Church

Past Life and Present Service

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As lives are entangled and ripped apart by sin; as men and women fall into the traps of Satan and his hosts; as people struggle through the gauntlets of daily life, what is the standard whereby an individual may come into the service of God?

There are many controversies raging in Adventism today. New ones seem to arise with each passing week. One, that seems to simmer on a back burner until loss of liquid takes place and burning results, is the belief that those who fall into sin must relinquish their public, full-time service for the Lord.

Ambassadors for Christ

It is not likely anyone would deny a man or a woman coming in from the world a place in the service of God. They have been in a frame of mind not in harmony with God. They carried on in life oblivious to the perils of sin, especially on an eternal scale. Once enlightened, they march in another direction, heaven bound with their armor on,

ready and willing to take their place in the army of Jesus. They are soldiers, ambassadors, workmen, fellow laborers, fitted up for service through conversion and training.

Examples of this class abound in Scripture. Moses, of course, was a murderer. Yet God used him in mighty ways for the deliverance of His people from Egyptian bondage. He had much to learn and to unlearn. On the other hand, Moses was held accountable for great light and privilege. In striking the rock, instead of speaking to it as God directed him, he was not allowed to enter the promised land with the children of Israel. (See Numbers 20:7-12.)

Though he exercised swift repentance and pled with the Lord for a reversed sentence, the judgment of God stood, and Moses died after 80 long years of service to his Maker, not entering the promised land. His earthly privileges and responsibilities were great, and the honor of God was to be held in supreme regard. Despite the great burdens placed upon Moses; despite the constant trial and weariness of his tasks, he could not be excused.

An Example for the Flock

“The history of Israel was to be placed on record for the instruction and warning of coming generations. Men of all future time must see the God of heaven as an impartial ruler, in no case justifying sin. But few realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Men flatter themselves that God is too good to punish the transgressor. But in the light of Bible history it is evident that God’s goodness and His love engage Him to deal with sin as an evil fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe.

“Not even the integrity and faithfulness of Moses could avert the retribution of his fault. God had forgiven the people greater transgressions, but He could not deal with sin in the leaders as in those who were led. He had honored Moses above every other man upon the earth. He had revealed to him His glory, and through him He had communicated His statutes to Israel. The fact that Moses had enjoyed so great light and knowledge made his sin more grievous. Past faithfulness will not atone for one wrong act. The greater the light and privileges granted to man, the greater is his responsibility, the more aggravated his failure, and the heavier his punishment.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 420.

This entire account is quite sobering. It requires deep reflection as we see movements afoot to organize and carry on the work of God in our world. Gospel order is no less required now than it was then. Service is a privilege, not a right. Positions of responsibility are just that—positions of responsibility.

Though God, in His tender love and mercy, granted to Moses the experience of resurrection and life in the eternal world, let it be ever remembered his earthly service had boundaries he could not cross with impunity. Still, the fact remains he continued to lead the Jews as they headed to the promised land.

Untrue to Your Trust

Another biblical character who enables us to address the issue of past life and present service would be Samson. Here was a human being with godly parents and tremendous potential. He squandered it all on various paths of riotous living and lack of self-control, even losing his eyesight to God’s enemies. Could God use such an individual if he repented? Indeed. In one heroic act, the most prominent worshipers of Dagon were destroyed, but so was the strongest man on earth. “God’s promise that through Samson He would ‘begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines’ was fulfilled; but how dark and terrible the record of that life which might have been a praise to God and a glory to the nation! Had Samson been true to his divine calling, the purpose of God could have been accomplished in his honor and exaltation. But he yielded to temptation and proved untrue to his trust, and his mission was fulfilled in defeat, bondage, and death.” Ibid., 567.

This bitter-sweet account in the annals of biblical history leaves us with the observation that repentance goes a long way in the eyes of the Lord toward accomplishing His purposes.

Another man of physical stature is in the historical record, the man Saul. Small in his own eyes, he was granted the position of being Israel’s first king. His connection with God was such that he was given the gift of prophecy. “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him: and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.” 1 Samuel 10:9, 10.

The Principle of God’s Kingdom

Again, the principles whereby God conducts the workings of His kingdom and government were violated, and Saul was rejected and met a gruesome end. Yet he remained the anointed of God in David’s eyes, leaving David with the conviction to leave Saul’s future in God’s hands until that end came. Much is at stake in considering this subject.

With David, with Solomon, and with others, these same principles have applied. Serving God in a position of responsibility is a privilege that must be kept in high esteem. Position does not give license or authority. Position is granted under conditions of being faithful to sacred trust. If sacred trust is violated, although one may repent, in the eyes of God, in the eyes of the people to whom he or she ministers, the sacredness of the work is marred.

Follow the Leader

The tendency for people to go the ways of those who are called to lead out is taken up numerous times in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit; “The spirit of Christ will be revealed in all who are born of God. Strife and contention cannot arise among those who are controlled by His Spirit. ‘Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.’ The church will rarely take a higher stand than is taken by her ministers. We need a converted ministry and a converted people. Shepherds who watch for souls as they that must give account will lead the flock on in paths of peace and holiness. Their success in this work will be in proportion to their own growth in grace and knowledge of the truth. When the teachers are sanctified, soul, body and spirit, they can impress upon the people the importance of such sanctification.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 227.

“The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people. While you open the door to pride, envy, doubt, and other sins, there will be strife, hatred, and every evil work. Jesus, the meek and lowly One, asks an entrance as your guest; but you are afraid to bid Him enter. He has spoken to us in both the Old and the New Testament; He is speaking to us still by His Spirit and His providences. His instructions are designed to make men true to God and true to themselves.” Ibid., 235.

“The state of things in ____ is a matter of deep regret. That which the Lord has been pleased to present before me has been of a character to give me pain. Whoever shall labor here or in ____ hereafter will have uphill work and must carry a heavy load because the work has not been faithfully bound off, but has been left in an unfinished state. And this is the more grievous because the failure is not wholly chargeable to worldliness and want of love for Jesus and the truth on the part of the people; but much of it lies at the door of the ministers, who, while laboring among them, have signally failed in their duty.” Ibid., 254, 255.

“The sad fact is apparent that the work in these fields ought to be years in advance of what it now is. The negligence on the part of the ministers has discouraged the people, and the lack of interest, self-sacrifice, and appreciation of the work on the part of the people has discouraged the ministers.” Ibid., 257.

Sin in the Ministry

If negligence can so retard the work, ought not sin in the ministry carry greater consequence? It is one thing to come in from the world and need instruction for service. It is quite another to be one of those instructors and prove unworthy of a position of trust. It tends toward weakness and casual approach to this sacred calling we all have as a prophetic movement. This is not about throwing stones. It is about principle. It is about sacred trust, sacred calling, and sacred service. “Historic Adventists must march to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. They should understand what so many others have largely forgotten – we all have an influence on others, every single day of our lives, for yea or nay.

Often the cry is heard, where affection for leaders is challenged, “Nobody is perfect!” Indeed. Not yet, anyway. And if a people expect God to perfect their characters in righteousness and holiness, how much should they honor Him by sustaining from His treasury only those who maintain a fidelity to His standards in all things.

The issue is not private service, but public service in the eyes of the people. Repentance unto salvation certainly cannot exclude the repentant sinner from doing all they can to win souls to so gracious a Savior. But the necessity of leaders who are as true as steel to Principle, as true as the needle to the pole, cannot be overstated.

“If men fail to educate themselves to become workers in the vineyard of the Lord, they might better be spared than not. It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.” Ibid.,vol. 3, 553.

How Grievous the Sin?

This well-known and oft used statement carries sound counsel. It speaks for itself. Certainly if one who lowers standards should not receive support, open sin should mean dismissal from public responsibilities. The question remains as to how grievous the sin and how badly one’s influence mars the work. Despite what we have looked at so far, not one individual was taken from their work at the time of their sin or its discovery. Through their repentance God was able to use them in His work. So, we must move wisely in such matters. God is Judge.

An example of a somewhat different sort is found in the New Testament, the story of John Mark.

John Mark joined Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey to the island of Cyprus. Young and full of exuberance, he had not counted the cost of joining such endeavors, and the time of hardship, privation, toil, and spiritual warfare took its toll on him. How his eyes must have become saucers when Paul went head to head with Elymas the sorcerer.

Some might have thought such confrontation to be fuel for their spiritual engines, but John Mark, apparently overwhelmed, left Paul and Barnabas in Perga and returned to his Jerusalem home. (See Acts 12:24–13:13.) Such was not the end of the matter.

After the success of the general council meeting at Jerusalem, Paul suggested to Barnabas they retrace their journeys and visit the various churches they saw raised up: “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” Acts 15:36-41.

Sharp contention was a foreign occurrence in the early church with the love of the brethren being so strong. Let it be noticed that Paul’s misgivings were not necessarily well founded, as time had gone by. Barnabas saw changes in John Mark that enabled him to hold his ground on behalf of the young man.

Paul saw the work of God in all its nakedness. It is not clothed with the affirmation and comforts of this world. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” ” …for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 6:26; 16:15.

“Barnabas was ready to go with Paul, but wished to take with them Mark, who had again decided to devote himself to the ministry. To this Paul objected. He ‘thought not good to take . . . with them’ one who during their first missionary journey had left them in a time of need. He was not inclined to excuse Mark’s weakness in deserting the work for the safety and comforts of home. He urged that one with so little stamina was unfitted for a work requiring patience, self-denial, bravery, devotion, faith, and a willingness to sacrifice, if need be, even life itself.” Acts of the Apostles, 202.

A Judgment Call

In this case there is a judgment call. It should be noticed they did not petition the Holy Spirit for guidance in the matter, something that lends itself to contentions among brethren when not done. Paul made an assessment based on past behavior, while Barnabas made an assessment based on John Mark’s spiritual progress. Open sin was not the issue. Whether or not John Mark was called of God was the issue. In such instances it behooves brethren to spend time in prayer over such matters, especially when this history is laid out before us.

John Mark proved worthy of Barnabas’ confidence, and he afterward proved a blessing to the work of Paul, as well. No one man can have all the answers where service to God is the matter at hand. Not Paul, not anyone. Where character and motives are concerned, where human frailty may be an issue, let brethren counsel together and ask wisdom of God. The work is His, and He alone knows the hearts of all men. If men repent of sin, if they are honest with God, He will convict them to step down if their influence cannot be redeemed. But we cannot read hearts. We cannot judge character or motives.

Because there is so little gospel order amongst those endeavoring to carry on the work of the Lord in spirit and in truth, such situations as sin, heresy, fanaticism, and disregard of counsel of true brethren is rather rampant. Until spiritual order and gospel order are brought in, doing things decently and in order will not happen. Self-sent ministers will continue to enter the field. Violators of God’s law and inspired counsels will continue to find ways to gather means and go forward with their agendas in the name of those endeavoring to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Open, Unrepented of Sin

If ever there was a time to understand past life and present service, it is now. Opinions abound, but what saith the Lord? Though God is in charge of His work, let us not make that license for the weak. Open sin, unrepented of, is grounds for dismissal of service and membership itself. Heresy cannot be allowed public exposure. Fanaticism will generally leave the confines of the church if it is met firmly. Men who disregard sound counsel, if left to themselves, will fall into fanaticism in one way or another. Then more accurate measures may be considered.

In all of these things, consider these words; “It is nearly forty years since organization was introduced among us as a people. I was one of the number who had an experience in establishing it from the first. I know the difficulties that had to be met, the evils which it was designed to correct, and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause.” Testimonies to Ministers, 24. [Emphasis added.]

“To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable.” Ibid. 26. [Emphasis added.]

Order and Discipline in the Church

“We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand His will, and light was given by His Spirit that there must be order and thorough discipline in the church—that organization was essential.” Ibid. [Emphasis added.]

I can only plead with people to read the Review and Herald article for October 12, 1905, to see how often organization is linked with order and discipline, something that has been lacking for many years in Historic Adventism. Dealing with the issue of past life and present service is almost moot without a correct understanding of God’s order.

We would throw no stones, but we must seek to keep the work of God free from careless endeavor and dishonor of God’s high calling in Christ Jesus. Let the people of the Lord come into line with the principles of God’s character, government and purposes, and act in accordance with them. (See The Great Controversy, 593.) We must never lose sight of mercy and compassion, nor lose sight of order and discipline.

Storm and tempest is soon to sweep away an old structure being battered by the seas of the Omega apostasy. But the God of heaven has a work to finish. If people grow weary of self-sent ministers and confusion, let the principles of the “grand success” once again be woven into the fabric of of God’s tabernacle of truth in these final days. (See Testimonies to Ministers, 27.)

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

Organization

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A Touchy Subject

The idea of organization has been a touchy subject among us as Seventh-day Adventists, even in the situation we now find ourselves in. It is a subject that needs to be approached with much tact, prayer and concern. However, I have observed, over the last few years, that we have been too quick to throw the baby out with the bath water. If something did not work correctly for us in the past, we are a little more gun shy now.

Why are we, as a movement, here? Because we want true fellowship; we want to be where God’s people are; we want cooperation; we want to hear the truth; we do not want it watered down.

Jesus is doing something here, folks, and we really need to do some deep thinking so that we understand the whys and the wherefores of what is really happening. It will give us a better understanding of what God expects from us in the future. We are where we are today because what we receive and what we desire to get we are not getting in the regular Seventh-day Adventist Churches.

I want to present to you our thoughts and concepts as we began to organize an association of small churches in Maine. We have had to come to grips with a lot of things, and I want to share these with you. I am not telling you that we have something with which you need to fall in line, but I hope this article will reaffirm concepts you have been forming.

Many of the things that I have mentioned are the exact reasons why I started going to independent meetings in my area almost 12 years ago. I wanted to hear things that were actuated and empowered by the Spirit of God! I would sit in the regular church, and I would say, “Why do I want to go to sleep? I should listen, but what am I hearing? Even though I am hearing words, I am really not hearing anything.”

Missing the Point

Communication is more than just words. It is the concepts and the spirit behind the communication. The idea that we see many of the things that are wrong within the regular church does not mean that we have really come clear of that completely. Often times my heart has been wrung over the years as we have basically licked our wounds and talked a lot about what the conference has done to us, and we have missed the whole point.

Take a look at some of the early settlers in this country who fled severe persecution in Europe, only to come here and pass religious laws and put people in stocks who did not follow their rules and regulations. I have often seen, in our groups in Maine, the same spirit that we condemn within the conference. So we have to ask, what is happening?.

What is happening is that the regular Seventh-day Adventist Church is not organized. You say, “What do you mean? They have conferences, pastors, teachers, conference presidents and all that.”

I want to introduce into your mind the concept that the Adventist movement, before it formed an organization in 1863, starting when the Michigan Conference was organized. They were spiritually organized, and this spiritual order is what we need to understand.

We seek to become involved in an outward organization that will facilitate doing God’s work, which I believe is necessary. But it is the icing on the cake. We have to understand true spiritual order, in order to have physical organization really function. Otherwise all we have done, again, is form another situation that will follow the track of Romanism at some point in time.

Some time ago I heard a friend of mine speak on apostasy. He quoted many things from the Bible and a lot of things from the Testimonies dealing with the alpha and the omega. Our eyes were opened. A lot of things that I had thought about were confirmed. I was thrilled to hear my thoughts echoed in what he said.

When I shared these things with fellow members in the Adventist Church, I was set back when I saw the displeasure on their faces. So my wife and I learned that there were places where we would be fed and there were other places where we would not.

Divisive and Disloyal?

After awhile we said, “Why should we go someplace where we are not fed when we can go to a place where we are fed?” To make a long story short, after two or three business meetings at the church, we were disfellowshipped for belonging to a divisive and disloyal organization. Well, I am sorry to say, brothers and sisters, to my disappointment and to the disappointment of others, within a year that organization folded.

It was an embarrassment to the Lord, and it was heart–rending to most of the participants. I now understand that even though it was an organization, it was not truly organized in gospel order. That was why, as soon as something came along that was controversial, everybody ducked and ran for their corners.

The problem is, brothers and sisters, our thinking, as Seventh-day Adventists, is in the same mode as the children of Israel when they said, “Let us make us a king.” (See 1 Samuel 18:5.)

Still Looking to Man

This organization was formed around a man. He was a very charismatic speaker, so people said, “Let us get together and raise funds so that you can speak.” It was based on an individual.

Now there is room for personal ministries, and they have filled a void, but if we look for people like that to fill those voids, instead of taking our own place in service, we are going to be in big trouble.

It is a human tendency to sit back and say, “Let us make us a king that will judge among us” and then have some kind of central government. But I believe that God would have a kingdom with Jesus as the Head. Christ said, “All ye are brethren,” (See Matthew 23:8) with an invisible but obvious Leader. When we learn to order ourselves in that manner, then we can go forward. Without ordering ourselves in this manner we cannot accomplish the work, neither can we have personal victory.

Some of us think, “I just cannot deal with other folks. I just want to go off by myself and get this right.” If we do this, at some point in time we are going to be missing out on the interaction that occurs among brethren and in the strengths and weaknesses that bind us together. When we work in concert, we can be balanced.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffer-ing, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1–3.

Many times I have seen division after division after division take place. If you have not, brothers and sisters, I feel thankful for you, but I have seen this so many times in so many groups. I have heard of it in so many different places and people ask “Why?” Oftentimes we think these divisions are of little consequence, because we are in the shaking time. There are those who are going to depart from us.

But in Ephesians 4, Paul said that we must endeavor to keep “the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.” He did not say endeavor to make it but endeavoring to keep it. You would not get married to someone you did not love with the hope that, just because you were getting married, you would love each other eventually.

Just Living Together, but Never Married!

Oftentimes that is what so-called Christianity is doing today in ecumenism. “Well, let us just get together and live together because we have some common goals and we will put all these other things aside for now.” That is not what God is asking for. He is wants us to become one, as He and the Father are one. That occurs through sanctification of the truth.

The disciples did not fully understand it, being brought up in the system in which they were. They had been taught to look for a temporal kingdom and a temporal king. Jesus would often try to teach them a lesson but their minds would be darkened because of their own preconceived ideas. Jesus would tell them, “Oh, but My kingdom is like this,” and He would try to give them an example. (See John 18:36.) They did many things which showed that, even though they were teachable, there were still wrong ideas within them.

We are dealing with the same thing today. We cannot make unity. God in His Spirit, within us, draws us into unity, but we have to understand the concepts of Christian conduct among ourselves so we know how to conduct ourselves in the church for God.

There are things that we are doing that God would not have us to do, and there are things that we are not doing that God would have us to do. There is conduct that is acceptable, and there is conduct that is not acceptable. If we have an intelligent faith, God expects us to study His Word and come into line.

We may talk to 20 different people and come up with 20 different ideas of organization. My friend has often said, “There is the “Big O” organization and there is the “Little o” being organized.” There is no way that anybody can efficiently do anything or amount to anything unless they are organized.

In the Testimonies the Servant of the Lord has told us that God’s angels are not authorized to work with confusion. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, 649.) Orderly conduct, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that He ascended, what is it but He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.” Ephesians 4:3–10.

New life, new spirit—the human carnal nature that is within us must be eradicated in order to have true unity.

I am not saying that we cannot go forward unless we all have perfect victory. I am saying we need to be aware of what spirit is within us and what that Spirit leads us to do, as far as conduct within our family, within the church, or within larger groups.

