Dr. Jon Paulien is a professor at the Loma Linda University School of Religion. At a recent church-sponsored symposium about the end time prophetic events, Dr. Paulien said that Sunday Laws are not coming, the Great Controversy is outdated, there are other options for the mark of the beast and Ellen White was not an end-time prophet. Eight months ago, the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists hosted a “Biblical Symposium on Final Events.”
Above is the video of the final presentation for the symposium. The presentation was entitled “The Coming Sunday Law Dilemma” featuring Dr. Jon Paulien, a leading scholar and professor at Loma Linda University. However, the “coming Sunday law dilemma” was not about the crisis our world would soon face; no, the “dilemma” that Dr. Paulien was inferring was that there was no Sunday law forthcoming.
President Ramiro Cano.
The President of the Central California Conference, Pastor Ramiro Cano, welcomed the spectators and gave an explanation for the purpose of hosting this event. Pastor Ramiro expressed that unfortunately there was too much “sensationalism” and “fanaticism” and that it was necessary to protect the church by presenting the “plain, unadulterated and clear truth.” Pastor Ramiro stated:
Minute 8:48 – “We are keenly aware of the many voices rallying the people to excitement and sensationalism creating fear, anxiety and fanaticism. As sentinels on the walls of Zion, we have a divinely bestowed responsibility to present the flock of God with the plain, unaltered and clear truth to navigate safely through the perils of these last days.”
Dr. Pierre Steenberg.
Tragically, there were only obscure, adulterated and questionable assumptions heard during the presentation. Dr. Pierre Steenberg, Ministerial Director of the Central California Conference, introduced Dr. Jon Paulien, the featured speaker, with the following accolades:
Minute 13:48 – “Our speaker tonight as we come to the conclusion of this symposium is once again Dr. Jon Paulien. I got to tell you that Dr. Paulien is a legend in the AdventistChurch when it comes to the book of Revelation. He’s this big in name scholar that has been at it for a long time. He knows his stuff inside and out … All I would like to say in the introduction tonight is, ‘Thank you, sir.’ You have been a blessing to us for many, many years. You’ve presented globally, you have written books, you have published articles, you have really invested your life in these topics, and for us. Thank you.”
The New Mark of the Beast
So what did this “legend” in Adventism say? What did the “big name scholar” present? The professor who “knows his stuff inside and out” when it comes to the book of Revelation, what great insights did he reveal for these end-times? Well, the new contemporary interpretation about the “Mark of the Beast,” according to Dr. Paulien, is that the text of Revelation describes a “counterfeit” and not specifically “Sunday.” In other words, the mark of the beast is a “counterfeit” and not specifically “Sunday.” And this “counterfeit” (the new mark of the beast) can have many interpretations. Notice how Dr. Paulien is rewriting Adventism:
Minute 17:45 – “The biblical evidence does not speak of Sunday as such, but it speaks about a counterfeit of the Sabbath being critical to the mark of the beast at the end of time. And we noticed that there were four possibilities and four options for a counterfeit. One would be a different day than the Sabbath, and Sunday would be an example of that. A second option is that every day is the Sabbath, which means that no day would have any special significance. The third is that no day is the Sabbath. Sabbath was simply abolished by Jesus and therefore we can worship on any day that we choose. And finally, some sort of legislation to forbid Sabbath-keeping would be option number 4. So within exegeses of the biblical text you do have options for understanding what the mark of the beast will actually turn out to be.”
Dr. Paulien is trying to insert options for the mark of the beast. Where do these options come from? He says it comes from the texts. And the texts don’t point to Sunday, they point to a counterfeit. And those options can be “any day.” It can include “all days” or it can mean “no days.” Do you see what is happening? They are rewriting the message of the mark of the beast. The contemporary church is attempting to remake the movement founded by our pioneers. We are witnessing a scenario in which anything remotely resembling historic Adventism is being eliminated, turned upside down or corrupted.
