
AND THE THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED THEM, SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVE HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND. *** REVELATION 14:9
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
JAN PAULSEN: WORLD SDA PRESIDENT
Jan Paulsen Born January 5, 1935 (1935-01-05) (age 72)
Narvik, NorwayOccupation President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Spouse Kari Trykkerud
Jan Paulsen (born 1935 in Narvik, Norway) was elected President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on March 1, 1999, at the age of 64. The election occurred as part of a special meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee.
Presidential Service
Paulsen was reelected to the office of President at the 57th General Conference Session in Toronto, Canada in 2000. During this term Paulsen's office was responsible for the initiation of such programs as Go One Million, Faith & Science Dialogues, and Sow One Billion. Paulsen has also taken the initiative to open dialogue between the youth of the church through his Let's Talk campaign. On July 1, 2005, Paulsen was again reelected to the office during the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri.
Previous Roles
Pastor Paulsen was vice-president of the General Conference from 1995 until his appointment as president. Prior to that he was president of the Trans-European Division from 1983 to 1995. He has also been a pastor, a departmental leader, a teacher, college president, and has authored several books.
Biographical Notes
Paulsen was born on January 5, 1935 in Narvik, Norway to Adventist parents. Baptised at the age of 14, Paulsen attended Vejlefjord high school in Denmark and graduated in 1954. On July 1 of 1955, Paulsen married Kari Trykkerud, with whom he has had three children: Laila (1961), Jan-Rune (1963) and Rein Andre (1970).
Paulsen studied theology in Denmark before obtaining a Bachelor of Theology from Andrews University. He would then go on to obtain his master's degree from Potomac University. Paulsen also has a Bachelor of Divinity from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Paulsen is also the first Adventist Church world president to hold a doctorate degree, which he obtained from the University of Tubingen.******
A native of Norway, Paulsen is the third non-American president of the world Church.
Publications
- When the Spirit Descends (Review & Herald, 2001) - ISBN 0-8280-1448-5
- Let Your Life So Shine (Pacific Press, 2003) - ISBN 0-8163-1948-0
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Paulsen
P.S.Bolds and Italics used to emphasize:
****** UNIVERSITY OF TUBINGEN:
Ratzinger became an admirer of Karl Rahner, a well-known academic theologian of the Nouvelle Théologie and a proponent of church reform.
In 1966, Joseph Ratzinger was appointed to a chair in dogmatic theology at the University of Tübingen******, where he was a colleague of Hans Küng. In his 1968 book Introduction to Christianity, he wrote that the pope has a duty to hear differing voices within the Church before making a decision, and he downplayed the centrality of the papacy. He also wrote that the Church of the time was too centralized, rule-bound and overly controlled from Rome [citation needed]. During this time, he distanced himself from the atmosphere of Tübingen and the Marxist leanings of the student movement of the 1960s that quickly radicalized, in the years 1967 and 1968, culminating in a series of disturbances and riots in April and May 1968.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI
Benedict XVI was elected Pope at the age of 78. He is the oldest person to have been elected Pope since Pope Clement XII (1730–40). He had served longer as a cardinal than any Pope since Benedict XIII (1724–30).
GREAT ALMA MATER, NO?
It seems as if great men, men of prominent positions proceed from Ze University of Tubingen!
There are '2' that I can count readily. Blogmaster.
MARTIN LEE ANDERSON VERDICT PROTESTS
Protesters rally regarding ruling in boot camp verdict
Protesters march in Tallahassee seeking justice in the Martin Lee Anderson boot camp murder verdict. Scene video
TALLAHASSEE (Bay News 9) -- People from across the state, including the Tampa Bay area, descended on Tallahassee Tuesday to protest the handling of Martin Lee Anderson's death after he was hit and kicked at a state boot camp last year.
The NAACP said it's just seeking justice in the case. The boot camp guards and the nurse involved were found not guilty earlier this month.
"We're not marching because Martin Lee Anderson was a little African American boy who was killed by the police while in their custody, we're marching because Martin Lee Anderson was a little American boy," said Benjamin Crump, the attorney representing Anderson's family.
The protesters are calling on the U.S. Attorney to file civil charges against the guards and nurse. The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the case.
Source: http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/10/23/297385.html
HARRY POTTER 'CHARACTER IS GAY'
SPECIAL NEWS ALERT
October 23, 2007
NEWS
Incredibly, Western Society continues its "Death March" toward the same kind of acceptance of homosexuality for which God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah! But, Jesus told us that a return to the values of Sodom would be one of the "End of the Age" signs, did He not?
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." (Luke 17:28-30)
Based upon this verse, Fundamental Bible scholars have long been watching for society to embrace homosexuality as did Sodom. That point in history is here, and this story demonstrates that awful reality.
NEWS BRIEF: "Rowling: Potter's Dumbledore Gay", Time Online, October 20, 2007
"New York) Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall. After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members. She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds 'true love'."
" 'Dumbledore is gay', the author responded to gasps and applause."
Rowling was reportedly taken aback by the high level of positive response from the audience. Perhaps even she was surprised to learn of the depth of acceptance of homosexuality which has taken our society by storm. Then, Rowling revealed how she had lightly hinted at Dumbledore's sexual relationship with his friend.
"She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. 'Falling in love can blind us to an extent', Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was 'horribly, terribly let down'."
"Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his 'great tragedy'."
This next story gets a little more graphic.
NEWS BRIEF: "Most fans applaud Rowling's 'outing' of Dumbledore", Newsweek, October 22, 2007
"The Muggle, or non-wizard, world is agog at author J.K. Rowling's bombshell announcement that one of the main characters in the Harry Potter books was gay ... In the book that describes their friendship, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', one character says the two 'got on like a caldron on fire'."
Gays and lesbians are very happy today, because "To have one of the coolest, most respected wizards in history, and mentor of Harry Potter as gay, is the bravest move JKR has ever made..."
America, Great Britain, and most of Western Society have just taken a huge leap forward in being assured of God's judgment, as this revelation will go a very long way toward "locking in" God's final judgment.
Before we close this segment, I wonder how certain Christian leaders now feel who originally told Christian parents their kids could read Harry Potter? Do you remember? Let us review:
* Dr. James Dobson's "Focus On The Family" and "Christianity Today" -- "TWO MORE CHRISTIAN-ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMEND HARRY POTTER BOOKS -- WITCHCRAFT IN THE NAME OF JESUS !" -- NEWS1383.
