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The Waldenses, part 1

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“Amid the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal supremacy, the light of truth could not be wholly extinguished. In every age there were witnesses for God—men who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the world owes to these men, posterity will never know. They were branded as heretics, their motives impugned, their characters maligned, their writings suppressed, misrepresented, or mutilated. Yet they stood firm, and from age to age maintained their faith in its purity, as a sacred heritage for the generations to come.” The Great Controversy, 61.

God in His wisdom prepared a place in the wilderness for His faithful church. There they were able to maintain the light of truth when the Dark Ages covered Europe. They lived their simple lives raising their children in the truth of God’s Word, which they had in their own language, while that Word was known only by ‘scholars’ throughout the rest of the continent. From their valleys and mountain passes, after years of preparation, missionaries were sent to share the Good News with the nations around them. They were the forerunners of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.

The Roman Catholic church did all in her power to destroy the Waldenses. It tried, during many crusades and persecutions, to annihilate them. Every attempt was made to destroy the writings of their leaders and although books from other authors of that time are still preserved, the books of the people of the valleys were largely destroyed. The Latin Vulgate Bible, with its many errors, was produced to try to replace the Latin Itala Bible of the churches of the Waldenses. False reports and slanders were spread.

Years of persecution failed to wipe out this faithful church so Rome tried to destroy their history through false accounts of their origins and doctrines. The enemies of the Church in the Wilderness have tried to trace their name to Peter Waldo, an opulent merchant of Lyons, France, who began his work about 1160. However, evidence is clear that the name Waldenses comes from the Italian word for “valleys” and as they spread over France they were called Vaudois which means “inhabitants of the valleys.” Waldo was converted in his mid-life and labored to spread evangelical teachings. When he met persecutions he fled to the Waldenses. But evidence is ample that the people of the valleys were an organized body for hundreds of years before he lived among them.

The Ancient Beginnings of the Waldenses

There is abundant evidence that the history of the Waldenses dates back to the time of the apostles. It is their claim that their religion passed to them from the apostles and in fact even the writings of their enemies give credence to this. (Note that the Waldenses were called by several different names: Leonists, Vallenses, Valsenses, Vaudois and others.)

Reinerius Sasso was a well informed Inquisitor of the thirteenth century. He had once been a pastor among the Waldenses but had apostatized and become their persecutor. The book The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses by George Faber gives a translation of this testimony on page 272. His testimony described the Leonists (Waldenses) as being the most ‘pernicious’ of the sects of heretics for three reasons. The first reason was because of their longer continuance, for they had lasted from the time of Pope Sylvester or even from the Apostles. Secondly, because there was scarcely a land where they did not exist. And the third reason being because they lived justly before all men and blasphemed only against the Roman church and clergy while maintaining every point concerning the Deity and the articles of faith which made their doctrine appeal to the populous. He also writes that they were simple, modest people who instructed their children first in the Decalogue of the law, the Ten Commandments. (See Truth Triumphant, 254.)

Faber also shares the testimony of Pilichdorf, also of the thirteenth century, who writes that the Valdenses claimed to have existed from the time of Pope Sylvester. Claude Scyssel, the Archbishop of Turin, who lived in the neighborhood of the Waldenses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries tells us that the Valdenses of Piedmont were followers of a person named Leo. In the time of Emperor Constantine, Leo, on account of the avarice of Pope Sylvester and the excesses of the Roman Church, seceded from that communion, and drew after him all those who entertained right sentiments concerning the Christian Religion. (See The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses, 276.)

For nearly two hundred years following the death of the apostles, the process of separation went on between those who rejected pagan practices being brought into the church and those who accepted this baptized paganism, until there was open rupture. The Waldenses date their exclusion from communion with the papal party to the year 325 and the Council of Nicaea when Sylvester was given recognition as bishop of Rome and given grand authority by Constantine. “Such believers did not separate from the papacy, for they had never belonged to it. In fact, many times they called the Roman Catholic Church ‘the newcomer.’ ” Truth Triumphant, 220.

Scientific inquiry into the dialect of the Waldenses by M. Raynouard and discussed in his Monuments of the Roman Tongue, reveals that their language is a primitively derived language and leads to the conclusion that the “Latin Vaudois must have retired, from the lowlands of Italy to the valleys of Piedmont, in the very days of primitive Christianity and before the breakup of the Roman Empire by the persevering incursions of the Teutonic Nations.” The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses, 285. It is from their language that the Romance languages of French and Italian were derived. They were the first to write modern literature in their vulgar tongue with their religious poems being prized today as the most perfect compositions of that period.

Vigilantius — Leader of the Waldenses

The name of Leo and the term Leonist come from Vigilantius Leo or Vigilantius the Leonist so named after his birthplace of Lyons on the Rhone and credited by Faber as the first supreme director of the Church of the Waldenses. In his book Truth Triumphant, 63, Benjamin Wilkinson says that in the time of Vigilantius (AD 364–408), “the protests against the introduction of pagan practices into primitive Christianity swelled into a revolution. Then it was that the throngs who desired to maintain the faith once delivered to the saints in northern Italy and south-western France were welded into an organized system.”

Vigilantius was a contemporary of Helvidius and Jovinian, who were also from northern Italy. Helvidius was famous for his exposure of Jerome for using corrupted Greek manuscripts in bringing out the Vulgate, the Latin Bible of the papacy. Jovinian taught and wrote against celibacy and asceticism. It is likely that “followers of Jovinianus took refuge in the Alpine valleys, and there kept alive the evangelical teaching that was to reappear with vigor in the twelfth century.” Truth Triumphant, 69, quoting Newman, A Manual of Church History, vol. 1, 376. So it was to these people of the valleys, who adhered to the teachings of scripture, that Vigilantius came to begin his public efforts to stop the pagan ceremonies. He did amighty work with wide influence.

The Church in the Wilderness

Vigilantius was able to build a strong organization among the Waldenses and evidence suggests that these apostolic Christian people had already occupied their valleys for some time. “The splendid city of Milan, in northern Italy, was the connecting link between Celtic Christianity in the West and Syrian Christianity in the East. The missionaries from the early churches in Judea and Syria securely stamped upon the region around Milan the simple apostolic religion.” Ibid., 67. This territory enjoyed a separate recognition from Rome for a thousand years as the bishoprics in northern Italy were called Italic and those of central Italy were named Roman. It is likely the Itala Bible received its name from this region. (See Truth Triumphant, 218, 219.)

“Now this district, on the eastern side of the Cottian Alps, is the precise country of the Vallenses. Hither their ancestors retired, during the persecutions of the second and third and fourth centuries: here, providentially secluded from the world, they retained the precise doctrines and practices of the Primitive Church endeared to them by suffering and exile; while the wealthy inhabitants of cities and fertile plains, corrupted by a now opulent and gorgeous and powerful Clergy, were daily sinking deeper and deeper into that apostasy which has been so graphically foretold by the great Apostle.” Faber, The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses, 293, 294.

“The faith which for centuries was held and taught by the Waldensian Christians was in marked contrast to the false doctrines put forth from Rome. Their religious belief was founded upon the written word of God, the true system of Christianity. But those humble peasants, in their obscure retreats, shut away from the world, and bound to daily toil among their flocks and their vineyards, had not by themselves arrived at the truth in opposition to the dogmas and heresies of the apostate church. Theirs was not a faith newly received. Their religious belief was their inheritance from their fathers. They contended for the faith of the apostolic church,—‘the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 3. ‘The church in the wilderness,’ and not the proud hierarchy enthroned in the world’s great capital, was the true church of Christ, the guardian of the treasures of truth which God has committed to His people to be given to the world.” The Great Controversy, 64.

The Itala

“The Waldenses were among the first of the peoples of Europe to obtain a translation of the Holy Scriptures. Hundreds of years before the Reformation they possessed the Bible in manuscript in their native tongue.” Ibid., 65. It is from the city of Brescia, a city with an independent spirit like Milan and Turin, that the Itala, the first translation of the New Testament from Greek into Latin, is given to the apostolic Christians. This translation was made “three centuries before Jerome’s Vulgate.” Truth Triumphant, 242. ” They prized their Latin Bible (not the Latin Bible of Jerome), generally called the Itala, ‘because it was read publicly in all the churches of Italy, France, Spain, Africa, and Germany, where Latin was understood; and Vetus, on account of its being more ancient than any of the rest.’ To supplant this noble version, Jerome, at the request of the pope and with money furnished by him, brought out a new Latin Bible.” Truth Triumphant, 70, 71, quoting Gilly, Vigilantius and His Times, 99.

Robert Oliveton, a native of the Waldensian valleys, who translated the Vaudois Bible into French in 1535, wrote in the Preface of that work that this Bible had been a precious treasure received from the apostles and ambassadors of Christ and held by a certain poor people and friends in Christ since that time. “When the fall of the Roman Empire came because of the inrush of the Teutonic peoples, the Romaunt, that beautiful speech which for centuries bridged the transition from Latin to modern Italian, had become the mother tongue of the Waldenses. They multiplied copies of the Holy Scriptures in that language for the people. In those days the Bible was, of course, copied by hand.”

“The Bible formed the basis of their congregational worship, and the children were taught to commit large portions of it to memory. Societies of young people were formed with a view of committing the Bible to memory. Each member of these pious associations was entrusted with the duty of carefully preserving in his recollections a certain number of chapters; and when the assembly gathered round their minister, these young people could together recite all the chapters of the Book assigned by the pastor. It thus can be seen how naturally their pastors, called barbes,’ were a learned class. They were not only proficient in the knowledge of the Bible in Latin and in the vernacular, but they were also well schooled in the original Hebrew and Greek, and they taught the youth to be missionaries in the languages which then were being used by other European peoples.” Ibid., 250, 251.

Missionary Spirit

“The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Savior. Such was the spirit of the Vaudois Christians. They felt that God required more of them than merely to preserve the truth in its purity in their own churches; that a solemn responsibility rested upon them to let their light shine forth to those who were in darkness; by the mighty power of God’s Word they sought to break the bondage which Rome had imposed.” The Great Controversy, 70.

The Vaudois minister was required to receive experience in evangelism gained in a three year mission field assignment. They were sent out with an older pastor two by two. They had to conceal their mission behind a secular disguise, often that of a merchant. They were able thus to spread God’s Word throughout Europe. Often they lost their lives while on these missionary travels.

“Seemingly they took no share in the great struggle which was going on around them in all parts of Europe, but in reality they were exercising a powerful influence upon the world. Their missionaries were everywhere, proclaiming the simple truths of Christianity, and stirring the hearts of men to their very depths. In Hungary, in Bohemia, in France, in England, in Scotland, as well as in Italy, they were working with tremendous, though silent power. Lollard, who paved the way for Wycliffe in England, was a missionary from these Valleys . . . In Germany and Bohemia the Vaudois teachings heralded, if they did not hasten, the Reformation, and Huss and Jerome, Luther and Calvin, did little more than carry on the work begun by the Vaudois missionaries.” Truth Triumphant, 249, quoting McCabe, Cross and Crown, 32.

“There is an abundance of testimony to show the harmonious chain of doctrine extending from the days of the apostles down to the Reformation and later, including the beliefs held by the believers of northern Italy, the Albigenses, the Wycliffites, and the Hussites. Andre Favyn, a well-known Roman Catholic historian, who wrote in French, traces the teachings of Luther back through Vigilantius to Jovinianus, claiming that Vigilantius gave his doctrines to ‘the Albigenses, who otherwise were called the Waldenses,’ and that they in turn passed them on to the Wycliffites and the followers of Huss and Jerome in Bohemia.” Ibid., 263.

Early Waldensian Heroes

The Waldenses were often called by many different names. “Whenever from the midst of the Church in the Wilderness a new standard-bearer appeared, the papacy promptly stigmatized him and his followers as ‘a new sect.’ This produced a twofold result. First, it made these people appear as never having existed before, whereas they really belonged among the many Bible followers who from the days of the early church existed in Europe and Asia. Secondly, it apparently detached the evangelical bodies from one another, whereas they were one in essential doctrines. The different groups taken together constituted the Church in the Wilderness.” Ibid., 224, 225. These names were usually derived from the name of a leader. We have already seen this with Vigilantius Leo and the term Leonists.

Waldensian leaders included Claude of Turin of the ninth century. He battled to restore New Testament faith and practice and denounced image worship and the worship of the cross, stating that many were willing to worship the cross who would not bear it. Transubstantiation was introduced in 839 through a new book. Joannes Scotus Erigena, an Irish scholar and head of the royal school at Paris, who had authored many celebrated works, took up his pen and produced a book which successfully met this falsehood. Two centuries later his book was condemned by a papal council which recognized that it had long stirred the believers of primitive Christianity. There is a tradition which states that Scotus came from one of the schools established by Columba who was a mighty leader among the primitive Celtic Christian church in Scotland.

Berengarius was hated by the papacy and more church councils were held against him than against anyone else. He lived two hundred years after Scotus and had also analyzed the doctrine of transubstantiation and believed it to be the height of seductive errors. Apostasy had strengthened since the days of Vigilantius and Claude, and Berengarius had to oppose all they fought against and more. He was driven into exile. Thousands who rejoiced in the light he brought were called Berengarians but who were really part of the increasing numbers who refused to follow Rome. In the eleventh century those who favored a married clergy retired to a separate place called Patara and were reproachfully called Patarines. Three new names were given to the people of the valleys; namely, Berengarians, Subalpini, and Patarines.

The next century saw three outstanding evangelical heroes. The Petrobusians were the followers of Peter de Bruys who was burned for his faith. He stirred southern France with a message that transformed the characters of the masses influenced by this deep spiritual movement. “He especially emphasized a day of worship that was recognized at the time among the Celtic churches of the British Isles, among the Paulicians, and in the great Church of the East; namely, the seventh day of the fourth commandment, the weekly sacred day of Jehovah.” Ibid., 237.

