Short Version

For Kyla Stemmler

Summary of Basic Ideas

1. Generations are rejected when the issue is spirituality,

faithfulness, and disobedience. Organized bodies are rejected
when they arraign themselves against the present truth.
2. The "shaking" prophesied by John the Baptist and by Amos
and by Ezekiel involves an exodus of the unfaithful, first by
doctrinal apostasy, then by hardship apostasy, then by
execution during the plagues. All prophesies and illustrations
of this event harmonize in predicting these exoduses.
3. The "remnant" in scripture and in the Testimonies, is a
reference to the invisible church in a setting of unfaithfulness.
It is first named in the story of Elijah and the 7000. It is not a
collection of "wheat and tares" but of the wheat among the
tares. The "small remnant" is not, then, a visible organization.
4. Bible prophesy of the church in its worst form (Is 1, for
example) reveals God's judgments as reversing the condition of
unfaithfulness.
5. The logic of the Good Way series, when minutely examined,
fails to establish its critical points regarding the shaking.
6.

A Better Way
A Review of the Popular Seventh-day Adventist Reform Series "The Good Way",
particularly lessons one and two.

Abstract of the Study:

The Good Way Series, in its first two lessons, lays down an abundant volume of evidence
from the Testimonies. This evidence, it is argued, points to two Adventist organizations in
our day, a faithful small remnant and a large unfaithful mother church.

The evidence, however, points to no such conclusion. A simple review of the primary
statements will show that a few misconceptions have colored the authors reading.

First, he has failed to understand the idea of "remnant" – viewing the word as a visible
church rather than as a reference to the invisible church.

Second, he has failed to understand the Biblical data on the "shaking." By

misunderstanding both Amos 9 and Matthew 3, the author has made a faulty parallel that
counters the plain reading of the inspired statements on the shaking.
Third, he has established a false test for determining whether or not the shaking will
shake sinners "out" or lead to a separation. He has suggested that the question is one of
majority—if the majority are sinners, than separation must follow. Yet the example he
cites, John 6, shows the opposite. And all statements that address this question in
inspiration show the very same idea as John 6.

Fourth, he fails to distinguish solemn warnings to individuals, congregations, institutions,

and generations. Hence he quotes them all as if they were warnings to the denomination
of impending rejection. But the context of each of these statements shows his fallacy.

On these four mistakes hangs an erroneous conclusion, namely that a faithful individual
would do well to leave the SDA church and join the SDARM church. A critical
examination of the evidence, however, points to the exactly opposite conclusion.

The Good Way Series

There are a number of Ellen White statements that appear repeatedly in the first two
lessons of the Good Way Series. In fact, there are eight passages that are used,
cumulatively, 67 times in the first two lessons. One of these, 5T 208-213, is used 25
times.

A good way to begin would be to read these eight passages. To facilitate thought I will
ask some questions before each passage that will help highlight some thoughts that might
otherwise be unnoticed.

3T 267 (266-267, used 11 times)

To whom are the wrongs of the erring church apparent? Who are lifting up a voice in
protest against these wrongs by speaking to those that commit them? (as opposed to
speaking to those that are surprised to hear of their existence?) And what metaphors are
used to illustrate the remnant that feels the wrongs of the professed people of God,? Are
they like Joshua, among the erring? Are the sealed ones in a different city? Is the "wide
contrast" between true and false professors in the "church"? Or between members of one
holy community and members of another unholy?

The prejudice which has arisen against us because we have reproved the wrongs that
God has shown me existed, and the cry that has been raised of harshness and severity, are
unjust. God bids us speak, and we will not be silent. If wrongs are [266] apparent among
His people, and if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain
and justify the sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of
God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty. In vision I have been
pointed to many instances where the displeasure of God has been incurred by a neglect
on the part of His servants to deal with the wrongs and sins existing among them. Those
who have excused these wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and
lovely in disposition, simply because they shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty.
The task was not agreeable to their feelings; therefore they avoided it. {3T 265.2}

The spirit of hatred which has existed with some because the wrongs among God's
people have been reproved has brought blindness and a fearful deception upon their own
souls, making it impossible for them to discriminate between right and wrong. They have
put out their own spiritual eyesight. They may witness wrongs, but they do not feel as did
Joshua and humble themselves because the danger of souls is felt by them. {3T 266.1}

The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation
of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the
side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God.
Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and
forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel
most deeply the wrongs of God's professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the
prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter
weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn
by his side. "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the
midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry
for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."

Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse
wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not
openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against
them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent,
and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in
holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God's sealing
approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work
of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive
the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a
mark by the man in linen, are those "that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be
done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and
they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as
being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. {3T 267.1}

But the general slaughter of all those who do not thus see the wide contrast between
sin and righteousness, and do not feel as those do who stand in the counsel of God and
receive the mark, is described in the order to the five men with slaughter weapons: "Go
ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay
utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any
man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." {3T 267.2}

5T 80-83 (80, 81, 82, 80-83, used six times)

The church to be purified in the "purification", is it a church characterized by a faithful

ministry? When the "sifting" is done, will we be better able to evaluate the strength of
"Israel"? What floor is it that Christ purges? When will the faithful less-talented persons
become the leaders? When do the stars go out? When is the gold separated from the
dross? What is the relation between the "overflowing scourge" and the purging of the
floor of grain? What was the condition of the church in 1882, six years before 1888,
thirty-three years before EGW's death?

If all that appears to be divine life were such in reality; if all who profess to present
the truth to the world were preaching for the truth and not against it, and if they were men
of God guided by His Spirit,--then might we see something cheering amid the prevailing
moral darkness. But the spirit of antichrist is prevailing to such an extent as never before.
Well may we exclaim: "Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from
among the children of men." I know that many think far too favorably of the present time.
These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin. Yet we do not despair. We
have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true
Christians, but this is not the case. 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 79.4}

The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion.
Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods
many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered
supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then. 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 [81] to view.
There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not
had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be
under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character
will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are
there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold
their genuine luster. {5T 80.1}

The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast
will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and
conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be,
rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death.
The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In
this time 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. Chaff like a cloud will be borne
away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who
assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness,
will appear in the shame of their own nakedness. {5T 81.1}

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; [82] 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 81.2}

The seeds of truth that are being sown by missionary efforts will then spring up and
blossom and bear fruit. Souls will receive the truth who will endure tribulation and praise
God that they may suffer for Jesus. "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world." When the overflowing scourge shall pass through the
earth, when the fan is purging Jehovah's floor, God will be the help of His people. The
trophies of Satan may be exalted on high, but the faith of the pure and holy will not be
daunted. {5T 82.1}

Elijah took Elisha from the plow and threw upon him his mantle of consecration. The
call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position; had
these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have honored
them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated from God,
yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them. {5T 82.2}

Many have exalted science and lost sight of the God of science. This was not the case
with the church in the purest times. {5T 82.3}

God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt
among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward
training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned;
they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will
manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals. {5T 82.4}

There are few really consecrated men among us, few who have fought and conquered
in the battle with self. Real conversion is a decided change of feelings and motives; it is a
[83] virtual taking leave of worldly connections, a hastening from their spiritual
atmosphere, a withdrawing from the controlling power of their thoughts, opinions, and
influences. The separation causes pain and bitterness to both parties. It is the variance
which Christ declares that He came to bring. But the converted will feel a continual
longing desire that their friends shall forsake all for Christ, knowing that, unless they do,
there will be a final and eternal separation. The true Christian cannot, while with
unbelieving friends, be light and trifling. The value of the souls for whom Christ died is
too great. {5T 82.5}

He "that forsaketh not all that he hath," says Jesus, "cannot be My disciple." Whatever
shall divert the affections from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. Its
golden chain binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by
another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of
others. These are Satan's snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be
broken; the flesh must be crucified with the affections and lusts. We cannot be half the
Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's people unless we are such entirely. Every
weight, every besetting sin, must be laid aside. God's watchmen will not cry, "Peace,
peace," when God has not spoken peace. The voice of the faithful watchmen will be
heard: "Go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be
ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." {5T 83.1}

The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by
what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be
compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and
upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral
character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has
conferred upon her, she will be found wanting. [84] The light has been shining clear and
definite upon her pathway, and the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are
unimproved, if her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light has become darkness, she is
indeed found wanting. The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden
from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as
unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon
our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him.
Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we
profess to be governed.

5T 209-213 (Used 25 times)

What does the term "the church" mean in 209:3? Are the prayers of the faithful for the
endangered church vain? How are they answered? What service, other than prayer, have
they been performing for "the church"? Is there any evidence that they are a separate
organization? How do they know about the "pride, avarice, and selfishness" in the
"church"? Does this passage speak of two churches, two sanctuaries? Or of one church
and sanctuary among whom men were sealed prior to the slaughter of the rest? In
relation to the timing of Daniel 12:1 and the seven last plagues, when does this passage
bring the "small remnant" to view as a united body of people?

But that which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had the greatest
light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by
the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold
and are borne down by the strong current of evil. The universal scorn thrown upon true
piety and holiness leads those who do not connect closely with God to lose their
reverence for His law. If they were following the light and obeying the truth from the
heart, this holy law would seem even more precious to them when thus despised and set
aside. As the disrespect for God's law becomes more manifest, the line of demarcation
between its observers and the world becomes more distinct. Love for the divine precepts
increases with one class according as contempt for them increases with another class.
{5T 209.1}

The crisis is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for
God's visitation has about come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless He will punish,
and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but
they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves
with the belief that God will shelter His people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They
should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others, looking with strong
faith to God for help. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
{5T 209.2}

The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. 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 209.3}

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. It is at this time that God has
promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear
long with them. {5T 210.1}

The command is: "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,
and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof." These sighing, crying ones had been
holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, counseled, and entreated. Some who
had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory
of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion,
His power and presence were lacking. {5T 210.2}

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. While others try
to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere
prevalent, those who have a zeal for God's honor and a love for souls will not hold their
peace to obtain favor of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy
works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent
of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. 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. The Spirit of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot,
while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonored, the truth made of none effect.
{5T 210.3}

The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over
the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His
messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: "Go ye after him through
the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and
young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon
whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which
were before the house." {5T 211.1}

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. {5T 211.2}

The abominations for which the faithful ones were sighing and crying were all that
could be discerned by finite eyes, but by far the worst sins, those which provoked the
jealousy of the pure and holy God, were unrevealed. The great Searcher of hearts
knoweth every sin committed in secret by the workers of iniquity. These persons come to
feel secure in their deceptions and, because of His long-suffering, say that the Lord seeth
not, and then act as though He had forsaken the earth. But He will detect their hypocrisy
and will open before others those sins which they were so careful to hide. {5T 211.3}

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 ring-leaders in apostasy and
examples in indifference and in the abuse of God's mercies. Their wicked course He will
tolerate no longer, and in His wrath He deals with them without mercy. {5T 212.1}

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 212.2}

The day of God's vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the
foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those
who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken and will
surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity. "The eyes of the Lord are over the
righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil." {5T 212.3}

Our own course of action will determine whether we shall receive the seal of the
living God or be cut down by the destroying weapons. Already a few drops of God's
wrath have fallen upon the earth; but when the seven last plagues shall be poured out
without mixture into the cup of His indignation, then it will be forever too late to repent
and find shelter. No atoning blood will then wash away the stains of sin. {5T 212.4}

"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there
was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
everyone that shall be found written in the book." When this time of trouble comes, every
case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal
of the living God is upon His people. This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in
the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make
God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they
shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May
God help His people now, for what can they then do in such a fearful conflict without His
assistance! {5T 212.5}

Courage, fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God's power to save do not come in a
moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy
endeavor and firm adherence to the right the children of God were sealing their destiny.
Beset with temptations without number, they knew they must resist firmly or be
conquered. They felt that they had a great work to do, and at any hour they might be
called to lay off their armor; and should they come to the close of life with their work
undone, it would be an eternal loss. They eagerly accepted the light from heaven, as did
the first disciples from the lips of Jesus. When those early Christians were exiled to
mountains and deserts, when left in dungeons to die with hunger, cold, and torture, when
martyrdom seemed the only way out of their distress, they rejoiced that they were
counted worthy to suffer for Christ, who was crucified for them. Their worthy example
will be a comfort and encouragement to the people of God who will be brought into the
time of trouble such as never was. {5T 213.1}

ChS 41 4x

[There are two good questions to ask about this next statement that are not answered in
the statement itself. The first, was this ratio from the year 1900 quite different from the
ratio in the year 1855? See 1T 504-505. Second, was the separation recommended at the
end of the paragraph a reference to separate organizations? Or to selective fellowship in
the local church? For an answer see FE 294 and look for the word "associate."]
 It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names
are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and
would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.
They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon. This
half-and-half work is a constant denying of Christ, rather than a confessing of Christ. So
many have brought into the church their own unsubdued spirit, unrefined; their spiritual
taste is perverted by their own immoral, debasing corruptions, symbolizing the world in
spirit, in heart, in purpose, confirming themselves in lustful practices, and are full of
deception through and through in their professed Christian life. Living as sinners,
claiming to be Christians! Those who claim to be Christians and will confess Christ
should come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing, and be separate. . . .
{ChS 41.1}

GC 608, used seven times.

What do the "large class" abandon when put under pressure? When did their brethren
become "former brethren"? Would it be accurate to apply this latter term, from this
statement, to men today? Are the unfaithful former brethren of the faithful "former
brethren" Sabbath keepers in this passage?

As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to
God's downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only
madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut
away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command
they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals
to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. 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. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise
would know nothing of these truths. {GC 607.1}

Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by

Satan, the parent will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child; the
master or mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be
alienated; children will be disinherited and driven from home. The words of Paul will be
literally fulfilled: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2
Timothy 3:12. As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of
them will be thrust into prison, some will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To
human wisdom all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall
be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the
divine precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when
God's fear and love are removed. {GC 608.1}

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's
message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their
position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of
its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is
brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing
address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead
souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When
Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are
the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports
and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. {GC 608.2}

In this time of persecution the faith of the Lord's servants will be tried. They have
faithfully given the warning, looking to God and to His word alone. God's Spirit, moving
upon their hearts, has constrained them to speak. Stimulated with holy zeal, and with the
divine impulse strong upon them, they entered upon the performance of their duties
without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the
Lord had given them. They have not consulted their temporal interests, nor sought to
preserve their reputation or their lives. Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach
bursts upon them, some, overwhelmed with consternation, will be ready to exclaim: "Had
we foreseen the consequences of our words, we would have held our peace." They are
hedged in with difficulties. Satan assails them with fierce temptations. The work which
they have undertaken seems far beyond their ability to accomplish. They are threatened
with destruction. The enthusiasm which animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn
back. Then, feeling their utter helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for strength.
They remember that the words which they have spoken were not theirs, but His who bade
them give the warning. God put the truth into their hearts, and they could not forbear to
proclaim it. {GC 608.3}

RH Feb. 26, 1895 and TM 265, two similar statements used five times each, ten times
in total.

What class is Satan seeking to accuse? Why are those entrusted with the "field"
disappointed? Is this passage a prophecy that the Sabbath-keeping church will become
Babylon of Revelation 18? Or is it a warning against wordliness using the Roman
apostasy as an illustration of what happens when a church is "married" to the world?
Does TM 59 help answer this question? How does wordliness in the church affect our
institutions?

Many despise the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and if they can make it appear
that those who are striving to obey the commandments of God are faulty, they strike an
arrow at the people of God for the prince of accusers. The cruel thrusts of unbelievers
will do little harm if those who profess to be servants of Christ will stand true to his
words, and be doers of the word, and not hearers only. When unbelievers come to one of
the servants of Christ with a complaint against some brother or sister in the church, let
him remember that he is pledged to Jesus Christ to love and to respect and be faithful to
them who are united with him in the bonds of Christian fellowship. The Christian is not
to unite with false accusers of the brethren. He is not to take up a reproach against his
neighbor, or in any way to second the work of the enemy by playing into his hands, and
making his work a success. {RH, February 26, 1895 par. 3}

The world must not be introduced into the church and married to the church. Through
union with the world the church will become corrupt,--"a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird." The customs of the world must not have a place; for they will be open doors
through which the prince of darkness will find access, and the line of demarkation will
become indistinguishable between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Jesus presented a parable to his followers concerning a field in which it was supposed
there was nothing sown but good wheat. But those to whom the field had been intrusted
looked upon it with disappointment, for with the wheat came up also a crop of tares. They
inquired of the owner, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then
hath it tares?" The owner of the field replied, "An enemy hath done this." {RH, February
26, 1895 par. 4}

The world is the chief enemy of religion; for Satanic forces are continually at work
through the world, and it is the object of Satan to bring the church and the world into
such close fellowship that their aims, their spirit, their principles, shall harmonize, and
that it will be impossible to distinguish between him who professes to serve God and him
who serveth him not. The enemy works continually to push the world to the front, and to
make it appear that those who do not serve Jesus, who do not believe in him, and who do
not seek to be doers of his word, are superior in character to those who seek to follow in
his footsteps. {RH, February 26, 1895 par. 5}

It is the work of the Christian to mend, to restore, to heal. This healing process saves
many a soul and hides a multitude of sins. God is love; God is, in Himself, in His
essence, love. He makes the very best of what appears an injury, and gives Satan no
occasion for triumph by making the worst appear and exposing our weakness to our
enemies. The world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church,
forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and
as stated in Revelation, "a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." {TM 265.1}

Through association with the world our institutions will become unsubstantial,
unreliable; because these worldly elements, introduced and placed in positions of trust,
are looked up to as teachers to be respected in their educating, directing, and official
position, and they are sure to be worked upon by the spirit and power of darkness; so that
the demarcation becomes not distinguished between him that serveth God and him that
serveth Him not. The parable is given by Jesus Christ in regard to the field in which it
was supposed had been sown pure wheat, but the entrusted ones look upon the field with
disappointment, and inquire, "Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence
then hath it tares?" The master of the vineyard answers, "An enemy hath done this."
{TM 265.2}
TM 411 Used four times leaving out a very significant sentence. " But there is a people
who will bear the ark of God.[" Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these
cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end. ] They will proclaim
the word of the Lord"

How will deceptive schemes be overthrown? Satan has worked that nothing of a
rebuking nature shall come among whom? What do those do who will bear the "ark no
longer"? What does the word "restrictions" tell us about the relation of the rebukers to
the organization? Does the organization feel that it has authority to tell them what to
do and what not to do?