* Chuck Colson -- "CHARLES COLSON REVEALS HIS TRUE INNER HEART IN HIS DEFENSE OF HARRY POTTER'S MAGIC AND OTHER WITCHCRAFT" - NEWS1382.
One the basic reasons that the Christian Church has fallen into such spiritual apostasy that Christians cannot discern the "signs of the times" is that their leaders in the pulpit refuse to identify the evil fruit abounding today and to warn that events of this age are fulfilling Bible prophecy! When the leadership goes bad, most of the poor Christians sitting in the pew have no chance to understand the age in which we live.
Source: www.news@cuttingedge.org
Monday, October 22, 2007
DARK MYSTERIES OF EARTH'S LAST DAYS!
Volume XXVI Issue X October 2007
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/
Dark Mysteries of Earth's Last Days!
"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true; wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it."
"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
Daniel 12:8-10"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
II Thessalonians 2:11-12In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine an amazing phenomenon that is prevalent throughout the world, and especially in the United States, during these last and final days of time. We are living in a strange time when almost no one knows what is really happening or why it is happening. It is as if there is an unobservable barrier between the vast majority of the people and an elite few, who impose their will on the masses of humanity. It should not be hard to believe that this is the case, for it is the only explanation as to why things are the way they are and why conditions never seem to depart from a conspiratorial pattern. This holds true no matter who occupies the high offices of worldly authority.
In the Bible verses above, we read of a strong delusion from God that would engulf the people of the world that have rejected truth. We are also told that the wicked will continue to due wickedly and that they will never understand. In fact, there is only one remnant of people who can sort out all of the confusion of the last days and clearly see what is truly happening. In Daniel 12:10, they are called the wise, and they are the true children of Almighty God.
The satanic ruling elite of this nation of the United States and the rest of the world depend heavily on the maintenance of ignorance of the people, who are also encouraged to express their disbelief and consternation regarding any notion of any conspiracy at all. That is why radio talk show hosts, who are all paid stooges of the Illuminati, laugh and scorn those who think evil operates in secrecy. In the first Scripture portion above, however, we read that an evil man will rise up in the latter days when the transgressors are come to the full. Quite obviously, the world is currently realigning for unification, and when that objective is achieved, someone is going to run it! Also remember that in the new age one-world system, diversity is encouraged as long as a common satanic thread runs through every diverse component of thought, religion, and ideology. True Christianity is the only thing that isn't allowed. Test that in any public (government) school!
The man who is to control the world for a little while is said to stand up, which means to seize power quickly. He will also have a fierce countenance and will understand dark sentences. The word sentences, in this case, means riddles. Thus, he wields his power by a perfect understanding of clandestine power and by the use of dark riddles. The evil world dictator will control the people by keeping them confused and guessing until they finally resign themselves to ignorance and fear as subservient stooges, who will never raise a question or think for themselves again. Truly, these days are upon us!
We will now look at our world and its current condition. I do offer this word of encouragement, however: You do not have to be in the realm of darkness and uncertainty. You are held there only by your sin and rebellion against the Almighty Saviour. If you stop right now and pour your heart out in prayer, God will hear you and lead you into the full obedience of the Gospel. You can be set free and walk in the light of God, where there is peace for the soul and a joyous hope for a glorious eternity very soon. It is later than you think!
One World Under Satan!
A prime example of the efforts to unify the world is the recent proposal made by presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards was speaking at Pace University in New York City, where he proposed the expansion of a type of Department of Homeland Security to encompass the entire world. His proposal calls for the establishment of a totally new and innovative organization called the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization, or C.I.T.O. (1) This is to be a one-world, all-seeing eye organization, which will no doubt have unlimited surveillance power over all the people of the world. The constant threat of terror is being used to unify the world into a single brainwashed population unit.
Another example of population control in the new one-world dictatorship is the planned microchip implantation in all people. Unquestionably, we live in an electronic world, which is already cursed with cancer-causing stray current everywhere. On September 9th, 2007, the Associated Press reported that it has now been proven that implanted microchips induce malignant tumors in animals. This was also verified by Dr. Keith Johnson, a retired toxicological pathologist who leads microchip research at the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. It is even more shocking when we consider that the research was conclusive regarding the cancerous tumors in 1996, well before the U.S. Government approved the chips for human implantation on January 10th, 2005. (2)
The reaction of the Food and Drug Administration is still a full endorsement for the use of the chip in humans, which allows the manufacturer, VeriChip, to continue its marketing plans. Obviously, VeriChip and the FDA are sharing the same bedroom on this one, and the FDA, the Federal governmental agency to which our health and well-being is supposed to be entrusted, is turning the trick for them. How heinously frightful is this situation? VeriChip plans to implant microchips in forty-five million Americans as soon as possible! (3) Countless animals already have them, and over two thousand Americans are implanted with them already. Certain doctors have used the words: "….they are to be widely implanted in people." (4) Here let it be known that it was former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who became President Bush's Secretary of Health and Human Services and thus was in charge of the FDA, that arranged for the approval of microchipping humans. Five months later, Thompson promptly resigned his post, and within five months he became a board member of VeriChip and Applied Digital Solutions and was rewarded heavily, including stock options. (5) I must also mention that I personally met Tommy Thompson at his first inauguration in Madison, Wisconsin. I remember him looking directly into my eyes and telling me he needed prayer. Tommy Thompson is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, who has done his ritual work at the massive Masonic Temple on Wisconsin Street, just off from the Capitol Square. I was once kicked out of that building as a visitor at their open house for exposing the mysteries of the high degrees to low-level fellowcraft Masons.
When I think of the implanted microchips causing cancer, I am immediately reminded of Revelation 16:2, which reads as follows: "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." Noisome and grievous indicates that the sore is loathsome and will not heal. We also read in Isaiah, chapter one, of a sinful nation that is to be burned. It is also a nation that is to be afflicted with sores. Isaiah 1:6 reads as follows: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." We know that God is speaking of a spiritual condition of a nation, but is He also speaking of individuals by the millions who have malignant tumors which have metastasized, all because they have committed the ultimate act of disobedience to God and received the mark of the beast?
