. But there is a limit to this grace. Mercy may plead for years and be rejected and slighted; but there comes a time when mercy makes her last plea. The sweet, winning voice entreats the sinner no longer, and reproofs and warnings cease.” Ibid., 11. When will that time come? Oh, reader, we must respond to His mercy while Christ still pleads io our behalf, in the heavenly sanctuary.

If we will turn to Him with a full surrender, He will accept us. His love can never be explained or understood, it can only be experienced! It will be extended to the most unworthy, to the worst sinner. Before it is too late we must come to Him. We must put aside the bigotry against the message of reproof. God sends a warning message in love to the sinner. “If the Jewish people would have thrown off their bigotry and blind unbelief long enough to have looked into the depths of the loving, compassionate heart of Jesus, they could never have crucified the Lord of glory. But they were perverse and self-righteous.” Ibid., 14.

 

How Can I Give Thee Up?

 

Eventually, the sad day came when Jesus said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37. Ye would not be loved. Ye would not be healed. Ye would not be saved. I would have healed you, I would have loved you, but you refused. Ye would not be gathered together.

Oh to be gathered together! To be one with God and with each other! This fulfills the great longing of the heart. But the Jews refused. Have not we refused? To have this love, that we so much want, the love must go two ways. For God to claim us as His children alone is not the finished product of love. Love must not only be received, it must be given! Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. Obedience is the fruit of love. We must not only be His child, but He must be our God, the Lord and Master of our lives, or love will never be fulfilled. That is the essential part of the new covenant relationship. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” Hebrews 8:10. In other words, I will be yours and you will be mine. We must be gathered together. That is God’s description of true love, true companionship and happiness. Notice, the new covenant is a two-way contract. But if we refuse our part of the agreement, the contract has been broken!

The problem has never been that God leaves us, but rather that we leave Him. “Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died. We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.” Prophets and Kings, 175. If there is a separation, it is because we have left Him and gone towards the world. We show that we have left Him be refusing to obey His counsel. We are not surrendered to Him if we disregard His messengers. When we set aside the Spirit of Prophecy we do not love Jesus. Many today have in reality rejected Christ by ignoring His counsel. We reject Christ when we do despite to God’s law and tell people they cannot overcome sin. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6.

 

Who is Their Father?

 

The subject of those who reject Him, brings up a question. Are they His people? Can those who join the world still be the sons of God? (Of course anyone can claim anything.) What about those people in Jesus’ day who rejected Him? Were they “His own”? Did they receive these promises of love and joy? They definitely did not receive the fulfillment of these promises because they crucified Jesus. Persecuting others could never bring love and joy! But were they His? Did He claim them as His children? No He did not! He plainly said who their father was. He said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” John 8:44, 45.

When one is told the truth, and does not believe it, but believes a lie instead, he is in a deadly relationship with evil. When the sins of worldliness and pride are pointed out to a sleepy church—and the messenger is hated and defamed—who is the father (originator) of that? When the dangers of the “new theology” (that one does not need to overcome sin now) are pointed out, and the messengers are fired—who is the originator of that? When people mock at health reform, education reform and dress reform, who is the father of that kind of spirit? Is the Lord at the head of such things? People say, “The Lord is still at the helm.” What does that mean? Is He the One responsible for the total disregard of the counsels given in the Testimonies to the Church? Was it the Lord’s idea to bring NLP into the church? Is He at the helm of that atrocity? Was He at the helm when Jesus was crucified? When all truth and justice and fairness were laid aside at Jesus’ trial—who was at the helm? Was God the originator of Jesus (God’s) death?

When will Jesus say again as he did before: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:37, 38. Until it is too late, we can never understand the horribleness of that desolation—total aloneness. It is mysterious that the human soul that was created for love and companionship would choose instead desolation and loneliness.

Love has always been a two way street. (The direction of the street for humans to walk on is obedience to God.) We need never worry that Jesus may not love us. He proved that He loved us on Calvary. Now He says to us: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. If we do not love Him, the covenant is broken. Without that love we would be miserable in heaven, because heaven is a place of love. The most loving thing to do would be to end our misery. But that is not what God wants!! He wants to save everyone! He wants us to turn from our backsliding so that He may give us peace and joy and life. Reader, please do not let Jesus go through the agony of being separated from you.

“It was the sight of Jerusalem that pierced the heart of Jesus—Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of God and scorned His love, that refused to be convinced by His mighty miracles, and was about to take His life. He saw what she was in her guilt of rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might have been had she accepted Him who alone could heal her wound. He had come to save her; how could He give her up?

“Israel had been a favored people; God had made their temple His habitation; it was ‘beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.’ Ps. 48:2. The record of more than a thousand years of Christ’s guardian care and tender love, such as a father bears his only child, was there. In that temple the prophets had uttered their solemn warnings. There had the burning censers waved, while incense, mingled with the prayers of the worshipers, had ascended to God. There the blood of beasts had flowed, typical of the blood of Christ. There Jehovah had manifested His glory above the mercy seat. There the priests had officiated, and the pomp of symbol and ceremony had gone on for ages. But all this must have an end.

“Jesus raised His hand,—that had so often blessed the sick and suffering,—and waving it toward the doomed city, in broken utterances of grief exclaimed: ‘If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! . . . Jerusalem had been the child of His care, and as a tender father mourns over a wayward son, so Jesus wept over the beloved city. How can I give thee up? How can I see thee devoted to destruction? Must I let thee go to fill up the cup of thine iniquity? One soul is of such value that, in comparison with it, worlds sink into insignificance; but here was a whole nation to be lost . . . Christ’s great heart of love still pleaded for Jerusalem, that had scorned His mercies, despised His warnings, and was about to imbrue her hands in His blood. If Jerusalem would but repent, it was not yet too late. While the last rays of the setting sun were lingering on temple, tower, and pinnacle, would not some good angel lead her to the Saviour’s love, and avert her doom? Beautiful and unholy city, that had stoned the prophets, that had rejected the Son of God, that was locking herself by her impenitence in fetters of bondage,—her day of mercy was almost spent!” The Desire of Ages, 576–578.

Yes, our day of mercy is almost spent, too. Should we not turn with great earnestness to love and obey God? Or have we forgotten the things that belong to our peace? If we followed every one of His directions, how blessed we would be. How happy God would be. But instead it looks as if God’s professed people would like to destroy the messengers He has sent. Already one has been beaten by a conference pastor and local elders. More persecution is sure to follow. It may be now as in Jesus’ day, that those who are willing to follow Jesus will be very few! But how our hearts weep for the multitudes that have refused to come to Him and receive life! “But in blind prejudice they refused the mercies offered them by Jesus. His love was lavished upon them in vain, and they regarded not His wondrous works. Sorrow fled at His approach; infirmity and deformity were healed; injustice and oppression shrunk ashamed from His rebuke; while death and the grave humbled themselves in His presence and obeyed His commands. Yet the people of His choice rejected him and his mighty miracles with scorn. The Majesty of Heaven came unto His own, and His own received him not.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 19.

The great need of many hearts are not being met because of a refusal to love and obey God. God has enough love and mercy to satisfy every heart, but by our disobedience we have rejected His love. There are many discontented and lonely people because a full surrender of the heart has not been made to Jesus. Not only individuals, but whole churches (just as the Jews) are seeking for happiness at the broken cisterns of this world. Christ’s great heart of love is calling for you! “How often would I have gathered thy children together . . . and ye would not.”

 

Apostasy, Why It Must Be Exposed

by

Just to sit and contemplate what has happened in the last several years and what tomorrow will surely bring is enough to make one mentally exhausted. We will be sorely tempted to just throw our “helpless” hands in the air and give up. In fact this is exactly what the majority are being programmed to do and what they will do. In reality our very continued existence depends on how we deal with the issue of apostasy both in our calling to Adventism and the question of eternal life or death. As we understand this we will better appreciate what Jesus meant when He had John write, “Here is the patience of the saints,” in Revelation 14:12, and why He had this verse placed at the end of the Three Angels’ Messages.

Over the last several years I have heard it all—all the reasons why we should not even talk about the apostasy that has become thick. Even more I have heard why it is “sin” to expose it, especially if it is in high places, although the Bible plainly tells us that we must. I have heard statements made, as have all those who are standing firm, such as “Jesus never offended anyone.” This not only demonstrates the point, but exposes the success of the very apostasy that most are unwilling to deal with on any level. The majority which claim to be Adventists are actually and factually defending apostasy, knowingly or unknowingly, both in word and action. It is difficult to put into words the mental anguish this causes the few leaders who are trying to stay the poisonous tide of confusion and apostasy as wave after wave continues to break upon the house which has been built on the Rock. Many times the passion and pity displayed in the messages of warning, by these messengers, are labeled hate and anger. The deception perpetrated on them is so deep that many do not realize that there is appropriate as well as inappropriate types.

The good and everlasting news about Adventism and the house built on the Rock is that it may appear as about to fall, but it does not!! In these few words lies the key, the secret, the hidden treasure which promotes health, happiness, peace and salvation, in the context of exposing apostasy. And although God knows that the overwhelming majority (yes, even in the Adventist community) will be lost, He has set these truths forth for the few who seek and shall find them.

These truths invite and warn us that we must understand our calling to Adventist Christianity in the total sense, and we must be willing to accept it in its total sense, or be lost. We must realize that what we are facing in the experience of Adventism, as it pertains to apostasy, is perhaps shocking to our generation, but certainly nothing new. In fact, what is happening, in and to this movement, is a continuation of a six thousand year history.

My brothers and sisters, we have the golden opportunity to witness the victory that all the Bible writers spoke of for the last generation in these final hours. Whether we realize it or not, we are writing history as it pertains to the eternal record both individually and collectively. Those who make a profession of Adventism, who will be saved in the end, will come to the realization and understanding of the necessity of dealing with the apostasy. They will end up being most appreciative that Jesus and all heaven have untiringly worked to bring us the “eyesalve,” or spiritual discernment, we must have in this final great struggle, in the controversy between Christ and Satan.

As our understanding is sanctified by our Lord, the mighty Captain of the Lord’s host, we will become aware that this study and the reality it portrays is both horrible and fascinating. Dear friends, we will also realize what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist, the price paid, and the extreme privilege given to us who have been called, which none deserve or merit. We must understand by that experimental knowledge that builds the faith of Jesus. We must understand and experience the hymns, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross,” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” and “Soldiers of Christ Arise,” not just sing them. This must become who we are, and not just a fanciful wish or hope, but a Christ empowered reality. We do not “do” Adventism, Adventism is something we become, it is who we are.

