church

John Knox the Reformer

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Many, many years ago, about the year 1505, a man was born in Scotland in whose hands rested the continuation and success of the Reformation. His name was John Knox. The parents of Knox were well off financially enough to give him a liberal education.

He first entered grammar school in Hadington where he learned the principles of the Latin language. From there his father, in 1524, sent him to St. Andrews to the University of Glasgow, the most celebrated seminary in Scotland. The curriculum in this institution of learning consisted of the philosophy of Aristotle, scholastic theology, along with canon and civil law, and the study of Latin.

The studies in scholastic philosophy were not satisfying, so he turned to the study of Divine truth and the labor of the ministry. At the end of his studies he received the Master of Arts degree. He then taught philosophy for a time, and his abilities excelled those of his master in the dialectic art. In 1530, at the age of 25, he was ordained a priest before he had reached the age required by the canons of the church.

Not satisfied with the things he was reading from the excerpts of the ancient authors, he decided he would go to the authors themselves. Jerome and Augustine appealed to him. Jerome led him to read the Scriptures in their original language. In the works of Augustine he discovered sentiments quite opposite to the Papal church. “Augustine and Jerome led Knox to the feet of a Greater. The future Reformer now opens the Sacred Oracles, and he who had once wandered in the dry and thirsty wilderness of scholasticism finds himself at the fountain and well-head of Divine knowledge.” J. A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, 483. As a result of this study, Knox in 1535, turned from scholastic theology to evangelical religion. He renounced the Roman Catholic church and commenced his career as a Reformer.

The corruptions within the Roman church reached greater heights in Scotland than any where else within the western church. “Superstition and religious imposture, in their grossest forms, gained an easy admission among a rude and ignorant people. By means of these, the clergy attained to an exorbitant degree of opulence and power; which were accompanied, as they always have been, with corruption of their order, and of the whole system of religion.” Thomas M’Crie, The Life of John Knox, 20.

Half of the wealth of Scotland belonged to the clergy, although most of it was in the hands of a few who had control of the larger body, because they had taken advantage of the ignorance and superstition of the masses. “The ignorance of the clergy respecting religion was as gross as the dissoluteness of their morals. Even bishops were not ashamed to confess that they were unacquainted with the canon of their faith, and had never read any part of the sacred Scriptures, except what they met with in their missals.” Ibid., 21.

 

Reforms Begin

 

A light was beginning to shine in Scotland, and, before Knox had embraced the Reform doctrine, a young man by the name of Patrick Hamilton was moved by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Reformed doctrine. He went to Germany and spoke with Martin Luther, then went to the Protestant university in Marburg to study the Scriptures.

After completing his studies, Hamilton had an irresistible desire to return to Scotland where he exposed the corruption of the popish clergy. Because of this work he soon came to the attention of the Roman Catholic authorities. He was condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake in 1528.

Knox began his career as an educator at the seminary of St. Andrews in 1547, which lasted only a short time. A call came to him from the Protestant ministers of Scotland to join them as a public speaker. He at first declined, saying that he had not been called to that employment, but shortly accepted. His preaching was so successful that many at St. Andrews, and in the towns surrounding the university, were won to the Protestant cause.

In June of that year, a French fleet appeared and captured the Castle of St. Andrews, and Knox was taken prisoner and confined to the galleys for the next two years. The Reformation in Scotland seemed to came to a standstill with Knox out of the country.

He was released in 1549, and he repaired to England where he preached for a time in Berwick. It was here he met and married Marjory Bowes who bore him three children before her death. From Berwick, Knox went to London and busied himself with preaching against the corruption within the church as well as nurturing the followers of the reform.

Because of the anger he aroused in the leadership of the Roman church, Knox left England in 1554, and sailed to Dieppe in France. He remained there for a time before going to Geneva, Switzerland, meditating, preaching, studying and writing letters of encouragement to those reformers remaining in Scotland.

In 1555, Knox returned to Scotland for a brief visit, but it was long enough to consolidate and advance the Reformation in that land. He left Scotland in 1556 because he felt his continued presence would draw strong persecution upon this young community of believers. He went to Geneva once more to pastor an English church.

In April of 1557, two men from Edinburgh arrived with a letter of invitation to return to Scotland and continue the work of reform. They told him that the followers of the reform doctrine remained steadfast, and their adversaries were rapidly losing credibility among the Scottish people. He accordingly secured a replacement for himself in the church, set his affairs in order, and returned to Dieppe, in preparation for sailing to Scotland.

However, before he sailed, further news arrived of a different nature from the first intelligence he had received, telling him the Roman church had gained new power in Scotland and things were not as good as first related to him. Therefore, Knox spent some time traveling in France and preaching.

In December, he returned to Geneva. During the following year he was engaged, along with several other men, in translating the Bible into English. Their Bible became known as the Geneva Bible.

In January of 1559, Knox left Geneva for the last time. “The nation had now found what it needed, a man able to lead it in the great war in which it was entering.” J. A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, 490.

 

Battles and Victories

 

Mary, the Queen regent, was a strong supporter of the Roman Catholic church and did all she could to stop the Reformation in Scotland. She used everything within her power to gain her ends, not excluding deceit, flattery, and force. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Knox met with her on several occasions to answer the charges laid against him, but he felt no fear because he knew that he stood on the banner of truth.

On one occasion the queen arrived before the city of Perth with an army of 8000 men, but the reformers were so well prepared that she readily saw that any attempt to take the city was useless. She offered to make a peace settlement with them which they accepted, and the queen entered Perth without any resistance.

Knox preached a sermon describing the corruptions which had been introduced into the church by the papacy, using the story of Christ cleansing the temple. “When he had ended, and sat down, it may be said that Scotland was Reformed.” Ibid., 493.

Following this famous sermon, Knox spent the next year in incessant labor. He spent the days in preaching and the nights in writing. By this means he aroused and kept the country awake. “His voice like a great trumpet rang through the land, firing the lukewarm into zeal, and inspiring the timid into courage.” Ibid., 494.

On August 24, 1560, Parliament abolished the Pope’s jurisdiction, abolished the mass, and rescinded the laws in favor of the Romish church.