Clearly, our world is unifying into large segments, and one of those segments that is being realigned right now is the North American Continent; including the United States, Mexico, and Canada. You would have to be blind to not see this happening! Unfortunately, spiritual blindness is the very condition of our day! On August 20th, 2007, President Bush met once again with the leaders of Canada and Mexico at Montebello, near Ottawa, Canada. There was something very strange going on as these three leaders met to exchange dark sentences. Their scheme is to unite the three nations of the North American continent, but they are releasing no real information to the constituents of those nations. (6) Ten days later, the Bush Administration opened up the highways in the United States to Mexican trucks, which can now freely roll up and down our highways carrying who-knows-what! (7) The very next day, Mexico's President, Felipe Calderon, issued a formal protest against any crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States. (8) Calderon is no doubt a cauldron of trouble and is getting over-anxious about merging his nation with what is left of the United States.
It was also announced that Red China is going to install sensors along the I-35 NAFTA superhighway corridor in order to monitor its products as they are shipped by truck. All containers from China are to contain RFID, or radio frequency identification transmitters. Lockheed Martin tracking technology is being used in the project as well. (9) What they are not telling us is that the equipment being installed along the highway can also read the microchips implanted in humans, providing a continual checkpoint system. In Communist countries, we used to hear of the little booths along the roads at check points, and all cars were stopped and inspected. In the United States, we will have the same program except that it is to be electronic with no need for the little booths as the traffic rolls on. Big Brother will know where you are at all times. It is also interesting to note that Michael Chertoff recently made a statement regarding national identification cards. In a recent CNN report regarding the ID cards, Chertoff used the words, "Resistance is futile!" (10) Remember, the word Chertoff literally means son of the devil in the Russian language!
On September 7th, 2007, President Bush was in Sydney, Australia, at the Sydney Opera House for a meeting with APEC, which is an organization comprised of the twenty-one Pacific Rim nations. Our President, George Bush, also known as Mr. Embarrassment, proceeded to address the summit as OPEC, which is the oil producing cartel and an entirely different organization. Mr. Bush tried to correct his error by saying he confused the two names because Australian Prime Minister John Howard invited him to OPEC next year. That would be impossible, because neither Australia nor the United States are members. President Bush continued to dig himself deeper into the pit of error and incompetence when he referred to the Australian troops in Iraq as Austrian. (11) President George Bush is the first American President to become the laughingstock of the entire world!
My primary reason for bringing up the subject of President Bush and the APEC summit is because only a few days after the summit, massive earthquakes began to rock the entire Pacific Rim region. On September 12th, 2007, a powerful magnitude 8.4 earthquake hit near southern Sumatra. This was followed by numerous other quakes and aftershocks with magnitudes up to 7.4. Homes, shopping malls, and especially Moslem mosques were heavily damaged. Tall buildings as far as twelve hundred miles away swayed dramatically. Ten people were known to be dead, but the injuries were numerous. (12) It is quite obvious that Almighty God is not pleased with this region of high immorality and false religions. The Pacific Rim is also known as the Ring of Fire because of the many active volcanoes that form a concentric pattern. Judgment will soon hit so hard in that area that it would stagger the imagination.
In the Middle East, the State of Israel has announced that it is preparing for a major conflict with Syria. Syria has been firing upon Israeli war planes flying over Syria. (13) Meanwhile, on September 2nd, 2007, the London Times Newspaper featured a story stating that the Pentagon is planning a "three-day blitz" against 1,200 targets in Iran. (14) This three-day blitzkrieg, orchestrated by Herr Bushler, could easily catapult us into World War III, unless God would intervene. The entire Middle East is pulsating with potential to trigger the final World War. We have already invaded the land that was ancient Babylon. Is the land that was ancient Medo-Persia next? When will the Kings of the East begin to strike? In these perilous times, we truly need the Saviour!
On September 6th, 2007, BBC News reported that UK jets have been shadowing Russian bombers. Russia has been sending long-range bombers on long-distance patrols. The Norwegian Air Force also reported that they had to intercept eight Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear aircraft. (15) We also know that on September 12th, 2007, Reuters News Service reported that Russia had just successfully tested the world's most powerful vacuum bomb, which unleashes a destructive shockwave power of a massive nuclear blast. This bomb has been given the name father of all bombs. It is said to have no match in the world! The Russians said that this bomb is their answer to the U.S.-built Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb or MOAB.
The test area where the Russian bomb went off was completely destroyed as strong buildings were flattened and the ground was scorched from intense heat. Reporters said that the ground afterward looked like a lunar landscape. The small initial blast dispersed a main load of explosive material into a massive cloud, which ignited in the air. A pressure wave was generated along with a partial vacuum. The main destruction was inflicted by an ultrasonic shockwave with amazingly high temperatures. In a populated area, anything alive would instantly evaporate. (16) All of this is quite astounding when we consider the words of Zechariah 14:12 as follows: "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth."
Are the people of the world safe from their own respective military forces? On August 8th, 2007, the Courier Mail Newspaper reported that Australian RAAF F/A-18 warplanes were locking in and targeting civilian automobiles with class four lasers. The government said it was a mistake and that the pilot forgot to turn the lasers off. The government also said, "Members of the public are being advised to seek medical advice if they are concerned that they may have been exposed." The class four lasers are the most powerful in use by the RAAF. (17) We must also note that President Bush has induced the Boeing Aircraft Company to install powerful lasers on commercial 747-400 aircraft as anti-missile devices. (18) These are amazing times when commercial passenger aircraft are being equipped with war devices and capabilities.
We have also learned from an Associated Press report dated September 6th, 2007, that nuclear warheads were flown across the United States after a B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed. Six nuclear warheads were in the skies over America for three hours at armed status. This was originally reported in the Military Times Newspaper. (19) The government said it was an error and that they are looking into it! We are living in a time when anything can happen anytime, and eventually, something will happen. God help us all!
The Proliferation of Perversion!
I am sometimes asked this question: how can we be sure these are the last days? The answer to that question could be quite involved, but to be concise, everything that the Bible said would happen during this unique time of the end is indeed happening. Even without reading the Scripture, simple logic and common sense would tell you that if society continues its current course, it would self-destruct in the not-to-distant future.