 

Motives

 

The motive for dealing with apostasy, in the way that Christ did, and with the same intent, is the love of souls and the hatred of sin. The passion generated both in Christ and in His followers does not come from a hatred of people, but rather a proper understanding of, and hatred for, what sin did to our Lord and His creation, the human race.

In dealing with the subject of apostasy and the principles surrounding it, we are obliged to be straightforward and accurate. But also, rightly understood, the same unwavering principles dictate that our motive must be one of salvation, not destruction. Here is where many are deceived from two different points of view. One group believes that we can hate the enemy along with the apostasy he is promoting. This is totally false, but the dilemma lies in the fact that we can only come to understand this in practical terms as we give ourselves over to the One who loves us even when we are wicked. It is very natural to hate the enemy. Why? Because he does not agree with us and is working to undermine what we believe and who we are. But one who is caught in this trap, although perhaps in “the work of the Lord,” is in reality in the business of using the Word of God to further his own cause. This has and will continue to prove to be fatal. Clean water poured into a dirty glass pollutes the water, it does not clean the glass. Right words out of a hateful heart will bring undesirable results and will not save the unclean vessel.

The other conclusion is just as deadly, both to the one who is infected and to those who are influenced wrongly by the polluted witness which follows. This comes from one who wrongly believes that because we are to love the sinner, then we are obligated to accept and tolerate (in the spiritual sense) open sin and apostasy in the church, and we are “sinning” if we expose this wrongdoing. Herein lies one of the biggest problems of Christianity in general, and certainly the plight of current Adventism. Our people are so immersed in the deception of this satanic mind set that much of their energy is used to defend wickedness and our “right” to do as we please instead of witnessing for God’s honor and defending His pure law and character.

To add to this, we have been set up to fail on all fronts since birth, through an agenda which is almost universally demonstrated in those who hold the power in the structure—the recognized organization of Adventism. This agenda surfaced in the mid-fifties, and I believe, for the last time, is coming into full bloom, not only in the Adventist movement, as we will discuss later. It will bring the whole world into the reality of what was once prophecy, now fact, found especially in the books of Daniel and Revelation and in the Spirit of Prophecy. These are the reasons we see a unified open war on God’s Word and the writings of Ellen G. White within the organized structure of Adventism today.

 

Sick of Hearing About Apostasy

 

With all of this in mind, with much more to come, we humbly, but seriously and most sincerely invite all who will, to take a hard, critical look, based on a thus saith the Lord, with much prayer and the spirit of a true student of God, and to join us in this study, of why we must deal with and expose apostasy until the job is finished and the battle over.

Frankly, it does not matter that “we are sick of hearing about apostasy.” We neither write the rules of the warfare nor does it matter how we feel, but it is eternally important to understand that the value lies in what God says and how He directs. May we be compelled through our love for Jesus, the love of His truth, and the sanctification this brings, to stand properly in our lot as Seventh-day Adventists.

We plan not only to retrace our past to establish a foundation and platform for why exposing apostasy is vital, but we hope, along the way to keep demonstrating with clear evidence that the agenda to tear every waymark of true Adventism down is fully alive and at work in the ranks of the leadership within the structure.

We will also make the bold assertion, define, and prove it, that the power of the structure has been captured by these leaders who are promoting and pressing their agenda of apostasy. Included will be some of the reasons why these leaders are not really Adventists at all, and how this complicates the warfare from the perspective of the true Adventist.

In doing this delicate but bold work the writer is aware of what many will say. This very work is what caused the death of Christ, and virtually all those who stood firm, that we would know by name, either in the Biblical account, or the historical time of the dark ages. But this is to a large degree why we must investigate it! For if Jesus and His followers thought it worthy of dying for, and if the rejection of this aspect of the work (exposing the apostasy among the professed people of God) drove the majority to become their murderers, then we must know why and be in the right relationship with the facts, no matter how it makes us feel.

May the Holy Spirit attend every article with love, clarity, boldness and balance; and every reader with honesty, discernment, a love for the truth, and the mind of Christ, is our prayer.

 

Letter from Secretariat, General Conference of Seventh day Adventists

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Dear Brother and Sister:

Elder Folkenberg asked me to reply to your letter of December 1996 in which you expressed concern over violence that erupted toward two men, Livingstone Kul and Jonathan Gray, in Papua New Guinea, and you expressed the hope that some disciplinary action might be taken toward the church officials.

I had not heard of the incident until I read your letter, so I made contact with the South Pacific Division officers in Australia to discover what took place. They had not heard either. Isn’t it strange how stories circulate the globe, and create criticism and anger, while the people where the incidents are said to have happened sometimes know nothing of it.

In this case, there is some truth to the report, and some error. We now have a report from our leaders in Papua New Guinea. It appears that the trouble began when a group of disloyal independent Adventists held a camp meeting in a province of Papua New Guinea, and, without any authority from the Church, ordained two of their number to the gospel ministry. This was done by a man from the African country of Zimbabwe who has no authority to ordain. These independents had built their church alongside the Adventist church, and then proceeded to brand the Adventist church as “Babylon,” and the leaders of our Church as corrupt.

It is true that a fight broke out and two men, Jonathan Gray and Livingston Kul were beaten. But it was not the officials of the Church who did this. It was ex-Adventists who beat these two men. You see, in Papua New Guinea, most of the people are uneducated, superstitious village people, not far removed from heathenism. In their culture, if someone accuses another to the point where it is hurtful, he gets a beating for it.

Our church leaders have encouraged our Church members to leave off these old customs, and to ignore the taunts of the independent group. And apparently our members have accepted the counsel. But the ex-Adventists were not inclined to let it go unpunished. These former Adventists were very jealous for the Church to which they used to belong. They are not prepared to hear it criticized and abused the way the independents do it, so it was they, the ex-Adventists, who dealt out what they consider to be just punishment. In fact, they went even further and burnt down the church which the independents had built.

We do not condone such conduct, nor do the Papua New Guinea Union officers. But we have no authority to discipline ex-Adventists. Now that you have a clearer picture of what happened, I’m sure you will understand some of the difficulties our leaders face in trying to shepherd the Church along the pathway of life.

Our prayers ascend with yours for peace and progress in the work of God.

Your friend in Christ,

Athal H Tolhurst

Undersecretary

(301) 680-6643

Letter from Papua New Guinea

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President, Eastern Highlands-Simbu Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church,

P.O. Box 966

Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province

Dear Pastor,

It is with great sorrow that we write to you regarding the shameful treatment of Pastor Livingstone Kul by Elders, Deacons and church members at Bena Bena on Wednesday the 11th of December. Pastor Livingstone was severely beaten and a church building was burnt down at the time of this assault. Elders and Deacons led the group of church members who beat and kicked Pastor Livingstone as he was fellowshipping with fellow believers.

Pastor this is not the first time this has happened in the Eastern Highlands and we are aware of cases of assault in Kabuifa and Bena Bena in the past. No action was ever taken against the people involved in these assaults even though they were Elders and Deacons of God’s church. To make this situation worse these assaults occurred on Sabbath following divine services.

In Matthew 5:21–23 Jesus tells us, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement.’ We are also counseled in Isaiah 58:1 that we should “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.” In Ezekiel 3:17–21, God requires us to warn people of their sins or their blood will be required of us.

Pastor, we humbly request that you call the perpetrators of this assault to the church discipline following the Biblical counsel in Matthew 18:15–17. As you are aware, God requires all of His true followers to repent of their sins and true repentance requires making things right with the person you have offended, as well as with God. We are praying for these individuals who committed this assault and asking the Lord Jesus to forgive them for their unconsecrated and unchrist-like behavior.

Pastor you should be aware that as a result of this assault, many church members will question the behaviour of the leaders of God’s church and many more will join the ranks of the laymen who are preaching the need to prepare, by sanctification, for the soon return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As Pastor Livingstone had a speaking engagement in Australia immediately after the assault, I have also been advised that many Adventists in Australia who have heard the story are also questioning the leadership of God’s church in PNG and believe that they see prophecy being fulfilled. In Great Controversy, Chapter 33, “The Loud Cry,” we read: “As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the Third Angel’s Message, but have not been sanctified through it, abandon the position, and take refuge under the banner of the powers of darkness . . . Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.” [Great Controversy, 608.]

Two thousand years ago the leaders of God’s church took the Son of God, beat and tortured Him and hung Him on the cross to die. Jesus had a very small number of true and faithful supporters, who, in a very short period of time following His death and resurrection, took the Gospel of Salvation to the world, despite experiencing fierce persecution by church leaders. Last year in Kainantu, the Easter Highlands Simbu Mission saw fit to use unbiblical authority to disfellowship a handful of faithful laymen for the “sin” of preaching the Three Angels’ Messages in the streets. In a matter of 18 months, thousands of faithful church members have stood and joined the laymen in order to finish the work of the Gospel. Wherever these laymen have been persecuted, the more church members take their stand for truth. Pastor we are in the shaking time and Jesus will soon return as He is now separating the wheat from the tares.

Pastor, the Leadership of SDA Church can disfellowship all who support the laymen’s movement, but this is not important to us. Names do not need to be written on church roles. The only place that we need to have our names written is the Lambs Book of Life and no church leader can remove our names form this book. Unbiblical civil authority can be employed to try and prevent us from using the term “Seventh-day Adventist” but you cannot erase this from our hearts because Jesus Himself called us in this belief.

The Laymembers Association was not established to destroy God’s church but to preach the soon return of Jesus Christ. We would like to work along side the church in PNG, but we are treated with suspicion and persecution by the SDA church leadership. We pray that God will open the eyes of the leaders of the church in PNG and allow us to work cooperatively to finish the work of the Gospel. The counsel given by Gamaliel in Acts 5:38–39 is so relevant, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Pastor we have not been given the opportunity to fully discuss matters of concern with yourself or other leaders in Eastern Highlands Simbu Mission. We would appreciate receiving your response to this letter and we would be happy to meet with you if you so wish.