“Knox’s idea of the church was, in brief, a divinely originated, a divinely enfranchised, and a divinely governed society. Its members were all those who made profession of the Gospel; its law was the Bible, and its king was Christ.” Ibid., 496.

August of 1561, Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland, arrived and took the reins of government in her hands. She proceeded to consolidate her power and establish the Roman Catholic religion as supreme in the land. In December of 1563, Knox was put on trial, before the council and queen Mary, for treason. He was acquitted by a unanimous vote.

By the year 1567, a new monarch, the infant James, came to the throne of Scotland with the Earl of Murray, a close friend of Knox, as regent. The parliament ratified all the acts that had been passed in 1560, accepting the Protestant faith as the religion of the country, and abolishing the Papal jurisdiction. “From this point Knox could look back over the battles he had waged, and the toils he had borne, and contemplate with thankfulness their issue in the overthrow of the Papal tyranny, and the establishment of a Scriptural faith in Scotland.” Ibid., 511.

The years 1568 and 1569, were the happiest years in the life of the reformer and the most prosperous for his beloved country in that century. All was going well for the church, and she was enlarging her borders. His last years were spent in opposing the introduction into the Presbyterian church of the Tulchan bishops, which were unique to Scotland.

He objected to the institution of this new order of ecclesiastics into the church because he believed it to be a robbery of the patrimony of the church, and because it was an invasion of the Presbyterian equality which had been settled in the Scottish Kirk. His opposition delayed the introduction of this arrangement until the year of his death.

In 1570, Knox, never enjoying a strong constitution, became very feeble. A stroke of apoplexy affected his speech and necessitated his removal to St. Andrews where he had to be lifted up into the pulpit to preach. He continued preaching until he could no longer do so due to weakness. On the 24th of November, 1572, John Knox breathed his last and was laid to rest.

“From the time that he embraced the Reformed doctrines, the desire of propagating them, and of delivering his countrymen from the delusions and corruptions of popery, became his ruling passion, to which he was always ready to sacrifice his ease, his interest, his reputation and his life. An ardent attachment to civil liberty held the next place in his breast, to love of the reformed religion. ” Thomas M’crie, The Life of John Knox, 207.

“His ministerial functions were discharged with the greatest assiduity, fidelity, and fervour. No avocation or infirmity prevented him from appearing in the pulpit. Preaching was an employment in which he delighted, and for which he was qualified by an extensive acquaintance with the Scriptures, and the happy art of applying them, in the most striking manner, to the existing circumstances of the Church, and of his hearers.” Ibid., 208.

“The two master-qualities of Knox were faith and courage. The fundamental quality was his faith; courage was the noble fruit that sprang from it.” The History of Protestantism, 514.

 

The Three Shakings

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Have you ever been in an earthquake? Earthquakes have been important signs of the end. It was an earthquake, in Lisbon, Portugal, that started the signs of the time of the end. Growing up on the Mississippi, I heard about the greatest earthquake which happened there in about 1800. It was so strong, that the Mississippi River flowed backwards for five or ten minutes. We have the record of a steamboat captain who went backwards while the bluffs were crashing into the water. They estimate that it measured eight on the Richter scale. In 1906, there was a big earthquake in San Francisco, which Ellen White saw in vision two days before it happened. Then there was the earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska. More recently there was the earthquake in San Francisco when the Bay Bridge collapsed. Each of us is going to go through a shaking. In fact, I hope that each of you will go through three shakings. First the church shakes. Second, the nations shake. And third, the earth shakes. The shakings become successively better and better for the saints, and worse and worse for those who disregard God’s law.

 

The Shaking in the Church

 

The underlying issue of the shaking of the church is, “Where is your trust?” Is it in man? Or God? Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Thus saith the Lord. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” But cursed be the man who makes flesh his arm.

We can make flesh our arm in a number of ways. We can make an organization an arm of flesh by saying, “This organization or this church will not be shaken out. We will trust in this.” But we cannot put our trust in an organization or man, because all who have their trust in the arm of flesh, will be shaken out. All who are not firmly rooted and grounded to the Rock, Christ Jesus, will be shaken out.

We cannot trust in our own arm. We are doing this when we say, “I can do this by myself.” That is what Peter did. Jesus said, “Peter, before the cock crows, you are going to deny Me three times.” And Peter said, “You have to be mistaken. I would never deny You, Lord. Though all these deny You, I will not.”

Peter trusted in himself and because he trusted in himself, he was shaken. We have to put our trust in the Lord and in God’s Word. If our trust is not here, like Peter, we will deny our Lord.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.” Jeremiah 17:7. We are blessed if we put our trust in the Lord in order to stand. Cain trusted in his own arm when he brought his very best, but not what God required. He said, “I will trust in my arm. I do not want to go to Abel and ask for a lamb to have a blood sacrifice to point forward to the Messiah.” But Abel, said, “I will bring the best of my flock. I will do what the Lord has said. I will trust, that if I obey, He will deliver me.”

Where is our trust? Is it in our own arm, our parent’s arm, our friend’s arm, our pastor’s arm, or an organization? If we trust in the arm of flesh, we are virtually denying God’s power.

Isaiah commanded, “Cease ye from man.” Isaiah 2:22. The whole issue of the shaking is, “Are we leaning on the arm of flesh or on the Omnipotent arm of God?” If we will obey explicitly like Abel, and trust in God, we will also be accepted.

We can always trust God. When we come to a dark place in our lives, we can trust that He will see us through. Would it be trust if we could see through the darkness to the other side? No, but God has given us evidences to strengthen our faith. Just consider all the stories in the Bible when God sustained His people. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and as long as we do not turn from Him, He will hold us fast.

The shaking is painful, but is it necessary? Why is it necessary? At the bottom of a box of apples there is one rotten one. If left the apples around it will spoil and become rotten. That is the work of the shaking, testing and sifting out of the good from the rotten.

During this shaking, the world exults. They say, “Your numbers are getting smaller. Many people are leaving you.” This is the most difficult shaking for God’s church.

There was a parallel of today’s shaking in Jesus’ time. It lasted throughout the life and ministry of Jesus. We read in John 6 that many of His disciples walked no more with Him because He said, “I am not here for temporal gains, I am here to free you from your sins.”