Henry of Lausanne traveled, labored, prayed, and preached to raise the masses to the truth. Pope Innocent II declared the doctrines of Henry to be heresies and condemned all who held or taught them. His followers were called Henricians. They were credited along with the Petrobrusians as being the spiritual fathers of French Protestantism.

Arnold of Brescia denounced the overgrown empire of ecclesiastical tyranny and also did what the reformers failed to do by attacking the union of church and state. His words were heard in Switzerland, southern Italy, Germany, and France. He preached against transubstantiation, infant baptism, and prayers for the dead. His followers were called Arnoldists. “The Waldenses look up to Arnold as to one of the spiritual founders of their churches; and his religious and political opinions probably fostered the spirit of republican independence which throughout Switzerland and the whole Alpine district was awaiting its time.” Ibid., 243.

Sabbath Keeping

“Among the leading causes that had led to the separation of the true church from Rome was the hatred of the latter toward the Bible Sabbath.” The Great Controversy, 65.

“In his (Vigilantius’) day another controversy existed which was to rock the Christian world. Milan, center of northern Italy, as well as all the Eastern churches, was sanctifying the seventh-day Sabbath, while Rome was requiring its followers to fast on that day in an effort to discredit it.” Truth Triumphant, 75.

Bible Sabbath keeping was widespread in Europe. Rome ever sought to persecute the keepers of the fourth commandment. A. C. Flick and other authorities claim that the Celtic Church observed Saturday as their sacred day of rest, and reputable scholarship has asserted that the Welsh sanctified it as such until the twelfth century. The same day was observed by the Petrobrucians and Henricians, and Adeney, with others, attributes to the Paulicians the observance of Saturday. There are reliable historians who say that the Waldenses and the Albigenses fundamentally were Sabbath-keepers.” Ibid., 211.

Socrates and Sozomen, fourth century historians, reveal to us that the Christianity of the Greek Church was a Sabbathkeeping Christianity; and that the Christianity of the West, with the exception of the city of Rome and possibly Alexandria, was also a Sabbathkeeping Christianity. (See Ibid., 256.)

Fortunately, the records of the church council at Elvira, Spain, in 305, still exists and in Canon 26 it reveals that the Church of Spain at that time kept Saturday, the seventh day. This is significant since Spain had the good fortune to escape the influence of Rome for many centuries and many believe that the true original Waldenses were from the Spanish Pyrenees. The original word is the Latin, vallis. From it came “valleys” in English, Valdesi in Italian, Vaudois in French, and Valdenses in Spanish. Near Barcelona is a city named Sabadell, “dell of the Sabbathkeepers.” Another author in Gebbes, Miscellaneous Tracts notes that ancient Spanish Gothic Church and the ancient British Church were the same. (See Ibid., 261.)

Pope Gregory issued a bull against the community of Sabbathkeepers in Rome in 602. It stated, “Further when speaking of that Sabbath which the Jews observe, the last day of the week, which also all peasants observe.” Ibid., 259. In 865–867 the Roman and Greek churches were fighting over the newly converted Bulgarians. The issue of the Bulgarians Sabbath-keeping was raised and is seen in a reply of Pope Nicolas I to the Bulgarian king.

Allix, in his Ancient Churches of Piedmont, says, it was a doctrine of the Waldenses that the Sabbath of the Law of Moses was to be observed. David Benedict says they were called Sabbatarians for keeping the seventh day. (Ibid.) Adeney indicates that a synod of “heretics” was held in Toulouse in 1167 and that the attendants disregarded Sunday and sanctified Saturday. Gilly notes, “It has been affirmed that the orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans were instituted to silence the Waldenses.” Ibid., 260.
In 1194, Alphonso of Aragon declared the Sabbathkeeping Waldenses, Insabbati, as heretic. There is an abundance of references to “heretics” under the name of Sabbatiti, or Insabbatiti, in the records of the Inquisition. These terms refer to keeping the seventh day. Lucas Tudensis, a papal writer, shows that the Insabbatiti in Spain were numerous in 1260.

Mosheim declares that in Bohemis, Moravia, Switzerland, and Germany, prior to Luther, there were groups who believed as the Waldenses, Wycliffites and Hussites. Lamy declares that these groups after the days of Luther were Sabbathkeeping, ” ‘All the counselors and great lords of the court, who were already fallen in with the doctrines of Wittenburg, of Ausburg, Geneva, and Zurich, as Petrowitz, Jasper Cornis, Christopher Famagali, John Gerendo, head of the Sabbatarians, a people who did not keep Sunday, but Saturday, and whose disciples took the name of Genoldist. All these, and others, declared for the opinions of Blandrat.’ ” Ibid., 263.

“There is an abundance of testimony to show the harmonious chain of doctrine extending from the days of the apostles down to the Reformation and later, including the beliefs held by the believers of northern Italy, the Albigenses, the Wycliffites, and the Hussites . . . Erasmus testifies that even as late as about 1500 these Bohemians not only kept the seventh day scrupulously, but also were called Sabbatarians.” Ibid., 264.

The Continuing Reformation

The prophetic twenty-three hundred day period of Daniel came to an end. “The centuries of faithfulness seen in the history of the Church in the Wilderness were succeeded by the period of the Remnant Church who would ‘keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ ” Ibid., 267.

“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. ‘the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ Revelation 1:9.” GC, 78.

The Little Company Who Are Sighing and Crying

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The following thoughts are derived from what Ellen White wrote about the little company who would be sighing and crying toward the end of time. The main source of these statements is in volume 5 of Testimonies for the Church pages 207–216.

We are living in that period of time described by the prophet when the great crisis of the ages is fast approaching, when the rapidly increasing wickedness shows that God’s visitation has about come, when every one of the Lord’s children must do his duty to labor diligently to save others. The danger and depression of the church are hastening toward their greatest point and at this time it is predicted that there will be a little company who are standing in the light and will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. The land where these awful abominations are done is the land of the church.

What we want to know is (1) who is this little company and what are their identifying characteristics and (2) what is this sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the church.

First we must understand that the church which Ellen White speaks about here is not the true church in reality but the professed people of God, most of whom are not living out the truth they profess. This can easily be shown. Just as there was an Israel according to the flesh and a true Israel of the promise (Romans 9:6-8) so there is a modern Israel according to the profession and there is within this a true Israel whose character lines up with their profession. Notice during this time, “But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 210. God’s power and presence were lacking from the church (the professed church) but concerning the true church the prophet writes, “To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.” The Acts of the Apostles, 54, 55.

So there will be a large professed church (those who profess the Seventh-day Adventist faith) and within this large group there is a little company. As we will see, this little company will emerge as the church triumphant at the end. We now turn our attention to this little company. What qualifications must one have to be a part of this group?
The little company has the following characteristics:

  1. They keep the commandments, including the Sabbath. They have come out from the world and stand in defense of God’s law.
  2. They are standing in the light—they are obeying the counsels of God’s spirit to the remnant church. They are bound together by the truth. They have preserved the faith in its purity. (They are Historic Adventists!)
  3. They are sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. They will have a soul anguish, expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings.
  4. More especially their prayers are arising in behalf of the professed church whose members are doing after the manner of the world.
  5. They have kept themselves unspotted from the world.
  6. They have reproved, counseled and entreated, holding forth the words of life to the professed church.
  7. They will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any.
  8. They are filled with grief and alarm because they are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity (in God’s professed church).
  9. They mourn and lament because religion is despised in the homes of God’s professed people and pride, avarice, selfishness and deception of almost every kind are in the professed church.
  10. The spirit of God which prompts these people to reprove is trampled underfoot. The servants of Satan triumph, God is dishonored and the truth is made of none effect.
  11. They receive the seal of God.
  12. They make God their defense in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth who command them to worship the beast and receive his mark or die.
  13. Their character defects are remedied by the grace of God and their own diligent efforts. They do not yield to circumstances but engage in the conflict of overcoming.
  14. They are distrustful of self and are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth, they are being purified, overcome worldly ambition, love of the world and a false tongue and a deceitful heart—they are without spot before God.

In the same articles where Ellen White describes the true church (the little company) who are obeying the truth, she describes a much larger group. This group, though professing the Adventist faith, (they are the true church by profession) their character does not agree with their profession. They lose their souls at the end even if they have been Adventists all their lives! Here is the inspired description of them.

 

  1. They are contaminated by the prevailing iniquity.
  2. They lose their reverence for God’s law.
  3. They live after the manner of the world.
  4. They continue the forms of religion.
  5. They throw a cloak over the existing evil and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent. (When you are listening to sermons telling you to go back where you were disfellowshipped or forced out for conscience sake, remember who this group is described in #5.)
  6. This group triumphs over the little company.
  7. This group does not feel grieved over it’s own spiritual declension.
  8. They do not mourn over the sins of others.
  9. This group includes leaders who stand as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people.
  10. They take the position that we need not look for miracles and marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. They say that “times have changed.”
  11. They cry peace and safety and talk about the mercy of God. (They overlook His justice.)
  12. They do not show God’s professed people their transgressions and sins.
  13. Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous will be discovered by God as leaders in apostasy and examples in indifference.
  14. They have been used powerfully by God in the past but they have departed from God and led others into error.
  15. They link in sympathy with the world.
  16. Many among the leaders of God’s people will be in this category and will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads.
  17. These leaders understand every point of our faith (they are not heretics in the usual sense of the word) but had not corresponding works.
  18. They failed to reach a high religious standard by their lack of devotion and piety.
  19. Those who followed them did not see that in patterning after these men (these leaders in the big group of professed Adventists) they will surely endanger their souls.
  20. They yield to circumstances rather than engage in the conflict of overcoming.
  21. They are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast.

 

From the context of the article it is clear that the small group described first are the Historic Adventists and the large group described last are the vast majority of those professing the Adventist faith. At first reading, this thought is so imponderable as to escape reflection—certainly such a thing seems impossible, yet it is the truth of prophecy.

It is not pleasant to contemplate the destruction of the majority of God’s professed people but many prophecies clearly predict this. (See for example Testimonies, vol. 1, 608, 609; Testimonies, vol. 5, 136.) How can such a thing happen? Do not these people expect to be ready to meet Jesus when He comes and go home with Him? Of course they do. So why will many be bitterly disappointed? Part of the reason is described in the quotations below. We must go to our closet and plead with God to be delivered from self-deception—thinking we are saved when we are not.

Our great danger today is the same danger that the Jews had—the danger of being self-deceived. In crucifying Christ they thought that they were doing God service. (See Signs of the Times, January 10, 1900.)

“The Jews pursued their course of rejecting Christ until, in their self-deceived, deluded state, they thought that in crucifying Him they were doing God a service. Thus it will be with all who resist the entreaties of the Spirit of God, and persist in doing what they know to be wrong. The Spirit once resisted, there will be less difficulty in resisting it a second time. If we maintain the independence of the natural heart, and refuse the correction of God, we shall, as did the Jews, stubbornly carry out our own purposes and ideas in the face of the plainest evidence, and shall be in danger of as great deception as came on them. In our blind infatuation we may go to as great lengths as they did, and yet flatter ourselves that we are doing work for God. Those who continue in this course will reap what they have sown. They were afforded a shelter, but they refused it. The plagues of God will fall, and He will prevent them not.” Review and Herald, July 27, 1897.

“If the worldly element is allowed to take possession of the heart, things that are not approved of God will seem right, and the religious life will be mixed with error. The perceptions will not be clear and distinct to understand the word and will of the Lord. There is danger of pursuing this course of disobedience until the wrong is gilded over, conscience is blunted, and the self-deceived one believes himself on the highway of holiness when he is on the downward road to perdition.” Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885.

“It is difficult for us to understand ourselves, to have a correct knowledge of our own characters. The Word of God is plain, but often there is an error in applying it to one’s self. There is liability to self-deception and to think its warnings and reproofs do not mean me. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ (Jeremiah 17:9). Self-flattery may be construed into Christian emotion and zeal. Self-love and confidence may give us assurance that we are right when we are far from meeting the requirements of God’s Word.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 332, (1885).

The same events that happened in Jesus’ day are to happen again by those who must have their own way and as a result deceive not only others but themselves:

“Some who profess righteousness will, like Judas, betray their Lord into the hands of His bitterest enemies. These self-confident ones, determined to have their own way and to advocate their own ideas, will go on from bad to worse, until they will pursue any course rather than to give up their own will. They will go on blindly in the way of evil, but, like the deluded Pharisees, so self-deceived that they think they are doing God’s service. Christ portrayed the course which a certain class will take when they have a chance to develop their true character: ‘And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 5, 690, 691.

Our only chance of avoiding self-deception is to become humble and teachable like a little child, casting away all pride of opinion and choosing to follow the way of the Lord with humility and patience. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 214.)

“There is danger, great danger with all men of becoming self-deceived.” Manuscript Release, vol. 13, 28.

“From the light that God has given me, I know that men’s great danger is in being self-deceived. Satan is watching his chance. He will come to men in human form, and will speak to them most entrancing words. He will bring against them the same temptations that he brought against Christ. Unless their minds and hearts are filled with the pure, unselfish, sanctified love that Christ revealed, they will fall under Satan’s power, and will do and say and write strange things, to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect.” Upward Look, 295.

We have been warned. The shaking taking place now, which will indeed intensify, was predicted and described by God’s messenger to the remnant in the most graphic terms. Unless you are a diligent student of inspired writings, unless the study of the Word of God has resulted in filling your heart with the love of Jesus and the faith of Jesus, if you are looking and trusting to the arm of flesh or anything that you can see or perceive in the flesh, not walking by faith alone, the snare will sweep you off your feet—you will be deceived with the majority and not know it until it is too late.

“Some who have been deceived by men in responsible places will repent, and be converted. And in all our dealings with them, we must remember that none of those who are in the depth of Satan’s snares know that they are there.” Battle Creek Letter, 125.