They are trying to understand the mark without any reference to the beast. You cannot separate the mark from the beast because the mark belongs to the beast. Who is the beast? Rome. What is her mark? Any day? Monday? Tuesday? Thursday? Friday? Absolutely not. Rome became the beast of Revelation in part because she established an idol Sabbath. If the beast is Rome, then what is the Papal Sabbath? Sunday. This is what inspiration says:
“When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday” (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 980).
Dr. Paulien is only affirming what many of our leaders already believe. His statements are a reflection of what Ted Wilson and other church leaders have already embraced. This explains why things are the way they are and why the Great Hope has replaced the Great Controversy. The modern church is now pushing the idea that the mark of the beast can be any day.
Attacking Ellen White and the Great Controversy
Now notice how Dr. Paulien attacks Ellen White and her book the Great Controversy:
Minute 27:26 – “Our careful study of fulfilled prophecy, out of careful study from the book of Revelation and reading these statements (from Ellen White), with the biblical principles in mind, we should be careful not to assume that the end-time will be identical to GC (Great Controversy) in every detail. Considering both the Bible and world history, were Ellen White alive today there is at least a chance that her depiction of the end would be different than it was in the 1880s.
A slide taken from the presentation of Dr. Paulien.
This is another false assumption made by Dr. Paulien. He is suggesting that Ellen White had her own description of how the world would end. No she did not. She was not the author of her message, she was only the messenger. The vision of the Great Controversy was not her own. Notice how Sister White describes how she received the Great Controversy vision and simply wrote it down:
“It was more essential that I should devote myself to writing out the important matters for Vol. IV; (Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4 was the original Great Controversy) that the warning must go where the living messenger could not go, and that it would call the attention of many to the important events to occur in the closing scenes of this world’s history. As the condition of the church and the world was open before me, and I beheld the fearful scenes that lie just before us, I was alarmed at the outlook; and night after night, while all in the house were sleeping, I wrote out the things given me of God. I was shown the heresies which are to arise, the delusions that will prevail, the miracle-working power of Satan—the false Christs that will appear—that will deceive the greater part even of the religious world, and that would, if it were possible, draw away even the elect. Is this work of the Lord? I know that it is, and our people also profess to believe it. The warning and instruction of this book are needed by all who profess to believe the present truth” (1888 Materials, p. 652).
Sister White had no personal views on the end of time. She simply wrote what God showed her in the Great Controversy book. And she saw it all. Heresies in the churches, spiritualism, ecumenism, false Christs, the beast and the image, the close of probation, the time of trouble, the second coming of Jesus, the millennium and the final home of the faithful. According to Dr. Paulien, we would have to ignore everything Ellen White wrote in the final chapters of the Great Controversy.
Rewriting Sunday Laws
Now notice what Dr. Paulien says about the Sunday law. These new views are creating a crisis of faith in Adventism and are leading us directly into the universal brotherhood of Rome.
Minute 28:12 – “The idea of a world-wide Sunday law made a lot of sense back then. The world was quite different than today. So we should not assume that after the passage of more than one hundred and fifty years that every detail would necessarily be fulfilled.”
Do we ignore the reality that Rome is pushing for Sunday sacredness and that the world is embracing Sunday rest? Do we ignore every detail in the Great Controversy that is being fulfilled today? Do we ignore the three-fold union of Romanism, apostate Protestantism and spiritualism? How about ecumenism? What about all the religions, governments, economists and politicians who are joining Rome to defend the green Sunday law? Would Dr. Paulien want us to ignore the involvement of Seventh-day Adventists in all of these events as well?
Dr. Paulien is proudly giving his presentation wearing the logo of the Loma Linda University School of Religion as the Central California Conference bank-rolled this event. Church-owned institutions and entities are helping to promote these grave theological heresies.
Dr. Paulien goes on to present his theory that everything Ellen White wrote in the Great Controversy was only for her time, and if God were giving us a message today, it would be completely different:
Minute 29:40 – “If the end had come in Ellen White’s lifetime, I have no doubt that it would have happened essentially the way that she said.”
Minute 30:00 – Great Controversy fits perfectly with exactly what was happening in the world in the 1880s… I think we make the mistake in putting lines in the sand and saying it must happen exactly this way when in fact we see God being creative, not always predictable … things have changed in the world. If God was giving a prophecy today it wouldn’t sound like what was given back then because we are in a different world, different language, different circumstances, different time and place.