Responsibility Within the Church

When there is no order within the home, that disorder spills over into a lack of order within the church. I am not talking about being a hard, dictatorial individual who drives your family. We, as men and fathers, women and mothers, grandparents or children, have a place within the family, a responsibility, and we must fulfill it in a diligent manner. Otherwise there is going to be trouble in the family.

It is also true in the church. There are those whom God has given to fill places of responsibility in the church. If those people take more responsibility than what God has given them, there is trouble. If they do not take the responsibility that God has given them, there is trouble. So we cannot go either way; and since we are gun shy of organization, because of what the “Big O”organization has been doing, we will find ourselves going to perdition because we lack order and organization among us.

Brothers and sisters, there is no option. It is mandatory that we have order. We are forming no new organization, and we encourage no one else to form a new organization. This organization has been around since before this world existed. This organization is still there, existing, in place. The only problem is that we do not understand where our place is to function within it.

Jesus Christ is now calling for all of those who have faith to fall into line and to understand their place within the temple of God. When we fall into line, it will start a domino effect for perfection of character, for the building up of the church and for an understanding of the truth. We will no longer be divided and will not be tossed around by every wind of doctrine. Those things have come in among us and have given us all heartache, trouble, contention and confusion. It is not God’s will. It is because we are not organized.

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11. Here are the gifts. He has given gifts to men, not positions of authority but positions of responsibility. These positions of responsibility are given straight from the Commander to those generals whom He has chosen as leaders.

Christ has set these positions in place. If these are not soon coming about within historic Adventism, we are in trouble. We have no right to point to the regular Seventh-day Adventist Church and say, “Shame on you.” Shame on us! We are in as much trouble, if not more than them, because our knowledge of truth should be greater than those who say, “Well, I just do not care. I think we just ought to love.”

If we serve God with a faith that is based upon correct and right principles, we have an intelligent faith. These positions of responsibility Jesus put within His church, not to function as independent atoms but to culminate and work in concert with all the rest of the people and with the other gifts within the church, “For the perfecting of the saints,” (See Ephesians 4:12), bringing about character development.

Do We Really Love God?

We have talked many times in groups, as brothers and sisters, about the concept of character perfection. I am sure that most of us understand that God expects us to overcome every sin. Just to say that I love Jesus is not good enough.

The overcoming of every sin is not going to happen until things come to order in the church. Yes, sin is personal between you and God. It effects the group, however, when individual problems come to the surface. How do you deal with that? There is a tactful way to give counsel. If my brother is at fault, or if people begin to realize that I am off balance, then we say, “Help me, brother. Help me, sister, to see where I should put my next footstep.”

Working in concert within a group, as brethren, begins to give balance and provides a format where people can see those deep rooted tendencies they have not seen. The way things are now, if someone is continually coming up with a problem, how are they to know? They will think it is because so-and-so put them in that situation. They have no way to sit down to bring about justice, to have good counsel and to deal with problems that arise in the church.

How are you really going to follow Matthew 18 through in most cases? It is impossible. “…for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:12–16.

How is this working together in concert to happen? This is the key to understanding where we stand before God and how we proceed. Often we have said, “Well, let us just go do the work.” We have tried that with sometimes success and sometimes very limited success. I dare say that God is not going to bring in that great influx of people, which we have been promised, until things are done decently and in order.

People are not foolish. They are not spiritually dumb, and they are not ignorant. These people are wide awake. They understand issues. They just have not had everything revealed to them, and I dare say that God is not taking the blinders off, in many cases. Oftentimes, all they would be brought into is a very discouraging circumstance of wrangling, faultfinding, backbiting, gossiping, self-righteousness, and condemnation of someone because they are not following the convictions of the one doing the condemning.

There are going to be problems, but when people come in and see the love of God brought about in an orderly fashion, they will know this is completely different than what they experience anywhere else.

Choose Ye This Day—God or Man?

Everywhere else man rules! And where man rules, one man is exalted and other men are put down. That situation is never going to bring about perfection of Christian character. All it is going to do is discourage character development and produce fanaticism.

Another situation we have to deal with is that God expects us to come into unity and all speak the same thing. Unless you are greatly immune from what we in New England have experienced, every wind of doctrine has also blown your way. In many cases some of these winds of doctrines have not necessarily been that far off from truth. We have kind of puzzled over them to see what is really occurring. Remember, communication is more than words. We have to learn to detect the spiritual undertow of what is presented.

We have come to the conclusion that many of these people have one prominent issue. It is on their mind, and they come and teach this one prominent issue. Even if you may not disagree, they want you to stand fully for that issue. Sister White calls these people “one-idea people.” (See Gospel Workers, 1915 edition, 119.) They have made this one issue the prominent test. That is it.

So accepting or rejecting that one issue determines whether you are in their group or whether you are not in their group. This has caused more division or heartache than is imaginable. If you have had trouble with that, and I am sure you have to some extent, remember, there are testing truths that God has given, which are not optional.

The Issue

The message we have to take to the world, to warn the world; the information we need in order to put together the nuts and bolts of a practical Christian character; the sealing of ourselves, our families and those out there in the world, is the issue.

If we are ever going to accomplish this work and go home to see our Saviour, we must come to the point where we ask, “What is the priority?” The concepts that are involved in the Three Angels’ Messages apply to our lives, and when taught and applied to the lives of others, they are the key to going home. It is the key to finishing the sealing so Christ can finish His work in the Most Holy Place, is it not?

If Satan can distract us on any other issue, so that we are waylaid, held up, and resources expended in any other way, even though it may be an important issue, we have failed to address the prominent emergency of the day. That is where we need to get centered. What are those issues?

In New England, we are, as you know, very strong personality people, and there have been issues that have divided us. We have had to come together and say, “We believe at this point in time that some of these issues can be tabled for now because there is a situation on which we must go forward, otherwise things will not progress, and we will not progress personally either.”

Remember the divisions in Corinth? Paul wrote them a letter. He said, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10.

Isaiah 9 says that Christ’s kingdom is going to be set up and He is going to order it in justice and judgment. How many folks have gone out from groups like ours because there was no justice and there was no judgment?

We Cannot go Back

That has to stop! Jesus would bring in justice and judgment, but He wants us to all speak the same thing! What is it? Now truth runs close to error. You have those people out there saying, “You believe one thing; we believe another. Let us just put aside our differences and work together.” My reply would be, “No, we cannot just put our differences aside. We need to resolve our differences.”

There needs to be some fence mending. There needs to be some prayer and fasting so we can find out where we are not in harmony with God’s order. That is a must! “I will have you all speak the same mind,” He said. Why were they not speaking the same thing and why were they not of the same mind?

It is very obvious that in Corinth the people were choosing men to lead them. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:11, 12.

It is the human tendency to make a king. This was brought out to me on one of our brother’s back lawns a few weeks ago. As we began to come together, we read the chapter in Patriarchs and Prophets of when the children of Israel finally asked for a king. They came to Samuel. They had already been thinking about this, and they said, “Your sons are not just. So we want a king to reign over us and to judge us.” Ibid., 604.

How often I have heard it said that if the regular church would stop celebrating; if they would stop some of the erroneous training of the pastors; if that (and the list goes on) was corrected, then we could go back. I say to you what Jesus said to His disciples when they suggested the same thing: “You cannot put new wine into old bottles lest the old bottles burst.” (See Matthew 9:17.) Brothers and sisters, I believe that we could not go back into the regular church unless the whole thing was set up on completely different principles.

In order to do that you would have to dismantle it from top to bottom. To say that just putting different men in those positions would correct the problem is not the right concept. Look around you. We have done that. It is still a human tendency to set up these kingdoms with a prominent individual that we can look at and say, “Here, world, here is a charismatic individual, a steady, spiritual individual. He is our leader.”

Are You Asleep in the Pew?

As we have looked at the regular church with the pastors who are man–made leaders just because they have gone through the system and have been ordained, it seems the people think, “Well, he has to be God’s appointed.” Well, no! Then you have the people who sit in the pews and say “Amen” to whatever they hear. But if somebody new comes along who is not endorsed by those in authority, then these same people find fault with him, no matter what is said.

I have also seen this within the independent ministries. It is still not so much what is spoken as how it is spoken and by whom it is advocated. We have to get over that hump. We have to come to the place where we stop looking for a human king and start looking for our King Jesus. Then all of us can come into line and say, “All of us are brethren.” (See Matthew 23:8.) Paul said, “I would have you all of the same mind, the same judgment.” (See
1 Corinthians 1:10.) The reason they were not of the same mind is that they were following different leaders and receiving a different spirit.

You know, the disciples had their problems. Upon their return from a missionary tour, John said to Jesus, “…Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of me.” Mark 9:38, 39.

So even the disciples had the concept that if someone was not part of their group, then they were not with the program. This is the thinking that we have.

We are No Man’s Master!

There have been more ills caused in Adventism because we have not understood that we are not mind and judgment for our brothers. We are to be wise counselors, but we are not another man’s master. Christ is the Master of all. In giving counsel we can give information, but then, if the individual is not involved in open error or open sin, that brother or sister must follow their own convictions, even though we do not agree.

Many times we have not discerned the difference between counsel and law. For instance, we are told that Eve was counseled not to leave the side of her husband. (See Early Writings, 147, 148.) Did she sin when she left his side? No, she did not. She did not sin until she ate of the tree, but departing from that counsel was the first step leading up to her sin.

So there are things we have been counseled to do and not to do. We need to heed that counsel very closely, and if we expect to honor God, we will. When someone else has departed from that counsel, we cannot treat them as though they have transgressed.

There is a great difference there. Out of that misunderstanding we have the “dress police,” and we have the “food police.” We have people who will, at a potluck dinner, scrutinize the food to the point where they do not even want to be there, or eat, because somebody has brought something that is not quite what they are convicted ought to be on the table. God is not asking us to be somebody else’s policeman. We are not to be mind and judgment for someone else. Many times we watch our brethren to see where they are in the faith, rather than examining our own hearts to see whether we are in the faith.

Louder than Words?

There is, however, a condition where we seek Christ’s approval, and then we go ahead and do things to the contrary. How many times have we made mistakes because we want to be seen as good Christians, yet we have neglected to do the things that God says constitutes being a good Christian. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:9–12.

So the idea of being exalted, as opposed to being brethren and servants, was formed. I think if we sat down with His disciples at the time, they would not realize that they thought that way. I think it is that way among us, too, even though we talk about being a servant and being the least; our natural tendencies like to take over. Actions speak louder than words.

Often our actions have said that we would like to be first. Jesus said this could not be. You know, we talk about the pope and all of these things that go on in Romanism, and a lot of times we miss the point that what is wrong with Romanism is the exaltation of man in the place of God and the putting down of other men. That exists among us today. You do not just have to look to the structured church to see that.

Primitive Godliness?

If there is anything that I can impress upon your minds, it is this: we have not fully understood the deep underlying reasons and concepts of what has really happened within the structured church and why we are where we are. We need to understand those, and we need to understand it like the disciples did.

Look at Acts 1:6. The disciples had gone through so much. They had Jesus, Who was raised right before their faces, and still they asked, “…Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” These men still had not come to an understanding of what Jesus was saying when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom is spiritual. The words that I speak unto you are spirit and they are life.” (See John 18:36.)

They were still looking for a temporal kingdom and they wanted somebody on that throne. However, Jesus said to them, “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. You know, it is so wonderful how Jesus does things, and it is something that we have to learn about counseling people.

Oftentimes people are doing something, and we would like to say, “Do not do that!” Jesus, rather than hitting them on that point would draw them onto a higher plane of truth. He would almost avoid the subject, but He would take them beyond that situation.

Another place He said, “…but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. So these individuals were put in a situation where they were to tarry. They fellow-shipped together. They prayed together and something began to happen. “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots….” Acts 1:24, 25.

Now look at Acts 2:1. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Now everybody in the world cannot get together in one place, but it says to not neglect the gathering of yourselves together as you see that day approaching. As these men were together in one place, the Spirit of God began to work on their hearts and they began to see how they had been treating each other.

Me, First!

They had been putting themselves first; they were looking for a king, but who did they really want for a king? They wanted to be a king themselves. They realized of what spirit they were, and they then began to confess their faults among one another.

They started to mend some fences and go to their brothers and say, “Look, I am sorry how I did this, and said that, and how I injured you.” I believe they started to get very specific in how they had been doing things to one another.

That is what I think needs to be done among groups where there have been divisions. There may be such a broad area of doctrinal difference that healing cannot occur. There may be other individuals who cannot work closely together because of their strong tendencies. But certainly these things, the strife and contention that we have had among us, must be put away. It cannot be shuffled under the carpet. It has to be resolved.

The apostles began to repent of their sins before God, and that prepared the way. “…suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And their appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:2–4.

Some have said that Acts of the Apostles would be more rightly titled, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. These men came into order; they came to a place where they could go no other way. They realized that what they had been taught was going nowhere. They had run right into a theological wall, and they had to rethink everything. There was no place for them to go. They could not turn around and go back to the Sanhedrin; they knew that was not going to work. So they had nothing left to do but to resolve things. They saw, that even though there was contention, differences and strong personalities, these were the people whom God was going to use to move His work forward as soon as they received the Spirit of God.

In that situation, God could fill them. Then they were teachable. They were no longer like Peter saying, “I can do it!” But they were meek, saying, “Let us have faith and God will guide us.”

Suspicious of Ourselves

They became what the Servant of the Lord has often talked about; we should be more suspicious of ourselves than we are of others. (See Review and Herald, April 15, 1880; Ibid., October 29, 1901.) Many of you have probably been in the Adventist Church all of your lives. I think that we should be more suspicious of ourselves than we are of the structured church.

We have a great knowledge, and we need to be suspicious of ourselves. As we come before God and allow Him to point out where we have erred, we will be a lot more gracious with our brothers and sisters as they err.

Acts continues to tell about how they preached; and many dwelling in Jerusalem were added to the church that God would have saved. God is not adding all to the church today that need to be saved, and there is a good reason for it.

Gun Shy

Brothers and sisters, I want to appeal to you today. We, as Seventh-day Adventists have been so gun shy of organization, because it has been drummed into our heads from the time we were small that the Adventist Church is the last church. It is God’s only church. Just stick with the church. But God is going to sift the sinners out of Zion. Quotes from the Testimonies have been misused to contradict clear and plain “Thus saith the Lord” from Scripture on coming into order. We must come into order!

Over one hundred years ago, the Servant of the Lord wrote, “I would hope there would not be another coming out.” She lays down principle, and the principle is bigotry. If you look it up you will find that bigotry comes from a term that is meant to take an oath, to dig in your heels, personal opinion. “This is where I am going to stand. I am not going to move.” That is not what God would have. It is also synonymous with what the Scripture calls a heretic. Someone who is an opinionated person. We need people who are able to move with a “Thus saith the Lord.” If you have taken a position and you are not willing to move when more light is given, you have a serious problem. That is going to cause division, too.

There is much need of men who will hold to principle, who are able to say, “I am sorry,” when they have erred. That is what we need today. People who are able to say, “I am sorry. I really messed up. I believed that this was the issue. I believed this is where we were supposed to stand, but now that I have had more light revealed to me, I see where I have been mistaken, and we need to move along in this other area.” That would be a great change of spirit from what I have seen over the years.

To be Organized?

So these are the principles and concepts that we need to understand to move forward. This is the “Little o” that my friend is talking about, a physical organization on top of the spiritual organization.

Just because the “Big O,” which has become a monster of its own, is coming after the church, does not mean that we should not have the “Little o” organized. We must be organized. You cannot do anything officially without being organized, and God and all beings in the universe are very well organized. Order must come into our ranks.

Spiritual Order

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“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and be holding your order, and steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5

Recently much discussion has entered the arena of ideas regarding “gospel order” and “organization” of smaller bodies of believers, either within their own groups or as groups joining together. Many necessities have arisen in these late hours of earth’s history that are making such discussions imperative.

Fair or Foul Usage

In considering the practical and physical nature of order and organization, we would do well to consider the spiritual order necessary to make anything of a practical nature function correctly. There are many who are afraid of physical organization, believing such endeavors are doors to corruption. The early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers faced 20 years of such fear before settling into that which proved a “grand success.” (See General Conference Bulletins, April 10, 1903; General Conference Daily Bulletins. January 29, 1893; February 20, 1899.)

Everyone reading this probably has a five dollar bill in their wallet or purse. A great deal of time, thought, expense, and machinery went into the process of producing that small piece of paper. Users of that denominated bill can either purchase lunch, gasoline, or a pornographic magazine if they so choose. The bill itself is not compromised by fair or foul usage. It is the user who decides the final issue of its value.

One of the main reasons people fear organization in religious fields arises from the premise that it is an open door to a hierarchy developing. Hierarchies have certainly developed. Some, like the papacy, put it right on paper. Others put on paper principles of gospel order and representative systems of governance, but in practice they are veritable papal machines functioning as “rule or ruin” systems. The paperwork is invalidated by men, in positions of responsibility, either ignorant, blind, or defiant of inspired directions in these matters. The heart is not right. The head becomes confused. The results become a detriment to the progress of Christ’s church.

The True Foundation

Spiritual order is the true foundation often missing from efforts to organize a work for God. I trust readers are well aware of the many statements from the Spirit of Prophecy, which deal with the topic. Two should provide an adequate perspective;

“Organizations, institutions, unless kept by the power of God, will work under Satan’s dictation to bring men under the control of men; and fraud and guile will bear the semblance of zeal for the truth and for the advancement of the kingdom of God.” Testimonies to Ministers, 366.

“There is too much reliance upon human plans and methods, and too little faith in the mighty God of Jacob; too much machinery, and too little of the life-giving Spirit and power of the Most High.” Signs of the Times, June 30, 1881.

A Tool to Further God’s Work

Literally hundreds of other statements can be read to get the balance of intent where organization, machinery and kindred terms are found. Organization and the elements of organization are essential for the oversight and forwarding of God’s message in this world. Positions of responsibility can be faithfully carried out, or people can fall into being betrayers of sacred trust. Such actions are not a call to dismantle order and organization. They just show the perversions that can enter. Let it be remembered that rebellion broke out even in heaven. No amount of organization can keep things spiritual, period. Organization is a tool to be used by spiritual people to forward a work for God in this world. It is not to be feared but respected and utilized, as one would use any tool to accomplish a purpose.

This brings us to principles of spiritual order from the Holy Bible by which we can be blessed. They are simple things, but oh, how often forgotten or not given proper consideration.

Here is the bottom line, the foundation:

“…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:4, 5.

Every problem within organization stems from this situation first. If, in this politically correct world of ours, spiritual people cannot detect whether individuals placed in positions of responsibility are spiritual people themselves, we are in a most destitute situation, indeed. This is not judging salvation. This is not deciding who is weak in faith or strong. It is simply knowing who is a citizen of God’s kingdom by new birth, and who is not, by virtue of observing the fruits of life—love for God and love to our fellowman. If this cannot be known or observed in practical ways, let us call it a day and close up shop. But spirituality can be observed. It must be observed.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

Sung over and over again, as a Scripture song, the foundational principle here stated is almost lost amongst a people who regularly put men on pedestals, in the place of God, run the church like a Madison Avenue business or some secular country, when Jesus plainly stated – My kingdom is not of this world. The pure, worthy, heavenly, biblical prinicples that make up the governing of God’s kingdom must be sought, known and practiced if any kind of physical organization is to function well. They cannot be found in the kingdoms or corporations of this world. They are found only in Inspiration and the things of nature that God has created for our instruction.