The Double Minded Man Is Unstable in All His Ways

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The Time in Which We Live

“The contest will wax more and more fierce on the part of Satan; for he is moved by a power from beneath. As the work of God’s people moves forward with sanctified, resistless energy, planting the standard of Christ’s righteousness in the church, moved by a power from the throne of God, the great controversy will wax stronger and stronger, and will become more and more determined. Mind will be arrayed against mind, plans against plans, principles of heavenly origin against principles of Satan. Truth in its varied phases will be in conflict with error in its ever-varying, increasing forms, and which, if possible, will deceive the very elect.” Testimonies to Ministers, 407.

According to this quotation, error is ever changing its form and increasing its forms. The person, whose mind is filled with truth from the throne of God, will be arrayed against the minds of those who have accepted the ever-varying and increasing forms of error. The plans in the minds of God’s people will be in opposition to the plans of others in the church who have accepted the plans of the adversary. The principles of heavenly origin will be in opposition to the principles originating with Satan. All this is described as going on in the church as we approach the end.

Since the principles of error are constantly varying and changing, they are not stable like the principles of truth. Those who accept them are not stable either, because they are constantly having to change their minds about what they believe. The truth which Adventists have accepted does not change. It is like an unfolding flower—although, as time goes on, the truth develops and is revealed more and more in its eternal beauty.

If we have been in error on some point, obviously sometime we are going to have to change our minds. But, if our minds are changing almost constantly, this is evidence that we are double-minded.

One of the main reasons that people deceive others and end up being deceived themselves is that they are double minded. We are strictly warned about this in the Bible. Let us look at the symptoms of the problem.

Symptoms and Propositions

Symptom 1: The double -minded man is the man who is bent on having his own way. He seeks to follow his own way while professing to be doing the will of God. Not only does this deceive others, eventually he is deceived himself. He really thinks when following his own way that he is doing the will of God. It took forty years of training to prepare Moses to withstand these types of problems: “It was the experience gained during the years of toil and waiting in Midian—the spirit of humility and long-suffering there developed—that prepared Moses to meet with patience the unbelief and murmuring of the people and the pride and envy of those who should have been his unswerving helpers. Moses ‘was very meek, above all men which were upon the face of the earth,’ and this is why he was granted divine wisdom and guidance above all others. Says the Scripture, ‘The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.’ Psalm 25:9. The meek are guided by the Lord, because they are teachable, willing to be instructed . . . God does not force the will of any; hence He cannot lead those who are too proud to be taught, who are bent upon having their own way. Of the double -minded man—he who seeks to follow his own will, while professing to do the will of God—it is written, ‘Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.’ James 1:7.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 384. [All emphasis supplied.]

Symptom 2: The double -minded man has two agendas in his mind. When people talk to him, sometimes he is on one agenda and sometimes on the other. Consequently, while everything he says might be absolutely the truth according to the agenda he is talking about, actually it is very deceptive. This deception eventually is manifest when the two agendas become known and are found often to be contradictory. “They are men of two minds.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 531.

Some years ago a conference minister moved to the area of a Seventh-day Adventist church which was not recognized by the conference and was therefore an independent church seeking to become sanctified and spread the Three Angels’ Messages to their community. When he explained why he had come, he said that he wanted to come and help with the work in that church. However when he talked to another worker over a 100 miles away, this same minister said that the conference president had sent him to that church to get control of it. Why was the story so different? Because there were two agendas —one public and another hidden.

Recently a number of conference ministers have issued appeals—calls to various special ministries to come back to the church—”Come back home.” These calls are most attractive to those who are mixed up about who and what the church really is. It is just as in Jesus’ day—if you did not know who the church was you most certainly would end up not being part of it. The interesting thing about these appeals is that they are sometimes addressed as from relatives of officials in the Adventist structure. These same people have confided privately that they (the structure) have an objective to destroy all independent ministries which they cannot control. Thus two distinct messages, contradictory to one another, are coming from the same people. One message is public, the other is private and hidden.

The proposed destruction will be accomplished by the double -minded upon all others who are double -minded:

Proposition 1: On the one hand those who have been determined for destruction are appealed to and flattered and an attempt is made in every possible way to win them over. Many will be won by this method.

Proposition 2: If this does not work then the power of the state is employed in an effort to silence them, and/or destroy them. How does this work today? At the very same time that apparently loving appeals are being made to come back to the structure, Historic Adventist churches are receiving threats from the very same organization. There is a double agenda—a double -mind.

Symptom 3: The double -minded man is unstable —he is constantly in the process of changing his mind, back and forth and up and down. “To be double -minded is to be unstable.” Youth’s Instructor, May 24, 1900. “They are unstable in all their ways, and cannot be depended upon.” Youth’s Instructor, February 8, 1894.

Examples of These Symptoms

Example 1: The Spirit of Prophecy made it very clear in 1893 that we were not to call Seventh-day Adventists Babylon. But, she also made it clear to the General Conference President in 1886 that we as a people could become part of Babylon. (See Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery and Divorce, 188.) Now there have been several positions taken:

Position 1: that the church has now become Babylon.

Position 2: we can become part of Babylon if we fulfill all the conditions laid down in the Spirit of Prophecy, but are not at the present time.

Position 3: that it is impossible for us as a people to ever become part of Babylon.

At Steps to Life we are convinced that the second position is the correct one and have proclaimed this position for several years in publications and sermons. We believe the Ellen White statement that we are on the track of Romanism (Testimonies to Ministers, 362) is more true now than then and that we are nearer the “city-limits” of Babylon now than then.

An interesting thing has developed in Historic Adventism. Some, having taken position number one, are proclaiming all others as heretics. They are saying that everybody must get their names off of the structure church rolls. Others, who used to do this same thing, have switched to the position that the organization they formerly called Babylon, is the true church. They are saying that everybody must belong to it or they are in danger of having their name stricken from the book of life in heaven. After saying this, if you ask them about it, they may tell you that they are still not part of the structure church!

Whenever you see a “Babylon” like this you can know that there is a problem with being double minded.

Example 2: Where do you take your converts? Some know from experience that if you bring them into a conference church in your area, that you may lose them. Others say that only baptisms into a conference church count. In plain language, who and what is the church that is founded upon a Rock that cannot be prevailed against by the powers from beneath? If you keep changing your mind, obviously you are double -minded. If you say, we are going back to the conference (“church” “home”) but a few days later you say that you are not—is this not being double -minded?

More Symptoms and Devices

Symptom 4: The double -minded man professes one thing and does another. To be more specific, he by profession deplores the work of Satan and yet enters into his devices. “Of what profit is it to say pleasant things, to deplore the works of Satan, and yet at the same time to enter into the fulfillment of all his devices? This is being double -minded.” Youth’s Instructor, February 15, 1894. What are some of Satan’s devices?

Device 1: Blaming others and justifying ourselves.
“The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies; it was indulged by our first parents as soon as they yielded to the influence of Satan, and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Instead of humbly confessing their sins, they try to shield themselves by casting the blame upon others, upon circumstances, or upon God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 58.

“The very thing that gained for Satan the sympathy of one-third of the angels in heaven, was this spirit of self-justification. The angels were deceived by Satan’s misrepresentations and by his artful power of accusing those who would not unite with him. Satan has kept up this work ever since his fall, and he has large numbers of men and women who follow in the very steps he has taken, until they fall from the truth, give up their steadfastness, and stand on Satan’s side, as accusers, criticizing others.” Manuscript Release, vol. 18, 324, 325.

We are all in a world of temptation, “let no one feel . . . that he makes no mistakes.” Counsels on Health, 244. The problem is not so much that we make mistakes, but rather when we do make them, do we take responsibility? Or, do we instead accuse others, trying to cast the blame on some other minister or worker or ministry or on “the constituency” or on the Historic Adventists worldwide or on some conference or the general conference or some other scapegoat?

Device 2: Deception.

In the effort to cause good to happen to ourselves by self-justification and blaming others, inevitably we will sooner or later be caught up in deception. We may have proclaimed to all that we are transparent in all our actions, etc., but an attempt to justify self and blame others will always end up in a crooked course of action. Not only will others be deceived but we will deceive ourselves by this course.

Symptom 5: Instead of going to God for unerring, stable counsel, the double -minded man seeks counsel from man—he is controlled by men instead of God. Because of this he is never comfortable unless there is a coalition of people working together. Consequently, it is only through human association and groups that he can feel safe and comfortable. If things do not work out in one group, he is forced to seek some other group to be a part of so that he feels safe, secure and comfortable. If the home church is not big enough, he must go to some other church (no matter what is being taught) because he is not comfortable except in a group. ” ‘A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ God calls upon His people now to consecrate all their powers to His service. He would have every household become a home-church . . . None are to place themselves under the guidance of human beings; for God has not ordained this. He bids us look to One and depend upon One who understands our needs, and is able to supply them from His abundant fullness.” Australia Union Record, October 14, 1907.

Symptom 6: The double -minded man has not a personal spiritual foundation—he walks in the light of another’s torch. Why do you believe what you believe? Some people believe what they believe because that is what they were taught by their Bible teacher or by the evangelist they trained under or by some theologian, etc. All these people may know the truth, but you must know the truth for yourself, not just what somebody else believes, or you will not endure through the shaking. “Many of those who profess the truth have received it because some one else did, and for their life they could not give the reason of their faith. This is why they are so unstable. Instead of weighing their motives in the light of eternity, instead of obtaining a practical knowledge of the principles underlying all their actions, instead of digging down to the bottom and building upon a right foundation for themselves, they are walking in the light of another’s torch, and will surely fail.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 196.

Symptom 7: The double -minded man deals in man-made tests. “Men will arise speaking perverse things . . . bringing sacred truth upon a level with common things . . . The devisings of men’s minds will invent tests that are no tests at all, that when the true test shall be made prominent, it shall be considered on a par with the man-made tests that have been of no value.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1064.

Popular Man-Made Tests

Test 1: You must have your name on the conference church book or your name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Test 2: You must address God by Hebrew names.

Test 3: You must profess faith in and give your tithe and all your financial support to ______organization or you will be accounted as robbing God.

Test 4: “The Lord gave me this impression (or “sign”) and therefore I know this is the Lord’s will.” Some people can tell you of many signs and impressions they have received and multitudes have followed these undependable tests. Some stupendous mistakes have been made by Adventists because they have depended on “signs” and “impressions.”

“Whenever I have been called to meet fanaticism in its varied forms, I have received clear, positive, and definite instruction to lift my voice against its influence. With some the evil has revealed itself in the form of man-made tests for ascertaining a knowledge of the will of God; and I was shown that this was a delusion which became an infatuation, and that it is contrary to the will of the Lord. If we follow such methods, we shall be found aiding the enemy’s plans. In times past certain among the believers had great faith in the setting of signs by which to decide their duty. Some had such confidence in these signs that men went so far as to exchange wives, thus bringing adultery into the church.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 28.

“I have no faith in casting lots. We have in the Bible a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in regard to all church duties . . . Read your Bibles with much prayer. Do not try to humble others, but humble yourselves before God, and deal gently with one another. To cast lots for the officers of the church is not in God’s order.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1054.

“Will it furnish us with experiences that will glorify God, for us to decide what is His will by the dropping of a card or a coin, and observing how it falls? No, no. Such tests as this will spoil the religious experience of the one who adopts them. Everyone who depends upon such things for guidance, needs to be reconverted.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 327.

“Being nothing more than a matter of chance, the influence of adopting such tests regarding duty is calculated to lead the mind to depend on chance and guesswork, when all our work and plans for work should be established on the sure foundation of the Word of God.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 325.

More Symptoms

Symptom 8: The double -minded man speaks evil of his brethren who will not be turned from the truth to his present opinion. He will call them all sorts of names and epithets such as schismatic, “ignorant of theology or history,” divisive, back-biters, wishy-washy, filled with hatred against him—in short he blames his troubles on his brethren who do not agree with him about this or that.

“Satan is at the head of fallen principalities and powers, and is the ruler of the darkness of this world. Day and night he is plotting against God and against those who are seeking to obey the truth. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and makes darkness appear as light, and light as darkness; and he seeks continually to lead unstable souls to unite with him in thinking evil and in speaking evil of those who will not be turned from the truth. He is described in the Scriptures as a liar, a destroyer, a tormentor, an accuser, a murderer, and it will not be difficult to discern on which side a soul is fighting, or under what leadership he is moving, if he is found accusing and condemning others. If men and women have been placed so that they have gained influence, and they use that influence to further Satan’s designs, they are uniting with the great adversary and apostate.” Review and Herald, December 11, 1894.

Symptom 9: The double -minded man says anything that comes into his mind. He strongly advocates something and then strongly advocates just the opposite and then denies what he formerly advocated.

Where do you believe I should go to church? Oh, I believe that you should go to a home church. A few weeks later when you ask the same question you are told that if you do not have your name on the conference list then it probably is not in the book of life. With vehemence you are first told that you must not be a part of the conference churches but then with the same vehemence you are later told that you must be. Why? There is a double -mind.

To a double -minded minister Ellen White wrote as follows: “When a man gives evidence that he is sound in principle, when he is of good repute among those where he is best known, when his character is one whose influence will be Christ-like, he should be admitted to fellowship and confidence without hesitancy. But he whose works show him to be unstable, who says one thing and does the very opposite, is careless of his words and influence, bringing out of his heart the evil things lurking there, such a one will profane both men and God. He will say anything that comes into his mind, whether he knows it to be falsehood or truth. There is a mixture of good and bad in his character, and he speaks just as he feels without studying the influence his words must have upon those who believe him to be a true minister of the gospel. They have heard him speak as Christ’s ambassador, and therefore they will either regard his sins lightly or their confidence in him as a devoted servant of Christ will be destroyed. The minister of Christ should be circumspect, he should understand human nature.” Pamphlets #28 Testimonies on the case of Elder E.P. Daniels.

