The History and Transfer of the Sacred OraclesGuest Speaker: Hal Mayer
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Jesus came to walk among His people today, as He did 2000 years ago? What would He say? Would He make the same kind of statements about the SDA church today as He made of the Hebrew church in His own day? Would He say that we are approved of heaven, or would He have to say that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked? Revelation 3:17. Would He commend us for our large system of organization, our TV Christmas programs, youth rock concerts, and large churches, hospitals and schools? Or would He sadly hang His head at the systematic departure from His Word throughout the system? Would He commend our large number of baptisms, or would He say, "Your house is left unto you desolate," as He did the Jewish Church? Matthew 23:38.
This subject is really quite an important one. What does God do in the event that His church ultimately chooses to follow the world? What will He do to purify Himself a people in these last days? Does God still have a church on earth where He has deposited His sacred oracles of truth? Before we enter this subject further, let us pray.
Our Father, we want to understand your purpose especially in relation to your compromised Remnant church. The confusion and apostasy around us in our own beloved church is making us sad. Please give us answers. Help us understand your plans for your church today and how we can know who is your true people, we pray. In Jesus name, amen.
Have you ever heard anyone say: "The SDA General Conference is now Babylon because of its apostasy, and that it is no longer the depository of God's truth and that it is time to come out and go somewhere else?" Have you ever heard the opposite idea that sounds like this: "Don't worry about the church. We have to just trust our leaders. God will take care of them and the church." In other words, "keep silent, don't make trouble for anyone. Go along with the status quo, God will take the reigns in His own hands." The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are replete with examples and admonitions concerning this later example showing why faithful souls should raise their voices in protest of open sin and apostasy.
But how can we know if the SDA church is still God's church and if it is still the depository of His sacred oracles? In order to understand the situation of the SDA Conference church, we must go back in time and review how God handled the sacred oracles that He has entrusted to His churches in the past.
The sacred oracles are those teachings and understandings that are handed down from one generation to another about God, the unseen realities of the supernatural, and they provide a system of spiritual guidance for each successive generation. The sacred oracles provide instructions for worship and faith and daily life. They also give prophetic revelations of the future, and often reveal the characters of men and institutions. Spiritual vitality depends on how the sacred oracles are treated. If they are respected and followed, there is growth. If they are not respected, there is a loss of spiritual power. Do you respect and obey the sacred oracles God has given His Remnant people?
Every religion in History has its sacred oracles. Pagan oracles were usually mystical stories and legends about gods and goddesses. These legends expressed their own ideas about the world, the universe and things unseen. Worship centered in rituals that would either appease the gods or ingratiate them to the worshippers. The oracles were reverently regarded, followed and protected, even though not written down. Pagan oracles are quite opposed to the worship of the true God, because they are the ideas of merely human minds. And when brought in contact with the oracles of God through His church, they created conflict and strife, such as the persecution of Christians under the Romans in the time of Nero, Diocletian and other emperors. When Paul was in Ephesus, the Ephesians listened to him, but the silversmiths, who were profiting by the pagan superstitions, led out in a riot when their income was threatened by Paul's teaching. They stirred up the people to defend their pagan oracles including the Goddess Diana. See Acts 19.
Islam also has its oracle called the Koran. The Koran provides Islam with guidance concerning life and worship. The Koran also conflicts with God's oracles and when brought in contact with them, it also creates strife. Islam despises Christianity and considers it an invalid system of understanding and of worship. Persecution and oppression of Christians in Islamic countries is known to almost all.
But these are all counterfeits. God in His wisdom has provided His people with the true sacred oracles. They originate from His mind, not man's mind. He gave them to Adam and Eve, and they handed them down verbally to their children and their children's children right down through the patriarchal age of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all the way to Moses. They included His moral law, instruction on how the world came about, and instruction on how to understand and worship God. These sacred oracles were to be respected, and reverently treated by following their instruction.
When Israel became a great nation down in Egypt, God brought them out with a mighty hand, and restated the sacred oracles, especially His law at Mt. Sinai. These laws were written on tables of stone and were to be protected and revered and honored and most of all, obeyed. Moses also wrote five books of sacred history that tell of God's dealings with his people. These also became part of the sacred oracles, as did the writings of the prophets, and the rest of the Old Testament later on.
The Hebrew Canon (or the Torah) was developed over a period of time. The rabbis were very careful to protect these sacred oracles, and keep them from being corrupted. They were to teach them faithfully to Israel, and the people were required to obey them. With extreme care they copied and protected the Hebrew scripture text so that it would not have any errors or be damaged.
But Israel strayed from God's revealed will. At first there developed a growing apostasy IN the church, by certain leaders and members, but eventually as one king after another led all Israel into error and deeper idolatry, it became so widespread, that the whole church was IN apostasy. God eventually punished the whole nation of Israel by sending them into captivity to Babylon. While in captivity, Israel was still God's church, the depository of His sacred oracles. It did not become Babylon. Of course, there were some that got comfortable in Babylon and even absorbed the ideas and principles of Babylon. THEY had become part of Babylon. But when God told his church to go out of Babylon and rebuild Jerusalem, He was asking them to separate themselves from Babylon. But some refused to go, for they had become part of Babylon.
God had sent His church to Babylon to reform her, not because He had rejected her. He called her out, when it was time to give His people another opportunity to obey the sacred oracles loyally. Do you think we may have among us those that are so comfortable in this world that they will not come out and be separate, spiritually? God is calling you and me to become Holy and distinct. How tragic that so many Adventists are caught up in worldliness and are captivated by Babylon's enchantments.
There is an important distinction to be made here. There is a difference between those that reject the oracles (like Cain, Nimrod, the Builders of the Tower of Babel, etc.) and those that struggle with sin and must overcome their faulty traits of character. If a church leader should make a mistake in management; that is not apostasy. If he sins openly, he is fallen, but cannot be considered apostate if he is repentant for his sin. It is when he persistently refuses to bring his open life into harmony with the Bible that we consider a person in apostasy. Or when he continually preaches and teaches things that are not in the Bible, or distorts the things that are, and misleads the people, this is a man in apostasy.
How can we tell if a church is IN apostasy? How can we tell the difference between "apostasy IN the church" and "the church IN apostasy?" We can say that there is apostasy IN the church when there are those in leadership positions, for example, who do not lead a godly example, or who lead some individuals or some institutions of the church away from God's pattern of truth and right principles. The church has good and responsible ways of dealing with apostasy IN the church, if she will use them. Tragically, she has not. But when the apostasy is limited to some individuals, or if only a small part of the church is involved, we cannot say that the church AS A WHOLE is IN apostasy. Only that there is apostasy IN the church.
However, when a large body of leaders and laymen lead virtually all the institutions of the church, whether educational, health, publishing, and even ministerial institutions astray, and also many people , and persistently lead these institutions in the opposite direction from God's clear, revealed will, over a long period of time, we can then say that the church ITSELF is IN apostasy. When committees and boards continually do not consult God's Word in making decisions, or ignore the plain counsels of God in the sacred oracles when making those decisions, and continually lead their respective institutions in the sparks of their own kindling, they are classed, as being IN apostasy.
But remember that just because a person in leadership, or even a layman makes a mistake or commits a sin, this is not apostasy of the church. It is apostasy in the church. Many people confuse this point. They think that those leaders who are persistently leading their institutions or ministries away from the revealed will of God, disrespecting the sacred oracles, and going their own way, ARE MERELY MAKING A MISTAKE, and that faithful souls should not point this out, for this would be criticism. This is not the case! When leaders refuse to follow God's counsel, and who ignore it and go their own way, leading out in false teaching and practices; it is not criticism to point that out and plead for reform.
Let's think about John Harvey Kellogg. He did not merely make a mistake when, after the fire at his sanitarium in Battle Creek, he rejected the counsel of Ellen White to build the sanitarium small, decentralize it, and disperse the resources all over the country. He deliberately chose to reject that counsel, and built his sanitarium larger than before, like many of our hospitals today, and this eventually led the Battle Creek sanitarium into apostasy and right out of God's church. And today, our hospital system has largely followed in this "fine" tradition of rebellion, and has ignored the counsel of God in the sacred oracles, and now they are being joined with Catholic hospitals, and Baptist hospitals, etc., in an effort to save them from financial ruin. How on earth will they ever be in a position to give the last warning message, while entangled in such alliances? There is no way. They are IN apostasy, and quite rightly they should not bear the name Adventist. So are our schools, publishing houses and ministerial organizations. Which ones are even attempting to follow the sacred oracles? This is not a mere moral lapse, as bad as that is. It is not merely a mistake. It is much worse because it involves the whole church in a direction the leads to its destruction. Does our beloved church merely have apostasy IN it, or is it actually IN apostasy? By the way, being in apostasy is not equal to being Babylon. That is another common mistake. They are two quite different things. A church may be in serious and rebellious apostasy, but not become Babylon, as was the case of Israel. Unless god transfers the sacred oracles to another church, like it or not, it is still His depository of truth.
