Articles – Page 200 – Steps to Life

From the Pen of Inspiration – God’s Estimate of Character

January 8, 2020 by Ellen G. White

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” [Hebrews 8:10.]

When the law of God is written in the heart, it will be shown in a pure and holy life. The commandments of God are no dead letter. They are spirit and life, bringing the imagination and even the thoughts into subjection to the will of Christ. The heart in which they are written will be kept with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. All who love Jesus and keep the commandments will seek to avoid the very appearance of evil; not because they are constrained thus to do, but because they are copying a pure model, and feel averse to everything contrary to the law written in their hearts. They will not feel self-sufficient, but their trust will be in God, who alone is able to keep them from sin and impurity. The atmosphere surrounding them is pure; they will not corrupt their own souls or the souls of others. It is their pleasure to deal justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God. [Micah 6:8.]

The danger that lies before those living in these last days, is the absence of pure religion, the absence of heart holiness. The converting power of God has not wrought in transforming their characters. They profess to believe sacred truths, as did the Jewish nation; but failing to practice the truth, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and the power of God. [Mark 2:24.] The power and influence of God’s law are around about, but not within, the soul, renewing it in true holiness. Therefore the Lord sends his appeals to them to urge upon them the practice of what is right. The appeals of his Spirit are neglected and rejected. The barriers are broken down, and the soul is weak, and for want of moral force to overcome, is polluted and debased. They are binding themselves in bundles as fagots, ready to be consumed at the last day. [Matthew 13:30.]

The Jewish priests were required to be in person all that was symmetrical and well proportioned, that they might reflect a great truth: “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.” [Isaiah 52:11.] The Lord required not only a well-proportioned mind and symmetrical body of the Jews who ministered in holy office, but he required also pure and uncorrupted minds. And he requires no less of us, in this dispensation, in the ministry of the gospel. His called and chosen are to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. The same Bible that contains the privileges of God’s people and his promises to them, contains also the sacred duties and the solemn obligations he requires of the shepherd who has charge of the flock of God, so that the people can see by comparing the living preacher with the divine picture whether he has credentials from heaven in likeness of character to him who is the Chief Shepherd. God designs that the teacher of the Bible should in his character and home life be a specimen of the principles of the truth which he is teaching to his fellow-men.

What a man is, has a greater influence than what he says. The quiet, consistent, godly life is a living epistle, known and read of all men. [11 Corinthians 3:2.] A man may speak and write like an angel, but in his practices resemble a fallen fiend. God will have the believers of the truth zealous to maintain good works. [Titus 2:14.] As they occupy high positions, they will be tested by a higher standard. They will be sifted, defects and vices will be searched out; for if such exist, they will be developed in words and deportment. True character is not something shaped from without, or put on, but it is something radiating from within. If true goodness, purity, meekness, lowliness, and equity are dwelling in the heart, that fact will be reflected in the character; and such a character is full of power.

The officers who were sent to take Jesus reported that never man spake like this man. [John 7:46.] But the reason of this was, that never man lived like this man; for if he had not so lived, he could not so have spoken. His words bore with them a convincing power, because they came from a heart pure, holy, burdened with love and sympathy, beneficence and truth. How rejoiced are those who hate God’s law, to find spot and stain of character in one who stands in defense of that law! They are only too glad to cast a reproach upon all the loyal and true, because of the faults and impure practices of a few. There is eloquence in the quiet and consistent life of a pure, true, unadulterated Christian. We shall have temptations as long as we are in this world. But instead of injuring us, they will only be turned to our advantage, if resisted. The bounds are placed where Satan cannot pass. He may prepare the furnace that consumes the dross; but instead of injuring, it can only bring forth the gold of character purer than before the trial.

God would not permit Balaam to curse Israel; but Satan compassed their overthrow. [See Numbers 23–25.] Balak, by the advice of Balaam, laid the snare. Israel would have resisted their enemies in battle bravely, and come off conquerors; but when they were invited to idolatrous feasts, and indulgence in wine had clouded their minds, they did not resist temptation. And the sin of the Hebrews brought destruction upon them, as warfare with the nations and the enchantments of Balaam could not do. Their covering and protection were removed from them. They became separated from God, and he turned to be their enemy. [Isaiah 63:10.] The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and his judgments fell upon them. The plague immediately broke out, and those who were most guilty were its victims. They realized that “the wages of sin is death.” [Romans 6:23.]

The very same Satan is now working to the same end, to weaken and destroy the people of God as they are on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. He knows his time is short, and with his subtle temptations he will work with tremendous power to ensnare them upon their weak points of character. Those who have dishonored their minds and affections by placing them where God’s Word forbids, will not scruple to dishonor God by various species of idolatry, and they will be left to their vile affections. It is necessary to guard the thoughts, to fence the soul about with the injunctions of God’s holy Word, and to guard constantly against being betrayed into sin.

There is to be a people fitted up for translation to heaven, whom Enoch represents. They are looking and waiting for the coming of the Lord. The work of preparation for this event will go on with all who will co-operate with Jesus in his efforts in their behalf. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [Titus 2:14.] God has made every provision that we may become intelligent Christians, filled with a knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. [Colossians 1:9.] A theoretical knowledge of the truth is essential, but such a knowledge of even the greatest truth will not save us; our knowledge must be practical. God’s people must not only know his will, but they must practice it also. Many will be purged out from the number of those who know the truth, because they are not sanctified by it. The truth must be brought into their hearts, sanctifying them, and cleansing from all earthliness and sensuality in the most private life. Every secret act is as if we were in the presence of God and holy angels, as all things are open before God, and from him nothing can be hid.

It is only through Christ that his people can resist temptation, and become men and women of high and holy purpose, of noble integrity, who will not be swayed from truth, right, and justice. The Christian must be much in prayer. Prayer takes hold upon Omnipotence, and gains us the victory. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. And those who thus make Christ their daily companion and familiar friend will feel that the powers of an unseen world are all around them, and by looking unto Jesus they will become assimilated to his image. Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, October 1, 1889.

Ellen G. White (1827–1915) wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books during her lifetime. Today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. White was appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Holy Scriptures and help prepare people for Christ’s second advent.

As We Near the End of Time, Part IV

January 8, 2020 by John J. Grosboll

In this series, we have been dealing with unscriptural marriages. There are two or three other points that we need to consider as well. I apologize that these topics are so sensitive, but our God is a holy God, and we must come up to the standard that He has set for the way that we think, feel, act, and talk.

Fornication and Adultery

We should be balanced and look at all sides of an issue. How does the church deal with the sin of fornication and adultery? Ellen White wrote a number of statements about this. A few will be given in this article. She says: “We are nearing the judgment, and those who bear the message of warning to the world must have clean hands and pure hearts. They must have a living connection with God. The thoughts must be pure and holy, the soul untainted, the body, soul, and spirit [must] be a pure, clean offering to God, or He will not accept it. . . .

“The youth, for misdemeanors of a comparatively light character, are treated with much severity. But when men and women of large experience, who have been considered patterns of piety, are revealed in their true character—unsanctified, unholy, impure in thought, debased in conduct—then it is time for such to be dealt with in a decided manner. The greater forbearance that is exercised toward them has only had, as far as my knowledge extends, the influence to cause them to regard their fornication and adultery as a very light matter, and all their pretense has proved to be like morning dew when the sun shines upon it. . . .

“Cleanse the camp of this moral corruption, if it takes the highest men in the highest positions. God will not be trifled with. Fornication is in our ranks. I know it, for it has been shown me to be strengthening and extending its pollutions. There is much we will never know, but that which is revealed makes the church responsible and guilty unless they show a determined effort to eradicate the evil. Cleanse the camp for there is an accursed thing in it.” Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, 235–237. Friends, do not look at some other church, some other organization. This applies to us in the Historic Adventist movement. We have the problem!

Don’t be a Pharisee

Then she says this about people who have been ministers: “I have no real ground of hope for those who have stood as shepherds to the flock, and have for years been borne with by the merciful God, following them with reproof, with warnings, with entreaties, but who have hid their evil ways, and continued in them, thus defying the laws of the God of heaven by practicing fornication. We may leave them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling [Philippians 2:12], after all has been done to reform them, but in no case entrust to them the guardianship of souls.” Ibid., 237. That is a strong statement, with which we must come into harmony. Notice she does not say they have committed the unpardonable sin. If we look at the context, she is not talking about someone who has been a repeat offender.

“I am compelled to deal plainly and rebuke sin, and then I have it in my heart, placed there by the Spirit of Christ, to labor in faith in tender sympathy and compassion for the erring. I will not let them alone.” Ibid., 241. She is talking about people who are in the situation she just described. They cannot serve as pastors anymore, she says, but she cannot let them alone. She did not have the heart of a Pharisee; she wanted the people involved in that degradation to be saved. We have to pray that the Lord will help us not to go into the ditch on either side of the road. In one ditch (Babylon) we just let things go, let them continue to happen, and in the other ditch (Phariseeism), we just cast the offenders away to be lost. “I will not leave them to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. I will not myself act the part of the adversary of souls, as is represented by Joshua and the Angel. Souls cost the price of my Redeemer’s blood.” Ibid.

When Jesus was here, He was successful in saving a lot of the people whom the Pharisees had totally given up on and said there was no hope of them ever having salvation. When we read The Desire of Ages, or other Ellen White books, she mentions the man in Matthew 9 who was paralyzed, the man who was healed by the pool of Bethesda (see John 5), and the woman taken in adultery (see John 8). Jesus saved a lot of these seemingly hopeless people. We have to pray and ask the Lord to help us to not be like Babylon and just let anything go, and at the same time to help us to bring salvation to all of the sinners we can.

Mrs. White continues: “Our probation is short at best. We have no time to spend in indulging corrupt impulses. The familiarity of married men with married women and young girls is disgusting in the sight of God and holy angels. The forwardness of young girls in placing themselves in the company of young men, hanging around where they are at work, entering into conversation with them, talking common, idle talk, is belittling to womanhood. It lowers them, even in the estimation of those who themselves do such things.

“There is a positive necessity for reform in all our institutions. All frivolity, all undue attention of men and women, must be condemned and discontinued. Some, even married men, who have indulged in this trifling familiarity, have endeavored to excuse themselves and escape censure by claiming that they have done no moral wrong. Was it no moral wrong to jest, joke, and pay flattering attentions to young women? Are you not starting in their minds a train of thought which it is impossible for you to change? Do you not by your levity and coquetry, sanction such conduct?” Ibid., 245, 246.

Church Action

Then she talks about the danger of the entire church, and this is something about which we need to study and pray—the danger of the entire church bringing the frown of God upon them because they will not act. “I saw that the seventh commandment [Exodus 20:14] has been violated by some who are now held in fellowship by the church. This has brought God’s frown upon them. This sin is awful in these last days, but the church [members] have brought God’s frown and curse upon them by regarding the sin so lightly. I saw that it was an enormous sin and there have not been as vigilant efforts made as there should have been to satisfy the displeasure of God and remove His frown by taking a strict, thorough course with the offender.

“It has had an awful, corrupting influence upon the young. They see how lightly the sin of breaking the seventh commandment is regarded, and the one who commits this horrid sin thinks that all he has to do is to confess that he was wrong and is sorry, and he is then to have all of the privileges of the house of God and be held in [the] embrace or fellowship of the church.

“They have thought it was not so great a sin, but have lightly esteemed the breaking of the seventh commandment. This has been sufficient to remove the ark of God from the camp, if there were no other sins to cause the ark to be taken away and weaken Israel. [See 1 Samuel 4:10, 11.]

“Those who break the seventh commandment should be suspended from the church, and not have its fellowship nor the privileges of the house of God. Said the angel, ‘This is not a sin of ignorance. It is a knowing sin and will receive the awful visitation of God, whether he who commits it be old or young.’

“Never was this sin regarded by God as being so exceedingly sinful as at the present time. Why? Because God is purifying unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [Titus 2:14.] It is at the very time when God is purifying this peculiar people unto Himself that [unsanctified] individuals step in among us. Notwithstanding the straight truths they have heard—the terrors of the Word of God set before them, and all the blazing truth for these last days calculated to arouse Israel—they sin with a high hand, give way to all the loose passions of the carnal heart, gratify their animal propensities, disgrace the cause of God, and then confess they have sinned and are sorry!

“And the church receives them and says ‘Amen’ to their prayers and exhortations, which are a stink in the nostrils of God, and cause His wrath to come upon the camp. He will not dwell in their assemblies. [This sin in the camp will prevent us from receiving the Holy Spirit.] Those who move on thus heedlessly, plastering over these sins, will be left to their own ways, to be filled with their own doings.

“Those who anciently committed these sins were taken without the camp and stoned to death. Temporal and eternal death was their doom; and because the penalty of stoning to death is abolished, this sin is indulged in beyond measure and is thought to be a small offense.” Ibid., 248, 249. If we continue to allow such sin and do not act against it, then we are going to become a sister to Babylon.

