The Adventist Review Published Diogo Cavalcanti’s Article Affirming Our Historical Beliefs: Vatican-US Cooperation, Laudato Si’, Ecumenism, Ellen White’s Apocalyptic Role, and the Coming Sunday Law Crisis

Diogo Cavalcanti is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, a PhD student, an editor at the Adventist-owned Brazil Publishing House, and an author. He recently published an article in “Revista Adventista”, the Seventh-day Adventist’s official monthly magazine in Brazil, titled “In the Shadow of the Decree.” The Adventist Review republished this article on August 5, 2022, and we will highlight some of the main points.

Sunday Rest Will be the Issue

Diogo Cavalcanti, in his article republished by Adventist Review, makes it very clear that Sunday rest will be the issue during the last days. He links Sunday-keeping to an act of “subservience to the Church of Rome” and connects the Vatican’s role, the evangelical churches, Laudato Si’, the climate crisis, and ecumenism as part of the contributing factors to the final crisis:

“In the long American Protestant tradition, Sunday is called the “Sabbath” to this day and is kept by devout people. The change from Sabbath to Sunday was an act of the Roman Empire and papal Rome (Dan. 7:25), and the acceptance of Sunday by evangelicals is rightly understood as a sign of subservience to the Church of Rome. The secular world itself has already assimilated Sunday as a day of rest … Sunday is already an almost universal reality in Christian, especially Western, societies, but Revelation 13 indicates that it will be “anabolized”—inflated by laws that have not yet been enacted to become the mark of the beast.” [1]

Sunday’s relevance to the Vatican and the secular world – Papal encyclicals, such as Dies Domini (Lord’s Day, 1998) and Laudato Si’ (Praised Be, 2015), move broadly in the same direction as many evangelical values, adding the rescue of human dignity and care for the environment. They also resonate with demands for a low-carbon future. Some religious lobbyists, trade unions, and social entities are working hard to approve a common day of rest, especially in Europe. A global climate crisis has also led to a cry for less consumption and lowered carbon emissions. In parallel, dialogue around common values is linked to ecumenism, a process inaugurated by the Roman Church through the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis recently said that ecumenism is “irreversible,“ “an essential requirement of the faith we profess.” “We are walking together on the path leading to the goal of visible unity,” he added. [1]

Washington and the Vatican are major global players that have been cooperating for decades. [1]

Prophetic Confirmation

Diogo Cavalcanti goes on to say that these events are significant because they were confirmed to us through inspiration. He demonstrates how these are simply the fulfillment of what Ellen White warned us about:

Joseph Bates, in 1847, was the first to identify the mark of the beast as the observance of Sunday. In that same year, Ellen White wrote to Bates, endorsing his interpretation, a stance she maintained for 68 years until her death in 1915. [1]

In 1882, she stated, “Thirty-six years ago, I was shown that what is now transpiring would take place, that the observance of an institution of the papacy would be enforced upon the people by a Sunday law.” [1]

Ellen White retained her position on the mark of the beast and Sunday until her death in the 20th century. At that time, she pointed not to the past but to the future. On March 22, 1910, she stated: “When the Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution: when the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church,—then will Protestant America have formed an image to the Papacy.” [1]

Ellen White: Classical or Apocalyptic Prophet?

Diogo Cavalcanti then weighs in on the debate about Ellen White’s role as a prophet by stating: “Some may try to evaluate Ellen White’s positions on the mark of the beast by asking if her ministry was that of a classic or an apocalyptic prophet.” He describes classic prophets as those whose predictions were often “conditional,” meaning that those prophecies “might happen or might not, depending on the obedience of those receiving the messages.” He then contrasts this with apocalyptic prophets whose predictions “must take place” and are “unconditional.”

This is an important question because many Seventh-day Adventists today believe that Ellen White’s predictions in The Great Controversy were “classical” and no longer apply to our modern world. Diogo Cavalcanti rejects this notion and affirms Ellen White’s apocalyptic, end-time prophetic role:

“Her [Mrs. White’s] position on the mark of the beast is not conditional—because of the unconditional nature of the prophecy she refers to. The book of Revelation is unconditional, and so is the interpretation she openly endorsed about the mark of the beast. [1]

Big Data and Government

Diogo Cavalcanti also warns about the threat of “algorithms, AI, and big data” in the hands of political operatives who are not looking out for our best interests. He warns about the dangers of the “dictatorship of algorithms” and how information is being used to control entire societies:

Algorithms, AI, and Big Data. New technologies have enabled and broadened an unimaginable surveillance network, especially with the advent of Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI). Some like the Israeli Yuval Noah Harari have warned about the growing threat of the “dictatorship of algorithms.” The algorithms allow political parties, governments, and large corporations to “herd” the masses without attracting social attention. In the wrong hands, these mind-blowing new technologies can lead to almost absolute control of whole societies—already a stark reality in some countries …  Such technologies can lead to individual discrimination and targeting, as is already the case with our credit ratings. We have additionally witnessed a growing capacity to economically block nations and, most recently, individuals, with sanctions. [1]

Some in “Israel” are Skeptical

Finally, Diogo Cavalcanti states that there are many in “Israel,” or God’s people today, who are skeptical of our historic Seventh-day Adventist end-time predictions. He warns not only against those who reject our end-time eschatology but also against those who go beyond what inspiration has given us and engage in “conspiracy theories and sensationalism.”

Today, the eschatological Babylon is increasing its power, but some in “Israel” are skeptical. Others sink in conspiracy theories and sensationalism. It is easy to slip toward extremes. We need a safe place to be. A sound understanding of Bible prophecy leads to a vibrant Christian life—not a skeptical, exaggerated, indifferent, anemic one—but a life fueled by hope. We are called to trust the prophetic word (2 Cor. 20:20) and to prepare ourselves for its long-announced scenario, because suddenly the Lord may say again: “I will lay this proverb to rest” (Ezek. 12:23).  The passing of days cannot erase the vision. Our eyes must shine again with the hope of prophecy. [1]

Over the years, there have been different voices who have expressed contempt for our historic beliefs. Some argue that our prophetic interpretations, as described in the book The Great Controversy, are no longer necessary today. That could not be further from the truth. The exact opposite is true. Our historical teachings are more accurate and relevant today than they have ever been. In fact, as we approach the end of time, our final warning message becomes more spiritually significant. We appreciate what Diogo Cavalcanti wrote, and we pray that God will give others the courage to affirm and proclaim our end-time messages from Revelation 14:6-12 (the Three Angels’ Message) as the only solution to our world’s problems.

Sources

[1] https://adventistreview.org/commentary/in-the-shadow-of-the-decree/