Gather the host of the Lord, with sanctified hearts, to hear what the Lord will say unto
His people; for He has increased light for all who will hear. Let them be armed and
equipped, and come up to the battle--to the help of the Lord against the mighty. God
Himself will work for Israel. Every lying tongue will be silenced. Angels' hands will
overthrow the deceptive schemes that are being formed. The bulwarks of Satan will never
triumph. Victory will attend the third angel's message. As the Captain of the Lord's host
tore down the walls of Jericho, so will the Lord's commandment-keeping people triumph,
and all opposing elements be defeated. Let no soul complain of the servants of God who
have come to them with a heaven-sent message. Do not any longer pick flaws in them,
saying, "They are too positive; they talk too strongly." They may talk strongly; but is it
not needed? God will make the ears of the hearers tingle if they will not heed His voice or
His message. He will denounce those who resist the word of God.

Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to
reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who
will bear the ark of God. Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no
longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and
upward to the end. In the past God has raised up men, and He still has men of opportunity
waiting, prepared to do His bidding--men who will go through restrictions which are only
as walls daubed with untempered mortar. When God puts His Spirit upon men, they will
work. They will proclaim the word of the Lord; they will lift up their voice like a
trumpet. The truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands. They will show
the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. {TM 411.1}

5T 524, used four times. What does the term "most fervent prayer" tell us about the
relation of the "faithful remnant" to the endangered church"? In context, why are
they praying for her? In the typical illustration of Moses and erring Israel, what other
option (than prayer) presented itself to Moses? Why was he so often forced to choose
between starting a new smaller holy people and praying for the body that was opposing
him? Is there any hint in this statement that the faithful remnant view themselves as
separate from the "church" that is in danger? Do the examples of Daniel and Paul
and Ezra, in prayer, give us a clue?

God keeps a reckoning with the nations. Through every century of this world's history
evil workers have been treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath; and when the time
fully comes that iniquity shall have reached the stated boundary of God's mercy, His
forbearance will cease. When the accumulated figures in heaven's record books shall
mark the sum of transgression complete, wrath will come, unmixed with mercy, and then
it will be seen what a tremendous thing it is to have worn out the divine patience. This
crisis will be reached when the nations shall unite in making void God's law. {5T 523.4}

The days will come when the righteous will be stirred to zeal for God because of the
abounding iniquity. None but divine power can stay the arrogance of Satan united with
evil men; but in the hour of the church's greatest danger most fervent prayer will be
offered in her behalf by the faithful remnant, and God will hear and answer at the very
time when the guilt of the transgressor has reached its height. He will "avenge His own
elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them." They will be
jealous for the honor of God. They will be zealous in prayer, and their faith will grow
strong. {5T 524.1}

1SM 385

This Bible prophecy, from Isaiah 11, is part of the promised gathering together of
the scattered remnant. It speaks of what will happen in congregations that respond
to God's call to repent. It has something to say about the relation of revival to long-
standing schisms in the body.

"O that all might repent and do their first works. When the churches do this, they will
love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves. Ephraim will not envy Judah, and
Judah will not vex Ephraim. Divisions will then be healed, the harsh sounds of strife will
no more be heard in the borders of Israel."

2SM 111 (1896)

What part of the history of the Jewish nation is Ellen White talking about in this
statement:

"Satan is working that the history of the Jewish nation may be repeated in
the experience of those who claim to believe present truth."

Here is more of the context, context that would have changed the way a reader
understood the implications of the statement.

Many will honestly search the Word for Light as those in the past have searched it;
and they see light in the Word. But they did not pass over the ground in their experience,
when these messages of warning were first proclaimed. Not having had this experience,
some do not appreciate the value of the truths that have been to us as waymarks, and that
have made us as a peculiar people what we are. They do not make a right application of
the Scriptures, and thus they frame theories that are not correct. It is true that they quote
an abundance of Scripture, and teach much that is true; but truth is so mixed with error as
to lead to wrong conclusions. Yet because they can weave Scripture into their theories,
they think that they have a straight chain of truth. Many who did not have an experience
in the rise of the messages, accept these erroneous theories, and are led into false paths,
backward instead of forward. This is the enemy's design. {2SM 110.4}

Satan is working that the history of the Jewish nation may be repeated in the
experience of those who claim to believe present truth. The Jews had the Old Testament
Scriptures, and supposed themselves conversant with them. But they made a woeful
mistake. The prophecies that refer to the glorious second appearing of Christ in the clouds
of heaven they regarded as referring to His first coming. Because He did not come
according to their expectations, they turned away from Him. Satan knew just how to take
these men in his net, and deceive and destroy them. . . . {2SM 111.1}

The very same Satan is at work to undermine the faith of the people of God at this
time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and
the Revelation are misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been
set forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this special
work. These men followed on step by step in the very fulfillment of prophecy, and those
who have not had a personal experience in this work, are to take the Word of God and
believe on "their word" who have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first,
second, and third angels' messages. These messages, received and acted upon, are doing
their work to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God. If we search the
Scriptures to confirm the truth God has given His servants for the world, we shall be
found proclaiming the first, second, and third angels' messages. {2SM 111.2}

3SM 422 [The following, from 13MR 10.4-11.1, is the context from which 3SM 422 is
quoted]

How do those that resist the truth escape hearing it, in this passage? Who fills the
"vacant" places left by the defectors? Why did the defectors defect, according to 1
John 2:19? How is the size of the "ranks" affected by the work of the "the Lord" in
the third paragraph? Would an unbiased reader of the passage, a neutral person
ignorant of the views of the SDA and SDARM, understand it in a way that would favor
one or the other?

"The church may appear as about to fall, it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners
in Zion will be sifted out-the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible
ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by
the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and
true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths."

But truth will bear away the victory. Those who will maintain the truth, irrespective of
consequences, will offend some whose hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in
Jesus. These persons cherish theories of their own, which are not the truth. The truth does
not harmonize with their sentiments, and rather than give up their own ideas, they walk
away from those who obey the truth. 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.
{13MR 10.4}
 "They went out from us, but they were not of us" [1 John 2:19]. Men of true Christian
principle will take their place, and will become faithful, trustworthy householders, to
advocate the Word of God in its true bearings and in its simplicity. The Lord will work so
that the disaffected ones will be separated from the true and loyal ones. Those who, like
Cornelius, will fear God and glorify Him, will take their places. 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. {13MR 11.1}

3SM 385, use three times [The following is the context of 3SM 385]

How will the church be rid of its uncalled pastors? Will it be by entering a new field, or
by weeding the original?

Some have entered the work with a human commission rather than the divine. They have
educated themselves as debaters, and the churches under their care show the character of
their work. They were not ready, they were not fitted for the work. Their hearts are not
right with God. In short, they have a theory but not true conversion and sanctification
through the truth. The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not
appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.
{12MR 327.1}

3SM 421, 422

Fill in the blank, "The Lord will bring ___ those who have lived up to all the light they
have had." What distinguishes the unfaithful workers? Is it their denominational
connection or something else?

"Many who have had great light have not appreciated and improved it as it was their
privilege to do. They have not practiced the truth. And because of this the Lord will bring
in those who have lived up to all the light they have had. And those who have been
privileged with opportunities to understand the truth and who have not obeyed its
principles will be swayed by Satan's temptations for self-advancement. They will deny
the principles of truth in practice and bring reproach upon the cause of God. Christ
declares that He will spue these out of His mouth, and leave them to follow their own
course of actions to distinguish themselves. This course of action does indeed make them
prominent as men that are unfaithful householders. The Lord will give His message to
those who have walked in accordance with the light they have had, and will recognize
them as true and faithful, according to the measurement of God. These men will take the
place of those who, having light and knowledge, have walked not in the way of the Lord,
but in the imagination of their own unsanctified hearts."

4T 89

The part of the statement below that is in italics was omitted in the Good Way series.
Why? What causes many false professors to join the church? What remedies the
problem of their presence? Is it a new start? Or something else?
 "I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was shown that every
trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed Christians proves some to be
dross. The fine gold does not always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under
temptation. The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity
multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their
spirits are not steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; when
tribulation or persecution arises be cause of the word, many are offended."

5T 160

The Good Way series quotes this passage, and this much of it: "We are repeating the
history of that people." Israel, of course, had a long history. What part of the history
was Sister White referring to when she wrote the statement? Particularly, was she
referring to a time when men should separate from the sinful nation, or when they
should remain and intercede for it? Even one sentence of context is enough to answer:

Satan's snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the children of Israel just prior
to their entrance into the land of Canaan. We are repeating the history of that people.

5T 612

In the following statement the sentences in italics are left out of the Good Way series.
Do they make a difference in how the statement is understood? Are the "brethren"
threatened as a denomination or as individuals and congregations?

"Brethren, your own lamps will surely flicker and grow dim until they go out in darkness
unless you make decided efforts to reform. 'Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works.' The opportunity now presented may be short. If
this season of grace and repentance passes unimproved, the warning is given: 'I will come
unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place.' These words are
uttered by the lips of the long-suffering, forbearing One. They are a solemn warning to
churches and individuals that the Watcher who never slumbers is measuring their course
of action. It is only by reason of His marvelous patience that they are not cut down as
cumberers of the ground. But His Spirit will not always strive. His patience will wait but
little longer"

6T 400

(Only the underlined sentence is quoted in the GWS.) What kind of separation will be
seen in our ranks? A split into two Advent bodies? Or numerous individual defections
by persons listening to seducing devil doctrines? What kind of unity will be seen? Will
it involve persons who have left the "fold" while it was full of unfaithful professors?

God's plan is first to get at the heart. Speak the truth, and let Him carry forward the
reformatory power and principle. Make no reference to what opponents say, but let the
truth alone be advanced. The truth can cut to the quick. Plainly unfold the word in all its
impressiveness. {6T 400.2}

As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some
who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it
manifest that they have not built upon the solid rock; they will yield to temptation. Those
who have had great light and precious privileges, but have not improved them, will,
under one pretext or another, go out from us. Not having received the love of the truth,
they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of devils, and will depart from the faith. But, on the other hand, when the
storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep will hear the true Shepherd's
voice. Self-denying efforts will be put forth to save the lost, and many who have strayed
from the fold will come back to follow the great Shepherd. The people of God will draw
together and present to the enemy a united front. In view of the common peril, strife for
supremacy will cease; there will be no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest.
No one of the true believers will say: "I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas."

8T 249, 250, used three times (1903)

Did "He" give us a Bible hint as to the future of the harlot like city? See Isaiah 1:21-
28. It is an incredible prophecy, a summary of all that the statements we have looked at
so far teach. What kind of spirit will characterize the needed reformation? How will
that mindset affect many unfaithful persons in the church? What will it do to artificial
barriers that separate believers in the present truth? (The three GWS citations quote
no further than the phrase "shall abhor herself")

Then He said to me: 'Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their
defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My
Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and
glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.

Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall
repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor
herself. When she resists the evil and chooses the good, when she seeks God with all
humility and reaches her high calling in Christ, standing on the platform of eternal truth
and by faith laying hold upon the attainments prepared for her, she will be healed. She
will appear in her God-given simplicity and purity, separate from earthly entanglements,
showing that the truth has made her free indeed. Then her members will indeed be the
chosen of God, His representatives. {8T 250.3}

The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place. When this reformation
begins, the spirit of prayer will actuate every believer and will banish from the church the
spirit of discord and strife. Those who have not been living in Christian fellowship will
draw close to one another. One member working in right lines will lead other members to
unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit. There will be
no confusion, because all will be in harmony with the mind of the Spirit. The barriers
separating believer from believer will be broken down, and God's servants will speak the
same things. The Lord will co-operate with His servants. All will pray understandingly
the prayer that Christ taught His servants: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10.

{AA 11.3}

This statement is cited by reference only. I give here one paragraph from the passage that
relates to our question. Has God known all along how the SDA church would respond to
his invitations? Has He, by his prophets, traced out the events that would occur?

Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His
church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one opposing
force has risen to counterwork His work, that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as
He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations
what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell has been
brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled. His law is linked with His throne, and
no power of evil can destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph
over all opposition.

Amos 9:9, 11. Acts 15:16

In Acts 15 the world church is weighing two opinions. On one hand a group was
teaching that Gentiles must be circumcised (ie, become Jews) to be saved. Paul was
teaching the opposite, that God saves Gentiles as Gentiles. The apostle James and the
world church sided with Paul. James used scripture to prove that God, who knows
"from the beginning of the world" what He is going to do, would invite Gentiles to
seek the Lord.

But was James trying to say that Israel, in his day, was going to be entirely
depopulated of sinners by the sword? No, James was not saying that Amos 9:9-10 was
being fulfilled in his day. Rather, he was saying that if God expects to invite Gentiles
into the church, we should also. Amos 9:9-10 is clearly an end-time prophecy (1T 431;
RH 11-26-1861; RH 1-19-1864; RH 2-5-1914) with a past literal local application to
the houses of Jeroboam (PK 285).

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I
will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not
utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. 9 For, lo, I will
command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as
corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the
earth. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which
say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. 11 In that day will I
raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the
breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in
the days of old: 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and
of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that
doeth this. Am 9:8-12

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After

this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is
fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it
up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the
Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all
these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning
of the world. Ac 15:15-18

DA 392, used twice.

In John 6, before the purging, were the faithful followers in the majority or in the
minority? Who were purged? What does that teach us? Does this passage indicate that
John the Baptists' prophecy was completely fulfilled in John 6? (Very apparently,
John's prophecy involves the fires of the last day. It speaks of a final separation of the
grain and the chaff prior to burning the latter. No grain was gathered to the garner in
John 6. Rather, John 6 was an illustration of how the purging works. A word study on
the EGW CD ROM on "thoroughly purge" will make this abundantly clear, as will as
plain reading of the scripture.)

"'Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His
wheat into the garner.' Matt. 3:12. This was one of the times of purging. By the words of
truth, the chaff was being separated from the wheat. Because they were too vain and self-
righteous to receive reproof, too world-loving to accept a life of humility, many turned
away from Jesus."

EW 261

The "nominal Adventists" of Ellen White's day believed in a pre-millennial physical

return of Jesus to the earth. On this they were correct. They were wrong, however, in
relation to the issues of spiritualism, Sabbath, and the sanctuary. The other churches
of her day were not Adventist. They thought Christ would not come until after the 1000
years.

Since that time the influence of the nominal Adventists has succeeded in modifying the
theology of most Christian churches. Today most of them are pre-millennial believers
in a literal soon-coming Jesus. In other words, the Methodists and Baptists and
Evangelicals and Pentecostals of today are modern "nominal Adventists" with nearly
the same doctrinal positions as the small Millerite bands of the 1800's.

"I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen
churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called
out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth.... The light will shine, and all
who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant."
EW 271, used twice

By now reading the material indicated by ellipsis should be habitual. We want to know
whether the material left out is relevant to the issue under discussion. In this case it
will pinpoint the time of earth's history when the number is "lessened" and again
enlarged.

"My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken....
The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the
way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and
salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they
were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking
hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around them, but
could-have no power over them."

2SM 385

A little history is in order in connection with this statement. In the "alpha" of apostasy
Dr. Kellogg worked to remove the denominational connections of the Sanitarium. His
friends worked to remove the name "Seventh-day Adventist" from the magazine "The
Sentinel." The denomination opposed both of these efforts. We lost the sanitarium and
kept the magazine.

