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The Seven Faces of
Seventh-day Adventism
Identifying the seven spirits of
the church
The Seventh-day Adventist church is
composed of seven spiritual factions. The seven
distinct spiritual groups may be labeled Aggressives, Legalists, Spiritualists, Papists,
Pacifists, Sheeple and true Seventh-day Adventists. Just as each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have
a prevailing spirit that characterizes each of those seven churches [1], today
each faction in the Seventh-day Adventist church has a prevailing spirit also.
To those Adventists for whom it was
prophesied that they would rise up against "the plain testimonies," I wish to make it very clear that it is not my words that
they hate but the Spirit of Prophecy. It is the church
prophetess Ellen G. White whom they profess to respect that has specified
the
spiritual traits of these seven groups. I have only compiled the inspired characterization
and other indisputable facts and placed all of this readily available
information into a logical structure. The
names of the 7 groups are my own.
It is time to identify the seven
spirits of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Aggressives
There is a prominent group in the Seventh-day Adventist church that
distinguish themselves by their criticisms of Adventist doctrine and
for their sympathies for mainstream Christianity. [2][3][4][5].
From their work of disaffection, I think it is obvious that the Aggressives are not preparing
the church to stand in the day of God's judgment. They are instead building a foundation
for apostasy. It is a work of deception and a terribly misguided agenda to
be following the policies of Korah,
Dathan and Abiram and to be firmly committed
to undermining the prophetic ministry of Ellen White.
Consider this prophecy:
The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and
prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most
discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly
conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest
opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial,
conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of
the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed
enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These
apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their
power to oppress and malign their former brethren and to excite
indignation against them. This day is just before us. The members of
the church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed in
circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the truth.
Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of justice,
perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would have helped them
in this emergency they have neglected to obtain, and their souls are
burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and neglected privileges. Testimonies
For the Church, Vol. 5, 463.
In the early days of Adventism, when the expectation was that the end of
time was very near, Ellen White had this revelation:
I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would
betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the
truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the
Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith
and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for they could
not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as
those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they
keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday. Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 1.
It is clear from this second passage that the "nominal church" can
only be the superficially genuine but apostate protestant church and
that "nominal Adventists" are the superficial,
conservative Adventists that will unite with mainstream Christianity.
When will this separation take place? In Ellen White's eschatology, all
these events transpire during the time of the great shaking of the church,
just before the end of the world. One revelation that Ellen White
specified very clearly is that we are already in the time for "the removal
of those things that are being shaken so that the things which cannot be
shaken may remain" (Hebrews 12:25-27). [6].
Since the shaking has started already, a comparison with current events
is in order. Why are people leaving the Adventist church? Who are the
"avowed enemies" of the Adventist faith? When people leave our church, are they siding with
our
"avowed enemies?" Finding
the most vociferous critics of Seventh-day Adventism on the Internet only
takes a little time. The following websites seem to rank at the very top
in terms of rancor and disgust.
http://www.ellenwhite.org
http://www.truthorfables.com
http://www.exadventist.com
The harmony between these haters of Ellen G. White and the Aggressives
is that both groups do not promote and apparently do not have any positive
interpretation of Scripture that distinguishes their faith in any way, but
their criticisms of the Adventist movement are identical. [7][8].
There are significant parallels between the Aggressives and Korah,
Dathan and Abiram, followed by the
"two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the
assembly, men of renown" in Numbers 16. They rebelled against God's
appointed leader of the church. Ellen White wrote a superb piece on the
rebellion of Korah in Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 35, pp.
395-405. At the end of that chapter, Ellen White says that the same
principles of that rebellion exist today. The most profound
subtlety of that remarkable exposition is that Ellen White wrote
that whole chapter as
a defense of her own prophetic authority. It follows therefore that the
greatest passion of the Aggressives is their desire for
self-exaltation.
Do not the
same evils still exist that lay at the foundation of Korah's ruin? Pride
and ambition are widespread; and when these are cherished, they open the
door to envy, and a striving for supremacy; the soul is alienated from
God, and unconsciously drawn into the ranks of Satan.