More Than Discipline

Now let us look at the other side. We must do something more than just have strict discipline. How much farther must we go? First of all, after a person has been in this kind of situation, if they come to repentance and go straight for a period of time, demonstrating that their repentance is genuine, Mrs. White said that they could be restored.

“In regard to the case of the injured Sister A. G., we would say in reply to the questions of J. H. W., that it is a feature in the cases of most who have been overtaken in sin, as her husband has, that they have no real sense of their villainy. Some, however, do, and are restored to the church, but not till they have merited the confidence of the people of God by unqualified confessions, and a period of sincere repentance.” Ibid., 250. Some people actually do have sincere and genuine repentance, and it is demonstrated in their subsequent life.

If someone has a problem that we do not have, it is always easy for us, as human beings, to criticize them for their problem and not realize that we might have a different problem that is even worse. In Jesus’ day the Pharisees criticized the kinds of individuals about which we have just read. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were even worse. Concerning this, Ellen White wrote, in 1902, “Let those who condemn others take heed to themselves lest they be condemned by God for Phariseeism.” Ibid., 265.

There is Hope!

There will be some, as they read this, who will ask, Is there any hope for me? There is hope! Jesus can save the most hardened sinner, if that person is willing to come and submit and surrender to Him.

The Spirit of Prophecy gives us an example of a man who had long continued in sin. He was a married man, but he had a mistress for a very long time. He was growing old, and Ellen White told him he did not have very much longer to live. She wrote letters to both this man and to his mistress. The letter that she wrote to him shows that there is hope for people who have been trapped in the pit of sin by the devil’s temptations. She wrote: “You have a work to do for your own soul. Make haste, or it will be forever too late. God will now forgive the scarlet sin if you will do those things you ought to do to make your wrongs right. I do not say your case is hopeless, but you have certainly almost sinned away your day of grace; and yet Jesus is in the sanctuary. Jesus pleads in your behalf. Your brethren and your sisters have labored much for you; so much interest have they manifested for you that you have regarded crime and sins as a light matter. But Jesus loves you, and I present or lift up Jesus before you.

“Satan tells you that it is not best for you to cease sinning, you have gone so far in disobedience and transgression that it is no use for you to try to come back to God. While I feel that full disgrace of your sins is upon you, while I would have you see sin as it is, I would all the time present Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour.

“The sands of your life are nearly run out, and now if you will come to God just as you are, without one plea but that He has died to save the chiefest of sinners, you will find pardon even in this the eleventh hour. Man must cooperate with God. Christ did not die to have the power to cover transgression unrepented of and unconfessed. Not all sins are to be confessed publicly, but some are to be confessed alone to God and the parties that have been injured. . . .

“The robes of Christ’s righteousness never cover cherished sins. No one can enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb without the wedding garment on, which is the righteousness of Christ. Without holiness no man shall see God. God is waiting to give divine power to every soul to combine with human effort. ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ [Philippians 2:12.]” Ibid., 133, 134.

I do not know what happened in this case. Salvation involves our personal decision. There were people in Ellen White’s day that she said if they were saved, they would have to be saved alone. They could not be in the fellowship of the church because of what they had done; they would drag the reputation of the whole church down before the world. But they could still be saved. (See Ibid., 249, 250.) We serve a Saviour; we have a Mediator who is all powerful!

When people have fallen, we must not do what Babylon does. We must not just turn our head and pretend nothing is happening. On the other hand, we have to ask the Lord to teach us and show us what to do so that these people can be saved. They may have to be disfellowshipped from the church. Ellen White said that these people who have committed adultery have to be suspended from church fellowship.

Strive to Understand

“When one at fault becomes conscious of his error, be careful not to destroy his self-respect. Do not discourage him by indifference or distrust. Do not say, ‘Before giving him my confidence, I will wait to see whether he will hold out.’ Often this very distrust causes the tempted one to stumble.

“We should strive to understand the weakness of others. We know little of the heart trials of those who have been bound in chains of darkness and who lack resolution and moral power. Most pitiable is the condition of him who is suffering under remorse; he is as one stunned, staggering, sinking into the dust. He can see nothing clearly. The mind is beclouded; he knows not what steps to take. Many a poor soul is misunderstood, unappreciated, full of distress and agony—a lost, straying sheep. He cannot find God, yet he has an intense longing for pardon and peace.” Ibid., 260, 261.

That is what we need to understand. Have we not had chains of sins that we have had to go to the Lord and plead that He set us free? Others, in and out of the church, who are bound surround us, and we need to consider them as they really are. Someone may say, “It is their choice.” Yes, it is, but the devil has them bound in slavery from which they can never get free unless the Lord delivers them.

If we are going to stay on the narrow road and go all the way to the Holy City, we cannot fall off into the ditch on one side or the other. We have to ask the Lord to help us not go into the ditch on either side.

We are Weak

Whatever our natural weaknesses, Christ has made provision. “For all the natural weaknesses Jesus has made ample provision, that they may be overcome through His grace.” Ibid., 91. We are the weakest generation there has ever been. We are weak morally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Remember, the apostle Paul had an affliction. He thought this affliction would be taken away, if he would earnestly pray for its removal. (See 11 Corinthians 12.) Jesus told him to not talk to Him anymore about it. The Lord did not take it away, but He told the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” [Verse 9.] Although we are weak and sinful, there is grace sufficient for us, if we will come to Jesus, surrender to Him, and ask for it.

Jesus made a wonderful assertion to His disciples, just before His ascension: “All authority in heaven and upon the earth is given to Me.” Matthew 28:18. The devil does not want us to know that, because he knows, if we fully realize and recognize that we serve a Mediator who is all-powerful, that the bondage, the shackles of sin, will be broken in our lives. Whatever your weakness, however you have fallen, whatever your past has been, whatever situation you are in right now, Jesus says, ‘All authority is given to Me in heaven and earth.’ We serve an all-powerful Mediator, and in the situations in which we find ourselves today, we need that Mediator. We need His power and His grace in our personal lives, in our homes, and in the church.

Another wonderful promise, which I have pondered and claimed many times, is: “He is able to save perfectly those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25. If we are clear at the bottom, in a hopeless situation, there is Someone who is able to save us perfectly—to bring us to perfect holiness, to perfect purity! He is in the business of solving impossible problems.

Whatever our situations may be—in our church, in our marriage, in our family—they may be so complicated that we have to do as Mrs. White said and leave them to the Lord. But the Lord that we are going to leave them to is all-powerful, and He can solve the problem if we are willing to surrender all to Him.

For those of you who are suffering because of something you have done in the past or that your spouse has done in the past, I want you to remember the promise in Matthew 19:29. If you are suffering because you decided to stand for the right and your spouse decided to divorce you because you did that, remember this; Jesus told His followers: “Whatever you suffer, whatever you lose in this world for My sake, you will receive a hundred-fold, plus eternal life.” That is a promise to which you can cling. There is going to be a payday someday, and if you hang on, even if you are suffering, and you commit your life to Christ and choose to follow Him, He is going to reward you for your faithfulness to Him. Do not give up because you are suffering and let the devil trick you into going back out into the world. The Lord is a better paymaster; He is a better master all the way around. Stick to Him; give your life to Him, and ask Him to lead you through all the difficult experiences you may have.

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Lessons from the Passover

January 8, 2020 by Steve Currey

The word “Easter” appears in the King James Version of the Bible only once (Acts 12:4), and in its use it is a mistranslation. In the original language, the word, pascha, correctly translated, is Passover. The Easter weekend is usually not even the real Passover weekend. In the Hebrew calendar this weekend was the fourteenth of Abib, which was the first month of the year, or somewhere around the end of what we call March or the beginning of April. I would like to study with you some lessons that we could learn from the Passover.

Significance of Feast Days

I am not suggesting that we keep the Passover—celebration of the feast days holds no significance since the crucifixion of Christ. But study of the Sanctuary and of the feast days associated with the Sanctuary will save us from a lot of problems.

The Sanctuary cannot be studied without looking at the feast days that accompanied the work going on in it. The feast days and the Sanctuary were a lesson book to the children of Israel. They were actually a picture of the plan of salvation. From these rituals, the people could see God’s plan to save His people from sin. As we study to make the connection between the lesson and the reality of what God is really doing in the anti-typical Day of Atonement, we will gain understanding that will save us from a lot of false theology, false gospels, and heresies.

These feast days pointed forward to Christ and to what He would accomplish on the cross. Most of them were fulfilled in Christ. The Day of Atonement is being fulfilled right now. The only other feast day that has not yet been fulfilled is the Feast of Tabernacles, but we are told by the Spirit of Prophecy that we should enter into the spirit exhibited during the Feast of Tabernacles. “Well would it be for us to have a feast of tabernacles, a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to us as a people. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God wrought for their fathers, and his miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt to the promised land, so should the people of God at the present time gratefully call to mind the various ways he has devised to bring them out from the world, out from the darkness of error, into the precious light of truth. We should often bring to remembrance the dependence upon God of those who first led out in this work. We should gratefully regard the old way-marks, and refresh our souls with memories of the loving-kindness of our gracious Benefactor.” Review and Herald, November 17, 1885. Our camp meetings are commemorative of that day! (See The Bible Echo, December 8, 1893.)

Symbolism of the Passover

As we study the feast days, we get a better picture of how God works for His people and how His people are to respond to that work. The Passover was very symbolic of Christ’s crucifixion, and is both commemorative and typical. It not only points back to the typical, the deliverance from bondage and slavery in Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance of His people from sin at the end of time.

You may remember the story of God’s people in Egypt—of how Moses was sent to deliver them; of Pharaoh’s refusal to release them when Moses came to him with a message from God; of the plagues that God sent to help Pharaoh change his mind. Each plague was progressively worse, until the last one—the death of all the first-born of Egypt. The first-born of every family—from Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the person in the dungeons—was to die in this last plague unless they were under the protection of God. God gave very specific instruction to His people of how they could be protected and delivered.

Exodus 12:1–5 says, “And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of [their] fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take [it] out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

Remember, an important feature of this is that the lamb was actually selected on the tenth day of the month. It was set aside from the rest of the herd and kept until the fourteenth day of that month, when it was killed at the ninth hour. On the fourteenth of Abib, this would be about 3:00 in the afternoon. The time equates to the time of the crucifixion, and the lamb represents Christ. Just as the Passover lamb had been for centuries, up until the time of Christ, set aside on the tenth day of Abib and singled out to be killed, so Christ, several days before He was actually crucified, was singled out by the Sanhedrin and marked for death. Just as people would look at that lamb singled out from the rest of the lambs, and say, “That lamb is marked for death,” in their minds the Sanhedrin considered Christ marked for death.

“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all [men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples.” John 11:47–54.

So we see, just as the Passover lamb was separated and marked for death, Jesus was separated from the rest of the Jews and marked for death. It says He walked no more among them from that point on. It is quite ironic that these people, who were so into keeping the Passover, were about to kill the real Lamb to whom all of those other Passover lamb sacrifices had pointed. They were so into keeping the Passover, it was so important to them, that when they wanted to condemn Him to death they would not go into the judgment hall, because they did not want to defile themselves. They thought that, if they went into the judgment hall, they would not be able to keep the Passover. While they were so careful not to defile themselves, they were killing the real Passover Lamb! (See John 18:28.) They were very particular regarding these details, while doing such an horrific act.

Shadow of Christ

We are told that the Sanctuary, and the feast days and everything connected with them, were a shadow of Christ and of what He was about to do. I always like to picture in my mind the glory of heaven shining on a coming Saviour, casting a shadow, and that shadow is the Sanctuary, and all of the services connected with it. These people were keeping the shadow and killing the One who cast that shadow. What a lesson and a warning for us to be careful that we do not get so caught up in ceremony and form that we lose touch with reality and do not realize what is actually occurring.

Jesus was crucified about the ninth hour, or 3:00, on Friday afternoon, the fourteenth of Abib—exactly right on time. When God gives a prophecy, in His time it comes true, and that is exactly what happened. So much was it on time, that when Jesus cried, “It is finished,” and gave up the ghost, the priest, at the temple, had his hand raised with the knife ready to slay the sacrificial lamb, but the sacrifice never happened. The lamb ran away, and the veil of the temple was rent in half from top to bottom, signifying an end of that shadow. The shadow had been fulfilled by the real event. No longer were there to be any services of that type.

If you have studied the Sanctuary, you know that the thickness of the curtain, which was rent in half from top to bottom, was about the width of a man’s hand. It was a special weave of cloth, approximately four inches thick. That the curtain ripped from top to bottom was no coincidence. (See The Story of Redemption, 226; The Desire of Ages, 774, 775.) The blindness of those who get so caught up in rituals, that they cannot see they are actually fulfilling prophecy, should frighten each one of us. The Jews were very much into prophecy, yet they could not see that they were fulfilling prophecy in a negative way.