The company that followed Jesus became smaller until eventually, on the cross, there were only eleven men and a few women remaining. To see how essential this shaking was, consider Judas. The disciples trusted in Judas because he seemed to be eloquent, intelligent, and have more ability than other disciples, but inside he was rotten.

 

The Nations Shake

 

The second shaking shakes the nations of this earth. This shaking is much more exciting, and much better for God’s people. It was necessary that the first shaking, the shaking of the church, take place before the shaking of the nations. If we do not make it through the first shaking, we will not be a part of this shaking when the church shakes the nation.

When the nations shake, it is going to be more powerful than anything yet seen. “After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great power and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:1–4.

Before Christ’s second coming the earth will be lightened with His glory. This will shake the nations. The glory of God will go all the way around the earth. It will be a world wide message.

The day of Pentecost was a foretaste of what it will be like when the earth is lightened with His glory. When that other angel comes down, it will be much more powerful than the day of Pentecost. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion. Rejoice in the Lord your God for He hath given you the former rain moderately and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.” Joel 2:23,24.

I want to be part of that experience. On the day of Pentecost, three thousand were added to the church. The gospel went to all the then known world in just a matter of years. But that will be small in comparison to when the nations shake. We are very privileged to be living in this period of earth’s history, and have the opportunity to be part of that work.

Ellen White tells us that the loud cry will be ten times greater than the midnight cry of the 1840s. (See Spaulding Magan, 4.) Just think about that. During the midnight cry, the first angel’s message went to every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation. Joseph Wolf , missionary to the world, preached the soon coming of Jesus to Jews, Hindus, Turks, and even in Congress, warning them that the hour of His judgment had come. La Cunza, a Jesuit priest in South America, preached the same first angel’s message. In Scandinavia, children between six and eight years of age preached because the ministers were silenced by the church, saying Jesus is soon to come.

William Miller in America, preached the first angel’s message to thousands, and hundreds of thousands who flocked to hear him. But the latter rain, the “other angel” who is going to lighten the earth with his glory, will be ten times more powerful than that. Do you want to be a part of giving that message? God is waiting on us.

How can we be a part of this? First we must pray for it. In every assembly we need to pray for this, because God loves to hear and answer our prayers. It is like a child asking his father for something good. The father wants to give it to the child. So our Heavenly Father wants to give us the latter rain. He wants to fit us so we can be a part of this “other angel.” But He cannot while we are not ready.

“When the Third Angel’s Message shall go forth with a loud voice, the whole earth shall be lightened with His glory, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon His people. The revenue of glory has been accumulating for this closing work of the Third Angel’s Message. The prayers that have been ascending for the fulfillment of the promise, the descent of the Holy Spirit, not one has been lost. Each prayer has been accumulating, ready to overflow and pour forth a healing flood of heavenly influence and accumulated light all over the world.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 180, 181.

The prayers have been accumulating, none has been lost. That should urge us to pray more. The more we pray for it, the more quickly it will come and the more powerful it will be. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. We need to pray for it as we have never prayed before.

That is not all that we need to be a part of the first shaking. We need to become a part of fulfilling God’s promise in Isaiah 13:12, 13: “I will make a man more precious than fine gold. Even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore, I will shake the heavens and the earth shall remove out of her place in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.”

Jesus by His death upon the cross of Calvary has made provision so that we can be made more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir. To make use of the provision we must give up our sin.

If we have not given up our sins, if we have not laid all on the altar, we are not ready for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Why could God entrust the Holy Spirit without measure to Jesus? Because, He had no sin, and that is the only way He can entrust us with the Holy Spirit without measure.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17. We need liberty from sin in order for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us fully. We cannot just believe it, we have to experience it. God says, “Taste and see.” (Psalms 34:8). We have to know for ourselves that He is good and we have to give up all sin for Him.

God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, after they experienced the cross. They saw the deep spiritual significance of it. They spent ten days in the upper room, praying, searching their hearts and making things right. That experience enabled them to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We will be enabled, in the same way, to partake of the latter rain, to be a part of the church that shakes the nations.

Are we spending time at the cross daily? When we look at the cross, we see how horrible sin is, and how much we need to have it taken our of our hearts. We must ask ourselves, is there anything that is separating me from God? Am I clinging to any sin, so that God cannot use me for the fulfillment of His great work? We must humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will show us what we must do.

The third thing we must do in order to receive the latter rain, is to be working earnestly for others. In order for the other angel to unite with the third angel, we must be proclaiming the third angel’s message. “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:4–7. (All emphasis supplied).

After the nations are shaken, then Jesus can come. Everyone will have made his decision. In Noah’s day everyone heard that a flood was coming. And every person on the globe had a chance to make his decision to heed Noah and go into the ark or not. So it is today. Jesus will not come the second time until everyone has had a chance to make a decision. That is the work that we have to do. We have a part to play in shaking the nations and hastening Jesus’ soon coming.

We have to be working earnestly for the salvation of our neighbors, our friends, and all we come in contact with. We are to pray, “Lord, what more can I do to be a part of the proclamation of the third angel’s message. I want to be a part of that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory and shakes all nations.”

The gospel has to go to all the world before the end can come. Paul said the gospel was “preached to every creature.” Colossians 1:23. And it must be again. They said about Paul, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Acts 17:6. We need to be one of those today who turns the world upside down.

How badly do we want Jesus to come? Can other people tell by how we live that we want Him to come? The power that lightens the earth with his glory is never going to come upon someone who is not working earnestly for the salvation of souls now.

To be living during the time when the earth is lightened with his glory, to be living during the time when the Holy Spirit is poured out, and not to know that it is going on would be dreadful. That will be our experience if we are not praying for it, nor removing sin from our lives and if we are not earnestly working for others.

We have seen, that during the first shaking, the church shakes. The second shaking, the nations shake. The third, and best shaking is when the heavens and the earth shake. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” Matthew 24:29.

This occurs at the voice of God, just a few days before Jesus comes. This shaking will be wonderful for God’s people, for they know they will soon be delivered. It is the worst shaking for those wicked, because they realize that they are lost.