Your Brethren in Christ Jesus,

SECRETARY

Laymembers Association of Papua New Guinea

Response Letter…

The Shadow of the Stanton Controversy, part 2

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Editor’s Note: 

In Part I of “The Shadow of the Stanton Controversy,” a brief history of the Stanton Controversy was given: In the early part of 1893, two brethren, one of whom was Stanton, after attending the General Conference (held during parts of February and March) published a pamphlet called the Loud Cry. In this tract the Seventh-day Adventist Church was denounced as Babylon (the great Spiritual Babylon of Revelation 18). This tract proclaimed the fall of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as Babylon and called upon the people to come out of her. This tract was widely circulated. Ellen White began writing pointed rebuttals against this pamphlet and the two men publishing and circulating it. Our first article gave some of the Ellen White definitions about who and what the church is as found in these “Stanton manuscripts.” The church was defined in these manuscripts as God’s chosen people who are keeping His commandments, especially the fourth commandment, and are receiving the Holy Spirit and who will give the final warning to the world. The church is that group of people breasting the opposition from the world, and uplifting God’s down-trodden law. The church has the added, qualifying definition, as those who are laborers together with God. These definitions of the church quoted from Ellen White in the previous article are essential if the rest of the manuscripts, now to be discussed, are to be understood.

“At the time of the first advent of Christ to our world, the men who composed the Sanhedrin exercised their authority in the controlling men according to their will. Thus the souls whom Christ had given His life to free from the bondage of Satan were brought under bondage to him in another form.” Testimonies to Ministers, 361

“When error in one garb has been detected, Satan only marks it in a different disguise, and multitudes receive it as eagerly as at the first.” Great Controversy, 285

In these two perceptive statements Ellen White unmasks how the great deceiver works. When people have been delivered from a deception of the devil, he takes that very deception and masks it in a different dress and often it is accepted again by those very people!

In 1893, Stanton attempted to separate true and faithful Seventh-day Adventists from the second advent movement, by calling that movement Babylon. Through the agency of the Spirit of Prophecy this deception was unmasked.

“How is it that men can be so deceived as to imagine that the loud cry consists in calling the people of God out from a church that is enjoying a season of refreshing? Review and Herald, October 17, 1893.

The devil has taken the same deception and masked it in a different dress, and it has apparently now been accepted by the General Conference, and most local conferences and missions throughout the world! (We will give evidence for this later.) The thrust in the General Conference and the local conferences and missions throughout the world today is to separate the true and faithful from the second advent movement-the deception is the same, though masked in different garb.

 

The Devil’s Objectives

 

First we need to list, from the pen of Ellen White, how the devil was trying to destroy God’s church in Stanton’s day. We will then easily be able to see how the devil has taken the same deceptions and masked them in a different dress so that today they are almost universally accepted. All references are from the Stanton manuscripts, from the Review and Herald articles, only dates will be given.

The Spirit of Prophecy unmasks Satan’s deceptions. (This is a major reason why the devil and his agents hate the Spirit of Prophecy.) Ellen White stated the following objectives that the devil wanted to accomplish:

  1. Perplex, harass, and cause the people of God great distress. (Ibid. August 22, 1893)
  2. Accuse and claim that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon calling attention to the sins of those who are repentant. To make perverse accusations against those who keep the commandments of God. (September 5, 1893.)
  3. Bring persons who are not converted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist church and thus corrupt the people of God (Ibid.)
  4. Through specious deceptions and delusions, use the proud to break up the unity of the church (Ibid.) and create confusions. (September 12, 1893.)
  5. Tear down that which God is trying to build up, deriding the ministry, resulting in making of none effect the ministry of Ellen White and the Spirit of Prophecy, and leading people to believe that her message was not from God. (September 5, 1893)
  6. Advocate error and originate false theories and new devices to create a false excitement which will divert and deceive through false positions.(September 12, 1893; November 8, 1956, which is from an 1893 EGW manuscript.)
  1. Cause division in the church diverting their means into harmful channels and hinder the church from attaining perfection in unity. (September 12, 1893)
  2. Cast all the reproach possible on the chosen ones whom he cannot deceive, clothing repentant, believing, commandment-keeping people of God in the blackest and most filthy, defiled garments. (October 17, 1893; November 8, 1956)
  3. Hurl thunderbolts against the church of Christ militant in the hope of tearing it down, discouraging it and finally destroying it. (November 8, 1956.)

Ellen White makes it very clear in the Stanton manuscripts, that in 1893, Brother Stanton and his associates were being led by the devil, and doing his work. “In place of working with divine agencies to prepare of people to stand in the day of the Lord, they have taken their stand with him who is an accuser of the brethren. Who accuses them before God day and night. Satanic agencies have been moved from beneath, and they have inspired men to unite in a confederacy of evil, that they may perplex, harass, and cause the people of God great distress.” Review and Herald, August 22, 1893. “A work of this character is inspired not from above, but from beneath.” Ibid., August 29, 1893.

If we see the big picture of the great controversy, we will not so easily be misled by some sentence or paragraph in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy that we do not understand immediately. What is the big picture? What was Satan accomplishing through the Stanton work? Ellen White makes that clear also. “The message that has been borne by those who have proclaimed the church to be Babylon, has made the impression that God has no church upon earth.

Stanton was broadcasting a message designed to separate the true and faithful Adventists from the second advent movement, leaving no movement at all! The same deception dressed in a different garb is worldwide today and it is having marvelous success. Instead of just two men, whole conference and mission organizations are dedicated to bringing it about.

 

The True and Faithful

 

We will now give evidence that illustrates the above. First of all, who are the true and faithful in the second advent movement? This is a question that the Lord will give an infallible answer to in the day of judgment. We are not to judge the heart or character of our brothers, but we are to judge the fruit on the tree-the outward life, words and actions. See Matthew 7:15-20. We have been given counsel in the inspired writings to help us see if we are in harmony with the true and faithful.

  1. They will bear faithful witness to the truth of the Third Angel’s message. See Appendix #1.
  2. They accept God’s message and messenger and give evidence of this by bearing fruit to God’s glory. See Appendix #2
  3. They are actively involved in missionary activity. See Appendix #3
  4. They are not only professors of the truth but doers. See Appendix #4
  5. They live out all the light they have. See Appendix #5
  6. True and faithful ministers will reprove sin and attempt to keep the church pure. See Appendix #6
  7. They bear a straightforward testimony. See Appendix #7

As show in the first article in this series, the true and faithful are the movement.

Everything else that clings to the truth as a parasite is still just a parasite, which God will separate through the shaking from the true and faithful who constitute the movement.

Satan’s objective is to make it impossible for the lost people of this world to find the truth, to find the true and faithful—the actual second advent movement. The only people that they can find the living truth from are the true and faithful, and if the impression can be given that there is no church of God on earth or if their identity can be obscured so that nobody can find them, then Satan will attempt and appear to triumph. This is what the devil was trying to do in the Stanton controversy, and that is what he is trying to do today. Only today, instead of having two men, he has thousands of professed Seventh-day Adventists who are attempting to separate the true and faithful Seventh-day Adventists from the movement and make it impossible for the lost of this world to find the living truth. Truth must not just be taught, it must be lived. The lost must be able to see it lived out, and only the true and faithful can demonstrate this. Against them the most bitter wrath of the devil is concentrated. Their life is one long series of trials because if what they teach and live is communicated to the world, the end of the world will soon come, Christ will triumph and the devil will be put out of business.

As local congregations, conference and higher offices in Adventism have been progressively taken over by new teachings which are contrary to the historic Adventist message, it has been impossible for the true and faithful to remain silent, without giving a protest. It has become impossible for the true and faithful to financially support that which they know is apostasy. It has become impossible for the true and faithful to remain and listen to error being taught from the pulpit or in the classroom.

One of the most serious errors being taught by conservative Adventist pastors today is the teaching about the function and authority of conference church organizations. It is just the same as in Jesus’ day.

 

A Separation

 

For all of these reasons the true and faithful have found it necessary to establish churches not associated with this apostasy. This has not been a separation movement anymore than the advent movement in 1840-1844 was a separation movement. However, separation has occurred because professed Adventists were determined to cling to their apostasy and would not to the voice of reproof and the appeal to return to historic Adventist teachings based upon the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Professed Adventists have demonstrated a determination that the Third Angel’s Message not be given, and they have said that it was not time to distribute Great Controversy. (See what Ellen White said about this in Appendix item #8.) They do not want to endure the trouble that they know is sure to come from the Proclamation of the Third Angel’s Message. This is the reason that true and faithful Adventists were ostracized and finally beaten up and their church burned down in Papua New Guinea., all because they would not cease to preach and teach the Three Angels’ Messages. It is true that mistakes have been made in the way the message has been given, but the solution to the mistakes is not to quit giving the message. The same spirit has been demonstrated as by John and James when they forbade someone who was not part of their organization to communicate the gospel. (Mark 9:38-40)

Why are true and faithful Adventists around the world, who faithfully proclaiming the Three Angels’ Messages and attempting to live according to all the commandments, being threatened with lawsuits if they use the name “Seventh-day Adventist?” The big objective the devil has is the same as in the time of the Stanton controversy—to leave the impression that there is no true and faithful people who keep God’s commandments. For over 100 years the name “Seventh-day Adventist” has been a significant means used by those who keep the commandments of God, follow the Spirit of Prophecy and faith of Jesus, to identify themselves. But if this name is taken away from the true and faithful Adventists, then you have made it harder for the man on the street to find God’s true and faithful people described in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12. Many of God’s people for these last days—the ones who are true and faithful and not just professors, are being threatened with legal action over the name “Seventh-day Adventist.” Of course, the devil is smart enough to confuse the issue by having some of his own agents who are breaking the law of God, because the devil is a liar and the spiritual father of all those who do the same.