The Scriptures tell us in II Timothy 3:1-5 of these days as follows: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Why should God bless America when this evil American society persistently offends Him and either ignores or scorns His mercy and grace? Recent reports indicate that a full thirty percent of adult Americans have an alcohol problem. (20) One in twelve adult workers in America, which is over ten million people, are using illicit drugs and alcohol to the extent that they need treatment. (21) It has also been reported that over twenty-five percent of American females between the ages of 14 and 59 are infected with the HPV virus. This is the sexually transmitted human wart virus, which causes most cases of cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control also reported that among the age group of 20 to 24, the percentage of those infected is 44.8 percent. (22) There is a heavy price to pay for disobeying and defying the Almighty. The Lord warned Israel what would happen to them if they rejected Him. We read of this in Deuteronomy 28:60-62 as follows: "Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God."
For those who think this warning is for the ancient past only, consider the words of Revelation 22:18, which says, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." Thus, if you have ever wondered why there are so many and varied diseases, and many of them incurable; and if you wonder where they are coming from, you have your answer. Conditions have never been like they are now. If you are reading this, and have one or more of these diseases, there is hope. Repent and obey the Gospel. Use natural remedies and pray and walk closely with the Saviour. Miracles still happen. God's mercy is beyond comprehension; otherwise He would have destroyed this world long ago!
By now you may be thinking, are things really that bad? Are people really that sinful? One shocking problem is the Internet, which features a flood of filth from the very mouth of Satan. Hard core child abuse images, including child rape, now comprise twenty-nine percent of all the images investigated. The children involved are mostly under twelve. (23) On the other end of the age spectrum, there is so much sexually transmitted disease among senior citizens in New York City that the city is sponsoring AIDS education programs and handing out thousands of condoms at the senior centers and other places where the elderly congregate. The Staten Island Advance Newspaper reported that the big complaint among women in their eighties who were given condoms is that they wanted to be given a man to go with it! (24)
The New York City Health Department has also allocated 600,000 dollars to promote and supply the morning after pill, which destroys conception in the womb. This is being called an "emergency contraception." (25) The program zeros in on thousands of teenage girls who are being told that "this is plan B."
Another sure sign of judgment soon to come is the takeover of the world by sodomites or homosexuals. In the month of June 2007, major cities around the globe were the sites of massive "gay pride" parades and other programs to honor their cause of perverted sexual appetites. I have in front of me a photograph of the Gay Pride Parade that took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this past June. The wide street lined with skyscrapers is filled with a sea of humanity as far as the eye can see. This was also the case in scores of cities elsewhere. (26) Is this a sure sign of the end of the world? Nothing could be clearer regarding this fact than the very words of the Lord Jesus himself as found in Luke 17:28-30 as follows: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
Even our frontrunning Presidential candidates for 2008 advocate homosexuals and lesbians. MSNBC News stated, "Hillary Clinton has been eager to bask in the gay love." (27) Hillary Clinton has received forty-eight percent of her campaign contributions from "gays." (28) Hillary has also been holding campaign rallies at such places as the Abbey in West Hollywood, which is a notorious gay hangout. (29) On March 15th, 2007, the Ides of March, which is a day honoring witchcraft, Hillary appeared on Bloomberg News. Hillary clearly stated, "I do not think homosexuality is immoral….let's not be eliminating people because of who they are or who they love." (30)
On August 8th, 2007, TIME-CNN featured the story of how Dr. Billy Graham endorsed Hillary for President and was ready to ordain Bill Clinton as an evangelist. Dr. Graham's exact words were, "I told President Clinton, when he left the Presidency, he should become an evangelist, because he had all the gifts. I also told him he could let his wife run the country." (31) This was stated in all seriousness, even though Billy's son Franklin tried to pass it off as a joke. Even if it was a joke, and there was nothing to indicate that it was, such foolish jesting from a crusade pulpit is abominable and forbidden in Scripture.
Yes, most assuredly it is gross sin and rebellion against God that is causing our nation to crumble, and if there is no repentance, great will be the fall of it! A spiritual shroud of gross darkness has covered our land as millions of people pour into the country that have never known the principles upon which our nation was founded. Businesses continue to fail, loans are in default everywhere, the housing market is in destruct mode, prices of goods and services continue to rise dramatically, crude oil prices have reached eighty dollars per barrel, and the worst is yet to come.
As our U.S. dollar continues to slide against other major currencies of the world, our national debt has now passed the nine trillion dollar mark. As of September 13th, 2007, at 12:17:34 GMT, our national debt was exactly $9,017,934,140,665.62. (32) There is no way to correct this massive debt. In fact, this debt is now analogous to light years of measurement. How much is nine trillion? Light travels at an approximate speed of 186,000 miles per second, which means it travels around the world at the equator seven and one-half times per second. Try to imagine how far light would travel in a minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. In one year, light travels about six trillion miles. Our national debt is one and one-half that in dollars. Truly, that's an astronomical debt!
Distress in the Creation!
Almighty God does speak through his creation, and awesome things are happening everywhere. More stars continue to explode in space, producing colorful displays. The latest calculations now reveal that the planet Mars will be only 55 million miles from earth on December 24th, 2007, and will indeed appear twenty-one times larger than it did one year ago. In the realm of witchcraft and the occult, this would mean a horrible war is about to break out on earth. The planet Mars is even now appearing larger every night.
Mars, which is known as the "angry red planet" and ancient "god of war", is making a lot of spiritual waves in the world of astrology. Meanwhile, Red China is trying to prepare for the 2008 Olympics, which are to be hosted in that Communist country. The San Jose Mercury News reported that the government of China is "drawing on decades of Communist Party discipline in preparation for the Olympics." (33) The lighting of the cauldron, which signals the beginning of the games is to take place in Beijing at exactly 8:08 P.M., August 8, 2008. (34) In the astrology of witchcraft, the number eight is the number of the sign of the scorpion. It appears in the fifth month of the zodiac with five months left in our calendar year. In Revelation 9:10-11, we read of a strange army that rises up as follows: "And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."
The Olympics are Greek in origin, and even in this present time, the Olympic torch is always lighted by the rays of the sun god while a priestess holds the torch on Mt. Olympus. The torch then is taken around the world and carried by many dignitaries before lighting the cauldron under the five rings of earth, wind, water, fire, and spirit. We must also note that the summer Olympics always takes place once every four years and always in a leap year to reconcile the calendar with the pagan sun god. In the United States, we also have our Presidential elections aligned with that same year. Here let it be noted that during the last week of August 2007 fires began to break out in southern Greece until half of the nation was on fire. Witnesses said, "It was like hell everywhere around the Olympic site." (35) In all of the recorded history of Greece, there has never been anything like this before. Without question we are in the last of the last days, and the signs of this time are everywhere. Eternity is just ahead, and you can be ready if you will seek the Saviour now!