Like Korah and his companions, many, even of the professed followers of
Christ, are thinking, planning, and working so eagerly for self-exaltation
that in order to gain the sympathy and support of the people they are
ready to pervert the truth, falsifying and misrepresenting the Lord's
servants, and even charging them with the base and selfish motives that
inspire their own hearts. By persistently reiterating falsehood, and that
against all evidence, they at last come to believe it to be truth. While
endeavoring to destroy the confidence of the people in the men of God's
appointment, they really believe that they are engaged in a good work,
verily doing God service.
The Hebrews were not willing to submit to the directions and restrictions
of the Lord. They were restless under restraint, and unwilling to receive
reproof. This was the secret of their murmuring against Moses. Had they
been left free to do as they pleased, there would have been fewer
complaints against their leader. All through the history of the church
God's servants have had the same spirit to meet.
It is by sinful indulgence that men give Satan access to their minds, and
they go from one stage of wickedness to another. The rejection of light
darkens the mind and hardens the heart, so that it is easier for them to
take the next step in sin and to reject still clearer light, until at last
their habits of wrongdoing become fixed. Sin ceases to appear sinful to
them. He who faithfully preaches God's word, thereby condemning their
sins, too often incurs their hatred. Unwilling to endure the pain and
sacrifice necessary to reform, they turn upon the Lord's servant and
denounce his reproofs as uncalled for and severe. Like Korah, they declare
that the people are not at fault; it is the reprover that causes all the
trouble. And soothing their consciences with this deception, the jealous
and disaffected combine to sow discord in the church and weaken the hands
of those who would build it up.
Every advance made by those whom God has called to lead in His work has
excited suspicion; every act has been misrepresented by the jealous and
faultfinding. Thus it was in the time of Luther, of the Wesleys and other
reformers. Thus it is today. —Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and
Prophets, pp. 403-404.
Legalists
Legalists in Adventism are typically ignorant zealots, ordinary Pharisees,
predatory cannibals [9],
or extremist false prophets.
Here is an inspired set of profiles of the most notable ones from the
writings of Ellen G. White.
1.
I was shown that quite a number who were thinking it their duty to teach
the word of God publicly had mistaken their work. They had no call to
devote themselves to this solemn, responsible work. They were not
qualified for the work of the ministry, for they could not instruct others
properly.
The experience of some had been obtained among a class of religious
fanatics who had no true sense of the exalted character of the work. The
religious experience of this class of professed Seventh-day Adventists was
not reliable. They had not firm principles underlying all their actions.
They were self-confident, and boastful. Their religion did not consist in
righteous acts, true humility of soul, and sincere devotion to God, but in
impulse, in noise and confusion, spiced with eccentricities and oddities.
They had not felt, neither could they feel, the necessity of being clothed
with Christ's righteousness. They had a righteousness of their own, which
was as filthy rags, and which God can in no case accept. These persons had
no love for union and harmony of action. They delighted in disorder.
Confusion, distraction, and diversity of opinion were their choice. They
were ungovernable, unsubdued, unregenerated, and unconsecrated, and this
element of confusion suited their undisciplined minds. They were a curse
to the cause of God and brought the name of Seventh-day Adventists into
disrepute.
These persons had not experienced the work of reformation, or
sanctification through the truth. They were coarse and uncultivated. They
had never tasted of the sweet, pure refinement of the world to come. They
had never experienced, neither had their hearts been awed by, the mystery
of godliness. They placed divine and eternal things upon a level with
common things, and would talk of heaven and the coming of Jesus as they
would of a horse. They had a superficial knowledge or theory of the truth,
but further than this they were ignorant. Its principles had not taken
hold of their lives and led them to an abhorrence of self. They had never
viewed themselves in the light in which Paul viewed himself, which led him
to see the moral defects in his character. They had never been slain by
the law of God, and had not separated themselves from their impurities and
defilement. It is the favorite occupation of some of this class to engage
in trifling conversation and levity. This habit they contracted, and
indulged upon occasions which should have been characterized by solemn
meditation and devotion. In doing this, they manifested a lack of true
dignity and refinement, and forfeited the esteem of sensible persons who
had no knowledge of the truth. This class threw themselves into a current
of temptation and kept where the enemy led them successfully, and he has
so easily controlled their minds and corrupted their entire experience
that in all probability they will be unable to recover themselves out of
his snare and obtain a healthful experience.