Christ’s Righteousness Must be Exalted

All efforts to organize must center on the exaltation of Christ’s righteousness. No uplifting of the talents, accomplishments, education or banners and methods of man should be given entrance into the work of God. We are all sinners in need of a Saviour. We are all prone to self-centeredness. We are all bound to seek the comfort and affirmation of men in a crisis, rather than hold the line for God in the face of scowls, slicing words, or death. Teach, or let people look to men, and they will. They will bypass or replace counseling together with permission to go forward. A thus saith the Lord is replaced by a thus saith men. The principles of Bible truth are replaced by the rules, resolutions, regulations, policies, mandates and commandments of men. Nobody, with the glory of Christ’s righteousness shining through, will seek anything but the knowledge of God’s character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them, Great Controversy, 593. Whatever cannot be shown to aid in the believer’s attainment, by faith, of Christ’s righteousness cannot be made hard and fast. Let much prayer and thought go into this premise. Jesus knew about what He was speaking.

This leads us into another foundational principle. “…all ye are brethren.” Mat-
thew 23:8. There is only one King, one Head on one set of shoulders, upon which the government rests. There is one Lawgiver. How easy for sincere people to set men, called of God to do a work for Him, in the place of God Himself. It cannot be overstated how dangerous this is. It is very prevalent in all circles today and must cease. If we cannot humble ourselves and knock down the pedestals, God will.

“But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28.

If men seek position, authority, dominion or greatness, they have not the spiritual order necessary to be involved in the work of God on earth.

In Luke 22:24-34, the same scenario is portrayed, with the added situation of Peter’s need for conversion to strengthen his brethren, and his confident statement of loyalty; to which Jesus told him of his coming denial.

We Must be “Servants”

Let the passage speak to the issue. Conversion, and realizing we are to be servants, is so necessary to successful organization; without it, all the talent on earth will accomplish only pain and trouble.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:…” Matthew 18:15.

In Matthew 7:1–5, and Matthew 18:15–20, we read of basic principles of spiritual order that are constantly neglected to the destruction of souls. Now, let it be understood that Jesus said to “…judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24. But can you imagine a person with a ceiling beam sticking out of his face trying to tell someone how to get a sliver out of his eye? Jesus portrayed a preposterous situation to illustrate a plain truth; make sure your own heart and life are right with God before you get to thinking how to straighten out someone else’s life. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. How simple, and yet how foreign to much of what exists in religion today amongst God’s professed people, in the home and in the church. Certainly no organization can function properly where such principles are not carried out or found. Oh Lord, help Thy people to have spiritual order in every aspect of our lives.

A Heart Problem

Gossip and backbiting are poisons and disease that are eating out the life of the church in every quarter. Things ripple through the pews with such speed that surely the Seventh-day Adventist grapevine is the fastest communication system on earth! It is a heart problem that has nothing to do with districts, conferences, unions, positions of responsibility, printing presses, schools, or health institutions. There is such a lack of true brotherhood amongst God’s professed people that such illness is common rather than rare. Organization cannot stop it. Heaven could not stop it. Lucifer did what he did, and God allowed it to have its unfortunate results that we might learn the futility and destructive nature of these things. (See Patriarchs and Prophets, 41-42; paperback, 17, 18.)

Lucifer attacked God’s character, government and purposes. Spiritual order in heaven broke down. Rebellion broke out. War resulted. A separation took place. Do not miss the points. There is nothing new under the sun.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

In all things, restoration to God’s ideals is the influence that should be seen and practiced by God’s people. Tear down sin; do not tear down people.

Antichristian Behavior

Does the student of the Bible realize there is not a single instance in the gospels where Jesus verbally stated the problems people had with their personalities, characters, motives or methods—unless He was outright asked, addressed, or had people gather around Him to listen to Him teach principles that spoke to people’s hearts? Until people have that spiritual order that leaves the flaws of character, motive, personality, and methods (not out of harmony with a distinct biblical command) of others in the hands of God, we shall wander in the wilderness for generations to come, biting and devouring until a generation gets it right. We will never prepare for heaven while living out such antichristian behavior.

Consider these two stories and their import:

“And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid Him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” Mark 9:38–40.

If men forbid others because they are not “with the program,” if they display a “party spirit” or have that “company man” mentality, know they are not possessors of God’s spiritual order and will promote human wisdom over God’s revealed will.

In Luke 9:46-56 the same story is mentioned with the addition of comments by the “Sons of Thunder.” (See Mark 3:17.) When Jesus was not allowed to enter a village of the Samaritans because of their prejudice, James and John responded:

“Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did?” Jesus responded, rebuking them with the perfect words,
“Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:54–56.

To Build Up the Body of Christ

If men display self-importance, if they display bigotry or prejudice, or seek to hurt or destroy with ideas contrary to God’s government and kingdom, they have not the spiritual order that will build up the body. It is one thing to speak out against open sin and rebellion. It is another thing to deal with people as though we are engaged in a military conflict or sporting event. We war, but with spiritual weapons, not carnal ones. We race, but we do so that all may receive the crown of life, knowing we are in an endurance race, not a sprint to the finish line.

The book of Acts is filled with such harmony, brotherhood, love and power that one looks almost in vain to find any dissension. The murmuring of the Grecian converts, in chapter 6:1, which resulted in the office of deacons, is recorded. In chapter 15 we see the sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark’s usefulness; something that was settled for the good of all with the insights, confidence and courage displayed by Barnabas. Would you be willing to disagree with the apostle Paul for the good of God’s work, or would Paul’s word settle a matter? Do not miss the point there.

In Acts 21:17–40, we have the unfortunate story of leaders having no confidence in Paul, this time around, which grew from having no spiritual order and little faith. Paul was asked to compromise his own principles, which he did to keep peace and unity. It cost the church the freedom of its greatest missionary. The leaders had no authority to place Paul under unnecessary restrictions, and their cowardice is a testament to what lack of brotherly love can cost God’s movement.

The Plague of Unbelief

There is, though, an underlying stone of offence that appears frequently in the book of Acts, as well as the epistles. In Acts 14 we see the influence of unbelieving Jews, and Acts 15 relates to us, in revealing detail, the problems that Judaizers would give the movement for years.

Unbelief is a plague, of course. No one would deny that. What could be less spiritual? But when it has the semblance of zeal for God and for His people, then it is most perfidious.

“But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.” Acts 14:2. What can be worse than former brethren and the trouble they can cause? Without spiritual order, and organization, an unraveling of the fabric of God can swiftly take place. Paul understood the issues and the times. He boldly spoke to these unbelievers and told them if they didn’t want the truth and the torch he would turn and watch God give it to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46; 14:3. True, they had to flee stoning (verse 5), but there is never a dull moment in the army of the Lord, beloved. Let us understand well that spiritual point. “All they that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (See 2 Timothy 3:12.)

In Acts 15 the issues came to a head within the body itself. If there is one thing that can slow down or derail the train of salvation, it is the misunderstanding of the plan of salvation. The Judaizers taught, “…Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1. It did not seem to dawn on these souls that if circumcision actually saved anyone, half the human race (females) were left out. No small dissension and disputation arose. The Jerusalem council was called; Peter spoke the obvious, that the Holy Spirit had already decided the matter, and why put yokes on people no one was able to bear (generation after generation of false thinking)?

Is it not so that in our day there is tremendous misunderstanding of the plan of salvation, unto translation to heaven, throughout the ranks of God’s professed people? Rest assured, God has, and will continue to have, a movement where these precious truths are understood and proclaimed. But let it also be known that any type of physical organization that has people making up its numbers who do not understand God’s plan of redemption—from justification to sanctification to glorification—will find continual weak links in the chain of pulling souls from the quicksand of sin onto the solid rock of salvation.

The Mortar of Wise, Praying Builders

The entire Bible is filled with God’s spiritual order. We have looked at but a few places of foundational interest. It is the conviction of the author that a “new movement” in Adventism, a “reformation,” has been underway for a century. Its results can be clearly seen in the confusion that abounds. When a people see that independent atoms cannot be God’s plan for success, when it is realized there is need for organization more than ever before, let the principles of spiritual order be experienced and put into the mortar of wise, prayerful builders.

The reader is asked to notice the scope of order and organization employed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13. He quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 as a foundational principle in dealing with all issues in verse 1; that at the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established. He asserts his authority to speak to the issue of unrepentant sinners in verse 2, especially in the light of those who have challenged his calling as an apostle.

He pleads for self-examination, whether we be in the faith; that faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). He states we cannot do anything against the truth in verse 8, and wishes for the perfection of his readers (verse 9), knowing the power of the truth to sanctify the believer.

He wrote to his children in the faith unto their edification, not destruction (verse 10), knowing, at times, that spiritual order calls for plain speaking. There certainly is need for plain speaking in our day.

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:11-14.

Partners with the Holy Spirit

Beloved, if people are experiencing the power of the grace of Jesus and the love of God; if they are partners with the Holy Spirit; if they are praying together and truly studying together to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth, spiritual order will prevail, physical organizations and structures will remain steadfast, on course, having timbers of integrity that will resist storm and tempest, and God will move mightily in this world again. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) True, the time is coming when men will not be able to buy or sell. Property will be confiscated. Buildings will be taken away. Things will boil down to the simplest of actions and order. Probation will close. God’s judgments against the false orders and organizations of this world will fall, and we shall go home. Home! That place where perfect peace and order shall exist forevermore. But, until then, let us do every-thing decently and in order. (See 1 Corinthians 14:40.) God’s order. Let us go home.

Do You Really Love Jesus? Part I

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Do you love Jesus? Do you really love Jesus? I hope that you do, and I hope I do. I want to study with you one very important aspect of having love for Jesus which, if we understand it, will bring us into much more unity.

In Revelation 12:17 it says, “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Is the devil extra mad at just those who keep the Ten Commandments? No. It is good to keep the Ten Commandments, but I tell you, there is more to it than just keeping the seventh–day Sabbath and the other nine commandments. It says, “…and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Some people, even those who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists and claim to believe in Ellen White, say that this verse is not a prophecy about Ellen White and the Spirit of Prophecy. Even though Revelation 19:10 says the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, some still deny this. If they do claim to believe in Ellen White, then let us see what Ellen White has to say about it.

As a true prophet, she does not go around bragging, claiming that this verse in Revelation is about her. True prophets do not brag. That is one of the marks of her being a true prophet. But consider this quote in Testimonies to Ministers, 114, “We have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” She is referring to Revelation 12:17. But she continues, “We have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the Spirit of Prophecy.” So if you are going to believe in Ellen White, then you are going to believe that Revelation 12:17 is about the Spirit of Prophecy.

In Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:8, 9, John the Revelator starts to worship the angel, and the angel says, “No, worship God. I am thy fellowservant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus and thy brethren the prophets.”

If you compare those verses, one verse puts in the testimony of Jesus and the other verse puts in the prophet, the testimony of Jesus and the prophets. That is all the prophets, of course, not just Ellen White, but other Bible prophets as well, constitute the testimony of Jesus Christ.

“Our work is to proclaim the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Selected Messages, book 2, 116. What is our work? It is to preach the law to the world, the seventh–day Sabbath, the Ten Commandments, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Prophecy.

Two great errors of doctrine that are mentioned in The Great Controversy, 588 are the natural immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness. But there are really three fundamental subjects, according to Mrs. White, which are very important in the end time.

“The subjects of the Sabbath, the nature of man, and the testimony of Jesus are the great and important truths to be understood; these will prove as an anchor to hold God’s people in these perilous times.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 300.

What is important according to this quote? The Spirit of Prophecy, the testimony of Jesus, is very important. It is right up there with the Sabbath and the state of the dead.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5, 6.

If you have read the New Testament, you know what Jesus said John the Baptist was the Elias which was to come. In Luke 1:17 it even quotes from Malachi 4:6, “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.” So John the Baptist was a fulfillment of this Elijah prophecy. But it was not only John the Baptist who was to fulfill this prophecy, because the great and dreadful day of the Lord is primarily, throughout the Scriptures, referring to the Second Advent.

Elijah, the prophet before the Second Advent, was also to fulfill this prophecy of Malachi 4:5, 6. Once again Ellen White did not brag; never once did she say, “I am the Elijah prophet.” In fact, she never even said she was a prophet. This alone is pretty strong evidence, in and of itself, that she was a true prophet.

She not only knew her mission as a prophet; she knew her mission as a fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy. “To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them.” “Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that title. [Do you see the humility?] I have not felt that it was my duty thus to designate myself.… [Now read carefully.] My work includes much more than this name signifies. …My commission embraces the work of a prophet. …It embraces much more than the minds of those who have been sowing the seeds of unbelief can comprehend.” “I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title. …My work includes much more than the word ‘prophet’ signifies.” Selected Messages, book 1, 34, 36, 32.

Why is this important? What significance is this in relation to the Elijah prophecy? Well, in Luke 7:26, Jesus said, referring to John the Baptist, the second Elijah, “…what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.” This is the very same phrase that is referred to of Ellen White, “Much more than a prophet.”

John the Baptist was the second Elijah who was sent before the coming of the first advent of the Lord to prepare the way for the people to be ready. Scriptures regarding that may be found in Luke 1; Luke 3; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3, and John 1:23. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight the path.

Well, Ellen White, the third Elijah, was sent to prepare people for the Second Coming of Christ. “…the very means that God has chosen to fit up a people to stand in the day of the Lord.” Selected Messages, book. 1, 45. So she is what? preparing people to stand in the day of the Lord.

It is true that Jesus said of John the Baptist, “…Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Matthew 11:11. Of course, that refers to greater in mission and message. We are all sinners; we are all equal through the cross, in that sense, but John had a greater mission and message than any among those born of women.

However, when Jesus said that, was Ellen White yet born? No, she had not yet been born. Notice what God said to Ellen White about her mission and message: “Dedicate yourself to the highest work ever committed to mortals.” Selected Messages, book 1, 39. Would that be higher than John the Baptist? Yes, it would.

Another way we know that Ellen White is the third Elijah is because the second Elijah came in fulfillment of the time prophecy of Daniel 8 and 9. 457 B.C. down to 27 A.D. is when John the Baptist came on the scene to prepare the way for the Messiah. Well, take the same time prophecy and 2300 days, 457 B.C. down to 1844, is when Ellen White received her prophetic mission shortly, after the disappointment.

But, some may say, Ellen White is not the Elijah prophet because she herself said, “Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears [Male or female? Male], men may say, ‘You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.’” Selected Messages, book 1, 412.

So they say that she herself said that the Elijah prophet was yet in the future and that this prophet would be male in gender. However, if you examine the context of that statement, she was actually referring to the situation in the Minneapolis General Conference, 1888, the problems there and the people who were rejecting the authority of the Spirit of Prophecy. (See Ibid., 406–416.)

She was modestly referring to herself by saying, “is to come” (future tense) and “he” (male gender), she was speaking so that she was not bragging or saying, “I am the Elijah prophet, you are rejecting me.” Really, it was not Ellen White herself, it was the message from God, the testimony of Jesus that they were rejecting. (Also see Testimonies to Ministers,Appendix Notes for page 415, 534, 535.)

The male pronoun, “he,” also is used no doubt because the original Elijah the Tishbite was a male, as was John the Baptist. God even called two men before Ellen White, remember? But the apostle Paul said something similar in 2 Corinthians 12. He is addressing the very same subject—people who were undermining his apostolic and prophetic authority—and he is defending his authority as modestly as he can. (See also 2 Corinthians 9, 10, 11.)

Paul says, “I knew a man, . . . And I knew such a man, . . . How that he was caught up into paradise.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. Who was he talking about? Himself! The same type of situation as we just discussed with Mrs. White. Consider also the story of John the Baptist. The people came and asked him, “Are you Elijah?” What did he say? “I am not.” If John the Baptist can say, “I am not the Elijah prophet” and still be the Elijah prophet, surely Ellen the Adventist can say, “When he comes,” and still be the Elijah prophet.

Some people say that Ellen White was not really the Elijah prophet; but the Elijah prophet really includes all of God’s people at the end of time who are faithful and give the Three Angels’ Messages. Have you ever heard that? They claim that is the fulfillment of the Elijah prophet in Malachi 4. There are several Spirit of Prophecy quotes that seem to refer to that, also. But what you need to notice is the difference between the word “prophet” and the word “message.” We are all to help spread the Elijah message. We can all be Elijah messengers. None of us are the Elijah prophet. Ellen White was the Elijah prophet. (See Testimonies, vol. 3, 62; Prophets and Kings, 142, 186; Gospel Workers, 150; Early Writings, 233.)

We should look at Matthew 17:10, 11 also. Jesus here is referring to John the Baptist and the disciples are asking why the scribes say that Elias, or Elijah, must first come. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” Matthew 17:11.

Why did all things need to be restored? How long had it been since there was a living prophet? It had been about 400 years since Malachi, the last living prophet. The devil had had 400 years to twist the truth and deceive people more and more, so the Elijah prophet came to restore all things after a long period of no living prophet.

What about Ellen White? Was there a long period of no living prophet when Ellen White came? It was even longer. The world had gone through the Dark Ages. Ellen White came to restore all things. When you read the Spirit of Prophecy, you find that all of the things modern Christianity has twisted up are straightened out in the Spirit of Prophecy. Praise God, all things have been restored!

However, the next verse is even more important. “But I say unto you, That Elias [or Elijah] is come already, and they knew him [her] not.” Matthew 17:12. The same thing has happened; the very same thing, sad but true. That is another identification of a true prophet. Down through history, true prophets have not been readily accepted. They were stoned to death and rejected!

Let us look now at the Third Angel’s Message. What does that message include? The mark of the beast and the commandments of God (See Revelation 14:12.), but it is not just the Sabbath commandment, the commandments are plural. As we have already read in Revelation 12:17, the remnant not only keep the commandments but they have the testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of Prophecy.

There are many Sabbath–keeping religions. Some religions believe the truth on the state of the dead. Neither one of those things make them Seventh-day Adventists or makes them ready for the Second Coming of Christ—as good as they are, in and of themselves.

Belonging to the General Conference does not make you a Seventh-day Adventist, either. The 2300 day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, the sanctuary, the cleansing of the sanctuary, the Three Angels’ Messages and the Spirit of Prophecy are the things that are unique to the Seventh-day Adventist message. They are very important if we are going to be prepared for the Second Advent of Christ.

That does not just mean you and me; it includes preparing others during the Loud Cry to be ready. “As the end draws near and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends [What would that be, giving the last warning to the world,—”Earth’s Final Warning,” the Loud Cry? ], it becomes more important for those who accept present truth [What would that be? the Three Angels’ Messages.] to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the Third Angel’s Message from its very rise.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 654. So what is linked to the Third Angel’s Message? The Testimonies. And it is more important, as the Loud Cry goes out, that people understand the nature and influence of the Testimonies.

“…the Testimonies have their place in the Third Angel’s Message.” The Ellen G. White, 1888 Materials, vol. 2, 684. “We had regarded the testimonies as interwoven with the Third Angel’s Message.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 52.