“One day you will stand in the pulpit and strongly advocate the testimonies which God has sent to his people; in a few days, if you feel like it, you do your best to unsettle faith in them, among those with whom you associate; and then in a day or two you are advocating the testimonies again. Now, my brother, are you anchored anywhere, or are you not more like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro, unstable, unreliable, moved not by principle, but by emotion? Will not your work be of the same character? Will it not ravel out? Both you and your wife are under the reproof of God. What are you going to do about it? Will you draw nigh to God? Will you set your own house in order? Will you unitedly make earnest work for eternity? Or will you throw down the yoke of Jesus, refuse to lift his burdens, and choose to be independent, perverse, willful, uncontrollable? . . . You often deny what you have said or done.” Pamphlets #96 Testimonies on the case of Elder E.P. Daniels.

Ellen White was forced to consider workers’ past experience and how this past experience had molded the mind and judgment when making decisions about trusting a person in the future. She wrote concerning one such double -minded worker whom she refused to re-accept for employment: “This past experience has given a mold to the thoughts, and has fashioned the mind and judgment. I can see no safety in trusting the matter the Lord shall give me in the hands of one of such unstable, unreliable developments of character that a balance wheel is needed constantly, else she will be running off on a side track where Satan may choose to lead the way. Fannie is so wrapped up in her own exalted estimation of herself that any contrary influence that has been brought to bear upon her mind meets with a resistance that is according to the attributes of the enemy. The surroundings, the impulses, give tone and character to the whole life. There are too large and important interests at stake in this matter to be lightly imperiled. Should I consent that Fannie remain in connection with the work, there would be a constant burden of foreboding upon me, for these elements of character are not easily changed.” Manuscript Release, 926.

We have been given similar counsel in preparing for the time of trouble: “Before the great trouble shall come upon the world such as has never been since there was a nation, those who have faltered and who would ignorantly lead in unsafe paths will reveal this before the real vital test, the last proving comes, so that whatsoever they may say will not be regarded as voicing the True Shepherd. The time of our educating will soon be over. We have no time to lose in walking through clouds of doubt and uncertainty because of uncertain voices.” 1888 Materials, 1002.

Two Very Different Reformation Characters

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As Protestantism began to fight and win spiritual battles, it became clear that, given only a few years, Protestantism’s victory would be so complete that any opposing power would fight vainly to win the battle; for a new light was shining and a new life was stirring the souls of men. Schools of learning, pure churches and free nations were rising up in different parts of Europe. It was clear that armies would never overthrow this flourishing power. A new weapon must be forged and other armies mustered to succeed where the powers of emperors and kings had failed. “It was now that the Jesuit corps was embodied. And it must be confessed that these new soldiers did more than all the armies of France and Spain to stem the tide of Protestant success, and bind victory once more to the banners of Rome.” Wylie, History of Protestantism, book 15, 377.

Ignatius Loyola

Don Inigo Lopez de Recalde, the Ignatius Loyola of history, was the founder of the Order of Jesus, or the Jesuits. His birth was near the same time as that of Luther. He was born to one of the highest Spanish families in his father’s castle, in Loyola, during the time of the wars with the Moors. He was an ardent man who caught a religious fervor and longed to distinguish himself in battle. He was wounded severely in both legs while attempting a defense of a besieged garrison. His bravery won the respect of the foe who carried him to a hospital and saved him from bleeding to death.

During his confinement he first read tales of war, but when these were finished, legends of the saints were brought to his couch. As he read of martyrs, monks and hermits, and of the conquests they achieved, he panted to rival these heroes whose battles were so pure and bright compared to the battlefield which he had known. “His enthusiasm and ambition were as boundless as ever, but now they were directed into a new channel . . . The change was a sudden violent one, and drew after it vast consequences not to Ignatius only, and the men of his age, but to millions of the human race in all countries of the world, and in all the ages that have elapsed since.” Ibid., 380.

He determined to be a knight for Mary and so he took his armaments to her shrine at Montserrat and laid them before her image. He next gave up his fine clothing and put on the filthy rags of a monk and with uncombed hair and untrimmed nails he lived in a cave near Manressa for some time. He fasted for days and underwent penances and mortifications, battling evil spirits and talking to voices heard only by him, until he was found at the mouth of the cave half dead and was carried to the town of Manressa. He spent seven hours each day on his knees and scourged himself three times a day. He planned a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and his efforts were to cleanse himself in preparation for it. His revelations included a vision of the Savior, in the Host, at mass. What further evidence did he need for proof of transubstantiation? The Virgin revealed herself to him, he believed, not fewer than thirty times.

Visions Above the Bible

There is some similarity in the early experiences of Luther and Ignatius. Both had set before them a high standard of holiness and had nearly sacrificed life to achieve it, but their pursuits led in different directions. Luther turned to the Bible for relief of his sufferings while Ignatius gave himself up wholly to visions and revelations. “It required no aid from Scripture, it was based on the belief he entertained of an immediate connection between himself and the world of spirits. This would never have satisfied Luther . . . He would have the simple, written, indubitable Word of God alone.” Ibid., 381.

Feeling that he needed better qualifications to battle Protestantism, at age thirty-five, he enrolled in school and learned Latin and then transferred to another institution to study theology. He began to preach and drew followers. This excited the notice of the Inquisition and he was arrested, but freed with a warning to hold his peace when they found no heretical bias in him.

He next moved from Spain to Paris and enrolled as a student in the College of St. Barbara. His stay in Paris coincides with a period of great religious excitement. He witnessed the time of Louis de Berquin’s martyrdom.

Louis de Berquin

“Louis de Berquin was of noble birth. A brave and courtly knight, he was devoted to study, polished in manners, and of blameless morals. ‘He was,’ says a writer, ‘a great follower of the papistical constitutions, and a great hearer of masses and sermons; . . . and he crowned all his other virtues by holding Lutheranism in special abhorrence.’ But, like so many others, providentially guided to the Bible, he was amazed to find there, ‘not the doctrines of Rome, but the doctrines of Luther.’—Wylie, book 13, chap. 9. Henceforth he gave himself with entire devotion to the cause of the gospel.

“‘The most learned of the nobles of France,’ his genius and eloquence, his indomitable courage and heroic zeal, and his influence at court,—for he was a favorite with the king,— caused him to be regarded by many as one destined to be the Reformer of his country . . . They [the Romanists] thrust him into prison as a heretic, but he was set at liberty by the king. For years the struggle continued. Francis, wavering between Rome and the Reformation, alternately tolerated and restrained the fierce zeal of the monks. Berquin was three times imprisoned by the papal authorities, only to be released by the monarch, who, in admiration of his genius and his nobility of character, refused to sacrifice him to the malice of the hierarchy . . .

“So far from adopting the politic and self-serving counsel of Erasmus, he determined upon still bolder measures. He would not only stand in defense of the truth, but he would attack error. The charge of heresy which the Romanists were seeking to fasten upon him, he would rivet upon them. The most active and bitter of his opponents were the learned doctors and monks of the theological department in the great University of Paris, one of the highest ecclesiastical authorities both in the city and the nation. From the writings of these doctors, Berquin drew twelve propositions which he publicly declared to be ‘opposed to the Bible, and heretical;’ and he appealed to the king to act as judge in the controversy.

“The monarch, not loath to bring into contrast the power and acuteness of the opposing champions, and glad of an opportunity of humbling the pride of these haughty monks, bade the Romanists defend their cause by the Bible. This weapon, they well knew, would avail them little; imprisonment, torture, and the stake were arms which they better understood how to wield. Now the tables were turned, and they saw themselves about to fall into the pit into which they had hoped to plunge Berquin. In amazement they looked about them for some way of escape.

“‘Just at that time an image of the Virgin at the corner of one of the streets, was mutilated.’ There was great excitement in the city. Crowds of people flocked to the place, with expressions of mourning and indignation. The king also was deeply moved. Here was an advantage which the monks could turn to good account, and they were quick to improve it. ‘These are the fruits of the doctrines of Berquin,’ they cried. ‘All is about to be overthrown—religion, the laws, the throne itself—by this Lutheran conspiracy.’ Ibid., book 13, chap. 9.

Berquin Martyred

“Again Berquin was apprehended. The king withdrew from Paris, and the monks were thus left free to work their will. The Reformer was tried and condemned to die, and lest Francis should even yet interpose to save him, the sentence was executed on the very day it was pronounced. At noon Berquin was conducted to the place of death. An immense throng gathered to witness the event, and there were many who saw with astonishment and misgiving that the victim had been chosen from the best and bravest of the noble families of France. Amazement, indignation, scorn, and bitter hatred darkened the faces of that surging crowd; but upon one face no shadow rested. The martyr’s thoughts were far from that scene of tumult; he was conscious only of the presence of his Lord.

“The wretched tumbrel upon which he rode, the frowning faces of his persecutors, the dreadful death to which he was going—these he heeded not; He who liveth and was dead, and is alive for evermore, and hath the keys of death and of hell, was beside him. Berquin’s countenance was radiant with the light and peace of heaven. He had attired himself in goodly raiment, wearing ‘a cloak of velvet, a doublet of satin and damask, and golden hose.’ D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, book 2, chap. 16. He was about to testify to his faith in the presence of the King of kings and the witnessing universe, and no token of mourning should belie his joy.

“As the procession moved slowly through the crowded streets, the people marked with wonder the unclouded peace, and joyous triumph, of his look and bearing. ‘He is,’ they said, ‘like one who sits in a temple, and meditates on holy things.’ Wylie, book 13, chap. 9.

“At the stake, Berquin endeavored to address a few words to the people; but the monks, fearing the result, began to shout, and the soldiers to clash their arms, and their clamor drowned the martyr’s voice. Thus in 1529 the highest literary and ecclesiastical authority of cultured Paris ‘set the populace of 1793 the base example of stifling on the scaffold the sacred words of the dying.’ Ibid., book 13, chap. 9.

“Berquin was strangled, and his body was consumed in the flames. The tidings of his death caused sorrow to the friends of the Reformation throughout France. But his example was not lost. ‘We, too, are ready,’ said the witnesses for the truth, ‘to meet death cheerfully, setting our eyes on the life that is to come.’ D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, book 2, chap. 16.” The Great Controversy, 215–219.

The Society of Jesus

Ignatius Loyola began to attract devoted followers who he put through a rigid course of discipline.”Thus it was that he mortified their pride, taught them to despise wealth, schooled them to brave danger and contemn luxury, and inured them to cold, hunger, and toil; in short, he made them dead to every passion save that of the ‘Holy War’ in which they were to bear arms.” Wylie, History of Protestantism, book 15, 383.

To foster the more rapid growth of his forces, Loyola prepared his book entitled Spiritual Exercises which was a skillful imitation of the process of conviction, of alarm, of enlightenment,and of peace which the Bible calls conversion. The one who participates in the exercises during the four week course, is indeed changed, as if by a miracle. However, he does not find a Savior to lean on; he finds a rule by which he works, and works as methodically and regularly as a piece of machinery. “There are few more remarkable books in the world. It combines the self-denial and mortifications of the Brahmin with the asceticism of the anchorite, and the ecstasies of the schoolmen. It professes, like the Koran, to be a revelation.” Ibid., 384.

In August of 1534, his little army of nine followers joined him for mass at the Church of Montmartre, in Paris. They took a solemn oath to dedicate their lives and services to the Pope. Following their solemn oath, the little army proceeded to Rome. In Rome, Loyola at last found recognition as his new order was given approval by Pope Paul III. Its rules and constitution were drafted and approved and the new order was named The Company of Jesus since Ignatius claimed to have received their constitution by revelation, in the cave at Manressa, directly from Christ. His name they should bare. The date of the papal bull giving formal existence to the order was 1540. Ignatius Loyola became the first General of the order.

The Constitutions were declared a revelation from God and yet their contents were secret. Each General has power to add to them and there are many volumes. The powers of the General are vast. He acts without control of any other body, without responsibility to anyone, and without law. From his orders there is no appeal even to the Pope. His powers are absolute. Through the hierarchy of the Jesuit structure, he has a network of information gathering, regarding everything of interest to their plans, from an intimate knowledge of each member to the secrets of governments.

Enrollment in the Society of Jesus is allowed only after undergoing a severe and long-continued course of training. At the successful completion of the course and, after being closely watched, tested and noted, the member promises absolute obedience to the General.

Moral Code of the Jesuits

Loyola sent forth his men fully equipped to prosecute the war against Protestantism. He gave them the Institutions. “They were set free from every obligation, whether imposed by the natural or Divine law.” Ibid., 393. They were cut off from their country as they vowed to go wherever they were sent and to give allegiance to a sovereign higher than the monarch of any nation—their General. They were cut off from family and friends. They were cut off from wealth and property since they must give everything that they might inherit to the society. “Nay, more, the Jesuits were cut off even from the Pope. For if their General ‘held the place of the Omnipotent God,’ much more did he hold the place of ‘his Vicar’. . .

“They were a Papacy within a Papacy—a Papacy whose organization was more perfect, whose instincts were more cruel, whose workings were more mysterious, and whose dominion was more destructive than that of the old Papacy.” Ibid. 394.

They supplied themselves with their own ethical code which allowed them exemption from all human authority and from every earthly law as well as from the law of God. “The keynote of their ethical code is the famous maxim that the end sanctifies the means . . . There are no conceivable crime, villainy, and atrocity which this maxim will not justify.” Ibid.

Regicide and Murder

“The lawfulness of killing excommunicated, that is Protestant, kings, the Jesuit writers have been at great pains to maintain.” Ibid., 398. The society was first banished from France, as a society detestable and diabolical, from the evidence of papers written by the Jesuit Guignard, a Professor of Divinity, which supported the murder of Henry III and maintained that the same should be done to Henry IV.