Not Rejecting or Accepting

The Passover lamb was entirely roasted. Not a single bone of its body was broken. Exodus 12:46 states: “In one house shall it [the lamb] be eaten . . . neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” John 19:36 says, “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.”

The lamb had to be slain, but was that the end of the story? No, it was not. Was that all that was necessary to save God’s people from the death angel? No, it was not the end. There is a theology being spread about right now, even invading the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and somewhat among historic churches, which says that Christ died for all men; therefore, since Christ died for all men, the only way that we cannot be saved is to reject that salvation. That sounds pretty good, but . . . We know that Christ died for all men. The problem comes in the part about as long as you do not reject it you are saved. There is more involved than not just rejecting it—it actually has to be accepted. That might sound like minor details and semantics, but it is really a very important issue.

There is a lot of difference between not rejecting something and actually accepting it. For example, perhaps today someone might come up to you and tell you something that they have learned from Scripture or Spirit of Prophecy—something that you have never thought about. They may say, “Did you ever realize this?” Your response might be, “Well, I will have to think about that,” or “I will have to study that out; I have never thought about that before.” You have not rejected the idea, but that does not mean that you have accepted it either. There is a lot of difference between not rejecting and accepting.

Preparation

Exodus 12:7–13 gives us some detail of just what else had to be done besides just killing the lamb. “They shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast [with] fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the Lord’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.”

“It was not enough that the Pascal lamb be slain; its blood must be sprinkled upon the door posts; so the merits of Christ’s blood must be applied to the soul.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 277. That is our present day application.

In verse 22 it says, “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.” The blood had to be applied with a bunch of hyssop; hyssop is a symbol of purification. Psalm 51:7 says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” David is talking about the hyssop being used in the purification of his heart.

Must eat the Flesh

Let us look at Exodus 12:8 again, “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it.” The flesh had to be eaten. That was another condition of their salvation and protection. It had to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Concerning this, Mrs. White says, “The flesh was to be eaten. It is not enough even that we believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin; we must by faith be constantly receiving spiritual strength and nourishment from Him through His word. Said Christ, ‘Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life.’ John 6:53, 54. And to explain His meaning He said, ‘The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ Verse 63. Jesus accepted His Father’s law, wrought out its principles in His life, manifested its Spirit, and showed its beneficent power in the heart. Says John, ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14. The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must receive and assimilate the word of God so that it shall become the motive power of life and action. By the power of Christ they must be changed into His likeness, and reflect the divine attributes. They must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, or there is no life in them. The spirit and work of Christ must become the spirit and work of His disciples.

“The lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs, as pointing back to the bitterness of the bondage in Egypt. So when we feed upon Christ, it should be with contrition of heart, because of our sins. The use of unleavened bread also was significant. It was expressly enjoined in the law of the Passover, and as strictly observed by the Jews in their practice, that no leaven should be found in their houses during the feast. In like manner the leaven of sin must be put away from all who would receive life and nourishment from Christ. So Paul writes to the Corinthian church, ‘Purge out therefore, the old leaven that ye may be a new lump. . . . For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’ 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 277, 278.

Application of Symbols

We can see some very important things in these symbols as they are applied to our lives today. The bitter herbs, intended to remind the children of Israel of the bitter experience of bondage in Egypt, are to remind us of our bitter experience of bondage to sin, self, and Satan. In almost every instance in the Bible, leaven represents sin. All of the leaven was to be purged. In Exodus 12:19, it says that no leaven was to be found in the homes. “Whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off.” That phrase, cut off, is very significant also. In several places, Israel is told, if you do such and such, especially on the Day of Atonement, you will be cut off. To be cut off meant more than just to die a physical death; it meant there was no atonement for you on the Day of Atonement. It was a very serious thing to be cut off, and it was a very strong warning.

The death of the lamb provided the means of salvation, and the application of the blood made the means applicable—useful. It is one thing to be saved from death, but it is quite another thing to have the means of sustaining life. People who are put on respirators have been saved from death, but they certainly do not have the means to sustain life. Eating the flesh and drinking of the blood of the Son of God, which is assimilating His Word, provides this sustaining of life. On the other hand, another way that life is sustained is by abstaining from the leaven, or sin, which we are told will kill us. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.

Examples of Leaven

Leaven usually represents sin of one kind or another, but it can be very specific. I would like to look at 11 different examples in the Bible of what leaven can be:

Leaven is false doctrine. “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. . . . Then understood they how that He bade [them] not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6, 12.

Leaven represents greed and injustice. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:14.

Leaven is false zeal, not according to knowledge. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 23:15.

Leaven is a wrong estimate of spiritual things—valuing that that will perish instead of valuing eternal things. “Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! [Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. [Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.” Matthew 23:16–22.

Leaven is the omission of judgment, mercy, and faith. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matthew 23:23.

Leaven is hypocrisy. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and the platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:25–28.

Leaven is intolerance for the straight truth. It is a dislike of truth. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matthew 23:29–33.

Leaven is cruelty to others, especially God’s people. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:34–36.

Leaven is skepticism of the truth and lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked Him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. . . . Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:23, 29.

We are told, in 2 Timothy 2:15, to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Through study we will know the Scriptures and protect ourselves from skepticism of truth.

Leaven is represented as flattery, worldliness, and hypocrisy. “And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s: and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:16–21.

11 Leaven is plotting evil against God’s servants. “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” Mark 3:6.

Jesus warned all of His disciples against being leavened with these things.

Consider again 1 Corinthians 5:6–8: “Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.” When Paul talks about keeping the feast of the Passover, he is not talking about keeping a feast one day out of the year, as was done for several hundred years. He is talking about keeping it every single day. All of the principles of the Passover should be in our lives each day, not just one day out of the year.

Necessity of Obedience

The lamb had to die; the blood had to be applied; the flesh had to be eaten, and it had to be eaten with bitter herbs and with unleavened bread. We must always remember that in fulfilling these requirements there are conditions. When we have fulfilled them, we have not earned a thing. That is where many Christians get into trouble. This issue of cooperation with God—fulfilling conditions by His grace—is where so many people end up in one ditch or the other. They are either on the side where we do not have to do anything—we do not have to obey God because we are under grace, or they go to the other extreme and become legalists and think that if we obey God we have somehow earned our salvation. There are whole systems of religion built on the premise that somehow we can earn our salvation. To keep this straight in our minds is probably one of the greatest lessons that God’s people must learn. By God’s grace we obey Him, but we do not earn anything. There is no merit in obedience.

In Luke 17:10, Christ said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” We do not earn anything; we just do what we are supposed to do in the first place. It is simply showing faith in the great deliverance to be accomplished when we obey God. To leave out any of these steps is to leave oneself without protection.

Mrs. White is very specific about this: “Before obtaining freedom, the bondmen must show their faith in the great deliverance about to be accomplished. The token of blood must be placed upon their houses, and they must separate themselves and their families from the Egyptians, and gather within their own dwellings. Had the Israelites disregarded in any particular the directions given them, had they neglected to separate their children from the Egyptians, had they slain the lamb, but failed to strike the doorpost with blood, or had any gone out of their houses, they would not have been secure. They might have honestly believed that they had done all that was necessary, but their sincerity would not have saved them. All who failed to heed the Lord’s directions would lose their first-born by the hand of the destroyer.

“By obedience the people were to give evidence of their faith. So all who hope to be saved by the merits of the blood of Christ should realize that they themselves have something to do in securing their salvation. While it is Christ only that can redeem us from the penalty of transgression, we are to turn from sin to obedience. Man is to be saved by faith, not by works; yet his faith must be shown by his works. God has given His Son to die as a propitiation for sin. He has manifested the light of truth, the way of life, He has given facilities, ordinances, and privileges; and now man must co-operate with these saving agencies; he must appreciate and use the helps that God has provided—believe and obey all the divine requirements.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 278, 279.

Exodus 12:11, 12 states: “And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the Lord’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the Lord.” “The Israelites obeyed the directions that God had given. Swiftly and secretly they made their preparations for departure.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 279.

Present Day Application

Let us look a little closer at some of the instructions that tell of how the children of Israel were, and of how we are, to eat God’s Word.

They were to eat with their loins girded. In the Bible this usually symbolizes service. Luke 12:35, 36 tells us about that: “Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” How does that apply to us today? Are we seeking to serve God and our fellowmen with our loins girded about with truth as we are instructed in Ephesians 6:14? “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

The shoes were to be on their feet. This indicates that they were ready to leave. Are we prepared to walk in the narrow path of obedience today?

They were to eat with their staff in their hand. What was the purpose of the staff? For what did the shepherds use the staff? They used it to lead the sheep and to protect the sheep from predators. It was used as a tool. We are told that, in a special sense, this describes Seventh-day Adventists. “Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 19. We are to be, as it were, in this world with staff in hand, to lead and protect the sheep with the Word of truth.

They were to eat in haste. Make haste to know God’s Word and do not be satisfied with what you already know. If we become satisfied with what we already know, if we do not continue to eat God’s Word in haste and to learn, then we become stagnant, and we die. We do not stand still very long—we either go forward or we go backward. To remain in one place is to die.

They were to prepare swiftly and secretly for departure. As I thought about that I asked myself a few questions: Are we preparing to leave this world, or are we settling in for the long stay? How serious are we about going to Heaven? What are we doing to cooperate with God? What are we doing in our homes? What do we read? What do we watch? What do we eat, wear, and think about? Are we seeking to live up to all of the light that has been given us or do we just pick and choose and take the part we like and disregard the part that rubs us wrong? God has told us, through His servant, many things that we are to be doing to prepare to leave this world. This includes the necessity of studying His Word, obeying it, and getting sin out of our lives. All of those things I just asked about—we have been given very specific instruction on what to do and what not to do, if we are really preparing for translation.

Exodus 12:29 says, “And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.” It is almost midnight in this world’s history. There is a war going on between good and evil, and the battle is intensifying. Why not ask God right now to help you in the preparation of your life, before time runs out?

Steve Currey is currently a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministry. He may be contacted by telephone at 316-788-5559.

Warn the Cities! Part II

January 8, 2020 by Kenny Shelton

God’s servant has written about the things taking place in our cities. His Word tells us that these things will happen. “I have seen the most costly structures in buildings erected and supposed to be fireproof. And just as Sodom perished in the flames of God’s vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 418.

Even at the Door

September 11, 2001, was just the beginning [the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, NY, and on the Pentagon in Washington, DC]; this is a foretaste, a warning of what is going to take place. How will we react as a nation? This one incident brought the United States to its knees. We said it did not, but it did. We have spent the time since then trying to get a grip, and many still have not bounced back. It devastated us. What if several incidents like that were to take place in different cities at the same time? Would fear be running rampant? How would the government react? Might such events bring about the Sunday law and the time that we have been talking about for years, a time when we will not be able to travel or enjoy the freedoms that we have today? We better believe it!

Jesus tells us that there is a lesson to be learned: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.” Matthew 24:32, 33. We see the things that are taking place in the world today; do we not know that it is near, even at the door? The world is falling apart; men in high places are working very hard, but they can hold it together for only a short period of time—until God says, “That is enough.” Are you praying for the winds of strife to be held back? (See Revelation 7:1–3.) Friend, we need to be praying, because the signs all over the land today foretell His coming. We should know that we are living in a time of fulfilling prophecy.

Buried in Rubble

How many really thought, This is the end! on 9/11? Many miracles took place that day. As we listen to some of the accounts of people who were involved in this disaster, we are amazed. There were many people who cried out to God as never before; there were many people who turned to God right then and there. They had not looked for Him before in their life, but right then they needed a Saviour; they needed Somebody, and they lifted up their voice and cried, “God, if You are there, please, I need some help.” The many stories give us goose bumps, as we hear them.

One lady, trapped, prayed to God for somebody to help her. All of a sudden she saw a little ray of light; a hand came through the rubble, and she reached up and held that hand. A man talked with her, told her his name, and consoled her. When she was finally freed, she asked to meet this firefighter, but she was told there was no such man. No firefighter was there holding her hand, but Someone was there.

Do you think God does not care? Do you think God cannot get to you when you are buried beneath the rubble of this world? When it is impossible for man to reach you, God can reach you. He can be right there—reaching down to hold your hand, to encourage you and talk with you, until someone can come to your rescue. There is story after story of how God was there for His children on 9/11. He was there to hear every prayer at a very difficult time.

I have no doubt but that He was there. I believe that the only reason the fourth plane did not hit its intended target [United Flight 93 crashed in a Pennsylvania field] is because God said, No. God can rule those airplanes. God is not afraid of terrorists. He allowed so much to happen, but when it was enough, He said, That’s it! He stopped it, but He is warning us today. He is telling us that other things will take place.

Warning to the Cities

God’s servant had some things to say about New York: “His message must be given in Greater New York. The people must be shown how it is possible for God, by a touch of His hand, to destroy the property they have gathered together against the last great day.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 310, 311. God was in such a position at that point in time to say, It is going to be destroyed; something is going to happen. All eyes are turned toward buildings and the men who built them, and all the things that are going on in the world today, and God says, Just turn back to Me. We have gathered all of this property and all of these things, but by a simple touch, they can all be gone.