In case it is not clear yet, look at this quote: “The proclamation of the Third Angel’s Message, the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, is the burden of our work. The message is to be proclaimed with a loud cry, and is to go to the whole world.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 75. I do not know if it could get any clearer. Those giving the true Loud Cry are not only going to be presenting the Sabbath and the state of the dead, but they are going to be defending the Spirit of Prophecy.

Some think they are part of the Loud Cry. “These persons are disposed to conceal the fact that in connection [Notice this again.] with the work of the Third Angel’s Message the Lord through the Spirit of Prophecy has been communicating to His people a knowledge of His will. They think that the truth will be received more readily if this fact is not made prominent. [Have you ever heard that? Do not bring the Spirit of Prophecy out to these non-Adventists; just read the Bible to them; just quote the Bible.] But this is mere human reasoning.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 2, 808.

Let us look at the seriousness of the rejection of the Spirit of Prophecy, which is rampant among professed Seventh-day Adventists. I am sad to say that this is true everywhere I turn.

Many will profess to be a Seventh-day Adventist, profess to believe in the Spirit of Prophecy and to love Jesus. But do they really love Jesus, if they reject the Spirit of Prophecy and the Spirit of Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus? “…the Lord came to me in the night season and spoke precious words of encouragement concerning my work. . . . With regard to those who have turned from the light sent to them, He said: ‘In slighting and rejecting the testimony that I have given you to bear, it is not you, but Me, your Lord, that they have slighted.’” Testimonies, vol. 5, 688.

Who are they slighting? Jesus! It is not the testimony of Ellen White; it is the testimony of Jesus. They do not love Jesus as much as they say they do. Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8.

“There can only be two classes. Each party is distinctly stamped, either with the seal of the living God, or with the mark of the beast.” Last Day Events, 215. In the end, you are either going to receive the seal of God or the mark of the beast. Many people are not only losing their salvation now, but many who are Saturday–keepers are going to lose their salvation and receive the mark of the beast because they have rejected the Spirit of Prophecy. They will not keep Sunday as the Sabbath, yet they will still receive the mark of the beast.

“Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 213. If you are keeping Sunday, are you professing to keep the Sabbath? No, so there are some who will be keeping Saturday, professing to keep the Sabbath, who will not be sealed, and they will receive the mark of the beast.

“When you find men questioning the testimonies, finding fault with them, and seeking to draw away the people from their influence, be assured that God is not at work through them. It is another spirit. . . . they find fault, and condemn the very means that God has chosen to fit up a people to stand in the day of the Lord.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 45. If we are not prepared to stand in the day of the Lord, we are not going to receive the seal of God. If we reject the testimonies, we are going to receive the mark of the beast.

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. …Oh, how many… [are found] in the time of trouble without a shelter. …Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, . . . will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building.” Early Writings, 71.

We have already studied that John the Baptist was the second Elijah; Ellen White is the third Elijah. Those who rejected the testimony of John the Baptist were placed “where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence that He was the Messiah [Jesus]. Satan led on those who rejected the message of John to go still farther, to reject and crucify Christ.” Early Writings, 259.

To crucify Christ literally was the worst thing that has even been done and ever will be done. It was done by those who rejected the message of the second Elijah, and it is happening again, spiritually. We crucify Christ spiritually by rejecting Him and His testimony. Those who are rejecting the message of the third Elijah will not be ready for the Second Advent.

Not that it has not been clear enough already, but the more we read from the Spirit of Prophecy, the more it shows how very important this subject is and how serious it is that the people are undermining its authority.

“I saw the state of some who stood on present truth [In other words, they claimed to believe the Three Angels’ Messages and the Sabbath.], but disregarded the visions. . . . I saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument [referring to Ellen White herself], but it was dangerous to slight the words of God. I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think they were right, until they would find it out too late. Then in the time of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony, ‘Why didst Thou not show us our wrong, that we might have got right and been ready for this time.’ Then an angel pointed to them and said, ‘My Father taught, but you would not be taught. He spoke through visions, but you disregarded His voice.…’” Selected Messages, book 1, 40. Just like that quote we read before from Early Writings, people will come up to the time of the plagues and then see that they needed to be “hewed by the prophets.”

“The truths committed to me, as the Lord’s messenger, stand immortalized, either to convict and to convert souls, or to condemn those who have departed from the faith.…” Publishing Ministry, 359.

“My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. ‘Your work,’ He instructed me, ‘is to bear My word…. The messages for these last days shall be written in books, and shall stand immortalized, to testify against those who have once rejoiced in the light, but who have been led to give it up because of the seductive influences of evil.…’” Selected Messages, book 1, 32.

“What reserve power has the Lord with which to reach those who have… accredited the testimonies of the Spirit of God to no higher source than human wisdom? In the judgment what can you who have done this offer to God as an excuse for turning from the evidences He has given you that God was in the work?… You cannot neglect God’s messages of warning, and cannot reject them or treat them lightly, but at the peril of infinite loss.” Testimonies To Ministers, 465, 466.

People everywhere are treating the Testimonies lightly. Not only rejecting them, but also treating them lightly, puts the soul in peril.

“Through His Holy Spirit the voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith of the believers in the Spirit of Prophecy…. Those who are indifferent to this light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we have been plainly told will cause the rejecters of light to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and be taken.” Selected Messages, book 1, 41.

“One thing is certain [No question about it here; one thing is certain.]: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the… Testimonies of God’s Spirit.” Selected Messages, book 3, 84.

“Let not those who seek to hedge up my way and destroy the influence of my words, deceive themselves with the belief that they are doing God service. They are serving another master, and they will be rewarded according to their work…. Rebellion will exist as long as Satan exists.” Selected Messages, book 1, 72. What does she call this? “rebellion.” Undermining the authority of the Spirit of Prophecy, casting doubt upon it, is rebellion.

“When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts til he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 211.

Well, you say, what if someone does not even believe that Ellen White was a true prophet or qualifies as a true prophet? “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:18, 19.

They are already condemned if they do not believe. Light has come into the world. When Jesus was here, the light came in through John the Baptist and through Jesus Himself, and people were condemned if they rejected the light, regardless of whether or not they believed. It says, “He that believeth… is not condemned. He that believeth not is condemned….”

We are not talking about those who have not had the opportunity to study the question of whether Ellen White was a prophet of God. We are talking about those who have had the opportunity, but because they loved darkness rather than light, they say, “I do not believe that Ellen White was a true prophet.” They are condemned anyway and we cannot make the judgment as to whether they have had enough light or not. The principle, however, is very clear. “…because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.…” Hosea 4:6.

“If you feel just as safe in following your own impulses as in following the light given by God’s delegated servant, the peril is your own; you will be condemned because you rejected the light which heaven had sent you.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 688.

“These words were spoken to me: ‘Your work is appointed you of God. Many will not hear you, for they refused to hear the Great Teacher.’” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 29. Almost all of them rejected Christ, right? Does that justify them because they said I do not believe Christ is the true Messiah? No, we just read that. They are condemned anyway. “‘Many will not hear you, for they refused to hear the Great Teacher; many will not be corrected, for their ways are right in their own eyes.’” Ibid.

In fact, this has been a problem, not just since the days of Christ, but since Old Testament times. In Jeremiah 25:4, we read, “And the Lord hath sent unto you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not harkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.”

“And He said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against Me: they and their fathers have transgressed against Me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house).…” Ezekiel 2:3-5.

Why is it that they were rebellious? It says, “…yet shall [they] know that there hath been a prophet among them.” Verse 5. We just read this same thing from the Spirit of Prophecy. Rejection of the Spirit of Prophecy is rebellion. That is what it says here, rejection of the prophets.

“Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.” II Chronicles 24:19. In II Chronicles 36:16 we are told, “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” Verse 17 says this rejecting the messages of the prophets is why He brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans and they were taken captive into Babylon.

Have carnal hearts changed in this day and age? No, sad to say, they have not. In fact, down through history the professed people of God have claimed to accept previous prophets and maybe even lived by what was written, but the present prophet has always been rejected.

The same thing is happening now. Previous prophets are accepted and believed, but when it comes to the present prophet, Ellen White, she is rejected.

“When once men have admitted doubt and unbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, they are strongly tempted to adhere to the opinions which they have avowed before others…. The doubts indulged through ignorance, pride, or love of sinful practices, rivet upon the soul fetters that are seldom broken. Christ, and He alone, can give the needed power to break them.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 46. Praise God! Jesus can break the soul fetters!

Again, I can testify that this is true. When people admit with their mouth (or even worse in writing) doubts about the Spirit of Prophecy or things that the Spirit of Prophecy teaches, they are unwilling, in almost every case because of pride, to admit that they were wrong and to change and submit to the authority of the Spirit of Prophecy.

Let us get into some specifics. “The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ (Proverbs 29:18.) Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony. There will be hatred kindled against the Testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.” Selected Messages, book 1, 48.

In this quote we not only see the principle, the prophecy of the deception of making of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God in unsettling confidence, but it says Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways with the remnant people, who have their confidence unsettled.

In Part 2 we will look at some of the ingenious ways the devil has used to unsettle the faith of the remnant.

To be continued . . .

Break Every Yoke

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Do you remember the experience of Moses where the children of Israel had sinned? God said, “Look, let me destroy them. Let them go and I will make of you a new beginning and a new nation and you will be the promised people.”

“And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Exodus 32:31, 32.

There is a book, friends, which contains the names of God’s people. If God would not forgive the children of Israel for the golden calf, Moses was willing to give up his leadership, and the chance for his descendents to be the promised people and the great nation that is going to receive the covenant. “If you cannot forgive the sin of the children of Israel,” he said, “blot me out of the Book of Life.” Do you know what that means? That means that he was willing to give up his right to heaven.

God then told Moses what His policy is. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Verse 33. Now how many of you have not sinned against God? That is the way to get your name out of the Lamb’s Book of Life, right? We are all sinners. So your name goes into the Book of Life, and your name can go out of the Book of Life if you are a sinner. What hope is there for us if we have sinned against God?

Let us take a look at the Bible, for there we find how to keep our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5.

These two Scriptures contain the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. You get your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If you continue in sin, your name will be taken out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. But if you overcome, with God’s help it will be left in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Very simple. Now then, there has to be an investigation of the names in the Lamb’s Book of Life, right?

And it makes a difference, friends, whether you are continuing in sin or whether you overcome. If I took the position that evangelical Seventh-day Adventists take, that you cannot stop sinning, then, of course, I do not want an Investigative Judgment, because if I cannot stop sinning, my name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. So, along with their idea that you cannot stop sinning, they have to do away with the idea of an Investigative Judgment, because if they do not, friends, the people who accept the idea that they cannot stop sinning are all doomed to be lost.

If you believe that you can overcome, then your name will be left in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and you are going to be in a select group of people at the end. “…all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8. Whom shall they worship? The first beast of Revelation 13. Who is that? It is the Papacy and, indirectly, it is the devil.

Now, friends, this select group of people, those who overcome and whose names are left in the Lamb’s Book of Life, are the only ones who will not worship the devil. It is important that your name remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Church Books vs. Heaven’s Books

How do you get your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life? How do you know that it is there? I have actually cringed and felt like standing up and saying, “No, it is not so,” when I have been in Seventh-day Adventist meetings and heard the minister say, “As soon as you are baptized and voted into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, your name is inscribed in letters of gold in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

No, friends, that is not how you get your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I dare say that the majority of the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church never have their names put in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Philippians 4:3.

Now, friends, you have to be a fellowlabourer, a true yokefellow, and then you may be assured that your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. In other words, it is not a matter of baptism and being voted into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is a matter of accepting the invitation of Christ found in Matthew 11:28–30, where He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you [You must take the yoke of Christ if you hope to have your name inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You must be a true yokefellow, wearing the yoke of Jesus and no other yoke.] and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

After Isaiah tells us that what the children of Israel were doing was not what God wanted, he says, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6. You cannot wear two yokes at a time.

Breaking the Yoke

The yokes that Isaiah calls to be broken are the things that, for many, many years, I did not understand, and I do not believe that most people understand them. I do not believe that the people of the denomination, or the leadership in particular, understand what he is talking about and what this appeal means.

There is more than one yoke. There is the yoke of Christ, and if you are wearing that yoke, then you may be positive and certain that your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If you are wearing any other yoke, you have no assurance at all that your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Christ says His burden is light. That is the big difference between the yoke and the burden of Christ and that of any other yoke that you can find.

If we continue reading in the book of Matthew, we find that Christ gives a little sermon on the church of His day. “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:1–4.

What was the purpose of their life? “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” Verses 5–7.

Yokes of Bondage

Now, friends, this is a description of another yoke. What kind of a yoke? It is a yoke of bondage, of heavy burdens. All other yokes, except the yoke of Christ, are yokes of bondage, of heavy burdens, and these are the yokes that we are called to break in Isaiah 58. Was it a political yoke that they had foisted on the people, or was it a church yoke? They were sitting where? Not on the throne of King David, but in Moses’ seat.

In my reading I came across an address by Ellen G. White. Sometimes I think we should not use her name. I think we ought to say we have an address from the Holy Spirit to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, because that is what she says we have. She says that if you slight the Testimonies and belittle them you have thereby insulted the Holy Spirit. I take this as a message from God. (See Testimonies. vol. 5, 234.)

The Holy Spirit Speaks

In my studies of the early pioneers, the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Ellen G. White, I find that Mrs. White did not go around looking for problems in the church about which she could write testimonies to people. It was her nature to always look on the good side and always give people the benefit of the doubt. She was always on the positive side and she had difficulty writing these kinds of testimonies.

When Sister White writes these things, friends, it is the Holy Spirit speaking, not Sister White. She was not a genius who knew all the things that the brethren were doing and all that was going on in the church. Those things had to be revealed to her by God. So she says, “I write thus fully, because I have been shown that ministers and people are tempted more and more to trust in finite man for wisdom, and to make flesh their arm. To conference presidents, and men in responsible places.” Testimonies to Ministers, 480.[To whom is she talking? To the world? No! She is talking to the leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.] “I bear this message: Break the bands and fetters that have been placed upon God’s people.” Ibid., 480, 481. I am afraid that most baptized Seventh-day Adventists have taken a church yoke on their necks, instead of the yoke of Jesus. I did, and I fully believed, for most of my life, that the yoke of the church and the yoke of Jesus were one and the same.

I believe that most Seventh-day Adventists regardless of the group they belong to, believe that the yoke they have taken is the yoke of Jesus. And when I first read this quote, it did not fit my thinking. It did not fit what I wanted to believe. What I am going to say, friends, may not suit your thinking or your beliefs, either.

“I bear this message: Break the bands and fetters that have been placed upon God’s people.” Ibid. Every Seventh-day Adventist, according to this testimony, is wearing bands and fetters put on them by conference presidents and men in responsible positions. “To you the word is spoken, ‘Break every yoke.’” Ibid. How many? Every one except Christ’s, because you cannot wear the yoke of Christ until you have broken from off your neck every other yoke, whether it be the yoke of the church, the yoke of the American Medical Association, Labor Unions, Fraternal organizations, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, or you name it. All of these organizations put a yoke upon your neck. Yet we do not perceive this because our thinking is not tuned to it.

Divorces from God

I worked for the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 27 years as a minister. I grew up in the church. Before I went into the ministry, I worked at the Glendale Sanitarium; I worked there when it was really doing sanitarium work. I worked in an academy. I went through our schools, friends, and I did not know that I was wearing a yoke. I thought I was wearing the yoke of Jesus. I had my doubts at times, because the yoke of Jesus was always described as being light, easy. “To you the word is spoken, Break every yoke, [What yoke is she talking about? Well, she tells us.] Unless you cease the work of making man amenable to man.” Ibid.

Have you ever been called to account to the church for what you did? Have they ever come to you and said, “You cannot do this?” or, “You do that!” “Unless you cease the work of making man amenable to man, unless you become humble in heart, and yourselves learn the way of the Lord as little children, the Lord will divorce you from His work.” Ibid.

We are to treat one another as brethren, as fellow laborers. In other words, fellow yokefellows, as Paul calls it, wearing the yoke of Christ, not any other yoke.

“… as men and women who are, with us, seeking for light and understanding of the way of the Lord, and who are jealous for His glory. God declares, ‘I will be glorified in My people.’” Ibid.

Friends, there is going to be a group of people in this world who are going to throw off every other yoke and wear only the yoke of Christ and glorify God. The world is going to be lightened with the message they bring. Is that not what it says?

So, “God declares, ‘I will be glorified in my people;’ but the self-confident management of men has resulted in putting God aside, and accepting the devisings of men.” Ibid.

That is exactly what the Pharisees were rebuked for all the time while Jesus was here. “Ye teach for doctrines the traditions or commandments of men.” (See Matthew 15:9.)

Books of a New Order?

When I was born there was no General Conference working policy. There was no General Conference educational policy. There was no church manual. When people wanted to know what to do, they only had two places to go: the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. When I was three years old, the brethren put together the first General Conference Constitution and By-laws and Working Policy. I do not remember the exact number of pages then, but now it is over 500 pages of rules and regulations to be followed by you and the leaders of the church. If time goes on, it will probably expand to a thousand, and the next thing we will have to do is train scribes to interpret it!

We need them right now, because when I used to attend committee meetings where the brethren would be laying plans, I would say, “Do you not know that in the Working Policy it says such and such?” And they would say, “No, we do not,” because nobody can remember 500 pages of rules and regulations, not even the leaders.

A few years back I checked on the educational policies. I went to the local church school, pulled open the teacher’s file and took out the Pacific Union Conference Educational Code. Then I pulled out the supplement, because the rules of men are never adequate and consequently they are always adding to them. I counted 1,000 pages! This was not fine print, like the General Conference Working Policy; this was 1,000 mimeographed pages of rules to govern the colleges and church schools in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

When I was nine years old, the first Church Manual was issued. The statement as to the reason for voting a church manual was, “We hope this will stop the headlong plunge of the church into apostasy.” Has it?

The first Church Manual was advisory. It had no authority; nobody had to follow it or pay any attention to it. But in 1946, when I had been in the ministry one year, the General Conference in session gave full authority to the Church Manual. This is a yoke, friends, made by men and put on your neck and on their own necks.

Would you like to know what the apostle Peter and the brethren in Jerusalem had to say about the yoke of the Jewish Church? Acts 15:10 tells us the people in Jerusalem were starting down the same headlong rush to put a yoke other than the yoke of Christ upon the church:

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples? [How long did it take the early Christian church to start putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples? Why, they had just barely gotten started. A yoke] which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.” Oh, friends, all human yokes are heavy, difficult. The yoke of Jesus and His burden is light.

You may say, “Well, I do not think I have a yoke on my neck.” Maybe you feel quite comfortable with it because you have gotten so used to it. Or maybe, like I did for many years, you believe that the yoke of the church is the yoke of Jesus. Sometimes I wondered how He ever thought to say that His yoke was easy and light, though, and I used to really puzzle over those two words describing the yoke of Jesus when I had the two confused.

Calling Sin By It’s Right Name

I have been puzzling over this question of yokes for years and years. What was Sister White talking about? I know that we cannot be amenable to mankind. I know that making men responsible to man puts God aside, and that was at least part of the yoke. “For years our physicians have been trained to think that they must not give expression to sentiments that differ from those of their chief. Oh, that they had broken this yoke.” Series B, 28.