You see, it is God's purpose to get men and women to be loyal to His sacred oracles. And because God does not force you to do this, it is not an easy task, as you probably know from your own life. So God is practical. He is not going to give up on you or His church without great longsuffering and patience. Aren't you thankful for that! He is not going to reject His church until He has given it every opportunity possible to repent and return, or without going to great lengths to confront the apostasy of His people. And this may take a frustratingly long time. Remember, God is not on a human time table. God's true people must come up to the help of Lord, and speak up, protest false teaching and the lowering of standards. They are one of the tools He uses to confront apostasy. But if they join the conspiracy of silence, it only extends the process. Let us not be like Jonah and get angry with God when He does not meet our expectations.
After their return from Babylon, the Hebrews were determined not to wander after the gods of the other nations any more, but the leaders isolated the church from the nations around them. They lost their witness. They developed so many restrictions and rabbinical laws that they eventually had their own church manual. Their sacred oracle was the Torah, or the Old Testament, but their church manual was the Mishna. As the Hebrews elevated the Mishna higher and higher in importance and authority, they lowered the sacred Torah in authority, until eventually the Law and the Torah had little influence on them. This is always what happens when you place the church manual higher in authority than the Bible. Do you think we are in danger of doing this today?
The Hebrews also misapplied the prophecies of the Torah about the first coming of Jesus. And they didn't recognize the Messiah when He was among them. By the time of Christ the Jews had become so confused about the matter of divine authority that they thought the Mishna church manual, and the rabbis had more authority than the sacred scriptures of the Torah. Jesus came to sort out the confusion, and separate the sacred oracles from the common oracles. Do you remember some of his statements?
Listen: "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matt 15:6-9.
Here is another: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Matthew 5:21–22.
And here is yet another: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:43–44.
In these statements Jesus was contradicting long-held maxims of church leaders. Do you think they appreciated Jesus and His self-supporting ministry?
Listen to the words of Ellen White: "But the Jews had exalted the forms and ceremonies and had lost sight of their object. The traditions, maxims, and enactments of men hid from them the lessons which God intended to convey. These maxims and traditions became an obstacle to their understanding and practice of true religion. And when the Reality came, in the person of Christ, they did not recognize in Him the fulfillment of all their types, the substance of all their shadows. They rejected the antitype, and clung to their types and useless ceremonies." {COL 34-35} Do you think we are in danger of not recognizing Christ today in the form of his Holy Spirit by elevating the church manual above the Bible's authority?
Here is an important statement. "Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." {TM 507.1} How are we going to live up to all the light if we disrespect and ignore the sacred oracles from which the light comes?
Just as the Jews did not recognize Christ when he came, so can we miss recognizing the Holy Spirit. If we place our opinions above the Word of God, we begin to think that we don't need to fulfill all of God's requirements. Soon we have our own twisted ideas of what God's requirements are, and we will miss the latter rain because we are not preparing our characters to receive it. Those that teach that it is not important to overcome sin through the grace of Christ, that Jesus was even our substitute obedience, are teaching the people in the best way calculated for them to miss the latter rain.
Could we be so busy pretending that the Holy Spirit is with us in our dancy music, our so called "Holy Spirit" retreats, our celebration services, and charismatic preaching, and in at least one case, tongues speaking, that we won't even recognize the true Holy Spirit when He manifests Himself among those that are "sorrowful for the solemn assembly," (Zephaniah 3:18) and among those that "weep between the porch and the alter?" (Joel 2:17) I tell you, unless we are burdened for the lost souls in our church and for the rebellion and apostasy that is rampaging through its corridors; unless you and I are crying out to God over the sins of His people, we will not participate in the outpouring of the latter rain. Ask God for a burden for those very souls that have made you heartsick over their apostasy, and angry at their determined rebellion. You must not ignore that responsibility. You never know when there is a Nicodemus among them. You never know how many "priests" will become obedient to the faith under the power of the latter rain. You may not be able to attend their celebration assemblies or rock concerts. You may not be able to worship in their apostate worship services or camp meetings. You may have to start a home church. But you must "weep between the porch and the alter," and you must "sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the church," or your own soul is in danger of not being sealed. Read Ezekiel 9:4 carefully. Note that only those who cry and sigh for the abominations will be sealed.
Ellen White makes this astonishing statement about this passage: "Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost… 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. {3T 267} Are you in agony over the sins of the church? Do you sigh and cry whenever you hear about some new abomination brought into God's church? Or do you rejoice in the fall of your brothers and sisters? Maybe you are just passive? These things will prevent you from being ready to receive the latter rain. We need the experience of sighing and crying to God over the sins of others.
Whenever a church elevates the authority of the church manual, it automatically lowers the authority of scripture. That is why in the Roman Catholic Church, there is so much reliance on traditions instead of the Word of God. They have elevated tradition, so they say, on an equal plain to scripture, but in reality they have placed it over scripture. Do you think there is a danger that Seventh-day Adventists will elevate the authority of human rules over the Word of God? Most certainly. By making the church manual the basis of decisions and plans, we actually restrict the Holy Spirit to work His will in His own way. By gradually raising the church manual in authority in administrating the affairs of our church, we have gradually lowered the authority of the Scriptures until imperceptivity we have replaced them with man's ideas and plans. Ellen White makes a most interesting statement. "One sentence of Scripture is of more value than ten thousand of man's ideas or arguments." Isn't that something? Let me say it again. "One sentence of Scripture is of more value than ten thousand of man's ideas or arguments." That is from 7T 71.
Just think about that statement for a minute. What is most important for you? Is it the Word of God? Or are you more concerned about what others think? Do you want to follow only the principles of Scripture, or do you first think about how you can follow the teachings of man, the plans of man, and the devisings of fallible human beings. Take God at His Word and submit to God's way as revealed in His Word. Of course we should cooperate with other faithful souls in winning others to the truth, but the Word must be the primary authority.
When Jesus was on earth He often disregarded the Mishna church manual, and by His words and actions elevated the Torah to its rightful place. This was what He had to do in order to help the people recognize Him. Naturally this made the rabbis and other church leaders quite angry at Him. But He had to do it to place the Bible (or the Torah) back in its proper place of authority. Listen to this from Desire of Ages p. 611-612: "Through their reverence for tradition and their blind faith in a corrupt priesthood, the people were enslaved. These chains Christ must break. The character of the priests, rulers, and Pharisees must be more fully exposed." Do you think we may have to do that again? We can't just go along with error in doctrine or practice. That would be wrong. But if we are like Jesus, speaking up will lead to us being treated in much the same way He was treated. It actually happens that way these days to those who oppose the onrushing torrent of rebellion to God's Word. Jesus said that what they have done to Him, they would do to his followers. " If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." John 15:20. See also Luke 6:22.
At the time of Christ, the Jewish church was the depository of the sacred oracles. It was still the place to which God had entrusted His truth, though not for many more years. . Jesus still offered opportunity for the church leaders to lead out in repentance. He still gave them the choice as a church to accept Him as the Messiah. But finally they sealed their rejection of Christ, and God had to remove them from being the depository of His sacred oracles. They were no longer His church.
But to whom did God give the sacred oracles when He removed them from Israel? What church would become the new depository of Truth? Would he just give His sacred oracles to individuals? No. Though individuals have always been a part of God's true church, and though individuals have always personally responded to the sacred oracles and practiced their counsel, God has always had a BODY, His church, to whom He entrusted those sacred oracles. It may have only been a small number of people, but there has always been a body of believers. In some cases it might be two or three, for "when two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Matt. 18:20.
The obvious intent was for Jesus to place his sacred oracles with His apostles, as the nucleus of His new church body. His purpose was for the Christian church to become His chosen people, His church body on earth. The organization was simple. There has always been organization, even if the body of believers is scattered. You can read about how God started His new church throughout the book of Acts.
I want you to notice that even though the oracles had been transferred to the new "denomination," the apostle Paul, and Peter and others, were not unconcerned about the apostate and forsaken church. They never said "leave them alone, they are joined to their idols." They prayed for them. They went to their gatherings to try to win them to the truth. They did not ignore those still in the structure. They had a great burden for their souls. Paul even wrote a letter to the Hebrew Christians whom he loved, which shows that he had not neglected to try to win them to the truth, and with some success.