Immediately after this “shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.” Matthew 24:30. After this shaking, Jesus is will come. Is this not what we are longing for? When Jesus comes, He is will take away all sickness and sorrow and we will live in a perfect world. We have a part to do in bringing this about. We must experience the Latter Rain, when the Holy Spirit is poured out without measure. Then we will be able to give the loud cry. The work will be finished and we can go home where Jesus is.

 

We Have Nothing to Fear Save We Forget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

The Shadow of the Stanton Controversy, part 3

by

Editor’s note:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Spiritual Temple Being Built

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Hindering God’s Work

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Appendix:

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Who Is Master of Your Church?

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Although Christ was the Master of earth, sea and sky—He could do nothing for those who did not feel their need. “He who was ever touched by human woe, who healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb, who fed the hungry and comforted the sorrowful, was driven from the people He had labored to save. He who walked upon the heaving billows, and by a word silenced their angry roaring, who cast out devils that in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, who broke the slumbers of the dead, who held thousands entranced by His words of wisdom, was unable to reach the hearts of those who were blinded by prejudice and hatred, and who stubbornly rejected the light.” The Desire of Ages, 541, 542. To the weakest, He gave strength. To the sickest, He gave healing. To the most sinful, He offered forgiveness. Why did not the whole world accept Him? And above all, why did the “good” men reject Him? How could religious teachers and elders reject the kind and gentle Saviour? It is a great mystery—the mystery of iniquity, that those He came to save, who claimed to be the best of men, rejected Him—the Way, the Truth and the Life. While we can never fully understand this terrible mystery, we need to learn enough about it to avoid making the same mistake—the mistake of missing the true church while thinking we are a part of it.

When on this earth, Jesus spoke instructive words to these “good” men, the religious leaders. These words will help us to avoid the mystery of iniquity that the Jewish nation fell into. Before we look at these words we need to remind ourselves that the servant of the Lord has told us that we are repeating their history: “Sometimes the case seems hopeless to me, because you have been treading in the very footsteps of the Jewish nation. You are repeating their history. The whole heavenly universe is astonished at the spiritual condition of things at Battle Creek. Now and then there is a comfortable, easy feeling, but this is not the deep moving of the Spirit of God. All heaven sees that if you had a more correct experimental knowledge of the truth, you would never assume jurisdiction and command over your fellow-men as you have done. You would never think that you could take control of the great interests all over the field, nigh and afar off. It is because of a departure from God that such gross ignorance in regard to the management of His work has come in.” 1888 Materials, 1631, 1632. [All emphasis supplied.] “We want to understand the time in which we live . . . The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 406.

Since we are repeating the history of these “good” men, the words that Jesus spoke to them also apply to us. The words that we will study together are found in John 8. What Jesus said, teaches us a great and simple truth—that everything, absolutely everything, can be understood in the light from God’s law. These are the words: “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. (Sin is breaking God’s law. See 1 John 3:4.) How profound and magnificent, how all inclusive and timeless are these words. They settle every difficulty on the great question as to who are God’s true people.

Instead of jumping to another thought—let us drive this one closer home: if anyone sins, they are not the servant of God. They are the servant of sin. Jesus taught us that no man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24.) One cannot be the servant of God and obey Him and also be the servant of sin. That is an absolute impossibility. Whose servant would one be who taught others that it is “OK” to sin? Could that person possibly be a servant of God? The servants of Christ will never be confused on the point of overcoming sin. So if one claims to be a servant of God and yet teaches people that they need not overcome their besetting sins, that teacher has a different master than Christ.

Here is another question. Would servants of Christ hire pastors who teach that people cannot overcome sin? The ones who hire those kind of teachers are servng the wrong master.

 

True Jews

 

If people, Jews or Adventists, are servants of sin, who is their father? Whose children are they? Jesus answers this question in the same discourse we have been studying from John 8. Jesus said, “I know you are Abraham’s children . . . but really you are not Abraham’s children, but you are children of the devil” (Some people today want to make Jesus contradict Himself! But truth never contradicts itself.) The Jews could prove their blood relationship to Abraham and in that respect were his children. But since they were not acting like the righteous Abraham—they were not really his children. Abraham was a servant of Christ, and desired to behold Him, but these so-called descendants of Abraham crucified Christ. They were the children of sin, they broke God’s law and taught others to break it. Paul explains this apparent contradiction, clearly placing it beyond all human questioning: “For he is not a Jew, [Seventh-day Adventist] which is one outwardly . . . But he is a Jew, [Seventh-day Adventist] which is one inwardly.” Romans 2:28, 29. These men were not really Jews at all! Thus is forever settled the question of who God’s true people are. It is those who love and obey Him and teach others to do the same, those who are like Him in character.

“The Pharisees had declared themselves the children of Abraham. Jesus told them that this claim could be established only by doing the works of Abraham. The true children of Abraham would live, as he did, a life of obedience to God. They would not try to kill One who was speaking the truth that was given Him from God. In plotting against Christ, the rabbis were not doing the works of Abraham. A mere lineal descent from Abraham was of no value. Without a spiritual connection with him, which would be manifested in possessing the same spirit, and doing the same works, they were not his children.

“This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world—the question of apostolic succession. Descent from Abraham was proved, not by name and lineage, but by likeness of character. So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority, but upon spiritual relationship. A life actuated by the apostles’ spirit, the belief and teaching of the truth they taught, this is the true evidence of apostolic succession. This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel.

“Jesus denied that the Jews were children of Abraham. He [remember He always portrayed brotherly love] said, ‘Ye do the deeds of your father.’ . . . “Their works testified of their relationship to him who was a liar and a murderer. ‘Ye are of your father the devil,’ said Jesus, ‘and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . Because I say the truth, ye believe Me not.’ John 8:44, 45, R. V. The fact that Jesus spoke the truth, and that with certainty, was why He was not received by the Jewish leaders. It was the truth that offended these self-righteous men. The truth exposed the fallacy of error; it condemned their teaching and practice, and it was unwelcome. They would rather close their eyes to the truth than humble themselves to confess that they had been in error. They did not love the truth. They did not desire it, even though it was truth.” The Desire of Ages, 466, 467.