More recently a number of SDA hospitals and schools have sought to lose or hide their
denominational connections. Columbia Union College tried a few years ago to become,
legally, a non-sectarian school. The denomination opposed this effort and succeeded.
The president resigned. Amen.

Today the name is exalted around the world. In the context of the statement the
defining characteristic of us as a people is the Sabbath. To read the statement as if the
word "company" meant "denomination" would be to read it wrongly.

Further, the statement uses the term "remnant people of God" as a substitute for
Seventh-day Adventists. This is the logic of the paragraph: SDA's should show their
name because the Bible says the remnant will be those that keep the commandments.
To read the statement as if the SDA's and "remnant" are contrasted is to make
nonsense out of the paragraph's reasoning.

I was told that men will employ every policy to make less prominent the difference
between the faith of Seventh-day Adventists and those who observe the first day of the
week. In this controversy the whole world will be engaged, and the time is short. This is
no time to haul down our colors. {2SM 385.1}

A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who
were advising that the banner or sign which makes us a distinctive people should not be
held out so strikingly; for they claimed it was not the best policy in securing success to
our institutions. This distinctive banner is to be borne through the world to the close of
probation. In describing the remnant people of God, John says, "Here is the patience of
the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
(Revelation 14:12). This is the law and the gospel. The world and the churches are
uniting in harmony in transgressing the law of God, in tearing away God's memorial, and
in exalting a sabbath that bears the signature of the man of sin. But the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God is to be a sign to show the difference between the obedient and the
disobedient. I saw some reaching out their hands to remove the banner, and to obscure its
significance. . . . {2SM 385.2}

PP 454

The following paragraph is cited in the GWS. The phrase "apostasy became national"
is the part used. Here are good questions. Was Moses, at this time, invited to start a
new people? Why did he refuse? What should we do in the face of the sins in our day?

It was not long before the poison had spread, like a deadly infection, through the camp of
Israel. Those who would have conquered their enemies in battle were overcome by the
wiles of heathen women. The people seemed to be infatuated. The rulers and the leading
men were among the first to transgress, and so many of the people were guilty that the
apostasy became national. "Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor." When Moses was
aroused to perceive the evil, the plots of their enemies had been so successful that not
only were the Israelites participating in the licentious worship at Mount Peor, but the
heathen rites were coming to be observed in the camp of Israel. The aged leader was
filled with indignation, and the wrath of God was kindled. {PP 454.4}

RH Jan. 16, 1900, used three times.

Must truth be surrendered to be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? The

answer is "no." Harmony that can be secured without compromise should be secured;
all other should not.

"Those who love Jesus and the souls for whom He has died will follow after the things
which make for peace. But they must take care lest in their efforts to prevent discord,
they surrender truth; lest in warding off division, they sacrifice principle. True
brotherhood can never be maintained by compromising principle.... That peace and
harmony which are secured by mutual concessions to avoid all differences of opinion are
not worthy of the name."

RH Oct. 21, 1890

The skipped portion of the article reveals what result came "upon the children of
Israel." The very first sentence of the skipped portion (in italics below) answers that
God was grieved with "that generation." Of course, we know what happened. The
same ones saved out of Egypt died in the wilderness. They didn't enter Canaan. They
were rejected as a generation. Their children, however, were not rejected with their
parents. This is the point of Ezekiel 20:6-18, etc.

"May the Lord forbid that the history of the children of Israel in departing from God, in
refusing to walk in the light, in refusing to confess their sins of unbelief and rejection of
His messages, should be the experience of the people claiming to believe the truth for this
time. For if they do as did the children of Israel in the face of warnings and admonitions,
the same result will follow in these last days as came upon the children of Israel. The
apostle admonishes, "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me,
proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,
and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I
sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest."

****************************************************************
God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who keep His
commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a
people. The truth is a sanctifying power; but the church militant is not the church
triumphant. There are tares among the wheat. “Wilt thou then that we . . . gather them
up?” was the question of the servant; but the master answered, “Nay; lest while ye gather
up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.” The gospel net draws not only good
fish, but bad ones as well, and the Lord only knows who are His. {CCh 240.1}
It is our individual duty to walk humbly with God. We are not to seek any strange, new
message. We are not to think that the chosen ones of God who are trying to walk in the
light compose Babylon.427 {CCh 240.2}
Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the
church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by
sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled,
is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard. The world
is a workshop in which, through the cooperation of human and divine agencies, Jesus is
making experiments by His grace and divine mercy upon human hearts.428 {CCh 240.3}

Let every one who is seeking to live a Christian life, remember that the church
militant is not the church triumphant. Those who are carnally minded will be found in the
church. They are to be pitied more than blamed. The church is not to be judged as
sustaining these characters, though they be found within her borders. Should the church
expel them, the very ones who found fault with their presence there, would blame the
church for sending them adrift in the world; they would claim that they were treated
unmercifully. It may be that in the church there are those who are cold, proud, haughty,
and unchristian, but you need not associate with this class. There are many who are
warm-hearted, who are self-denying, self-sacrificing, who would, were it required, lay
down their lives to save souls. Jesus saw the bad and the good in church relationship, and
said, "Let both grow together until the harvest." None are under the necessity of
becoming tares because every plant in the field is not wheat. If the truth were known,
these complainers make their accusations in order to quiet a convicted, condemning
conscience. Their own course of action is not wholly commendable. Even those who are
striving for the mastery over the enemy, have sometimes been wrong and done wrong.
Evil prevails over good when we do not trust wholly in Christ, and abide in Him.
Inconsistencies of character will then be manifested that would not be revealed if we
preserved the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {FE 294.2}

The church militant is not now the church triumphant; but God loves His church and
describes through the prophet how He opposes and resists Satan, who is clothing the
children of God in the blackest and most defiled garments, and pleading for the privilege
of destroying them. The angels of God were protecting them from the assaults of the
enemy. The prophet says: {TM 21.2}

Has God no living church? He has a church, but it is the church militant, not the
church triumphant. We are sorry that there are defective members, that there are tares
amid the wheat. Jesus said: "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed
good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat, and went his way. . . . So the servants of the householder came and said unto him,
Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said
unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we
go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also
the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I
will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into my barn." {TM 45.1}
In the parable of the wheat and the tares, we see the reason why the tares were not to
be plucked up; it was lest the wheat be rooted up with the tares. Human opinion and
judgment would make grave mistakes. But rather than have a mistake made, and one
single blade of wheat rooted up, the Master says, "Let both grow together until the
harvest;" then the angels will gather out the tares, which will be appointed to destruction.
Although in our churches, that claim to believe advanced truth, there are those who are
faulty and erring, as tares among the wheat, God is long-suffering and patient. He
reproves and warns the erring, but He does not destroy those who are long in learning the
lesson He would teach them; He does not uproot the tares from the wheat. Tares and
wheat are to grow together till the harvest; when the wheat comes to its full growth and
development, and because of its character when ripened, it will be fully distinguished
from the tares. {TM 45.2}
The church of Christ on earth will be imperfect, but God does not destroy His church
because of its imperfection. There have been and will be those who are filled with zeal
not according to knowledge, who would purify the church, and uproot the tares from the
midst of the wheat. But Christ has given special light as to how to deal with those who
are erring, and with those who are unconverted in the church. There is to be no
spasmodic, zealous, hasty action taken by church members in cutting off those they may
think defective in character. Tares will appear among the wheat; but it would do more
harm to weed out the tares, unless in God's appointed way, than to leave them alone.
While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at the same
time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the
good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually
exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of
the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God. {TM 46.1}

We need to realize the importance of the canvassing work as one great means of
finding out those who are in peril, and bringing them back to Christ. The truth must go
forward. The church militant is not the church triumphant. Canvassers should never be
prohibited from speaking of the love of Christ, from telling their first experience in their
service for the Master. They should be perfectly free to speak or to pray with those who
are awakened. The simple story of Christ's love for man will open doors for them, even to
the homes of unbelievers. Of all the gifts which God has given to man, none is more
precious than the gift of speech, if it is sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It is with the tongue
that we convince and persuade: with it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we
convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love. Those who are fitted to enlighten minds
will often have opportunity to read from the Bible or from books which teach the truth,
and thus bring the evidence to enlighten souls. When canvassers discover those who are
interestedly searching for truth, they should hold Bible readings with them. These Bible
readings are just what the people need. God will use in His service those who thus show a
deep interest in perishing souls. Through them He will impart light to those who are
ready to receive instruction. {AUCR, July 1, 1902 par. 10}

"Let none entertain the thought, however, that we can dispense with organization. It
has cost us much study, and many prayers for wisdom that we know God has answered,
to erect this structure. It has been built up by his direction, through much sacrifice and
conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you
will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord,
I declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled. At God's
command, "Go forward," we advanced when the difficulties to be surmounted made the
advance seem impossible. We know how much it has cost to work out God's plans in the
past, which has made us as a people what we are. Then let every one be exceedingly
careful not to unsettle minds in regard to those things that God has ordained for our
prosperity and success in advancing his cause. {GCDB, January 29, 1893 par. 4}
"The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved
faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having
travelled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I
see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as
Leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord
has led us, and his teaching in our past history. We are now a strong people, if we will put
our trust in the Lord; for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have
everything to be thankful for. If we walk in the light as it shines upon us from the living
oracles of God, we shall have large responsibilities, corresponding to the great light given
us of God. We have many duties to perform, because we have been made the depositories
of sacred truth to be given to the world in all its beauty and glory. We are debtors to God
to use every advantage he has entrusted to us to beautify the truth of holiness of character,
and to send the message of warning, and of comfort, of hope and love, to those who are
in the darkness of error and sin. {GCDB, January 29, 1893 par. 5}
 The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved
faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having traveled
over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what
God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as leader.
We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led
us, and his teaching in our past history. {RH, October 12, 1905 par. 22}

The members of the church triumphant,--the church in heaven--will be permitted to

draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity. Let us
ever remember that we are laborers together with God. In this heavenly union we shall
carry forward his work with completeness, with singing and rejoicing. In every soul will
be kindled the fire of holy zeal. Company after company will leave the dark standard of
the foe, to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
{SW, September 8, 1903 par. 2}

Here Miriam died and was buried. From that scene of rejoicing on the shores of the
Red Sea, when Israel went forth with song and dance to celebrate Jehovah's triumph, to
the wilderness grave which ended a lifelong wandering--such had been the fate of
millions who with high hopes had come forth from Egypt. Sin had dashed from their lips
the cup of blessing. Would the next generation learn the lesson? {PP 410.2}
"For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works. . . . When He
slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And
they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer." Psalm
78:32-35. Yet they did not turn to God with a sincere purpose. Though when afflicted by
their enemies they sought help from Him who alone could deliver, yet "their heart was
not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. But He, being full of
compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He
His anger away. . . . For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth
away, and cometh not again." Verses 37-39. {PP 410.3}

Many have believed some things as truth because men whom they believed to be led
of God have declared them to be truth; but were they? Was all they held in doctrine true?
No! Time has shown that men who feared God have made mistakes in their interpretation
of Scriptures. Some parts were not understood, and the next generation have, through
diligent searching, come to a knowledge of the truth; advanced light has been presented,
but they did not have all the light. The next generation saw increased light and then there
was a going forward from light to a greater light. {1888 835.2}
It is a deplorable fact that men have connected with men, looked up to them, placed
them where God should be, regarded their words and works as inspired, their
interpretation of Scripture inspired, and they have become copies of men. They are
dwarfed in their religious experience. They do not lead out. They are letting other men be
brains for them, letting another man search the Scriptures for them, and accepting his
decisions as authority; and yet that man, whom they depend on and trust in, is compassed
with the same human infirmities and weaknesses, and his defects really are regarded to be
virtues to be copied. The Lord wants ministers of the gospel to search the Scriptures.
Make no living man a channel. Accept not the work he does as without a flaw. Do not let
him do the work God has told you to do. If you do, how are you occupying a safe
position? Jesus bids you come to Him, the great Teacher, and learn of Him, and you
should find rest to your souls. Let no man stand between your soul and Jesus Christ,
thinking that the Lord tells him that which He refuses to tell you. Give God a chance,
ministering brethren, to operate on your mind. Place yourself before Him as one who
wants to learn of Him. You must place yourself before the Lord in diligently searching
His Word that He may communicate ideas to you. He does not design that you shall be
dependent on human minds. He would have you look to Him in faith to do large things
for you, not through another man, but to you. {1888 836.1}

We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more
years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ's sake, His people should not add sin to
sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action. Now,
have men who claim to believe the Word of God learned their lesson that obedience is
better than sacrifice? "He hath showed thee (this rebellious people), O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8). {10MR 277.3}

*************************************
We will begin by stating succinctly the two views that we are trying to compare. Using
only the Bible and the context of statements found in the Good Way series we will
compare the accuracy of these two views.

SDARM VIEW
The Seventh-day Adventist denomination rejected God's 1888 message. Repeated
threatenings of removing the denominational candlestick were not idle. With more than
95% of the members unconverted, the "shaking" became a denominational separation.
Faithful members became part of a separate organized "remnant" church while the
"mother church" slumped further morally. She stands ready to receive the first strokes of
God's slaughtering judgments.

OTHER VIEW
The leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination rejected God's 1888 message.
Their generation was rejected; many of them were lost; their individual candlesticks were
removed and their duties passed to faithful men in the next generation. From 1860 to
1888, as well as afterwards, 95% of the members were unconverted. The "remnant" is the
faithful invisible church found throughout the larger visible church. The separation
prophesied shows many of the unfaithful 95% being led out of the church and many
others being slaughtered out in the seven last plagues.