 

Steps into Apostasy

 

A thumbnail sketch of how this deception (the same as in the Stanton controversy, but in a new dress) developed, would be as follows:

  1. As Ellen White conditionally predicted, the apostasy in Adventism would increase. (See Appendix #9.) It has done so very rapidly in the last 20 years. True and faithful Adventists first had to endure the snaking of liberal Adventism and the introduction of new theology (that you will sin until Jesus comes), the invalidation of Ellen White as a prophet (along with the New Testament), the denial of the investigative judgment beginning in 1844, and also a two apartment sanctuary in heaven, as well as the disregard of the health message. All of the reforms that God had slowly brought to His people over a period of centuries were invalidated with a stroke during the seventies and eighties.
  2. Next began the shaking in conservative Adventism. The battle cry of the conservatives in the eighties and the nineties is very similar to the attitude described in Desire of Ages concerning the Pharisees—the organization has become the lord of the people. “From childhood He [Jesus] acted independently of the rabbinical laws…the requirement of society and the requirement of God were in constant collision.” Desire of Ages, 84. Adventist pastors and many Adventists were asked to do things (or not do things) that were contrary to their conscience. In many places it was not allowed to put open sin out of the church. The apostasy became so marked that children in understanding of theology, could tell that their families were being leavened by false teachings and practices.
  3. Although it began earlier, in the eighties the ostracizing and disfellowshipping of true and faithful Adventists began in earnest. First there was an attempt to stop their influence by taking away their church offices and not allowing them to teach, etc. Then censure followed and finally disfellowshipping. The majority were so far in apostasy that the only way they could see to stop the division in the church was to get rid of the true and faithful—the real Adventists. We have received telephone call and letters from around the world giving evidence of this. However, after the people holding to the historic Adventist faith have been removed from the church, their very presence, the very existence of their home churches is evidence of the apostasy.
  4. Now we are seeing true and faithful Seventh day Adventist being told to stop calling themselves Adventist because they have been call forced out of the structure for not going along with the apostasy. The final aim and goal, if you can see the big picture the devil is attempting to paint, is to make it impossible for the people of the world to find the true and faithful Adventist. A “non Adventist ” told me recently about how he wanted someone to teach him what Bible truth was. He said , “It is as hard as finding an alley  in New York City to find the truth today.” Thank the Lord, he heard an ad on the radio and we are helping find the meaning of the prophecies . Now he is keeping the Sabbath. How many other people like this are there? The devil is determined today , just as much as in 1893, to obscure or obliterate any knowledge of the existence of the faithful Adventist who still have the same theology and faith of as our pioneers.
  5. There are many on the Lord’s side, just like the 7000 in the time of Elijah, who are not protesting the apostasy. Even though they are not part of it they cannot be seen. Therefore,  they are doing little if any good for the controversy over Zion. In Christ day, those who submitted to the Jewish leaders could avoid trouble, but eventually go along with crucifying Jesus Christ to do this.  We always tried to be submissive to conference authority until the time came when we could not do this with a clear conscience. this same experience is happening to the true and faithful all over the world. (For a few examples see Appendix #10) We are still in the shadow of the Stanton  controversy, but the clothing of the deception has become more  deceitful; there is no living prophet among us to stop it. Instead of two men there are thousands of employees within the Adventist structure to push the delusion to the limit.  Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches?  It may be that the destroyers are already training under hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard bearer to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry,  “Peace, Peace” when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper as I write.  It may be that erelong all prophesying among us will be at an end,  and the voice which has stirred the people may not longer disturb their carnal slumbers. “When God shall work His strange work on the earth,  when holy hands bear the ark no longer, woe will be among the people . . . the church is corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls . . . Things are far from being what the appearance would indicate . . . the prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy — a spirit of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but in reality of the blindest  presumption. There is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God and to the testimony of His spirit ” Testimonies vol 5, 77-79. May the Lord help us to come to the standard pf the Lord and manfully give the message  of warning. May the terrible deception that has taken hold of God’s professed people once again be unmasked before it is forever to late.

Appendix:

  1. “I desire that you may be acknowledged in the heavenly courts as true, faithful witnesses for Christ, faithful witnesses of the truth of the Third Angels’ Message.” Manuscript Releases, vol 12, 47. What does it mean to be faithful the Three Angels’ Messages? The truth of the Three Angels’ Messages, in Revelation 14:6-12, involves the following beliefs and practices: 1. Belief in the 2,300 day prophecy as explained by the second advent movement  in the 1840’s, and that the hour of God’s judgement began in 1844. 2. Worship of God as the Creator—belief in the Sabbath which involves belief in the biblical account of a 6000 year old earth and a seven day creation. 3. Coming out of Babylon—the philosophies and practices of Babylon will be put away and discontinued. 4. No Images will be made to the beast—all will be allowed religious liberty. 5. No creature worship. 6. obedience to the commandments of God. 7. There will be the faith of Jesus. which is the faith that gives deliverance and an overcoming power over all sin.
  2. Sometimes the truth is best understood by anti-thesis—stating what is not. In the following statement several specifications are given of those who are not true and faithful , thus giving a clear description of what the true and faithful are like. “There is a lack of moral and spiritual throughout our conferences. Many churches do not have light in themselves. The members do no give evidence that they are the branches of the True Vine, by bearing  much fruit to the glory of God, but appear to be withering away. The Redeemer has withdrawn his light, the inspiration of His Holy Spirit, from their assemblies; for they have ceased to represent the self-denial, the sympathy and compassionate love of the world’s Redeemer; they have not love for the souls for whom Christ has died. They have ceased to be true and faithful. It is a sad picture,—the feeble piety, the want of consecration and devotion to God. there has been a separation of the soul from God; many have cut off the communication between him and the soul by refusing his messengers and his message” Review and Herald, December 23, 1890.
  3. “At the last great day, Christ will say to those who have been true and faithful, (Matthew 5:34 quoted). They will understand the meaning of His words; for they will have done the work that Christ gave them to do. They have cooperated with Him in the saving of those got whom he died, and they are prepared to share in His joy” Review and Herald, October 29, 1903.
  4. “The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism. It should be understood whether those who profess to be converted are simply taking the name of Seventh-day Adventists, or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord’s side, to come out from the world, and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. When they give evidence that they fully understand their position, they are to be accepted. But when they show that they are following the customs and fashions and sentiments of the world, they are to be faithfully dealt with. If they feel no burden to change their course of action, they should not be retained as members of the church. The Lord wants those who compose his church to be true, faithful stewards of the grace of Christ.” Special Testimonies to the Battle Creek Church, 22
  5. “The Lord will give His message to those who have walked in accordance with the light they have had, and will recognize them as true and faithful, according to the measurement of God. These men will take the place of those who, having light and knowledge, have walked not in the way of the Lord but in the imagination of their own unsanctified hearts.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 10
  6. God is not pleased with the slothful work done in the churches. He expects His stewards to be true and faithful in giving reproof and correction. They are to expel wrong after the rule God has given in His Word, not according to their own ideas and impulses. No harsh means must be used, no unfair, hasty, impulsive work done. The efforts made to cleanse the church from moral uncleanness must be made in God’s way. There must be no partiality, no hypocrisy. There must be no favorites, whose sins are regarded as less sinful than those of others. Oh, how much we all need the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then we shall always work with the mind of Christ, with kindness, compassion, and sympathy, showing love for the sinner while hating sin with a perfect hatred.” 1888 Materials, 144.
  7. “It is by bearing a straightforward testimony in word and work, that we are counted as true, faithful witnesses for Christ.” Review and Herald, September 7, 1903
  8. The Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. It contains the story of the past, the present, and the future. In its outline of the closing scenes of this earth’s history, it bears a powerful testimony in behalf of the truth. I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any others I have written; for in The Great Controversy, the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books.” Colporteur Ministry, 127. The Lord impressed me to write this book [The Great Controversy, in the 1884 edition it was called volume 4] in order that without delay it might be circulated in every part of the world, because the warnings it contains are necessary for preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. But men of trust have allowed this book to fall ‘dead’ from the press.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 239.
  9. “One thing it is certain 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. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith, and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever are we to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time. We need now larger breadth, and deeper, more earnest, unwavering faith in the leadings of the Holy Spirit. If we needed the manifest proof of the Holy Spirit’s power to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need today all the evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There must not be any languishing of soul now.” Special Testimonies, Series B, 57.

Special Note: Notice in the above statement that it is the principles of faith that you hold fast to that makes you part of the denominated people or the denomination. The only people who are really part of the denomination are those who hold the historic faith of Seventh-day Adventists—those who believe in not only professing, but in actually keeping all of God’s commandments, living by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Ellen White explains who is denominational: “One stood up in the midst of us and pointed us back to the Israelites as an illustration of a distinct people, denominated of God. That which made them denominational was the observance of God’s commandments. In the twelfth to the eighteenth verses of the thirty-first chapter of Exodus their distinguishing sign is mentioned . . .We are Seventh-day Adventists. This is a fitting name, for we keep the seventh-day Sabbath, and look for the second advent of our Lord in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. Even with respect to the name indicating some of the peculiar points of faith distinguishing us from other Christians, we are denominational. In keeping the Sabbath that God declared should be kept holy as a sign between Himself and His people, we show to the world that we are His peculiar, chosen people-a people whom He has denominated. His people and His institutions are denominational . . . as for ourselves, we are strictly denominational. We are sacredly denominated by God, and are under His theocracy.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 38-40.

  1. Mass disfellowshipping in Hungary and ostracizing of the faithful in Romania and many other parts of eastern Europe. The necessary separation of the true and faithful from the structure in Zaire, because the structure had joined an ecumenical movement. The disfellowshippping of true and faithful in Australia, and the necessary separation of the true and faithful from sin which leaders refused to repent, confess or make right in Guatemala. The necessary separation of the true and faithful from apostate leaders who were the only ones the General Conference would recognize in Russia and eastern Europe (this goes back several decades), and similar problems in the church in Ghana, in the Philippines. As well as disfellowshippings in various places in the United States and other places because individuals would not submit their conscience to the organization.

Part III

Last Call to the Church

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The primary concern and most happy thought of the Seventh-day Adventists church today is the nearness of the second coming of Jesus. I remember as a boy how time used to go by so slowly. It seemed like it was almost an eternity from one birthday to the next. We anticipated some special event coming up in a week or a month, and time just seemed to stand still.

As we get older, all of that changes. Now it seems like I have two or three birthdays a year. Time just keeps going faster and faster. But it was not like that when I was a boy.

I remember one Sabbath morning, when I was a young child, a visiting minister had come to our little church. I do not remember all that he spoke about that Sabbath, but I do remember that over and over again, he kept repeating the statement, “Jesus is coming soon!”

In my childish mind, that indicated something extremely imminent. I could almost imagine that Jesus would be back before the very next Sabbath! “What does he mean,” I asked myself.