Whoever sins is the servant of sin; his master is the devil. The reality of this truth bears with equal weight today on Seventh-day Adventists. Many claim to be Seventh-day Adventists—but it is only a righteous character that truely makes one a Seventh-day Adventist. This is the very message that is needed to prepare a people for Christ’s coming. It is the same message that the forerunner of Christ gave at His first coming: “Not by its name, but by its fruit, is the value of a tree determined. If the fruit is worthless, the name cannot save the tree from destruction. John declared to the Jews that their standing before God was to be decided by their character and life. Profession was worthless. If their life and character were not in harmony with God’s law, they were not His people.” The Desire of Ages, 107.

It is time to boldly declare this message again: Not by its name, (Seventh-day Adventist) but by its fruit, (lawsuits against those using the “name,” stoning and beating up faithful pastors who are giving the message, disfellowshipping those who are standing for truth, new theology, NLP, celebration worship style, etc.) is the value of a tree determined. Profession (claiming to be a Seventh-day Adventist) is worthless. If our life and character is not in harmony with God’s law, we (Seventh-day Adventists) are not His people.

 

The Dividing Line

 

God’s law gives us a perfect understanding of how to know who God’s people are. It is the great dividing line of protection between God’s people and the world. “They [God’s people] were hedged about by the precepts of His law, the everlasting principles of truth, justice, and purity. Obedience to these principles was to be their protection, for it would save them from destroying themselves by sinful practices. And as the tower in the vineyard, God placed in the midst of the land His holy temple. Christ’s Object Lessons, 287.

God’s true people will be raising a voice of warning against sin, but those who are not protesting against sin and apostasy are in a serious condition. We are either for it or against it. “There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 261, 262. “As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 552.

If the upholding of God’s law is the great dividing line between God’s people and His enemies, what of those apparently unconditional promises to certain groups of people? Do there exist unconditional promises that make some people “the” church, even if they do not support God’s law? Is there a “once” true church, “always” true church promise somewhere? These look like weighty theological questions which would frighten away the bravest. But is it really that difficult?

Jesus gave us a test by which we can settle these questions. The reason the answer becomes difficult for us to accept is because there are certain organizations that we tend to think should be exempt from Jesus’ test.

 

God ’s Test

 

“Jesus gives a test by which false teachers may be distinguished from the true. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits,’ He says. ‘Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?’

“We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the Word of God. ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.’ ‘Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.’ Isaiah 8:20; Proverbs 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? If men do not feel the weight of the moral law; if they make light of God’s precepts; if they break one of the least of His commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of heaven. We may know that their claims are without foundation. They are doing the very work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God.

“Not all who profess His name and wear His badge are Christ’s. Many who have taught in My name, said Jesus, will be found wanting at last. ‘Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’

“There are persons who believe that they are right, when they are wrong. While claiming Christ as their Lord, and professedly doing great works in His name, they are workers of iniquity. ‘With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.’ He who declares God’s word is to them ‘as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear Thy words, but they do them not.’ Ezekiel 33:31, 32.

“A mere profession of discipleship is of no value. The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’ they say, ‘and you need not keep the law.’ But a belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption. The apostle John says, ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ 1 John 2:4. Let none cherish the idea that special providences or miraculous manifestations are to be the proof of the genuineness of their work or of the ideas they advocate. When persons will speak lightly of the word of God, and set their impressions, feelings, and exercises above the divine standard, we may know that they have no light in them.

“Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order. ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 2:3.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 145, 146.

The knowledge of God’s law lived out in the life is the only thing that will save us from destruction. “In these days of peril, nothing but obedience will keep man from apostasy.” Manuscript 135, October 31, 1902. Quoted in Manuscript and Letters, Last Day Events, 80. A much different picture than that of obedience meets the eye today.

Hosea describes our condition: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.” Hosea 4:1–3, 6–9.

Although, Jesus came to save the most sinful, the wicked will no go unpunished. While mercy’s door is still open, anyone that turns to Him for help will be rescued from the snares of Satan. All we have to do is believe on Him. But that belief will always lead to obedience to God’s law. The group of the faithful may become very small, and the work difficult, but even if all appearances are against the truth, we must be wholehearted for Jesus! The true church will go through, there is absolutely no question. The question is if we will be a part of it.

One time (before 34 A.D.) the church got so small that it consisted of a handful of disciples. To this small group Christ promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against them. “How feeble the church appeared when Christ spoke these words! There was only a handful of believers, against whom all the power of demons and evil men would be directed; yet the followers of Christ were not to fear. Built upon the Rock of their strength, they could not be overthrown.” The Desire of Ages, 413. (Here is something to study for those who say that the apostate Jewish nation was God’s true church until 34 A.D.)

” ‘He that is not with Me,’ said Christ, ‘is against Me.’ It is wholehearted, thoroughly decided men and women who will stand now. Christ sifted His followers again and again, until at one time there remained only eleven and a few faithful women to lay the foundation of the Christian church. There are those who will stand back when burdens are to be borne; but when the church is all aglow, they catch the enthusiasm, sing and shout, and become rapturous; but watch them. When the fervor is gone, only a few faithful Calebs will come to the front and display unwavering principle. These are salt that retains the savor. It is when the work moves hard that the churches develop the true helpers. These will not be talking of self, vindicating self, but will lose their identity in Jesus Christ. To be great in God’s kingdom is to be a little child in humility, in simplicity of faith, and in the purity of love. All pride must perish, all jealousy be overcome, all ambition for supremacy be given up, and the meekness and trust of the child be encouraged. All such will find Christ their rock of defense, their strong tower. In Him they may trust implicitly, and He will never fail them.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 130.

What is the fruit that is growing on the tree? Is it meekness or pride? Is obedience or the new theology? If the fruit is sin—we can know for sure that the master of the tree is Satan. May the Lord help us to have spiritual discernment!

 

The Church In the Wilderness, Part 3

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“The Waldenses stand apart and alone in the Christian world. Their place on the surface of Europe is unique; their position in history is not less unique; and the end appointed them to fulfill is one which has been assigned to them alone, no other people being permitted to share it with them.” The Waldenses, by J.A. Wylie, 19.