The belief that you cannot express an idea that differs with the pastor or the church is a yoke that you must break. I cannot break the yoke from off your neck unless I put it there. And even then, you may not let me remove it. Only you can break a yoke off your neck. These physicians had accepted a yoke which required them to agree with the boss, the head of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and Hospital, even though they differed with him.

Sister White said, “Oh that they had broken the yoke.” Ibid. Have you worn that yoke and kept your mouth shut? Have you accepted that yoke? If so, you had better break it, because they did not, and Mrs. White said, “Oh, that they had called sin by its right name!” Ibid.

Have you ever been quiet when you should have spoken out and called sin by its right name? A yoke you have to break. A yoke the church puts on your neck. I know, because they put it on my neck and when I threw it off, they immediately rushed in to replace it.

Oh, friends, the yoke to keep quiet, to not disagree with your boss, your leader, so you do not call sin by its right name is a yoke you have to break before you can wear the yoke of Christ.

Mrs. White continues, “They would not be regarded in the heavenly courts as men who, though bearing weighty responsibilities, have failed of speaking the truth in reproof of that which has been in disobedience to God’s Word.” Ibid.

A Yoke of Silence

This yoke that the brethren impose upon the necks of the ministry, upon the necks of the laity, and anyone else, is a yoke of silence when it comes to denominational policy and procedure. If you dared to open your mouth, you were a faultfinder, condemner and criticizer.

It was not until the brethren disfellowshipped me that the yoke of the church was actually fully removed. I am not saying you have to be disfellowshipped, but I would like to see Seventh-day Adventists fully remove the yoke of the church from off their neck without being disfellowshipped. All you have to do is to throw off the yoke that has you not disagreeing with the leadership, the one that has you not calling sin by its right name, not reproving things that are contrary to God’s Word.

I cannot support things contrary to the Spirit of Prophecy. The only program that I hope anybody can trust me to support is the one found in the Bible and in the Spirit of Prophecy. That which is found in the Church Manual and Working Policy I cannot support if it is contrary to the Bible and to the Spirit of Prophecy.

So continuing in Series B, and again addressing the people under the Alpha of apostasy, here is what was wrong that caused the church to go into the Alpha of apostasy: “Our physicians have lost a great deal out of their lives because they have [1] seen wrong transactions and [2] heard wrong words spoken, [3] and seen wrong principles followed, and have not spoken in reproof, for fear that they would be repulsed.” Ibid., 29.

The yoke of man silences you so that you will not object to a policy of the church that is contrary to the Spirit of Prophecy.

Anything else that is contrary to the Bible and to the Spirit of Prophecy is a yoke of man who says, “Do not speak out, be a loyal Seventh-day Adventist.” Are you wearing that yoke? Have you refrained from speaking out about something? Have you seen wrong principles followed and not spoken in reproof? It worked on me, friends, for years. I wore a yoke of silence when I should have spoken out, and yet the brethren always thought I was speaking out too much. But I kept quiet too often, friends.

If things need adjusting at the heart of the work, what do we do? Well, friends, if we do not speak out, if we wear this yoke of silence, God will take care of things, but how much better it would be if we did it ourselves. Every wrong within the Seventh-day Adventist Church is going to be taken care of, either by God or by the membership.

Worst Sins are Unrevealed

Sister White states: “The abominations for which the faithful ones [These are the ones who did not wear the yoke of silence.] were sighing and crying were all that could be discerned by finite eyes, but by far the worst sins, those which provoked the jealousy of the pure and holy God, were unrevealed. The great Searcher of hearts knoweth every sin committed in secret by the workers of iniquity. These persons come to feel secure in their deceptions and, because of His long–suffering, say that the Lord seeth not, and then act as though He had forsaken the earth. But He will detect their hypocrisy and will open before others those sins which they were so careful to hide.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 211.

The sad thing I have observed is that people take the yoke off from their necks that is imposed by the Adventist Church, and run right over to some other group and put that yoke on their necks. The only yoke I am interested in you having around your neck, is the yoke of Jesus, so your name will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The yoke of Jesus has no stress, no tension, no frustration. It is a yoke of victory. It is a yoke of being an overcomer. It is a yoke that is easy and the burden is light. Oh, yes, it promises you persecution, but it says you will be able to “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad when man shall persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely.” (See Matthew 5:12.)

When you wear the yoke of Christ, then and then alone, you are God’s free man. If you are not wearing the yoke of Christ, then you are in bondage. You cannot be God’s free man until you become Christ’s servant. You must! God will not place the yoke upon your neck. You must willfully choose to take the yoke of Christ. He says, “Take My yoke.” He does not say, “Accept it and I will put it on your neck.” He says, “Take up the cross.” He does not say, “Lean over and I will put it on your back.”

No yokes can be forced on your neck. You may die resisting it, but you do not have to accept any yoke.

The Final Warning

“The Final Warning,” is a chapter in The Great Controversy that we need to study and restudy. If you take the yoke of Christ, understand that you are enlisting the opposition of the hosts of darkness. Your life will become very interesting. You will probably not have another boring day. “Evil angels will assail him, alarmed that his influence is taking the prey from their hands. …Evil men, rebuked by His example, will unite with them in seeking to separate him from God by alluring temptations.” The Great Controversy, 610.

You want a lot of the luring of temptations? You just put on the yoke of Christ.

“When these do not succeed, then a compelling power is employed to force the conscience.” Ibid.

You have an interesting life ahead of you, never a dull moment.

Mrs. White tell us: “It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example.” Ibid., 598.

We had better get busy on the first and highest duty of every rational being.

“We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing Scripture with Scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” Ibid. I beg of you, throw off every other yoke and put on the yoke of Christ because your life depends on it; your eternal life depends upon it. Soon, very soon, your name will be called in the Investigative Judgment and it is either going to be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life, or it is going to stay.

The General Conference Inquisition? Part II

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If I were to ask you, What is the similarity, the likeness, between a bank president and a town drunkard, what would you say?

If I were to ask you, What is the similarity between a bartender and a college professor, what would you say?

And, if I were to ask you, What is the similarity between a thief and a scientist, what would you say?

What about a gambler and a college president? What is the similarity between them?

I think I know what you would say, and I think I know what you are thinking right now. I believe you are thinking, “Ralph, those are dumb questions. There is no similarity at all between those people.”

But I would respectfully have to disagree with you. I believe that there is a point on which these people are not only similar, they are practically identical. It is on the point of self-idolatry, which Ellen White describes as “the foundation of all sin.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 27.

Self-idolatry lies at the foundation of all sins.

When we hear the word “idolatry” we think of idols and images, things carved out of wood or stone, before which people bow and pray, and even offer sacrifices. In Honolulu I lived for awhile across a narrow street from a Bhuddist temple where the people bowed and prayed before an image of Bhudda. In Japan, I visited a temple of a thousand Bhuddas. There were actually a thousand idols there, standing on their feet in order to use less room than the more familiar seated Bhuddas. Sri Lanka, the island kingdom to the south of India, is a land of many idols and images. Idolatry is not always practiced with images of wood or stone. In Manila I watched a man and a woman walk with bare feet across a bed of hot coal, and afterward bow before the fire and pray to it.

I have seen idols and images of many gods, but I have never seen an image or idol of the god “self,” have you? Yet self-idolatry must be very common, if it lies at the foundation of all sin. We may remember that Lucifer laid the original foundation, as we read in Isaiah 14:12–14: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

When we read these words, we think that surely this was the ultimate insanity, for a created being to think that he could put himself above his own Creator. Such craziness could happen only once in the history of the universe, we feel sure. But actually, this self-idolatry is happening every day, all around us. People on every side of us are daily saying, “I will be like the most High; I will make my own rules; I will be my own god.” Why do they do this? Because of a grim reality that we do not often think about but should. We remember that in Genesis 3:15 the Lord said to Satan, “…I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” Let us look carefully at some Spirit of Prophecy comments on this verse:

The Lord says, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman.’ The enmity does not exist as a natural fact. As soon as Adam sinned, he was in harmony with the first great apostate and at war with God; and if God had not interfered in man’s behalf, Satan and man would have formed a confederacy against heaven, and carried on united opposition against the God of hosts. Signs of the Times, July 11, 1895.

“There is no natural enmity between evil angels and evil men; both are evil through transgression of the law of God, and evil will always league against good. Fallen men and fallen angels enter into a desperate companionship.” Youth’s Instructor, October 11, 1894.

Note carefully—the evil in both men and angels is defined as transgression of the law of God. That would include everyone in the world, except sincere Christians, for they are all transgressing the law of God. This is the basic point in their similarity. Do you see now why I said there is a point in which the people I mentioned are not different at all? We may divide them into two separate groups. We would put the bank president, the college professor, and the scientist in one group and the drunkard, the bartender, the thief and the gambler in another group and say that the two groups are completely different, but we would be wrong. Except for the few Christians who might be found in the first group, they are all alike in their transgression of the law of God. On this point there is no difference between the drunkard and the bank president or the thief and the scientist, or any of the others who were mentioned. They are all practicing self-idolatry. They are all saying, “I will be like the most High.” In their rejection of God’s Law they are rejecting God, and putting self on the throne, just like Lucifer did.

They are also alike in their association with fallen angels. There is no enmity between them, and they are in a “desperate” companionship, although they may not realize it. And what of their relationship with Christians?

Evil will always league against good.

If you question that statement, just read the newspapers for awhile. They will convince you. I used to read the well-known statement by Ellen White, which calls for men who, among other things, are not afraid “to call sin by its right name.” (See Education, 57.) I would wonder then why calling sin by its right name should require courage, but I do not wonder any more. People are being criticized, denounced, and even sued for calling sin by its right name in our time. The “bad guys” are declaring war on the “good guys” all over the country. Even the Bible is being attacked because it clearly states that certain practices are an abomination to God.

Add it up. There is no enmity between fallen angels and fallen men. Fallen angels and fallen men are in a “desperate companionship.” Fallen angels and fallen men are alike in their transgression of God’s Law. Fallen angels and fallen men are united in a league against good, for evil will always league against good.

Once we get this picture clearly in our minds, we are better able to understand some of the peculiar things that are being done around us by highly trained and highly educated persons. I once hired a university student to help me do some work on my evangelistic equipment. As we worked, he told me about some of his classes. One of his professors, he said, made a point of telling the students, every few days, that Christianity is dead. “He must be a frightened man,” I said.

“Why? What do you mean?” the student asked.

“If you really believed that a man was dead,” I answered, “would you go back and stick your knife into him every few days? It looks to me like your professor is afraid that Christianity is not dead.”

I digress to make a point of which you might not be aware. You have probably understood that Christianity must not be discussed in public school classrooms. This is only partially true. You may freely discuss Christianity in the public school classrooms as long as you are putting it down, discrediting it. If the professor mentioned above had taken time, every few days, to tell his students something favorable about Christianity, he would soon have been in trouble. Evil will always league against good. We must not draw the conclusion that highly educated men are exceptions to this rule. They are not. On this point they are not different from the drunkard, the gambler, or the thief.

Getting Away with Murder

I read with astonishment how a highly respected judge, on the Raphael Perez case, (The General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists of Silver Spring, Maryland vs Raphael Perez and the Eternal Gospel Church of Miami, Florida, Case #98-2940-CIV-KING) let the lawyers for the General Conference “get away with murder,” to use a familiar expression, in the first few minutes of the trial. The first witness that they called to the stand was a Seventh-day Adventist lawyer named Clark Floyd. The questioning went approximately like this:

“Do you have any degrees in theology?

“No.”

“Are you a member of any theological society?”

“No.”

“Do you subscribe to any theological journals?”

“No.”

“Your honor, I move that this witness be dismissed because he is not qualified to testify in this case.” Ibid., Court Transcript

And the judge dismissed him! And he dismissed the second witness in the same manner. What a mockery of judicial procedure!

What should the judge have done? He should have addressed the lawyer and said to him very firmly, “Counsel, this is not a theological court, it is a court of civil law. We are not dealing with questions of theology; we are dealing with a matter of civil law. You will please confine your questions to matter of civil law, and say no more about theology.” But the judge permitted theological questions all the way through the trial. How are we to understand this? Evil will always league against good. Was the judge consciously trying to do evil against Raphael Perez? Possibly not. He may not have even been aware of what he was doing, but the wrongful trial and the wrongful decision make us keenly aware that Bible Christians cannot expect justice from worldly courts.

This is underscored by the results of the appeal to a higher court. The last report that reached me was that this court was trying to settle the matter through arbitration, whereas they should have declared it a mistrial because of the mixture of theological matters with matters of civil law. This is contrary to the constitution, which guarantees our freedom of religion. But we should not be surprised. Evil will always league against good.

Most Americans are familiar with the tragic story of Aaron Burr, who challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel because of some small matter, and shot and killed Hamilton, while Hamilton, who did not believe in duels, fired his shot into the air. But public opinion turned strongly against Burr, and his life went downward and downward until he finally committed suicide. Most Americans know that story, but few people know of the experience that lies behind it. While Burr was a student at Princeton University, an evangelist came to town and preached the gospel. Burr attended several of the meetings, and felt a strong conviction that he should become a Christian. Feeling the need of some advice, he asked the President of the University what to do. The President said: “I cannot tell you whether you should be a Christian. You will have to decide that for yourself. But I would advise you to wait until the meetings are all over, and the evangelist has gone on to his next appointment, then think it over and make your decision, by yourself, as to what you want to do.”

Burr accepted this advice. He ignored all of the evangelist’s appeals, and waited until the meetings were over. Then one night, while Burr’s fellow students were studying in their dormitory rooms, they heard a sudden noise. Looking out, they saw that Burr had thrown open his dormitory window, and was leaning out and looking up at the sky. He looked for a long moment, and then the other students heard him say:

“Goodbye, God. I have made my decision.”

That is the experience that lies behind the tragic story of Aaron Burr. We know that the president was not a Christian, because no Christian would ever give that kind of advice to anybody. The president may have thought that he was giving Burr good advice, but he was a fallen man in league with fallen angels, whether he realized it or not. Evil will always league against good.

Put not your trust in princes.

We have to face it, folks. We cannot put our trust in princes of science, or in princes of education, or in princes of industry, or in princes of politics. And we cannot put our trust (are you ready for this?) in princes of the church. Let us go without further delay to the very heart of the problem.

The August 2000 issues of the Adventist Review and Ministry magazines present a report to the church regarding the activities of such independent ministries as Hope International, led by Ron Spear; Hartland Institute, led by Colin Standish; and Remnant Ministries, led by Russell Standish. It proposes that 12 months will be given to them in which they may either submit to the authority of the church or suffer the consequences. The report is filled with grossly false allegations. I have written a firm rebuttal of the false allegations, which is in the November issue of LandMarks magazine, and so I will not repeat them here. But it is my painful duty to point out that these false allegations were concocted and published by princes of the church. It is an appalling, unbelievable, spectacle, but we must face it. As in all times of trial, we go to the inspired writings for guidance. Here is a sampling of what we find there:

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the Third Angel’s Message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become themost bitter enemies of their former brethren. The Great Controversy, 608. [Emphasis supplied.]

The “men of talent and pleasing address” may well be princes of the church. And carefully consider this:

Through his evil angels, Satan contrives to form an alliance with professedly pious men,…He knows that if he can induce men, as he induced the angels, to join in rebellion, under the guise of servants of God, he will have in them his most successful allies in his enterprise against heaven. Under the name of godliness,he can inspire them with his own accusing spirit, and lead them to charge God’s servants with evil and guile. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1142. [Emphasis supplied.]

Words of Hate

Would you like to sample a foretaste of what she was writing about? Roy Adams, associate editor of the Adventist Review, provides us with a sample. In a book that he wrote called The Nature of Christ he uses the following words to describe historic Adventists and their leaders:

Sour, festering, self-appointed, infected with the virus of judgmentalism and suspicion, disease, martyr complex, seasoned controversialists, spirit of accusation, outraged, aghast, scandalized, pathetic, self-confessed expert, misguided, wrong-headed, steeped in their cherished position, impenetrable to any theological logic, irresponsible, almost dishonest, deluded self-appointed gurus, disgruntled, pious self-appointed prophets, turncoats, charlatans, and scoundrels, like Jim Jones and David Koresh. The Nature of Christ,

He then describes our reasoning and our writings in these terms:

Mumblings, innuendos, broken faith with the church, specious theology, perfectionistic agitation, picayune, disgusting, speciousness, repetitive, exasperating, subtle spin, overblown, vacuousness, subtle legalism, anger, irritation, anger to new heights, radical articulation, fuss, ingenious theological gymnastics, willfulness, mischief, dishonesty, far-fetched explanations, artificial and contrived, totally fabricated, thoughtlessly, narrow, shallow, facile admonitions, simplistic pietism, shrill, provincial, manipulate, dogmatism, trap of perfectionistic legalism, heated, quoted piously, specious reasoning, vehement, inordinate insistence, maliciously accusing, sharpened tongues, navel-gazing, and self-flagellation. Ibid.

An Accusing Spirit

Look again at what Ellen White predicted. The devil will inspire professedly pious men with his own accusing spirit, and they will charge God’s servants with evil and guile. Did she know what she was writing about? Need we wonder what part Adams will take in the court procedures against true Adventists who are on trial for their faith? And how can we doubt that Ellen White was inspired? You would think that she had been shown a copy of Adams’ book. And the book carries on its back cover recommendations from Adventist scholars and from then General Conference President, Robert Folkenberg. Make no mistake about it, dear friend. The report and the ultimatum to historic Adventists that were prepared by princes of the church and published in the Adventist Review and in Ministry magazine, with all of their grossly false accusations, are not to be taken lightly. They are obviously inspired by the same spirit that inspired Adams.

As for the theology that Adams recommends to his readers, here is a sample. In his argument against the idea of character perfection, Adams says that some sins, called chata’ah in Hebrew, cannot be overcome, that they are not counted against us, and that they have nothing to do with our fitness or unfitness for heaven (See Ibid., 97). Let us therefore go to the Old Testament to see what kind of sins are there defined as chata’ah. The list includes:

  • The sin of adultery into which Potiphar’s wife tried to lure Joseph. Genesis 39:9.
  • The selling of Joseph into slavery by his brothers. Genesis 50:17.
  • The sin of idolatry. Exodus 23:33.
  • The rebellion of Korah against Moses, for which he died. Numbers 16:22.
  • Eli’s sons’ rebellion against the Lord, for which they died. I Samuel 2:25.
  • The planned murder of David by Saul. I Samuel 19:5.
  • The multiple sins into which Jereboam led Israel, which caused God to reject Israel. I Kings 14:16.
  • The sins of Manasseh, who filled Jerusalem with blood and caused Israel to do worse than the heathen. II Kings 21:9, 16.

These sins, according to Adams, cannot be overcome, are not counted, and have nothing to do with out fitness or unfitness for heaven. Need we wonder what spirit is inspiring all of this? Put not your trust in princes, not even the princes of the church.

So How Shall We Relate to These Horrifying Circumstances?

Rejoice. The evidence shows that the end is near; thank God that we have been given ample warning in advance through the precious writings of the Spirit of Prophecy. Marvel again at the uncanny accuracy of Ellen White’s words: Professedly pious men will charge God’s servants with evil and guile.

Do not Panic. The God who was able to tell us in advance about the great apostasy in Adventism is well able to bring us safely through that apostasy and the great time of trouble that will follow it.