On the way home from church that Sabbath morning, I decided to consult with the best authority that I knew, my father. My father tried to put my mind at ease by saying, “Son, Jesus is coming soon, but we do not know exactly when He is coming.”

My birthday was only a couple of months away and I was afraid that Jesus might come back before my birthday. So I asked, “Daddy, is it possible that Jesus will be back before my birthday.”

He smiled, and said, “He may not come back before your birthday, but I know that He is coming soon.”

Jesus did not come back before my birthday, or even within the next year. In fact, that conversation took place fifty years ago.

A half century has passed since my childish mind was disturbed with a message of the nearness of Jesus’ coming. I am still wondering when Jesus is coming. I cannot tell you, but certainly His coming is nearer than when we first believed.

Today Jesus gives, to you and to me, a final warning message. It is a call specifically to His chosen people—His church. We find this last call recorded in Revelation 2:7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

This is an invitation to those who have spiritual discernment. Invitations should always create excitement. I remember the very first invitation I received to visit the home of my wife’s parents. Charlotte and I were attending the same college. Our friendship was growing, but I had never met her parents who lived in Colorado.

Charlotte and I both sang in the college choir, which was planning a tour to Colorado and the western part of Nebraska. One day, not long before the planned tour, I found a strange looking envelope from Boulder, Colorado, in my mailbox.

I tore that envelope open and, to my amazement, inside I found an invitation to go and visit Charlotte’s parents. You can be sure that because of the excitement that the invitation created, I made great preparations for that day. I made sure that my clothes were cleaned and pressed. I began studying politeness and manners, in order to leave a good impression. I believe invitations always create an excitement.

Today there is a special invitation to each of us from Jesus Christ Himself. He says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7. Are we listening?

It seems that we are too busy to listen. We seem to live on the basis of “business as usual,” when neither business nor anything else is as usual, nor will it ever be again. We too often determine what kind of program we want for the church. We make our plans with a long range planning strategy. But today we need to be planning for a short range emergency. Time is very short. We do not have time to be doing some of the things we are doing.

As a people we do not spend the time in meditation and prayer or in active service that we should. We think that because we have to make a living, and are so busy, we are excused. It is easy to put a dollar or two or even a hundred in the offering plate, but to spend time with the Lord and spend time telling others about the wonderful plan of salvation, we do not have time to do that.

We are listening to many other voices but the Spirit. It says, “Listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” We decide what kind of revival we want, what kind of evangelism we want, and then if the results are not what we anticipated, we are disappointed. We need to let God direct in our lives.

Ask yourself the questions, “Am I really doing all I can to hasten Jesus’ return? How much time do I spend in meditation? In the study of God’s Word? In the study of the Spirit of Prophecy And on my knees?” We are negligent when it comes to the amount of time that we spend making our daily bread, in proportion to how much time we spend laying up treasure in God’s kingdom.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.” The church, according to Scripture, is the bride of Jesus Christ. It is the body. It is the organism that God has ordained to carry forward His work.

The church is not an organization or an institution. The church is God’s people, and God’s program will never bypass His people. This message is for God’s people. God’s church is where two or three are met together. This is an invitation to them. Spend time trying to discern what the Holy Spirit wants you to do. Spend time with God fasting, pleading for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit. His Spirit will never bypass the church—His people. The Spirit speaks to the churches.

Look at your own sphere of influence. What about your home? Some are pained because they live in divided homes. The Lord’s servant said that in a divided home, the shadows are never lifted. (See Adventist Home, 67.) Some are troubled because it is difficult to serve the Lord with all the heart when one is being opposed by members of his own family. They use this as an excuse not to overcome.

I have an older brother who has wandered in the ways of the world for some sixty years. In his heart there is conviction that he wants to come back to the church. He knows what is right. He knows the message. He was brought up in it as a boy. But somewhere along the way he gave it up and drifted away. Because of family opposition and uncertainty, he is reluctant to come back.

We can never influence anyone in favor of the truth by waffling around in sin. We have to make a firm decision regardless of what happens with our friends and our family. There are some today who are suffering because members of their family oppose them. Jesus said, “A man’s foes or enemies) shall be they of his own household.” Matthew 10:36.

What is happening in our circle of activity? What is happening in our homes? What is happening in our communities? What is happening in our towns or cities? This is a desperate hour for the world, for the cause of the Gospel and for the individual experience that we are going through. If anything can be shaken, it will be shaken. It is the time for us to stand firmly for the right.

 

He that Hath An Ear, Let Him Hear What the Spirit Says to the Church

 

The Spirit is trying to say something to us. In the Gospels, our Lord repeated eight times, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” Again in the book of Revelation eight times we have this message, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

To the Laodiceans Jesus said, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him.” Revelation 3:20. This invitation is wide enough to include everyone. It says, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door.” It is limited, however, in its fulfillment to those who hear His voice and who open the door. Our ears must be open. We have to be listening to what the Spirit is saying.

The message of the Holy Spirit to each of the seven churches was, “Repent.” That has become a very unpopular message. There are those who say, “Just leave sin alone. Do not disturb the status quo. Leave that stone rolled up against Lazarus’ tomb. Let Achan keep his wedge of gold. Let Jezebel raise up her altar to Baal in Thyatira. Do not worry about that immoral brother over there in Corinth. Just leave sin alone.”

There are those who are watching and praying, and who are trying to bring about a revival and reformation. Sometimes they become discouraged and want to give up. But we must follow the example of our Savior who tried in every possible way to awaken the churches to their great spiritual need. Five of these seven churches in Asia Minor were in a lamentable spiritual condition. He called them to repentance.

What a wonderful change would take place in our churches today if we would all get on our knees and say, “I am sorry.” Some people, when they reach a certain level of responsibility in the church, feel that they cannot say they are sorry. They think they are too big to say, “I am sorry.”

God expects us to be able to say, “I am sorry. I am a sinner. I have done wrong.” The Bible tells us that we are all sinners. None of us have reached the level where we do not have to repent of our sins. We must each do this individually. It is not something that can be done corporately.

We have all reached different levels in our spiritual pilgrimage. We cannot be the judge for someone else. We need to be careful that we do not try to set up a measuring stick that we expect everyone else to live up to. As individuals we must make sure that our relationship is right with God, and repent of what we have done to bring pain, suffering and anguish to our Savior.

Jesus, who is our example in all things, told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. All of us have problems and trials, but it is wonderful to know that we serve a God who has already been there. He knows what we are going through, and He suffers with us. Although He tells us we will have tribulation, He says, “I have overcome and through my grace you can also.”

“To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and am sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21. We can each overcome all sin and its influence in our lives.

We all have the same basis to overcome that Jesus had. Just as He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing . . .because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which sent me.” John 5:30. The answer to sucessfully overcoming sin in our lives is to make a complete surrender to Jesus. This is not a once and for all transaction. We must die daily as Paul did. Every day he was aware of the fact that he had to crucify self.

Self is our biggest enemy. The big “I” is the thing that gets in the way of Christ working out His will in us. We have to make a complete surrender of our selfish will, and choose God’s will instead. Not just when we are baptized and join the church, but we must do it daily.

In our own strength it would be completely impossible to make that surrender. “Whatever may be our inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong, we can overcome through the power that He is ready to impart . . . We cannot change our hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, our affections . . . But we can choose to serve God, we can give Him our will . . . By yielding up the will to Christ, we ally with divine power . . . A pure and noble life, a life of victory over appetite and lust, is possible for everyone who will unite his weak, wavering human will to the Omnipotent,unwavering will of God.” Ministry of Healing, 176. [All emphasis supplied.]

Who says we cannot overcome all sin? There it is! It is wonderful to be able to link up with Jesus and His divine power. To be able to overcome through the power that He is willing to give. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot be an overcomer. If we will grasp the divine hand, God has unlimited strength to impart to us.

 

A Panoramic View

 

The panorama of heaven and earth passed before the enraptured eyes of John there on that lonely island of Patmos. In vision he saw the glories of the new earth. He saw the gates of pearl. He saw that wall around the city, glistening in the glorious radiance of Jesus Christ Himself. He saw the throne of God with the Tree of Life silhouetted on both banks of the river as it flowed from God’s throne. He saw those glistening streets paved with pure gold. He saw the radiance shining in the faces of the redeemed. Can we imagine anything more wonderful than a world bathed in the rays of sunshine and love without the least trace of suffering, of hatred, of prejudices, of disease or of death?

In the mind of poor, lonely John, there on that little rocky island all by himself, came the question, “Who is going to inherit all of this?” The answer came back, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelation 21:7. A beautiful promise was given to each of the seven churches if they would overcome.

To the church in Smyrna, was given the promise of a crown of life. To the church in Pergamus, He says, “And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17. I like this promise because I do not think there is anything on this earth more devastating than to have your name destroyed. I know what that experience is like. I am looking forward to the day when I get a new name. The same promise was also given to the church in Philadelphia, as well as the promise to make them a pillar in the temple and to write upon them the name of God.

To the church in Thyatira He will give power over the nations and give them the Morning Star if they would be overcomers. To the church in Sardis He will give white robes. Finally, to the church in Laodicea, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21.

It is not easy to overcome. There are many things that get in the way. One of the powerful things that impede us is the power of appetite. “The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character . . . And as we near the close of time, Satan’s temptations to indulge appetite will be more powerful and more difficult to overcome.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 491, 492.

” ‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ If you ‘hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches’ and meditate upon the instruction given to them, your ears will be closed to the folly and nonsense which surround you. You will neither hear and repeat these things, nor will you ever hanker after them. When Christ satisfies the soul hunger, these trivialities are to you distasteful and disgusting. You have no desire to feast on them, but choose instead the bread of heaven.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 957.

May God give us the strength to reach the point in our experience as overcomers, when the things of the world appear to us distasteful and disgusting. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7. Soon the time of trial will be over. Soon our problems, our difficulties, will all be past. Jesus is coming to take His faithful home. Before that day, terrible scenes will come upon the world and before God’s people, a time of trial that will try our faith without parallel.

My invitation to you today is to open your ears to the message of the Holy Spirit and surrender your heart and lives to His power. Let us lift up our heads, our redemption draws nigh.