**************** THE GOOD WAY SERIES, LESSONS 1 and 2 ****************

THE ANGEL OF
REVELATION 18 AND
THE MESSAGE OF 1888
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,
having great power
and the earth was lightened with his glory." Rev. 18:1.
For the finishing of His work on earth, God gave us three messages
(Rev. 14) by which we are to be prepared to stand in the great day of
the Lord. They are the present truth for today. The way we treat these
messages determines our position before God and decides our destiny
either for salvation or perdition. "The true understanding of these
messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the
manner in which they are received." EW 258, 259. Revelation 14 is
evidently a life or death question in which the great deceiver takes
special interest. As a matter of fact, he is doing his best to weaken our
grasp of the present truth. "Satan is constantly seeking to cast a
shadow about these messages, so that the people of God shall not
clearly discern their import, their time and place." 6T 18. And,
unfortunately, he has had much success among the professed people
of God.
I-WHY THE ANGEL OF REVELATION 18 MUST COME
"Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the
third angel's message shall be bound about. We must beware of his
plans and methods. There must be no toning down of the truth, no
muffling of the message for this time. The third angel's message must
be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation
reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms
but with boldness and power.... There has been too much beating
about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel's message. The
message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have
been." Ev 230.
"The third angel's message is to be given with power. The power of the
proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified in
the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly messenger who
unites with the third angel: 'I saw another angel come down from
heaven, having great power
and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with
a strong voice.' Rev. 18:1, 2. We are in danger of giving the third
angel's message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the
people. So m. any other interests are brought in that the very
message which should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and
voiceless." 6T 60.
"As foretold in the eighteenth of Revelation, the third angel's message
is to be proclaimed with great power by those who give the final
warning against the beast and his image: [Rev. 18:1-6 quoted]. This is
the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the
third angel.... It is a solemn and terrible truth that many who have
been zealous in proclaiming the third angel's message are now
becoming listless and indifferent! The line of demarcation between
worldlings and many professed Christians is almost indistinguishable.
Many who once were earnest Adventists are conforming to the world
to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. Instead of leading the
world to render obedience to God's law, the church is uniting more and
more closely with the world in transgression. Daily the church is
becoming converted to the world." 8T 118, 119.
According to E. G. White, the angel of Revelation 18 would bring the
needed reinforcement:
"I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to
unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his
message." EW 277.
"Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among
us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away
our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God.... They
will proclaim the word of the Lord
they will lift up their voice like a trumpet. The truth will not be
diminished or lose its power in their hands. They will show the people
their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." TM 411.
II-MINNEAPOLIS, THE TURNING POINT
1888 marked a critical period for the SDA Church. In this same year
and in the following years the church was called upon to choose
between vital issues and thus decide her destiny.
1. The Beginning of the Light (1888)
The servant of the Lord wrote:
"I know that a work must be done for the people, or many will not be
prepared to receive the light of the angel sent down from heaven to
lighten the whole earth with his glory." TM 468, 469.
"The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has
already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-
pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel
whose glory shall fill the whole earth." 1SM 363.
"The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His
people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring
more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice
for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith
in the Surety
it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is
made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." TM 91,
92.
2. Only a Few Can See the Light
"We are living in the last days, and the generation that is to witness
the final destruction has not been left without warning of the hastening
judgments of God. Says the apostle, [Rev. 18:1-5 quoted]. The whole
earth is to be lightened with the glory of this message, and hearts and
minds will be prepared by its reception, for the coming of the King of
kings. But this gracious message will be as generally rejected by the
professed Christian world, as was the message of the Messiah by the
Jewish nation. Only a few will receive the testimony of truth, for every
influence that Satan can bring to bear against the reception of the
truth of God will be employed.... The question of most vital importance
for this time is, 'Who is on the Lord's side? Who will unite with the
angel [of Revelation 18] in giving the message of truth to the world?
Who will receive the light that is to fill the whole earth with its glory?'
Those who cherish the light that they have, will receive more.
Increasing light will shine about the souls who yield to the softening,
subduing grace of Christ
and those who love the light, will be saved from the delusions of
Satan." RH Nov. 5, 1889.
"For nearly two years we have been urging the people to come up and
accept the light and the truth concerning the righteousness of Christ,
and they do not know whether to come and take hold of this precious
truth or not.... They do not let the Saviour in." RH March 11, 1890.
"O how few know the day of their visitation! . . . How few there are
who are truly humble, devoted, God-fearing servants....
'Today there are few who are heartily serving God. The most of those
who compose our congregations are spiritually dead in trespasses and
sins.... They are less and less sensible of the preciousness and value of
truth, because they neglect the practice of those things which are
pleasing in the sight of God. The stirring testimonies of reproof and
warning do not arouse them. The sweetest melodies that come from
God through human lips-justification by faith, and the righteousness of
Christ-do not bring forth from them a response of love and gratitude.
Though the heavenly merchantman displays before them the richest
jewels of faith and love, though his voice invites them to buy of him
'gold tried in the fire,' and 'white raiment that they may be clothed,'
and 'eye-salve that they may see,' they steel their hearts against him,
and fail to exchange their lukewarmness for love and zeal
but fold their hands in complacency, make a profession, but deny the
power of true godliness. If they continue in this state, God will reject
them with abhorrence. To praise the world and God at the same time,
is in no way acceptable to God. Awake, awake, before it is
everlastingly too late." RH April 4, 1893.
3. There Is a Time Limit
The counsel of the Faithful and True Witness to Laodicea (Rev. 3:18-
20) was offered to remedy the situation while there was still hope.
Sister White wrote:
"The message given us by A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner is the
message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto anyone
who professes to believe the truth, and yet does not reflect to others
the God-given rays." MS 24, 1892.
"There is yet a chance to remedy their state [those who are
lukewarm], and the Laodicean message is full of encouragement
for the backslidden church may yet buy the gold of faith and love,
may yet have the white robe of the righteousness of Christ, that the
shame of their nakedness need not appear." RH Aug. 28, 1894.
"Brethren, your own lamps will surely flicker and grow dim until they
go out in darkness unless you make decided efforts to reform.
'Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works.' The opportunity now presented may be short. If this
season of grace and repentance passes unimproved, the warning is
given: 'I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place.' . . . But His Spirit will not always strive. His patience
will wait but little longer" 5T 612 (1889).
"It is not God that puts the blinder before the eyes of men or makes
their hearts hard
it is the light which God sends to His people, to correct their errors, to
lead them in safe paths, but which they refuse to accept-it is this that
blinds their minds and hardens their hearts. They choose to turn from
the light, to stubbornly walk in sparks of their own kindling, and the
Lord positively declares that they shall lie down in sorrow. When one
ray of light which the Lord sends is not acknowledged, there is a
partial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions, and the second
revealing of light is less clearly discerned, and so the darkness will
constantly increase until it is night to the soul. Christ said, 'How great
is that darkness!'. . .
"May the Lord forbid that the history of the children of Israel in
departing from God, in refusing to walk in the light, in refusing to
confess their sins of unbelief and rejection of His messages, should be
the experience of the people claiming to believe the truth for this time.
For if they do as did the children of Israel in the face of warnings and
admonitions, the same result will follow in these last days as came
upon the children of Israel.... God is not in a hurry to carry out His
plans
for He is from everlasting to everlasting. He gives light and opens His
truth more fully to those whom He would have to receive it, that they
in their turn may take up the words of warning and encouragement,
and give them to others. If men of repute and intelligence refuse to do
this, the Lord will choose other instruments, honoring those who are
looked upon as inferior." RH Oct. 21, 1890.
"The Lord has seen our backslidings, and He has a controversy with
His people.... The displeasure of the Lord is against His people. In their
present condition it is impossible for them to represent the character
of Christ.... They have refused to receive the message
they have refused to come to the light, lest their deeds should be
reproved.... The time will come when it must be said of the impenitent,
'Ephraim is joined to his idols
let him alone.' Will the church see where she has fallen? . . . When
the members of the church humble themselves before God by zealous,
not half-hearted, lifeless action, the Lord will receive them. But He
declares, 'I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' How long shall this
warning be resisted?-The church is like the unproductive tree . . . on
which the divine search discovers nothing but leaves. Solemn thought
for our churches! solemn, indeed, for every individual! Marvelous is the
patience and forbearance of God
but 'except thou repent,' it will be exhausted
the churches, our institutions, will go from weakness to weakness,
from cold formality to deadness, while they are saying, 'I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing.'" RH (EXTRA), Dec.
23, 1890.
"'Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works
or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place, except thou repent.' What effect have these words
had upon the church? Have the professed people of God understood
the import of the words, 'I will come unto thee quickly [when you are
at ease, careless, filled with spiritual negligence], and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' When warnings come
no more to the people of God, when tender admonitions from the
Spirit of God are silent, when the candle of heavenly illumination
shines no longer upon their pathway, they will be left to kindle their
own fire, and to walk in the sparks of their own kindling." RH April 4,
1893. (The words in brackets appear in the original.)
From the foregoing quotations we see that the presentation of Christ
and His righteousness led the church to the place where she was
given:
(1) a short time to decide her destiny,
(2) the opportunity to decide between:
(a) a genuine revival and reformation or
(b) removal of her candlestick.
If the church accepted the special help sent to her, it would not be too
late for her to avert the impending denominational disaster. But if she
failed to improve the opportunity given her for revival and reformation,
the removal of her candlestick would be marked by the cessation of
God's warnings and admonitions.
III-THE CHURCH DECIDES HER DESTINY
It is not generally known among Adventists that "the message of the
other angel" was rejected.
1. The Message Rejected
Sister White wrote:
"Now our meeting is drawing to a close and not one confession has
been made, there has not been a single break so as to let the Spirit of
God in. Now I was saying, What was the use of our assembling here
together and for our ministering brethren to come in if they are here
only to shut out the Spirit of God from the people? . . . If the ministers
will not receive the light, I want to give the people a chance
perhaps they may receive it." MS 9, 1888.
"If you wait for light to come in a way that will please every one, you
will wait in vain. If you wait for louder calls or better opportunities, the
light will be withdrawn, and you will be left in darkness. Grasp every
ray of light that God sends. Men who neglect to heed the calls of the
Spirit and word of God, because obedience involves a cross, will lose
their souls." RH Dec. 18, 1888.
"I have tried to present the message to you as I have understood it,
but how long will those at the head of the work keep themselves aloof
from the message of God?" RH March 18, 1890.
"If they have not recognized the Spirit of the Lord in the messages I
have borne they will recognize it less now, for I have not strength to
contend with the spirit, and resistance, doubts and unbelief which have
barricaded their souls, that they could not see when good cometh. I
have far greater liberty in speaking to unbelievers. They are
interested. They feel impressed by the Spirit of God, and say it seems
those words are spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
"O, it is the hardest place in the world, to speak where great light has
come to men in responsible positions. They have been enlightened,
but have chosen darkness rather than light...." Letter 32w, 1890.
"The same spirit that actuated the rejectors of Christ, rankles in their
hearts, and had they lived in the days of Christ, they would have acted
toward Him in a manner similar to that of the godless and unbelieving
Jews." Testimonies to R & H Office, pp. 16, 17.
"I can never forget the experience which we had in Minneapolis, or the
things which were then revealed to me in regard to the spirit that
controlled men, the words spoken, the actions done in obedience to
the powers of evil.... They were moved at the meeting by another
spirit." Letter 24s, 1892.
"An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this
truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition
manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord's message through
Brethren [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones.... The light that is to
lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of
our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the
world." 1SM 234, 235.
"If Satan can impress the mind and stir up the passions of those who
claim to believe the truth, and thus lead them to unite with the forces
of evil, he is well pleased. If once he can get them to commit
themselves to the wrong side, he has laid his plans to lead them on a
long journey....
"I wish to plead with our brethren who shall assemble at the General
Conference to heed the message given to the Laodiceans. What a
condition of blindness is theirs
this subject [the message of 1888] has been brought to your notice
again and again
but your dissatisfaction with your spiritual condition has not been
deep and painful enough to work a reform. 'Thou sayest I am rich and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked.' The guilt of self-deception is upon our churches."
Letter to O.A. Olsen, Sept. 1, 1892, O.19, d'92.
"I saw that Jones and Waggoner had their counterpart in Joshua and
Caleb. As the children of Israel stoned the spies with literal stones, you
have stoned these brethren with stones of sarcasm and ridicule. I saw
that you willfully rejected what you knew to be truth, just because it
was too humiliating to your dignity. I saw some of you in your tents
mimicking and making all manner of fun of these two brethren. I also
saw that if you had accepted their message, we would have been in
the kingdom two years from that date, but now we have to go back
into the wilderness and there stay forty years." GCB May 9, 1892
(Melbourne, Australia).
"Our own people opposed the work of God by refusing the light of
truth on the righteousness of Christ by faith. This they should have
received and reechoed with heart and voice and pen. But when light
has come to those at the center of the work, they have not known how
to treat it." TM 401, 402 (1897).
"We should be the last people on earth to indulge in the slightest
degree the spirit of persecution against those who are bearing the
message of God to the world. This is the most terrible feature of
unchristlikeness that has manifested itself among us since the
Minneapolis meeting. Some time it will be seen in its true bearing, with
all the burden of woe that has resulted from it." GCB 1893, p. 184.
"The sin committed in what took place at Minneapolis remains on the
record books of heaven.... And when these persons are tried, and
brought over the ground again, the same spirit will be revealed. When
the Lord has sufficiently tried them, if they do not yield to Him, He will
withdraw His Holy Spirit." Letter to O. A. Olsen, Sept. 1, 1892, O. 19,
d'92.
2. The Messenger Rejected
The rejection of the message implies the rejection of the messenger-
the angel of Revelation 18.
The angel of Revelation 18 symbolizes a movement. The servant of the
Lord refers to "the movement symbolized by the angel coming down
from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory" (GC 604). In this
movement, both divine and human agents take an active part. In
Revelation 18 it is actually the Holy Spirit that lightens the earth with
His glory (ChS 253). He is also to seal the sighing and crying ones (3T
267) with the seal of the living God.
Literal angels certainly participate in the sealing of the 144,000 (Heb.
1:13, 14
PK 591). And consecrated human beings have their share, too, in the
closing work.
"The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven,
proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct
bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth's history.
No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to
represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the
universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God
and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their
order." 2SM 387.
So, if "the message of the other angel" (1888) was rejected, this
means that the men who brought the message were rejected, the
angels who attended these men were rejected, and also the Holy Spirit
that used these men was rejected. Sister White wrote:
"Now, just now, is our day of mercy and salvation. The Lord God, who
dwelleth in the holy place, sees every soul that shows contempt for the
manifestations of His Holy Spirit. God has revealed himself again and
again in a most marked manner in Battle Creek. He has given a large
measure of His Holy Spirit to the believers there. It has come
unexpectedly at times.... Some felt annoyed at this outpouring, and
their own natural dispositions were manifested. They said, 'This is only
excitement
it is not the Holy Spirit, not showers of the latter rain from heaven."'
Sp T, Series A, No. 6, p. 19 (1896).
"The heavenly messenger has been repulsed by the determined will.
'Thus far shalt thou go with my students, but no farther. We need no
enthusiasm in our school, no excitement. We are much better satisfied
to work with the students ourselves.' It is thus that despite has been
done to God's gracious messenger, the Holy Spirit.
"Are not the teachers in our schools in danger of blasphemy, of
charging the Holy Spirit of God with being a deceiving power, and
leading into fanaticism? . . . A succession of showers from the living
waters has come to you at Battle Creek . . . but you did not recognize
it as such. Instead of drinking copiously of the streams of salvation, so
freely offered through the influence of the Holy Spirit, you turned to
common sewers, and tried to satisfy your soul-thirst with the polluted
waters of human science. The result has been parched hearts in the
schools and in the church.... But I hope the teachers have not yet
passed the line where they are given over to hardness of heart and
blindness of mind." Sp T, Series A, No. 7, pp. 31, 32 (1897).
The faithful few, who at that time accepted the message, were
powerless to reform the church. Nevertheless, 1888 marked the
beginning of the prophesied movement of revival and reformation,
which was more fully revealed in another crisis, when open apostasy
brought a major separation.
IV-UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES
It is a pity that the Adventist people, with few exceptions, are not
properly enlightened about the turning point brought by "the message
of Righteousness by Faith" in 1888. Official church publications have
given very scanty and inadequate information on the subject. Those
who have read the Spirit of Prophecy statements quoted before, must
surely be disappointed when they find inaccurate declarations made by
the leadership today. For example: in the book The Story of Our
Church, pp. 246, 247, we read:
"The rank and file of the people attending the conference accepted the
message joyously, but not some of the leaders....
"After the 1888 conference, unity gradually came
leaders who had opposed the movement toward a deeper, more
personal faith, accepted reproof from Mrs. White and confessed their
unhappy condition of mind after the conference....
"Though the Minneapolis Conference seemed depressing and alarming,
it turned out to be a great victory for the church.... A new experience
came to the leaders, and the church made rapid progress in all
branches of the work at home and abroad, as there was a realization
of the proper emphasis which must be given to righteousness by
faith."
This rosy picture which the leaders are now trying to present
contradicts the true picture shown by the servant of the Lord in the
writings quoted before and in those transcribed hereinafter. Sister
White says:
"The religion of Jesus is endangered. It is being mingled with
worldliness. Worldly policy is taking the place of the true piety and
wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering
hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the covenant be removed
from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and
false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be
respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us by God,
which have made us what we are, be ignored? . . . This is directly
where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us."
MS 29, 1890.
"Formality, worldly wisdom, worldly caution, worldly policy, will appear
to many to be the very power of God, but when accepted, it stands as
an obstacle to prevent God's light in warnings, reproof, and counsel
from coming to the world....
"Satan will insinuate himself by little wedges, that widen as they make
a place for themselves. The specious devices of Satan will be brought
into the special work of God at this time." MS 16, 1890.
"The Lord will not leave His church without reproofs and warnings. Sins
have become fashionable
but they are nonetheless aggravating in the sight of God. They are
glossed over, palliated, and excused
the right hand of fellowship is given to the very men who are bringing
in false theories and false sentiments, confusing the mind of the
people of God, deadening their sensibilities as to what constitutes right
principles. Conscience has thus become insensible to the counsels and
the reproofs which have been given. The light given, calling to
repentance, has been extinguished in the clouds of unbelief and
opposition brought in by human plans and human inventions." News
Letter, Methods No. 1 (1897).
"A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to
pattern after other churches, and simplicity and humility are almost
unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce
new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and
by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the
excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and
confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in
Christ and accept Him without regard to his past life of sin and
rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The
supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus."
Undated MS, 111.
1. Unfaithful Leaders Denounced
"The men who close their eyes to the divine light are ignorant,
deplorably ignorant, both of the Scriptures and of the power of God.
The Holy Spirit's working is not agreeable to them, and they attribute
its manifestations to fanaticism....
"Those who entertain and speak this belief do not know what they are
talking about. They are cherishing a love of darkness
and just as long as these Christless souls are retained in positions of
responsibility the cause of God is imperiled. They are in danger of
fastening themselves so firmly with the dark leader of all rebellion that
they will never see light
and the longer they are retained the more hopeless is their chance of
receiving Christ or of having a knowledge of the true God. How
uncertain they make everything that is spiritual and progressive in the
truth! Under the influence of their leader they become more and more
determined to work against Christ." TM 284, 285 (1896).
2. The Banner of Christ Destroyed
"On many occasions the Holy Spirit did work
but those who resisted the Spirit of God at Minneapolis were waiting
for a chance to travel over the same ground again, because their spirit
was the same. Afterward, when they had evidence heaped upon
evidence, some were convicted
but those who were not softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit's
working, put their own interpretation upon every manifestation of the
grace of God, and they have lost much. They declared in their heart
and soul and words that this manifestation of the Holy Spirit was
fanaticism and delusion. They stood like a rock
the waves of mercy were flowing upon and around them, but were
beaten back by their hard and wicked hearts, which resisted the Holy
Spirit's working. Had this been received, it would have made them
wise unto salvation-holier men, prepared to do the work of God with
sanctified ability. But all the universe of heaven witnessed the
disgraceful treatment of Jesus Christ, represented by the Holy Spirit.
Had Christ been before them, they would have treated Him in a
manner similar to that in which the Jews treated Christ.... Those who
opened the door of their hearts to temptation at Minneapolis, and
carried the same spirit home with them, will realize, if not now, in the
near future, that they resisted the Holy Spirit of God, and did despite
to the Spirit of grace. Will they repent? .... The Spirit of the Lord has
been upon His messengers whom He has sent with light, precious light
but there were so many who had turned their faces away from the
Sun of Righteousness that they saw not its bright beams. The Lord
says of them, 'They have turned their back unto me, and not their
face.' . . . Who will now understand these things that I write? . . . The
Lord is coming
but those who venture to resist the light that God gave in rich
measure at Minneapolis, who have not humbled their hearts before
God, will follow on in the path of resistance, saying, 'Who is the Lord
that I should obey His voice?' The banner all will bear who voice the
message of the third angel, is being covered with another color that
virtually kills it." Sp T, Series A, No. 6, pp. 19-26 (1896).