The testimony of the Waldenses carries a two-fold message. In the first place their teachings and lives are in direct contrast to the apostasy of the papal church resulting in that power’s attempt to eradicate the hated “heretics.” In the second place their witness strengthened the position of the Protestant reformers. This is another reason why the Roman church persecuted the Waldenses.

The first incident we will describe occurred on Christmas of 1400. It took place in the Valley of Pragales in the Alps of northern Italy. The people felt safe because the snow lay very deep around them. An inquisitor named Borelli had previously caught 150 men as well as women and children and burned them alive. His army came suddenly, at night, upon those living in this valley. The Waldenses fled in the icy cold. Some lost hands and feet to frostbite, while others froze to death.

In 1487, Pope Innocent VII issued a bull denouncing the Waldenses as a “malicious and abominable sect of malignants.” He appointed Albert Canteneo, Archdeacon of Cremona, to carry out the bull and destroy the “venomous snakes.”

The plan of attack was to approach the Valley of Angrogna from two directions. The army was made up of two divisions, one French and the other Italian. One was to approach from the French side of the Alps while the Piedmontese from the Italian side were to converge in the valley. As the inhabitants of the Loyse valley saw the French coming, they retreated to a cavern nearly six thousand feet up a mountainside. This cave became their graves as the soldiers built a fire at the entrance, suffocating all within.

The people in other cities and valleys realized their only recourse was to resist and they prepared to defend themselves. The magnitude of the defenses set up discouraged the French army from attacking, so they continued on their way to Angrogna pillaging and burning as they went. Pragales was once more attacked and obliterated.

Cataneo led his Italian division on various excursions in an attempt to bring his mission to a victorious end. But it was not to be so. As he entered the Valley of Angrogna, the inhabitants prepared themselves for battle. They had tried to obtain a peace settlement with Cataneo, but were unsuccessful. Therefore, they decided to fight for their very lives.

The Waldenses moved further up the valley to a place that was easily defended. The papal army had to traverse a narrow defile with steep mountains on one side and a precipice on the other. The people climbed up the mountain so they were looking down on the path the army was to follow. As Cataneo moved along, a fog descended and enshrouded them. The Waldenses rolled rocks down on the soldiers, killing many of them, and followed by attacking and killing most of the remaining men; few escaped alive. These godly people now enjoyed a short respite from persecution.

The sword was sheathed for a time but the artful plots of the papal power continued. To secure their peace, the persecuted ones compromised themselves by attending the Romish mass and having their children baptized by the priests. The church in the wilderness appeared to fall but it did not, for the Reformation had already begun. Most of the countries of Europe had been stirred by the reformers before the tidings reached the Waldenses. “The blessed God hath never left Himself without witnesses in the world; and even during the reign of Antichrist—a period of the most general and awful defection from the purity of His worship, He had reserved to Himself thousands and tens of thousands of such as kept His commandments and the faith of Jesus. Nor is there any thing in this to occasion our surprise. The real followers of Christ are subjects of a kingdom that is not of this world.” The History of The Christian Church, 234, 235.

We have arrived at the time of the opening of the Reformation. Upon hearing of this the Vaudois were ecstatic. Eager to know what was happening, they sent a Pastor Martin of the Lucerna valley on a mission to discover the extent of the reform. He returned in 1526 revealing that the yoke of Rome had been cast off in Germany, Switzerland, and France and that every day many were being added to those who openly professed the same faith as the Waldenses. To prove that what he said was true, he brought back books he received in Germany containing the teachings of the Reformers. Later, two more pastors were sent from the French side of the Alps to Germany and Switzerland. The reformers were overjoyed to hear from these two men the voice of the primitive, apostolic gospel. The Alpine confessors had believed they were the only people who kept the true faith of the Bible, and they were very happy to find there were many others who believed and taught the same truth.

 

Peace and War

 

In 1532, a Synod was called and representatives from both sides of the Alps, attended along with deputies from churches in Switzerland and Bohemia. A confession was drawn up which contained seventeen articles with the main ones being: “Moral inability of man; election to eternal life; the will of God, as made known in the Bible, the only rule of duty; and the doctrine of two Sacraments only, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” Ibid., 60. A resolution was passed to translate the Bible into French making it available to the churches of the Reformation. It was printed in Switzerland in 1535.

Near this time, a quarrel occurred between Francis I of France and the Duke of Savoy, resulting in Francis gaining control of both sides of the Alps. The Waldensian people enjoyed a twenty-eight year time of partial peace with incidents of persecution and destruction here and there. Then persecution once again broke out on a large scale. The Inquisition continued to do its terrible work selecting individuals—one here and another there for extermination. A man named Bersour attacked the Valley of Angrogna but was repulsed. He then turned to the Vaudois living around his residence in Turin, seizing many of them and putting them in prison, and burning others.

Then there came a change in the politics of Europe that brought peace to the valleys. A treaty was signed in 1553 restoring Piedmont to the House of Savoy and a new monarch was placed on the throne. In 1560, he issued an edict forbidding his subjects to hear Protestant preachers on pain of death. There followed, shortly, another edict demanding all to attend mass under pain of death. Carignano was the first town to feel the tempest. The wealthy were dragged to the flames resulting in the rest of the people being scattered to various places including Turin. Wherever a Vaudois congregation existed there the persecutor turned. Rumors of confiscation, arrest, cruel tortures, and horrible deaths preceded the coming of the armies of destruction into the Waldensian Alps. The Waldenses decided to appeal to the throne. They sent a petition in the hands of M. Gilles, Pastor of Bricherasio, to the king’s Counsel, asking that they be allowed to live in peace and enjoy liberty of conscience.

The pastor was well received by the Duke of Savoy, but the requirements that the Duke made were not acceptable. In October of 1560, he declared war against the Vaudois. They determined to depend upon God for their defense. On October 31, as the Papal army appeared at Burbiana, the entrance to the Waldensian Valleys, the population humbled themselves in a public fast and partook of the Lord’s supper. They packed their belongings, and singing psalms as they traveled, made their way to the Pra del Tor. It was here they made their stand and successfully defeated the enemy in a number of battles and skirmishes, resulting in a considerable slaughter of the Papal army.