In closing, I once again invite you to send your prayer requests to us, and we will give them individual and personal attention. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to all who support this ministry in so many ways. I pray that you will be blessed greatly with overcoming power from on High as we see the day approaching. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
David J. MeyerAcknowledgements
01. Associated Press, Sep. 7, 2007, New York, NY.
02. Associated Press, Sep. 9, 2007, by Todd Lewan, AP National writer.
03. Ibid.
04. Ibid.
05. Ibid.
06. Washington Times, Aug. 20, 2007, by Jon Ward, Ottawa, Canada.
07. Reuters News Service, Sep. 1, 2007, by Joihn Crawley.
08. Reuters News Service, Sep. 2, 2007, Mexico City, Mexico.
09. WorldNetDaily, Aug. 18, 2007, by Jerome R. Corsi. http://www.worldnetdaily.com.
10. CNN News, Aug. 21, 2007.
11. Associated Press, Sep. 7, 2007, by Tom Raum, Sydney, Australia.
12. Associated Press, Sep. 12, 2007, by Robin McDowell, Jakarta, Indonesia.
13. Jerusalem Post, Sep. 6, 2007, by Yaakov Katz & Herb Keinon, Jerusalem, Israel.
14. London Times, Sep. 2, 2007, by Sarah Baxter, Washington, D.C.
15. BBC News, Sep. 6, 2007, London, England, U.K.
16. Reuters News Service, Sep. 12, 2007, by Dmitry Solovyov, Moscow, Russia.
17. The Courier-Mail, Aug. 8, 2007, by Ian McPhedran, QLD., Australia.
18. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Sep. 5, 2007, by Eric Rosenberg, Washington, D.C.
19. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Sep. 6, 2007, AP, Washington, D.C.
20. Associated Press, Jul. 7, 2007, by Carla K. Johnson, Chicago, IL.
21. Cox News Service, Jul. 16, 2007, Washington, D.C.
22. Reuters News Service, Feb. 27, 2007, by Will Dunham, Washington, D.C.
23. The Age, Apr. 23, 2007, by Bobbie Johnson, London, England, U.K.
24. Staten Island Advance, July 26, 2007, by Karen Matthews, New York, NY.
25. New York Post, Mar. 12, 2007, by Carl Campanile, New York, NY.
26. Traverse City Record Eagle, Jun. 11, 2007, AP, Houston TX.
27. MSNBC News, Aug. 5, 2007, by Jonathan Darman, Newsweek.
28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Bloomberg News Service, Mar. 15, 2007.
31. Time-CNN, Aug. 8, 2007, by Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy.
32. U.S. National Debt Clock, Sep. 13, 2007, http://www.brillig.com/debt
33. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Sep. 3, 2007, by John Boudreau, Beijing, China.
34. Ibid.
35. USA Today, Aug. 27, 2007, AP, Ancient Olympia, Greece.
THE SEVEN FACES OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM
The Seven Faces of Seventh-day Adventism
Identifying the seven spirits of the church
The Seventh-day Adventist church is composed of seven spiritual factions. The seven distinct spiritual groups may be labeled Aggressives, Legalists, Spiritualists, Papists, Pacifists, Sheeple and true Seventh-day Adventists. Just as each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have a prevailing spirit that characterizes each of those seven churches [1], today each faction in the Seventh-day Adventist church has a prevailing spirit also.
To those Adventists for whom it was prophesied that they would rise up against "the plain testimonies," I wish to make it very clear that it is not my words that they hate but the Spirit of Prophecy. It is the church prophetess Ellen G. White whom they profess to respect that has specified the spiritual traits of these seven groups. I have only compiled the inspired characterization and other indisputable facts and placed all of this readily available information into a logical structure. The names of the 7 groups are my own.
It is time to identify the seven spirits of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
AggressivesThere is a prominent group in the Seventh-day Adventist church that distinguish themselves by their criticisms of Adventist doctrine and for their sympathies for mainstream Christianity. [2][3][4][5]. From their work of disaffection, I think it is obvious that the Aggressives are not preparing the church to stand in the day of God's judgment. They are instead building a foundation for apostasy. It is a work of deception and a terribly misguided agenda to be following the policies of Korah, Dathan and Abiram and to be firmly committed to undermining the prophetic ministry of Ellen White.
Consider this prophecy:
The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power to oppress and malign their former brethren and to excite indignation against them. This day is just before us. The members of the church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of justice, perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would have helped them in this emergency they have neglected to obtain, and their souls are burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and neglected privileges. Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 5, 463.
In the early days of Adventism, when the expectation was that the end of time was very near, Ellen White had this revelation:
I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday. Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 1.
It is clear from this second passage that the "nominal church" can only be the superficially genuine but apostate protestant church and that "nominal Adventists" are the superficial, conservative Adventists that will unite with mainstream Christianity.
When will this separation take place? In Ellen White's eschatology, all these events transpire during the time of the great shaking of the church, just before the end of the world. One revelation that Ellen White specified very clearly is that we are already in the time for "the removal of those things that are being shaken so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain" (Hebrews 12:25-27). [6].
Since the shaking has started already, a comparison with current events is in order. Why are people leaving the Adventist church? Who are the "avowed enemies" of the Adventist faith? When people leave our church, are they siding with our "avowed enemies?"
Finding the most vociferous critics of Seventh-day Adventism on the Internet only takes a little time. The following websites seem to rank at the very top in terms of rancor and disgust.http://www.ellenwhite.org/
http://www.truthorfables.com/
http://www.exadventist.com/
The harmony between these haters of Ellen G. White and the Aggressives is that both groups do not promote and apparently do not have any positive interpretation of Scripture that distinguishes their faith in any way, but their criticisms of the Adventist movement are identical. [7][8].
There are significant parallels between the Aggressives and Korah, Dathan and Abiram, followed by the "two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown" in Numbers 16. They rebelled against God's appointed leader of the church. Ellen White wrote a superb piece on the rebellion of Korah in Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 35, pp. 395-405. At the end of that chapter, Ellen White says that the same principles of that rebellion exist today. The most profound subtlety of that remarkable exposition is that Ellen White wrote that whole chapter as a defense of her own prophetic authority. It follows therefore that the greatest passion of the Aggressives is their desire for self-exaltation.