3.The Work Receives a New Mold
"Men who are entrusted with weighty responsibilities, but who have no
living connection with God, have been and are doing despite to His
Holy Spirit. They are indulging the very same spirit as did Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram, and as did the Jews in the days of Christ....
"Jesus said, 'Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise
men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify
and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute
them from city to city.' This prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Jews
in their treatment of Christ and of the messengers whom God sent to
them. Will men in these last days follow the example of those whom
Christ condemned?
"These terrible predictions they have not as yet carried out to the full
but if God spares their lives, and they nourish the same spirit that
marked their course of action both before and after the Minneapolis
meeting, they will fill up to the full the deeds of those whom Christ
condemned when He was upon the earth....
"They began this satanic work at Minneapolis.... Yet these men have
been holding positions of trust, and have been molding the work after
their own similitude." TM 78-80 (1895).
"Already has the power of darkness placed its mold and superscription
upon the work.... The Holy Spirit is wanting in our work." TM 277, 278
(1896).
4. Further Developments
"The same work that has been done in the past, will be carried forward
under the guise of the General Conference Association. The sacred
character of this association is fast disappearing. What will then be
respected as pure, holy, and undefiled? Will there be any voice that
God's people can regard as a voice they can respect? There certainly is
nothing now that bears the divine credentials....
"To a large degree the General Conference Association has lost its
sacred character, because some connected with it have not changed
their sentiments in any particular since the Conference held at
Minneapolis. Some in responsible positions go on 'frowardly' in the way
of their own hearts....
"Who can now feel sure that they are safe in respecting the voice of
the General Conference Association? If the people in our churches
understood the management of the men who walk in the light of the
sparks of their own kindling, would they respect their decisions? I
answer, No, not for a moment. I have been shown that the people at
large do not know that the heart of the work is being diseased and
corrupted at Battle Creek. Many of the people are in a lethargic,
listless, apathetic condition, and assent to plans which they do not
understand. Where is the voice, from whence will it come, to whom
the people may listen, knowing that it comes from the True
Shepherd?" Sp T, The Work at Battle Creek, (May 31, 1896).
"At the center of the work matters are being shaped so that every
other institution is following in the same course. And the General
Conference is itself becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and
principles. In the working of plans, the same principles are manifest
that have controlled matters at Battle Creek for quite a length of
time." TM 359 (1895).
"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in
her midst." News Letter, Education No. 6 11898).
"The heavenly Teacher inquired: What stronger delusion can beguile
the mind than the pretense that you are building on the right
foundation and that God accepts your works, when in reality you are
working out many things according to worldly policy and are sinning
against Jehovah? . . .
"Who can truthfully say, 'Our gold is tried in the fire
our garments are unspotted by the world'? I saw our Instructor
pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them
off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: 'Can you
not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and
rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My
Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the
divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is
weakness, and strength is lacking.
"Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own
backsliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of
her own doing, until she shall abhor herself." 8T 249, 250 (1903).
"Making no attempt to reform, they are growing worse and worse." 7T
62 (l902).
The development of this condition (especially 8T 250) is one of the
strongest evidences that the message of 1888 (Rev. 18:1) was
rejected by the leadership and the church. In connection with this
negative experience, the following warning becomes very meaningful:
"Where the message of divine truth is spurned or slighted, there the
church will be enshrouded in darkness." GC 378.
5. Special Efforts Made in Behalf of the Leaders
a) Appeal of 1901 (ignored)
"At the General Conference, held in Battle Creek in 1901, the Lord
gave His people evidence that He was calling for reformation.... If
stubborn hearts had then broken in penitence before God, there would
have been seen one of the greatest manifestations of the power of God
that has ever been seen. But God was not honored. The testimonies of
His Spirit were not heeded. Men did not separate from the practices
that were in decided opposition to the principles of truth and
righteousness, which should ever be maintained in the Lord's work."
8T 97, 98 (1903).
b) Appeal of 1903 (ignored)
"When the Battle Creek Sanitarium was destroyed, Christ gave Himself
to defend the lives of men and women. In this destruction God was
appealing to His people to return to Him. And in the destruction of the
Review and Herald Office, and the saving of life, He makes a second
appeal to them." 8T 102 (1903).
"After I received word in regard to the excellent meeting of confession
and unity that had been held in Battle Creek, I was writing in my diary,
and was about to record the thankfulness I felt because a change had
come, when my hand was arrested and there came to me the words:
'Write it not. No change for the better has taken place "' 8T 231
(l903).
c) Appeal of 1909 (ignored)
"During the General Conference of 1909 a work should have been done
in the hearts of those in attendance that was not done. . . . But,
though opportunities were given for confession of sin, for heartfelt
repentance, and for a decided reformation, thorough work was not
done." 2SM 400, 401 (1909).
The sad experience of 1888 was repeated during the following General
Conference sessions also. The renewed appeals made to the leadership
were rejected again and again. No genuine revival and reformation
was witnessed among them. And the church suffered the unavoidable
consequences.
V-HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
"The rejection of light leaves men in darkness, so that they know not
at what they stumble. The invitation which the Jews refused, was sent
to the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. The terrible
denunciation was pronounced that none of those who had refused the
invitation should taste of the marriage supper. They had listened to the
suggestions of Satan, and had made excuses, and under his leadership
they would be left in the darkness of unbelief. They entrenched
themselves as did Pharaoh in stubborn resistance against the Lord
Jesus and His disciples
they chose Barabbas instead of Christ.
"The precious message has come to us in these last days. Warnings
and entreaties have sounded. The invitation has been given, 'Come
for all things are now ready.' While it is called today, harden not your
hearts. Shall men and women whom God has blessed with great light,
permit themselves to be led astray by the flattering lies of the enemy
of their souls? . . . Shall we not arouse, and shake off the dangerous
lethargy of the world, which is lulling us to sleep in the cradle of carnal
security? . . . God's Spirit will not always strive with man.... Will you
imitate the Jews, who refused the invitation?" RH Nov. 5, 1895.
"By rejecting the light that was shining upon them, by refusing to
examine the evidence to see whether the messages were from
heaven, the Pharisees sinned against the Holy Ghost....
"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....
"In this our day the sin of the Pharisees is being repeated. Many are
turning from light, refusing to listen to the warning of God's Spirit. But
by closing the heart to divine impressions, we put away the
forgiveness which our Redeemer is so graciously offering to us. By
rejecting mercy and truth, we prepare for a course of resistance which,
if followed, will continue till we have no power to do otherwise. A point
is reached where the most pointed appeals are without effect. The
desire to submit to God and to do His will is no longer felt. The
spiritual senses become dulled. Darkness is the result, and how great
is that darkness!
"The Holy Spirit strives with every man. It is the voice of God speaking
to the soul. But let that voice be resisted, and we, like the Pharisees,
shall stifle conviction and resist evidence, however plain. God will give
us up, and we shall be left to our own inclinations." RH July 27, 1897.
"Satan is working that the history of the Jewish nation may be
repeated in the experience of those who claim to believe present
truth." 2SM 111 (1896).
"The Jewish people were destroyed because they rejected the message
of salvation sent down from heaven. Shall those in this generation to
whom God has given great light and wonderful opportunities follow in
the trend of those who rejected light to their ruin?" 6T 146 (1900).
VI-TWO PHASES
In the evidences produced so far, two points have been emphasized:
(1) the coming of the angel of Revelation 18 (called the fourth angel)
with a specific message of revival and reformation in 1888 and (2) the
way this vital message was treated on that occasion and during the
subsequent years. We will now consider the two phases of the work of
this angel.
1. First Phase-Preparation
The Spirit of Prophecy establishes beyond the possibility of doubt the
fact that the angel of Revelation 18 began his work with the
presentation of the message of Christ's righteousness in 1888.
In 1888, the fourth angel (Rev. 18) represented the messengers who:
(1) brought the diagnosis made by the Great Physician (Isa. 58:1
Rev. 3:14-17) and (2) offered the only remedy prescribed for the
badly needed treatment (Rev. 3:18). He came with a message of
revival and reformation to prepare a people for the receiving of the
latter rain. Sister White wrote:
"In every meeting since the General Conference, souls have eagerly
accepted the precious message of the righteousness of Christ. We
thank God that there are souls who realize that they are in need of
something which they do not possess-gold of faith and love, white
raiment of Christ's righteousness, eyesalve of spiritual discernment."
COR 45.
"God has raised up men to meet the necessity of this time who will 'cry
aloud and spare not,' who will lift up their 'voice like a trumpet, and
show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.'
Their work is not only to proclaim the law, but to preach the truth for
this time, the Lord our righteousness." COR 47, 48.
"The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has
already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-
pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel
whose glory shall fill the whole earth." 1SM 363.
"The question of most vital importance for this time is, 'Who is on the
Lord's side? Who will unite with the angel [of Rev. 18] in giving the
message of truth to the world? Who will receive the light that is to fill
the whole earth with its glory?'" RH Nov. 5, 1889.
"Mystic Babylon has not been sparing in the blood of the saints and
shall we [not] be wide awake to catch the beams of light which have
been shining from the light of the angel who is to brighten the earth
with his glory." 3SM 426.
"All who are laborers together with God . . . will not be turned from the
present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory."
2SM 114.
"If we would receive the light of the glorious angel that shall lighten
the earth with his glory, let us see to it that our hearts are cleansed,
emptied of self, and turned toward heaven, that they may be ready for
the latter rain. Let us be obtaining a fitting up to join in the
proclamation of the angel who shall lighten the earth with his glory."
ST Aug. 1, 1892.
"The prophet declares, 'And after these things I saw another angel
come down from heaven, having great power
and the earth was lightened with his glory.' Brightness, glory, and
power are to be connected with the third angel's message, and
conviction will follow wherever it is preached in demonstration of the
Spirit. How will any of our brethren know when this light shall come to
the people of God? As yet, we certainly have not seen the light that
answers to this description. God has light for His people, and all who
will accept it will see the sinfulness of remaining in a lukewarm
condition
they will heed the counsel of the True Witness when He says, 'Be
zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.' The Church is represented as
standing in a self-satisfied, pleased, proud, independent position,
ignorant of her destitution and wretchedness....
"The gold that Jesus would have us buy of Him is gold tried in the fire
it is the gold of faith and love, that has no defiling substance mingled
with it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding
garment which Christ alone can give. The eyesalve is the true spiritual
discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual things must be
spiritually discerned.
"To our brethren who are standing in this self-confident, self-satisfied
position, who talk and act as if there was no need of more light, we
want to say that the Laodicean message is applicable to you." RH April
1, 1890 [emphasis supplied].
According to these statements, the angel of Revelation 18:1 must first
do an internal work of revival and reformation among church members
before he can give the loud cry under the power of the latter rain (Rev.
18:2-4).
The servant of the Lord says that the work of this other angel began in
1888 (1SM 363), when the first rays of his light appeared,
strengthening the "third angel's message in verity." From its small
beginning, this light is to grow until it reaches a climax:
"The message loses none of its force in the angel's onward flight, for
John sees it increasing in strength and power until the whole earth is
lightened with its glory. The course of God's commandment-keeping
people is onward, ever onward. The message of truth that we bear
must go to nations, tongues, and people. Soon it will go with a loud
voice, and the earth will be lightened with its glory." 5T 383.
"The angel [of Rev. 18:1] who unites in the proclamation of the third
angel's message, is to lighten the whole earth with his glory." GC 611.
The idea that the prophesied reformation must begin with the
miraculous healing of the sick and other signs and wonders, under the
latter rain, is a false interpretation of 9T 126, which refers to the
climax, not the beginning, of the reformatory movement. We are
warned:
"Many who refuse the message which the Lord sends them are seeking
to find pegs on which to hang doubts, to find some excuse for
rejecting the light of heaven. In the face of clear evidence they say, as
did the Jews, 'Show us a miracle, and we will believe. If these
messengers have the truth, why do they not heal the sick?'. . .
"Could their eyes be opened, they would see evil angels exulting
around them and triumphing in their power to deceive them. The day
is just before us when Satan will answer the demand of these doubters
and present numerous miracles to confirm the faith of all those who
are seeking this kind of evidence. How terrible will be the situation of
those who close their eyes to the light of truth and ask for miracles to
establish them in deception!" Ev 594.
"There must be a reformation throughout our ranks
the people must reach a higher standard before we can expect the
power of God to be manifested in a marked manner for the healing of
the sick." MM 16.
"The great reformatory movement must begin in presenting to fathers
and mothers and children the principles of the law of God." 6T 119
(1900).
The evidences presented before make it clear that the first purpose of
the coming of the angel of Revelation 18 is to give power to the third
angel's message, which grew weak in the hands of those first
entrusted with it (Ev 230
6T 60
8T 118, 119
EW 277
TM 411). Only as the third message is strengthened by the other
angel can it swell to a loud cry according to several Spirit of Prophecy
statements.
There can be no mistake in what God has revealed through Sister
White. Yet some try to give the impression that they know better than
the Spirit of Prophecy. They explain Revelation 18:1 saying that the
other angel has not come as yet, but when he comes, they assert, he
will lighten the whole earth directly with the fullness of his glory. These
brethren are evidently advocating, contrary to a Thus Saith the Lord,
that the message will grow even without the only help that the Lord
has provided to make its growth possible. And this mistaken belief
creates yet another inconsistency: If the message could steadily
increase in strength and power, so that it would come to a climax by
itself, completely unaided by the fourth angel, then it stands to reason
that the coming of the fourth angel at the end would serve no purpose.
Sometimes we wonder why, for the sake of consistency, these
professed believers do not explain Revelation 14:9 in exactly the same
way. They have never told us why the "loud voice," with which the
third angel comes, was not heard in 1844. As can be seen, error is
inconsistent with its own conclusions.
2. Second Phase-Latter Rain
In 1888, when the angel of Revelation 18 came, he represented those
who actually accepted his message. From the beginning to the end of
his mission, he identifies himself only with the true Adventists. In the
prophesied shaking, therefore, we find him, not with the apostatized
majority, but with the faithful minority. Prophecy says:
"As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in
the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through
obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the
opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they
have come to view matters in nearly the same light
and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy,
popular side.... They become the most bitter enemies of their former
brethren." GC 608.
"But [at this time] God still has a people in Babylon
and . . . these faithful ones must be called out.... Hence the
movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven,
lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong
voice, . . . [bearing] the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of
the earth." GC 604.
"In this time of persecution the faith of the Lord's servants [the
'former brethren' identified with the 'movement' of Revelation 18] will
be tried. They have faithfully given the warning, looking to God and to
His word alone." GC 608.
To sound the loud cry, as can be seen, becomes the responsibility of a
small, faithful"remnant" which is clearly distinguished from the
unreformed mother "church" (5T 211, 213, 524). Of these faithful few,
who have been called to "bear the ark of God," it is written that "the
truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands." This small
"company" of "former brethren," journeying along the narrowing road
(2T 594, 595), must first show the professed people of God their
transgressions "and the house of Jacob their sins" (TM 411). The
giving of the final warning, the loud cry, is the last part of their work.
The Spirit of Prophecy describes this event as follows:
"The messengers of Heaven are to be seen running to and fro, seeking
in every possible way to warn the people of the coming judgments,
and presenting the glad tidings of salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ. The standard of righteousness is to be exalted. The Spirit of
God is moving upon men's hearts, and those who respond to its
influence will become lights in the world. Everywhere they are seen
going forth to communicate to others the light they have received as
they did after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
And as they let their light shine, they receive more and more of the
Spirit's power. The earth is lighted with the glory of God.
"But, O, sad picture! . . . He will take His Holy Spirit from the church,
and give it to others who will appreciate it.
"There is no greater evidence that those who have received great light
do not appreciate that light, than is given by their refusal to let their
light shine upon those who are in darkness, and devoting their time
and energies in celebrating forms and ceremonies. Thoughts of the
inner work, the necessary purity of heart, are not entertained. The
absence of harmony with God becomes apparent. The light grows dim,
goes out
the candlestick has been removed." RH July 16, 1895.
"At the time of the loud cry of the third angel those who have been in
any measure blinded by the enemy, who have not fully recovered
themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril, because it will be
difficult for them to discern the light from heaven, and they will be
inclined to accept falsehood. Their erroneous experience will color their
thoughts, their decisions, their propositions, their counsels. The
evidences that God has given will be no evidence to those who have
blinded their eyes by choosing darkness rather than light. After
rejecting light, they will originate theories which they will call 'light,'
but which the Lord calls, 'Sparks of their own kindling, by which they
will direct their steps." RH Dec. 13, 1892.
"The cause of Christ will be betrayed. Those who have had the light of
truth, and have enjoyed its blessings, but who have turned away from
it, will fight down the Spirit of God. Inspired with a spirit from beneath,
they will tear down that which they once built up, and show to all
reasonable, God-fearing souls that they cannot be trusted. They may
lay claim to truth and righteousness, but their spirit and works will
testify that they are betrayers of their Lord. The attributes of Satan
they call the movings of the Holy Spirit." RH May 24, 1898.
"There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power
of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled
themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by
confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which
lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something
which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will
arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because
the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations, they
will oppose the work. 'Why,' they say, 'should not we know the Spirit of
God, when we have been in the work so many years?' Because they
did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties of the messages of
God, but persistently said, 'I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing.' "RH Dec. 23, 1890.
VII-THE OTHER ANGEL AND THE SHAKING
The statement in GC 608, which points to a separation in the SDA
Church, does not refer to only one event or only one occasion. It
shows a series of successive events taking place over a long period of
time. Three phases are evident in this prophecy: (1) Before the testing
storm comes, a large class of Adventist believers (see proportion in
ChS 41) turn away from the truth and place themselves under the
banner of Satan. This does not mean that they leave the organization.
On the contrary, they form the great majority, and the controlling
power, within the church to the very end. (Read 5T 209-212.) (2)
While the great test is coming nearer and nearer, this apostatized
majority develop their denominational character, step by step, as they
unite more and more with the world, partaking more fully of its spirit.
This is taking place now, in our days. (3) Then, when the great test,
the Sunday decree, is finally brought, this majority, as an organized
church, yields to the powers that be. That is when they become the
most bitter enemies of the company of "former brethren," who have
been entrusted with doing the work of the angel of Revelation 18
(compare GC 604, 608).
This faithful remnant company unites with the third angel like the third
angel united with the second angel in 1844. And how did the third
angel join the second angel? When the third angel came in 1844, the
truth which he brought was rejected by the First Day Adventists
(including William Miller and other leaders of the Advent Movement)
who had so far been represented by the first and second angels. As
this group of Millerite believers refused the light of the third angel,
they ceased to be represented by the first and second angels. From
that time on the representation of the first and second angels has
continued in the hands of those Adventists who have heartily accepted
the message of the third angel. It was through these faithful believers,
who turned away from their former associates and became the
pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, that the third angel
joined the first and second angels. While there was a separation in the
body of Advent believers, there was an association among the three
angels, who were now working, hand in hand, in and through the
newly formed group of Seventh-day Adventists.
There is a parallel between the joining in of the third angel and the
coming of the fourth angel (Rev. 18). History is being repeated. The
unreformed SDA mother church, who will receive, not the latter rain
but the wrath of God (5T 211), ceases to be represented by the first,
second, and third angels when the presence of God is withdrawn from
them as a church (5T 210). Evidently, a church that eventually
becomes a "cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (TM 265) can no
longer be represented by the three angels of God. These represent the
faithful remnant company of former brethren (GC 608). It is in this
company that the fourth angel must now add power and glory to the
third angel's message, until they, as "the movement symbolized by the
angel" of Revelation 18, are prepared to give the loud cry.
As SDA reformers, we hope that if we remain faithful, we will take part
in this victorious experience, which is a challenge to all true
Adventists. It is our conviction that the SDA Reform Movement with its
stand for present truth fits into the prophetic picture pertaining to the
faithful remnant company. (For details see Study No. 2, The Church
and the Remnant.) Evidences show that, in the providence of God, this
Movement was called into existence to carry on an important work in
the light of Revelation 3:18-20 and Revelation 18:1.
During the days of Christ's earthly ministry there was much discussion
among the Jews as to the identification of the prophesied Elijah, who
was to come. Even the disciples were confused by the Pharisees, who
maintained that Jesus could not be the Messiah, because according to
Malachi 4, "Elias must first come." What a startling revelation it must
have been to them to learn "that Elias is come already, and they knew
him not" (Matt. 17:12). This explanation was readily accepted by those
who recognized John the Baptist as God's messenger. Jesus said: "And
if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." Matt. 11:14.
We would leave the same proposition with the reader of this booklet
concerning that "other angel." All agree that he is to come, but not all
will recognize that he "is come already, and they knew him not."
The problem with the Laodicean believers is that, because of their
spiritual blindness (Rev. 3:17), they fail to discern the difference
between right and wrong, truth and error. "Woe unto them that call
evil~good, and good evil
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isa. 5:20. Only the
eyesalve offered in the Laodicean message can give us the needed
spiritual discernment to see light in God's light.
At this stage some of our readers may say, "All this is new to us. We
have never been taught these things." As a matter of fact, not too
many Adventists know the truth about the angel of Revelation 18 and
the message of 1888. Therefore, multitudes will not be in a position to
see the light.
'When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the
help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their
narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work
in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a
way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those
among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate
even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward
under the direction of the angel [of Rev. 18:1] who joins the third
angel in the message to be given to the world." TM 300.
LESSON TWO