 

Sinful Independence, part 4

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The 1888 Problem

 

In the papal church, one central power decided who was called and who was not called, what should be preached and what should not be preached, what people could read and what they could not read, and what meetings could be held and what could not be held. The church was a controlling element, and it was being controlled by human wisdom, with “the eyes of a man.” Daniel 7:8. That was the same type of controlling element that ruled the church in Jesus’day. The people came to worship the system as their lord and master, rather than Jesus.

This false gospel of system worship, where the organization became the master rather than the servant, was what Ellen White recognized as the main problem of the General Conference of 1888. In talking about the problems of the church, she related the cause of these problems in the following letter: “This is largely due to the feeling of Elder Butler [the General Conference President] that position gave unlimited authority . . . God designs that men shall use their minds and consciences for themselves. He never designed that one man should become the shadow of another, and utter only another’s sentiments. But this error has been coming in among us, that a very few are to be mind, conscience, and judgment for all God’s workers. The foundation of Christianity is ‘Christ our Righteousness.’ Men are individually responsible to God and must act as God acts upon them, not as another human mind acts upon their mind; for if this method of indirect influence is kept up, souls cannot be impressed and directed by the great I AM. They will, on the other hand, have their experience blended with another, and will be kept under a moral restraint, which allows no freedom of action or of choice . . . If we would be wise, and use diligently, prayerfully, and thankfully the means whereby light and blessings are to come to his people, then no voice nor power upon earth would have authority over us to say, ‘This shall not be.’ ” 1888 Materials, 110–113.

In a letter to Elder Butler, Ellen White related what was shown her in vision: “My guide . . .stretched out his arms toward Dr. Waggoner, and to you, Elder Butler, and said in substance as follows: ‘Neither have all the light upon the law; neither position is perfect.’ ” 1888 Materials, 93.

The question was not simply theology—Elder Waggoner and Elder Jones’ positions were not perfect, but God had given them a message, even though still imperfect, to give to the church. But the leadership thought that every message should have to go through them for their approval. These young men from the West—Jones and Waggoner—had no right to work without the permission of the General Conference officers.

“Never, never feel the slightest disturbance because the Lord is raising up youth to lift and carry the heavier burdens, and proclaim the message of truth. It has been at this point that Elder Butler has failed, and he is a deceived man . . . I hope there will never be the slightest encouragement given to our people to put such wonderful confidence in finite, erring man as has been placed in Elder Butler, for ministers are not as God, and too much reliance has been placed upon Elder Butler in the past. Even the messages and testimonies were made of none effect through the influence of the words and ideas of Elder Butler. This sin has not been repented of by some of our people, and they will have to go over the ground again and again unless they cease from man, and put their whole trust in the living God.” 1888 Materials, 975.

There is a place for counsel, and even for warnings against false teachings, to be given by the leadership. But all such counsel and warnings are to be based upon sound, Biblical principle, not upon hierarchical authority. People are thus to be taught to depend upon the counsels and warnings of the Word, rather than that of man. We are to teach people to respect leaders, but not to depend upon human wisdom and leadership. “When our people in the different places have their special convocations, teach them, for Christ’s sake and for their own soul’s sake, not to make flesh their arm . . . To place men where God should be placed does not honor or glorify God. Is the president of the General Conference to be the god of the people? Are the men at Battle Creek to be regarded as infinite in wisdom? When the Lord shall work upon human hearts and human intellects, principles and practices different from this will be set before the people. ‘Cease ye from man.’ Isaiah 2:22.” Testimonies to Ministers, 375, 376.

As one reads through the over 1,800 pages of The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials and the book Testimonies to Ministers, he cannot help but be impressed with both the seriousness and the present prevalence of corporate independence. This was the chief problem in 1888, and it seems that it was never corrected. Supposedly a correction came in 1901, but two years later Ellen White commented: “The result of the last General Conference [1901] has been the greatest, the most terrible sorrow of my life. No change was made. The spirit that should have been brought into the whole work as the result of that meeting was not brought in because men did not receive the testimonies of the Spirit of God.” Manuscript Release, vol. 13, 122. It was in 1901 itself that she said, “We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel.” Evangelism, 696.

 

Two Kind of Kings

 

Kings are independent. That is why the messenger of the Lord associated independence with kingly power. In 1901, Ellen White warned our leaders against independence, insubordination and rebellion. At the same time she told how this had come into the church—through the exercise of “kingly power,” so that God’s rulership was replaced by human kingship. In her opening address to the delegates of the 1901 General Conference, Ellen White repeatedly stated that we were being governed by “kingly power.” (See Ellen White’s speech in Spalding and Magan, 162–174.)

But there are two kinds of kings, both of which lead to independence from the Lord. First, there are those kings who have enough charisma and influence to get followers. We call them the successful kings. There are also those kings that cannot get anyone to follow them, but they are, nevertheless, going to do whatever they want to anyway, as a king without any subjects, independent of the Lord.

Some individuals might wrongly suppose that because there are bad leaders, that gives them the right to become independent and do whatever they want to do. If they do this, they are no better off than the “bad” leaders they are critical of. God has not called anyone to be independent or to act independently. God has called us all to be servants of one another and to draw together in true unity and love. God is not calling for separationism, but for a purifying of the church, where all can work together in true harmony for the finishing of the gospel. It is true that truth must be paramount, but wherever truth and the salvation of souls are not at stake, we are to do everything we can to live peaceably with all men and to work together in unity and harmony. We are to consider others first and self last. The true following of the principles of God will not lead to disunity, but to the true unity that was manifested at Pentecost, where all “were with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:1.

God has a church, and it is the Seventh-day Adventist church. This is the church of prophecy and providence, and only God can start a church—it is to be built upon Him, not upon any human founder. (See Ephesians 2:20.) True, God’s remnant church is described as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” in the Laodicean message of Revelation 3, but it is still God’s church. Leaders and members may not always exemplify God’s character, and for this reason we are still on earth. Whole congregations, institutions, or even conferences may apostatize —the organization itself may become so independent of God that He cannot use them any more, just as happened with Israel—nevertheless, God will always have true and faithful Seventh-day Adventist people, registered on the books of Heaven (Hebrews 12:22, 23), who will constitute His church and who will go through victorious to the end. God wants every conference, institution, and congregation to triumph with them, if they will be purified of every sin. Although we should strive to live peaceably with all men, nevertheless, when God sends His message to purify the church of sin and selfishness, it will cause a reaction. “Just as long as God has a church, He will have those who will cry aloud and spare not, who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears . . .The shaking must soon take place to purify the church.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 284.

The Lord is calling for individuals today to do the work of Elijah and John the Baptist, in all humility. But there are many who rise up to give a message on their own charge, without a commission from the Lord. There are many who would seek to steady the ark of God, as Uzzah did, with their own human wisdom and might. How can a person know whether he has been called of God or is simply motivated by feelings of importance?

Those who are truly called of God must be faithful, humble servants, not seeking for notice or first place. Moreover, whenever God calls for an individual to be His instrument, He always lays the burden upon more than that one. Even when Jesus began His ministry, though He was not recognized or acknowledged by the church leadership, He was, nevertheless, acknowledged by John the Baptist and by the Holy Spirit at His baptism. David was anointed by Samuel. The disciples were called by Jesus. Paul received a vision and was set aside by the church at Antioch. Timothy was called by Paul. Daniel and Joseph were set apart by a series of circumstances and providence called forth by the Lord—but both had been faithful in the little things of life before being called to positions of prominence.

 

A Day and Age of Independence

 

As never before, a spirit of independence from the Lord afflicts many, just as it did the Jewish church in the days of Korah and again in the days of John the Baptist. (See Selected Messages, vol. 1, 406.) We are living in a day and age of independence. When I was pastoring, I was talking to a conference president about the local Adventist hospital. It had become so large that it was only able to fill a small percentage of its job openings with Adventist help, yet they were building it still larger. In conversation one day, I kindly pointed out that the Spirit of Prophecy counsels against building large hospitals and staffing them with those not of our faith. His response was that those counsels do not apply today. In our educational work, our administrative work and our medical work, it seems that self-rule and independence has become the rule of the day. God’s counsels, they reason, do not apply any more. “Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 211.

I was talking to a Union president once. He brought up the subject of tithing, and accused another ministry, that we at Steps to Life work with and support, of being a “thief” because they accept tithe. “Why,” I asked, “are they a thief? Who have they stolen from?”

The response was that all the tithe should go through the organization because it is the storehouse. I then asked, “What about Quiet Hour, Voice of Prophecy, and Amazing Facts, all of which accept tithe and always have. Are they thieves also?”

This was indeed hard to answer. He would not suggest that other ministries were stealing, but he still maintained that the ministry he was opposed to was stealing the tithe, even though this particular ministry was doing nothing different than most of the accepted ministries always have! The problem was that the ministry he was opposed to was preaching the straight testimony and that was what he was really opposed to—the tithe was only a smoke screen. Nevertheless, I pursued the issue.

“What about Ellen White’s example and counsel?” I asked. She paid her tithe directly to various ministers and women Bible workers who were not being paid by the conference. Moreover, she accepted other people’s tithe who gave it to her and who did not want it to go to the conference. “Was she a thief?”

“Well,” he wanted to know, “do you base your beliefs on the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy?””I thought they were the same,” I replied. But he then informed me that Ellen White did not understand tithing. So I asked him whether he understood the Biblical principles of tithing better than Ellen White did.

He responded, “Yes I do. I understand tithing better than Ellen White.” I thought I had misunderstood, so I asked him again just to make sure I had heard right, and I received the same assurance that he understood this principle better than Ellen White. I asked him for his Biblical references for his understanding, but he could produce none!

It is interesting that in 1905 when the Colorado Conference president tried to set up his will as the governing rule, stating that all tithe should come into the conference treasury rather than being sent directly to people who were not on the conference payroll, Ellen White warned him that if he agitated this question she would have to make known to others what she did with her tithe. In referring to disagreements with the management of the tithe by the conference, she said that we should make our complaints known but that we should not withhold our tithe. (See Testimonies, vol. 9, 249.) However, in the case of apostasy and false teaching by the ministry, and in the case of the conference neglecting or refusing to support those whom the Lord had called and chosen, Ellen White made it crystal clear that it was not only the privilege but the duty of herself and others to send their tithe directly to where they thought it would do the most good. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, 261, 262; vol. 2, 552; Spalding and Magan, 117, 215.) Moreover, she stated that those who simply trusted the conference to expend their means, without taking responsibility themselves as to the out-come of the money God had made them stewards of, would not be held “guiltless” before the Lord for their stewardship. (See 1888 Materials, 1443, 1444.) Some have formed such strong opinions and policies that they think they know more than the Spirit of Prophecy in these and other kindred areas.