Do not Retaliate. Bitter as it is to be betrayed by church leaders, and to see our beautiful truth trashed by persons in high church office, we must not return evil for evil. Jesus was calm and undisturbed while being falsely accused, and by His grace we may do the same. It may be that some of the false accusers and truth trashers will yet repent and be saved.

Stay Close to the Lord. Read, read and reread the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Guard carefully your prayer program, and cultivate the habit of talking to God while about your daily affairs.

Keep Your Guard Up. Put no blind confidence in anyone. We can no longer take it for granted that persons in high church office will be truthful with us, either in their words or in their writings. The situation is grave now, and it will certainly get worse as the end draws near. But we have read “the last pages in the book,” and we know how it is going to end!

Courage in the Lord!

Wonder and Perish

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God has set His hand to finish His work and you can see it—if your eyes are open. But have you ever tried to tell somebody something and either it was so wonderful or so terrible that they just could not believe it? Did you know that God has that problem?

God talks about this problem in Isaiah 29:14 the Lord said, “I am going to work a wonder among you and you are going to be astonished. Just pause and wonder.” Then in Ezekiel He said, “You think that it is going to be a long time before these prophecies are fulfilled but it is going to happen right now.”

Friends, what has happened before is happening again. That, which some people are looking forward to a long time into the future, is happening right now, and they do not realize it.

Watch, be Utterly Astounded!

This is God speaking: “’Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days, Which you would not believe, though it were told you.’” Habakkuk 1:5.

The Lord says, “Look! Look and see what is happening in the world.” Do you see anything happening in the world? Do you see any signs that we are right at the end? The Lord says, “Look at what is going on in the world and be utterly astonished.” Utterly astounded by what? Well, the Lord says, “I am going to work a work in your days—not a hundred years from your day, but I am going to work a work in your generation, in your lifetime. If I told you what I am going to do, you would not believe it.”

I wonder, can you believe what God says He is going to do, or are you among the people who are astounded by what they see, and they just cannot believe that it is really happening?

Habakkuk 1:5 is quoted in the New Testament. As you know, those of you who speak more than one language, a word can be translated more than one way into another language. I want you to look at this text in the New Testament because, when they quoted it and it was translated, they used a few different words.

Wonder and Perish!

Let us see how the apostles quoted it. The apostle Paul is preaching, and he is preaching especially to his Jewish brethren. He says,

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware [Now, notice. Here is a warning.] therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you. Acts 13:38-41.

Who are these people about whom the apostle Paul is talking? He says, “Watch out that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you.” Then he quotes the text from Habakkuk, “Behold, you despisers. Marvel and perish!” Or the Old King James Bible says “…Wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

I want to tell you, friends, this verse from Habakkuk 1:5 was fulfilled in the life and times of Jesus, and it was fulfilled again in the life and times of the apostles. Now as the Jews looked out at the world, when Jesus was here, they saw that something was happening, and they were astonished by what they saw. They were astonished when they saw people who had been blind from birth who could now see.

Astonished, but not Saved

They had reports of an individual who had been in the grave for four days and was alive. They actually saw that person, and they got so mad when they saw him that they decided to kill him. They knew that something was happening. They were astonished by what they saw. But even though they marveled, even though they wondered, they were not saved.

That is what it says, marvel and perish, wonder and perish. They knew that something was happening, but they would not confess that God was in it. They said, “This Man is working miracles by the chief of the devils.”

They knew that something big was going on when the apostles went all over the world, and they saw the Christian churches arising. In fact, there were so many churches in the lifetime of the apostle Paul that he wrote to Titus and said, “Go and ordain elders in every city.” (See Titus 1:5.) Why did he have to do that? Because there was a church in every city.

The leadership knew that something was going on, and Paul was appealing to them, “Watch out that this prophecy does not come true for you; that you marvel, that you see something is happening, but you will not believe that it is the work of God. You say it is something else.”

Marvel and perish. Who are these people? They are the people who profess to be the true people of God but they will not accept; they will not cooperate with what God is doing in the world. They fight it. Is that not what the Jews did?

The Condemnation of the Jews

Now for some reason, I do not know why, there are some people who get upset when we preach about this subject. They say, “Please do not compare us with the Jews.” Friends, I must tell you that Ellen White compared us to the Jews over and over again. In fact, she says, “Let every soul be careful lest he prove himself to be among those who despise and wonder and perish, who turn from Christ in the person of His saints, and bring upon themselves the condemnation that fell upon the Jews.” Signs of the Times, May 26, 1890.

So, what is the warning? Well, she says watch out lest the very same thing that happened to the Jews happens to you. Let us look at this Scripture about the despisers who wonder and perish from the viewpoint of a very well known parable of Jesus. This parable helps us to understand what the apostles and prophets were talking about when they said, marvel and perish, wonder and perish.

In the Greek New Testament it says that Jesus told the Jews a dark saying, or a riddle, a mystical saying, and they did not understand what He was talking about.

A Dark, Mystical Saying

What was this proverb, this dark, mystical saying that they did not understand? It was the parable of the sheepfold. This is a very interesting parable, and it has many interesting symbols in it. It says:

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:1

The New King James Bible calls it an “illustration” in verse 6, that is a dark saying, a mystical saying, a proverb, a riddle. They did not know what He was talking about, so He goes on to explain. This is one of the most wonderful parables that Jesus told, because of its meaning.

…Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:7–11.

Jesus talks about the hireling and the wolf that enters in. He says again, “I am the good shepherd; and I know those that belong to Me and I am known by them.” And then He talks about laying down His life for the sheep, and He talks about there being only one flock, one fold, one shepherd. (See John 10:12–16.)

Then Jesus is talking to the Jews and the Jews surround Him and they say, “How long do you keep us in doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (See verse 24.) Jesus said, “I have already told you and you would not believe what I told you. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. (See John 10:25, 26.)

Notice, these people were astonished; they were marveling; they were astounded by what they were watching, but they did not believe. So they perished.

…you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. John 10:26–30.

Notice the symbols in this parable. We look first of all at the fold which Jesus calls the sheepfold. What is the fold? “The church of Christ is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1118.

What is the Fold?

So the fold is the church. A fold is a place that has walls of protection around it. “…the church is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock, and He longs to see it without spot or blemish or any such thing. He yearns after it with unspeakable love.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 261.

There is, friends, a fold. Are you in it? The fold is the church. Now I meet some people who say, “Well, I want to go to heaven, but there are so many hypocrites in the church. I am just going to go alone.” There are a lot of people like that in the world today. “God has a people whom He is leading, guiding, and instructing. They must be subject one to another.” This Day With God, 295. You see, you cannot be subject to one another if you are all by yourself. Have you ever thought that through?

“If one undertakes to go alone, independently, to heaven he will find he has chosen the wrong path that will not lead him to life.…” Ibid. How many people do you know who have decided that they are going to go to heaven alone? They lose their way spiritually.

God would not establish the church if we did not need it. We need each other. We need to be helping each other toward heaven. We are not going to go to heaven all alone. Now, we need to be ready to stand alone at any time for Jesus, just like Daniel did, but we are not going to heaven alone.

God has a people whom He is leading, and if we try to go alone, independently, we will find we have chosen a path that will not lead us to life. There are many sheep today that are out of the fold. It is dangerous for a sheep to be out of the fold. We are not condemning anybody who is out of the fold, but we would still like to get them back in the fold. It is safer there.

Listening for the Shepherd’s Voice

“He came to help us live without sin. This He calls bringing us back to the fold.” The Story of Jesus, 77. What is it that draws us back into the fold? An eastern shepherd does not go to his sheep with a club to beat them back into the fold. That does not work. Sheep do not respond very well to that. They just get all confused and do not know where to go or what to do. In the East, where Jesus spoke this parable, they knew what He was talking about because we are told when he leads them out, he calls his own sheep by name. (See John 10:3.) As the sheep learn their name from the shepherd, they learn to respond and follow when their name is called.

We are living in a time when the true Shepherd is calling for His sheep to come back into the fold. Have you heard His voice? Are you listening for His voice? No one can return to the fold, of course, without the drawing of the Holy Spirit. “It is His love that encircles us, bringing us back to the fold.…” In Heavenly Places, 76.

The fold is where you belong. It is dangerous outside of the fold. People say, “There are hypocrites in the church.” Well, let me tell you, there are even more hypocrites out of the church. Are you in the fold? If you have strayed from the fold, would you like to come back?

Jesus said in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be [one fold] one flock and one shepherd.”

The Church Organization is Not the Fold

The fold is the church. Now there are some people who get a little mixed up on this, and they think that the fold is the church organization. Now, I believe in church organization. I have always believed in church organization. We have elders; we have deacons; we have church board meetings; we have church business meetings, and we try to conduct all of our business in an orderly way because heaven operates in order. It does not operate in chaos and confusion. So, we believe in church organization, but the church organization is not the fold. That is very important to understand.

Here is an illustration that will show that is the case. In John 9 the story is told of a man whom the Jews decided to kick out of the fold. He was a Jewish man, a member of the church, and they decided to disfellowship him.

Ellen White comments on the experience of this blind man. She says,

The sheep was cast out of the fold for being a living witness to the power of Christ. Many have been cast out of the church whose names were registered upon the Book of Life. Wolves in sheep’s clothing were ready to cast out of the fold and devour one who was entitled to the Lord’s pasture; but Jesus, the True Shepherd, sought him, [You find that in the last few verses of John 9.] and gave him a place within the fold. Signs of the Times, December 4, 1893.

I have pondered that statement many, many times. It says that Jesus went to this man, the blind man whom He had healed, and He gave him a place in the fold. We know that the fold is the church. Now I want to ask you, How do you think that happened? Did Jesus go to Caiaphas and say, “Look, I have restored sight to this man, so I want you to put his name back in the church book”? Is that how it happened? No.

In the Fold of Jesus

Well, then, what does it mean? It says He gave him a place in the fold, in the church. You see, the church is not what people think it is. It is not the church organization. The real books of the church are kept in heaven. Did you know that? I like that. That man’s name was written in the book and Jesus gave him a place in the fold. If you are a believer in Christ, if you have chosen to surrender your life to Him and follow Him, He will give you a place in the fold. The Bible tells us that “God is no respecter of persons.” (See Acts 10:34.)

There may be some church in this world that disfellowships you. The Jewish church disfellowshipped this man, but Jesus gave him a place in the fold. Notice, in John 10:16 He says there is one shepherd. Now some people cannot figure that out. What that means is that there is one chief Shepherd, and He has other shepherds who are under Him.

One Head of the Church

Peter talks about these under-shepherds who are appointed by the Lord to do His work; but there is one chief Shepherd. That is an important point to understand. People were confused in Jesus’ day, and people are still confused today about who the shepherd is or about how many there are. There is one chief Shepherd, every other under–shepherd is under His authority. According to the Bible there is only one Head of the church, there are not two or three. (See Ephesians 1 and 4.)

But now we come to a third point, and this one is exceedingly important for you if you want to have eternal life. “’To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:3, 4.

Notice, it says, “the sheep know his voice.” We are living in a time when there are many voices. Have you noticed? And the different voices are not all saying the same thing. Here is the question: Can you distinguish the voice of the true Shepherd from all the other voices?

Let me give you a tip on how to distinguish the true Shepherd’s voice from all the other voices. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (See Hebrews 13:8.) Since He does not change, since He is the same, if the true Shepherd speaks to you through any messenger today, what He says to you now will agree with what He said 2000 years ago; it will not contradict. Does that make sense?

The Voice of the True Shepherd

Many voices today are saying that all you have to do to be saved is love Jesus, just have a relationship with Jesus; even if you sin, it is all right because He will forgive you. Do not worry about it. But that is not the voice of the true Shepherd, because that is not what Jesus said in the Bible.

Jesus talked about this in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “’Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.’” Matthew 5:17, 18.

What did Jesus say about the Law? He said that it was not going to pass away, it was going to stay the same. Ellen White talked about this. In 1895 she wrote:

The voice that magnifies the Law of God we recognize as the voice of the true Shepherd; but we know that those who would make of no effect the commandments of God, are false shepherds, who would exalt tradition above the commandments of Jehovah. Signs of the Times, July 4, 1895.

If the preacher, teacher, Sabbath School teacher, friend, brother or whomever you are studying with and listening to, magnifies the Law of God, that is the voice of the true Shepherd. But if they tell you, do not worry about it; the Lord loves you, and He will save you anyway. That is the voice of a false shepherd.

Jesus said until heaven and earth pass, not the smallest part of the Law is going to be changed. This fold has a door. Did you notice that? And that door is narrow. You cannot drive a truck through it. Jesus said it is a narrow gate, a narrow way, and He said we must agonize to go through the narrow gate.

Over the Wall

Some people say, “Well, I cannot get all my baggage through the door, so I am going over the wall.” Jesus talked about that, too. Do you know the voice of the Shepherd? The true Shepherd’s voice will magnify the Law. Unfortunately there are many people in the church today, even in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who do not recognize the true Shepherd’s voice. They cannot tell the difference between the voice of Christ and the voice of a stranger.

The result is that the church, right now, is going through some dark times, and it is going to get darker before it gets brighter.

Dark hours of trial are before the Church because they have not obeyed the warnings and reproofs and counsel of God. What a bewitching power comes upon human minds to do contrary to the oft repeated will of God, and close the eyes and stop the ears, when Jesus is calling to them to hear His voice. He says, ‘My sheep hear My voice.’ The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 3, 1002.

Mrs. White talks about people in the church who close their ears and shut their eyes so they will not hear and see what Jesus is trying to communicate to them. Jesus is saying, “If you are My sheep, you would hear My voice.” What is going to happen?

The dark hours of trial are to come to every one as a part of his education for higher work, for more devoted, consecrated effort.… Before the great trouble shall come upon the world such as has never been since there was a nation, those who have faltered and who would ignorantly lead in unsafe paths will reveal this before the real vital test, the last proving, comes, so that whatsoever they may say will not be regarded as voicing the True Shepherd. Ibid.

Revealed

Now that is a very interesting statement. Did you get what it is talking about? Before the great time of trouble comes, those who would ignorantly lead in wrong paths, it says, the Lord is going to arrange things so that they are going to be revealed. That is why you see some of the strange things happening today. The Lord expects you to be learning from what you are seeing and hearing. Do not be like the people who are just astonished, and go ahead and perish.

Mrs. White says, “…so that whatsoever they may say will not be regarded as voicing the True Shepherd.” A time of trouble is coming, friends, and if you are listening to the wrong voice, you are not going to make it. Mrs. White said, “The time of our educating will soon be over. We have no time to lose in walking through clouds of doubt and uncertainty because of uncertain voices.” Ibid.

To whom are you listening, friend? There is counsel after counsel in inspired writings, and in the Bible, about people who used to be in the light but are not now. If you are reading the word of the true Shepherd, you know that what they are saying today is not the voice of the true Shepherd, even though 20 years ago what they were saying might have been.

They are revealing who they really are. Are your eyes open? Are your ears open? Are you comparing what you are hearing with the Bible? Does it agree?

The fourth point is, to me, one of the most interesting points in the story. Notice this sheepfold, this church in John 10, has a door, and the sheep go in and out through the door. Jesus goes in and out through the door. In verse 2 it says, “’But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.’”

I am the Door

But notice also it says in verse 7, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.’” A double symbol is used here. Jesus says He goes through the door, but then He says that He is the door. This door is the same door that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7. It is the narrow gate, a narrow door. Jesus says that He Himself goes through this door. If you want to be part of the flock, if you want to be in the fold, you have to go through this door.

Now let us think, for just a moment, about going through the door. Any time you go through a door, there is a time before you go through the door, then you are going through the door, and then there is a time after you have gone through the door and are on the other side. Does that make sense? Remember that.

Now I am going to ask you some questions. Was it always true, throughout all eternity, that Christ was a Divine Person equal with the Father? Yes. There are many Scriptures and many inspired passages to show that. Jesus said there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with His Father. He was a Divine Person. So, when Jesus says that He goes through the door, that could not at all apply to His divinity because there never was a time when He was not divine.

But let me ask you the second question. Was there a time before Jesus Christ had become a man? Yes, there was. You see, going through the door has to do with the divinity of Christ. He always had that. It has to do with the fact that there was a time before He went through the door and there is a time after He went through the door. It has to do with the humanity of Christ.

This is one of the major themes of the New Testament! Remember Jesus used to say you are to be in Me and I am to be in you? (See John 14:20; 15:4.) And a Christian is a person who is Christ–like. In other words, Christ is living His life in Him. Not the life of a god, but the life of a man, because Christ had a perfect humanity.

Going Through the Door

To go through the door means that, just as Christ united His divinity with humanity, we unite our humanity with His divinity. Going through the door represents a union of divinity and humanity. In order for Jesus to go through the door He had to unite humanity to His divinity. If He had not done that, Ellen White says there is no way we could have been saved. (See Review and Herald, December 30, 1909.) There is no way.

If He had not come down to this world and become one flesh with us, there would be no way that we could be saved. But it is also true that unless we become one spirit with Him, there is no way we can be saved either. We have to go through the door just like He went through the door. He went through the door by uniting His divinity with humanity. We go through the door by uniting our humanity with His divinity.

Peter talks about that in 2 Peter 1:3, 4. It says we have become “partakers of the divine nature.” Oh, friends, that is what is involved in going through the door and becoming part of the church. If you have not gone through that door, even if you have been baptized by water, you are just playing church.

There are some people who decide to get inside the church without going through the door. Have you ever met someone who said, “I am listening to what you are preaching. I see that I am supposed to keep the Law of God; you say I am supposed to keep it perfectly, and I want to, but I cannot. I want to overcome this; I want to overcome that, and I cannot do it; I have tried a hundred times.”

I do not argue with anybody like that because what he or she is telling me is the truth. But do you know why it is the truth? Because there is no union of divine power with their humanity. Do you know how long we can keep ourselves from sinning if we are not united to divinity? Mrs. White says we cannot do it for one moment. (See The Ministry of Healing, 180.)

Why cannot we overcome? People are looking for a new gospel, a new theology, a different way to get to heaven because they have tried and tried, and they cannot do it. They think the Lord is going to have to save them in their sins.

Baptized into One Body

The reason that the sheep cannot overcome is because they have not yet gone through the door. That is what baptism represents. (See Romans 6 or 1 Corinthians 12.) It says in 1 Corinthians 12:13 “…by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” The body is the church, the fold. And we become members when we are baptized with one Spirit—that is the Holy Spirit.

Baptism by water represents baptism by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 says that when you are baptized by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit gives the power to put to death the deeds of the body so you can overcome sin. You could not do it before, but the Holy Spirit will give you the power to do it. The only way you will overcome a besetting sin is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you asking for the power of the Holy Spirit to come into your life every day?

I hope you will pray about this and ask the Lord to help you to go through the door and not try to just climb over the wall to get into the church. There are a lot of people doing that today.

Jesus is the Door

There is not room to enter in at the strait gate and carry the things of this world along. He who would enter in at the strait gate must make an entire consecration of his all to God.… he who would carry the world with him, will never enter in at the strait gate. There is no room for one to walk the narrow way and yet carry along evil surmisings, doubts, criticisms, jealousies, and unkindness. Review and Herald, March 28, 1912.

Do you want Him to lay that aside so you can go through the door? Do you want to go through the door? That is where the safety is.