Do not the same evils still exist that lay at the foundation of Korah's ruin? Pride and ambition are widespread; and when these are cherished, they open the door to envy, and a striving for supremacy; the soul is alienated from God, and unconsciously drawn into the ranks of Satan.
Like Korah and his companions, many, even of the professed followers of Christ, are thinking, planning, and working so eagerly for self-exaltation that in order to gain the sympathy and support of the people they are ready to pervert the truth, falsifying and misrepresenting the Lord's servants, and even charging them with the base and selfish motives that inspire their own hearts. By persistently reiterating falsehood, and that against all evidence, they at last come to believe it to be truth. While endeavoring to destroy the confidence of the people in the men of God's appointment, they really believe that they are engaged in a good work, verily doing God service.
The Hebrews were not willing to submit to the directions and restrictions of the Lord. They were restless under restraint, and unwilling to receive reproof. This was the secret of their murmuring against Moses. Had they been left free to do as they pleased, there would have been fewer complaints against their leader. All through the history of the church God's servants have had the same spirit to meet.
It is by sinful indulgence that men give Satan access to their minds, and they go from one stage of wickedness to another. The rejection of light darkens the mind and hardens the heart, so that it is easier for them to take the next step in sin and to reject still clearer light, until at last their habits of wrongdoing become fixed. Sin ceases to appear sinful to them. He who faithfully preaches God's word, thereby condemning their sins, too often incurs their hatred. Unwilling to endure the pain and sacrifice necessary to reform, they turn upon the Lord's servant and denounce his reproofs as uncalled for and severe. Like Korah, they declare that the people are not at fault; it is the reprover that causes all the trouble. And soothing their consciences with this deception, the jealous and disaffected combine to sow discord in the church and weaken the hands of those who would build it up.
Every advance made by those whom God has called to lead in His work has excited suspicion; every act has been misrepresented by the jealous and faultfinding. Thus it was in the time of Luther, of the Wesleys and other reformers. Thus it is today. —Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 403-404.
Legalists in Adventism are typically ignorant zealots, ordinary Pharisees, predatory cannibals [9], or extremist false prophets. Here is an inspired set of profiles of the most notable ones from the writings of Ellen G. White.
1. I was shown that quite a number who were thinking it their duty to teach the word of God publicly had mistaken their work. They had no call to devote themselves to this solemn, responsible work. They were not qualified for the work of the ministry, for they could not instruct others properly.
The experience of some had been obtained among a class of religious fanatics who had no true sense of the exalted character of the work. The religious experience of this class of professed Seventh-day Adventists was not reliable. They had not firm principles underlying all their actions. They were self-confident, and boastful. Their religion did not consist in righteous acts, true humility of soul, and sincere devotion to God, but in impulse, in noise and confusion, spiced with eccentricities and oddities. They had not felt, neither could they feel, the necessity of being clothed with Christ's righteousness. They had a righteousness of their own, which was as filthy rags, and which God can in no case accept. These persons had no love for union and harmony of action. They delighted in disorder. Confusion, distraction, and diversity of opinion were their choice. They were ungovernable, unsubdued, unregenerated, and unconsecrated, and this element of confusion suited their undisciplined minds. They were a curse to the cause of God and brought the name of Seventh-day Adventists into disrepute.
These persons had not experienced the work of reformation, or sanctification through the truth. They were coarse and uncultivated. They had never tasted of the sweet, pure refinement of the world to come. They had never experienced, neither had their hearts been awed by, the mystery of godliness. They placed divine and eternal things upon a level with common things, and would talk of heaven and the coming of Jesus as they would of a horse. They had a superficial knowledge or theory of the truth, but further than this they were ignorant. Its principles had not taken hold of their lives and led them to an abhorrence of self. They had never viewed themselves in the light in which Paul viewed himself, which led him to see the moral defects in his character. They had never been slain by the law of God, and had not separated themselves from their impurities and defilement. It is the favorite occupation of some of this class to engage in trifling conversation and levity. This habit they contracted, and indulged upon occasions which should have been characterized by solemn meditation and devotion. In doing this, they manifested a lack of true dignity and refinement, and forfeited the esteem of sensible persons who had no knowledge of the truth. This class threw themselves into a current of temptation and kept where the enemy led them successfully, and he has so easily controlled their minds and corrupted their entire experience that in all probability they will be unable to recover themselves out of his snare and obtain a healthful experience.
The fires of the day of God will consume the stubble and chaff, and there will be nothing left of any who continue in the ungodly course which they have so long loved. This class have a disrelish for the society of those whom God is truly with. Their religious experience is of so low an order that they have no part nor lot in a rational, intelligent religious experience; therefore they have despised the society of those whom God leads and is teaching. Sarcasm and irony is the stronghold of some peculiar minds of this class. They are bold and insolent, and do not regard good manners. They have no care to discriminate and render honor to whom honor is due. They manifest a proud, rebellious, defiant spirit against those who differ from their opinions. Their boisterous manners and wrong course lead the true servant of God to feel that they have resisted the efforts made for them, and he becomes disheartened in reference to laboring any further in their behalf. They engage in a contemptible triumph of exactly the same nature as that which Satan and evil angels engage in over the souls whom they secure. They have Satan and evil angels on their side to exult with them. The cases of the persons in whom this cast of character is peculiarly and strikingly developed are hopeless. They are incased in self-righteousness, and everything like refinement and elevation of character with which they are brought in contact is termed by them pride and lack of humility. Coarseness and ignorance are regarded as humility.
With this class you have obtained a large share of your religious experience; therefore you are not qualified for the work of teaching the most solemn, refined, elevating, and withal the most testing message to mortals. You may reach a class of minds, but the more intelligent portion of the community will be driven further off by your labors. You have not a sufficient knowledge of even the common branches of education to be an instructor of men and women who have a wily devil on the other hand to suggest and devise ways and means to lead them from the truth.
Brother E, you cannot fill the position of a minister of Christ. I saw that you lacked a correct religious experience. You have not a knowledge of yourself. You cannot even read correctly, or use language which would commend the truth to the understanding of an intelligent community. You lack discrimination. You would not know when it was proper to speak or wise to keep silent. You have so long thought, with the peculiar class I have mentioned, that you knew it all, that you will not see your deficiencies when they are presented before you. You possess a large share of self-esteem, and your experience has been characterized by self-confidence and boastfulness.