The fires of the day of God will consume the stubble and chaff, and there
will be nothing left of any who continue in the ungodly course which they
have so long loved. This class have a disrelish for the society of those
whom God is truly with. Their religious experience is of so low an order
that they have no part nor lot in a rational, intelligent religious
experience; therefore they have despised the society of those whom God
leads and is teaching. Sarcasm and irony is the stronghold of some
peculiar minds of this class. They are bold and insolent, and do not
regard good manners. They have no care to discriminate and render honor to
whom honor is due. They manifest a proud, rebellious, defiant spirit
against those who differ from their opinions. Their boisterous manners and
wrong course lead the true servant of God to feel that they have resisted
the efforts made for them, and he becomes disheartened in reference to
laboring any further in their behalf. They engage in a contemptible
triumph of exactly the same nature as that which Satan and evil angels
engage in over the souls whom they secure. They have Satan and evil angels
on their side to exult with them. The cases of the persons in whom this
cast of character is peculiarly and strikingly developed are hopeless.
They are incased in self-righteousness, and everything like refinement and
elevation of character with which they are brought in contact is termed by
them pride and lack of humility. Coarseness and ignorance are regarded as
humility.
With this class you have obtained a large share of your religious
experience; therefore you are not qualified for the work of teaching the
most solemn, refined, elevating, and withal the most testing message to
mortals. You may reach a class of minds, but the more intelligent portion
of the community will be driven further off by your labors. You have not a
sufficient knowledge of even the common branches of education to be an
instructor of men and women who have a wily devil on the other hand to
suggest and devise ways and means to lead them from the truth.
Brother E, you cannot fill the position of a minister of Christ. I saw
that you lacked a correct religious experience. You have not a knowledge
of yourself. You cannot even read correctly, or use language which would
commend the truth to the understanding of an intelligent community. You
lack discrimination. You would not know when it was proper to speak or
wise to keep silent. You have so long thought, with the peculiar class I
have mentioned, that you knew it all, that you will not see your
deficiencies when they are presented before you. You possess a large share
of self-esteem, and your experience has been characterized by
self-confidence and boastfulness.
You are not teachable, therefore the cause of God would not prosper in
your hands. You would fail to recognize a defeat when you met with one.
The cause of God would be brought into disrepute and dishonor by your
labors, and you would fail to discover the fact. A certain class may be
convinced by you of the truth; but more would be turned away and placed
where they could not be reached by proper, judicious labor. Interwoven
with your experience are things that will prove detrimental to the truth.
God cannot accept you as a representative of the truth.
Your manners have not been refined and elevated. Your deportment has not
been pleasing to God. Your words have been careless. You lack piety and
devotion. You have not obtained an experience in the spiritual life. You
fail to understand how to rightly divide the word of life, giving to each
his portion of meat in due season. You have preferred to contend and
contest points when you were entirely out of your place and could but meet
with defeat. This is the spirit of the class in Maine whom I have
mentioned. It is their delight to engage in contest and brave it through.
You would not manifest meekness in instructing those who oppose
themselves. You will ever be crippled, in a degree, by your unfortunate
experience. You lack self-culture and meekness. You have important lessons
to learn before you can become an unassuming, acceptable follower of
Christ, even in a private capacity. —Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 2,
pp. 553-557.
2.
As professed followers of Christ, we have much to learn. There is with
many an icy chilliness, a reserve like that of the Pharisees, that must be
broken down. They are not willing to become learners, but, like the
Pharisees, desire to be dictators, teachers. God sent his Son to give his
people a better knowledge of the truth, to show them the best way to help
their fellow-men. But the Pharisees refused to receive the divine
instruction. They thought that Christ was too liberal. His ways did not
agree with theirs; and instead of seeking to come into harmony with
Christ, they sought to bring Christ into harmony with them. While he
differed from them so widely, his influence would, they thought, lessen
theirs, and would counteract their teachings. In order to carry out their
own purposes, they set themselves in opposition to Christ, and thus
brought darkness upon themselves. GW92, 320.
3.
I saw that the minds of some of the church have not run in the
right channel. There have been some peculiar temperaments that have had
their notions by which to measure their brethren. And if any did not
exactly agree with them, there was trouble in the camp at once. Some have
strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel.