A different world? A different language? A different time and place? No, not really. We see the same power today that was in her day. We see the same Sunday being celebrated world-wide. We see the same actors that were in her days. We see the same rhetoric and the same goals. Remember, Rome is a Chameleon and she can change her colors or tactics, but the ending will be the same:
“Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.] It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent” (Great Controversy, p. 571).
Ellen White is not an End-time Prophet
Dr. Paulien introduces a new description of Ellen White’s prophetic role. He called her work and writings “classical” and not “apocalyptic,” which means that she wrote for her time, not for the end of time. The idea is that some prophets only had a role for their specific time such as Jeremiah, Amos, Micah and others. Then there were other prophets who were “apocalyptic,” that is, they had a message for the end of time, such as Daniel and John, Paul and Jesus. Notice what Dr. Paulien says:
Minute 17:30 – Ellen White’s style of prophecy is classical rather than apocalyptic.
Minute 30:46 – And finally, as a classical prophet, Ellen White’s predictions should be understood as conditional. As circumstances change the fulfillment of Revelation 13 could take other forms than the ones that seemed so clear in 1888.
What would those “other forms” for the fulfillment of Revelation 13 be? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, no day, any day or all days?
Minute 41:48 – She (Sister White) is talking about the near future. She’s talking about a world that was very real in the 1880s, but no longer exists today. It’s no longer a Protestant government. It’s no longer a world in which spiritualism is at the top of the radar and the agenda … What she was describing in Great Controversy was about her present and her near future.
In what world does Dr. Paulien live? He’s closing his eyes to Rome’s pantheistic encyclicals and the nature worship found in today’s climate agenda. He is ignoring how churches, including many Seventh-day Adventists, have embraced the spirituality of Mother Earth. This is the new world religion that everyone is adopting. Dr. Paulien is disconnected from reality. He’s on another planet or in some parallel universe. Sunday sacredness is being accelerated by Rome today on a global scale faster than Protestants in 1888 could have ever imagined.
Minute 42:45 – She does not address the world that we live in today, directly. Her predictions are natural extensions of the world of her day. You will look in vain for a nuclear war or a nuclear power. You will look in vain for computers, internet, cell phones, space travel, world wars, Islamic terrorism, rise of secularism, rise of post modernism and so on. She does not address our world. That is typical of the Bible prophets. They spoke to their world.
Throw out the book Great Controversy and Ellen White because she never talked about computers and the internet. She didn’t mention cell phones so she was in a different world than ours. Really? Well, if that’s the case, we must get rid of Daniel, John, Jesus, Moses, Paul, Isaiah and all the writers of the Holy Bible. They did not talk about computers, the internet or cell phones either.
We have a serious problem that is more than simply revising our Adventist message. If Ellen White is not an end-time “apocalyptic” prophet, then Seventh-day Adventists are not the Remnant Church of Bible prophecy. If Ellen White is not the prophet of the last days, for our time and our day, then we do not have the Spirit of Prophecy. We simply become a people without vision and we will soon perish: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18.
Simply put, if Ellen White is not our “apocalyptic” prophet, then the gift of prophecy has not reached us, there is no Remnant church and what we once thought was the Spirit of Prophecy has just been completely removed from the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Of course, this is according to the “legendary” and highly esteemed “scholars” of our day.
Dr. Paulien’s view about classical and apocalyptic prophets is just another false assumption made to separate
us from what inspiration actually says about the prophets of God:
“Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us. ‘Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come’ 1 Corinthians 10:11″ (Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 338).
“The prophets spoke less for their own time than for the ages which have followed, and for our own day” (Signs of the Times, April 2, 1896).
All of God’s holy prophets, including Sister White, spoke less for their own time and MORE for our day, today, right now. And their prophecies are in full force for us right now, today. Praise the Lord!
Speculations, Conspiracies, Undermining Prophecy and Unsafe Assumptions
Finally, Dr. Paulien cautions us about taking Ellen White’s views from her book the Great Controversy and trying to apply what she wrote to our day. This is incredible.