“Not many years ago, a brother laboring in New York City published some very startling notices regarding the destruction of that city. I wrote immediately to the ones in charge of the work there, saying that it was not wise to publish such notices; that thus an excitement might be aroused which would result in a fanatical movement, hurting the cause of God. It is enough to present the truth of the Word of God to the people. Startling notices are detrimental to the progress of the work.

“Under date of August 9, 1903, I further wrote regarding this sensational report:—

” ‘How comes the word that I have declared that New York is to be swept away by a tidal wave? This I have never said. I have said, as I looked at the great buildings going up there, story after story, “What terrible scenes will take place when the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the earth! Then the words of Revelation 18:1–3 will be fulfilled.” The whole of the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is a warning of what is coming on the earth. But I have no light in particular in regard to what is coming on New York, only that I know that one day the great buildings there will be thrown down by the turning and overturning of God’s power. From the light given me, I know that destruction is in the world. One word from the Lord, one touch of His mighty power, and these massive structures will fall. Scenes will take place the fearfulness of which we can not imagine.

” ‘But I have sent cautions to the brethren working in New York, saying that these flaming, terrifying notices should not be published. When my brethren go to extremes, it reacts on me, and I have to bear the reproach of being called a false prophet. . . .

” ‘The destroying angels are today executing their commission. Death will come in all places. This is why I am so anxious for our cities to be warned.’ ” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.

Do you believe the prophet of God? Do you believe God’s Word? Absolutely! Friend, it is not finished yet, it is only the beginning. How will we endure; how will we deal with these issues when we see them come to pass? How is our faith and our love for Jesus today?

Destruction of Cities

I realize that we must work the cities. We are to go in, do our work, and then get ourselves out of there. Why? Because God’s servant said that these places are going to fall down; they are going to come to naught. The cities are going to be destroyed. One day these great buildings will be thrown to the ground by God’s power. This will certainly happen at the coming of the Lord, but Ellen White warned that some of these disasters would occur before Jesus comes. She wrote, regarding one of her visions: “On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify the owners and builders. . . .

“Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fireproof buildings and said: ‘They are perfectly safe.’ But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 12, 13.

On 9/11 the firemen realized how useless the fire engines were; they could not do a thing. However you associate these visions of current events, know that they are warnings that God has given us over and over.

Heed the Warnings

My question comes back as a challenge to you. I know that jobs are needed; I know that we need to support our families, but I do not know how any Bible-believing Seventh-day Adventist can decide to stay in the cities. If you stay, you can say, all you want, The Lord is going to take care of me, but friend, you may be at the bottom of the rubble pile when destruction hits your city. (Remember Lot’s family?) Because God’s servant has already told us that we need to get out, and she has told us what is going to happen. If the Lord’s servant told you, It won’t be long before the little town that you live in is going to be burned to a crisp, what would be your response? I would be saying, Get the suitcase!

How much warning do we need? Why do God’s people continue to live in these surroundings, knowing that this is just the beginning of the end. Let the government institute all the security precautions they want; they are not going to keep out the terrorists. The terrorists are living and operating right in our very midst today. They have other plans that are going to be put into action. This is simply a prelude for the devil to get his way and bring in the Sunday movement to get rid of God’s people who love Him and keep His commandments. All of these things are coming together to point a finger at God’s last day people, to rid the earth of them. The devil hates us, just as he hated Jesus, because we are a Sabbath-keeping, commandment-keeping people. This is his plan to bring in more restrictions of personal freedom by the government. After 9/11, 60–70 percent of the people who were polled said they were willing to give up a certain amount of freedom, in return for protection and security.

Have we Done Enough?

Have we not given enough already? How many of us are willing to say that we do not need to pass out literature and books anymore; we don’t need to preach our message anymore? That is right up some people’s alley, because a lot of Adventists do not want to preach the Three Angels’ Messages. They don’t want to talk about them, because it causes too many problems in the world. You better believe that God’s truth is going to cause problems in the world, when it is preached the way God wants it preached, when it is so plain and so simple that it cannot be argued against. Yes, it is going to cause an uproar. We are afraid to do it; we do not want that.

Someone once said it is good to put up signs along the highways and on marquees, but very few want to put signs in their own yard. I remember several years ago our church put a sign in the lot next to our building, and people were afraid someone would burn down the place. I said, “Let them burn it down. If God sees fit, let it burn. If He wants to keep it, He will protect it.”

Increased Disasters

God’s servant is warning us today, These buildings are coming down! “The ungodly cities of our world are to be swept away by the besom of destruction. In the calamities that are now befalling immense buildings and large portions of cities, God is showing us what will come upon the whole earth.” Counsels on Health, 268. Are you ready for it? Do you trust in God enough? Ellen White says that we are going to see trouble on every side. Is that happening? Yes, it is.

“We shall see troubles on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions. Fires will break out unexpectedly, and no human effort will be able to quench them. The palaces of earth will be swept away in the fury of the flames.

“Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent; confusion, collision, and death without a moment’s warning will occur on the great lines of travel. The end is near, probation is closing.” Messages to Young People, 89, 90.

Why are these disasters coming on the cities? Why is God saying to get out of the cities, and why will the majority of Adventists not listen? We always say that we are going to get out of the cities; how much more warning do we need? We have heard it over and over; God says to get out of the cities! When we see these things taking place, know that this is just a prelude to what is going to be happening; it is just the beginning. We must get out while we can, because He says the time will come when we cannot leave. (See Country Living, 11.) The time is coming in the United States of America when we will not be able to go from one city to another. When Martial Law is enacted, we cannot move about the country. Things are going to happen, whether or not we believe they can. God says that the cities have become the hotbed of vice. He is looking down from Heaven, and He says, That is just about enough!

Ellen White says that everywhere we look in the cities we see evil, enticements. The tide of corruption is swelling every day. Every day brings violence, robberies, suicides, murders, and crimes unnamable. Think about these things. She says that life in the cities is false and artificial. It is! It’s not real, with all the stone and concrete and with all the make believe that is going on, the intense passion for getting money, the whirlwind of excitement and pleasure. (See Country Living, 5, 6.)

I have had people tell me, “I wouldn’t live any place but the city, because there is always something going on. The best thing about New York City is that it is a city that never sleeps; everybody always has something to do. No matter when you get up or when you go to bed, something is going on.” When we were young, we always longed to stay up until 11:00 p.m. or midnight. My Dad said we never needed to stay up that late, because we would just find more things to do that we probably should not be doing. “Whatever you need to do,” he said, “you make sure you get it done before 10:00.” Strange how the most villainous things happen in the wee hours of the day.

What is our Work?

What is the answer? God tells us what to do. We must leave the cities; we must get away from them. What is our work today? Mrs. White writes: “The work of the people of God is to prepare for the events of the future, which will soon come upon them with blinding force. In the world gigantic monopolies will be formed. Men will bind themselves together in unions that will wrap them in the folds of the enemy. A few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines of business. Trades unions will be formed, and those who refuse to join these unions will be marked men.” Country Living, 10. Are you seeing it? I have never before seen such gigantic corporate monopolies. God’s servant saw these things and warned us of what was to come.

Are we ready today? God promised that He would do nothing but what He would warn His people, and He is warning us that the time is near, even at the door. Notice what is taking place in the economy; notice what is taking place in the cities; notice what is taking place on every side—it all tells of the soon coming of Jesus. We need to heed His warnings! If we will return to Him, if we will be still and know that He is God, He is calling us today to come back to Him before it is too late.

We have a work to do to warn the world of what is soon to come upon them as an overwhelming surprise. (See Prophets and Kings, 626.) Sad to say, most Seventh-day Adventists will be just as surprised and caught off guard, because we have not prepared.

Do we want to be ready for Jesus to come? Are we thankful for God’s servant today? Are we thankful for the Word of God today that tells us of these events? If we are, then we are going to go out and tell our neighbors and friends. Tell them what the Word of God has to say. We will not have to be embarrassed that perhaps it won’t happen, because it is going to happen; in fact, it is happening now.

Are you ready?

Pastor Kenny Shelton is speaker for the television ministry of Behold the Lamb in Herrin, Illinois. He may be contacted by e-mail at BTLM@GTE.net or by telephone at 1-800-238-2856.

One Hundredth Anniversary of Apostasy

January 8, 2020 by John J. Grosboll

April 2003 marks the one hundredth anniversary of one of the most historic General Conference meetings ever held by the Seventh-day Adventists. Some people believe that the reason we are still here in this world is because of mistakes that were made in the 1903 General Conference. Other people believe that the 1903 General Conference paved the way for the very rapid finishing of God’s work in the world.

1901 General Conference

In order to understand what happened in the 1903 General Conference, we must first go back to the 1901 General Conference. We find at this Conference that the problems, which had developed up to that point, had been of long duration, as exhibited in a speech given by Ellen White on April 3, 1901:

“I feel a special interest in the movements and decisions that shall be made at this Conference regarding the things that should have been done years ago, and especially ten years ago, when we were assembled in Conference, and the Spirit and power of God came into our meeting, testifying that God was ready to work for this people if they would come into working order.”

Notice that already in 1901 action was ten years late! We should have come into a working order in 1891, so the Lord could use us as a people to finish His work in 1891, but it is obvious from Mrs. White’s statement that we did not do so. She goes on to talk about how certain leaders brought in elements of unbelief, and she said, concerning this General Conference in 1891, “It [the light God had given] was assented to, but no special change was made to bring about such a condition of things that the power of God could be revealed among his people.”

“Year after year,” she said, “the same acknowledgment was made, but the principles which exalt a people were not woven into the work. God gave them clear light as to what they should do, and what they should not do, but they departed from that light, and it is a marvel to me that we stand in as much prosperity as we do today.” She went on to talk about organization and about God’s Commandments. Concerning God’s Commandments, she said, “They are the wall which is built round his [God’s] people. There is to be no departure from his principles, no bringing in of worldly policy principles. No worldly customs or practices are to be brought in for this people who are to be representatives of Christ to follow. When we keep the commandments of God, we are in touch with God, and he is connected with us.” And then, after she had quoted from the first chapter of 1 Peter, she continued: “We are living in the last time. We are standing as it were on the very borders of the final conflict.” She quotes from 1 Peter again and then says, “Every soul in every Conference in every part of the Lord’s vineyard, has the privilege of knowing the truth. But truth is not truth to those who do not practice it. Truth is only truth to you when you live it in the daily life, showing the world what those people must be who are at last saved. . . .

“Why, I ask you, are men who have not brought self into subjection allowed to stand in important positions of truth and handle sacred things? They have grown to the stature of men, but they have brought with them their childish tendencies. God does not want any such thing. He has made provision for all to have in them the grace of Christ. No others will enter heaven. There has been one rebellion there, and there will not be another. We have been given an opportunity to get rid of every kind of rebellion.”

Then Mrs. White goes on to quote from 1 Peter and make the following comments: ” ‘As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.’ When you leave this meeting and go to your homes, be quick to hear and slow to speak. Keep yourselves under subjection to the Spirit of God. At the last Conference which I attended here, there was gossiping and controversy in every house. If the people had prayed instead of gossiping, if they had talked with God, the condition of things would have been very different.

“Many of you have been educating yourselves to talk with human beings instead of talking with God. You have built up barriers against the principles which should have been carried into every part of the Lord’s vineyard. . . .

“It only takes a word to fire up a man who has not made a practice of talking with God. This spirit is as contagious as the leprosy. One and another catch it, and thus dissension and strife and commotion are brought in. God is not in any of this work. Brethren, before we have finished, we shall know whether or not God is handling this Conference.

“Now, whatever the work done by men in responsible positions, its character will be testified to by its fruits. In the office of publication, the light that God has given me for years is that those in positions of responsibility there are to gather in the youth, to talk to them, to train them for the Lord’s service. Do not indulge a spirit of combativeness. Keep the unsanctified tongues under control. Do not blame and censure. Act just as you would want the overseers to act toward you were you in the position of these young people. . . .

“The men who have woven their own human passions into life and character, who have nurtured self all the way along, are not to think that they are qualified to deal with human minds. God wants every person to begin at home, and there live the Christ-life. . . .

“That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be,—that is past. What we want now is a reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation, and to build upon a different principle.”

Further down in this speech, she says, “There are those who always take a negative position. This counts nothing toward building up the work.” Then she says later, “We talk of the Holy Ghost; we preach of the Holy Ghost; but we need to understand better what the office of the Holy Ghost is. We need to understand that we must co-operate with God in every sense or God can not co-operate with us. . . .

“According to the light that has been given me—and just how it is to be accomplished I cannot say—greater strength must be brought into the managing force of the Conference. But this will not be done by intrusting responsibilities to men who have had light poured upon them year after year for the last ten or fifteen years, and yet have not heeded the light that God has given them. The word of God is to be our guide. Have you given heed to the Word? The Testimonies are not by any means to take the place of the Word. They are to bring you to that neglected Word, that you may eat the words of Christ, that you may feed upon them.”