Whenever a church is rejected and there is to be a new church, the new church must of necessity become the new depository of the sacred oracles. There must be a transfer of the oracles into that new depository. It is interesting to note that every time God has changed churches and transferred His sacred oracles from one church to another, there have always been a number of important conditions present in order that confidence in the new denomination can develop. These have been present both times in history that God has changed churches, that is, at the beginning of the Christian church and at the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. So in order to help us to understand what God is presently doing today, we need to look at what happened when He changed churches in the past.
Before we look at the conditions that existed at the times in history when God has changed churches, we need to be reminded that in the Dark Ages, the Roman Catholic Church had usurped control of the visible church on earth, and God's true church had to go "into the wilderness," into hiding. Let's read it. It is found in Revelation 12:13-14. "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." The Roman Catholic Church was never God's church even though it professes to be. God's church had to hide during the time of Roman Catholic supremacy. God never made the Catholic Church his depository of truth, and the place where he kept His sacred oracles. It was deposited with the Waldenses and other faithful groups known as "The Church in the Wilderness."
The Reformation therefore cannot be counted as another change in churches from the Catholic to the Protestant. The Reformation was the result of sincere Catholics following the Bible, and coming out of her and joining the true church which had been hidden in the wilderness for so many years. The Reformation was part of God's plan to break the power of the Roman Catholic Church over the world, and bring Freedom of Religion to millions who otherwise would be lost forever in the grasp of Roman Catholic control.
There were a number of important elements in the apostolic church that we need to understand in order to see how God worked to develop confidence in the new denomination, so that people would not look to the wrong church for truth. He had to make it clear, so there would be no confusion. So clear in fact, that no sincere soul could miss it, or be argued away from it, or confused by circumstances.
First, there was miraculous power that attended the apostles in the early rain. There were thousands converted in a day, and the conversions spread like wildfire. Without this supernatural power manifesting itself in the lives of everyday people, there would not be a transfer of confidence to the new church from the old. For there to be a new church, and for people to have their attention drawn to it, God had to give it supernatural power. In Apostolic times there were healings, speaking in tongues (or foreign languages), visions, and even raising the dead, etc. These supernatural manifestations convinced people that the new "denomination" was of God.
Second, for there to be a change in depository, there had to be men and women of the deepest spiritual commitment and love for one another, and with characters that had been transformed by the renewing spirit of God. Remember what happened on the day of Pentecost? They were all together in one place praying, confessing their faults to one another, and developing a deep love between them. In order for there to be the outpouring of manifest spiritual power of the Holy Ghost, there had to be deep unity and personal commitment one to another. All arguing was put aside. All infighting and petty jealousies were surrendered. All pride and self seeking were put away. There was nothing to stand in the way between brother and brother, or sister and sister. God's Holy Spirit had free reign and could do as He pleased. Without godly, consecrated and earnest men of character in charge of the movement, it could not gain the confidence of true hearted people. So God laid the groundwork by training 12 men to be that kind of character.
A third condition that is necessary for a transfer of depository was the deep study of the Word of God. In the early church the Old Testament canon was the focus of their study along with the life of Christ, to understand more of the meaning of the prophecies of the Messiah. How important this is for us today in preparation for the latter rain! How often have you gotten out your Bible and pled with the Lord to show you His truth, and to perfect your character and prepare you for the latter rain? I fear that even among those of us who believe the truth, there is a sad neglect in this area. We will never be ready for the latter rain if we don't make the necessary preparation. It will fall all around us, and we won't even recognize it – I'm talking about conservative, truth professing Seventh-day Adventists. We will probably think that the Holy Spirit is of the Devil.
Listen to this statement from the pen of inspiration again: "Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." TM 507. Deep personal Bible study is vital for any change in depository. Without it, the new church would have no credible basis for its mission and message.
Fourth on the list of necessary criteria for establishing a new church is the history of an extended confrontation with the apostasy of His people prior to God's rejection of their church as His depository of truth. God went through quite a few steps in the process of warning Israel before He finally rejected them as His people. There were the repeated and frequent warnings of the prophets. There were the confrontations such as Elijah on Mount Carmel. There was the temporary captivity to Babylon, and the final servitude to Rome. There was also the manifestations and miraculous work of Christ and the Apostles. These all clearly pled with God's Hebrew church, the existing Depository of truth, to return and reform her ways.
There is yet one final, important characteristic that was present when God changed churches and made the Christian Church His depository of truth. Up until the time of the apostles, the sacred oracles involved the Old Testament canon only. There had been additions made to the five books of Moses, such as books written by the prophets and kings and others of Israel. But in conjunction with the change in church came a major expansion of the sacred oracles. There had to be books added to the sacred scriptures because there was a new environment, a new church, and it needed inspired guidance and prophetic enlightenment to meet its present needs and challenges. This would greatly increase the confidence of God's true people in the new denomination and point them in the right direction.
Why was it so important to add more to the existing inspired sources? The apostles pointed to Christ as the object of the already established canon of the Old Testament, which demonstrated their loyalty to the existing oracles of God. But without inspired, guidance geared to its specific circumstances, the new church would falter and would be unclear in its mission. The new church needed to have the confidence of its members that this is the new depository, and the expansion of the sacred oracles would provide them with an anchor to help them establish themselves in the truth. As the Apostles sent letters and copies of their gospels to the churches, the churches respected and protected them as instruction from God. Why? Because the apostles who were so obviously and manifestly controlled by divine power, they viewed these letters as God's message just for them to strengthen them for the ordeal of trials they would face.
The new denomination also needed specific divine counsel to give them that distinctiveness that would distinguish the new church from the previous Jewish church, which had not been given these sacred oracles. Later on, as persecution developed, these letters had the additional importance of being the anchor of their faith, for which they might have to suffer much, or even give up their lives. These new oracles were preserved, studied and read in the churches from Sabbath to Sabbath, in order to help the people understand the principles of the gospel and God's purpose for their lives. Incidentally, the way Roman Catholicism took over was by twisting the sacred oracles to promote their ambitious agenda. The true church had to flee into the wilderness, and with her she took the uncorrupted truth, into hiding.
Now let us look at the Millerite movement and the beginning of the SDA church. When God changed churches in the 19th century, he left the protestant churches and centered His truth in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, making it the new depository of his sacred oracles. God had confronted the Protestant churches with their apostasy by the work of the Anabaptists, the Puritans, the Wesleys and others, and now by the work of the Millerites. And in many other ways, he had given them opportunity to step out into the light and move forward. But they chose to stagnate, and not advance with advancing truth. Eventually God had to let them go.
Again, the necessary characteristics were in place to develop confidence in God's new church. There were great manifestations of the Holy Spirit. There was power in the preaching, there were healings, prophetic visions and other clear evidences that God was behind the movement, just like in apostolic times. Again spiritual giants were the men and women who led the movement. They confessed their faults one to another, they put away arguing and disunity. They had an earnest love for souls. They came closer and closer together so that God, who was directing the movement, would be able to use them as He saw fit.
There was a deep and earnest study of the Word. In the apostolic church the emphasis was on the fulfillment of the prophecies related to Christ's first coming, while the Millerites emphasized the fulfillment of prophecies related to Christ's second coming. These men and women were deep Bible students, and their spiritual experience revealed their maturity. They knew where they stood, and they could prove it by the Bible. Can you prove from scripture that you are part of the Remnant? Can you show from the Bible how that your church has the truth, and that the other churches do not constitute the Remnant and that they don't have present truth?
Finally, in order for there to be solid confidence that the Adventist movement was of God, there was again to be an expansion of the oracles of truth. By the grace of God, He raised up Ellen White to provide inspired guidance and prophetic insight just suited to the needs and time of the new denomination. It gave the new depository of truth a distinctiveness that distinguished it from all other churches. What better gift could heaven give? The writings of Ellen White were an expansion of the sacred oracles and have provided a tremendous source of guidance, instruction and enlightenment to the faithful. By rejecting the counsel of Ellen White, the liberals among us are in essence denying one of the keys to what makes the Seventh-day Adventist Church the depository of God's sacred oracles. That is why often those who reject the Spirit of Prophecy end up leaving the message. Can you imagine how God feels about the rejection of the Spirit of Prophecy by His own church, after heaven has put so much energy and resources into making it what it is? What a tragedy!