The track of the Jesuits may be traced in every country in Europe by their bloody foot-prints. Henry III and Henry IV both fell by their dagger. The King of Portugal dies by their order. The great Prince of Orange is dispatched by their agent, shot down at the door of his own dining room. There were many attempts to murder Elizabeth and yet she escaped. Clement XIV, the Pope who tried to banish the order was poisoned. The Gunpowder Plot, the St. Bartholomew massacre, and the “Invincible Armada” is associated with the Jesuits. “What a harvest of plots, tumults, seditions, revolutions, torturings, poisonings, assassinations, regicides, and massacres has Christendom reaped. Nor can we be sure that we have yet seen the last and the greatest of their crimes.” Ibid., 399.

Thank You For Your Help For the Work in Ghana !

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The plans to help our brothers and sisters in Ghana were entered into after prayer and communication with missionaries and local people who had worked there for years. Although the evidence indicated that at present this was the best place where we could help the work in Africa go forward, this work from the beginning faced much opposition from almost every quarter. (The reason that we believed Ghana was the best place to begin, was that God’s faithful people there had a church organization that was based on the New Testament model. This developed after much trouble and trial as well as Bible-study, over a twenty year period.) In fact, it was opposition to the work in Ghana that partially influenced a disruption with some staff right at Steps to Life. It was then predicted that the poor people in Ghana would be disappointed because promises had been made that would not be realized. Rumors have been sent all over the country and attempts have been made to get accusations against the orphans and the orphanage. This of course would stop support for the project. In the midst of all this opposition, we never knew from one month to the next where support would come for either the orphanage or for Steps to Life to continue sponsoring the project, since so many false accusations were being made.

At the same time we could not fail to see their desperate need for a means to communicate the gospel more effectively. We believed in spite of the frailty of our humanity it would be a dishonor to the Lord for us to quit as long as the Lord held the door open for us to help them with the work. What has happened, as you can see from the above article and picture, we believe to be a result of God’s great grace. It would never have happened with the amount of opposition against it, except that the Lord worked a miracle. We believe that there will be a multitude of these people in heaven and we want to have that unity and harmony with them for which Christ prayed in John 17. We also want to be in unity and harmony with God’s children all over the world and are praying for those who want to be our enemies —we want unity and harmony with them too. We want to have perfect unity and harmony with you too, brother or sister —we absolutely must have it if we are going to heaven together. Any and all wrongs must be made right and we must all be heart to heart together.

Many things have been learned from the work in Ghana. One thing is that great progress cannot occur for God’s work in any city or country until there is New Testament church organization. Is your home church organized according to the New Testament? (See Acts of the Apostles,

155–165, 188–200, 593–602.) New Testament church organization is not hierarchical and no hierarchical organization is in harmony with the New Testament. There are several other countries in Africa asking for help. We hope that Ghana will become a center for giving the Third Angels’ Message to all the English-speaking countries in Africa. If we can become unified, as the Lord is calling for, the work in Africa and in other countries could receive help and be finished quickly.

One of the ways that there has been an attempt to stop the Ghana projects is by false accusations that Steps to Life was in some way dishonest or not accountable with finances. We have had full financial audits for the last two years. We have also had accounting reviews by an independent accounting firm for the two years previous to that. Anyone who is supporting God’s work at Steps to Life is welcome to come to our office and look at either our audited statements or our books.

We are receiving increasing calls for help from many parts of the world. We have no way to help all these people except as the Lord through His Holy Spirit impresses His true and faithful people to help finish the work all over the world. Please join us in prayer for divine instruction and assistance that the work can be finished quickly. Don’t you want to go home soon too?

Editorial — Press Together

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“Press together, press together; that you may not be destroyed as were the inhabitants of Jerusalem . . . Persecution is coming, and God calls upon all to stand firm in Christian love,their hearts knit together, of one mind and one judgment. His people are to cleave to Him, and they are to love one another as He has loved them. Christ’s life is to be their example. In love, in meekness, in humility, they are to follow Him.” Signs of the Times, October 31, 1900.

This inspired statement shows that we must press together or be destroyed as the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The destruction of Jerusalem is a symbol of what will happen to the whole world at the end. In spite of this inspired counsel, we see more division and unsanctified independence in Adventism today than ever before. The devil is determined that this unity will never be accomplished.

“Satan well knows that the combined strength of Satanic agencies with that of evil men is but weakness when opposed to a band of faithful, united servants of the great King, though in number they may be few. In order to overcome the people of God, Satan will work upon the elements in the character which have not been transformed by the grace of Christ, and through these unsanctified characteristics, he will seek to bring about disunion among the people of God. Unless these persons who become agents of Satan are converted, their own souls will be lost, and the souls of those who have looked up to them as men led of God will be destroyed with them, because they are partakers with them of their sins. Satan endeavors to create suspicion, envy, and jealousy, and thus lead men to question those things that it would be for their soul’s interest to believe. The suspicious ones will misconstrue everything . . . and if this spirit is allowed to prevail, it will demoralize our churches and institutions.” Review and Herald, May 14, 1895.

Is not this prophecy fulfilled all around us? To fulfill the longing of Christ as expressed in John 17 that God’s people might not be totally destroyed, we must press together and come into perfect unity. We must unify in the way God has specified or we will never have true Christian unity: “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. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth.” Selected Messages,book 3, 412. “Christ calls for unity. But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices.” Selected Messages, book 1, 175.

“The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines. He calls sin and impenitence by the right name. He does not gloss over wrongdoing with a coat of untempered mortar. I urge our brethren to unify upon a true, scriptural basis.” Selected Messages, book 1, 175. “We are to unify, but not on a platform of error.” Battle Creek Letters, 111. “Unify, unify is the word from heaven. The work of bringing about perfect harmony cannot be done in a moment. It will take close examination and careful study on the part of those who bear responsibilities. Not a selfish thread is to be drawn into the web.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 149.

If we are united to Christ, we will be united to one another. When this happens, the church on earth will be a symbol of the church in heaven. “It is those who are not worked by the Holy Spirit that mar God’s plan. Another spirit takes possession of them, and they help to strengthen the forces of darkness. Those who are sanctified by the precious blood of Christ will not become the means of counter working the great plan which God has devised. They will not do anything to perpetuate division.” The Kress Collection, 17.

We want to invite every Historic Seventh-day Adventist person and institution to pray for unity
and to press together. This is no time for independence; it is time for the prayer of Jesus in John 17 to be fulfilled. It will never be fulfilled among those professed Adventists who have essentially rejected the Spirit of Prophecy and who do not believe in the investigative judgment and the other truths of the Three Angels’ Messages. It will never happen to those who are willing to compromise with error or who are unwilling to protest the apostasy. It will never happen to those who reject the New Testament concept of the nature of the church. It can only happen among Historic Seventh-day Adventists. Will you be part of it?

Destruction of the French Protestants

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“Henry IV had adjured his mother’s faith, in the hope of thereby purchasing from Rome the sure tenure of his crown and the peaceful possession of his kingdom. He fancied that he had got what he bargained for; and being, as he supposed, firmly seated on the throne, he was making prodigious efforts to lift France out of the abyss in which he had found her.” Wylie 309, 310. The so called “civil wars” which were in fact crusades by the government against the Protestants, had left the nation scarred. Henry IV had gone far to efface these frightful traces and to rid the nation of debt. He had, however, also formed political alliances with Protestant nations and was preparing to go to war against the House of Austria, a strong Catholic force. “His heretical foreign policy excited a suspicion that although he was outwardly a Roman Catholic, he was at heart a Huguenot. In a moment, a Hand was stretched forth from the darkness, and all was changed.” Ibid. The dagger of Ravaillac, the monk, brought him and his policy to an end.

His eight year old son, Louis XIII, succeeded him on the throne and Parliament immediately made his mother, Maria de Medici, regent. “Maria de Medici lacked the talent of her famous predecessor, Catherine de Medici, but she possessed all her treachery, bigotry, and baseness. She was a profound believer in witchcraft, and guided the vessel of the State by her astrological calculations. When divination failed her she had recourse to the advice of the Pope’s nuncio, of the Spanish ambassador, and of Concini, a man of obscure birth from her native city of Florence.” Ibid., When Louis XIII grew a few years older he hoped to break his bonds, so he banished his mother to Blois and hired assassins to rid him of Concini. Soon he was under the influence of a favorite, equally worthless. With the court caught up in intrigue and blood, the nobles retired to their estates and lived like independent kings and awaited the civil broils yet to come on their unhappy land.

Evil Tidings

There were many signs to warn the Huguenot of the sure approach of evil times. One was the reversal of the foreign policy of Henry IV. Louis XIII disconnected himself from his father’s allies, and joined himself to his father’ enemies by a double marriage. He took the hand of the Spanish Infanta and his sister he offered to the Prince of Austria. This renewed influence of Rome and Spain, once more in France, boded of persecution and war, and some reported that the price of this double alliance was the suppression of heresy.

The court continued to speak soft words to the Protestants but the priests wanted all of the rights gained by the Edict of Nantes to be abrogated one by one. There were still voices calling for toleration, but the clergy was ever reminding those who voiced such opinions that the king had taken an oath to exterminate heretics. Parliament was told that “all treaties sworn to the Huguenot were provisional; in other words, that it was the duty of Government always to persecute and slay Protestants, except in one case—namely, when it was not able to do it.” Ibid., 311.

War was not long in coming. First the king placed himself at the head of an army whose mission was to retake the territory of Lower Navarre and Bearn in the mountains of the Pyrenees, the hereditary kingdom of Jeanne dAlbret. This kingdom was one of the most flourishing in all of Christendom and was nine-tenths Protestant. A decree was issued giving all of the ecclesiastical property to the Romish clergy. The Jesuit Arnoux, the King’s confessor, reasoned that since this property belonged to God it could not be lawfully held by any but his priests. The Bearnese were not silent but the King’s army forced their submission to the reestablishment of the Popish religion by use of the cudgel, the dagger and a multitude of violences. This was the first of the dragonnades which were repeated afterwards in France at large.

The Protestant now divided France into eight circles and appointed a governor over each with the power to impose taxes, raise armies, and engage in battle. The majority, however, opposed hostilities and determined to fight only in self-defense. The pope and cardinals came to the King’s aid with 1,400,000 crowns to defray war expenses. In the battles that followed, the king was very successful. The Protestants lost all but two of their cautionary towns: La Rochelle and Montauban.

Cardinal Richelieu

The queen-mother introduced Cardinal Richelieu to the council-table of her son and the cardinal quickly rose to the top place. “He put down every rival, became the master of his sovereign, and governed France as he pleased.” Ibid., 316. He was a man of great schemes with genius and activity to carry them out. He resolved to make the throne a greater power in France and to break the power of the nobles. He also sought to reduce the Austrian power and was dear to the anger and alarm his policy awakened in Rome. But he felt that before he could accomplish any of these projects he must first subdue the Huguenot, for their political rights were an obstacle in his path.

He determined to strike a fatal blow at La Rochelle. He saw this city as a symbol of the political and religious power of the Huguenot. Richelieu raised vast land and naval armaments and besieged the city in 1627. He raised a dike to close the channel to the sea and prevent help from that route. Attempts by the Duke of Rohan to raise an army of Huguenot to come to the aid of their brethren in La Rochelle fell on deaf ears. After fifteen months of siege, with two-thirds of the population dead from starvation and battle, the city surrendered. The Huguenot fell as a political power in France. All ancient privileges were annulled. Cardinal Richelieu put off his armaments, washed his hands and sang the first mass to reestablish the Roman Catholic religion in the city.

The Roman Catholic nobles had assisted Richelieu in putting down the Huguenot. Now they found that they had cleared the way for their own suppression. “It was the design of God to humble one class of his enemies by the instrumentality of another, and so Richielieu prospered in all he undertook. He weakened the emperor; he mightily raised the prestige of the French arms, and he made the throne the one power in the kingdom.” Ibid., 320 Having succeeded in all of his goals and having triumphed over all attempts to end his life by assassination, he held power until his death. “The cardinal first, and six months after, the king, were both stricken, in the mid-time of their days and in the height of their career. They returned to their dust, and that day their thoughts perished.” Ibid.

“We have now arrived at the end of the religious wars. What has France gained by her vast expenditure of blood and treasure? Peace? No; despotism. The close of the reign of Louis XIII shows us the nobles and the mob crushed in their turn, and the throne rising in autocratic supremacy above all rights and classes. One class, however, is exempted from the general serfdom. The Church shares the triumph of the throne. The hand of a priest has been laid upon the helm of the State, and the king and the clergy together sway the destinies of a prostrate people. This ill-omened alliance is destined to continue—for, though one cardinal minister is dead, another is about to take his place—and the tyranny which has grown out of it is destined to go on, adding year by year to its own prerogatives and the people’s burdens, until its existence and exactions shall terminate together by the arrival of the Revolution, which will mingle all four—the throne, the priesthood, the aristocracy, and the commonality—in one common ruin.” Ibid.

Cardinal Mazarin

Louis XIV, a child of four and a half years, is now king. His mother, Anne of Austria is sole regent and she calls upon Richelieu’s disciple Cardinal Mazarin to aid as prime minister. His work was to keep all that Richelieu had won and this was no easy matter. “Extravagance created debts; debts necessitated new taxes; the taxes were felt to be grievous burdens by the people. First murmurs were heard; then, finally, insurrection broke out.” Ibid., 321. In this War of the Fronde, the nobles and the mob were not successful in throwing off the yoke, however, the troubles of the country were a shield for a time over the small remnant of Protestantism which had been spared in France.