These set notions have been humored and indulged altogether too long.
There has been a picking at straws. And when there were no real
difficulties in the church, trials have been manufactured. The minds of
the church and the servants of the Lord are called from God, truth, and
heaven to dwell upon darkness. Satan delights to have such things go on;
it feasts him. But these are none of the trials which are to purify the
church and that will in the end increase the strength of God's people.
I saw that some are withering spiritually. They have lived some time
watching to keep their brethren straight—watching for every fault to
make trouble with them. And while doing this, their minds are not on God,
nor on heaven, nor on the truth; but just where Satan wants them—on
someone else. Their souls are neglected; they seldom see or feel their own
faults, for they have had enough to do to watch the faults of others
without so much as looking to their own souls or searching their own
hearts. A person's dress, bonnet, or apron takes their attention. They
must talk to this one or that one, and it is sufficient to dwell upon for
weeks. I saw that all the religion a few poor souls have consists in
watching the garments and acts of others, and finding fault with them.
Unless they reform, there will be no place in heaven for them, for they
would find fault with the Lord Himself.
Said the angel: "It is an individual work to be right with God."
The work is between God and our own souls. But when persons have so much
care of others' faults, they take no care of themselves. These notional,
faultfinding ones would often cure themselves of the habit if they would
go directly to the individual they think is wrong. It would be so crossing
that they would give up their notions rather than go. But it is easy to
let the tongue run freely about this one or that one when the accused is
not present. —Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 144-145.
Modern-day illustrations
Adventists that seem to match our inspired profile for legalists have
spent large amounts of money for special literature and billboard
and newspaper advertising around the country to declare that the pope is
the antichrist. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].
This very public demonstration of legalism with the Adventist name has caused great embarrassment for the Seventh-day Adventist
denomination. [17][18].
Ellen White wrote,
"I have
long known that fanaticism will be manifest again, in different ways.
"We
cannot allow excitable elements among us to display themselves in a way
that would destroy our influence with those whom we wish to reach with the
truth. It took us years to outlive the unfavorable impression that
unbelievers gained of Adventists through their knowledge of the strange
and wicked workings of fanatical elements among us during the early years
of our existence as a separate people." Ellen G. White, Manuscript
115, 1908.
Ellen White was not a legalist. She wrote against
making sharp thrusts at Catholics.
"Brethren,
I feel hurt when I see that so many decided thrusts are made against the
Catholics. Preach the truth, but restrain the words which show a harsh
spirit; for such words cannot help or enlighten anyone." Ellen G.
White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 64.
Only legalistic Adventists believe that legalists
demonstrate love and tact in their evangelism and deny that the charge of
fanaticism applies to them. And they quote statements by Ellen White to
support their view.
"Men
will misrepresent the doctrines we believe and teach as Bible truth, and
it is necessary that wise plans should be laid to secure the privilege of
inserting articles into the secular papers; for this will be a means of
awakening souls to see the truth. God will raise up men who will be
qualified to sow beside all waters. God has given great light upon
important truths, and it must come to the world." Ellen G. White,
Letter 1, 1875.
"We must
take every justifiable means of bringing the light before the people. Let
the press be utilized, and let every advertising agency be employed that
will call attention to the work. This should not be regarded as
nonessential. On every street corner you may see placards and notices
calling attention to various things that are going on, some of them of the
most objectionable character; and shall those who have the light of life
be satisfied with feeble efforts to call the attention of the masses to
the truth?" Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 130.
The cult expert Walter Martin labeled most of the "historic
Adventists" he encountered as "legalists,"
"worshippers of Ellen White" and the "lunatic fringe."
(Walter Martin Interview, Adventist Currents, Vol. 1, No. 1, July,
1983,
conducted by Douglas Hackleman). However, Martin regarded Mrs. White as
"a sister in the Lord." [19].
Legalistic modern-day extremist false prophets that
deceive Seventh-day Adventists include:
Walter McGill and David P. Aguilar Jr. of the Creation
Seventh-day Adventist Church [20].
Ronald William Beaulieu [21].
All legalists that cry obsessively against superstition and heresy.
[22].