THE CHURCH AND THE REMNANT

The blessed hope of the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ "to meet His bride the church and bring her to His home" is the
dearest keynote in the threefold message of Revelation 14:6-12. At His
coming the Lord will acknowledge His true followers-"a glorious
church," "holy and without blemish," "not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing" (Eph. 5:27). And there is no doubt that, with us or
without us, the Lord will find such a church on earth when He comes.
"Christ has made every provision that His church shall be a
transformed body, illumined with the Light of the world, possessing the
glory of Emmanuel." COL 419. In the interest of our salvation, we
certainly want to be part of this church.
Many statements in the Bible and in the writings of the Spirit of
Prophecy focus our attention on this faithful remnant, for which there
is a definite place in the prophetic picture for these last days.
Therefore, any doctrinal discussion is significant in the light of
prophecy only if it serves to identify the remnant church that lives just
before Christ's second coming.
If prophecy leads us to the conclusion that the SDA Church is the final
remnant that will receive the latter rain, finish the work, and go right
into the kingdom, then the present disagreements (between the SDA
Church and the SDA Reform Movement) should not be a real
hindrance, because in this case the understanding is that these
problems will either be settled before the coming of Christ or are not
so important that God cannot overlook them. And, as a necessary
corollary of such a reasoning, there is no room for the existence of the
SDA Reform Movement as a separate corporation, and, for this reason,
there is not much point in discussing questions on doctrine and
principles. If, how ever, prophecy makes it evident that at the end the
SDA Church is not the "small remnant," the "church triumphant," then
a discussion of discrepancies concerning principles and doctrines is
really significant, because it may show us why the Adventist Church
has failed and how a faithful remnant will succeed.
In this field, it is essential that we beware of the way of thinking of our
Catholic friends, lest we repeat their mistake. Catholics read Matthew
16:18-where Christ said, "upon this rock I will build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"-and proclaim the
infallibility of the Romish Church. They will not consider conditions
(Matt. 7:16-27
1 Cor. 3:11-15
 John 8:31, 32
2 John 9
2 Chron. 15:2, 2nd part
Isa. 8:20
etc.), nor will they regard pertinent prophecies (2 Thess. 2:3, 4
Rev. 2:13, 20, 21
17:1-5
18:4, 5). In an alarming example of misappropriation, in which they
take for themselves certain scriptures which do not belong to them
(Matt. 16:18
18:17
28:20), they claim to be "the church"-infallible to the very end.
Couldn't we as Adventists be involved in a similar misconception?
Evidently, the sin of presumption, against which John the Baptist
warned the Jews (Matt. 3:9), was not limited to that generation. (Read
COL 304, 306.)
I-SDA BELIEF CONCERNING "THE CHURCH"
So far as we have been able to verify, the SDA leadership teaches that
the Adventist Church will go through to the end as a victorious church.
Statements to this effect can be found in The Review and Herald.
Examples:
"When people attempt to show that the Laodicean church is in such a
hopeless condition that they never can or will be aroused, I have great
consolation and gratitude in remembering that this is the very church
that will be translated into the kingdom of God." RH Nov. 30, 1939.
"To leave this church, to be spewed out of it because of personal
rejection of the Testimony of the True Witness, is to be lost. . . . He
[the Lord] would have us . . . remain with Him in the Laodicean
church." RH Jan. 19, 1956.
"In view of the soon coming of Jesus there must come a final remnant,
and Seventh-day Adventists believe they are that final remnant
people, not because of any innate superiority but because of the grace
of God in their lives in the final period of this world's history. Sinners
will be sifted out of the church, and the church will remain." RH Jan.
18, 1973.
We can understand the convictions of our Adventist brethren, but we
are at a loss for a confirmation of this viewpoint in the Bible and/or in
the writings of E. G. White. While we agree that the SDA's are the
remnant that came out of the Protestant churches, we do not read in
the Word of God that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, generally
known as such, is the final remnant that will be prepared for the
coming of Jesus. What we find is that the Adventist Church (which we
will call the "mother church") will remain as an organized church, but
not as a victorious church, and that a small remnant from the mother
church will eventually be prepared for the coming of Christ.
The word "church," as it is used in the writings of the Spirit of
Prophecy, carries different meanings, as shown by the context. Here
are a few examples:
When the days of Christ are brought into focus, we must distinguish
between the Jewish church and the early Christian church:
a) Jewish church: "Jesus saw His church, like the barren fig tree,
covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit." GC
316.
b) Christian church: "Christ founded His church upon the living Rock."
DA 413.
During the Dark Ages:
a) Roman church: "The bishop of Rome was declared to be the head
over the entire church." GC 54.
b) Persecuted remnant church: "Through centuries of persecution,
conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His church." AA 11.
In these last days:
a) All fallen churches of Christendom: "The church appeals to the
strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and Protestants
unite." GC 607.
b) Seventh-day Adventist people: "He [Satan] is now preparing for his
last campaign against the church." GC 510.
c) Unreformed SDA majority: "Through this means [unity with the
world] the church will become indeed corrupt, and as stated in
Revelation, 'a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."' TM 265. "Those
who receive the pure mark of truth . . . are those 'that sigh and that
cry for all the abominations that be done' in the church." 3T 267. "Will
the church see where she has fallen?" RH, Extra, Dec. 23, 1890.
d) Reformed SDA minority: "The church may appear as about to fall,
but it does not fall." 2SM 380. "Clad in the armor of Christ's
righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict." PK 725.
"Then will the church of Christ appear 'fair as the moon, clear as the
sun, and terrible as an army with banners."' 5T 82.
A great deal of unnecessary confusion can be avoided if these
distinctions are borne in mind.
II-THE MOTHER CHURCH AND THE REMNANT
According to Ezekiel, chapter 9, which refers to the church in these last
days (TM 445), there is no salvation for the whole house of Israel, but
only for the sighing and crying ones. The church remains (like the
previous churches have also remained) as an organized body, but not
as God's faithful remnant.
1. The Mother Church is not the Remnant
"The true people of God . . . will . . . feel most deeply the wrongs of
God's professed people.... Those who receive the pure mark of truth,
wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a
mark by the man in linen, are those 'that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done' in the church." 3T 266, 267.
In this statement, which applies to the very end, it is not the church
that is sighing and crying for what some of its members are doing (if
this were the case, the church would put them out)
it is rather a few sighing and crying ones that are taking exception to
what the church is doing when the "general destruction" is about to
come. And what will happen to the church? In another testimony
commenting on Ezekiel 9, the servant of the Lord says:
"Here we see that the church-the Lord's sanctuary-was the first to feel
the stroke of the wrath of God." 5T 211.
As can be seen from this description, the Adventist Church remains.
not as a victorious church which has gone through a process of
thorough reformation, but rather as a denomination that has failed like
other churches had failed before her.
The evidence that the unfaithful majority remains as an organized
church is confirmed by prophetic statements refer ring to the close of
probation:
"Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril....
The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. 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.... But
more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because
its members are doing after the manner of the world.... But the glory
of the Lord had departed from Israel
although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and
presence were lacking.... Those who have a zeal for God's honor and a
love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any.... They
are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity.... 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. The Spirit of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled
underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonored, the
truth made of none effect.
"The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension,
nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left with out the seal of God.
The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering
weapons in their hands: 'Go ye after him through the city, and
smite....'
"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....
"The abominations for which the faithful ones were sighing and crying
were all that could be discerned by finite eyes, but by far the worst
sins, those which provoked the jealousy of the pure and holy God,
were unrevealed....
"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. Their wicked course He
will tolerate no longer, and in His wrath he deals with them without
mercy....
"'And at that time shall Michael stand up.' . . . The seal of the living
God is upon His people. This small remnant . . . make God their
defense." 5T 209-213.
This is how the prophetic pen depicts the mother church on the one
hand and a small remnant on the other hand, at the end of probation.
There is no suggestion here that the apostatized majority will be
shaken out and that the mother church will be come a purified body,
prepared to receive the latter rain and the seal of God. Only a "small
remnant," as we just read, will receive the seal of God, while the
mother church, as an organized body, will receive the wrath of God.
Let us reread this quotation, and keep it in mind
it is the background of all future church-related events. A parallel
prophetic statement reads as follows:
"When the accumulated figures in heaven's record books shall mark
the sum of transgression complete, wrath will come, un mixed with
mercy.... But in the hour of the church's greatest danger most fervent
prayer will be offered in her behalf by the faithful remnant." 5T 524.
In this last prophetic testimony, as well as in the other two considered
before (3T 327
5T 209-213), at the very end the church is not the remnant and the
remnant is not the church. There is a clear distinction between the
two. This distinction is made very clear, also, in the following
declarations:
"Many who have had great light have not appreciated and improved it
as it was their privilege to do. They have not practiced the truth. And
because of this the Lord will bring in those who have lived up to all the
light they have had. And those who have been privileged with
opportunities to understand the truth and who have not obeyed its
principles will be swayed by Satan's temptations for self-advancement.
They will deny the principles of truth in practice and bring reproach
upon the cause of God.
"Christ declares that He will spue these out of His mouth, and leave
them to follow their own course of actions to distinguish themselves.
This course of action does indeed make them prominent as men that
are unfaithful householders.
"The Lord will give His message to those who have walked in
accordance with the light they have had, and will recognize them as
true and faithful, according to the measurement of God. These men
will take the place of those who, having light and knowledge, have
walked not in the way of the Lord, but in the imagination of their own
unsanctified hearts." 3SM 421, 422.
"The great Head who moves in the midst of his candlesticks will never
be without a church.... If we refuse to let our light shine for the
Master, if we do not do the works of God, others will do that very work
which we might have done and could have done, but refused to do.
When we cease to fulfill our mission, when the candlestick refuses to
reflect light, and the great truths committed to us individually in trust
for the world, are not given to them, then the candlestick will be
removed. 'I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place.' Another will be placed in his stead and
will shine." RH June 7, 1887.
"But O sad picture! Those who do not submit to the influence of the
Holy Spirit soon lose the blessings received. . . And Christ says unto
them, 'Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent,
and do the first works
or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of its place, except thou repent.' He will take his Holy Spirit from
the church, and give it to others who will appreciate it." RH July 16,
1895.
As we put these parallel prophecies together, we understand that the
"others," to whom the Holy Spirit is to be given (the con text refers to
the latter rain), are the "faithful remnant" or "small remnant"
mentioned in 5T 524, 213.
2. The Mother Church in the Past, Present and Future
If in 1893 the prophetess declared that "not one in twenty whose
names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close
their earthly history," and that, while professing to serve God, "they
are more earnestly serving mammon" (ChS 41}, we understand that
in this case the great majority characterizes the denominational
situation. Here is a pertinent example from the days of Moses: "So
many of the people were guilty that the apostasy became national.
'Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor.' " PP 454. So, today, what is said
of the unfaithful majority can be said of the church. Examples:
"If most earnest vigilance is not manifested at the great heart of the
work to protect the interests of the cause, the church will become as
corrupt as the churches of other denominations." 4T 513.
"The church has turned back from following Christ her Lea der and is
steadily retreating toward Egypt." 5T 217.
"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in
her midst." MS 156, 1898.
"It is a solemn and terrible truth that many who have been zealous in
proclaiming the third angel's message are now becoming listless and
indifferent! The line of demarcation between worldlings and many
professed Christians is almost indistinguishable. Many who once were
earnest Adventists are conforming to the world-to its practices, its
customs, its selfishness. Instead of leading the world to render
obedience to God's law, the church is uniting more and more closely
with the world in transgression. Daily the church is becoming
converted to the world." 8T 118, 119.
"'How is the faithful city become an harlot?' My Father's house is made
a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory
have departed!" 8T 250.
Certain ailments in the human body can be medicated and detained
they become stationary neither improving nor getting worse. Other
conditions are progressive-they grow worse and worse until they have
completed their cycle. Such is the course of apostasy. It is a
progressive condition. Sister White says:
"On every hand we see those who have had much light and knowledge
deliberately choosing evil in the place of good. Making no attempt to
reform, they are growing worse and worse." 7T 62.
"Through union with the world the church will become corrupt,-'a cage
of every unclean and hateful bird."' RH Feb. 26, 1895. (Read TM 265.)
It is with reference to the great majority-which is "the church" in
"union with the world"-that the Spirit of Prophecy declares:
"The truth for this time is precious, but those whose hearts have not
been broken by falling on the rock Christ Jesus, will not see and
understand what is truth. They will accept that which pleases their
ideas, and will begin to manufacture another foundation than that
which is laid. They will flatter their own vanity and esteem, thinking
that they are capable of removing the pillars of our faith, and replacing
them with pillars they have devised. This will continue to be as long as
time shall last." MS 28, 1890.
"After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every
conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be
confused by many voices crying, 'Lo, here is Christ
lo, He is there. This is the truth, I have the message from God, He
has sent me with great light.' Then there will be a re moving of the
landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith." 7BC
985.
"Every conceivable effort will be made to throw doubt upon the
positions that we have occupied for over half a century [now for over
one century]." 3SM 408.
"The cause of Christ will be betrayed. Those who have had the light of
truth, and have enjoyed its blessings, but who have turned away from
it, will fight down the Spirit of God. Inspired with a spirit from beneath,
they will tear down that which they once built up, and show to all
reasonable, God-fearing souls that they cannot be trusted. They may
lay claim to truth and righteous ness, but their spirit and works will
testify that they are betrayers of their Lord." RH May 24, 1898.
A comparison between these last five statements and those produced
before throws more light on the prophetic screen where the church in
its final days is projected. Now it is clearer to us how, at the close of
probation, the Spirit of God "is trampled underfoot," how the truth is
"made of none effect," and how "deception of almost every kind" is
found in the church, where those in positions of responsibility have
"betrayed their trust," so that "the servants of Satan triumph." (5T
210, 211.) What we just read in these last few prophetic statements
(RH Feb. 26, 1895
MS 28, 1890
7BC 985
3SM 408
RH May 24, 18981 is the result of a long, unchecked process of
deterioration, in the presence of which the faithful few have been
sighing and crying for good reasons (3T 267).
3. The "Remnant Church"
As "there have ever been two classes among those who profess to be
followers of Christ" (GC 43), there are also two classes now among
those who profess the threefold message of Revelation 14. Prophecy
shows important distinctions between the two groups:
"A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day
Adventists who were advising that the banner or sign which makes us
a distinctive people should not be held out so strikingly.... In
describing the remnant people of God, John says, [Rev. 14:12
quoted]." 2SM 385.
In a parallel prophetic statement, E. G. White describes the two groups
as follows:
"I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no
countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the
body." EW 258.
As can be seen, the "company" in EW 258, is not the "company" in
2SM 385. They occupy two different, even antithetic positions. They
are clearly opposed to each other where principles are in question.
Here is another reference to the two companies:
"Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among
us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and ex hort us to put away
our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God.... They
will show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their
sins." TM 411. (Discussion on this specific point will be resumed later.)
It should be borne in mind that the "company" of "Seventh day
Adventists" who were seen, in Sister White's vision, to be advising that
the standard "should not be held out so strikingly" (2SM 385), and
working to "unsettle the established faith of the body" (EW 258), are
not just a few misfits in the church
they are rather the great majority who hold control to the very end,
ac cording to the statements analyzed before (3T 267
5T 209-213, 524, RH July 16, 1895) . They are, in other words, "the
church" (the mother church).
In the light of the evidences considered so far, the unprepared mother
"church" and the small "remnant" are two coexistent Adventist groups
at the very end. Therefore, if we proclaim the mother church to be the