Shut out from political activity, the Protestants transferred their talents and activity to the pursuits of agriculture, of trade, and of manufactures where they excelled. In agriculture the crops of the Huguenot seemed to produce seven fold, in manufacture their craft and skill made them superior, in trade their honesty, especially in contrast to the doubtful integrity of the Catholics, placed almost all foreign trade in their hands. Protestants took a foremost place among the learned physicians, the great lawyers, and the illustrious orators of France. As a religious body, they were under constant threat of extermination and so their courage and zeal for building up their churches was weak. They were weak. Despite spiritual decay in French Protestantism as a whole, there were still individual Protestants whose names and labors drew the attention of Europe and French Protestant literature blossomed in the stormy seventeenth century.

Mazarin succeeded in war, not only against his own citizens but also in war against Spain and Austria, humbling both and transferring to France their political and military preponderance. It is interesting to note “that two princes of the Roman Catholic Church were employed in weakening a power which was the main support of that Church, and in paving the way for that great Revolution which was to reverse the position of all the kingdoms of Europe, striping the Papal nations of their power, and lifting up the Protestant kingdoms to supremacy.” Ibid., 327. Mazarin prospered in his plans but like Richelieu he died before he could enjoy the fruits of his anxious labors.

Louis XIV

When the death of Mazarin, Louis XIV, who had been on the throne for eighteen years, now began to govern. He told his ministers that they were to give council only and he would reign as he pleased. Seldom has a monarch had more power. His own well-known words express it— “The State, it is I.” He was the sole master of the rights, liberties, and consciences of his subjects. His reign would be either a source of blessing or of far-reaching misery.

“The error of Louis XIV, as a man, was his love of pleasure. He lived in open and unrestrained licentiousness. This laid him at the feet of his confessor, and sank him into a viler vassalage than that of the meanest vassal in all his dominions. The ‘Great’ Louis, the master of a mighty kingdom, whose will was law to the millions who called him their sovereign, trembled before a man with a shaven crown. From the feet of his confessor he went straight to the commission of new sins; from these he came back to the priest, who was ready with fresh penances, which, alas! Were but sins in a more hideous form. A more miserable and dreadful life there never was. Guilt was piled upon guilt, remorse upon remorse, till at length life was passed, and the great reckoning was in view.” Ibid., 327.

Since the penances imposed by the King’s confessor often involved treachery against the Protestants, conditions of the Huguenot became worse from the moment Mazarin breathed his last and Louis XIV began to reign. Throughout his reign his policy toward the Protestants was to work toward their extinction and to revoke the Edict of Nantes. His first act in this line was to send out commissioners two by two—one Protestant and one Catholic—into all of the provinces to hear grievances and settle quarrels. In every case they found for the Catholics and against the Protestants. Next came a decree against “Relapsed Heretics.” This enabled the state to seize and bring to tribunals any person who entered a Protestant church if they had ever at any time in their life had any relationship with the Catholic church or given any suspicion of having leanings toward Catholicism. Other ordinances authorized a priest and a magistrate to visit every dying person and urge them to join Catholicism on their death bed. Children could adjure Protestantism at the age of seven and their parents were required to pay for their maintenance under a Catholic roof. Spies haunted Protestant sermons and any minister who spoke a word against the Virgin or any saint was indicted for blasphemy. Protestants were excluded from all public office and from the practice of law or medicine and in fact from all of the professions. They were forbidden to sing psalms nor could they bury their dead except before dawn and at the edge of night and not more than ten mourners could attend a burial. But the priests declared that more must be done to cause this “formidable monster of heresy to expire completely.” Under this tyranny Protestants began to flee from their native land.

Persecutions heightened. New ordinances and arrests struck the Protestants. Protestants could only print books with permission; worship had to be suspended if a bishop was visiting; their domestic privacy was invaded and parental rights were violated; their temples were demolished. “But perhaps the most extraordinary means employed was the creation of a fund for the purchase of conscience.” Pellison, a former Calvinist, was in charge of this office which had clerks and books and “daily published lists of articles purchased, these articles being the bodies and souls of men…The daily lists of adjurations amounted to many hundreds; but those who closely examined the names said that the majority were knaves, or persons who, finding conversion profitable, thought it not enough to be once, but a dozen times converted.” Ibid., 329

“Louis XIV was now verging on old age, but his bigotry grew with his years…No fitter tool than Louis XIV could the Jesuits have found. His Spanish mother had educated him not to hesitate at scruples, but to go forward without compunction to the perpetration of enormous crimes.” He now fell under the influence of Madame de Maintenon the granddaughter of the Protestant historian Agrippa d’Aubigne and a former Calvinist. The king secretly married her after his queen died and she and Father la Chaise, his confessor, became counselors and partners in deeds of tyranny and blood that brought further darkness and horror over the life of the king. “It was deemed bad economy, perhaps, to do with money what could be done by the sword. Accordingly the dragonnades were now set on foot.” A regiment of cavalry was sent into each province and the majority of the soldiers were quartered in Protestant homes where they were given permission to carry out any type of horror short of killing the family. “The details must be suppressed; they are too horrible to read…Thousands rose to flee from a land where nothing awaited them but misery. The court attempted to arrest the fugitives by threatening them with the galleys for life. The exodus continued despite this terrible law.” Ibid., 329

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

“Everywhere there was a Reign of Terror; and the populace, entirely in the hands of ruffians, who, if they forbore to kill, did so that they might practice excruciating and often unnamable tortures upon their victims, now came in crowds to the priests to adjure. ‘Not a post arrives,’ wrote Madame deMaintenon, in September, 1685, ‘without bringing tidings that fill him [the king] with joy; the conversions take place every day by the thousands.’ Twenty thousand adjured in Bearn, sixty thousand in the two dioceses of Nimes and Montpelier: and while this horrible persecution went on the Edict of Nantes was still law…

“The king, on the 18th of October, 1685, signed the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The Revocation swept away all rights and liberties which Henry IV and Louis XIII had solemnly guaranteed to the Protestants.” Ibid., 332 The execution of the edict began immediately.

“The Protestants amounted to between one and two million; their factories and workshops were to be found in nearly all parts of France; their commerce and merchandise upheld its great cities, their energy and enterprise were the life of the nation; and to be all at once flung beyond the pale of law, beyond the pale of humanity! They were stupefied. Their churches were laid in ruins and everywhere “booted apostles” scoured the land carrying on the work of “converting” as Louis XIV reasoned, “for had not the Saviour said, ‘Compel them to come in?’ ” Ibid., 333

One clause of the Revocation demanded that all Protestant pastors leave the country while another made it a death penalty for a layman to flee. “The frontiers were jealously guarded; sentinels were placed at all the great outlets of the kingdom; numerous spies kept watch at the seaports; officers patrolled the shore; and ships of war hovered off the coast to prevent escape.” Ibid., 334. But despite all of these efforts it is estimated that upwards of one half a million Protestants emigrated. Nearly every country in Europe became their refuge with England, Holland and Germany receiving the largest numbers. “The Duke of Saint Simon says in his Memoirs that all branches of trade were ruined, and that a quarter of the kingdom was perceptibly depopulated.” Ibid., 335. “In short, not an art was cultivated, not a trade was carried on in France which did not suffer from this blow; not a province was there where the blight it had inflicted was not to be seen in villages half-depopulated, in habitations deserted, in fields lying unploughed, and in gardens and vineyards overgrown with weeds and abandoned to desolation.” Ibid., 336. The fleets of foreign ships all but disappeared as the trade of the Protestants took this foreign trade and wealth to the lands where they fled.

By this act Louis XIV drove away the genius and learning, the art and glory of his realm, and scattered it among the nations of Europe. He did more to weaken France than all that Richelieu and Mazarin had done to strengthen her and in this his folly is as conspicuous and as stupendous as his wickedness. It was not alone in France that the effect of the Revolution worked against those who had invoked it. “It was the treachery and cruelty of the Revocation that, above most things, aroused the Protestant spirit of Europe, and brought about that great Revolution which, three short years afterwards, placed William of Orange on the throne of Great Britain.” Ibid., 338.

The Prisons and the Galleys

The sincerity of the conversions of the “New Catholics” was seriously doubted by the Jesuits even though they loudly boasted publicly of their successes. So, new ordinances were enjoined requiring frequent examination of those who have adjured their Protestantism. There proved to be an insufficient number of priests to perform this task, so Capuchins were called upon to instruct the new converts. These men proved to be so ignorant that a mere youth could silence them. “To gorss ignorance they not infrequently added a debauched life, and in the case of Protestants of riper years, their approach awakened only disgust, and their teaching had no other effect on those to whom they were given, than to deepen their aversion to a Church which employed them a her ministers.” Ibid., 339

“When the first stunning shock of the edict had spent itself, there came a recoil. The more closely ‘the new converts’ viewed the Church into which they had been driven, the stronger became their dislike of it. Shame and remorse for their apostasy began to burn within them.” Ibid. They began to desire their old religion again and so they withdrew from the cities in numbers and began to seek the mountain wildernesses and forests that they might practice their worship in the caves and on the tops of mountains. “There they promised one another to live and die in the Reformed faith.” Ibid.

When the king and his counselors learned of this, they were enraged. ” ‘Afterwards,’ says Quick, ‘they fell upon the persons of the Protestants, and there was no wickedness, though ever so horrid, which they did not put in practice, that thy might enforce them to change their religion…In Paris there was a desire to conceal from Louis the formidable proportions of the actual horrors. But in other parts of France no check was put upon the murderous passions, and the brutal lusts, and the plundering greed of the soldiery.” Ibid., 340. The prisons were filled with those who tried to escape and when there was not room to contain them they were shipped to Canada. If they survived the horrors of the trip they were sold into a slavery so cruel that in most cases they soon perished. “Those who were thus dragged from the pleasant fields of France, and put under the lash of barbarous taskmasters in a foreign land, were not the refuse of French society; on the contrary, they were the flower of the nation.” Ibid., 341. Others were sent into the galleys to suffer indescribable tortures. Hundreds suffered this fate. “It was not till 1775, in the beginning of Louis XVI’s reign, that the galleys released their two last Protestant prisoners.” Ibid., 343.

The Church in the Desert

The hidden churches were ministered to by men who had not received their training in any school or college but who had the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “More arrests, more dragoons, more sentences to the galleys, more scaffolds; such were the means by which they sought to crush the ‘Church of the Desert.’ ” When companies were found they were slaughtered. Exact lists of the massacred in different places included encounters where 300-400 old men, women and children were left dead upon the spot. “But no violence could stop these field-preachings. They grew ever larger in numbers, and ever more frequent in time, till at last, we are assured, it was nothing uncommon, in traversing the mountain-side or forest where they had met, to find, at every four paces, dead bodies dotting the sward, and corpses hanging suspended from the trees.” Ibid., 345. Years of persecution could not extinguish them. They continued though in chains. “At last, amid the clouds of sevenfold blackness, and the thunderings and lightenings of a righteous wrath, came the great Revolution, which with one strike of awful justice rent the fetters of the French Protestants, and smote into the dust the throne which had so long oppressed them.” Ibid., 347.

Dangers of Compromise

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We need to have the story of Jesus written in our hearts. God has promised, under the new covenant, to write His law into our hearts and minds—our hearts representing our affections and our minds representing our intellectual aspects. We need to believe and to love His law and the story of Jesus, and it needs to be more dear and precious to us than life itself. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11. We need to come to the place that we would give our life for Christ’s sake because we love Him that much, and we do not want anything to separate us from Him.

This was the experience Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had when they refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image. We also need that experience; for things are happening all around us—increase of crime, wars and rumors of wars, and the judgments upon the land. (See Matthew 24.) The United Sates is speaking like a dragon.

But, we are not to be fearful. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18 that perfect love casts out all fear. We need that perfect love to cast out all fear. There is a tendency to become frightened about what the Bible tells us is going to occur in the last days. It is comforting to know that Jesus is coming again soon to redeem us. But, the Bible also speaks of a “time of trouble,” which may not appear very comforting to us. It is natural for us to be afraid. “And you will hear of wars, and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. We are not to be troubled, or to fear, or have apprehension for the future, because we know that Christ will carry us through. If we are planted on the rock, nothing can shake us. We are to lift up our heads, because our redemption draws near.

“We have nothing to fear for the future except we forget how the Lord has led us in the past.” Life Sketches, 196. It is important that we remember the past, because what happened in the past is applicable to us today. “These things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11. That is us. We must study history so that we will not be led astray in the future. It only makes sense that if someone else has gone through an experience that we are to go through, that we look and see how they handled it. It is well to learn from their mistakes, failures and success. We do not need to worry about the future if our soul is right with God.

Beware of Men

In Matthew 10:17-19, Jesus is speaking to His disciples when he sent out the twelve. He is telling them (as well as us) what they were going to encounter. He says, ” But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in the synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.” These things happened over and over again. Many people have gone through these experiences. And we will face such things too. But we are not to be frightened, for Jesus will be with us.

During the Protestant Reformation, the Papacy tried many different tactics to destroy it. Persecution did not work, but one scheme was almost successful. If God had not intervened, the Protestant Reformation would have failed, because they were on the very verge of accepting the bait.

When Luther was brought before the diet, he boldly declared that nothing was going to shake him. He said, “Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me.” The diet was baffled. Here was one man, one lone monk with no backing, standing before all the great men of the empire, and they could not shake him. We need to stand as Luther, as the three worthies, and Daniel stood. We dare not swerve our allegiance to God.

Shortly after Luther’s experience came one of the grandest moments for the Protestant Reformation, namely the “Protest of the Princes.” Instead of one man standing before the diet, they had some of the most powerful princes in the empire; and they stood on the offensive, not on the defensive.

They had peace for a few years, but then came one of the most formidable obstacles to the Protestant Reformation—the Augsburg Diet in 1529 and 1530. The Elector and Princes were going to what seemed sure death. Their heads and morale were hanging low. It was then that Luther composed the song “A Mighty Fortress.” It was timely and uplifted their spirits. It would be well for us to memorize that song.