Whenever God has changed churches in the past, there have been identifiable characteristics that were present in order to draw attention to the new church and to build confidence in it. Do you think God will raise up another church before the Latter Rain, and before Jesus comes again? If He does, He will have to somehow develop the confidence of faithful souls in the new denomination. He will have to build it up by using men and women that have an earnest love for souls and for each other. Men and women who are deep Bible students. He would have to make it evident that the new denomination is supported by supernatural events that would make it obvious that the new movement is of divine origin so there wouldn't be any confusion. Wouldn't there have to be miracles, visions, and healings, and other forms of miraculous intervention? And of course it would be essential for there to be an expansion of inspired counsel, the sacred oracles, for the guidance, counsel and insight of the new denomination, just suited for its specific needs.
Those who chose to reject the "new denominations" of the past (or rather the new depositories of truth) and keep their old religion, had to overcome two huge obstacles in their rebellion to the Spirit of God. First they had to reject present truth based on clear scriptural research. Second, they had to reject as fake, the obvious manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
Do you think there are people who are still doing that today, and rejecting the truth of God's word, that He has entrusted to the Seventh-day Adventist people? I once attended a meeting of Adventist University administrators. As I listened to the discussions, I was shocked to find that some them were sneering at the idea that Seventh-day Adventists considered themselves to be the Remnant of Bible prophecy. What a tragedy! Is it true that our students in our universities are now learning that the church to which they belong is not the remnant church? Could it be that we are losing our identity as a people? Are we losing our mission, in this ecumenical age of confusion? Some of these leaders also made fun of the idea that Seventh-day Adventists think they have the truth.
I am troubled when I see some claiming that God has changed churches again without supporting evidence that He is actually doing so. If He has changed churches, who then is the body of Christ which has become the depository of sacred oracles? God has to entrust them somewhere. He cannot merely trust them to individuals, as that will never accomplish His purpose of revealing himself through His body, His church. Are those teaching this trying to say that their independent church has become the depository of sacred oracles? If so, where is the evidence of the supernatural power as that which attended previous transfers of the depository? Where are the consecrated men and women who have turned from their infighting and clamoring for power and attention? How do they know that God has truly given the GCSDA all the time and opportunities possible to repent and reform? In order to say that God has changed churches again, they would have to be pretty close to having the gift of prophecy and have a direct communication from heaven. And finally, where is the evidence that God is adding to the sacred oracles in support of a new denomination?
Instead of spending time trying to convince people that the God has changed churches again, wouldn't it be wiser to spend that same amount of time helping to awaken sleeping SDAs to their danger and prepare for the real crisis that is coming? Those that imply by their claims that the depository is transferred to them from the SDA denomination, are taking a lot of responsibility upon themselves to demonstrate the same characteristics that were present in previous transfers, in a way that will openly draw the confidence of God's people in the new denomination.
So what is going to happen to the structure? While the details are not clear in the Word, there is one thing that is certain. God has a tender regard for those who are faithful, and will not leave them without leadership and comfort. While it is probably not wise to speculate about what is going to happen to the SDA structure, there will certainly be dramatic changes, changes that harmonize God's work with His plans and workings. It may well be that the structure will not be able to function any longer at some point. It may even collapse. But it is equally certain that God will finish His work only with those who are genuinely and earnestly living up to the light He has given them. He will have to raise up leaders that will not compromise the truth. In context of the apostate leadership He says in Jeremiah 23:4 "I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord." Isn't that a wonderful promise?
Do you think most of our leaders are getting ready for the kind of leadership needed in the final crisis? How many of our men and women in responsible positions are taking the time and the steps necessary to become like those early apostles? Or are they like the scribes and Pharisees, being blind leaders of the blind? How much overcoming of sin is taking place? How much putting away of differences is there? How much turning from worldliness? Instead leaders are going after their doctorates at non-SDA institutions rather than seeking to become better acquainted with the truths in Holy Scripture. They are advocating celebration services, rock music, disrespect for the Sabbath, an emaciated gospel that doesn't give victory, etc. But God will work, behind the scenes if He has to, in order to prepare a generation of leaders of that kind of quality and character to lead out in the finishing work. Men of the Bible, men who know the truth, men whose hearts are warmed with the coals off the alter of God. It will be men and women who have consecrated hearts, who have surrendered their innermost souls to Christ for purification and righteousness, who weep and sigh for the abominations done in the church. They may not be in leadership positions now, they may not have their doctoral degrees, but they will be under the unction of the Holy Ghost.
Listen to this: "As the time comes for [the message of the third angel] to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power--all will be unmasked. GC 606.
Notice that it is not the men of literary distinction that will then lead out in the finishing work. It will be men of experience in Holy Scriptures and who have been training in the school of Christ. Oh how important it is for young people to gain their training in scripture. How can we send our young people to schools that can never teach them the ways of God and the truths of His Holy Word! Why is it that so many Adventist youth are not entering the work of God? Could it be that we are sending them to schools with the Adventist name only, where they are being trained to be skeptics, with no experience in vital truths? Are our Universities training them to be leaders in rebellion to God and to support the status quo, while avoiding the necessary preparation of themselves and their churches for the coming crisis? Oh I am thankful for a school like Hartland College, where the youth are being prepared to know the truth and to stand for it, and being trained to win souls.
Oh brothers and sisters. Let us, by the grace of God, get ready for the crisis that is coming. Work to be among those that sigh and cry for the abominations done in the church. Be among those that weep between the porch and the alter. Do what you can to warn others of their dangers. Plead with God to take the reigns in His own hands and finish His work. But let Him decide what to do with the structure and its determined resistance of the truth.
No, you don't have to be a member of the GCSDA structure to be saved. There is a place for wisely managed home churches or self-supporting churches. Nor is it necessary for you to send the money which God has entrusted to you into corrupt channels. It is not necessary to justify a self-supporting church on the basis that the GCSDA is now Babylon. Let us pray. Let us witness. Most importantly, let us prepare ourselves for spiritual maturity and leadership when God especially needs us in the coming struggle, when the structure is swept away or is no longer able to function. Oh, don't forget to witness your faith to others. And let us do all we can to uphold the truth and oppose apostasy. God bless you and keep you is my prayer.
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GLOSSOLALIA(Speaking in Tongues)By: Elder Lawrence Nelson
Some years ago, as the associate pastor of a large church in Southeastern California Conference, I was asked to visit a member who no longer was attending our church. It was thought by some that she was attending a tongues-speaking Assembly of God church. When making pastoral calls I usually use the telephone to secure an appointment, but in this circumstance I decided to go straight to her home without an appointment since she might refuse a visit.
When my wife, Dean, and I reached her home we rang the doorbell. We knew she was at home because we could hear her inside moving about, but she did not come to the door. We waited and waited and rang the doorbell again and again. Finally the lady came to the door and opened it a few inches. We could hardly see her but she explained that the spirit had caused the delay. She had been informed we were at the door but was told not to let us in until we promised that we would not argue or try to force her to return to the Adventist Church.
We told her that we had come only as a friendly visit, and after another long wait she stated the spirit had granted permission to open the door. As soon as we were seated she became very excited, describing the new spiritual experience she had discovered at the Assembly of God Church that was located just down the street from where she lived. She declared that she found a most glorious feeling of God's peace and joy which she explained as an overwhelming warmth of excitement as experienced in love.
Occasionally I tried to quote several Bible verses that God's Word required obedience to the Ten Commandments in keeping the Seventh-day holy and not Sunday. But she brushed such scripture aside stating she knew that the Bible taught to keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but God had revealed to her new light that the most important truth in order to be saved was to speak in tongues – nothing else mattered. With such words she informed us it was time to leave. But I begged one more question, "Tell me, how come after many years of active service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church you sudden y joined the Assembly of God Church?"
She replied, "My next-door neighbor invited me to her church since I had always been curious to see what took place when the members of her church spoke in tongues. So the next Sunday we visited her church. As we sat in the pew the surrounding members began to speak in tongues and I became captivated as I watched. Suddenly I felt the most glorious feeling enter my body, the like of which I have never experienced before. Immediately I began to speak in an unknown tongue."
Like Eve in the Garden of Eden, who was curious to see the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil, this lady had invited Satan to reveal himself to her and was captured by him. I dare not venture to expose this masterpiece of Satan without Divine help so let us pray.
Loving Father, commission Thy Holy Spirit to guide us in this important study and make Thy truth so clear that none listening to this message will ever be captured by this satanic delusion. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
God has warned us in His holy Word that in the end time – before the battle of Armageddon – the entire world will be joined together in a three-fold union in which spiritualism will be the catalytic agent to unite all religions into one body. I'm reading Revelation 16:13 – 15, "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."