She goes on: “The men that have long stood in positions of trust while disregarding the light that God has given, are not to be depended upon. God wants them to be removed. . . . Some have served on committees here and committees there, and have felt free to dictate just what the committee should say and do, claiming that those who did not carry out these ideas were sinning against Christ. When the power of God is manifest in the church and in the management of the various departments of his work, when it is evident that the managers are themselves controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, then it is time to consider that you are safe in accepting what they may say, under God. But you must know that you are guided by the principles of the Word of the living God. The Great General of armies, the Captain of the Lord’s host, is our leader.”

No Kingly Power

Mrs. White talks about the children of Israel desiring to have a king so that they could be like the other nations, and then says, “Now I want to say, God has not put any kingly power in our ranks to control this or that branch of the work. The work has been greatly restricted by the efforts to control it in every line.” She said later in the speech, “The time has come when this people are to be born again. Those that have never been born again, and those that have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins, and can not see afar off, and have practiced their old habits of talking, prejudicing others, hindering the work, and being generally in the way of its advancement, would better be converted. God wants you to be converted, and may he help, that this work may go forward. He is a power for his people when they come into order. There must be a renovation, a reorganization; a power and strength must be brought into the committees that are necessary.”

She goes on to say something very interesting: “Let me tell you that the sick will be healed when you have faith to come to God in the right way,” and she talked about medical missionary work.

At the close of this speech she says, “God help us to restrain our tongues. The voice is a precious talent, and it is to be used to a purpose. It is not lent to you that you may swear; but every one who gives way to an unholy temper might just as well swear. God help us to submit to Jesus Christ, and to have his power right here and now.”

Not in God’s Order

It is evident, from just a casual reading of this speech that Ellen White gave at the 1901 General Conference, that a crisis had been reached in our work. The work of Seventh-day Adventists had become centralized, with a few people in Battle Creek attempting to manage the work all over the world.

A couple of days later, on April 5, 1901, Ellen White said the following at this General Conference: “I am thankful that there is to be a time when the mists will be cleared away. I hope that this time has begun here. We want the mists here to be cleared away. I want to say that from the light given to me by God, there should have been years ago organizations such as are now proposed. When we first met in Conference, it was thought that the General Conference should extend over the whole world. But this is not in God’s order.”

She later on in these remarks gave an illustration of what she was talking about: “While on my journey to Battle Creek, as I have visited different places, I at Los Angeles, asked, Why do you not do this? and Why do you not do that? And the response has been, ‘That is what we want to do, but we must first get the consent of the Board, the members of which are in Oakland.’ But I asked, have you not men here with common sense. If you have not, then by all means transport them. You show great deficiency by having your Board hundreds of miles away. That is not the wisdom of God. There are men right where you are who have minds, who have judgment, who need to exercise their brains, who need to be learning how to do things, how to take up aggressive work, how to annex new territory. They are not to be dependent on a Conference at Battle Creek or a Board at Oakland.”

Later on she says, “The workers in the South are not to depend upon the Conference at Battle Creek. They are to hang their helpless souls on Jesus Christ.”

She said, “We want to understand that there are no gods in our Conference. There are to be no kings here, and no kings in any Conference that is formed. ‘All ye are brethren.’ [Matthew 23:8.]”

Bind Us Together

But she said later that “New conferences must be formed. It was in the order of God that the Union Conference was organized in Australasia. The Lord God of Israel will link us all together. The organizing of new Conferences is not to separate us. It is to bind us together.”

Toward the end of these remarks she said, “No man is to say, ‘I am a god, and you must do as I say.’ From the beginning to the end this is wrong. There is to be an individual work. God says, ‘Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.’ [Isaiah 27:5.]

“Remember that God can give wisdom to those who handle his work. It is not necessary to send thousands of miles to Battle Creek for advice, and then have to wait weeks before an answer can be received. Those who are right on the ground are to decide what shall be done. You know what you have to wrestle with, but those who are thousands of miles away do not know.

“It is best for us to put our trust in the God of Israel.”

An Apostolic Organization

Clear back in 1896, Ellen White had written: “It is not wise to choose one man as president of the General Conference.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 342.

In the General Conference Bulletin from 1897 it was voted that: “The presidency of the General Conference Association, the presidency of the Mission Board, and the presidency of the General Conference work in North America, be placed on three different men.”

In other words, in the 1901 plan of reorganization, the leadership was to look to Christ. He was to be the Head of the church, and those human leaders of large conferences and various institutions were to stand as equals under Christ. We were to have an apostolic form of church government.

New Testament church organization does not work until after Pentecost, until a group of people have had an experience of receiving the Holy Spirit. This 1901 reorganization plan could only be put into effect as the church had a Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, this did not occur.

What Might Have Been

On January 5, 1903, Ellen White wrote what she had seen and heard while in vision. A few brief excerpts are given here: “One day at noon I was writing of the work that might have been done at the last General Conference if the men in positions of trust had followed the will and way of God. Those who have had great light have not walked in the light. The meeting was closed, and the break was not made. Men did not humble themselves before the Lord as they should have done, and the Holy Spirit was not imparted.

“I had written thus far when I lost consciousness, and I seemed to be witnessing a scene in Battle Creek.”

She then described the scene, revealed to her, in some detail: “The speaker turned to those who had been praying, and said: ‘We have something to do. We must confess our sins, and humble our hearts before God.’ He made heartbroken confessions and then stepped up to several of the brethren, one after another, and extended his hand, asking forgiveness. Those to whom he spoke sprang to their feet, making confession and asking forgiveness, and they fell upon one another’s necks, weeping. The spirit of confession spread through the entire congregation. It was a Pentecostal season. God’s praises were sung, and far into the night, until nearly morning, the work was carried on. . . .

“No one seemed to be too proud to make heartfelt confession, and those who led in this work were the ones who had influence, but had not before had courage to confess their sins. . . .

“Then I aroused from my unconsciousness, and for a while could not think where I was. My pen was still in my hand. The words were spoken to me: ‘This might have been. All this the Lord was waiting to do for His people. All heaven was waiting to be gracious.’ I thought of where we might have been had thorough work been done at the last General Conference, and agony of disappointment came over me as I realized that what I had witnessed was not a reality.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 104–106.

So we see from the Pen of Inspiration that the reorganization plan in 1901, which required New Testament church organization,—the apostolic plan for church organization, which could only take place through the operation of the Holy Spirit,—did not take place, because we did not have the needed outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which comes only as a result of confession of sins and making things right. Without the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the church drifted back into control by human agencies. Consequently, the church leaders felt that they were losing control and that something would have to be done to bring the work into harmony and control. So plans were made by some church leaders to have another reorganization at the General Conference in 1903.

Let us now review what happened at the General Conference in 1903.

Minority Position

We go directly to a speech made in the afternoon of April 9, 1903, by A. T. Jones. He said, “There has been presented to this Conference for adoption a constitution, when we already have one, and I have not heard a single word as to why the one we have is so altogether defective that we have got to have a new one, and it be so open on its face that everybody shall simply say, Amen, and let it go.”

At this same meeting P. T. Magan made the following comments: “I am conscientiously opposed to the proposed new constitution. I have always felt that the hardest place that any man could be put in in this life is to have to stand conscientiously opposed to what the majority of his brethren believe to be right. . . . The minority report expresses in a word the feelings which actuated the minority in making the report, because we believe that the constitution proposed by the majority of the committee appears to us to be so subversive of the principles of organization given to us at the General Conferences of 1897 and 1901. Those principles were given to us by the Spirit of God. In my judgment, and in the judgment of the minority of the committee, this constitution is absolutely subversive of those principles.

“Further, the proposed new constitution reverses the reformatory steps that were taken, and the principles which were given, and which were adopted as the principles of reorganization, at the General Conferences of 1897 and 1901, and which were incorporated in the constitution of 1901.

Papal Principles

“Now I am not here for a moment,” Magan continued, “to state that the constitution of 1901 is a perfect one. To my mind, in many respects, it is very imperfect. To my mind, in many respects, it is very clumsily drawn. But I have learned this, that all reforms come gradually, and in that constitution, clumsy though you may call it, defective though you may mark it, there are principles of reformation and reorganization for the head of this work which are right; and those principles are absolutely subverted and swept aside in the proposed new constitution.”

Then he says, “I want to say to you that any man who has ever read ‘Neander’s History of the Christian Church,’ Mosheim’s, or any of the other of the great church historians,—any man who has ever read those histories can come to no other conclusion but that the principles which are to be brought in through this proposed constitution, and in the way in which they are brought in, are the same principles, and introduced in precisely the same way, as they were hundreds of years ago when the Papacy was made.” Then he says, “I say that, as far as the head of the thing is concerned, as far as the general administration of things is concerned, though not couched in the same words, though not hedged about with the same identical language, they are precisely the same principles which governed us up to two years ago, and that the moment you vote this constitution, which I do now believe you are ready to do, yet, when you understand this, the moment you vote it you vote yourselves right back where we were two years ago and before it.

“Another point: It is a fact which I do not believe anyone in this house will deny, but that for many years every General Conference that we have come to has been more or less of a crisis over the question of the progress of the General Conference and the General Conference administration. Beginning with the General Conference at Oakland, fifteen or sixteen years ago, whenever it was, and passing through Minneapolis down through one or two Conferences at Battle Creek to the General Conference held at College View, and then to the last General Conference held in Battle Creek, every one we have come up to has involved, to a greater or less extent, a crisis over this question.” Then he says, “The adoption of this [new constitution] means the rejection of the principles of organization given us by the Spirit of God two years ago, and the discussion of each provision of this, and of the major provisions of this will abundantly reveal that that is so, when read in connection with the writings given at that time, and with the discussions of that period.”

Then A. T. Jones added: “I believe, with the minority report, that this proposed constitution is subversive of the principles of organization given to us at the General Conference of 1897 and that of 1901. I believe that it reverses the reformatory steps that were taken, and the principles which were given and adopted as the principles of reorganization of the General Conferences of 1897 and 1901, and are embodied in the present constitution, and this is stated.”

Later on in his speech Jones quoted the following from the Spirit of Prophecy: “Then follow the words ‘These principles are so foreign to God’s principles that God cannot bless those who work upon them. What must be done is to bring in other minds. Those who have been at work in the same channels for years have been discouraged and confused. We cannot entrust to such as these the tremendous responsibilities which are now to be handled.’ [The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 4, 1728.] Two years ago we were called away from following wrong principles that were followed before 1901. The constitution proposed to-day simply carries us back to these wrong principles.”

Spirit of Papacy

At this same meeting, A. T. Jones also made another speech, which contained the following statement: “When we get our organization to that point where it shall be Christian and Scriptural, elders of every church and the members put their faith in God, and call these elders when they are sick, we shall have the presence and the power of God in our organization, and Christ will have a chance to be the Head. So much for the church organization. Then a number of churches of this kind organize themselves into a conference, and that conference is to govern itself, and not the churches. Self-government is in the conference, and self-governing conference committees. But the trouble has been to get them back to this old order of things, that the conference committees wanted to control the churches and everybody in them, and then the General Conference wanted to control the conferences, and everybody in the world. Nothing could be done on the other side of the earth unless they must first write to Battle Creek and get permission of the General Conference committee. You know it went that way. But God called us away from that.”

After some short dialogue with a couple of individuals, A.T. Jones went on with his speech and made the following comments: “Another thing: Brother Magan said something about church history. Please remember that was the first organization of the church. The elders met as equals. One was chosen chairman, and simply making the chairmanship perpetual is what bred the Papacy. That is the historical truth. It is proper to have a presiding officer, proper to have a chairman of the meeting, but when you perpetuate that thing, and that officer begins to claim it as his right, and, if you don’t elect him chairman next time, feels that you have dropped him, and so on, you have the spirit of the Papacy. . . . The making of that chairmanship perpetual is what bred that which is to-day the Papacy.”

Weighed in the Balances

Now we have just reviewed a few brief remarks, given at the 1903 General Conference, which were made by those in the minority position. Of course, the minority never carries the vote, and at the 1903 General Conference the reorganization of 1901 was rejected. A new constitution was set in place, which restored the work, or brought it back, to the same position it was before 1901. This took place in the first several days of April in 1903.

Just a few days after this Conference, on April 21, 1903, Ellen White penned the following words, as she was shown in vision: “Our position in the world is not what it should be. . . .

“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. . . .

“One who sees beneath the surface, who reads the hearts of all men, says of those who have had great light: ‘They are not afflicted and astonished because of their moral and spiritual condition.’ ‘Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.’ ‘God shall send them strong delusion, that they shall believe a lie,’ ‘because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,’ ‘but had pleasure in unrighteous-ness.’ Isaiah 66:3, 4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 10, 12.