Charles V had come back. He had vanquished Italy, and he controlled almost all of Europe. The pope had given him the order, “Crush Lutheranism.” He marched up to Augsburg with that sole purpose. The princes and the Elector knew it was dangerous, but Luther encouraged them. He said, “Go ahead, confess Christ before the great men in this world.” The Papists met them with warm friendship. They were trying to get them to yield to compromise. But that did not work. Next, they threatened persecution and death. That did not work either. Then they tried the most successful inducement and the most to be feared. The Romans said, “OK, we’ll send three of our theologians and you send three of yours. We’ll try to come to an agreement.” This was the new and most formidable of the dangers. This plan almost crushed the Protestant Reformation.

Luther Begs to Be Excused

First, the Romanist party made amazing compromises and concessions. The Protestants put together a confession of twenty-one points. There were only three that the Protestants and Romanists were wrangling over. The Roman party made it appear that they had won the Reformation. They knew that if they could get the Protestants to yield once, they would eventually yield on everything. Unfortunately, the Protestants, agreed at first. But Luther, from his hideout, wrote letters. Let me read from one. “I learned that you have begun a marvelous work, namely, to reconcile Luther and the pope, but the pope will not be reconciled, and Luther begs to be excused.” The Reformation was saved. He knew that when they began to yield, they stepped off the platform to sure ruin. Yielding will always bring ruin. We cannot compromise.

Whenever the church has yielded to compromise, the result has always been a losing battle. The early church was pure in the days of the apostles, but they compromised, and now we have the Roman Catholic Church, which The Great Controversy says, is “The masterpiece of Satan.” Compromise is spiritual suicide on the installment plan. We cannot pull down the banner even a little bit. It may appear to look good, but it is not. That is what resulted in the dark ages. The Waldenses compromised and many lives were lost. The Bohemians compromised and their nation was bathed in blood. This sad history is for us to ponder.

We read from The Great Controversy, 607: “As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages as inducements to renounce their faith. But, their steadfast answer is, ‘show us from the word of God our error,’ the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God.” The early Christians let down the standard to convert pagans and it resulted in converting the church to paganism.

We too, are going to have to answer for our faith. We must stand firm. Our God is a mighty fortress. He will uphold us, and give us strength. We must say as Luther, “Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me.” The Great Controversy says that if Luther would have yielded in one point, Satan would have won the victory. Neither can we yield in one point.

Dare to be a Daniel

Daniel was thrown into the den of lions because he prayed with his windows open, as he always did. He did not compromise on one point, and God shut the lions mouths. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could have bowed down to tie their shoes. But that would have been compromising. They knew very will that it could result in their death, but they stood firm. Even though the “greatest” man in the world opposed them.

Their steadfast adherence to right converted Nebuchadnezzar. That is encouraging, if we stand for the right, souls may be converted. Before this, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were tested on the point of appetite. Because they stood firm on the word of God then, they were able to stand the more severe trials.

We must set our face as firm as a flint now, if we stand later. “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5. Right now we are deciding if we are going to stand as did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or, if we are going to bow down as all the other Hebrews did. We are choosing under which banner we are going to be arraigned. We are either with Luther saying, “Here I stand. I can do no other,” or we are compromising.

Little Things

Some people excuse themselves saying, “God understands.” God does understand your situation, and He tells you in His word what you need to do. The devil is in the business of giving excuses, not God. We read in Romans 1:20, that we are all without excuse. There is no excuse if it goes against God’s word. Daniel and his three friends stood firm in the little things. Because they had proved faithful in that which was least, they could be trusted with that which was more. “What if Daniel and his companions had made a compromise with those heathen officers and had yielded to the pressure of the occasion by eating and drinking as was customary with the Babylonians? That single instance of departure from principle would have weakened their sense of right and their abhorrence of wrong. Indulgence of appetite would have involved the sacrifice of physical vigor, clearness of intellect, and spiritual power. One wrong step would probably have led to others until their connection with Heaven being severed, they would have been swept away by temptation.” Sanctified Life, 23. It is the little things in life that make up the sum of life’s big things.
Too many times we think that little things do not matter much. But, little choices set us on the path which we are going to take. When a tree is young, if you bend it, it will grow bent. There are some funny looking trees, because they were bent that way when they were saplings. By compromising in little things, we prepare ourselves to compromise in big things.

Compromise and indifference in a religious crisis is one of the sins that God hates the most. We cannot flatter ourselves that we will stand when we are forced by law to disregard the Sabbath, if we do not keep the Sabbath now. It’s not just in the Sabbath, it’s in everything of our lives. “It is the grossest presumption for mortal man to venture upon a compromise with the Almighty in order to secure his own petty temporal interest.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 249. God says what he means and He means what He says. Right now in the little things, we are determining our destination. “It is as ruthless a violation of the law to occasionally use the Sabbath for secular business as to entirely reject it, for it is making the Lord’s commandments a matter of convenience.” Ibid. It is just the same to compromise in any other point. It is the principle.

Solomon compromised. This was what led to his ruin. He knew that polygamy was against God’s law, but it was a very common practice. And the first wife he took, appeared to be converted, but eventually he set up an idol to another god, which he and his children worshipped—because he took one wrong step. If we, like Solomon, take that one wrong step down—it is much easier to take the next one. We are developing habits that determine where we are going to stand. One little compromise in sin will eventually crowd out all the good.

Do you think that the Jews at their first departure from the right had any intentions of crucifying the Son of God? No, none whatsoever. But they took the one wrong step, and it led to that terrible sin. The fall of any person can be traced back to one departure from the right. We cannot, even in the slightest thing, compromise. It will not work. God considers it the grossest presumption to compromise in the smallest thing.

Compromise is the most dangerous thing we can do for our souls. In the history of the Israelites there are many examples of failure, but fortunately, there are encouraging examples also—Daniel, and his three companions, Joseph and others.

There is a song with these words: “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone dare to have a purpose firm, dare to make it known.” We must dare, like Daniel, to stand for the right no matter what. We cannot depart in the slightest, because it will lead to us going all the way, renouncing everything, and being lost.

Right now we are deciding if we are going to be numbered on the Lord’s side. If we know to do right, and do not do it, we will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. Different people have different temptations and problems. It may not be the Sabbath issue. It could be something else. We dare not depart slightly, we must stand firm as a rock. The record says of Jesus that “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51. That is what we must do—set our face steadfastly to go to the New Jerusalem. We must not allow anything to hinder us. WE must not compromise in the slightest, because it will be our ruin if we do. Many pleasing allurements and inducements may be held out, but we cannot compromise. We must, as did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, stand erect, not allowing anything to sway us.

Which Church Do We Take Them To?

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“We want to understand the time in which we live. We do not half understand it. We do not half take it in. My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to meet him. 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—how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of the minds of the Jews, and today he is seeking to blind the minds of God’s servants, that they may not be able to discern the precious truth.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 406.

This statement makes it very important for us to study the history of the Jewish people just before the first coming of Christ. Their experience, according to this statement, is an illustration of the experience of God’s people just before the second coming. Let us notice four points from this statement.

First: We do not half understand or take in the time in which we live.

Second: We have a foe to meet that we are poorly prepared to meet. (She is writing in the Review and Herald so obviously the “we” refers to those who profess to be God’s remnant people—Seventh-day Adventists.)

Third: The trials of the children of Israel and their attitude just before the first coming were presented to Ellen White over and over again as an illustration of the position that professed Adventists would occupy just before the second coming.

Fourth: Last of all, a specific point of comparison is made between their time and ours namely, the devil sought then to take control of their minds as he is now seeking to control the minds as he is now seeking to control the minds of God’s remnant people, so they will not understand the truth.

We will look at the last point first. How does the devil get control or take control of people’s minds? A description of this process was written out by Ellen White in Letter 311, October 30, 1905. She wrote, “He prepares minds by degrees to become imbued with his spirit…In the future Satan’s last exploits will be carried out with more power than ever before. He has learned much, and he is full of scientific scheming to make of no effect the work that is under the supervision of the One who came to the Isle of Patmos to educate John…The miracles that Christ wrought gave to the world evidence of the divinity of His mission. This powerful evidence the Jews would not receive, because Christ’s teaching did not harmonize with their preconceived ideas, or exalt the human agencies who continually exalted themselves.

“The Lord has been giving me instruction that we are meeting the same unbelief today, and that we shall continue to meet it as we bear the last message of mercy to the world. Every ingenious device will be used, every possible method taken advantage of, to lead men to live a lie…the course of false science led the Jews to strong unbelief…The Jews who were fulfilling the prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures, did not realize what they were doing. They professed to believe these prophecies, and they did not know that they were working out the plan foretold…At this stage of the earth’s history, many act like drunken men…A spiritual drunkenness is upon many who suppose they are the people who shall be exalted…they cannot walk straight…They are looked upon by the Lord with great pity…They are scientific schemers…The developments of these last days will soon become decided. When these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are—the secret workings of evil spirits—those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds…A marvelous work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment will be themselves deceivers, united with the deceived…They will misinterpret the warnings and messages God has sent, placing on these warnings their false statements, to make God’s word of no effect…Some who have been deceived by men in responsible places will repent, and be converted. And in all our dealings with them, we must remember that none of those who are in the depth of Satan’s snares know that they are there…How my heart has been agonized as I have seen souls accepting the inducements held out to them to unite with those who were warring against God. When they once accept the bait it seems impossible to break the spell that Satan casts over them, because the enemy works out the science of deception as he worked it out in the heavenly courts. He has worked so diligently with men in our day that he has won the game again and again.

“What, I ask, can be the end? Again and again have I asked this, and I have always received the same instruction, Never leave a soul unwarned. Those who are bound in Satan’s coils are the most confident and the most boastful. They will protest at the thought that they are ensnared, yet it is the truth.”

Analysis of Statement

Degrees: The devil does not get control of men’s minds all of a sudden, but gradually—gradually he introduces ideas which eventually bring the mind far away from the truth and change it into a totally different direction. Because of the gradualness, of his operations, and the way he mixes truth with error, and because it is generally stated in the language of truth—without the intervention of the Holy Spirit, nobody knows that anything is happening.

Scheming: This work described above is not haphazard but done according to scientific scheming.

Preconceived ideas: The Jews rejected the evidence that Jesus gave of the divinity of His mission, because this evidence did not agree with their preconceived ideas. It did not exalt the human agencies—the professed church and especially its organization—who continually exalted themselves. Their preconceived ideas included the idea that the work of salvation must come through the authorized channel of the Sanhedrin. Remember all this is predicted to be part of the experience of God’s people again. Whenever we mark out a way that God has to work, we are in grave danger. We are in even more serious danger when we began to fight those who are not working the way that we are.

Same preconceived ideas: We are meeting the unbelief of the Jews today. (Written in 1905.)

False ideas will continue: God’s people will have to continue to meet (in the future after 1905) this unbelief as we bear the last message of mercy to the world. This statement clearly shows that God’s true people will have to meet the same unbelief from His professed true people until the end, just as Jesus and His disciples had to meet the unbelief of the Jews—God’s professed people in those days.

Profession is a lie: The devil will lead men to “live a lie.” This means that men’s profession and their real character will be completely different. They will profess to be finishing God’s work in the world while they are actually fighting the revival and reformation movement that must come if any are going to be ready at the end.

“Only channel:” Through false science the Jews developed strong unbelief. This false science was their method of interpreting the scripture so that the Jews, and their religious organization, had to be the channel through which God would work for salvation.

Wake up to late: This same scientific scheming and spiritual drunkenness is present today and when these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are—the secret working of evil spirits—those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds.

Adventists deceiving other Adventists: Leaders in Adventism (“Minister, lawyers, doctors will have their spirit of discernment overmastered by falsehoods, will become deceivers and will unite with other Adventists who are deceived. (The context of the entire letter shows clearly that it is talking about Adventists in the last days.) It does not say that they will forsake the inspired writings but that they will misinterpret the warnings and messages God has sent—just like the Jews.

Some of the deceived will be salvaged: Some of the Adventists who have been deceived by these “men in responsible places” will repent and be converted.

None of the deceived know they are deceived: In all our dealings with these Adventists who have been deceived by their leaders, we must remember that none of those who are in the depth of Satan’s snares know that they are there.

The spiritual trap: As Ellen White in vision, saw Adventists accepting inducements held out to them to unite with those who were warring against God, she said that she was agonized. Once they accepted the bait, Satan cast a spell over them so that it seemed impossible for them to break free again. The questions now are what are these inducements held out by Adventist leaders which are bait to other Adventists to deceive them and cause them to unite with those who were warring against God?

First we must understand how a group of Adventists could be warring against God. Since this is in an overall context and comparison of the Jews in the time of Christ, how did the Jews in the time of Christ war against God? One of the principal ways they fought God was by warring against his people. For example, look at the reaction to John the Baptist and to Stephen. (The professed church made war against the true church. Does this sound familiar?)

It now becomes clear what inducements some Adventists will hold out to other Adventists to get them to unite with those (Adventists) who are warring against God. (In the final analyses the only real way anybody in this world can war against God is by warring against His true people.) The inducements would be any attractions offered by professed Adventists to get other Adventists to join them in making war against the true Adventists.

A spiritual war is not like a military conflict. When inducements are first held out to true Adventists, arguments are often used which indicate that the structure really wants to have unity etc. with all the Adventists, but these few independents won’t talk to us, or work with us. (The list is long.) But the real objective is to get all the people and all their financial support controlled by a central organization which is fighting Historic Adventism around the world.

In a spiritual war, when you join the wrong side, the objectives change as you go along. But God is allowing things to develop that will reveal everybody’s real character. When an organization takes Adventists to court and puts them in prison, this should be evidence enough about what is going on for any praying, studying, soul. This has happened over the years and similar activities of harassment are continuing around the world against the true Adventists.

Many of God’s professed remnant people are still blind to reality and think that some way God is going to use an unrepentant organization, in such an apostasy as this, to finish His work. Others believe that in some way God is going to force the organization to repent and reform, but just as with the Jews once a pathway has been entered and traveled down for a long time, the ability to make such a change eventually becomes impossible.