Spiritualists
See
The
Spiritualism of Adventism
Papists
Ellen White gave ample warnings that the spirit of
popery had come into the Seventh-day Adventist church and that this
antichrist spirit in our church was prevalent and increasing:
-
"There is prevalent a spirit that seeks the mastery over
others." TM 260.
-
"The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our
conferences." TM 362.
-
"The spirit of antichrist is developing rapidly." 20MR
176.
-
"The matter is becoming serious, for warnings and entreaties
have been given in vain. The arms of power in Battle Creek are being
extended more and more widely, seeking to control the work far and
near, and to crush that which they cannot control. I lift my voice in
protest. The spirit that now controls is not the Spirit of the
Lord." 8T 150.
-
"Special instruction has been given me for God’s people, for
perilous times are upon us. In the world, destruction and violence are
increasing. In the church, man power is gaining the ascendancy; those
who have been chosen to occupy positions of trust think it their
prerogative to rule." 9T 270.
-
"We shall have to make a decided choice either to be under
Satan’s rule, or under the rule of Him whom John saw while on the
isle of Patmos, who ‘hath prepared his throne in the heavens,’ and
whose ‘kingdom ruleth over all.’ " RH, Feb. 7, 1893.
The rise of popery in the Adventist church is the fulfillment of prophecy.
That night I dreamed that I
was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a
company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and
determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive
them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company
now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his
hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a
reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: "This house
is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our
holy order." Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of
the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I
knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I
tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting
eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: "If
I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or
what I have done!"
I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read
sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the
countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if
they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one
attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I
concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: "If
they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!" My
husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping
aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of
spirits was upon me. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 578.
There is much more to the dream than its immediate
context (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 569-612). The dream is prophetic.
Prophecy has come true! It is now a
crime for true and authentic Seventh-day Adventists (like Ellen G.
White) to say the smallest and most inoffensive thing against "the
holy order." Did
you notice the sheepishness and timidity of the sheeple in the dream?
Today, Satan has such perfect control of the Seventh-day Adventist
hierarchy that even the enemies of truth laugh at the blindness of SDA
leaders for being so devoid of the Spirit of God that Adventism's best and
brightest can't see how they themselves have adopted medieval
popery.
"I love my job as Conference President. All I do is kiss the ring
of everyone in positions above me and appoint ring-kissers to every
position below me." [23].
Threats,
Intimidation and the Kingdom of God
Seventh-day
Adventist Popery Part 2
Seventh-day
Adventist Popery Part 3
Seventh-day
Adventist Popery Part 4
Seventh-day
Adventist Popery Part 5
Church
Sanctioned Abuse
The
Seventh-day Adventist Threat to Religious Liberty
Pacifists
Some
who occupy the position of watchmen to warn the people of danger have
given up their watch and recline at ease. They are unfaithful sentinels.
They remain inactive, while their wily foe enters the fort and works
successfully by their side to tear down what God has commanded to be built
up. They see that Satan is deceiving the inexperienced and unsuspecting;
yet they take it all quietly, as though they had no special interest, as
though these things did not concern them. They apprehend no special
danger; they see no cause to raise an alarm. To them everything seems to
be going well, and they see no necessity of raising the faithful, trumpet
notes of warning which they hear borne by the plain testimonies, to show
the people their transgressions and the house of Israel their sins. These
reproofs and warnings disturb the quiet of these sleepy, ease-loving
sentinels, and they are not pleased. They say in heart, if not in words;
"This is all uncalled for. It is too severe, too harsh. These men are
unnecessarily disturbed and excited, and seem unwilling to give us any
rest or quietude. ‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the
congregation are holy, every one of them.’ They are not willing that we
should have any comfort, peace, or happiness. It is active labor, toil,
and unceasing vigilance alone which will satisfy these unreasonable,
hard-to-be-suited watchmen. Why don’t they prophesy smooth things, and
cry: Peace, peace? Then everything would move on smoothly."
These are the true feelings of many of our people. And Satan exults at his
success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians.
He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his
hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived
that they know not that it is he. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2,
p. 440.
Isaiah
wrote:
"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb
dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber."
Isaiah 56:10.