only-existent SDA body, and the final remnant, at the end of
probation, we make two mistakes against the clear word of prophecy,
for she is neither one thing nor the other.
III-THE PROPHESIED SHAKING
The theological use of the word "sifting" was derived from the custom
of sifting the grain. See examples in Isaiah 30:28
Amos 9:9
Luke 22:31. After the wheat had been threshed, it still had to be
sifted for the removal of the chaff (which was blown away by the wind
as the contents of the sieve were tossed up repeatedly) and the tiny
stones (which would fall through the bottom of the string netting).
Some contend that, in the prophesied sifting, the sieve represents the
church, and that those who remain in the church are corn, while those
who leave the church are chaff. Such a conclusion is unwarranted in
the light of the example below.
With reference to the sifting and the work of reformation that were to
take place among the Jews in the days of Christ and the apostles, God
spoke prophetically through Amos:
"I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon
the earth.... In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is
fallen, and close up the breaches thereof
and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old."
Amos 9:9, 11.
Paul the apostle used this prophecy of Amos {compare with Acts
15:16) to show the prophetic basis for the work of reformation that
was being carried into effect by those who had accepted the gospel
message and broken away from the Jewish church. Prophecy said that
all grain would remain in the sieve and that only the chaff would drop
out. History, which goes hand in hand with prophecy, indicates that the
Jewish leader ship and people stayed in the church, while the disciples
of Christ left the church. Let us bear this in mind: It was the
apostatized majority, the chaff, that remained with the organization
the faithful remnant formed a separate congregation. And there is no
contradiction between prophecy and history. The sieve-which retains
the corn and rejects the chaff-is not the church organization, but the
truth. This was the sieve in which the disciples remained as corn and
from which the Jews were shaken out as chaff. The same principle
applies today.
At this stage of our discussion we should get a clear answer to the
question, When, how and under what circumstances will the two
Adventist companies be separated from each other? The oft-repeated
explanation that all unfaithful ones will be shaken out of the mother
church, who will then be purified and stand as the only-existent faithful
remnant, is devoid of authority in the word of prophecy. No such thing
can be found in the prophecies (which were considered before and
must still be fresh in the mind of the render} concerning the mother
church at the close of probation. It is very clear that the unreformed
mother church and the faithful remnant cannot stay together forever.
There must be a separation before the seal of God is applied on the
living saints:
"The angel with the writer's ink horn is to place a mark upon the
foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners." 4BC 1161.
(Read 5T 505.)
This means that the sighing and crying ones must be separated, not
only from all the abominations that they can see, but also from the
mother church where these abominations are practiced or tolerated
(previous statements: 3T 267
5T 209-213
RH Feb. 26, 1895
etc.) to the very end. Remember: They must be "separated from sin
and sinners" as an essential condition for the receiving of the seal of
God.
"The time of the judgment is a most solemn period, when the Lord
gathers His own from among the tares. Those who have been
members of the same family are separated. A mark is placed upon the
righteous." TM 234.
Due to the unfaithfulness of those who stand as "guardians of the
spiritual interests of the people" (5T 211), the Lord promised to take
care of the faithful remnant through a shaking:
"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.
Before we proceed, let us take into consideration a noteworthy
parallel. In the days of Christ and the apostles, the prophecy of
Matthew 3:12 (He "whose fan is in his hand . . . will thoroughly purge
his floor'') announced a forthcoming shaking, which actually came in
three phases: (1) There was a separation in the Jewish church when
Christ and the apostles turned away from the officially recognized
religious leaders and organized the apostolic church (Matt. 15:14).
(2)Then there was a separation in the apostolic church when many
professed disciples left the Lord and turned back to the Jewish church
(John 6:66). (3) And, finally, there was another separation in the
Jewish church, under the outpouring of the former rain, when many
Jews left the Jewish church and joined the apostolic church (Acts 2:41
4:4). All this was meant by the prophecy about the shaking (Matt.
3:12). As history repeats itself, we find a parallel around 1844 in the
experience of the early Adventists. And, as we study the prophesied
shaking to take place among the Advent people, we find the same
parallel again.
The shaking predicted by the Lord through prophet Amos "I will sift the
house of Israel" (Amos 9:9)- and through John the Baptist-"Whose fan
is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor" (Matt. 3:12)-was
fulfilled in the days of Christ and the apostles, as mentioned above.
The Jews (leaders and people) who remained with the organization
dropped out of the sieve. "We are repeating the history of that
people." 5T 160.
1. Separation in the Mother Church
"Those who love Jesus and the souls for whom He has died will follow
after the things which make for peace. But they must take care lest in
their efforts to prevent discord, they surrender truth
lest in warding off division, they sacrifice principle. True brotherhood
can never be maintained by compromising principle.... That peace and
harmony which are secured by mutual concessions to avoid all
differences of opinion are not worthy of the name." RH Jan. 16, 1900.
"Our work is soon to close, and we are now to place ourselves in
working order in God's way. We are not to link ourselves up with those
who are not wise to discern what is the will of God. We are to come
out from among them, and be separate." Sp T, Series B, No. 3, 3rd
edition, p. 44.
"In these last days, there are arising strange fallacies and man-made
theories which God declares shall be broken in pieces. [Isa. 8:11-16
quoted.]
"In this representation of the prophets, we see that Satan is at work,
not only with worldlings, who have not the fear and love of God before
them, but also with those who profess faith in Christ. Here are plainly
represented two distinct parties, formed from a company that was
once united. The members of one of these parties are in resistance to
the will of God. They have taken themselves from the side of the loyal
and true, and are now resisting the warnings of the Spirit of God. To
the obedient the Lord will be for a sanctuary
but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both houses
of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Every professed believer in Christ will be tempted by Satan. 'And many
among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared
(mark that word), and be taken.' Notwithstanding all their knowledge
of the Word of God, all their light, and their position as expositors of
Bible truth, many shall 'stumble, and fall, and be broken and be
snared, and be taken. The ruin of this class is certain. Then the charge
is given, 'Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.'
[Isa. 8:17-20 quoted ]
"This warning is given for the days in which we are now living. Read
carefully the third chapter of second Timothy. This chapter refers to
many (spoken of by Isaiah) who have departed from the faith." RH
July 18, 1907.
"The time will come when it must be said of the impenitent, 'Ephraim
is joined to his idols
let him alone.' Will the church see where she has fallen?" RH Dec. 23,
1890.
"O that all might repent and do their first works. When the churches
do this, they will love God supremely and their neighbors as
themselves. Ephraim will not envy Judah, and Judah will not vex
Ephraim. Divisions will then be healed, the harsh sounds of strife will
no more be heard in the borders of Israel." 1SM 385.
It is clear from this last statement that this phase of the shaking takes
place before the sealing of the living saints, before the closing of the
work, and before it is too late for a change (repentance and
conversion). This shaking, therefore, happens before the Sunday
decree/final test. And it is also clear that this shaking does not shake
the unconverted ones out of the church
it rather divides the church into two distinct parties.
In this statement (1SM 385) the use of the conjunction "when" is
clearly a condition. Very often, Sister White uses "when" and "if"
interchangeably. This is not a prediction of what is necessarily going to
happen. It does not say that both houses of Israel will finally be
reconciled with each other. It only shows what would happen if the
Adventist Church actually decided to change her course (5T 217). It is
like the declaration of Paul showing what would happen to the Jewish
people if they actually decided to accept Christ (Rom. 11:17-29). But
mark the condition in verse 23-"if."
The Spirit of Prophecy points out several causes for the shaking, which
will be considered hereunder.
a) Rejection of God's messages.
Messages based on Isaiah 58:1 and Revelation 3:18, 19 would come
to the Advent people. The angel (or ministry) of Laodicea is the
addressee of the Laodicean message
therefore, someone else must be the bearer of this message. E. G.
White says:
"The Lord will raise up men to bear the message of truth to the world
and to His people. If those in responsible positions do not move
onward in the opening providences of God, bearing an appropriate
message for this time, the words of warning will be given to others
who will be faithful to their trust. Even youthful Christians will be
chosen to 'cry aloud and spare not."' Testimonies on Sabbath School
Work, p. 46.
"The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah should be studied carefully and
prayerfully. Here God's messengers are given a direct, forcible
message: 'Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and
show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.'
It is to church-members that this message is to be given, to those who
suppose that they are righteous, who take delight in approaching to
God.... The people described in this chapter realize that they have not
the favor of God
but instead of seeking His favor in His own way, they enter into a
controversy with Him. Why, they ask, since we observe many
ceremonies, does the Lord not give us special recognition? . . . The
fasts ob served by these worshipers are a mere pretense, a mockery of
humility. They retain all their objectionable traits of character. Their
hearts are not cleansed from defilement. They have not received the
softening showers of the grace of God. They are destitute of the Holy
Spirit, destitute of the sweetness of its in fluence. They manifest no
repentance, no faith that works by love.... The Lord sends them a
message of positive reproof, showing plainly why they are not visited
by His grace.... Will they accept this reproof, and pray for true
repentance? Will they put away their sins and ask for pardon? Will they
bring the atmosphere of heaven into their families, and into their
association with their fellow men? . . . A message of eternal
importance is to be borne to those nigh and to those afar off. Let God's
messengers form no confederacy with those who, after hearing the
message, refuse to search the Scriptures to see whether or not these
things are so. God's servants are to deal with evil as He has directed."
RH June 25, 1901.
"Of those who are constantly working to undermine faith in the
message God is sending to His people, I am instructed to say, 'Come
out from among them, and be ye separate.' Come into the light,
brethren, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those
who in faith accept the leadings of the Spirit of God will see where
their dangers lie, and will make decided moves in the right direction."
RH July 23, 1908.
"There is to be a shaking among God's people.... It will be the result of
refusing the truth presented." 2SM 13.
"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it
would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel
of the True Witness to the Laodiceans." EW 270.
The Laodicean message-which "is designed to arouse the people of
God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous
repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and
be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel" (lT 186)-divides the
Advent people into two separate companies.
If the message had been properly heeded during the early days of the
church, it would have shaken out the unfaithful believers. But now that
these have taken over in such a great pro portion that "not one in
twenty whose names are registered upon the church are prepared"
(ChS 41), the message is powerless to remove the unconverted
majority from the mother church, as we read in 5T 209-213 (quoted
before). So, the only other alternative now is to follow the advice of
the Spirit of Prophecy and "come out from among them." This means
that, before the seal of God can be received, the faithful few must
leave the mother church with "all the abominations" for which she is
accountable (3T 267). This is how, in our understanding, the
prophesied shaking (which is a lengthy process) has been going on for
years.
In connection with the prophesied shaking, the time element is very
important. A shaking caused by the rejection of the counsel of the True
Witness (Rev. 3:18, 19), which is to bring a genuine preparation (lT
186, 187), could not come under the lat ter rain, or under the final
test (caused by the Sunday-decree), because then "it will be too late
for the soul's need to be sup plied" (COL 412). The message to
Laodicea (Rev. 3:18, 19), which produces a shaking and a reformation,
must do its work before the latter rain is poured out. (Read EW 71
3T 270.)
b) Wavering in connection with the law of God.
In the light of the law of God (lT 361}, participation in the military
service, especially in time of war, has a lot to do with the prophesied
separation. Therefore, this is one of those points that should be
discussed within the overall prophetic setting, which includes the
shaking and its causes. In the absence of the prophetic scenery, it is a
rather difficult task to examine a controverted topic that affects the
law of God. Just imagine, by way of comparison, how difficult it would
be to study the function of an essential part isolated from a machine
which is not available for inspection.
As a church we stand or fall according as we prove to be faithful or
unfaithful toward the law of God. E. G. White writes: "Thus we
acknowledge God and recognize His law, the foundation of His
government in heaven and throughout His earthly dominions. His
authority should be kept distinct and plain before the world, and no
laws are to be acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of
Jehovah. If in defiance of God's arrangements the world be allowed to
influence our decisions or our actions, the purpose of God is defeated.
However specious the pretext, if the church waver here, there is
written against her in the books of heaven a betrayal of the most
sacred trusts, and treachery to the kingdom of Christ." TM 16, 17.
The law of God is an instrument which unites the true believers on the
one hand and separates true believers from professed believers on the
other hand. Therefore: "As trials thicken around us, both separation
and unity will be seen in our ranks." 6T 400. The servant of the Lord
says:
"The law of God, which is perfect holiness, is the only true standard of
character." SD 51. "His law is truth." ML 100.
In a time of crisis, when our faithfulness to the law of God is tested,
this is what happens:
"Truth dwelling in the hearts of believers will lead to blessed
and happy assimilation.... The pure and the base metal are now so
mingled that only the discerning eye of the infinite God can with
certainty distinguish between them. But the moral magnet of holiness
and truth will attract together the pure metal, while it will repel the
base and counterfeit." 5T 101.
"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.... 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.
"When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery
trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Ev 361.
These prophetic declarations seem to indicate a process of trials which
are to extend over a long period of time culminating in the final test.
The church must experience persecution and separation repeatedly as
she faces increasing tests in connection with the law of God. The
Sunday-decree/final test will be the "last act in the drama" (7T 141).
The previous acts, all along the development of the drama, distinguish
two classes of Adventists who will be diametrically opposed to each
other when the final test is brought under the mark of the beast. The
Spirit of Prophecy says:
"The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will
assume the right that is God's alone. They will think they can force the
conscience, which God alone should control. Even now they are
making a beginning
this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary
over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal,
commandment-keeping people." DA 630.
"I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was
shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon
professed Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not
always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under temptation.
The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves.... When
tribulation or persecution arises be cause of the word, many are
offended." 4T 89.
"On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it
make decisions either for Christ or against Him.... Many stumble and
fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated." DA 630.
"The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction
will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of the truth will
come on the side of God's commandment-keeping people. When this
grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing
conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from
cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in
standing in defense of the truth." 3SM 397 [emphasis supplied].
This is what happens under the preliminary acts, while the final act of
the drama is approaching little by little. Here is the experience of the
two classes of Adventists in successive stages, until the last act is
reached:
"As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in
the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through
obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the
opposition. By uniting with the world and par taking of its spirit, they
have come to view matters in nearly the same light
and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy,
popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in
the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They
become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren." GC 608.
While the unfaithful members represent a minority in the church, they
are shaken out of the organization. But let a crisis come when the
disloyal brethren have become the vast majority, as we read in ChS 41
(quoted before}, and they will yield to the demands of the world,
acting contrary to the law of God, and still remain in the church, and
hold control, as though nothing extraordinary had happened. They
cannot even see where they have gone wrong. The testimony of
history (GC 45, 51, 64, 376
DA 232), along with logical thinking, does not say that denominational
apostasy leads the greater number of backslidden leaders and
members to dissolve the church or just walk out and leave the
organization for the small remnant of true followers of Christ. On the
contrary, it is the faithful few that are forced to leave the church if they
"sigh and cry" too loud.
c) Unity with the world.
Unity between the church and the world, whereby the church is
becoming "a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (TM 265}, is one
of the causes of the shaking. E. G. White writes:
There are those who have so linked themselves with the world that
they have lost the knowledge of God, and are departing from the
faith.... Those who have been trying to quench their thirst at broken