“The heavenly Teacher inquired: ‘What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts your works, when in reality you are working out many things according to worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? Oh, it is a great deception, a fascinating delusion, that takes possession of minds when men who have once known the truth, mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof; when they suppose that they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, while in reality they are in need of everything.’ . . .

“Unless there is thorough repentance, unless men humble their hearts by confession and receive the truth as it is in Jesus, they will never enter heaven. When purification shall take place in our ranks, we shall no longer rest at ease, boasting of being rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing.

“Who can truthfully say: ‘Our gold is tried in the fire, our garments are unspotted by the world’? [See Revelation 3:18.] I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: ‘Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? “How is the faithful city become an harlot!” [Isaiah 1:21.] My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.’

“Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor herself.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 247–250.

Conclusion

In 1903, we backslid; we went not forward but backward, back to the old ways that the Lord had told us we were to come out from. We went back to a form of church organization very similar to that form of church organization that eventually resulted in the Papacy. Several of our leading men, those in the minority committee who made the minority report, recognized this very thing, as has been documented in this article.

We are now at the one hundredth anniversary of this great apostasy where the Seventh-day Adventist Church went back into an apostate form of church government directly contrary to the counsels of the Spirit of Prophecy. A form of church government which eventually led in the past to that which we call today the Papacy.

How shall we relate to these things? Some people say if we would go back to the form of church organization that we had in 1901, then the Lord could finish the work very quickly. We will address some of these issues in future articles.

Editors Note: Unless otherwise cited, all references are taken from The General Conference Bulletin, Leaves of Autumn Books, Inc., Payson, AZ.

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Editorial – When The Door Shuts, Part I

January 8, 2020 by John J. Grosboll

“There was a shut door in Noah’s time. There was a shut door to the unbelievers in the destruction of Sodom, but an open door to Lot. There was a shut door to the inhabitants of Tyrus, a shut door to the inhabitants of Jerusalem . . . who disbelieved, but an open door to the humble, the believing, those who obeyed God. Thus it will be at the end of time.—Manuscript 17, August 14, 1885, ‘Shipboard Meditations.’ ” This Day With God, 235.

When the door shut in the time of Jesus and the apostles, “The Jews who rejected the light given at Christ’s first advent, and refused to believe in him as the Saviour of the world, could not receive pardon through him. When Jesus at his ascension entered by his own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon his disciples the blessings of his mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness, to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased. That door by which men had formerly found access to God, was no longer open. The Jews had refused to seek him in the only way whereby he could then be found, through the ministration in the sanctuary in Heaven. Therefore they found no communion with God. To them the door was shut. They had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator before God; hence they could not receive the benefits of his mediation.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 269, 270.

There was an open door and also a shut door in 1844: “Then I heard the voice of another angel saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen!’ A light shone upon those desponding ones, and with ardent desires for His appearing, they again fixed their eyes upon Jesus. . . . Their faces shone with excellent glory, and they united with the angels in the cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.’ As they harmoniously raised the cry among the different companies, those who rejected the light pushed them and with angry looks scorned and derided them. But angels of God wafted their wings over the persecuted ones, while Satan and his angels were seeking to press their darkness around them, to lead them to reject the light from heaven.

“Then I heard a voice saying to those who had been pushed and derided, ‘Come out from among them, and touch not the unclean.’ In obedience to this voice, a large number broke the cords which bound them, and leaving the companies that were in darkness, joined those who had previously gained their freedom, and joyfully united their voices with them. I heard the voice of earnest, agonizing prayer from a few who still remained with the companies that were in darkness. The ministers and leading men were passing around in these different companies, fastening the cords more firmly; but still I heard this voice of earnest prayer. Then I saw those who had been praying reach out their hands for help toward the united company who were free, rejoicing in God. The answer from them, as they earnestly looked to heaven, and pointed upward, was, ‘Come out from among them, and be separate.’ I saw individuals struggling for freedom, and at last they broke the cords that bound them. They resisted the efforts which were made to fasten the cords tighter and refused to heed the repeated assertions: ‘God is with us.’ ‘We have the truth with us.’ ” Early Writings, 241–243.

Bible Study Guides – Hebrews 10:21–25

January 8, 2020 by Unknown

June 22-28, 2003

MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.

SUGGESTED READING: Testimonies, vol. 5, 630, 631.

INTRODUCTION: “The sacrificial heifer [see Numbers 19] was conducted without the camp and slain in the most imposing manner. Thus Christ suffered without the gates of Jerusalem, for Calvary was outside the city walls. This was to show that Christ did not die for the Hebrews alone, but for all mankind. He proclaims to a fallen world that He has come to be their Redeemer and urges them to accept the salvation He offers them. The heifer having been slain in a most solemn manner, the priest, clothed in pure white garments, took the blood in his hands as it issued from the body of the victim and cast it toward the temple seven times. ‘And having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.’ [Hebrews 10:21, 22.]” Testimonies, vol. 4, 121.

1 How does faith come to us? Romans 10:17.

NOTE: “[Romans 10:17 quoted.] The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, ‘Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.’ John 17:17. If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, conforming us in body, soul, and spirit to His own image. Then God can use us to do His will. The power given us works from within outwardly, leading us to communicate to others the truth that has been communicated to us.

“The truths of the word of God meet man’s great practical necessity—the conversion of the soul through faith. These grand principles are not to be thought too pure and holy to be brought into the daily life. They are truths which reach to heaven and compass eternity, yet their vital influence is to be woven into human experience. They are to permeate all the great things and all the little things of life.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 100.

2 What is necessary to obtain full assurance of faith? Hebrews 10:22.

NOTE: “Many people mistake strong feeling for an assurance of faith, though they are essentially different. Strong feeling may be an accompaniment of faith, though it is not faith itself. And many suppose that there can be no faith without a happy state of feeling, which is a great mistake. Paul had great faith, though circumstances caused him to have great heaviness and continual sorrow of heart. (Romans 9:2.) Compare Isaiah 50:10; Matthew 5:4. Faith rests entirely upon the word of God, but feeling is often the outgrowth of impressions, produced in various ways. Self-complacency, deep satisfaction over one’s own experience, is very often mistaken for assurance of faith, while, oftentimes, the individual has no faith at all—no clear conception of the teachings of God’s Word. Full assurance of genuine faith is unwavering confidence in God, with knowledge of his word and implicit belief of the word. The clearer the word is to our understanding, the better is the chance for full assurance of faith; for how can we have faith in that of which we are ignorant? The mystical system of interpreting the Scriptures, by which they are made to mean anything that can be imagined, precludes faith. Under that system the mind is filled only with fancies, while faith is something substantial.” International Sabbath School Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, California, July 8, 1889, 45, 46.

3 What should we desire to be done to the heart? Hebrews 10:22.

NOTE: “God gave special directions to Moses in regard to the children of Israel having nothing unsightly or unclean about their dwellings, lest He should pass by and see their uncleanness and be offended, and refuse to go out to co-operate with them in their battles against the enemy.” Testimonies to Southern Africa, 86, 87.

“Truth never places her delicate feet in a path of uncleanness or impurity. . . . He who was so particular that the children of Israel should cherish habits of cleanliness will not sanction any impurity in the homes of His people today. God looks with disfavor on uncleanness of any kind.” My Life Today, 129.

4 What are we told is sprinkled upon the heart to purify it? Hebrews 10:22. Compare 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 12:24.

NOTE: “The passover pointed backward to the deliverance of the children of Israel, and was also typical, pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God, slain for the redemption of fallen man. The blood sprinkled upon the door-posts prefigured the atoning blood of Christ, and also the continual dependence of sinful man upon the merits of that blood for safety from the power of Satan, and for final redemption.” The Signs of the Times, March 25, 1880.

5 How is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts? Jude 1:20, 21. Compare Colossians 2:6, 7.

NOTE: “When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.’ Psalm 19:7.” [Emphasis supplied.] The Desire of Ages, 308.

**6 What is meant by “our bodies washed with pure water”? Hebrews 10:22, last part. Compare Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16.**

NOTE: “There is outward evidence testifying to the inward transformation that has taken place. The rite of baptism proclaims to all men the intention of each candidate to enter into the privileges and to accept the responsibilities that follow upon conversion. . . . In the physical world water is an important and valuable cleansing agent, and it is a fitting symbol of the cleansing of the life from sin.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 463.

7 How should we hold our profession of faith? Hebrews 10:23.

NOTE: “What is our profession? We profess to be following Christ. We claim to be Christians. Do we, then, reveal the Christlikeness? Do we serve the Saviour intelligently? Does the love of God continually flow from us to others? Do we, in word and action, confess our Redeemer? Do we conform our lives to His holy principles? Are we pure and undefiled? Christians must hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. It is not enough to profess the faith. There must be a patient endurance of all trials and a brave resistance to all temptations. Faith can be maintained only by bringing the Christian religion to the test of practice, thus demonstrating its transforming power and the faithfulness of its promises (Manuscript 42, 1901).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 928, 929.

” ‘Hold fast’ . . . does not mean, Hold fast to your sins; but, Hold fast to the comfort, the faith, the hope, that God has given you in His Word. Never be discouraged. A discouraged man can do nothing. Satan is seeking to discourage you, telling you it is of no use to serve God, that it does not pay, and that it is just as well to have pleasure and enjoyment in this world. But ‘what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ [Mark 8:36.] You may have worldly pleasure at the expense of the future world; but can you afford to pay such a price?” Ibid., 959.

8 What is said of him that wavereth? James 1:6.

NOTE: “Some men have no firmness of character. They are like a ball of putty and can be pressed into any conceivable shape. . . . This weakness, indecision, and inefficiency must be overcome. There is an indomitableness about true Christian character which cannot be molded or subdued by adverse circumstances. Men must have moral backbone, an integrity which cannot be flattered, bribed, or terrified.” Sons and Daughters of God, 210.

9 What is meant by considering one another? Hebrews 10:24.

NOTE: “You will often meet with souls that are under the stress of temptation. You know not how severely Satan may be wrestling with them. Beware lest you discourage such souls and thus give the tempter an advantage.

“Whenever you see or hear something that needs to be corrected, seek the Lord for wisdom and grace, that in trying to be faithful you may not be severe.

“It is always humiliating to have one’s errors pointed out. Do not make the experience more bitter by needless censure. Unkind criticism brings discouragement, making life sunless and unhappy.

“My brethren, prevail by love rather than by severity. When one at fault becomes conscious of his error, be careful not to destroy his self-respect. Do not seek to bruise and wound, but rather to bind up and heal.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 265.

10 Unto what are we to provoke (stimulate or incite) one another? Hebrews 10:24.

NOTE: “The Christian pilgrim cannot be sour, gloomy, depressed. It is a misrepresentation of the Christian faith to be surly, unreasonable, or sour in spirit. . . . Heed the apostle’s admonition to provoke one another unto love and good works. How can you do this?—By conscientious, consistent behavior. Occasionally pause to sum up the results of such a course, to ascertain whether it is the wisest course to pursue. You will find that careful regard for one another’s needs, kindly words of sympathy, and thoughtful assistance in helping others in their work, encourage not only them, but yourselves as well, because you thus become laborers together with God.” Bible Training School, February 1, 1910.

11 Why is faithfulness in social meetings encouraged? Hebrews 10:25.

NOTE: “If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God, and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed, and they would refresh one another.” The Faith I Live By, 246.

“Our camp meetings . . . are to promote spiritual life among our own people. . . .

“God has committed to our hands a most sacred work, and we need to meet together to receive instruction, that we may be fitted to perform this work. We need to understand what part we shall individually be called upon to act in building up the cause of God in the earth . . . . We need to meet together and receive the divine touch, that we may understand our work in the home. . . . We need to understand in regard to the division of labor and how each part of the work is to be carried forward. Each one should understand the part he is to act, that there may be harmony of plan and of labor in the combined work of all.” [Emphasis supplied.] Testimonies, vol. 6, 32, 33.

12 What is the “day approaching” mentioned in Hebrews 10:25? Compare Romans 13:11; Philippians 4:5.

NOTE: “Shall we say we have been deceived in regard to the doctrine of Christ’s near coming? Shall we declare that all our talking of his appearing has been in vain? Shall we say that all our work to make ready a people, prepared for his coming, has been for nought?—Never. We are not to become impatient and fretful, because time still lingers. We are to wait patiently for the work of God to be accomplished. ‘But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ [Jeremiah 31:33.] ‘Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke’—unto doubts and unbelief, and apostasy?—No, but ‘unto love and good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ [Hebrews 10:23–25.]

“We must have a knowledge of the Scriptures, that we may trace down the lines of prophecy, and understand the specifications given by the prophets, and by Christ and the apostles; that we may not be ignorant; but be able to see that the day is approaching, so that with increased zeal and effort, we may exhort one another to faithfulness, piety, and holiness.” Review and Herald, July 31, 1888.

Bible Study Guides – Hebrews 10:10–20

January 8, 2020 by Unknown

June 15-21, 2003

MEMORY VERSE: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.