Today, prideful independence from the Lord and His counsels has become the rule of the day.

 

Two Kinds of Independent Ministries

 

As there have always been, so today there are two kinds of independent ministries. We read about Jesus: “From childhood He acted independently of the rabbinical laws.” Desire of Ages, 84. John the Baptist had a ministry independent from the Sanhedrin. (See Desire of Ages, 132.) Elijah and Paul had independent ministries. Madison Sanitarium and school was ordained by the Lord with direct counsel from the messenger of the Lord that they were to become an institution independent from the General Conference. God has always had independent ministries.

Many of these ministries have not been appreciated. When Elder A.T. Jones was not allowed to speak in Battle Creek in 1891, Ellen White said, “We will secure a hall in the city and the words God has given Bro. Jones to speak, the people shall have them.” 1888 Materials, 847, 848. Jesus spoke by the seashore, Wesley in the fields, and William Miller in tents.

And so there is a healthy, God-ordained place for independent ministries. God has never tied His hands to any set counsel of men, but has always had the privilege of choosing whom and how He desires. God has always used independent ministries.

There is sinful independence today also, as there always has been. Any independence that puts human wisdom and authority above God’s wisdom and authority, making man independent of God, is sinful independence. This was what Eve was tempted to do. Whenever a Christian hospital rejects, either openly or in practice, the counsels of the Lord, it has become an independent ministry. Whenever a church school, union college or university accepts the standards of the world in the place of the standards of the Lord, it has become an independent ministry. Whenever a conference or a church receives counsel from psychologists and philosophers or from religious institutions that do not keep the Sabbath, as Ahaziah did when he sought the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2), and rejects the plain counsel of the Lord, it has become an independent ministry [A new organization]. Whenever a ministry, that is designated as independent because they are not under the conference structure, departs from the teachings and practices of the Lord, it has become independent in the wrong way. May the Lord save us from sinful independence.

 

A Reformation Needed

 

It is time to humble our hearts before the Lord so that He can send upon us the true revival and reformation that was displayed at Pentecost. It was there that unity was achieved through believing the truth, through humility toward self and love toward one another. There the full gospel was preached in all its purity and power; and there the principles of the government of heaven were followed, with Christ as the true head of the church and all its members were fellow servants.

Kingly power in the hands of religious rulers will never save or exalt the church. Unity through centralization will never exalt Christ. Blindly following religious teachers will not save a single soul. But humble cooperation, where every member is a fellow worker with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9) and organized together in a body according to the call of God, and where dependence is placed first and foremost upon the revealed will of God, will bring the long sought-for blessings of the latter rain and the soon return of Jesus Christ. This is that primitive godliness that will be revealed among God’s people before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth. (Great Controversy, 464).

 

The End of Series

 

Appendix

 

“You who are finite, erring, and unsanctified, have supposed that God’s children were put under your jurisdiction, for you to plan for them, and bring them to your terms. The policy you have labored so hard to establish in your connection with the work is an offense to God. He has never justified any arrangement, through organization, discipline, or laws, whereby men who have evidenced that they are not susceptible to the Holy Spirit’s moving, shall use their power to sustain others in a like disregard of the Spirit’s work. But such has been the arrangement that has prevailed. You have made it hard for those whom you do not especially like, while others who are self serving have been favored and exalted. Partiality and hypocrisy have excluded the Spirit of God from many hearts, and left them as destitute of his grace as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew or rain.” Paulson Collection, 408.

“There are ministers’ wives, Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson and Robinson, who have been devoted, earnest, whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and praying with families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their husbands. These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive their wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions shall be reversed. The Word says, ‘The laborer is worthy of his hire.’ When any such decision as this is made, I will in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it in my duty to create a fund from my tithe money, to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls. I know that the faithful women should be paid wages proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls, and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to educating those newly come to the faith, and hire their own work done, and pay those who work for them. “All these things must be adjusted and set in order, and justice be done to all. Proofreaders in the office receive their wages, two dollars and a half and three dollars a week. This I have had to pay, and others have to pay. But ministers’ wives, who carry a tremendous responsibility, devoting their entire time, have nothing for their labor. This will give you an idea of how matters are in this conference. There are seventy-five souls organized into a church, who are paying their tithe into the conference, and as a saving plan it has been deemed essential to let these poor souls labor for nothing! But this does not trouble me, for I will not allow it to go thus.” Spaulding and Magan, 117.

The Use of the Tithe

Mountain View, Calif., Jan. 22, 1905.

Elder Watson:

“My brother, I wish to say to you, Be careful how you move. You are not moving wisely. The least you have to speak about the tithe that has been appropriated to the most needy and the most discouraging field in the world, the more sensible you will be.

“It had been presented to me for years that my tithe was to be appropriated by myself to aid the white and colored ministers who were neglected and did not receive sufficient properly to support their families. When my attention was called to aged ministers, white or black, it was my special duty to investigate into their necessities and supply their needs. This was to be my special work,

and I have done this in a number of cases. No man should give notoriety to the fact that in special cases the tithe is used in that way.

“In regard to the colored work in the South, that field has been and is still being robbed of the means that should come to the workers of that field. If there has been cases where our sisters have appropriated their tithe to the support of the ministers working for the colored people in the

South, let every man, if he is wise, hold his peace.

“I have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this; and as the money is not withheld from the Lord’s treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented upon; for it will necessitate my making known these matters, which I do not desire to do, because it is not best.

“Some cases have been kept before me for years, and I have supplied their needs from the tithe, as God has instructed me to do. And if any person shall say to me, Sister White, will you appropriate my tithe where you know it is most needed, I shall say, Yes, I will; and I have done so. I commend those sisters who have placed their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone; and if this matter is given publicity, it will create knowledge which would better be left as it is. I do not care to give publicity to this work which the Lord has appointed me to do, and others to do.

“I send this matter to you so that you shall not make a mistake. Circumstances alter cases. I would not advise that any should make a practice of gathering up tithe money. But for years there have now and then been persons who have lost confidence in the appropriation of the tithe who have placed their tithe in my hands, and said that if I did not take it they would themselves appropriate it to the families of the most needy minister they could find. I have taken the money, given a receipt for it, and told them how it was appropriated.

“I write this to you so that you shall keep cool and not become stirred up and give publicity to this matter, lest many more shall follow their example.”

 

(Signed) Ellen G. White.

Spaulding and Magan, 215, 216.

 

The Church in the Wilderness, part 2

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Last month we noted the rise of the Papacy as pagan rites, ceremonies, and philosophy crept into the church. The Bishop of Rome gradually gained more and more power as many bishops from that part of the world looked to Rome for direction and counsel. The emperor moved his capitol from Rome to Constantinople leaving a vacuum which the Roman bishop gladly filled. His objective now was three-fold. Namely: world wide bishop of bishops, temporal monarch, and king of earthly kings all of which he attained by the twelfth century.

Throughout this period of time there remained individuals and groups who refused to be caught up in the terrible apostasy prevailing in the church. They were found in Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and England, as well as other parts of the world. “The apostasy was not universal. At no time did God leave His ancient Gospel without witnesses. When one body of confessors yielded to the darkness, or was cut off by violence, another arose in some other land, so that there was no age in which, in some country or other of Christendom, public testimony was not borne against the errors of Rome, and in behalf of the Gospel which she sought to destroy.” Wylie, The History of Protestantism, vol. 1, 18. The earliest protesters were found in northern Italy. The Diocese of Milan included Lombardy, the Alps, and southern France. These were not under the control of the Roman bishop until the middle of the eleventh century. The See of Rome encompassed only the city of Rome and the surrounding provinces.

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, who died in 394, maintained the Bible only as his rule of faith and

Christ as the foundation of the church. For him justification and remission of sins was by the expiatory sacrifice of Christ on the cross. He believed in only two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s supper. For him the bread was only a symbol of Christ’s body. Others believed and taught as did Ambrose: Rufinus first metropolitan of Milan, fifth century, Laurentius Bishop of Milan, sixth, followed by Mansuetus, seventh, and in the eighth, Paulinus Bishop of Aquileia.

Claude, Archbishop of Turin, proclaimed the apostolic faith throughout his diocese which included the Waldensian valleys. He resisted, by both pen and voice image worship, which was rapidly progressing in the church. He refused to accept the primacy of the Roman Bishop and based his belief upon Matthew 16:19.

Claude’s death left no one to carry the torch of truth. As a result, the clergy of Milan finally succumbed to Papal pressures and joined the Papacy. However, there were those who did not accept the Roman Bishop’s offers and moved into the mountains and valleys of the Piedmont, in the Alps. It was here that the Waldenses kept the apostolic light shining all through the long night that was to follow the establishment of the Papacy. They moved here to avoid the corruptions of the Roman church and kept alive the true faith of the Bible. This is attested to by many documents including the Nobla Leycon which sets forth the following doctrines: the trinity, the fall of man, the incarnation, perpetuity of the Law, the need for Divine grace for good works, need for holiness, institution of the ministry, resurrection of the dead, and the eternal bliss of heaven.

They possessed the New Testament in the Romaunt language which was common in southern Europe from the eighth to the fourteenth centuries. “The church of the Alps, in the simplicity of its constitution, may be held to have been a reflection of the Church of the first centuries. The entire territory included in the Waldensian limits was divided into parishes. In each parish was placed a pastor, who led his flock to the living waters of the Word of God. He preached, he dispensed the Sacraments, he visited the sick, and catechized the young. With him was associated in the government of his congregation a consistory of laymen. The synod met once a year. It was composed of all the pastors (barbes), with an equal number of laymen, and its most frequent place of meeting was the secluded mountainengirdled valley at the head of the Angrogna.” Ibid.