The leader of the Papal forces, Count La Trinita, recognizing the futility of pursuing the use of force, turned to diplomacy to achieve his ends. He made promises that if the Waldenses would compromise a little here and a small amount there, the persecutions would cease. But, having acceded to the wishes of La Trinita, they discovered, as had occurred so many times before, that the promises were empty. The terrible torture and murder continued unabated, their houses and lands were pillaged and destroyed.

Once more the Alpine churches determined to stand firm for truth and to defend themselves to the death. The Waldenses of Italy made a pact with those on the French side of the Alps to assist each other at all costs. An order from the Duke had been issued on January 20, 1561, that all people of the valleys were to attend mass or die. La Trinita knew he had to control the Pra del Tor in order to conquer the Waldenses. His attempt to accomplish this was completely defeated and his forces nearly destroyed. A treaty of peace was signed between the deputies of the valleys and the Duke of Savoy on June 5, 1561. Seedtime and harvest had been hardly restored when another calamity struck. In August of 1629, a flood occurred, wiping out the villages of Bobbio and Prali, followed by an icy dry wind in September, destroying all crops.

Yet another tragedy took place in the same year, even worse than persecution. The plague was brought into the valleys by members of the French army who had contracted the disease. Nearly half of the population of the valleys died from the plague.

Another settlement was signed and peace reigned for fifteen years. Then the valleys were invaded by a swarm of Capuchin monks sent to convert the heretics. As long as the people had their pastors to keep them on the true path, the monks had little success in their endeavors. To accomplish their goal, the pastors and leaders of the Vaudois were banished and driven into exile. The population was forbidden to go outside their territory, on pain of death. Even then, the conversion of the people moved ahead very slowly, so the Waldenses were commanded to leave and go to other areas where they were welcomed by the Vaudois of other valleys.

 

Deception and Death

 

Again the appeal was made to the House of Savoy for relief, and once again they were ignored. On April 15, 1655, an army of 15,000 men led by the Marquis de Pianeza, invaded the valleys only to meet total disaster time and time again. Recognizing the uselessness of carrying out any more forays into the valleys, the Marquis used craft and deceit to gain his objective. He made an agreement with the Vaudois that if they would allow a regiment of soldiers to be stationed in each valley for a few days, peace would come. On the Sabbath of April 24, at four in the morning, the blow fell upon the unsuspecting populace. The assassins did their work of murder and torture. “ ‘Our valley of Lucerna,’ exclaims Leger, ‘which was like a Goshen, was now converted into a Mount Etna, darting forth cinders and fire and flames. The earth resembled a furnace, and the air was filled with a darkness like that of Egypt, which might be felt, from the smoke of towns, villages, temples, mansions, granges, and buildings, all burning in the flames of the Vatican.’ The soldiers were not content with the quick dispatch of the sword. They invented new and hitherto unheard-of modes of torture and death. No man at this day dare write in plain words all the disgusting and horrible deeds of these men; their wickedness can never be all known, because it never can be all told.” Ibid., 142, 143.

Following this massacre, the Waldenses were relatively free from persecution for thirty years, though it never completely ceased. They still suffered annoyances and harassment at the hands of the papacy.

As Louis XIV came to the close of his life, he asked his confessor what he might do to atone for his sins. The reply was that he must extirpate Protestantism from France. A treaty was signed between the king of France and the Duke of Savoy in which the king promised to aid the Duke in eliminating the Vaudois. On January 31, 1686, an edict was issued containing the following:

  1. Vaudois to cease practicing their religion.
  2. No religious meetings under pain of death.
  3. All ancient privileges removed.
  4. All churches and religious buildings to be destroyed.
  5. All pastors and schoolmasters to embrace Romanism or be banished.
  6. All children to be raised as Roman Catholics.
  7. All Protestant foreigners to leave the country or become Roman Catholics within fifteen days.
  8. Persons who had acquired property in Piedmont were to sell it to Roman Catholics.

The Vaudois sent delegates to Turin seeking redress for their grievances from the Duke. The Protestants of Switzerland, Germany, and Holland interceded with the Duke on behalf of the Alpine populace to no avail. The Swiss counseled the Waldenses to leave their country to save their lives and to carry the torch of truth elsewhere. They chose rather to remain and defend themselves. They were attacked by a force of 15,000 men, who, at first, were defeated with a loss of 500 to two Vaudois. Then the army fell upon less strongly fortified villages and valleys and murdered and pillaged unmercifully. Wherever the army met a strongly fortified area, they told the defenders their neighbors had capitulated. The unsuspecting people believed this lie and they surrendered. The result of giving up resulted in a wholesale massacre with the loss of 3,000 persons, and the remaining 12,000 were imprisoned. The land of the Waldenses stood empty for the first time in its history.

In December of 1686, when the prisoners were released at the intervention of the Swiss Protestants—only 3000 were left alive. They were commanded to leave the country in the depth of winter. Many lost their lives on this journey. Small parties were released at intervals so that the last to leave arrived in Geneva in February of 1687. They were invited by some German princes to settle in their estates, but the influence of Louis XIV was too strong for them to remain at peace, so they had to move from place to place.

The Vaudois yearned to return to their valleys, and so on June 10, 1688, they made their way toward their homeland. But, they were discovered by the French forces and were then scattered throughout Germany. Then war broke out between France and Holland, drawing the attention of their enemies away from the Waldenses. They saw the hand of God intervening in their behalf and decided to once more return to their homeland. The return began on August 16, 1689, with Henry Arnaud leading 800 men. On their journey they met the enemy many times, but without defeat. Their last battle was at the crossing of the Dora River where they met 2500 French soldiers. In the battle that followed, 500 French died, while only fifteen Vaudois died and twelve wounded. Twelve days after leaving Switzerland they reached the borders of their land having lost only 100 men. “This great exploit is called the ‘Glorious Return.’ By the time the 1260-year period had run out, this faithful branch of the Church in the Wilderness had secured religious toleration.” Truth Triumphant, by Benjamin G. Wilkinson, 266.

The Waldenses still had many a battle to fight to regain their homeland, but they were successful in the end. However, it was not until 1870, with the disappearance of the French empire and the establishment of Germany and Italy, that they had complete freedom from harassment and persecution. Now, even the city of Rome was open to the Waldensian colporteur.