From these scriptures one can clearly see that this is to be a spiritualistic power of devils working miracles that is to be found in the dragon power of paganism, the beast power of Catholicism and the false prophet power of apostate Protestantism. No matter where you may travel in the world today these world religions are all linked together by claiming that they have one spirit for they all exercise the wonders of glossolalia, the theological term for "speaking in tongues."
Ellen White foresaw the power of spiritualism bringing the religions together because of their common, false beliefs. In Great Controversy p. 588, we read, "Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation for spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism."
The average mind usually thinks of spiritualism taking place in some darkened room with Ouija boards and strange tappings on the window which science declares to be nothing but foolish trickery. But reading in the Great Controversy p. 588 we discover that "as spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power."
So it is no wonder that all major religions in our world today accept speaking in tongues to be of a divine nature. For instance, you will find in Catholicism tens of thousands of priests and nuns speaking in tongues and performing miracles. In the Protestant world you will discover the speaking in tongues in such churches and institutions as the Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals and the Full-Gospel Men's Associations to name a few.
One of Protestants greatest leaders of our day, Billy Graham, has been described by one of his personal evangelistic team members to speak in tongues. This news was revealed in the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist youth meeting when I was in the General Conference. When one of Billy Graham's associates was a guest speaker and was asked, "Does Billy Graham speak in tongues?" He unhesitatingly replied, "Yes, but he does not publish this for fear it may hurt his program."
If you have visited the pagan lands of India, Burma and the Orient you will discover as I have that speaking in tongues is everywhere. I have personally seen the idol worshipers speak in tongues.
Before we proceed further we need to review the Biblical plan for changing a sinner into a saint which involves two basic steps. The first step is what God did for us. God has provided complete salvation in Jesus Christ by what He did for us. When we accept this precious gift with its obligations this makes it possible for step number two. The second step is what God does in us. Because we are born again and have accepted the gift of what Christ did for us, the results of accepting this gift makes it possible for God to work in us.
But this world-wide Pentecostal tongue movement has reversed this God-given plan of salvation by emphasizing that we are saved by God's works in us, through the speaking in tongues, and not by what He did for us. Pentecostalism teaches the false concept that an individual is saved when he receives the baptism of speaking in tongues and this alone is proof of salvation. But this is a false assurance. You need not be concerned with love and obedience, in what Christ did for you, since you have absolute assurance of eternal life because of what God has done in you by giving you the gift of tongues. And this is an utter perversion of Bible truth.
The early Christian church taught that Christ was God incarnate in human flesh. He kept the law and gave us the same power He possessed to likewise keep the law. He died for our sins and arose for our justification and ascended to God for our acceptance. Believing such faith in Christ produced the New Birth, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." 2 Corinthian 5:19.
Never will you find a scripture that the Christian magnified his experience of the gift of tongues – never. Rather we read, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." 2 Corinthians 4:5. Tongue-speaking Pentecostalism is based on an experience rather than on the word of God. True faith never rests on our experience. Faith rests on the certainty of what Christ did for us. When faith is based on tongues, feeling and miracles rather than on Jesus Christ such an individual has placed himself in a position to be controlled by Satan - which the Bible teaches is spiritualism.
Further more, the Pentecostal tongues movement degrades God by its actions. The Bible teaches, "Fear God and give glory to him." Revelation 14:7. With glossolalia they bring God down to man's level. If you have ever attended a tongues-speaking service or watched it on television you can feel the sacrilegious power when you hear such expressions used as, "Hey, God!" or "What a Guy!" And you will often hear mortal man demanding God to obey man's commands with such words as, "I command you to heal this person." But God is not our equal – He is infinitely greater than our thoughts can comprehend. He is so high and holy that angels veil their faces when they speak His name.
Glossolalia teaches that love is an emotional experience but the Bible teaches God's love is a principle – and that's a world of difference. Speaking in tongues is proclaimed to be a rapture of love feelings but with God true love is a matter of duty. Feelings are not to be consulted, for love obeys even if it runs contrary to impulse. A born-again person will keep God's law, the Ten Commandments, even at the expense of his life. Glossolalia love is sensual – similar to that of a sexual experience. There is a thrill involved - for those who speak in tongues freely testify they experience what is called "a high."
Now we must take the time to see what God's Word teaches about Pentecost as found in Acts the second chapter. We read, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Now, what is this gift? Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church need it? How do you tell the difference between the true and the counterfeit? Before we pursue further let us consider Paul's teachings. We shall read 1 Corinthians 12:28 – 31. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversity of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gift of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
Now compare this reference to tongues with that spoken of in Revelation 14:6, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." You will notice that the gospel is to be preached in every tongue. This is why God gave the early church the gift of tongues at Pentecost. John prophesied that the remnant church would also preach in tongues so this is why I believe our church needs this precious gift of tongues to give the gospel to all the world so that Jesus may come.
This brings us to a question – Do we need the gift of tongues as found in glossolalia which is often accompanied by jumping, shouting, jerking, babbling, clapping of hands and even dancing? - Absolutely not! What we need is the genuine gift of God not a counterfeit. Returning now to Acts the second chapter we will find the key that unlocks all other scriptures which speak of tongues such as found in Acts 10:11, 19 and 1 Corinthians 12:28-31.
Let us begin by reading Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." Picture with me the situation of this occasion. Since the Jews had been disloyal to God He had permitted them to be scattered throughout the then-known world. The season of Pentecost found these Jews coming to Jerusalem from every nation under heaven. They no longer had a common language that they could understand. Many had forgotten their mother tongue, others had never heard a word of the Jewish language. So when they returned to Jerusalem for Pentecost they needed to hear the Good News that Jesus the Messiah had arrived as promised, and that all the prophecies of His birth, life, crucifixion, burial and resurrection had been fulfilled.
This was a tremendous story that the disciples had to tell and how could these disciples of Christ speak to these men and women when they spoke only one language? But God was aware of their deficiency. He provided a miracle to supply their need in which each disciple was able to tell the story of Jesus in the actual language of the listener. This made it possible for these Jewish travelers to return to their homeland and spread the news of Christ to the world.
Listen carefully as I read Acts 2:6, "Every man heard them speak in his own language." Then verse eleven reads, "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." In verses nine to eleven we find the list of the different languages of these Jews who were attending this feast. From this we will notice that the disciples actually spoke in at least thirteen different languages.
Again I read verse six, "Every man heard them speak in his own language." This verse does not say that they spoke one language and the listener heard another so you can easily understand that these disciples were not speaking in unknown tongues. Verse seven and eight, "And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" Notice who these are that are asking such a question (verse eleven), - they were Cretes and Arabians, some of the world's most difficult languages. For they said, "We do hear them speak in own tongues the wonderful works of God."
So it is positively clear that every man heard them speak in his own language. When the disciples preached at Pentecost, the Good News of the gospel of Christ, they did so with no unintelligible speech – everyone understood. The devil was quick to try to deceive these travelers by making them think that what they heard was because the disciples had been drinking wine. But Peter quickly ended such planted thoughts of Satan as you will find in verses fourteen and fifteen, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." As a result of this miracle three thousand were converted in one day all because of the genuine gift of tongues. This made it possible for the speaker to know what he was saying in the language of the one spoken to and the listener clearly knowing and understanding what was spoken in his language.
What is still more amazing is that this was a permanent gift. I shall never forget my travels in India with its hundreds of dialects. Here I found many large churches of the Thomas sect. These believers teach that the disciple Thomas, after Pentecost, came to India as a missionary and preached the gospel in the language of the people converting thousands from the pagan Hindu religion.
Inspiration explains this phenomena. I am reading from Act of the Apostles p. 39, 40. "Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiencies of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven. From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language."
Beloved, I believe our people will repeat the experience of Pentecost just before the end of probation in giving the Loud Cry. Time will be of an essence. For instance, here in America some of our large cities there are more and more languages being spoken. Amid the chaos of the last days people will be pleading for the truth. God will give His remnant believers the gift to speak in other tongues. Among the thousands of dialects worldwide every living soul is to make an immediate decision, so God will again give the precious gift - genuine gift of tongues - that the work can be finished quickly around the world.
So let me recap what God's genuine gift of tongues is:
1. No gibberish is possible.
2. The speaker will know what he is saying in another language.
3. The listener knows and understands what is said.
4. There will be no fleeting ecstasy that comes and goes.
5. This will be a practical gift for the purpose to give the gospel. The saints will not have time to learn languages just as the disciples had no time at Pentecost.