Ellen White had this verse clearly in mind when she interpreted Ezekiel 9
as a prophecy of the Seventh-day Adventist church/leadership:
Here
we see that the church—the Lord's sanctuary—was the first to feel the
stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given
great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of
the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we
need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as
in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief,
and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is
too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus "Peace and safety"
is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a
trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob
their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the
just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all
perish together. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 211.
Is there any reason to doubt Ellen
G. White's dumb dogs’ prophecy? If the sleep of Seventh-day Adventists
and the church leadership is being interrupted, what awakening message is
being sounded among SDAs to awaken that sinful synagogue to the fearful
reality of their impending doom, if they do not repent?
Sheeple
The great majority of Seventh-day Adventists are
sheeple. (SHEE.pul) n. They are dumber than the dumb watchdogs that refuse
to bark. Sheeple are sufficiently well-defined in this Bible verse:
A
horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets
prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love
it this way. Jeremiah 5:30-31.
True Seventh-day Adventists
Ellen White predicted that true Seventh-day
Adventists will be a very small minority and that the majority of those
who call themselves Seventh-day Adventists will apostatize.
"At
the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the
little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying
for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will
their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing
after the manner of the world." 5T 209-210.
"The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When
the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of
all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves
unspotted from the world." 5T 210.
"In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these
humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of
the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and
weeping, reproofs and warnings. ... They mourn before God to see religion
despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament
and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception
of almost every kind are in the church." 5T 210.
The
Shaking Produces A New Seventh-day Adventist Leadership
"God
has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of
the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon
human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are
hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty
sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength
of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will
manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His
floor." 5T 80.
"The gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True
godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of
it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out
in darkness." 5T 81.
"No superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in
sacred office, will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to
their own deceitful hearts. Those who have been regarded as worthy and
righteous prove to be ringleaders in apostasy and examples in indifference
and in the abuse of God's mercies." 5T 212.
"Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then
stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light.
Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted
with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.
They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The
Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be
disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed
the knee to Baal." 5T 80-81.
"It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws His presence from
those who have been blessed with great light and who have felt the power
of the word in ministering to others. They were once His faithful
servants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed from
Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the divine
displeasure." 5T 212.
"Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great
proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be
base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition,
threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers."
5T 136.
"The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It
remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff
separated from the precious wheat." —2SM 380 (1886).
"The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as
coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God
is striving. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy
for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly
will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand is
still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would
not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the
truth for the first time."—E.G.W. Letter 103, 1903.
"But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take
the places made vacant by those who become offended and leave the truth. .
. . The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from
the true and loyal ones. . . . The ranks will not be diminished. Those who
are firm and true will close up the vacancies that are made by those who
become offended and apostatize." 3SM p. 422.
The
Character of Faithful Seventh-day Adventists
"At
this time God's chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they
came out and endured the persecution with us." EW 33.
"No truth which involves self-denial and sacrifice will be favorably
accepted by the world. A costly effort is required of every soul that will
go in an opposite direction from the multitude. All that stand in Christ's
name in defense of the truth must have a history of conflicts and
sacrifices. They cannot advance in reform, as Christ leads the way, except
at the risk of liberty and life." —ST July 26, 1883.
"On every occasion that persecution takes place, the witnesses make
decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those who show sympathy for
the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against them, show their
attachment for Christ." —ST Feb. 20, 1901.
The
Church Triumphant
"When
trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when
multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the
hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the
banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will
declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and
hesitating in the church will be as David—willing to do and dare. The
deeper the night for God's people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan
will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come
off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as
the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’
" 5T 81-82.
"Test
yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5)
"Now
is the time for God's people to show themselves true to principle. When
the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most
despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness
the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when
the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions
are few—this will be our test." 5T 136.
An Endorsement to this Message from the Spirit of Prophecy
"What greater
deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right
when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people
of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not
that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those
addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual
condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the
startling denunciation of their condition of spiritual blindness, poverty,
and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a
mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be
correct." 3T 252-253.
Godliness
Bruises Serpents
The
Manifesto of Reform-Minded Seventh-Day Adventists
A
Testimony For Sleepy, Ease-Loving Sentinels
Testimonies
of Truth!
Modified
September
10,
2007
Christian Court
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