cisterns, which can hold no water, will have a misleading message to
proclaim. They will speak smooth things.... Many who have known the
truth, but who have not nourished its principles in their hearts, will
become leavened with evil. This evil they do not discern. In word and
act they say, 'Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceptions.' We
are now to call things by their right name. No longer are we to look
upon unrighteousness as righteousness. Let every one be prepared to
lift up the standard of truth. We are to have no fellowship with the
worldly practises that have perverted the faith of some who have
enjoyed great privileges and who should now be standing on vantage
ground. We are to respond to God's call to take a decided stand for
truth and righteousness. No longer are we to bind up with worldly
elements." Sp T, Series B, No. 6, pp. 62-64.
"Our greatest trials will come because of that class who have once
advocated the truth, but who turn from it to the world, and trample it
under their feet in hate and derision.... We are to resist their spirit and
influence with the same weapon our Master used when assailed by the
prince of darkness-'It is writ ten."' RH Sept. 15, 1910.
Genuine conversion, which we need before the outpouring of the latter
rain (Acts 3:19}, involves a breaking away from all worldly influences
that have been introduced into the church. E. G. White writes:
"The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be
disclosed to view....
"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 them selves openly for Christ and His truth....
When the overflowing scourge shall pass through the earth, when the
fan is purging Jehovah's floor, God will be the help of His people.... The
separation causes pain and bitterness to both parties. It is the variance
which Christ declares that He came to bring. But the converted will feel
a continual longing desire that their friends shall forsake all for Christ,
knowing that, unless they do, there will be a final and eternal
separation." 5T 80-83.
Here we have another evidence that the shaking is to begin while
there is still time for a change. While the process of separation is going
on, the unconverted ones still have a chance to be converted. This will
not be possible under the latter rain (1T 619) or under the final test
(COL 412), when it will be too late to start a work of revival and
reformation.
d) Introduction of false teachings.
"Science, falsely so-called, is wearing away the foundation of Christian
principle
and those who once were in the faith drift away from the Bible
landmarks, and divorce themselves from God, while still claiming to be
His children." Ev 362.
"Satan hopes to involve the remnant people of God in the general ruin
that is coming upon the earth. As the coming of Christ draws nigh, he
will be more determined and decisive in his efforts to overthrow them.
Men and women will arise professing to have some new light or some
new revelation whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old
landmarks. Their doctrines will not bear the test of God's word, yet
souls will be deceived." 5T 295.
"From that which the Lord has been pleased to show me, there will
arise just such ones all along, and many more of them, claiming to
have new light, which is a side issue, an entering wedge. The widening
will increase until there is a breach made between those who accept
these views and those who believe the third angel's message." 3SM
409.
"God will arouse His people
if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift
them, separating the chaff from the wheat." GW 299.
"When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these
surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand." TM 112.
"Instruction has been given, warning our people against uniting in the
least degree with those who advocate false theories." Sp T, Series B,
No. 17, p. 29.
"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." 3SM 412.
e) Health Reform.
"Every duty that calls for reform involves repentance, faith, and
obedience. It means the uplifting of the soul to a new and nobler life.
Thus every true reform has its place in the work of the third angel's
message. Especially does the temperance reform demand our
attention and support....
"If the work of temperance were carried forward by us as it was begun
thirty years ago
if at our camp meetings we presented before the people the evils of
intemperance in eating and drinking, and especially the evil of liquor
drinking
if these things were presented in connection with the evidences of
Christ's soon coming, there would be a shaking among the people." 6T
110, 111.
"If church members do not act the part God has assigned them, the
movement of health reform will go on without them, and it will be seen
that God has removed their candlestick out of its place." MS 78, l900.
f) Involvement in ecumenism.
In the prophetic background supplied at the beginning of our study, we
saw that "through union with the world the church will become
corrupt" [RH Feb. 26, 18951
that the members will be "acting after the manner of the world" (5T
210)
that they will be found "uniting with the world and partaking of its
spirit" {GC 608)
that all the abominations done "in the church" (3T 2671 will cause
some to sigh and cry until the close of probation. Of this multitude of
Advent believers, the Spirit of Prophecy says:
"When those who are uniting with the world, yet claiming great purity,
plead for union with those who have ever been the opposers of the
cause of truth, we should fear and shun them as decidedly as did
Nehemiah." PK 660.
"The Word of God . . . is to be our defense when Satan works with
such lying wonders that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very
elect. It is then that those who have not stood firmly for the truth will
unite with the unbelieving, who love and make a lie. When these
wonders are performed, when the sick are healed and other marvels
are wrought, they will be deceived." 3SM 407, 408.
"The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or with held 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." 5T 463.
"When the Saviour saw in the Jewish people a nation divorced from
God, He saw also a professed Christian church united to the world and
the papacy." RH October 8, 1901.
2. Separation in the Remnant Church
We already know that the sifting predicted by John the Baptist was
fulfilled in three stages: (1) separation in the Jewish church when the
remnant church was organized
(2) then separation in the remnant church (among the disciples of
Christ)
(3) and then another separation in the Jewish church. With reference
to the second phase (separation among the disciples), the Spirit of
Prophecy says:
"By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further
alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to
wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned
their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their
choice had taken the form with out the spirit, the husk without the
kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed
for they walked no more with Jesus." DA 392.
"'Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and
gather His wheat into the garner.' Matt. 3:12. This was one of the
times of purging. By the words of truth, the chaff was being separated
from the wheat. Because they were too vain and self-righteous to
receive reproof, too world-loving to accept a life of humility, many
turned away from Jesus." DA 392.
History repeats itself. Today, the "small remnant" (5T 213) must also
be sifted. Many prophecies in the writings of Sister White refer
exclusively to the sifting of the "remnant church" (5T 472, 473).
While the mother church "has turned back from following Christ her
Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt" (5T 217), a "small
remnant" (5T 213), is walking on the heavenward road, which
becomes more and more narrow as they "press on to the end." And
there is a shaking in this little company all along the road. Sister White
says:
"We then thought of those who had not accustomed them selves to
privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the
company. At every change some were left be hind, and those only
remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships." 2T
595.
This company also comes into view in EW 270, 271, where the shaking
divides the Advent people. And what is their experience after they are
separated from those who are opposed to the straight testimony of the
True Witness? Sister White says:
"My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were
mightily shaken.... The numbers of this company had lessened. Some
had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent,
who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to
perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were
left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by
others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels
still pressed around them, but could-have no power over them." EW
271.
Evidently, this victorious company is not identical with "the church-the
Lord's sanctuary-[that] was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of
God" (5T 211). The two carry very distinctive descriptions. While the
unfaithful believers remain in the mother church to the very end,
unconverted members cannot remain in the little militant company.
This is brought to our notice repeatedly. Let us consider a few more
prophetic statements:
"The church will yet see troublous times. She will prophesy in
sackcloth. But although she must meet heresies and persecutions,
although she must battle with the infidel and the apostate, yet by the
help of God she is bruising the head of Satan. The Lord will have a
people as true as steel, and with faith as firm as the granite rock." 4T
594.
"The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from
the true and loyal ones." 3SM 422.
"The church may appear as about to fall, it does not fall. It remains,
while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out-the chaff separated from the
precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take
place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the
Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and
true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths." 2SM
380.
The descriptions of the two churches are so distinctive that we would
be guilty of an unnecessary and inexcusable contradiction if we tried to
apply to the mother church certain prophecies which refer specifically
to the remnant church. For example:
While "through union with the world" the mother church is becoming
"a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (RH Feb. 26, 1895
TM 265), so that she will be full of abominations when God's wrath is
to be manifested in the outpouring of the plagues (3T 267
5T 211), the remnant church "will appear 'fair as the moon, clear as
the sun, and terrible as an army with banners"'
(5T 82).
While the mother church will be the first target of God's wrath (5T
211), the remnant church will be protected from the wrath of God (PK
727, 728).
While the mother church is served by an unfaithful ministry to the very
end (5T 211, 212), the remnant church will have a faithful ministry:
"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.... The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing
time will be disclosed to view." 5T 80.
"The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has
not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry
prepared for the latter rain." 3SM 385.
3. Final Separation in the Mother Church
The prophesied sifting will be completed when the last faithful soul
comes out of the mother church ("the Lord's sanctuary") before the
stroke of the wrath of God is felt. If the call to the true followers of
Christ in Babylon is-"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev.
18:4)-then it stands to reason that refuge from the plagues cannot be
found in the mother church, which will be the first target of the
plagues (5T 211). If Christ has faithful followers in Babylon until
shortly before the door of probation is closed (GC 390), He will
certainly have them also in the mother church-sighing and crying for
all the abominations that are done therein (3T 267). However, while
we have no controversy with these faithful ones, but feel that we are
one with them in spirit, we cannot, under the circumstances
considered in this study, join the mother church with the excuse that
"we also want to sigh and cry inside that church." For us, this would be
as inexcusable as joining one of the fallen churches with the pretext
that "we also want to be Christ's true followers in Babylon" (GC 390).
Our peculiar convictions, our experience, and our position, would not
even make us acceptable for fellowship in the mother church. We hope
to be in close fellowship with the sighing and crying ones when they
come out of the mother church. And this last separation is also
prophesied. Sister White writes:
"The casting of the net is the preaching of the gospel. This gathers
both good and evil into the church....
"Both the parable of the tares and that of the net plainly teach that
there is no time when all the wicked will turn to God. The wheat and
the tares grow together until the harvest. The good and the bad fish
are together drawn ashore for a final separation.
"Again, these parables teach that there is to be no probation after the
judgment. When the work of the gospel is completed, there
immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and
the destiny of each class is forever fixed." COL 122, I 23.
This separation which is the final stage of the shaking pro cess takes
place under the final test caused by the mark of the beast,
immediately before the door of probation is closed.
"In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church."
5T 81.
'When the day comes when the law of God is made void, and the
church is sifted by the fiery trials that are to try all that live upon the
earth, a great proportion of those who are supposed to be genuine will
give heed to seducing spirits, and will turn traitors and betray sacred
trusts. They will prove our very worst persecutors." 6BC 1065.
Concerning the persecuted minority, the "small remnant" (5T 213),
Sister White says, in continuation:
"Those who have lived on the flesh and blood of the Son of God His
Holy Word will be strengthened, rooted, and grounded in the faith.
They will see increased evidence why they should prize and obey the
Word of God. With David, they will say, 'They have made void thy law.
Therefore love I thy commandments above gold
yea, above fine gold.' While others count them dross, they will arise to
defend the faith." 6BC 1065.
Under the latter rain and the final test, there will be a great shaking.
This was shown to Sister White in a vision. She says:
"I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and
the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out,
ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will
gladly receive the truth.... The light will shine, and all who are honest
will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant."
EW 261.
In the early days of the third angel's message, the First-day Adventists
were referred to as "nominal Adventists." But, with the lapse of time,
great changes have occurred. And a title which was at one time
applied to one group may now be applicable, with more propriety, to
another group. Example: In the days of the apostles, the "synagogue
of Satan" was the Jewish church (Rev. 3:9). During the proclamation
of the threefold message, this title is used to designate the
confederacy of Satan's churches (TM 16). And, after the close of
probation, the same title applies also to the multitude of fallen
Adventists (compare A Word to the Little Flock, p. 12 with EW 15). In
the light of this example, we think that, in the end, the mother church
under God's wrath (5T 211), which is distinct from the "small remnant"
with the seal of God (5T 213), must fit under the title of "nominal
Adventists," because the only other alternative for her in EW 261
would be to stand under the title of "fallen churches."
IV-RESUME
There can be no doubt that the truth revealed to Seventh-day
Adventists, in the threefold message, is the truth for today. The many
doctrines that make up this truth, "with Christ as the living center," are
"as firm and immovable as the throne of God" ( 2SM 87).
"The faith and feelings of men may change
but the truth of God, never. The third angel's message is sounding
it is infallible." 4T 595.
This is the message we love, cherish and strongly defend.
There are, nevertheless, more and more sincere Adventists
disagreeing with the policies of the SDA Church. Individuals and
offshoots who have adopted new doctrinal ideas are not meant here,
but the many thousands of believers, both inside and outside the
denomination, who support the original doctrines as revealed through
the pioneers and the Spirit of Prophecy, but cannot agree with the
modern practices of the church. It is evident that the works of the
church, condemned by the True Witness (Rev. 3:15), do not
correspond to her profession. Elder C. J. Ritchie, an SDA Bible scholar,
describes the whole problem in a few words: "Lukewarmness [is]
displeasing to God. We will be rejected if we do not change.... Our
condition [is] one of self-deception. We have the truth but are in a
poor spiritual condition. We have great light but do not walk in
it."-study Outlines, p. 7 (published by the author). This is why so many
lose their confidence in the church. And, as the result of this difficult
situation, two divergent tendencies divide the Adventist people into
two distinct classes of believers with widely differing attitudes. Old-
fashioned Adventists, who take a firm stand on principle, believe that,
eventually, while the church remains unreformed, only a small
remnant will be saved. And the Spirit of Prophecy clearly delineates
the distinctions between "the church" and "the remnant."
In the earlier writings of Sister White it is clear from the context that
the remnant spoken of are the faithful few from the Philadelphian
period (sixth church) that accepted the third angel's message.
Then, later, the context makes it evident that the writer is referring to
the same remnant as in Revelation 12:17.
With the progress of the seventh prophetic church period and the
development of the Laodicean church, it is obvious from the context
that in many instances the term "remnant" can refer to none other
than a "little company" distinguished from the mother church. If the
declarations concerning one are applied to the other, only confusion
will result.
The Spirt of Prophecy (3T 267
5T 209-213, 524) proves wrong the teaching that in the end "the
faithful remnant" is "the church" itself, which, they say, will be purified
by the removal of sin and sinners. There is no such thing. The
apostatized majority do not leave the church
they remain, and, as a matter of fact, they themselves are "the
church," which becomes more and more corrupt, until they-as an
organized church-receive the stroke of God's wrath.
The Jews made a great mistake by failing to see the distinction
between the prophecies referring to the first coming of the Messiah
and those alluding to His second appearing. Some time ago a religious
Jew told us that he cannot believe that Jesus Christ is the true
Messiah, because, he said, it is written that when the Messiah comes
there will be no more wars (Zech. 9:10), and this condition has not
been fulfilled until today. When we told him that his interpretation is
true in connection with the second coming of the Messiah, he was
surprised to see that, based on the prophecies of the Old Testament,
we find a distinction between the first and the second advent of Christ.
As Satan was successful with the Jews, so he has had success with the
Protestant denominations, leading them to confuse the moral law with
the ceremonial law, and to say that there was only one law, which was
nailed to the cross.
Should Adventists make a similar mistake by ignoring the clear
distinction between "the church" and "the remnant church"? Of those
who profess to believe the threefold message of Revelation 14, only a
small number will be saved (lT 608
2T 445). Together with "the great body of Christ's true followers" who
are still to come out of Babylon (GC 390), the "living saints," at the
coming of Christ, will be only "144,000 in number" (EW 15).
Therefore: "Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be
among the hundred and forty-four thousand." 7BC 970.