6. Remember that this gift will not be used by God to prove that you have obtained perfection and have been saved but rather to make sure that the gospel has been given to all the world.
Inspiration clearly reveals the difference between the genuine and the spurious gift of tongues. In Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1, p. 412 we read, "Some of these persons have exercises which they call gifts and say that the Lord has placed them in the church. They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived here. The fruits of all this have not been good. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits.'
"Fanaticism and noise have been considered special evidences of faith. Some are not satisfied with a meeting unless they have a powerful and happy time. They work for this and get up an excitement of feeling. But the influence of such meetings is not beneficial. When the happy flight of feeling is gone, they sink lower than before the meeting because their happiness did not come from the right source. The most profitable meetings for spiritual advancement (are you listening?) are those which are characterized with solemnity and deep searching of the heart; each seeking to know himself, and earnestly, and in deep humility, seeking to learn of Christ."
Now you might ask: "Why am I preaching about glossolalia?" - Because I believe that what is now taking place within our church, called "Celebration" (which is nothing but a copy of Pentecostalism worship services) is preparing the way for many of our churches to soon experience this false speaking in tongues.
Let us take time to examine three other places found in the scripture that tell of speaking in tongues. We find that the gift of tongues took place in Cornelius' home as we read in Acts 10:44-46, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Now the question is: "Is this the same gift of tongues which were revealed at Pentecost?" - Yes, it was. It was identical with Pentecost.
In the next chapter of Acts eleven verse seventeen, Peter plainly states concerning this experience that took place at Cornelius' house, "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I that I could withstand God?" The servant of the Lord further explains in Acts of the Apostles p. 139, "Thus was the gospel brought to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was but the first fruits of the harvest to be gathered in. From this household a wide-spread work of grace was carried on in that heathen city."
Let us now examine tongues which were spoken at Ephesus. I'm reading from Acts 19:1 – 6, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
Now notice what took place here in Ephesus - it was the same identical gift. The gentiles needed the gospel in this area of the world where the temple of Diana was located, known as the goddess of the Ephesians. Of this we read of in Acts of the Apostles p. 281. "Its harbor was crowded with shipping, its streets were thronged with people from every country. Like Corinth, it represented a promising field for missionary effort." And then on p. 293 we read, "They were then baptized in the name of Jesus, and as Paul 'laid his hands upon them,' they received also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by which they were enabled to speak the languages of other nations and to prophesy. Thus they were qualified to labor as missionaries in Ephesus and its vicinity and also to go forth to proclaim the gospel in Asia Minor."
Finally we come to the experience of the Corinthians. We shall discover that this church had perverted a number of truths which needed to be corrected including that of the counterfeit tongues. Now follow me closely.
In chapter one and two of 1 Corinthians you will notice that the Corinthian church was a warring camp of factionalism.
Chapter three reveals that these members had neglected personal piety. In chapter four we find that they were treating the ministry shabbily.
Chapter five - they were condoning fornication.
Chapter six - they had taken one another to court.
Chapter seven - they were condoning marriage and divorce which was not in harmony with God's word.
Chapter eight – they were accepting offerings that were given to idols.
Chapter nine – they were failing to support the ministry with their tithe.
Chapter ten and eleven – they were guilty of prostituting the gift of tongues.
You will notice that every chapter of 1 Corinthians was written to correct an abuse and chapter fourteen is no exception. Let us read 1 Corinthians 14: 9, "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air." Now let us go back to Acts chapter two. You will remember that when the disciples used the genuine gift they knew and understood the language and they also knew what they were saying. But these Corinthians were doing something wrong.
Look at 1 Corinthians 14:11, "Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." Here is evidence of a drastic need of revision in their tongue practices. Notice verse twenty-three, "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"
These statements, as found in God's Word, are evidence that these Corinthians were using a counterfeit, false gift of tongues. The truth in this whole chapter of 1 Corinthians chapter fourteen is a rebuke to the Corinthians. This chapter must not be used to try to substantiate the glossolalia movement, for it has been made very clear that gibberish is not the gift of tongues to be used in preaching the gospel. Today Satan has infiltrated all the main religions with his counterfeit of false tongues to give them assurance that they have finally reached full unity because they all express the same spirit of tongues.
Before I close I must give you another personal experience. I was holding an evangelistic meeting at the town of Modero, California. In this small town was a very large tongues-speaking church and a goodly numbers of its members were attending my meetings. One of the men of this church listened to my preaching and became convinced that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment was still binding and that he should keep it holy. But a tongue-speaking spirit told him that it was not necessary, and he became very confused.
One night while I was preaching on the Sabbath and making an appeal for individuals to come forward and publicly express that they would keep God's ten commandments with His help, this man arose from his seat in the rear of the tent and came running toward the platform shouting, "Pray for me, pray for me." I knew this man, for I had visited in his home many times. I immediately realized that I must do something quickly for I sensed that he was devil possessed. I quickly asked the singing evangelist to finish the appeal with a song and close the meeting while I guided this man to the rear of the platform.
Here we knelt in prayer, and as I prayed I paused to ask this man a question, "Have you finally decided to obey God's commandments and to keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath?" He became speechless – his face as white as snow. His whole body shook and stutteringly he said, "I want to but the spirit won't let me."
Then he confessed his problem. He was a bread baker in this small town. His bread machine which cut the loaves had broken down so he took a long knife and sharpened it so he could slice the loaves by hand. Suddenly the spirit that controlled him ordered him to cut his throat from ear to ear. There he stood shaking like a leaf. He told me this was the first time he had disobeyed and he was afraid that the spirit would punish him.
I asked him, "How did you get this spirit?"
He replied, "O I tried and tried for months to speak in tongues but could not. Finally I made a league with the spirit. (Did you notice those words?) I promised if he would give me the gift of tongues I would never disobey him and immediately I spoke with tongues."
Then I said, "What is this spirit that demands you to break God's holy law and kill yourself by cutting your throat? It is the same spirit that tells you to not keep holy the Sabbath day." I quoted the text of Isaiah 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." I spoke plainly telling him that it was the devil that was controlling him and that I would pray that he would be released from this power.
As I spoke he suddenly stood to his feet and with a look of absolute helplessness turned and ran out of the tent. You will not be surprised (and neither was I) when I tell you that three weeks later I read in the newspaper that this man had lost his mind and had been confined to a mental institution. Beloved, in the name of Christ I beg you never, never become curious to learn of the devil's arts. If you do you will be easily captured by Satan and may find it almost impossible to be released.
Let us heed carefully the words found in Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 54, "Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan would counterfeit any miracle that might be worked. God's tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31: 12-18. They are to take their stand on the living Word -- 'It is written'. This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely. Those who have broken their covenant with God will in that day be without hope and without God in the world."
Let us pray, Loving Father, in this end-time may we daily fully surrender to Thy Holy Spirit that the angels of God can protect us and keep us from this counterfeit power of Satan. This we pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
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HE AWESOME KEYS OF THE KINGDOMBy: Elder Lawrence Nelson
In this message we will examine two questionable text found in the New Testament. Inspiration infers that each of us will be forced to give an answer as to our understanding of these vital verses. Satan's forces claim that these texts give them the power to demand absolute obedience to papal authority. On the other hand, those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus declare that these same scriptures provide them with unmistakable proof to reject Rome's demands and obey only Christ.
It is therefore of utmost importance that these two verses require divine understanding. Once we have discovered God's explanation let us implant the truth so deeply within our minds that we will be able to stand without fear in the coming life and death issue. The gravity of this situation reveals that we seek God for divine guidance. So please bow your head with me as we pray.
Our loving Father, we plead for Thy Holy Spirit to guide us in this study that we may discern heaven's intent as to the correct meaning of these two texts. This we ask in the name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.
Let us open our Bibles to the first of these powerful texts. We shall find it in Matthew 16:19. Please note that it is Jesus who is speaking. "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
These are most powerful keys. Let me illustrate. I had the privilege to attend a General Conference session held in San Francisco in the middle of the last century. Never will I forget seeing Kato Ragoso. There he stood, more than six-feet tall. A barefoot, Seventh-day Adventist, ordained minister. He wore a wrap-around skirt and his bushy hair stood several inches on his head. They called him one of those "fuzzy wuzzies" from the Solomon Islands. Everyone was captivated by his pidgin English. I could listen to him by the hour.