Oh, yes, we come now to some other people who are inside. Do not get discouraged about it, because the Shepherd is still watching over His sheep, whether they are outside the fold or inside the fold. When people become members of the church, after awhile they come to the pastor and they say, “I thought, when I became a member of the church, that it was going to be heavenly in here and that I was going to be with the saints. I am with some people that I cannot understand what is happening!”

Well, the reason that people have those kinds of experiences is because there are people in the church who did not go through the door. They climbed over the wall. Jesus called them wolves in sheep’s clothing. (See Matthew 7.) As I studied this, I found out that these wolves in sheep’s clothing, who are also called the blind leaders of the blind and hirelings, are the people specified in inspiration who will “wonder and perish.”

They will be astonished at what they see happening. They cannot comprehend some of the things that they see going on in the church because there are people in there who have not gone through the door, the thieves and the robbers.

Not Really Part of the Flock

Ellen White talked about these people. She said,

This strait, and self-denying path is too narrow for many to walk in who profess godliness. They want an easier path and are climbing up some other way. They refuse to follow in the footsteps of our Redeemer. Christ calls all such thieves and robbers. They take the name of Christian” [Notice, they have come into the church, and they call themselves Christians, and they are in the fold with the sheep.] which does not belong to them. This Day With God, 155.

In other words, they are not really part of the flock; they are not really in the church. They are in the fold but they are not really part of the group. Just like a person who does not go through the door into your house but climbs through the window. They are not part of your household, even though they are inside. There are people like that in the church. They are not part of the flock, even though they are inside, all zipped up in their sheep’s clothing.

They take the name of Christian, which does not belong to them, because they do not represent in their life the life of Christ. They claim the privileges which belong to the sons of God while they are none of His. They live selfish lives upon the earth and have done nothing for the truth and the salvation of souls as they ought to have done. Sad indeed for these self-deceived ones. They will never see heaven, because they are not willing to share the shame, the reproach, that Jesus suffered for them. Ibid.

…we should consider it the highest exaltation to be accounted a child of God, an heir of Heaven; and we should rejoice that we can walk with Jesus in His humiliation. But our Saviour assures us that there are some who would like to climb up some other way than the toilsome, self-denying way of the cross. They would avoid reproach and shun sacrifices. Christ calls such thieves and robbers. If we are not willing to breast the storm of opposition, if we choose to float with the current, we shall lose eternal life.” Signs of the Times, July 31, 1884.

Do not say, “I am too weak.” Remember, if you go through the door, you have Omnipotent power on your side. You could be the weakest person around; it does not matter. If you have been united to divine power, you are going to have all the strength and power that you need.

Thieves and Robbers

So who are the thieves and robbers? Oh, they are the Pharisees. They are the blind leaders of the blind. They are the wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are those who wonder and perish. They are in the church, but they are not actually part of the church. In Christ’s day, they were the leaders of God’s professed people. Ellen White says that these people are counted as true by many of their brethren but they end up being part of the synagogue of Satan. They are none of Christ’s and He does not accept them as being His own.

These people who wonder and perish are in the fold, but they end up being part of the devil’s church, the synagogue of Satan, just like the Jews in Christ’s day. (See Early Writings, 30.) They say, “We are God’s professed people” and Jesus said, “You are actually the children of the devil.” (See I John 3:10.)

The Lord has shown me that we are in just as much danger [of rejecting truth] in our day as were the people in the days of Christ. The Lord is speaking through His delegated messengers; but the same unbelief is exhibited. Men close their hearts against Jesus and hold themselves in the veriest bondage to Satan, supposing that they are preserving their dignity as free men; that they are maintaining their right to think and act for themselves, to believe or doubt; and like the despisers of the gospel in the apostolic times, they wonder and perish. Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 283.

What is Our Danger?

What is our danger? Our danger is rejecting what God is doing in the world. We have leaders in Adventism today who say, “Oh, all these newspaper ads, you ought to just stop that. All this distribution of The Great Controversy, just stop that. It is not time now.” Well, friends, if it is not time now, when is it going to be time? Do you want to wait until you are in prison and then try to distribute it?

The Bible says, “wonder and perish.” I want to tell you this is not just about apostolic times. This is happening today! We have multitudes of professed Adventists today who are wondering; they are astonished; they see that something is happening—but they do not believe that they are going to perish.

There will be, even among us, hirelings and wolves in sheep’s clothing who will persuade the flock of God to sacrifice unto other gods before the Lord. We have reason to know how Paul would act in any emergency. ‘The love of Christ constraineth us.’ (II Corinthians 5:13.) Youth who are not established, rooted and grounded in the truth, will be corrupted and drawn away by the blind leaders of the blind; and the ungodly, the despisers that wonder and perish, who despise the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days and place on the throne a false god, a being of their own defining, a being altogether such an one as themselves—these will be agents in Satan’s hands to corrupt the faith of the unwary. The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 2, 484, 485.

It says they despise the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days. Well, what sovereignty do they want? They set up a false god. What is the false god? It is the same false god that the Jews set up in the days of Christ. The false god that they set up was their church organization, which they put in the place of God Himself.

Friends, it is no idle talk when somebody says that Jesus is the Head of the church. And watch out what Jesus impresses a group of people to do, lest in fighting it you be found to be fighting the Lord Himself. Let us get right down to the bottom of the problem. Seventh-day Adventists have been given the mission to take the Three Angels’ Messages to every single person in the world.

There is a Cross Involved

But here is the catch. Here is what keeps people from doing it. Here is why they are afraid to do it. It is the same thing as in the days of Christ. You see, there is a cross involved in taking the Three Angels’ Messages to all the world, because the majority of people will not accept it, and they will oppose it. Obviously, Babylon will oppose it.

In order to avoid going through the strait gate, enduring persecution, enduring opposition, we are in the time right now when the majority of Adventists are in the process (I am not saying it is final, I am not saying they cannot turn around.) of turning traitor to the Three Angels’ Messages because of the cross involved in promulgating it.

That is the bottom line. In Jesus’ day you could not be saved if you were not willing to take up your cross, and you cannot be saved if you are not willing to take up your cross today. It is not enough to know the truth. These people who were astonished, who were wondering and who have perished, they knew truth but they would not submit to it and follow it.

How is it going to be with you, friend? Are you willing to take up your cross and say, “Lord, I am willing to do whatever you want me to do to get Your work finished in all parts of the world.” Or are you just going to stand back and be astonished at what you see going on and say, “No, it is not time now, there would be too much trouble if we did it now. We have to wait for a different time.”?

Let me tell you, it is not going to get easier next year. It is not going to be easier in three or four years. It will only get harder. Do not be one who is astonished at what you see, but you do not have any part in it and end up perishing. Millions of Jews lost eternal life that way. Millions of Seventh-day Adventists are about to lose eternal life today. Do not let it be you.

The Church in Apostolic Times

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“He [Jesus] who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer.” The Desire of Ages, 111. The reason for this was that those who were in charge of the system viewed themselves as being the church, and they realized that if Jesus were to be accepted, many of them would lose their positions.

Considered Dangerous to the Church

Today, there is a similar problem in the professed church of God; there are some inspired counsels we are willing to deal with but others that we are not. If many of the counsels of Ellen White were really advocated, they would be considered to be dangerous to the church, possibly even capable of destroying it. I do not believe, however, we will ever receive God’s blessing until we feed upon every word.

Principles of church organization affect every aspect of the church, from the youngest member on up to the General Conference. In the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, there is a great deal of information dealing with church organization that is written not only to those in leadership positions but to laymen as well.

Throughout history, whenever doctrine becomes corrupted, organization also becomes corrupt. In fact, in Revelation God is as concerned about false organization as He is about false doctrine. In the writings of Ellen White there is a great deal written about doctrine, but I also find hundreds of pages written about church organization which we are afraid to touch, because if we even read the quotation, we will be accused of criticism. It is time, however, that we have the courage of John the Baptist and, with the spirit of love, humbly look at the things God has given to us, praying that He will help us to implement these things so He can pour out His Spirit and finish the work He is seeking to do.

I Corinthians 1:2 tells us how the New Testament church is organized. “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” The church at Corinth, identified by Paul, is not addressed as the church which is registered. It could be registered, but that is not the point. Nothing is said regarding their organization or where they meet. They may meet in some building, and they are organized, but that is not the point. The church here in Corinth is those people in Corinth who are sanctified and called to be the saints of God. Now the church was to be organized, but the organization was not the church. The people were the church. These people could work in harmony, because this is possible when God is in your heart. So they would meet and work together, send out missionaries and take up offerings, and do all those things which are necessary for God’s work to progress. But the church itself was the people. This is what the church has always been.

In a special sense, the church is those people who are registered in the books of heaven. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven. . . .” Hebrews 12:22, 23. The church, the true church of God, is composed of those people who are registered in the Book of Life in heaven.

Now this presents a very interesting situation. Who decides who is going to be a church member? Is it the pope who has the keys? If it is not the pope, is it the church board? Can they decide? What about the church body? Can we decide who is saved and who is not, whose name is written in heaven and whose is not?

Well, do we not have anything to do? Oh, yes, we have something to do. We are called to recognize those whom God has registered in the books in heaven; and those whom He has registered there, we are to register here. He does not, however, follow our suit; we are to follow His, and there is a difference.

The Books on Earth Must Match the Books in Heaven

Let us suppose that God takes someone’s name off of the books in heaven, and they are disfellowshipped. Are they still church members? No! But suppose their names remain in the books on earth. This is an interesting dilemma. The church is purified when the books on earth match the books in heaven. You see, God has given mankind no authority to decide who can be a member and who cannot be a member but to simply recognize those whom He has accepted or rejected.

God has local congregations here on earth, and we have organizations here to help organize the work. But the headquarters of your local church is in heaven, where only the sanctified are registered, not in some office in your state or some office in Takoma Park, Maryland. Some people find this rather disconcerting, believing such a policy could lead to all kinds of trouble.

Just suppose that a coup took place in some local church or conference through politicking, and some people, who were not inspired by the Lord or filled with the Holy Spirit, took over through manipulation, and because of their prejudices, certain people were unjustly disfellowshipped. Would those who were disfellowshipped cease to be church members? Certainly not. Suppose, on the other hand, that people were allowed to come into the church who were never converted. Because their names were in the books on earth, would they, therefore, be church members? Not in any way, shape or form. God has never left His church to be manipulated and tampered with by the political whims of mankind. There is coming a time when He is going to turn and overturn the professed church that is called by His name. God’s true church remains the same as it has always—those people who are registered in the books of heaven.

“God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20.) Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church. . . .” Upward Look, 315.

When Paul was ordained, he was ordained to baptize and establish churches—the two together. According to inspiration, the same ordination that gives people the right to baptize gives them the right to establish churches. More and more, however, there are increasing restrictions controlling the starting of new churches.

I have been doing some studying on the history of Kansas. In 1903, Kansas had one hundred Seventh-day Adventist churches. The state has grown by almost a million people in the last fifty years, and during that period of time, we have gone from one hundred churches down to fifty-four. [Editor’s Note: This information is taken from ???????????]

God’s Presence Alone Establishes a Church

Not only has God alone reserved the right to start and to recognize a church, but if you and I decide to go out and start a church apart from His will, no matter what conference committee may approve it, it will never be a church. “For the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.” Upward Look, 315. [All emphasis supplied.] If God’s presence is not the center of His church, it is not recognized by Him as His church, whether or not it is recognized by a conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In New Testament times, the church was those who were called and sanctified. Wherever Paul went and converted a few people, he organized them into a church, right there and then, without seeking any other permission. It was not up to the church in Jerusalem to give permission or to decide if they were a church but to recognize the fact that they were. Now, of course, if a church apostatized or if a local member apostatized, it was also up to the church in Jerusalem to decide that, as these people were no longer keeping the commandments of God, they were no longer recognized as being one of God’s churches.

For us, individually, to receive the Holy Spirit, we must study the Bible, pray, overcome sin and witness. For the church body to receive the Holy Spirit, they must, as a body, also have these four things present. Not only is it necessary for us as individuals to be winning others to Christ, but God’s design for His church is that every church should start new churches.

Primitive Organization?

One of the things that must take place before God can pour out His blessing upon the church is not only revival of primitive doctrine but a revival of primitive organization. The New Testament churches had the freedom to go out and start new churches, but they were not just started and left to flounder by themselves; they were left with local organization. “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, `We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’ So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:21–23.

Authority in the early church was to be earned because of a godly life, a knowledge of the Scriptures and the ability that God had given to one. Never was it to come just by virtue of office. Today, our church is almost being destroyed in some parts of this world, because some have assumed the office of minister and decided that, because they have that office, they are the king of the local church. God never intended that office to be that of a king but one of service.

“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.” Acts 20:17. What elders were these that He called? These were the elders who had been appointed. Notice, it is elders plural, not the elder. “‘Therefore take heed to yourselves [This is the instruction he is giving to these elders.] and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.’” Acts 20:28–31.

Organization is Needed for Protection

So he called the elders to guard the church from wolves. In a correlating passage to this, in Testimonies, vol. 5, 77, Ellen White, writing of her own experience, says that she could scarcely keep from weeping when she saw the people who were taking charge of the church who were trained by Satan. Paul had the same concern, and the elders were called to protect the church from these wolves.

Now the questions is, suppose that a wolf came from Jerusalem. Were the elders to protect the church from that wolf? “Oh, no,” someone says, “not a local elder.” Turn with me to one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament in regard to this. “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:11–13. Paul stood up and rebuked Peter, but Paul was not happy about this, because he was not the one who should have had to do the rebuking.

God had established a local leadership to protect the church. “Not from Peter,” someone might say, “he was from Jerusalem. He was one of the pillars; he knew Jesus personally. No, not from Peter. They were only Gentiles who had been newly converted to the faith. You do not expect them, these Gentile Galatians who had just come into the Christian church a few years ago, to stand up and rebuke Peter, who was from the Jerusalem church, who had been a Jew all his life, one of the pillars in the church, a follower of Jesus—not Peter! I mean, Paul was an apostle. He could do that.” But Paul was most unhappy that he had to do that. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” Galatians 3:1.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1. Someone might say, “That scripture is dealing with circumcision and all those things.” Circumcision was involved, and eating with Gentiles was involved, but that was not the issue! The issue in Galatians was that Peter had caused them to transgress, and they were to stand in their freedom, even if it was Peter from Jerusalem who should come down and preach false theology.

What is this Strange Fire?

“But strange fire has been offered in the use of harsh words, in self-importance, in self-exaltation, in self-righteousness, in arbitrary authority, in domineering, in oppression, in restricting the liberty of God’s people, binding them about by your plans and rules, which God has not framed, neither have they come into His mind. All these things are strange fire, unacknowledged by God, and are a continual misrepresentation of His character.” Testimonies to Ministers, 358.

The Lord established the church upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and He is to be the head of the church. (See Ephesians 1:22, 23.) The issue in the days of Martin Luther was who was in charge of the church, the Lord or the pope. That was the issue in Wesley’s day and it was the issue in 1888. I have been amazed at how little Ellen White deals with doctrine in relationship to 1888. The problem with Jones and Waggoner was that they did not go through the “proper channels.” They were not approved by the “proper people.”

The following statements are from a letter that Ellen White wrote to Elder Butler. “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.’” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 112. Do you want to know what Christ our Righteousness means? She tells us what it means. “Men are individually responsible to God and must act as God acts upon them, not as another human mind acts upon their mind.” Ibid. God is to decide what is right, not some human committee. God makes the rules, not some human rule book. The Bible is our creed. We always used to say: “We do not have a creed book; the Bible is our creed.”

“For if this method of indirect influence is kept up, souls can not 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.’” Ibid., 112, 113.

Where Does Church Authority Come In?

In the book Testimonies to Ministers, Ellen White wrote a great deal of material to the leadership, and ministry in general, after 1888. Much of this book is dealing with this very principle of church authority. Among other similar statements, she said, “The high-handed power that has been developed, as though position has made men gods, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever and by whomsoever it is exercised.” Testimonies to Ministers, 361. “The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him. . . .” Ibid., 362. “Rule, rule, has been their course of action. Satan has had an opportunity of representing himself.” Ibid., 363.

In the chapter “Under Which Banner?” she says, “Humanity is hailed as God.” Ibid., 365. She is talking to us dear friends. She says, “God will not vindicate any device whereby man shall in the slightest degree rule or oppress his fellowmen.” Ibid., 366. A curse is pronounced upon all who do this. (See Jeremiah 17:5.)

“State conferences may depend upon the General Conference for light and knowledge and wisdom; but is it safe for them to do this? Battle Creek is not to be the center of God’s work. God alone can fill this place. 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. There is no power in men to read the hearts of their fellow men. The Lord is the only One upon whom we can with safety depend, and He is accessible in every place and to every church in the Union. . . . Is the president of the General Conference to be the god of the people?” Ibid., 375. Following the counsel and teaching of these ideas does not make a person very popular, but we are told to do it.

We Have Placed God Second

Instead of teaching the truth God has commissioned to be taught, do you know what she says we have been taught? “For many years an education has been given to the people which places God second, and man first. The people have been taught that everything must be brought before the council of a few men in Battle Creek.” Ibid., 325. I want you to notice that this is a serious matter, because it is breaking the first commandment. God says, “‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’” Exodus 20:3. “Let me entreat our state conferences and our churches to cease putting their dependence upon men and making flesh their arm.” Ibid., 380. Today we have gone far beyond where they were in 1888.

“In reference to our conference, it is repeated o’er and o’er and o’er again, that it is the voice of God, and therefore everything must be referred to the Conference and have the conference voice in regard to permission or restriction or what shall be and what shall not be done in the various fields. . . . We have heard enough, abundance, about that ‘everything must go around in the regular way.’ . . . He [God] wants every living soul that has a knowledge of the truth to come to their senses.” Spalding and Magan Collection, 163. “The Lord wants His Spirit to come in. He wants the Holy Ghost king.” Ibid., 166. Today we have come to the point, in many places, that if you even invite someone to come and speak in the pulpit, you have to get the permission of the local conference.

God is looking for every one of us, from the General Conference president down, to be broken on the Rock. When Jesus is the King, unity, peace and love pervade. This does not do away with organization. It is the only thing that creates a workable organization. We still have offices, but when God’s plan is followed, no one is striving for office, because everyone is striving to serve one another. (See Matthew 20:25–28.)

Less Control

The message of Christ our Righteousness has to become practical. We need to exercise less and less control over one another and do more and more praying for one another. Let us not decide that God has given any one of us authority to tell everyone else how they are to serve God. God is calling for much more freedom in His church than what we have been willing to allow. There is a place for order, a place for leadership, but dear friend, God is calling for us to be broken on the Rock, to be filled with the humility and the love of Jesus. Then we will find that once again the Holy Spirit will be King.

Synagogue of Satan

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“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works. … I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” ’ ” Revelation 2:8, 9

Although Jesus did not give any reproof or rebuke to the church at Smyrna, that did not mean they were without problems. They endured persecution and suffering.

Ellen White gave strong and pointed counsel to our medical workers and ministers that when people are suffering, it is not the time to talk to them about their doctrinal errors. We are to follow Jesus’ example of providing encouragement to the church at Smyrna who needed to hear about the love of Jesus and to surrender all to Him and abide in His loving arms. Those who are suffering are not in a position mentally to be able to think through or figure out the 2300 days for the first time or some other doctrine though it may be very important. Much wisdom is needed when counseling those who are suffering.

