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” And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness … Certain it is that there has been among us a departure from the living God and a turning to men, putting human in place of divine wisdom. God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 707).
We are currently going through an overwhelming crisis, which should be obvious to everyone unless you are blind, deaf, or living in a cave. Heresies are working their way into Adventism. How will we react to this? Will we simply cover our eyes with our hands and pretend nothing is happening? Will we want somebody to stand up for us? Or will we persuade ourselves that the best course of action is to go along with the status quo and refrain from saying anything that might upset others or cause problems?
What are we to do? Should we protest and resist? It is more important than ever for our people to speak out and take courageous action whenever a crisis develops. And since we are currently facing that crisis, we are in dire need of courageous individuals—people who won’t cave under pressure or give up out of fear.
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” (Education, p. 57).
This past week, we witnessed something rare in Adventism. What was it? Courage. Courage is something we don’t see very often. Evertt E. Brown, President of the Jamaica Union Conference, published a letter that was to be read in every church under his jurisdiction. The letter addressed open apostasy that had permeated a university under the union’s care. In his letter, not only did President Brown urge that the worldly music and dancing cease, but what was even more refreshing was that he asked that “remedial measures” be put in place to undo the “negative impact” that the university’s activities had on Seventh-day Adventists. This is what you call “reformation.” We clearly need more leaders like him. In today’s Adventism, they are a rare breed, few and far between.
You see, it is one thing to just talk about revival and reformation, but it is a completely different thing to actually do it. On April 21, 2023, President Ted Wilson and others will be participating in an event called “Holding the Line,” in which they will be talking about “standing for the truth in a culture of compromise.” [1]
Will they simply just talk about “holding the line” and “standing for the truth”? Will we just continue to host seminars and hope that reformation will come? We are in a spiritual war. We have to actually engage the conflicts that have come into our ranks. Instead of merely talking about “holding the line” and “standing for the truth in a culture of compromise,” I wish they would confront the Omega of Apostasy that is currently raging inside the church. The Omega has arrived. Many of our people are currently being swept away by it.
Revelation 12:7–12 tells us that there was war in heaven. This is talking about a war in God’s house. Sin originated in heaven, and what did Jesus do? We are told that He and His angels fought against the devil. They resisted. They pushed back. And finally, they cast Satan out. Why aren’t we able to do this too? Additionally, Revelation 12:12 informs us that the great controversy that originated in God’s house has now reached our house. What steps are we taking to combat the devil in our church, besides just talking?
There have been far too many people in positions of trust today who have dropped their spiritual weapons. Some are uniting with the world. Others don’t want to be vigilant. We are reluctant to speak out. We don’t want to be controversial. We don’t want to lose our positions. How about losing eternal life? Satan will never stop warring against God and His people until he is cast into the lake of fire.
Why can’t President Ted Wilson and his team from the “holding the line” seminar just write letters like the one that Evertt E. Brown, President of the Jamaica Union Conference, published? Pastor Brown showed true leadership and courage by telling his constituency not what they wanted to hear but what they needed to hear: Stop the apostasy, take actions to mitigate the damage that has been done, and don’t do it again. Instead of hosting a seminar about “holding the line,” why doesn’t Ted Wilson use his influence and write public letters telling his rebellious subordinates in our hospitals, universities, schools, church unions, and conferences to stop the apostasy, undo all the harm they have caused, and refrain from repeating those atrocities again?
That won’t happen because it would require courage to do so. And in today’s Adventism, courage is a rare quality. But if we are unable to show that kind of courage, we will never see Jesus. The fearful or cowardly, who lack courage in a time of crisis when the battle of the Lord must be fought, are one group of people who will not enter the kingdom of Christ:
“But the fearful (cowardly), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.
“Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 280).
Jesus made it very clear how such individuals will be rewarded:
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8, 9.
We are denying the Lord when the faith is targeted and we do nothing but stand by idle. If we remain silent while our church family is being seduced by the devil, we are failing in the sacred duty that God has entrusted to us.
“Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” Judges 5:23.
“Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had been our own” (Patriarch and Prophets, p. 578).
We have two choices: We can either act courageously and fulfill our God-given responsibility, or we can just do things as usual and argue that sin is not in fact all that sinful. We can pretend that there is no Omega sweeping through our ranks, we can deceive ourselves and others by saying that God is so merciful, compassionate, and loving that we should just tolerate every sinful act. That would put us on an easy path. Indeed, that would make us popular. It doesn’t take any courage to just go along and get along with the surging tide of sin and wickedness.
It takes courage to swim against the “floodgates of iniquity” (GC 585). It takes sacrifice and effort to go against the currents and trends of this world. It is difficult, but it is necessary, to publicly oppose the Omega of apostasy in the name of truth and righteousness. But if we want to be praised and applauded by everyone, then simply go with the flow and don’t do anything. There is no need to take action; simply “talk” about reformation. Anyone can do that. In fact, that’s what most are doing. They are on the path of peace, ease, and compromise.
You know, a dead fish can also effortlessly float downstream. Spiritually dead Adventists can just float down the lazy river and do it upside down in a Laodicean coma. But to swim upstream and against the floodgate of apostasy requires fortitude, hard work, persistence, courage, and determination. But God is calling us to do that. He wants us to lift up a standard both in the world and in the church against Satan and his many temptations.
“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267).
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Interesting that a lion with eagles wings was the symbol chosen for the knight’s breastplate…
Writing that letter is a good start but i do not call it a reformation. If the people reform thru the power of the Holy Spirit then we have a reformation.
A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.– Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1902. {ChS 42.2}
Elder Wilson, unfortunately, has not only failed to act, he has actively taken part in dismantling the religious liberty foundations of the church during the Covid pandemic. When the issue of the church’s position statement was brought to the floor at the 2022 fall counsel he came forward courageously to remove it from the floor. His courage unfortunately is misplaced.
But, I’ll withhold judgment on what comes out of the upcoming Holding the Line rally. If Wilson is willing to associate himself with ministers like Bachelor and Rafferty who have been holding the line, that is a positive sign. He’s in my prayers.
KJV Ezekiel 8:6, 9-16
6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
11 And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
KJV Ezekiel 9:4
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence. The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals. But the anguish and humiliation of God’s people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory. A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross.{PK 590.2}
KJV Isaiah 56:10-12
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Holding the Line is an Amazing Facts production for which Ted Wilson was invited to speak. Ted Wilson did not organize the event.
JUST AS IS THE CASE W/OUR PRESIDENT,(OF THE NATION,)SO IT IS W/OUR CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP…WE HAVE A “JESUIT HANDLER” PROBLEM…THEY ARE TOLD WHAT THEY CAN & CANNOT DO,THEY ARE TOLD HOW FAR THEY CAN GO,THEY ARE TOLD TO “PROTECT THE POPE” AT ALL COSTS…WHAT TYPE OF REFORMS ARE POSSIBLE/LIKELY AS LONG AS THIS IS THE CASE?…
And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.
And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
2 Kings 23:1-5
This is what true repentance/atonement for apostasy looks like.