Here is his thrilling story. Back in the 1940's he had personally helped to save the lives of some two hundred of our US airmen who had been shot down over the jungle islands. One day an allied officer, under the stress of war, ordered Kato Ragoso to commit a very unchristian act. Being a faithful Seventh-day Adventist he refused to do so. The officer became angry and forced him over a gasoline barrel and beat him until the blood flowed. Then he commanded him again to commit this evil act, but he refused. This time the officer pulled out his handgun and "pistol whipped" him, breaking his nose and left him unconscious.
When he gained consciousness, once more he was ordered to commit this ungodly act. But he would not. By now the officer was so angry he placed him before a firing squad. Two times he was unable to give the command to shoot. The third time he tried to say the word, "Fire," he was stricken dumb for two days. Now this devil-possessed officer determined to use another method that would kill him and his buddy, Ludi. So he threw them both in the brig and locked the door with his key and waited for the morrow to murder both men.
The fuzzy-wuzzy Adventists on the island heard of their desperate situation. They beat their drums calling for an all-night prayer meeting. In the wee hours of the morning, while still praying, a man walked out of the jungle to the gate of the prison. In his hand was a key that he used to unlock the prison door and called for Kato Ragoso and Ludi to come out and follow him. He led them down to the seashore where he had prepared a canoe with two paddles. By the moonlight they could see some hundred yards in all directions. This man who had delivered them said good-bye and the two fuzzy-wuzzies turned to thank the man – but he was nowhere to be seen. This angel had delivered them with a key by which he had opened the prison door while the officer's key still hung on the wall of the sleeping quarters. The angel's key made the difference between life and death.
Now back to the keys of Jesus who said, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." These keys have an awesome power for with them you can bind or loose on earth and with these keys you can bind or loose even in heaven.
Now you must admit that this is a mighty power and if that isn't awesome enough let's read what Jesus further described concerning the power of these keys. I'm reading now from John 20:23. "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." Now we are getting into some very, very deep water and I hope you can swim. By this I mean I hope you are able to do some serious thinking with me.
Perhaps the first question we should consider is this: "Does Jesus really have such keys that He can give them to whom He pleases?" In Isaiah 22:22 it will give us the answer concerning the Messiah. "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." And John the Revelator declares positively that Jesus Christ has these keys. I'm reading from Revelation 3:7, "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." And Jesus Himself tells us in Revelation 1:18, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
So there is no question about this for Jesus states, "I have the keys." Now this requires that we ask still another question: "What are these keys?" Inspiration will give us the answer in Desire of Ages p. 413, 414. "'The keys of the kingdom of heaven' are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven. They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected. Thus the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighed with eternal results." And that's a most awesome power.
Since Jesus Christ has the keys He can give them to whomsoever He will. We will discover that He gave these keys to Peter and there's no question about it. But the greater truth is that He also gave these same keys to each of the other eleven disciples and, what's most thrilling and most fascinating of all, is to read that He gave these keys to you and to me. I'm reading Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 2, p. 273. "The words of Christ: 'I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven,' were not addressed to Peter alone, but to the disciples, including those who compose the Christian church in all ages." And friend, that includes you and me.
Now for one more question: "What is our responsibility when we have these keys in our possession?" I'm referring to how we use the keys. Suppose we meet someone who is thinking of committing suicide. Their eyes are full of tears; their conscience condemns them for they have committed a very serious sin and they are pleading for help. Now with these keys of the kingdom you can tell this individual that if he comes to Jesus, just as he is, asking for forgiveness and repenting of his sins, Jesus will forgive him. And what's more He will write "Forgiven" over the recorded sins in heaven. Furthermore, He will wash away the sin within the heart with His own precious blood so he may stand before God as though he had not sinned. And once again his conscience will be restored with peace that he longs for.
Beloved, this is using the keys to unlock man's sinful heart on earth and open the door to heavenly forgiveness. As the scripture states, whatsoever you do with these keys in compliance with God's will Christ will see that it is done – be it on earth or in heaven. And beloved, that is awesome! But these keys can also be used so that Jesus cannot do what He is able to do if the individual refuses God's love. Let's consider the same individual to whom we have just offered God's salvation. He may shrug his shoulders and state, "I'm not interested. I have no intention to repent for I want to continue living the way I am." You can then tell him that his sinful record will remain locked in heaven's record book; that Jesus will not cleanse his heart and that he cannot expect peace. What have you done? You have shut the door to heaven's salvation with the keys of God that were given to you - unless of course he changes his sinful way.
Now these keys can also be used the wrong way. I recall an experience I once had while I was the Youth Secretary of the Southern California Conference. One of my responsibilities was to be the pastor to all of our young Seventh-day Adventist men in the armed services of my country, located in the area of my conference. This was during the Second World War and required that when a soldier had a problem, I was to help him.
One day the telephone rang in my office. It was a call from a marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego. This young man had recently accepted Jesus as his Savior and had been baptized. He had promised God to keep His commandments. Those were the days when Uncle Sam drafted men into the services – he had not enlisted. On the Sabbath following his baptism his officer ordered him, with the other men of his barrack, to dig a trench for battle practice. He refused by saying, "I cannot. For my God commands me to keep the Sabbath day holy."
The marine officer became very angry and ordered him to be placed in the brig and face court marshal. I immediately got in my car and drove to Camp Pendleton. When I entered the training base the first thing that I did was visit the chief chaplain. As I walked into his office I noticed that he was a Roman Catholic priest. I immediately told him of this young man's problem. He listened intently and then replied, "I have been informed all about him. He faces a court marshal in two weeks."
Looking the chaplain straight in the eye I answered, "It is your duty to defend this young man for his conscience will not allow him to disobey his God."
With a big smile he answered, "I'll take care of this case." I felt relaxed. Then he asked me, "Are you his pastor?" I answered, "Yes." Then he said, "This is an easy case. All you have to do is to give him a dispensation to work on the Sabbath. Case dismissed."
In amazement I spoke, "Hold on there, Chaplain. Wait a minute; not so fast. My church, under God, has never given me such authority. God expects me as His ambassador to do only as He commands. I must therefore stand by this young man and defend his conscience and urge him to keep the holy seventh-day Sabbath." I continued, "I am also aware that your church gives you the authority to give a dispensation whenever you choose so that you may tell such an individual that he can break God's eternal law but I cannot do this."
There we stood. I, the representative of God's remnant church, and there he stood, a representative of Babylon. Each of us claimed to have the keys to the kingdom. This Catholic chaplain believed the keys gave him authority to change God's Word so he could tell the young man that it was not a sin to disobey God. And there I stood, a representative of Jesus Christ, with the keys that required me to encourage the soldier to obey God, that my church would pray that he would not give in an inch, that he should be faithful even though he may have to spend years in jail.
Well, I'll not keep you in suspense. The Catholic priest discovered that I would not compromise so he decided that he would defend this young marine. Together we worked and the young man was eventually honorably discharged.
Beloved, you and I are soon to face the final struggle between the system of Babylon and God's true church. I trust you will never follow the satanic power which claims it can give you a dispensation to sin. May you stand firmly with the church of Christ – those who keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus – built upon the rock of salvation.
Let's read about the rock from the scripture in Matthew sixteen beginning with verse thirteen. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
And now comes verse eighteen that you must clearly understand without any doubt if you are to be faithful to Christ in the coming test. And let me add here that I'm sure that the vast majority of God's laity know nothing about Greek but of this one scripture you must know what it says in the original Greek – so listen carefully. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter." Now in the Greek the word "Peter" is Petros which means a small pebble; a rolling stone – something unstable which you must never build upon for Petros is moveable. I continue, "But I say unto thee, that upon this Petra I will build my church." Here the Greek work Petra is used which means a mighty rock. I cannot think of a better illustration than that of El Capitan – that mighty rock in Yosemite National Park in California – standing some 4,000 feet high composed of solid granite (and who can tell how deep it is embedded within the earth). In this scripture Jesus says He will build His church upon a might Rock which is Christ Himself which the Greek describes as Petra . Let me read it again, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (Petra) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
No matter where you read from God's word – be it the Hebrew of the Old Testament or from the Greek New Testament – Christ is always referred to as a rock upon which the church of Christ is built. For one example let me read Isaiah 28:16. "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." Beloved, the papacy does not have the keys of Christ which is founded on the Rock Jesus Christ. For the Roman Catholic system is founded on St. Peter which Inspiration reveals to be Petros – a pebble. Just as sure as you are listening to this tape the time is soon coming when you will stand before a judge appointed by a Catholic power and he will certainly use the Catholic interpretation of this text to convince you that you must obey the laws of the Roman Catholic system and keep Sunday holy since Christ gave the keys to Peter.
