Editorial — This Man Has a Devil, part 3

In the closing paragraph of the editorial, “This Man Has a Devil, Part 2,” December 1997, we concluded: “With such a history—a history of almost constant rejection of every reformer that has appeared in Adventism for over 100 years, what should we expect as we approach the last great crisis? ‘If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub (Devil), how much more shall they call those of His household.’ Matthew 10:25. This has special meaning in the very last days as we shall see.”

The rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish nation was clearly predicted by the Old Testament prophets, but (perhaps mercifully) was not understood by the saints of God generally until after it happened. The same is true of the destruction of Jerusalem and God’s people in the last days. However, this time it will be more dangerous not to understand the prophecies until after they are fulfilled, because in our time probation is going to close. And it will close suddenly, silently and at a most unexpected time. (1888 Materials¸ 754.)

“So in the prophecies the future is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed.” Great Controversy, 594.

What is this future that is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to the disciples? Part of it is that the very same type of experiences which Jesus and Paul endured, will be endured by the true church before the end. And when I say the true church, I do not mean the professed people of God—those who are Seventh-day Adventists by profession—but those who are both professors and doers of the word and not just hearers. “God is honored, not so much by the great number, as by the character of those who serve him. He appreciates moral worth. He draws the dividing line between those who bear his name by profession, and those whose character shows them to be his children. Those who have the fear of God will listen to his counsels, and obey them. They will not be content with spurious theories, nor build upon false principles to secure the friendship of the world.” The Signs of the Times, June 30, 1881. Just as in the time of Christ and the Apostle Paul, the greatest opposition to the true church will come from the professed people of God. The following references will document the truthfulness of this.

“The Third Angel’s Message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.” Review and Herald, May 27, 1890. This statement was not written to Protestants or Catholics, but to Seventh-day Adventists, as you can easily see if you study the context. So, it is Adventists who will call the loud cry a “false light.”

“There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work. ‘Why,’ they say, ‘should not we know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?’ ” Review and Herald, December 23, 1890. Notice, it will be people who have been “in the work” for many years—this is sometimes called the “organized work.” Some who are looked up to as leaders will oppose the loud cry.

“As the professed people of God [Seventh-day Adventists by profession] depart from Him and lose the simplicity of the faith, the words of His messengers seem to them unnecessarily harsh and severe. They cherish prejudice and unbelief, and finally place themselves fully on Satan’s side. His suggestions seem pleasant and palatable; they are controlled, in spirit and opinion, by the arch-deceiver, and having permitted him to direct their thoughts, they soon permit him to direct their actions.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 229.