You are not teachable, therefore the cause of God would not prosper in your hands. You would fail to recognize a defeat when you met with one. The cause of God would be brought into disrepute and dishonor by your labors, and you would fail to discover the fact. A certain class may be convinced by you of the truth; but more would be turned away and placed where they could not be reached by proper, judicious labor. Interwoven with your experience are things that will prove detrimental to the truth. God cannot accept you as a representative of the truth.
Your manners have not been refined and elevated. Your deportment has not been pleasing to God. Your words have been careless. You lack piety and devotion. You have not obtained an experience in the spiritual life. You fail to understand how to rightly divide the word of life, giving to each his portion of meat in due season. You have preferred to contend and contest points when you were entirely out of your place and could but meet with defeat. This is the spirit of the class in Maine whom I have mentioned. It is their delight to engage in contest and brave it through. You would not manifest meekness in instructing those who oppose themselves. You will ever be crippled, in a degree, by your unfortunate experience. You lack self-culture and meekness. You have important lessons to learn before you can become an unassuming, acceptable follower of Christ, even in a private capacity. —Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 2, pp. 553-557.
2. As professed followers of Christ, we have much to learn. There is with many an icy chilliness, a reserve like that of the Pharisees, that must be broken down. They are not willing to become learners, but, like the Pharisees, desire to be dictators, teachers. God sent his Son to give his people a better knowledge of the truth, to show them the best way to help their fellow-men. But the Pharisees refused to receive the divine instruction. They thought that Christ was too liberal. His ways did not agree with theirs; and instead of seeking to come into harmony with Christ, they sought to bring Christ into harmony with them. While he differed from them so widely, his influence would, they thought, lessen theirs, and would counteract their teachings. In order to carry out their own purposes, they set themselves in opposition to Christ, and thus brought darkness upon themselves. GW92, 320.
3. I saw that the minds of some of the church have not run in the right channel. There have been some peculiar temperaments that have had their notions by which to measure their brethren. And if any did not exactly agree with them, there was trouble in the camp at once. Some have strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel.
These set notions have been humored and indulged altogether too long. There has been a picking at straws. And when there were no real difficulties in the church, trials have been manufactured. The minds of the church and the servants of the Lord are called from God, truth, and heaven to dwell upon darkness. Satan delights to have such things go on; it feasts him. But these are none of the trials which are to purify the church and that will in the end increase the strength of God's people.
I saw that some are withering spiritually. They have lived some time watching to keep their brethren straight—watching for every fault to make trouble with them. And while doing this, their minds are not on God, nor on heaven, nor on the truth; but just where Satan wants them—on someone else. Their souls are neglected; they seldom see or feel their own faults, for they have had enough to do to watch the faults of others without so much as looking to their own souls or searching their own hearts. A person's dress, bonnet, or apron takes their attention. They must talk to this one or that one, and it is sufficient to dwell upon for weeks. I saw that all the religion a few poor souls have consists in watching the garments and acts of others, and finding fault with them. Unless they reform, there will be no place in heaven for them, for they would find fault with the Lord Himself.
Said the angel: "It is an individual work to be right with God." The work is between God and our own souls. But when persons have so much care of others' faults, they take no care of themselves. These notional, faultfinding ones would often cure themselves of the habit if they would go directly to the individual they think is wrong. It would be so crossing that they would give up their notions rather than go. But it is easy to let the tongue run freely about this one or that one when the accused is not present. —Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 144-145.
Modern-day illustrations
Adventists that seem to match our inspired profile for legalists have spent large amounts of money for special literature and billboard and newspaper advertising around the country to declare that the pope is the antichrist. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. This very public demonstration of legalism with the Adventist name has caused great embarrassment for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. [17][18].
Ellen White wrote,
"I have long known that fanaticism will be manifest again, in different ways.
"We cannot allow excitable elements among us to display themselves in a way that would destroy our influence with those whom we wish to reach with the truth. It took us years to outlive the unfavorable impression that unbelievers gained of Adventists through their knowledge of the strange and wicked workings of fanatical elements among us during the early years of our existence as a separate people." Ellen G. White, Manuscript 115, 1908.
Ellen White was not a legalist. She wrote against making sharp thrusts at Catholics.
"Brethren, I feel hurt when I see that so many decided thrusts are made against the Catholics. Preach the truth, but restrain the words which show a harsh spirit; for such words cannot help or enlighten anyone." Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 64.
Only legalistic Adventists believe that legalists demonstrate love and tact in their evangelism and deny that the charge of fanaticism applies to them. And they quote statements by Ellen White to support their view.
"Men will misrepresent the doctrines we believe and teach as Bible truth, and it is necessary that wise plans should be laid to secure the privilege of inserting articles into the secular papers; for this will be a means of awakening souls to see the truth. God will raise up men who will be qualified to sow beside all waters. God has given great light upon important truths, and it must come to the world." Ellen G. White, Letter 1, 1875.
"We must take every justifiable means of bringing the light before the people. Let the press be utilized, and let every advertising agency be employed that will call attention to the work. This should not be regarded as nonessential. On every street corner you may see placards and notices calling attention to various things that are going on, some of them of the most objectionable character; and shall those who have the light of life be satisfied with feeble efforts to call the attention of the masses to the truth?" Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 130.
The cult expert Walter Martin labeled most of the "historic Adventists" he encountered as "legalists," "worshippers of Ellen White" and the "lunatic fringe." (Walter Martin Interview, Adventist Currents, Vol. 1, No. 1, July, 1983, conducted by Douglas Hackleman). However, Martin regarded Mrs. White as "a sister in the Lord." [19].
Legalistic modern-day extremist false prophets that deceive Seventh-day Adventists include:
Walter McGill and David P. Aguilar Jr. of the Creation Seventh-day Adventist Church [20].
Ronald William Beaulieu [21].
All legalists that cry obsessively against superstition and heresy.
[22].
Spiritualists
See The Spiritualism of Adventism
Papists
Ellen White gave ample warnings that the spirit of popery had come into the Seventh-day Adventist church and that this antichrist spirit in our church was prevalent and increasing:
"There is prevalent a spirit that seeks the mastery over others." TM 260.
"The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our conferences." TM 362.