The Spirit of Prophecy clearly reveals this final issue. In the Review and Herald of May 7, 1901 I read, "Two great opposing powers are revealed in the last great battle. On one side stands the Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They are obedient to His commands. On the other side stands the Prince of darkness, with those who have chosen apostasy and rebellion."
The Jesuits have a satanic plan to lure you from the divine truth. This plan has been laid out in detail by Karl Rahnar and Heinrich Fries in a book published in 1983. It is entitled Unity of the Churches: An Actual Possibility. The book is built on the consensus formulated by the World Council of Churches called Faith and Order of Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry. This book is studied in all the Jesuit schools. There are seven steps outlined, which reveal Satan's plan.
1. There must be unity of all churches. In the Great Controversy p. 445 tells us, "When this shall be gained, then, in the effort to secure complete uniformity, it will be only a step to the resort to force." Any student of the Spirit of Prophecy can see that the ecumenical program to secure unification of all churches is the last step before persecution. When you read or hear the word "unity" or the word "ecumenical" it should ring an alarm bell that persecutions will be coming soon.
2. The Protestant laity is to obey their leaders. Just as Catholic laity obeys the pope without question so Protestant leadership must be able to bring each church in union with Rome. Let me read this from page 54 of this book by Jesuits Karl Rahnar and Heinrich Fries published by Philadelphia Fortress Press. "With respect to ecclesiastical leadership, the average congregation in the Protestant churches in fact usually practices the kind of obedience to their church leaders that is customary in the Roman Catholic Church. On the basis of their theological expertise and their religious conscience the representatives of this ecclesiastical leadership can decide in favor of church unity and can also work with sufficient zeal among the church members to gain their understanding for this decision." Do you grasp the meaning of that? – We have come to a time when in the Seventh-day Adventist Church our leaders are doing all they can to bring this church into conformity with the ecumenical program. Therefore we must weigh every church command from headquarters to see if it conforms to the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. We must not blindly obey our church leaders.
3. The churches will unite because they have become liberal. And this is exactly what has happened to our Seventh-day Adventist Church. I know of no other terminology which so accurately describes the Adventist Church of today as being "liberal." On page 67 of this same book, it states, "Doctrines must become non-consequential. The time for inter-confessional polemics is gone. So is the time of controversies focused on substantive differences." This book demands there be no controversy between Protestantism and the papacy. That means we must never call the pope the antichrist anymore. Is this the reason you seldom hear from our pulpits the Three Angels' Messages? Is this the reason for the change in our church logo on the letterheads, church signs and revival mottoes? Whatever happened to the Three Angels' logo? Think it over, beloved. The Jesuit plan in this book (I'm sorry to say) is being followed in our church today.
4. The churches may retain their structures. I continue to read on page 43 of this book. "In this one church of Jesus Christ composed of the uniting churches which can to a large extent maintain their existing structures. These "partner churches" can also continue to exist in the same territory since this is not impossible in the context of Catholic ecclesiology." Now this is called pluralism – a term often used by many of our Adventist ministry and in our papers and books today. Again, Ellen White was shown that this was to come. I'm reading from the Great Controversy p. 445, "When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result."
5. The churches are to live together in a reconciled diversity. Rahnar and Fries declare that "the Catholic Church will be satisfied if the individual has an affirmative relation to fundamentals and does not raise explicit and decided objectives." (p. 36) Now, what does such language actually mean? – Listen carefully. All churches are to shut their eyes and ears to the truth. You must never teach what you believe to a member of another church. Rahnar and Fries are teaching the hanglagan message of the old Greek philosophers. I'm reading on from page 27, "The propositions of both sides when developed further and understood in a larger context do not really contradict each other." Now isn't that a sneaky position. Rahnar and Fries plead, "The Protestant Christian would not need to make a doctrinal and definite agreement right now to many of the propositions that the Catholic's regard as binding to the faith. But he does not need to reject them definitely either. This Protestant Christian can most certainly assume that hopefully in the course of the future history of religious consciousness these Catholic propositions will obtain the kind of clarification and interpretation that will permit a definite agreement on his part not yet possible today without his having to feel duty bound to reject them directly." What a subtle, devilish approach.
6. No church is to reject the dogma held by another church. I'm reading from page 25. "Nothing may be rejected decisively and confessionally in one partner church which is binding dogma in another partner church. Furthermore, …no explicitly and positive confession in one partner church is imposed as dogma obligatory for another partner church. This is left to a broader consensus in the future." This actually means that you are to do as other churches. You are no longer to depend on your own study of God's Word as we read on page 28. "One has to depend more and more on the knowledge of others which one can no longer assimilate or check himself." Rahnar's and Fries' argument is precisely this – p. 32, "The church itself is the guarantor through its formal teaching authority as of the truth of the individual doctrines it presents." This means that we don't question what our church teaches concerning a belief or the actions that it commands. Inspiration foresaw this and declared in the Great Controversy p. 572, 573, "A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of the papacy. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success….The false science of the present day, which undermines faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages."
7. The ministers are to exchange pulpits in a pulpit fellowship. On page 52 I read, "It is self-evident that there must be fraternal exchanges and intensive cooperation among the theologians of these partner churches even though this in no way requires the fusion of the institutional or organizational representatives of the theologies of these distinct churches." Now isn't that clever? I'll never forget when out of the blue one day the Catholic priest of a near-by parish asked me if I would be willing to exchange pulpits with him. I'm sure you know my answer. I continue on reading page 48, "The solutions to these problems will nevertheless require that all sides give up certain number of old familiar customs so as to make possible not just coexistence with tolerance and much indifference but a true unity of these partner churches in truly loving recognition of their differences."
You know, I may be classified as a fanatic, but I believe in the Bible way – "Be ye separate," "Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins; that ye receive not of her plagues." So there you have it, friend, the seven steps to be followed by all churches. Praise God, we should be thankful for the guidance given to us in the Spirit of Prophecy.
I continue to read from the book Great Controversy p. 445. "When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result."
It's a sad fact of our day but Protestant churches all over the country are getting ready to accept the Bishop of Rome. So states Dr. J.V. Langmead-Casserley, professor at the Seabury Western Theological Seminary. This Episcopal minister states in his book The Ecumenical Marriage (and by the way, isn't that an interesting title?) as quoted in Group Thinks by Hartland Publications of 1989 p. 67. "If the Holy Spirit says that church unity is through the Bishop of Rome who are we to accuse the Holy Spirit of bad theology?" Can you see what's coming?
And listen to Gibson Lewis, pastor of the East Aurora Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY. I read p. 15 from his writing. He wrote, "I do not see any reason for Protestants to not eventually to accept some understanding of the pope and acknowledge him as the earthly lord of the church. I believe that in faith and prayer and ecumenical endeavor we can work this out." Beloved, it's coming. The Jesuits Karl Rahnar's and Heinrich Fries' seven steps are being followed by all the Protestant churches and sorry to say – our own Seventh-day Adventist leadership.
Never forget, Peter was not the rock upon which God's church is founded. Its commands are not to be followed or obeyed by God's remnant church today. I'm reading now from Desire of Ages p. 413, 414, "The word Peter signifies a stone, – a rolling stone. Peter was not the rock upon which the church was founded. The gates of hell did prevail against him when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing. The church was built upon One against whom the gates of hell could not prevail….'The keys of the kingdom of heaven' are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven. They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected. Thus the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results.
"The Savior did not commit the work of the gospel to Peter individually. At a later time, repeating the words that were spoken to Peter, he applied them directly to the church. And the same in substance was spoken also to the twelve as representatives of the body of believers. If Jesus had delegated any special authority to one of the disciples above the others, we should not find them so often contending as to who should be the greatest. They would have submitted to the wish of their Master, and honored the one whom He had chosen.
"Instead of appointing one to be their head, Christ said to the disciples, 'Be not ye called Rabbi,' 'neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.' Matthew 23:8, 10.
"'The head of every man is Christ.' God, who put all things under the Saviour's feet, 'gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all and all.' 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22, 23. The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate what other men shall believe and what they should do. This claim God does not sanction. The Savior declares, 'All ye are brethren.' All are exposed to temptation, and all are liable to error. Upon no finite being can we depend for guidance. The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ their efficiency. 'Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.' The Lord 'is the Rock, His work is perfect.' Jeremiah 17:5; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 2:12. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."
Let us pray. Thank you God for giving us Thy Inspiration which is so clear that Christ is the Rock and not Peter; and that each of us have the awesome keys to the kingdom. Please help us to use them wisely. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
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