“The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God-fearing people were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their Redeemer. Notwithstanding the crusades against them, and the inhuman butchery to which they were subjected, they continued to send out their missionaries to scatter the precious truth. They were hunted to death; yet their blood watered the seed sown, and it failed not of yielding fruit. Thus the Waldenses witnessed for God centuries before the birth of Luther. Scattered over many lands, they planted the seeds of the Reformation that began in the time of Wycliffe, grew broad and deep in the days of Luther, and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are willing to suffer all things for ‘the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ Revelation 1:9.” The Great Controversy, 78.

A lesson to be learned from these experiences of the Waldenses is succintly revealed in the writings of St. Hilarius against Auxentius. “Of one thing I must carefully warn you, beware of Antichrist! It is ill done of you to fall in love with walls. It is ill done of you to reverence the church of God in buildings and stately edifices; it is wrong to rest in these things. Can you doubt that it is on these Antichrist will fix his throne? Give me mountains, forests, pits, and prisons, as being far safer places; for it was in these that the prophets prophesied by the Spirit of God.” The History of the Christian Church, by William Jones.

 

Apostasy, Why It Must Be Exposed

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Motives

 

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

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

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

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

 

Sick of Hearing About Apostasy

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Is There Hope For Unity?

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This “unity” question continues to arise among God’s people. I, for one am glad it is still a major concern because it is good “sound doctrine.”

Will this “unity” really happen? If so, how? Will it come about as God’s Word describes it, or must it come about the way we as individuals perceive that it should? Or, if it does not, then we will just not accept it and throw out those who do not match our way of thinking? Saying, “These people cannot be of God because they do not see it as we do.”

Is it possible, even now, though many miles apart, that there can be unity existing among many brethren based upon the real gospel, the Three Angels’ Messages? I do not believe for a minute that the point has been reached that we can all say: “We have arrived.” But, that day will come. I am convinced, that God’s true people will be unified on the platform of truth and those who refuse the truth will not stay on the platform. This is why we must agree that the shaking is increasing—error is running rampant, and every wind of doctrine is blowing. Because of these things, we see people being blown around by every wind of doctrine and the other group settling into the truth of God’s word!

 

Unity—Just for the Sake of Unity?

 

What about unity and division? The Bible is clear that God wants His people united. 1 Corinthians 1:10 and 2 Corinthians 13:11, make it perfectly clear. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Our commission here is “that ye all speak the same thing, and there be no divisions.” This seems clear. But, notice we must speak the same things. If we are not, there will be division. Can this situation be possible? The Word says we must have unity. But if we are not speaking the same things should we maintain unity—just for the sake of unity?

Eleven words will answer this question, as found in Special Testimonies, Series B., #2, 47. “We are to unify, but not on a platform of error.” What constitutes error? Would it be any deviation from the truth?

“Satan uses those who claim to believe the truth, but whose light has become darkness as his medium to utter his falsehoods and transmit his darkness.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

“Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deed.” 2 John 9–11. [All emphasis supplied].

Is it possible to be a partaker of someone’s evil deeds by supporting their wrong concept of truth? “At times with burning earnestness and words of terrible severity Christ denounced the abomination that He saw in the Church and in the world. He would not allow the people to be deceived by false claims of righteousness and sanctity.” Special Testimonies, Series B., #2, 46, 47.

“It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt and still remain pure.” Review and Herald, January 2, 1900.

“Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17.

“Like will attract like. Those who are drinking from the same fountain of blessing will draw nearer together. Truth dwelling in the hearts of believers will lead to blessed and happy assimilation. Thus will be answered the prayer of Christ that His disciples might be one even as He is one with the Father. For this oneness every truly converted heart will be striving.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 100, 101.

Over and over in the Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy we are reminded to “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, being of one accord.” (See Philippians 1:27; 2:2.) And on the other hand, as we have just read, a warning is given to separate from those “which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine.”

Is it possible to balance these statements? Yes, I believe it is. And here is a clear “no argument” quotation that will give us some direction. “Christ calls for unity, but does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrine . . . I urge our brethren to unify upon a true Scriptural basis.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 175. This tells us not to unify on wrong practices, not to unify on false misleading doctrine. True unity can only come if it is based upon sound Scripture.

There will be some that call themselves the same name that we will not be able to work with, but we can certainly pray for them.

 

A Choice

 

Amos 3:3 says: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Independent ministries are constantly encouraged to have unity among the ranks. That is the way it should be as long as the doctrine is sound. If two ministries disagree, they are either both wrong, or one is right and the other is wrong, based on the Word. The situation now comes down to various supporters to evaluate what they believe is truth. Since we cannot support error, we must decide which ministry we will support.

Now, let me ask you a question. Is it not right for an individual (you) to choose to support or work with, or not to support and work with certain ministries? Each individual makes their decision based upon the teaching of each ministry. If their teaching does not line up with what you believe the truth is, you withdraw your support.

That is the way it should be conducted. But what is the difference when we, the ministries, must withdraw from another ministry because of differences of doctrine? I hope you are getting the point! Yes, there will be unity among God’s true and faithful, and at the same time division because of those who will not come into line.

Ellen White made this point very well in Early Writings, 140: “We are assured that the watchman shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall again bring Zion. In the time of the end the wise shall understand. When this is fulfilled, there will be unity of faith with all whom God accounts wise.”

The Lord’s messenger gives us the bottom line in Selected Messages, vol. 3, 412: “We have a testing message to give and I am instructed to say to our people, unify, unify, but we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils . . . we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from truth.”

We must continue, as Ephesians 4:3 tells us, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” And at the same time, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:10, 11.

Unity is coming! Thousands are praying for it to happen. God will hear and answer as this is His will for each of us.

All we need in preparation for this grand event is to follow Ephesians 4:23, 24, which is my prayer for all of God’s people. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

 

Letter from Secretariat, General Conference of Seventh day Adventists

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Dear Brother and Sister:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your friend in Christ,

Athal H Tolhurst

Undersecretary

(301) 680-6643

The Shadow of the Stanton Controversy, part 2

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Editor’s Note: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Devil’s Objectives

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The True and Faithful

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

A Separation

 

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

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

 

Steps into Apostasy

 

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

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

Appendix:

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

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

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

Part III