"The spirit of antichrist is developing rapidly." 20MR 176.
"The matter is becoming serious, for warnings and entreaties have been given in vain. The arms of power in Battle Creek are being extended more and more widely, seeking to control the work far and near, and to crush that which they cannot control. I lift my voice in protest. The spirit that now controls is not the Spirit of the Lord." 8T 150.
"Special instruction has been given me for God’s people, for perilous times are upon us. In the world, destruction and violence are increasing. In the church, man power is gaining the ascendancy; those who have been chosen to occupy positions of trust think it their prerogative to rule." 9T 270.
"We shall have to make a decided choice either to be under Satan’s rule, or under the rule of Him whom John saw while on the isle of Patmos, who ‘hath prepared his throne in the heavens,’ and whose ‘kingdom ruleth over all.’ " RH, Feb. 7, 1893.
The rise of popery in the Adventist church is the fulfillment of prophecy.
That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: "This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order." Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: "If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!"
I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: "If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!" My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 578.
There is much more to the dream than its immediate context (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 569-612). The dream is prophetic. Prophecy has come true! It is now a crime for true and authentic Seventh-day Adventists (like Ellen G. White) to say the smallest and most inoffensive thing against "the holy order."
Did you notice the sheepishness and timidity of the sheeple in the dream?Today, Satan has such perfect control of the Seventh-day Adventist hierarchy that even the enemies of truth laugh at the blindness of SDA leaders for being so devoid of the Spirit of God that Adventism's best and brightest can't see how they themselves have adopted medieval popery.
"I love my job as Conference President. All I do is kiss the ring of everyone in positions above me and appoint ring-kissers to every position below me." [23].
Are Seventh-day Adventists using Satan's methods?
The Seventh-day Adventist Threat to Religious Liberty
Threats, Intimidation and the Kingdom of God
Are Seventh-Day Adventists Aiding In Satan's Determined Purpose to Exalt Popery?
The Presumption of Popery
There was A Council Among the gods
The Accord between the Pope and The Seventh-day Adventist Church
Some who occupy the position of watchmen to warn the people of danger have given up their watch and recline at ease. They are unfaithful sentinels. They remain inactive, while their wily foe enters the fort and works successfully by their side to tear down what God has commanded to be built up. They see that Satan is deceiving the inexperienced and unsuspecting; yet they take it all quietly, as though they had no special interest, as though these things did not concern them. They apprehend no special danger; they see no cause to raise an alarm. To them everything seems to be going well, and they see no necessity of raising the faithful, trumpet notes of warning which they hear borne by the plain testimonies, to show the people their transgressions and the house of Israel their sins. These reproofs and warnings disturb the quiet of these sleepy, ease-loving sentinels, and they are not pleased. They say in heart, if not in words; "This is all uncalled for. It is too severe, too harsh. These men are unnecessarily disturbed and excited, and seem unwilling to give us any rest or quietude. ‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them.’ They are not willing that we should have any comfort, peace, or happiness. It is active labor, toil, and unceasing vigilance alone which will satisfy these unreasonable, hard-to-be-suited watchmen. Why don’t they prophesy smooth things, and cry: Peace, peace? Then everything would move on smoothly."
These are the true feelings of many of our people. And Satan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived that they know not that it is he. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 440.
Isaiah wrote:
"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." Isaiah 56:10.
Ellen White had this verse clearly in mind when she interpreted Ezekiel 9 as a prophecy of the Seventh-day Adventist church/leadership:
Here we see that the church—the Lord's sanctuary—was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus "Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together. —Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 211.
Is there any reason to doubt Ellen G. White's dumb dogs’ prophecy? If the sleep of Seventh-day Adventists and the church leadership is being interrupted, what awakening message is being sounded among SDAs to awaken that sinful synagogue to the fearful reality of their impending doom, if they do not repent?
Sheeple
The great majority of Seventh-day Adventists are sheeple. (SHEE.pul) n. They are dumber than the dumb watchdogs that refuse to bark. Sheeple are sufficiently well-defined in this Bible verse:
A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. Jeremiah 5:30-31.
True Seventh-day Adventists
Ellen White predicted that true Seventh-day Adventists will be a very small minority and that the majority of those who call themselves Seventh-day Adventists will apostatize.
"At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world." 5T 209-210.
"The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world." 5T 210.
"In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. ... They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church." 5T 210.
The Shaking Produces A New Seventh-day Adventist Leadership
"God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor." 5T 80.
"The gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness." 5T 81.
"No superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in sacred office, will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to their own deceitful hearts. Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be ringleaders in apostasy and examples in indifference and in the abuse of God's mercies." 5T 212.
"Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5T 80-81.
"It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws His presence from those who have been blessed with great light and who have felt the power of the word in ministering to others. They were once His faithful servants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed from Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the divine displeasure." 5T 212.
"Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers." 5T 136.
"The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat." —2SM 380 (1886).
"The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time."—E.G.W. Letter 103, 1903.
"But there are men who will receive the truth, and these will take the places made vacant by those who become offended and leave the truth. . . . The Lord will work so that the disaffected ones will be separated from the true and loyal ones. . . . The ranks will not be diminished. Those who are firm and true will close up the vacancies that are made by those who become offended and apostatize." 3SM p. 422.
The Character of Faithful Seventh-day Adventists
"At this time God's chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us." EW 33.
"No truth which involves self-denial and sacrifice will be favorably accepted by the world. A costly effort is required of every soul that will go in an opposite direction from the multitude. All that stand in Christ's name in defense of the truth must have a history of conflicts and sacrifices. They cannot advance in reform, as Christ leads the way, except at the risk of liberty and life." —ST July 26, 1883.
"On every occasion that persecution takes place, the witnesses make decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those who show sympathy for the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against them, show their attachment for Christ." —ST Feb. 20, 1901.
The Church Triumphant
"When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David—willing to do and dare. The deeper the night for God's people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ " 5T 81-82.
"Test yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5)
"Now is the time for God's people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test." 5T 136.
An Endorsement to this Message from the Spirit of Prophecy
"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct." 3T 252-253.
Godliness Bruises Serpents
The Manifesto of Reform-Minded Seventh-Day Adventists
A Testimony For Sleepy, Ease-Loving Sentinels
Testimonies of Truth!
Modified October
13, 2007
Source: http://www.everythingimportant.org/gospel/7faces.htm