Right now every time somebody stands up and shows the counsel of the Spirit of Prophecy concerning our medical work or educational work or church organization, immediately there is a war against the reformer. Habit patterns are so deeply ingrained in the minds of Adventists, just as in the minds of the Jews, that the great majority, both leaders and laymen, are not going to turn back to obedience to the Spirit of Prophecy.

We are not in the same situation as the Jews were in when John the Baptist first appeared—the revival and reformation movement has been appealing to Adventists to repent and come into harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy for years, and the apostasy has gotten so bad that instead of asking for baptism as they did from John the Baptist, the organization takes the innocent to court and attempts to put them in prison. The fact that most Adventists are supporting such legal actions (which collectively cost any millions of dollars) is shocking evidence of how deep into a Laodicean condition they really are. This is an exact parallel to what happened in the church in Christ’s day, which Ellen White said was given to her over and over again as an example of our experience as we near the end.

The Adventists who are fulfilling this prophecy are those in conference churches who are attempting to get all other Adventists to join them to destroy Adventists who have been cast out of the system for standing up against the apostasy. The inducements are legion. For the shallow-minded, the inducement is to join a big church, that has a perfect organization and supposedly a worldwide school system from kindergarten through the university, with supposed employment available in medical institutions and clinics around the world. To the lazy, it is to just be a pew-warmer and not have to be in a life and death struggle such as the independent Adventist churches are going through, with attacks of false doctrine, fanaticism, plus every blow which the structure can muster to destroy the revival and reformation movement in Adventism and every independent Adventist church worldwide. For some it is peace and fellowship and more social outlet with their relatives and friends who believe that you must be in the structure to go through to the end. (Just like the Jews in Jesus day.) Whatever the inducement is, once the bait is accepted by an Adventist who has been free and true and faithful, Satan casts a spell over the mind according to Ellen White and it is almost impossible for those individuals to break loose from this spell again. (We have seen this happen over and over again all over the country and locally.) Whenever a person is induced, for any reason, to join with those who are making war against Historic Adventists, the devil has direct access to their minds. A spell is cast over them and often, they will not communicate anymore with Historic Adventists.

If they had been in the structure and no light of revival and reformation had shone on them and they had not access to the Spirit of Prophecy, then they would not be accountable for light that they had never seen or had opportunity to see. But when God has allowed the light to shine on them and then they turn back from obeying it to join those who are persecuting the true and faithful, “when they once accept the bait it seems impossible to break the spell that Satan casts over them.” (Marshall preached a whole sermon about this at the 1888 Bible Conference. See Tapes # 556, 557 “To Deceive the Elect” Part I and II.) They are in the same position as those who went back to the structure after the feeding of the 5,000. Even though the door was open for them to return and be saved, they did not do so. They thought they were saved and in the true church, but they had rejected Jesus. Jesus said to His faithful followers, the one who accepts you accepts Me. The converse of this is, the one who rejects you rejects Me. “To reject the Lord’s servants is to reject Christ Himself.” Desire of Ages, 489.

The deceived will protest :Ellen White asked what would be the end of this. She was always given the same instruction—”never leave a soul unwarned.” We are printing this article, so that no soul who is willing to read will be unwarned. Many will scoff at the message, for she says in the next sentence, “Those who are bound in Satan’s coils are the most confident and the most boastful. They will protest at the thought that they are ensnared, yet it is the truth.”

If you are with conference leaders, and pastors who are working with them, and other such as doctors and lawyers who have shown a determination to fight against and try to destroy independent Adventist churches and members—namely the Historic Adventist movement worldwide—if you are sure that you are right and your opponents are wrong, have you ever thought about fasting and praying that the Lord would reveal to you his ways and plans for Adventism? The more sure you are that you are right, the more this quotation implies.

Having looked at the fourth point in the quotation (SM vol. 1, 406) we will now look at the third point, which is about the trials of the children of Israel and their attitude just before the first coming, this was presented to her over and over again as an illustration of the position that professed Adventists would occupy just before the second coming.

While it would be impossible to look in depth at the children of Israel before the first coming of Christ in this article, we will notice two points: how they were misled by the devil on (1) their position about the church and its leaders and (2) their work of evangelism.

The position of the leaders of Israel about evangelism, the church and its leaders before the coming of Christ as follows:

You must be a member: You had to be part of Israel to be saved, or in other words you had to be a recognized member of the Jewish church to be saved.

You must get permission: Anybody who did not obtain permission from the Sanhedrin and who did not follow the directions of the Sanhedrin could not engage in evangelism because he could not bring people into the organized body as members. (His work would not be recognized.)

The independent ministries are heretics: The conclusion was that anybody who was not authorized by the church leaders to work for the Lord was not in the Lord’s work and actually a heretic.

You must oppose this heresy: Therefore, the work of any such person or group of persons should be opposed to the utmost by all loyal Israelites. The above conclusions are thoroughly documented in the first several chapters of the book Desire of Ages.

They were interested in evangelism, but only if it was sponsored and authorized and directed by the right people—namely the Sanhedrin. For this reason people like John the Baptist and Jesus were condemned as heretics (and worse) because they were not sponsored by what they thought was the church, neither were they authorized and directed by what they thought was the church. According to the quotations quoted, this is the situation that we are to be in during the end of time again.

Jesus and Evangelism

“At this time [when Jesus came] the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people. Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart.” Desire of Ages, 32.

As a result of the lack of morality in pagan religions, the morality of the Jewish people from their possession of the Old Testament, attracted the attention of man people in the empire to Judaism. Many accepted Judaism to a greater or lesser extent. The Jews took advantage of this weakening of the systems of heathenism on the people, but Jesus condemned their evangelism because of the spiritual consequences to the proselytes. Proselytizing was carried on in many parts of the Roman empire by the Jews. There were synagogues scattered in many places of the empire. Frequently, when Gentiles examined Judaism to discover what made it effective, they were led to embrace it. As heathen religions lost their hold on the people and the Jews carried on aggressive missionary activity, proselytes to the Jewish religion could be numbered in the hundreds of thousands, if not in the millions, according to various scholars, both Jewish and Christian. Josephus said, “The masses have long since shown a keen desire to adopt our religious observances; and there is not one city, Greek or barbarian, nor a single nation, to which our custom of abstaining from work on the seventh day has not spread, and where the fasts and the lighting of lamps and many of our prohibitions in the matter of food are not observed.” (See Seventh-day Adventists Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 62, 63.)

Will we meet these Jewish proselytes in heaven? We know from the New Testament that many of them will be lost even though they were converted through the chosen people of God. What would have to happen for them to be saved?

The religion of Judaism was self-limiting—all their system, sanctuary, sacrifices, and ceremonies pointed forward to the Messiah. If He did not come, their entire religion would actually be meaningless. So for those who accepted Judaism to be saved, they had to receive the Messiah into their heart, otherwise their entire religion was but empty husks and would not fulfill the deepest desires of the soul.

The same is true today. Adventism is self-limiting also. Everything in Adventism, the Three Angels’ Messages, the sanctuary message and all the doctrines, surround the one central truth that Jesus is coming the second time to this world. The message of Adventism is a message given to prepare us to meet Him without character spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. The purpose of the Spirit of Prophecy is to help to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. When people have accepted the doctrine of Adventism and the message of the soon coming of Jesus, they are not then ready to be translated. “When souls are converted, their salvation is not yet accomplished. They then have the race to run; the arduous struggle is before them to ‘fight the good fight of faith.’ ” Our High Calling, 163.

Now suppose that when we teach people the truths of the Three Angels’ Messages that we then bring them into a church that is fighting the Historic Adventist movement worldwide and teach them that they must not have anything to do with those Historic Adventists who are not part of the conference, because if they do they will be misled and ruined spiritually and become fanatical and heretical. This is exactly what the Jewish church did in the time of Christ. They were busy all over the world with their proselytizing campaigns which were very successful and they taught their converts that they must not have anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth because He was an impostor. What about today? Do Historic Adventists have the same truth that the pioneers in Adventism taught and preached? Yes they do. Historic Adventists have been cast out for the precise reason that they have contended for the faith once delivered to the saints. All people brought into the Adventist faith today must eventually, before the end, become part of the Historic Adventist revival and reformation movement worldwide, if they are going to avoid the seven last plagues, remain Adventists to the end and be translated.

Christ is no more divided today than ever before in history. He never contradicts Himself and He never fights Himself. Neither does He change his testimony. “It is not the true church of God that makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Signs of the Times, April 22, 1889.

“I see perplexities on every side. As character develops man and woman will take their position, for varied circumstances brought to bear upon them will cause them to reveal the spirit which prompts them to action. Every one will reveal the character of the bundle with which he is binding himself. The wheat is being bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now pulling apart, and the tares are being bound in bundles ready to burn. Decided positions will be taken. Satan will move upon minds that have been indulged, upon men who have always had their own way, and anything presented to them in counsel or reproof to change their objectionable traits of character is considered faultfinding, binding them, restraining them, that they cannot have liberty to act themselves. The Lord in great mercy has sent messages of warning to them, but they would not listen to reproof. Like the enemy who rebelled in heaven, they do not like to hear, do not correct the wrong they have done but become accusers, declaring themselves misused and unappreciated.” 1888 Materials, 995.

We are now fulfilling the prophecies that there would be two opposing parties in Adventism at the end, just as there were two opposing parties in Palestine in the time of John the Baptist and Jesus. Those that attempt to destroy other Adventists cannot possibly be in the right, even if they understand theological truth.

In closing here are a few prophecies about the two opposing parties in Adventism at the end: “Confederacies will increase in number and power as we draw nearer to the end of time. These confederacies will create opposing influences to the truth, forming new parties of professed believers who will act out their own delusive theories. The apostasy will increase. Manuscript Release, vol. 7, 197. (Similar in Selected Messages, vol. 2, 383.)

In the third chapter of Malachi, two parties are brought to view. Here the Lord denounces His professed people who are not faithful sentinels. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1182.

In the message to the church at Sardis two parties are presented—those who have a name to live, but are dead; and those who are striving to overcome. Study this message, found in the third chapter of Revelation…To the church of the present day this message is sent. Review and Herald, August 20, 1903.

Editorial – Who Are Loyal?

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Years ago I was working with several ministries who were sponsoring revival and reformation camp meetings in all regions of the country. Shortly before one of these camp meetings the pastor of a nearby church preached a sermon against the camp meeting and its sponsors. His subject was concerning loyalty to the message and the church etc… Since, in this magazine, we have explained many times from inspired writings who and what the church is, we will not enter into that subject here. We will merely ask, “what is the bottom line about who is loyal and who is not loyal to the work of God today?

Jesus had this problem when He was on this earth. See Desire of Ages, 111. Following are a few guidelines from the writings of Ellen G. White about who are loyal.

The loyal obey all the commandments of God: “The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God.” Great Controversy, 438.

“How can fathers consent to their children attending school on the Sabbath, or any part of the Sabbath, the same as on any common weekday? Here is a cross to life. Here the line of separation is drawn between the loyal and disloyal. This is the sign that there is a people who will not make void the law of God although it is at a sacrifice to themselves.” Manuscript Release, vol. 5, 79.

The one who is loyal will refuse to obey earthly powers if they require him to violate a command of God. “The laws of earthly kingdoms are to be obeyed only when they do not conflict with the laws of God…when they try to control the minds and consciences of those whom Christ died to make free, God’s children are to show their loyalty to him by refusing to disobey his commandments.” Signs of the Times, May 13, 1897.

The one who is loyal will be at war against sin and evil: “In every age the true church of God has engaged in decided warfare against satanic agencies. Until the controversy is ended, the struggle will go on, between wicked angels and wicked men on the one side, and holy angels and true believers on the other.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, 5.

The One who is loyal will rebuke evil. (He generally will be accused of being critical, backbiting, and divisive when he does this duty.) “God would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking transgression, however painful the act may be.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 323, 324.

The loyal will not be found imbibing of worldly pleasure and will be practicing self-denial and humility: “Beware of those who preach to others the word of life, but do not themselves cherish the spirit of humility and self-denial which it inculcates. Such men cannot be depended on in a crisis…many today assert their loyalty to God, but their concerts and other pleasure gatherings, their worldly associations, their glorifying of self, and eager desire for popularity, all testify that they have not obeyed his voice.” Testimony to the Battle Creek Church, 71.

“How shall we know that they are disloyal and untrue?—‘By their fruits ye shall know them’…The Lord will not write as wise those who cannot distinguish between a tree that bears thorn-berries and a tree that bears olives.” Review and Herald, September 7, 1897.

The loyal are involved in evangelism: “He has opened a fountain for Judah and Jerusalem, and every member of his church is to show his loyalty by inviting the thirsty to drink of the water of life.” Review and Herald, November 12, 1914.

They will engage in acts in of love and reverence for Jesus: “Acts of love and reverence for Jesus are an evidence of faith in Him as the Son of God.” Desire of Ages, 564.

They will participate in the ordinance of the Lord’s House: “This ordinance of feet washing was made a religious service…It was given as something to test and prove the loyalty of the children of God.” Evangelism, 275.

“The loyal have given the affections of their entire heart to Jesus: It is the whole heart that Jesus prizes. The loyalty of the soul is alone of value in the sight of God.” Testimonies vol. 5, 73.

“They will not fail to declare all the Word of God: “in order to retain their position in the church, some consented to be silent in regard to their hope; but others felt that loyalty to God forbade them thus to hide the truths which He had committed to their trust.” Great Controversy, 372.

The loyal will be separate from the world: “It is impossible for a man to become loyal to God, rendering obedience to all his commandments, without finding himself immediately marked as odd from the rest of the world, and cut off from the society of those who transgress that law…a separation becomes necessary.” Review and Herald, January 13, 1885.