SUGGESTED READING: Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 50–53.

INTRODUCTION: “Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him in faith. He will cleanse them from all defilement if they will let Him. But if they cling to their sins, they cannot possibly be saved; for Christ’s righteousness covers no sin unrepented of. God has declared that those who receive Christ as their Redeemer, accepting Him as the One who takes away all sin, will receive pardon for their transgressions. These are the terms of our election. Man’s salvation depends upon his receiving Christ by faith. Those who will not receive Him lose eternal life because they refused to avail themselves of the only means provided by the Father and the Son for the salvation of a perishing world (Manuscript 142, 1899).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 931.

1 What is done for us by the will of God? Hebrews 10:10.

NOTE: “Entire conformity to the will of our Father which is in heaven is alone sanctification, and the will of God is expressed in His holy law. The keeping of all the commandments of God is sanctification. Proving yourselves obedient children to God’s Word is sanctification. The Word of God is to be our guide, not the opinions or ideas of men. Let those who would be truly sanctified search the Word of God with patience, with prayer, and with humble contrition of soul. Let them remember that Jesus prayed, ‘Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17).” Faith and Works, 121, 122.

2 How is the Law of God identified in Psalm 119:142? Compare Psalm 119:151.

NOTE: “His law is truth. . . . God gave man a perfect law. An imperfect law would have perpetuated sin—made God the author of sin. Jesus came to condemn sin in the flesh, to bear the curse of sin for us; and he took the law from beneath the feet of those who were trampling upon it, and made it honorable. He kept his Father’s commandments; and only by being a partaker of the divine nature, can man keep them.” Review and Herald, September 15, 1896.

“His law is truth—immutable, eternal truth. His precepts are consistent with His attributes. But Satan makes them appear in a false light. By perverting them, he seeks to give human beings an unfavorable impression of the Law-giver. Throughout his rebellion he has sought to represent God as an unjust, tyrannical being.” The Signs of the Times, July 23, 1902.

3 What was the prayer of Jesus? John 17:17.

NOTE: “We must be sanctified through the truth, be wholly consecrated to God, and so live out our holy profession that the Lord can shed increasing light upon us, and that we may see light in His light, and be strengthened with His strength.” Early Writings, 105.

4 What elements are essential for salvation? 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

NOTE: “[2 Thessalonians 2:13 quoted.] In this text the two agencies in the work of salvation are revealed—the divine influence, and the strong, living faith of those who follow Christ. It is through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that we become laborers together with God. Christ waits for the co-operation of His church. He does not design to add a new element of efficiency to His word; He has done His great work in giving His inspiration to the word. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the divine word, are ours. The object of all this provision of heaven is before us—the salvation of the souls for whom Christ died; and it depends upon us to lay hold on the promises God has given, and become laborers together with Him. Divine and human agencies must co-operate in the work.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 22.

5 How might some be deceived regarding their salvation? 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12. Compare Matthew 24:11; 1 Timothy 4:1.

NOTE: “Faith in a lie will not have a sanctifying influence upon the life or character. No error is truth, or can be made truth by repetition, or by faith in it. Sincerity will never save a soul from the consequences of believing an error. Without sincerity there is no true religion, but sincerity in a false religion will never save a man. I may be perfectly sincere in following a wrong road, but that will not make it the right road, or bring me to the place I wished to reach. The Lord does not want us to have a blind credulity, and call that the faith that sanctifies. The truth is the principle that sanctifies, and therefore it becomes us to know what is truth. We must compare spiritual things with spiritual. We must prove all things, but hold fast only that which is good, that which bears the divine credentials, which lays before us the true motives and principles which should prompt us to action.—Letter 12, 1890.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 56.

6 Besides believing the truth, what more is required? James 2:14, 17, 20, 26.

NOTE: “Your spiritual strength and growth in grace will be proportionate to the labor of love and good works which you do cheerfully for your Saviour, who has withheld nothing, not even His own life, that He might save you. You have the injunction of the apostle: ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.’ [Galatians 6:2.] It is not enough to merely profess faith in the commandments of God; you must be a doer of the work. . . . God requires of you good works, self-denial, self-sacrifice, and devotion to the good of others, that through your instrumentality souls may be brought to the truth.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 228.

7 To be sanctified through the truth, what is necessary? 1 Peter 1:22. Compare James 2:19.

NOTE: “[1 Peter 1:13–23 quoted.] This sanctification we must all experience, else we can never gain eternal life. It is obtained by a union with Christ, a union which no power of Satan can break.

“Christ demands undivided heart-service,—the entire use of mind, soul, heart, and strength.” Review and Herald, July 25, 1899.

8 After our High Priest offered His sacrifice, where did He go? Hebrews 10:12. Compare Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3.

NOTE: “Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,—the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father’s throne.” The Desire of Ages, 832.

“He walked once a man on earth, His divinity clothed with humanity, a suffering, tempted man, beset with Satan’s devices. He was tempted in all points like as we are, and He knows how to succor those that are tempted. Now He is at the right hand of God, He is in heaven as our advocate, to make intercession for us. We must always take comfort and hope as we think of this. He is thinking of those who are subject to temptations in this world. He thinks of us individually, and knows our every necessity.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 391.

9 What is Christ expecting? Hebrews 10:13.

NOTE: ” ‘The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.’ [John 5:22.] The Judge, the Prince of sufferers for the truth’s sake, is on the throne,—he who suffered himself to be arraigned before Herod and Pilate, who was rejected by his own nation, and condemned by the man who had declared, ‘I find no fault in him,’ [John 19:6]—he who was lacerated with stripes, spit upon, degraded, and whose holy brow was crowned with thorns. He does not now stand before the bar of Pilate or Herod. He himself is judge, and these men stand before him whom they scourged, and delivered up to the will of his enemies. Pilate and Herod, who suffered the Lord to be scourged; priests and rulers, who clamored for the death of the Messiah; those who mocked him,—all now understand what it means to meet the wrath of the Lamb.” Review and Herald, September 20, 1898.

10 Who puts His enemies under His feet? Psalm 110:1. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:27, 28.

NOTE: “God will most assuredly call the world to judgment to avenge the death of his only begotten Son, the One who stood at the bar of Pilate and Herod; that One is now in the heavenly courts making intercession for the people who refused him. Shall we choose the stamp of the world, or shall we choose to be God’s separate, peculiar people? Shall we receive a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ for the ‘Thus saith’ of man? The papal power, the man of sin, decides that the Roman Catholic Church has changed the law of God. In the place of the seventh day, they have baptized and presented to the world a child of the papacy, the first day of the week, to be observed as a holy day of rest. The Protestant world has received this child of the papacy, has cradled it, and given to it the honor that God has placed on the seventh day.” Pamphlet 086, Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church (1898), 37.

11 By what means do we enter the heavenly sanctuary? Hebrews 10:19. Compare Hebrews 9:12.

NOTE: “For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work—to cleanse the sanctuary.” The Great Controversy, 421.

12 What is the “new and living way” by which the sanctuary work is performed for us? Hebrews 10:20.

NOTE: “When Christ on the cross cried out, ‘It is finished,’ the veil of the temple was rent in twain. This veil was significant to the Jewish nation. It was of most costly material, of purple and gold, and was of great length and breadth. At the moment when Christ breathed His last, there were witnesses in the temple who beheld the strong, heavy material rent by unseen hands from top to bottom. This act signified to the heavenly universe, and to a world corrupted by sin, that a new and living way had been opened to the fallen race, that all sacrificial offerings terminated in the one great offering of the Son of God. He who had hitherto dwelt in the temple made with hands, had gone forth never again to grace it with His presence.” The Signs of the Times, December 8, 1898.

“As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary, so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation—a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works. Revelation 22:12.” The Great Controversy, 421, 422.

Bible Study Guides – Hebrews 10:1–9

January 8, 2020 by Unknown

June 8-14, 2003

MEMORY VERSE: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.” Psalm 40:8.

SUGGESTED READING: The Desire of Ages, 23.

INTRODUCTION: “God’s people, whom He calls His peculiar treasure, were privileged with a two-fold system of law; the moral and the ceremonial. The one, pointing back to creation to keep in remembrance the living God who made the world, whose claims are binding upon all men in every dispensation, and which will exist through all time and eternity. The other, given because of man’s transgression of the moral law, the obedience to which consisted in sacrifices and offerings pointing to the future redemption. Each is clear and distinct from the other.

“From the creation the moral law was an essential part of God’s divine plan, and was as unchangeable as Himself. The ceremonial law was to answer a particular purpose in Christ’s plan for the salvation of the race. The typical system of sacrifices and offerings was established that through these services the sinner might discern the great offering, Christ. But the Jews were so blinded by pride and sin that but few of them could see farther than the death of beasts as an atonement for sin; and when Christ, whom these offerings prefigured, came, they could not discern Him. The ceremonial law was glorious; it was the provision made by Jesus Christ in counsel with His Father, to aid in the salvation of the race. The whole arrangement of the typical system was founded on Christ. Adam saw Christ prefigured in the innocent beast suffering the penalty of his transgression of Jehovah’s law.” Review and Herald, May 6, 1875.

**1 What was the nature of the law of sacrifices? Hebrews 10:1, first part.**

NOTE: “Paul endeavored to direct the minds of his hearers to the one great Sacrifice for sin. He pointed to the sacrifices that were shadows of good things to come, and then presented Christ as the antitype of all those ceremonies—the object to which they pointed as the only source of life and hope for fallen man. Holy men of old were saved by faith in the blood of Christ. As they saw the dying agonies of the sacrificial victims they looked across the gulf of ages to the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world.” The Acts of the Apostles, 424, 425.

“The types and shadows of the sacrificial service, with the prophecies, gave the Israelites a veiled, indistinct view of the mercy and grace to be brought to the world by the revelation of Christ. . . . Only through Christ can man keep the moral law. By transgression of this law man brought sin into the world, and with sin came death. Christ became the propitiation for man’s sin. He proffered His perfection of character in the place of man’s sinfulness. He took upon Himself the curse of disobedience. The sacrifices and offerings pointed forward to the sacrifice He was to make. The slain lamb typified the Lamb that was to take away the sin of the world. . . .” God’s Amazing Grace, 15.

**2 Could the sacrifices of that law make anyone perfect? Hebrews 10:1, last part.**

NOTE: “Before Christ came, a ceremonial holiness could be obtained by offering the blood of bulls and of goats; but these sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience.” Review and Herald, July 25, 1899.

“No one less holy than the Only Begotten of the Father, could have offered a sacrifice that would be efficacious to cleanse all—even the most sinful and degraded—who accept the Saviour as their atonement and become obedient to Heaven’s law. Nothing less could have reinstated man in God’s favor.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 309.

“The types and shadows of the sacrificial service, with the prophecies, gave the Israelites a veiled, indistinct view of the mercy and grace to be brought to the world by the revelation of Christ. To Moses was unfolded the significance of the types and shadows pointing to Christ. He saw to the end of that which was to be done away when, at the death of Christ, type met antitype. He saw that only through Christ can man keep the moral law. By transgression of this law man brought sin into the world, and with sin came death. Christ became the propitiation for man’s sin. He proffered His perfection of character in the place of man’s sinfulness. He took upon Himself the curse of disobedience. The sacrifices and offerings pointed forward to the sacrifice He was to make. The slain lamb typified the Lamb that was to take away the sin of the world.” Ibid., 237.

3 If the shadow sacrifices could have made a person perfect, what would have been the result? Hebrews 10:2.

NOTE: “If Satan can so befog and deceive the human mind, and lead mortals to think there is an inherent power in themselves to accomplish great and good works, they cease to rely upon God to do that for them which they think exists in themselves to do. They acknowledge not a superior power. They give not God the glory he claims, and which is due to his great and excellent Majesty. Satan’s object is thus accomplished. He exults that fallen man presumptuously exalts himself, as he exalted himself in Heaven, and was thrust out.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, 84.

4 What is meant by there being remembrances in sin? Hebrews 10:3. Compare Leviticus 16:21.

NOTE: “Come to Jesus just as you are, weak, sinful, ignorant, unworthy, and he will receive you. He says, ‘A new heart also will I give thee.’ [Ezekiel 36:26.] Among the Jews there was a continual remembrance made of sin. Every year on the day of atonement a fresh sacrifice was brought forth; for sin was still remembered, and the blood of the sacrifices could not take away sin. But sins forgiven through Christ are remembered no more. The Lord says, ‘I will remember their sins no more.’ [Jeremiah 31:34.]” [Emphasis supplied.] The Signs of the Times, September 4, 1893.

5 Why were the sins of the children of Israel kept in continual remembrance? Hebrews 10:4.

NOTE: “The great truth that was to be kept before men, and imprinted upon mind and heart, was this, ‘Without shedding of blood is no remission.’ [Hebrews 9:22.] In every bleeding sacrifice was typified ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ [John 1:29.] Christ Himself was the originator of the Jewish system of worship, in which, by types and symbols, were shadowed forth spiritual and heavenly things. Many forgot the true significance of these offerings; and the great truth that through Christ alone there is forgiveness of sin, was lost to them. The multiplying of sacrificial offerings, the blood of bulls and goats, could not take away sin.” The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1893.