The Bible was the textbook used by these pastors for teaching the youth, who were required to memorize large sections. After spending some time in this manner many would go to seminaries in Lombardy or Paris where they would evangelize as opportunity afforded. Before becoming pastors, the young were required to spend three years traveling and evangelizing. They often concealed their true mission by posing as merchants offering their wares, and at every opportunity would share a portion of Scripture with someone. These faithful evangelists made their way to France, Germany, Spain, Bohemia, Poland and even to Rome itself. Many lost their lives in this service, as they were discovered by Papal representatives and imprisoned or slain. But the Pope of Rome, becoming aware of the work of these people, saw that if it was allowed to continue, it would sweep away like a flood all that centuries of toil and intrigue had achieved. And so began the terrible crusades to eliminate and destroy this hated group of people. But before we pursue this part of history, we pause to take a look at a few other people or groups that held the same faith.

The first are known as Paulicians, so named because they believed and taught the faith of Paul the apostle, based upon Scripture. They were the remnant that escaped from the apostasy of the eastern church and settled in the mountains by the headwaters of the Euphrates river in Armenia. A man named Constantine received a portion of the New Testament, the epistles of Paul and the four Gospels. The study of these books drastically changed his life, resulting in the founding of a church. As this church began to grow, it came to the attention of the emperor at Constantinople. They were falsely charged with being Manicheans (after one named Manes). On the contrary they believed in the trinity, incarnation, and they renounced the worship of Mary, saints, and the cross. They said that the bread was only a symbol of the body of Christ. The copies of the Scriptures they had were uncorrupted and pure, revealing that they could not have been followers of Manes.

Because of their refusal to accept the tenets and authority of Rome they were severely persecuted and many were burned. “The firmness of their religious adherence to principle was marked by their frequent and ready submission to martyrdom. Hundreds of them were burned alive upon one huge funeral pile: two, out of three more eminent presidents, were severally stoned and cut in sunder with the axe.” George S. Faber, The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses, 59, 60.

Although persecuted they continued to flourish to the end of the eighth century. Taking up the sword in revenge for the persecution by the eastern emperor, they were joined by the Saracens in conducting a civil war. In the end they were driven back into the mountains whence they came. However, many of the Paulicians traveled around the empire evangelizing as they went and winning many converts.

By the end of the tenth century they settled in Europe, particularly in southern Bulgaria, Italy, Germany and France. They became the forerunners of the Albigenses. “When the emigrating Paulicians first appeared in that country, the people were already pre-disposed to resist the papal authority, and were already inclined to maintain what the Pontificials were pleased to call heresy.” Ibid., 262. “During a period of one hundred fifty years, these Christian churches seem to have been almost incessantly subjected to persecution, which they supported with Christian meekness and patience; and if the acts of their martyrdom, their preaching and their lives were distinctly recorded, I see no reason to doubt, that we should find in them the genuine successors of the Christians of the first two centuries. And in this as well as former instances, the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church.” William Jones, The History of the Christian Church, vol. 1, 423.

By this time this movement blended with other believers in the true doctrines and so we turn our attention now to the south of France in the mountains and valleys of Piedmont. It was from this area that men carried the gospel, converting disciples and forming congregations wherever they went. They were joined by barons, cities and provinces. When they came to the attention of Rome, Pope Innocent III began a struggle to exterminate this hated “heretical sect.” Where once stood flourishing towns and villages now there was only a blackened desert. In spite of the terrible persecution, the gospel continued to spread. When men and women were martyred, others took their place and the torch of truth burned even brighter.

Meanwhile, the Pope had been sending millions of crusaders to the Holy Land in an attempt to wrest it from the Saracens, but this failed. Now Pope Innocent III saw a growing menace in the form of the various bodies of true believers such as the Albigenses, Waldenses, and others. He turned his fury back upon these people residing in southern France and northern Italy. “He resolved without loss of time to grapple with and crush the movement. He issued an edict enjoining the extermination of all heretics. Cities would be drowned in blood, kingdoms would be laid waste, art and civilization would perish, and the progress of the world would be rolled back for centuries; but not otherwise could the movement be arrested, and Rome saved.” Wylie, History of Protestantism, vol. 1, 39.

As the messengers of death and destruction carried out their evil work, some powerful and rich men, such as Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse became afraid. As the papal crusaders approached his dominion he recanted his faith only to be stripped of his territory and power. On the other hand some wealthy rulers, followers of the true faith, resisted the assaults of the Pope’s crusaders, only to have their people exterminated, holdings destroyed, and often their own lives taken as well. One such was Raymond Roger of Beziers. As the hordes of murderers drew near, he hastened to set up his defenses, but to no avail. He was overcome, all the citizens of his territory were killed, their houses looted and burned to ashes. Having gained control of the Albigenses territory, the Roman power turned to rooting out all heretics.

In 1233, Pope Gregory issued a bull giving the responsibility of establishing the Inquisition to the Dominicans. The Bishop of Tournay was given authority to complete the organization of that tribunal—the terror of Christendom—resulting in the death of so many faithful Christians. A council of Inquisitors was established in every city to seek out those not following the Roman demands. This council consisted of one priest and two laymen. They sought out the heretics in towns, houses, cellars, caves, woods, and fields and denounced them to the bishops. Then the people were tried, burned at the stake, and their dwellings leveled with the ground. Along with the religious extermination of many of the faithful, other cultural forms perished also. Education, liberty, art, and commerce all of which tended to enrich society, were swept away by a power seeking revenge, without regard to what was destroyed along with the hated Protestant heresy. The thirteenth century ended with the complete obliteration of the Protestantism of the Albigenses until the Reformation of the sixteenth century.

“Even during the world’s midnight, when the dark cloud of papal superstition was spread in blackness over the moral sky of the civilized nations, here and there a star was seen, bright, beautiful and peculiar, pouring celestial splendor upon the surrounding gloom. When Popery was the world’s despot—when, with all deceivablness of unrighteousness, the Man of Sin had ascended to the throne of universal dominion—when Rome, under the Pontiffs more than under the Ceasars, was the mistress of the world—when the Pope had successfully maintained his right to dispose of scepters and croziers, kingdoms and continents, according to his sovereign and arbitrary pleasure—when the kings and the chief captains of earth were his sycophants and serving men—even then there were multitudes of the meek and humble followers of our Savior who defied his power and refused to acknowledge his supremacy. And in this, history is the verification of prophecy. The same inspired seer that foretells the rise and reign of the Roman Anti-Christ, also predicts the persecutions and privations of those who, during the night of his dominion, should suffer for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God. The church of God, though cast down, was never destroyed.” William Jones, The History of the Christian Church, vol. 1, P2, P3.

In the middle of the eleventh century Berengarius appeared, the first to oppose the widespread papal teaching of transubstantiation. The bishops were alarmed at this opposition. They held six councils over the next twenty-five years, in which Berengarius’ teachings were discussed and condemned. He recanted three times when faced with the stake. However, upon his return to France he published his former views condemning transubstantiation. He died in his bed in 1088, expressing deep sorrow for his weakness.

We will briefly mention three more reformers: Peter de Bruys whose followers were named Petrobrussians, Henri of Italy whose followers were called Henricians. Both Peter and Henri were eventually seized and imprisoned; Peter was burned and Henri disappeared. We can only surmise what his end was. The third famous champion who battled for truth was Arnold of Brescia. This man labored untiringly to reform his church in Rome and in Germany. He, too, was burned at the stake.

“One is apt, from a cursory survey of the Christendom of those days, to conceive it as speckled with an almost endless variety of opinions and doctrines, and dotted all over with numerous and diverse religious sects. We read of the Waldenses on the south of the Alps, and the Albigenses on the north of these mountains. We are told of the Petrobrussians appearing in this year, and the Henricians rising in that. We see a company of Manicheans burned in one city, and a body of Paulicians martyred in another. We find the Petrini planting themselves in this province, and the Cathari spreading themselves over that other. We figure to ourselves as many conflicting creeds as there are rival standards; and we are on the point, perhaps, of bewailing this supposed diversity of opinion as a consequence of breaking loose from the ‘centre of unity’ in Rome. Some even of our religious historians seem haunted by the idea that each one of these many bodies is representative of a different dogma, and that dogma an error. The impression is a natural one, we own, but it is entirely erroneous. In this diversity there was a grand unity. It was substantially the same creed that was professed by all these bodies. They were all agreed in drawing their theology from the same Divine fountain. The Bible was their one infallible rule and authority. Its cardinal doctrines they embodied in their creed and exemplified in their lives.” Wylie, The History of Protestantism, vol. 1, 56.

All these men who believed and taught the Biblical apostolic faith were the antecedents of those later called Waldenses and Albigenses. Men who to the best of their ability attempted to develop a true church, whether to reform the present church or to raise up one that followed the Bible and the Bible only as a rule of faith. “Bruno and Berengaraius, Peter de Bruis and Henry his disciple, Arnold of Briscia, Peter Waldo, and Walter Lollard, seem to have been among the principal leaders of the Waldenses in ancient times. They all had numerous followers, who, according to the custom of the times, were called after the names of their leaders. We have the testimony of Mosheim, Robinson, and others, that the Papists comprehended all the adversaries of the Pope and the superstitions of Rome, under the general name of Waldenses. The Albigenses or Albienses, a large branch of this sect, were so denominated from the town of Albi, in France, where the Waldenses flourished.” David Benedict, A General History of the Baptist Denomination, 112.

“But here in the twelfth century, at the chair of Abelard, we stand at the parting of the ways. From this time we find three great parties and three great schools of thought in Europe. First there is the Protestant, in which we behold the Divine principle struggling to disentangle itself from Pagan and Gothic corruptions. Secondly, there is the Superstitious, which had now come to make all doctrine to consist in a belief of ‘the church’s’ inspiration, and all duty in an obedience to her authority. And thirdly, there is the Intellectual, which was just the reason of man endeavoring to shake off the trammels of Roman authority, and go forth and expatiate in the fields of free inquiry.” Wylie, The History of Protestantism, vol. 1, 57,58. And thus, through the development of intellectualism and skepticism, attempting to free themselves from the stranglehold of the authority of the Roman church, men planted the seeds of the French revolution and the age of reason. “The war against the Bible, carried forward for so many centuries in France, culminated in the scenes of the Revolution. That terrible outbreaking was but the legitimate results of Rome’s suppression of the Scriptures. It presented the most striking illustration which the world has ever witnessed of the working out of the papal policy—an illustration of the results to which for more than a thousand years the teaching of the Roman Church had been tending.” The Great Controversy, 266, 267.