Many of those whom Jesus met were indeed suffering physically. They were also mixed up theologically and did not understand what the kingdom of heaven was about or understand the work of the Messiah, so He simply healed them.

To the church in Smyrna, Jesus said, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).

Paul gives us an understanding of what Jesus meant when he said to the Galatians, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). In verse 29, he said, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

If you are of faith, you are Christ’s and an heir according to the promise. Christians are spiritual Jews and when Jesus says to the church of Smyrna that these people say that they are Jews and are not, He is also referring to Christians. It is possible to think you are a Christian yet be part of the synagogue of Satan—professing to be part of God’s church, but in reality are part of Satan’s church, furthering his cause.

For this reason, we speak about the professed church and the true church. All who are part of the true church are also part of the professed church because you can’t be part of the true church if you make no profession. Paul said, “… with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). You have to make a confession to be part of the true church. There is no such thing as a person who is part of the church who doesn’t make a profession. But everybody who makes a profession is not necessarily a part of the true church. Some make big claims of being followers of Jesus but in reality, Satan is their leader.

That there is a distinction between the professed church and the true church is a clear teaching of the Spirit of Prophecy. Everyone who belongs to the true church is also part of the professed church. However, not everyone who claims membership in the professed church is a member of the true church. The situation in the church at Smyrna is used to illustrate this dichotomy.

Throughout the Spirit of Prophecy, the expression “professed people of God” is used a hundred and fifty-five times, according to a search of the CD of the writings of E. G. White. The expression “His professed people” is used a hundred and eleven times. The expression “God’s professed people” is used a hundred and ten times. Ellen White even uses the expression “professed church,” and contrasts it with the true church on occasion. Here’s an example:

In The Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899, she says, “Through the agency of Romanism, Satan took the world captive. The professed church of God was swept into the ranks of this delusion, and for more than a thousand years the people of God [the true church] suffered under the dragon’s ire.” The true church here in this statement is the people of God. The professed church persecuted the true church for over a thousand years.

Within the church at Smyrna were these two groups. To human vision, often the synagogue of Satan appeared to be more holy and spiritual than the true church. We wonder how that can be. The synagogue of Satan considered themselves better Christians with a more elevated form of Christianity than the true church.

History identifies the characteristics of the synagogue of Satan. “Christ speaks of the church over which Satan presides as the synagogue of Satan. Its members are the children of disobedience. They are those who choose to sin, who labor to make void the holy law of God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 958.

There was a group of people like this in the Smyrna Church in the first century. Understanding the origin and destiny of the synagogue of Satan in the church of Smyrna is the secret to understanding how Christianity got from where it was in A.D. 80 or 90 to where we are today.

What is Hellenism?

Hellenism is the culture, philosophy, and religion of the Greeks that became dominant in the near east after the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. The name comes from Hellen, a Greek goddess, and the name Hellenist is a designation for the Greeks. Hellenistic philosophy was the product of the great pagan reformation that occurred in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. This culture, philosophy, and religion spread throughout the near east.

What does Hellenistic philosophy have to do with Christianity?

The answer is “everything.” Christians in the first century combined Hellenistic philosophy or religion with Christianity. This hybrid was called Gnostic Christianity. Gnosticism was a collection of teachings that essentially proclaimed the basic principles of paganism, Hellenistic religion, under the name of Christianity. Although there were dozens of Gnostic sects, the principle doctrines believed by most Gnostics included the following:

Man has a divine immortal soul. That was derived from Plato. The New Testament contradicts that belief and in fact contradicts all Gnostic doctrines.

The Gnostics believe that this divine immortal soul originated in the heavens and is destined to return to heaven after death.

Most Gnostic Christians passionately and totally rejected the Old Testament and Hebrew religion, believing it to be the religion of the old covenant based on materialistic animal sacrifices.

They considered the material world to be evil.

The Gnostics saw themselves as a reformation, not of Judaism, but of the New Testament church itself and promoted their teachings within the church. They called themselves Christians and promoted their teachings within the church as an advanced, more elevated revelation of Christianity.

The focus was on the spiritual alone and not the material world. They relied especially on the writings of Paul because of his emphasis on inner spirituality. An example of that is found in the book of Ephesians where Paul talks about being filled with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16–19). Their doctrines depended heavily on these texts.

The theory of progressive revelation was believed, saying this was a second, more advanced revelation of the Christian faith. They thought there was nothing intrinsically good or evil. Everything depended on the situation, especially its relation to materialism, because they believed that the material world was evil. Today we call that “situation ethics.” Given the right situation, almost any act could be justified.

Gnosticism developed several major strands, going in different directions. One strand would go into libertinism. If the material world had no value, then what you did didn’t really matter that much because you were concentrating on the heavens and on the spiritual. The Old Testament had no value. Simply receive the Holy Spirit and concentrate on your spiritual life and all these problems will be over. Bondage to sinful habits would be lost and disappear automatically.

Subjective morality was preached. Some rejected marriage and advocated celibacy. Many Gnostics, not all, were antinomian. Antinomianism means against the law. This belief needs to be explained because the Gnostics preached against sin, and they had powerful preachers. Not only did they preach against sin, but they also preached in favor of the highest moral standards. At the same time, they essentially licensed sin by removing the penalty. Gnosticism taught that God would never punish someone spiritual—and they maintained that all are spiritual.

Gnosticism targeted and infiltrated the Roman church in the second and third centuries. In the history of Christianity, one topic—the Sabbath—more than any other, has become the centerpiece of the controversy over Hebrew religion. It was the Gnostics that pioneered the conversion from Sabbath keeping to Sunday keeping. They said Sunday, which they called the eighth day, was symbolic. Sunday worship, they said, symbolized for Gnostic Christians their rejection of the material world, the rejection of the Creator God. They said the God of the Old Testament who gave the law and the Sabbath symbolizes the creation of the material world, and they did not like that.

The Gnostics wanted something that was spiritual. Hellenism emphasized the spiritual and de-emphasized anything material. The Sabbath promotes both physical and spiritual rest, but Hellenistic rest is exclusively spiritual, non-material.

In the early centuries after Christ, just as today, the distinction between the material and the spiritual was presented as a primary justification for discarding the Sabbath.

The Sabbath, because of its attachment to Creation, was considered materialistic, and therefore inferior, and spiritually dangerous. Both Gnosticism and Hellenistic Christianity in general understood the eighth day to signify breaking away from Hebrew religion and the Old Testament. They said the material world was the first creation and that the Sabbath celebrates the first creation of the material world. As a rebuttal to that assertion, the apostle Paul says, that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, and everything is become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So, according to the Gnostics, we need some way to celebrate the new creation. The second creation is only beginning and it can only be honored by celebrating its beginning, and when did it begin? On resurrection Sunday.

Here are a couple of other points. If you have studied the Old Testament you will know that the Passover always occurred on the full moon. The Jewish year had lunar months, and the Passover was on the 14th day of the 1st month, always occurring at full moon.

Gnostics said that because the Passover always occurs at full moon, the entire 24-hour day is lighted. The evening portion was lighted with the brightness of the full moon, and the morning portion with the sun. They said it is prophetic that someday Easter would replace the Passover. Easter, like Sunday, is supposed to be purely spiritual and therefore points to the time after the end of the material creation when there will be only light and no darkness. There will be a day, a 24-hour period, with all light and no darkness and they argued that Sunday is a natural fulfillment of the Sabbath.

They also claimed that they were not abolishing the Sabbath but fulfilling its spiritual intent. They condemned the Sabbath by accusing Sabbath keepers of excessive idleness, asserting that every day is the Lord’s day. So the spiritual rest was described as an on-going spiritual state, not associated with any particular day.

This is not just ancient history. What is described here is rampant over the world today. Eighth day theology is not just some historical phenomenon. Hellenistic Christian churches today, both Catholic and Protestant, openly preach veneration of Sunday as the eighth day.

An example of this erroneous doctrine is the apostolic letter released by pope John Paul II in 1998, “Dies Domini,” on keeping the Lord’s day holy. In it, the pope echoes many of these same ancient arguments, including the contention that Sunday marks a new spiritual creation for Christians. He says that Sunday is the true Christian fulfillment of creation rest because it honors the spiritual creation, echoing the teachings of the Gnostics of the first century.

When it comes to eight-day symbolism, the pope confirms its importance in the theology of the early Roman church and describes it as much loved by the Catholic church fathers. He said that Sunday is not only the first day, it is also the eighth day, in a unique and transcendent position which evokes not only the beginning of time, but also its end in the age to come, linking this belief directly with the first century Gnostics.

The letter says, “Sunday symbolizes the truly singular day which will follow the present time, the day without end, which will know neither evening nor morning.”

And then, “Sunday is the ceaseless foretelling of life without end, which renews the hope of Christians.” Just as in Gnostic theology, Pope John Paul II saw the eighth day as a symbol of the age that exists outside the present material world when there will be no alternation of day and night, in which we will know, as he says, neither evening nor morning.

Here is the issue. Is it the will of God that the Sabbath be observed in Christian worship as it was in the Ephesian church in the first century, and as it was by all the apostles? Or is it the divine will that the true Sabbath be replaced by a pagan, Hellenistic symbol in practice?

It matters not what any man or group of men say. If you believe that there is a God in heaven, the real question is, What is the divine will? The real issue is what is the will of God.

This synagogue of Satan was right within the Smyrna Church. Though Jesus did not reprove them, it does not mean they did not have major problems. The Gnostic Christians in Smyrna made the persecution of the true church much more severe. They saw no problem with participating in the pagan religious customs of the day that the apostolic Christians would never do, causing millions of the faithful to be killed for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods. All that was required was to take a piece of incense and throw it on the fire, and say, “Kaiser es kurios” and they would be free. Those who refused were taken off to one side and killed.

The Gnostic Christians compromised. It did not bother them to participate in the pagan festivals, maintaining that this is just the material world and therefore it doesn’t even matter, for we are spiritual. By participating in the festivals they escaped much of the persecution that fell upon the primitive church. For them, it was one of those issues of outward conduct that has no effect upon inward spirituality.

Imagine how hard it would have been to be a Sabbath keeping Christian and stand for principle when half the church members claiming to believe the same, saw no need to make a stand and caved in to the powers that be. The result was greater persecution.

We must all stand strong as did Daniel and the three worthies when confronted with matters of conscience. Each person must be in control of their own conscience and not be controlled by the community of faith, the church, or the government.

This has been a controversy between the professed church and the true church for thousands of years. Around A.D. 800, Charlemagne made a decree that all who stubbornly refuse “Christian” baptism shall be put to death.

Nor are Protestants guiltless. Around 1600 the Groniter Edict was issued that said henceforth no religion other than the reformed [Presbyterian] shall be permitted in their city. He who attends any meeting of the papists or the Anabaptists shall be fined.

The Groniter Edict became very popular in Europe and many cities copied it. In the city of Deventer, in 1620, it was made into a law as follows: “The magistrates of the city of Deventer instruct all citizens and residents of their city that no Mennonites, etc., shall hold any secret or public assembly, where any preaching, marriage, or any other exercise of religion is practiced, under whatever pretense, under pain of perpetual banishment, any person found at such a place or in such an assembly shall forfeit his upper garment plus twenty-five florens. The second offense, his upper garment plus fifty florins. The third offense shall be followed by arbitrary punishment. He who lets his house be used for such a gathering, shall forfeit one hundred florins. The second offense two hundred florins. The third time, perpetual banishment.”

That was in the Netherlands. In the Low Countries, there were repeated attempts made to squelch the Catholics, the Anabaptists and anyone who wasn’t Presbyterian. An attempt was made to exterminate the papists and papal priests.

In modern times, an authority on Calvinism who has studied in detail this history, which we have remarked on briefly in this article, has stated as his conclusion: “Every religious cultist that gets tied up with coercion must of necessity become corrupt.”

Don’t think it won’t happen to the Adventists. If you get involved in coercion, your church will become corrupt. The Gnostics in the Smyrna Church evidently cooperated with the pagans, making the persecution of the primitive, or apostolic Christians even worse.

This did not escape the notice of Jesus, who knew all about it. “ ‘I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. … He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’ ”

Ever since the days of the church of Smyrna, the professed church, whether you are talking about the Catholic church, or the Protestant churches, or various Adventist churches, are a mixture of two groups. One group consists of those who love God and keep His commandments as far as they understand them. The other group Jesus called the synagogue of Satan, even though they claimed to have a more elevated and advanced system of Christianity.

Friends, billions have been deceived by religion. You must not listen to any preacher who emphasizes the importance of a relationship with Jesus while at the same time claiming obedience to His word is not necessary. Those people don’t even know Jesus, and He doesn’t know them. It was that group who caused persecution to increase in the Smyrna church.

Ellen White makes a statement in the Signs of the Times, April 22, 1889, in which she says,

“It is not the true church of God that makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The true church of God does not take the people who love God and keep His commandments to court and try to put them in prison.

Commenting on Luke 9:54–56, Ellen White says,

“There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.” The Desire of Ages, 487.

The Samaritans showed no hospitality to James and John because Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. The “sons of thunder” were furious and asked Jesus if they could call down fire from heaven on them like Elijah did. But they were shocked when they saw the pain on Jesus’ face and even more shocked when they heard the rebuke that came from His lips. He said to them that they did not know what spirit they were of. They had the spirit of Satan while believing they were with the Lord.

We are studying Christ’s message to His church and we are living in the end time. As we approach the end of the world, the true church will be persecuted by the synagogue of Satan. At the end of the world, there will be only two sides—the true church, the persecuted, and the synagogue of Satan, their fellow church members. The synagogue of Satan has almost always professed to be the true church, but it is not.

The message of Jesus to His end time church today is, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. … He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:9–11).

The message to the church of Smyrna is a message that needs to be known in the coming crisis.

Before probation closes, Ellen White has told us there will be many who will be martyred, but Jesus said do not be afraid of anything that you suffer because He has promised to be with you. Paul says we do not need to be afraid of what man is going to do to us because the One who stands with us is more powerful than man.

Remember the communication Jesus gave to the suffering church so that we may be comforted by His presence in every situation. Nothing is impossible for God. He can get us through any situation.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Stay on the Ship

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“Shortly before I sent out the testimonies regarding the efforts of the enemy [error] to undermine the foundation of our faith [truth] through the dissemination of seductive theories, I had read an incident about a ship in a fog meeting an iceberg. For several nights I slept but little. . . . One night a scene was clearly presented before me. A vessel was upon the waters, in a heavy fog. Suddenly the lookout cried, ‘Iceberg just ahead!’ There, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg [error]. An authoritative voice cried out, ‘Meet it!’ There was not a moment’s hesitation. It was a time for instant action. The engineer put on full steam, and the man at the wheel steered the ship [old landmarks] straight into the iceberg. With a crash she struck the ice. There was a fearful shock, and the iceberg broke into many pieces, falling with a noise like thunder to the deck. The passengers [church] were violently shaken by the force of the collisions, but no lives were lost. The vessel [old landmarks] was injured, but not beyond repair. She rebounded from the contact, trembling from stem to stern, like a living creature. Then she moved forward on her way. Well I knew the meaning of this representation. I had my orders. . . ‘Meet it!’ Selected Messages, Book 1, 205, 206. “In the visions of the night I saw a large ship far out at sea. Suddenly the man on the lookout cried, ‘Iceberg ahead!’ Without hesitation the command rang out, ‘Meet it.’. . . After seeing this representation, I knew what work I must do. I knew that I must meet the errors that were coming in among us.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 344.

Meet it—with the Old Landmarks

“We cannot afford to be deceived. We must point our people to the old landmarks. We are to obtain strength and courage from on high, that we may obey the command given me, ‘Meet it’” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 384.

“The best way to deal with error is to present truth.” The Desire of Ages, 498.

Old Landmarks Established by God

“Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder {Hiram} Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 206.

Visions Established our Fundamental Truths

“When they came to the point in their study where they said, ‘We can do nothing more,’ the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me. . . Ibid. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 53.

Holy Spirit Taught us What is Truth

“When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth.. . . The truth for this time, God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. ” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 31. “The Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. . . . Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. ” Selected Messages, Book 2, 103.

Foundational Truths – SDA’s First 50 Years

“Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” Review and Herald, May 25, 1905. “The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 53. “. . .the foundation that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation? Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years. Do you wonder that when I see the beginning of a work that would remove some of the pillars of our faith, I have something to say? I must obey the command, ‘Meet it!’ Selected Messages, Book 1, 207.

The Ship-of-Truth will go Through The Structure of Truth— SDA Waymarks

“The truths that have been substantiated by the manifest working of God are to stand fast. Let no one presume to move a pin or a foundation stone from the structure.” Manuscript Release, vol. 1, 55. “The truth is the same as it ever has been, and not a pin or a pillar can be moved from the structure of truth. That which was sought for out of the Word in 1844, 1845, and 1846 remains the truth in every particular.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 52. “Some of those who are newly come to the faith. . . reject the great waymarks which God Himself has established. Since their new light leads them to tear down the structure which the Lord has built up, we may know that He is not guiding them. The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 804.

Do Not Leave the Ship-of-Truth

“I know from the light that God has given me that there should be a revival of the messages that have been given in the past, . . . We must not move from the platform of truth on which we have been established.” The Upward Look, 199. “The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work . . . . We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. . . . There is need now to rehearse the experience of the men who acted a part in the establishment of our work at the beginning. Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 54. “Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established . . . Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” The Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.

Denying the Old Landmarks

“In a vision of the night. . . I was shown a platform, braced by solid timbers—-the truths of the Word of God. Some one high in responsibility . . . was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform. Then I heard a voice saying, ‘Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep? This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God?’. . . The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. . . . The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure. Who has authority to begin such a movement? . . . I did not want to be compelled to present the misleading influence of these sophistries. But in the providence of God, the errors that have been coming in must be met [iceberg]. Selected Messages, Book 1, 204, 205.

Ship of Error—Set Adrift

“Those who seek to remove the old landmarks . . . set the people of God adrift without an anchor. ” Ye Shall Receive Power, 235.

“At that time [1844] . . . The men whom God raised up were diligent searchers of the Scriptures. And those who today claim to have light, and who contradict the teaching of God’s ordained messengers, who were working under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, those who get up new theories, which remove the pillars of our faith, are not doing the will of God, but are bringing in fallacies of their own invention, which, if received, will cut the church away from the anchorage of truth, and set them drifting, drifting, to where they will receive any sophistries that may arise. ” Manuscript Releases, vol.4, 247.

“When once these deluded souls had departed from the old landmarks of faith, they had let go their anchor, and were tossed about like the waves of the sea..” Signs of the Times, March 27, 1884.

Shipwreck—Letting Go of the Old Landmarks

“I lately read of a noble ship that was plowing its way across the sea, when at midnight, with a terrific crash, it struck upon a rock; the passengers were awakened only to see with horror their hopeless condition, and with the ship they sank to rise no more. The man at the helm had mistaken the beacon light, and hundreds of souls were at a moment’s warning launched into eternity.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 128.

“You are in danger of failing to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints, of making shipwreck of your faith.” Counsels on Health, 519.

“We have wandered away from the old landmarks. Let us return. If the Lord be God, serve Him;
if Baal, serve him. Which side will you be on?” Testimonies, vol. 5, 137.