6 What is the meaning of the words Christ is represented as saying when He came into the world? Hebrews 10:5.

NOTE: “God and Christ knew from the beginning, of the apostasy of Satan and of the fall of Adam through the deceptive power of the apostate. The plan of salvation was designed to redeem the fallen race, to give them another trial. Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our substitute and surety. Before the world was made, it was arranged that the divinity of Christ should be enshrouded in humanity. ‘A body,’ said Christ, ‘hast thou prepared me’ (Hebrews 10:5). But He did not come in human form until the fullness of time had expired. Then He came to our world, a babe in Bethlehem.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 250.

7 For what purpose did Christ say He came to this world? Hebrews 10:7.

NOTE: “The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the divine. Obedience has no longer been deemed an absolute necessity. The human agents follow their own imaginations which the Lord said of the inhabitants of the old world was evil and that continually. The Lord Jesus declares, I have kept my Father’s commandments. How? As a man! ‘Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.’ To the accusations of the Jews He stood forth in His pure, virtuous, holy character and challenged them, ‘Which of you convinceth me of sin?’ [John 8:46.] The world’s Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin, but to be an example to man in all things.” Lift Him Up, 169.

“Yet this glorious Being [Christ] loved the poor sinner and took upon Himself the form of a servant, that He might suffer and die in man’s behalf. Jesus might have remained at His Father’s right hand, wearing His kingly crown and royal robes. But He chose to exchange all the riches, honor, and glory of heaven for the poverty of humanity, and His station of high command for the horrors of Gethsemane and the humiliation and agony of Calvary. He became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, that by His baptism of suffering and blood He might purify and redeem a guilty world. ‘Lo, I come,’ was the joyful assent, ‘to do Thy will, O My God.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 4, 121.

8 Where is the will of God expressed? Psalm 40:8. Compare Romans 2:17, 18.

NOTE: “The will of God is expressed in the precepts of His holy law, and the principles of this law are the principles of heaven. The angels of heaven attain unto no higher knowledge than to know the will of God, and to do His will is the highest service that can engage their powers.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 109.

“The will of God is the law of heaven.” Child Guidance, 79.

9 Where should the law of God be written? Psalm 40:8. Compare Jeremiah 31:33; Proverbs 3:1–4.

NOTE: “If Jesus is abiding in the soul, the heart is filled with the holy graces of His Spirit, which makes itself manifest in the transforming of the features. If you would have beauty and loveliness of character, the divine law must be written upon the heart and carried out in the life.” Conflict and Courage, 26.

“If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law. ‘Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.’ 1 John 3:7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai.” Steps to Christ, 61.

10 Where did God promise to put His law, in the new covenant? Hebrews 8:10.

NOTE: “The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O my God.’ Psalm 40:8.” The Desire of Ages, 175.

11 What is meant by Christ taking away the first? Hebrews 10:9.

NOTE: “Another compact [other than the Abrahamic covenant]—called in Scripture the ‘old’ covenant—was formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the blood of a sacrifice. The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the ‘second’, or ‘new’ covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant.” God’s Amazing Grace, 135.

12 What is the “second” that Christ came to establish? Hebrews 10:9.

NOTE: “Christ takes away the first, that He may establish the second. In this is found the only contrast in the argument, and it is made very prominent. The sacrifices and offerings of the Mosaic law could not perfect the conscience, could not reform the life, could not write the law of God in the heart. These are taken away, that He may come in whose heart is the law, and who alone can fulfill the promise of the new covenant.” International Sabbath School Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, California, July 8, 1889, 40.

“In this last act of Christ in partaking with his disciples of the bread and wine, he pledged himself to them as their Redeemer by a new covenant, in which it was written and sealed that upon all who will receive Christ by faith will be bestowed all the blessings that heaven can supply, both in this life and in the future immortal life.

“This covenant deed was to be ratified with Christ’s own blood, which it had been the office of the old sacrificial offerings to keep before their minds.” Review and Herald, May 31, 1898.

Bible Study Guides – Hebrews 9:24–28

January 8, 2020 by Unknown

June 1-7, 2003

MEMORY VERSE: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18.

SUGGESTED READING: The Great Controversy, 429.

INTRODUCTION: “All who did service in connection with the sanctuary were being educated constantly in regard to the intervention of Christ in behalf of the human race. This service was designed to create in every heart a love for the law of God, which is the law of His kingdom. The sacrificial offering was to be an object lesson of the love of God revealed in Christ—in the suffering, dying victim, who took upon Himself the sin of which man was guilty, the innocent being made sin for us.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 233.

1 Where has Christ as our High Priest entered? Hebrews 9:24.

NOTE: “Jesus stands in the holy of holies, now to appear in the presence of God for us. There he ceases not to present his people moment by moment, complete in himself. But because we are thus represented before the Father, we are not to imagine that we are to presume upon his mercy, and become careless, indifferent, and self-indulgent. Christ is not the minister of sin. We are complete in him, accepted in the Beloved, only as we abide in him by faith.” The Signs of the Times, July 4, 1892.

2 Why could Christ not act as priest in the earthly sanctuary? Hebrews 8:4. Compare Hebrews 7:11–16.

NOTE: [Under the first covenant] “the sins of the people were transferred in figure to the officiating priest, who was a mediator for the people. The priest could not himself become an offering for sin, and make an atonement with his life, for he was also a sinner. Therefore, instead of suffering death himself, he killed a lamb without blemish; the penalty of sin was transferred to the innocent beast, which thus became his immediate substitute, and typified the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. Through the blood of this victim, man looked forward by faith to the blood of Christ which would atone for the sins of the world.” [Emphasis supplied.] Selected Messages, Book 1, 230.

3 What significance does the word “true” have in Hebrews 9:24?

NOTE: “Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a pattern which was shown him. Paul teaches that that pattern was the true sanctuary which is in heaven. And John testifies that he saw it in heaven.” [Emphasis supplied.] The Great Controversy, 415.

4 How often did the high priest enter the most holy place in the earthly sanctuary? Hebrews 9:25.

NOTE: “No mortal eye but that of the high priest could look upon the sacred grandeur of the inner apartment, the especial dwelling-place of God’s visible glory. Only once a year could the high priest enter there, after the most careful and solemn preparation. With trembling he went in before God, and the people in solemn silence waited his return, their hearts uplifted to God in earnest prayer for the divine blessing.” The Signs of the Times, June 24, 1880.

5 How often does Christ enter the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary for us? Hebrews 9:12; 10:10.

NOTE: “But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: ‘These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ [Revelation 3:7, 8.] Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844, Christ changed his ministration from the holy to the most holy place. When, in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary, the high priest on the day of atonement entered the most holy place, the door of the holy place was closed, and the door of the most holy was opened. So, when Christ passed from the holy to the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, the door, or ministration, of the former apartment was closed, and the door, or ministration, of the latter was opened. Christ had ended one part of his work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and he still presented his blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. ‘Behold,’ he declares, ‘I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ ” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 268.

**6 For what purpose did Christ appear? Hebrews 9:26, last part. Compare 1 Peter 3:18.**

NOTE: “Christ was manifested as the Saviour of men. The people were not to trust in their own works, in their own righteousness, or in themselves in any way, but in the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. [John 1:29.] In Him the Advocate with the Father was revealed. Through Him the invitation was given, ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ [Isaiah 1:18.] This invitation comes sounding down along the lines to us today. Let not pride, or self-esteem, or self-righteousness keep any one from confessing his sins, that he may claim the promise: ‘He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’ [Proverbs 28:13.] Keep nothing back from God, and neglect not the confession of your faults to the brethren when they have a connection with them. ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.’ [James 5:16.] Many a sin is left unconfessed, to be confronted in the day of final accounts; better far to see your sins now, to confess them, and put them away, while the atoning Sacrifice pleads in your behalf. Do not dislike to learn the will of God on this subject. The health of your soul, the unity of your brethren, may depend upon the course you pursue in these things. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ‘casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.’ [1 Peter 5:6, 7.]” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 239.

**7 What act was necessary for sin to be put away? Hebrews 9:26, last part. Compare 1 John 1:7.**

NOTE: “The Lord created man pure and holy. But Satan led him astray, perverting his principles and corrupting his mind, turning his thoughts into a wrong channel. His purpose was to make the world wholly corrupt.

“Christ saw man’s fearful danger, and He determined to save him by the sacrifice of Himself. That He might accomplish His purpose of love for the fallen race, He became bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.” Reflecting Christ, 17.

8 Whose sins does Christ put away? Matthew 7:21. Compare Romans 2:13.

NOTE: “[The sins are put away of] only those who cease to sin. They who continue to transgress the law of God never have their sins put away; they retain them.” International Sabbath School Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, CA., July 8, 1889, 34.

“Transgression is disobedience to the commands of God. Had these commands always been obeyed, there would have been no sin. The penalty of transgression is always death. Christ averted the immediate execution of the death sentence by giving His life for man. . . . Justice requires that men shall have light, and it also requires that he who refuses to walk in the Heaven-given light, the giving of which cost the death of the Son of God, must receive punishment. It is a principle of justice that the guilt of the sinner shall be proportionate to the knowledge given, but not used, or used in a wrong way. God expects human beings to walk in the light, to testify before angels and before men that they acknowledge Christ as the great propitiation for sin and that they respect His sacrifice as their greatest blessing. . . .” In Heavenly Places, 153.

9 What is appointed to all men? Hebrews 9:27. Compare Genesis 3:19.

NOTE: “In consequence of Adam’s sin, death passed upon the whole human race. [See Romans 5:12.] All alike go down into the grave. And through the provisions of the plan of salvation, all are to be brought forth from their graves. ‘There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust;’ ‘for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22. But a distinction is made between the two classes that are brought forth. ‘All that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.’ John 5:28, 29. They who have been ‘accounted worthy’ of the resurrection of life are ‘blessed and holy.’ ‘On such the second death hath no power.’ Revelation 20:6. But those who have not, through repentance and faith, secured pardon, must receive the penalty of transgression—‘the wages of sin.’ [Romans 6:23.] They suffer punishment varying in duration and intensity, ‘according to their works,’ but finally ending in the second death. [Revelation 20:12, 13.] Since it is impossible for God, consistently with His justice and mercy, to save the sinner in his sins, He deprives him of the existence which his transgressions have forfeited and of which he has proved himself unworthy. Says an inspired writer: ‘Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.’ And another declares: ‘They shall be as though they had not been.’ Psalm 37:10; Obadiah 16. Covered with infamy, they sink into hopeless, eternal oblivion.” The Great Controversy, 544, 545.

10 What comes after death? Hebrews 9:27. Compare John 5:25–27.

NOTE: “Christ became our substitute and surety. He took the case of fallen man upon himself. He became the Redeemer, the Intercessor. When death was proclaimed as the penalty of sin, he offered to give his life for the life of the world, in order that man might have a second probation, and that individually he might enjoy the privileges that would come to us through this divine provision, and receive power to form a character after the divine image. But God has a day in which he will judge the world by that Man whom he hath ordained. [See Acts 17:31.]” The Signs of the Times, February 13, 1896.

11 Who carries out the judgment? John 5:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10.

NOTE: “All judgment is given into the hands of the Son. Christ has engaged to become the sinner’s surety, but he does not engage to lessen or detract from the obligation to the divine law. Should Christ change the law in any particular, the demands of Satan would be fulfilled, and God and Christ and the universe would be brought under bondage to his claims. Christ is the star of hope. He is the one to contest the claims of Satan; he is the seed of the woman that shall bruise the serpent’s head. He overcame Satan in heaven, and cast him out because of his rebellion and apostasy.” The Signs of the Times, February 13, 1896.

12 To whom will Christ appear and for what purpose? Hebrews 9:28.

NOTE: “The thrilling truth that has been sounding in our ears for many years, ‘The Lord is at hand; be ye also ready,’ is no less the truth today than when we first heard the message. The dearest interests of the church and people of God, and the destiny of an impenitent and ungodly world, for time and for eternity, are here involved. We are all judgment bound. ‘The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [unto the coming of the Lord] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ [1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.] Christ will then be revealed from heaven, ‘taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel.’ [2 Thessalonians 1:8.]

“These momentous events are nigh at hand, yet many who profess to believe the truth are asleep. They will surely be numbered with the unfaithful servant who saith in his heart, ‘My Lord delayeth His coming,’ if they remain in their present position of friendship with the world. [Luke 12:45.] It is only to those who are waiting in hope and faith that Christ will appear, without sin unto salvation. Many have the theory of the truth who know not the power of godliness. If the word of God dwelt in the heart, it would control the life. Faith, purity, and conformity to the will of God would testify to its sanctifying power.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 14, 15.