Minute 49:48 – There is another way to undermine prophecy and that is to over specify the prophecy. To be too confident that we understand every detail in advance, and out of that confidence putting charts together signifying the events of the end in such a way that when the real thing comes you miss it. You don’t see it because it doesn’t fit the expectations you put together.
We didn’t put anything together. We are simply obeying the command that says we must read the prophetic word, understand it, keep it and proclaim it.
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3.
“Whoso readeth, let him understand.” Matthew 24:15
“Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” Revelation 10:11.
Important prophetic messages, such as the message of the first, second, and third angels, must be understood to be proclaimed. How can you tell people to avoid the mark of the beast, if you don’t know what it is? And Dr. Paulien said we don’t know exactly what the mark of the beast will actually be; therefore, it is better that we do not preach it. If we think we know what it is, we may be “overemphasizing” the prophecy and therefore undermining it.
The Adventist message is being replaced by a newer version of the faith that preaches nothing because it knows nothing. We no longer have a clear message and therefore cannot really warn anyone. Therefore, we must embrace the popular ecumenical message to avoid controversy. The message is that we cannot have too much “confidence” in the third angel’s warning about the mark of the beast. This new position is actually denying people the final invitation of mercy that God wants the world to hear.
Minute 54:54 – “I believe it is unwise to use this particular idea (Sunday laws) as the sign of the end. As the one thing that we are all looking for to say, ‘Yea I think we’re in the final crisis.’ In the end it may happen in surprising ways. You see, after all, Ellen White spoke about Sunday legislation throughout her life. It was there, over 100 statements. There was legislation all through those decades that she served in her ministry. So the idea of Sunday being particularly significant to the mark of the beast certainly was a common theme in her writings. But the idea of a specific legislation in Congress, that’s the key idea that gets people excited. And that occurs only in statements around 1888 through 1890 … There was a specific context that called for that specificity. But to assume that this exact context will repeat itself at the end, it’s not a safe assumption.”
Assuming that the Sunday laws of Ellen White’s day will be repeated in our day is not a safe assumption? That’s what Dr. Paulien believes. However, the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Ellen G. White Estates destroy Dr. Paulien’s erroneous assumption.
Bible: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Spirit of Prophecy: “History will repeat itself. In this age the great test will be upon the point of Sabbath observance. The heavenly universe beholds men trampling upon the law of Jehovah, making the memorial of God—the sign between Him and His commandment-keeping people—a thing of naught, something to be despised … Apostate Protestantism has accepted the false sabbath instituted by the Roman Catholic Church. They have cradled this child of the papacy. Very soon all who refuse to worship this idol will be forbidden to buy or sell” (Manuscript 110, 1904).
Ellen G. White Estates: “As Sunday law issues intensified in the late 1800’s and agitation for a national Sunday law in the United States increased, Ellen White wrote perceptively of “The Impending Conflict” … Agitation for Sunday legislation gradually waned, but in succeeding years Ellen White kept the issues of the final conflict before church leaders. Times might have changed, so far as actual persecution for Sabbath observance was concerned, but the issues and the principles involved remained the same. Since Ellen White’s death further changes have taken place, but we believe that the same principles and the same issues will be revived in the coming conflict, present appearances to the contrary notwithstanding” (Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 380, 381).
Minute 58:34 – “As we look to the future, I encourage you to weigh Bible prophecy and particularly unfulfilled Bible prophecy. Speculations about unfulfilled prophecies have gotten us nowhere. It’s been a failure pretty much every time it’s tried.”
Minute 59:26 – “It’s easy for people to speculate and create conspiracy theories.”
The only “unfulfilled prophecy” that Dr. Paulien refers to is the mark of the beast. And he calls it speculation and a conspiracy theory to continue embracing the “more sure word of prophecy” that has served Seventh-day Adventists for so long. Dr. Paulien says that embracing Ellen White’s position on the mark of the beast is pure speculation today. Believing in God’s prophets has now become spiritually dangerous.
This is not the first time we have heard from theologians and scholars trying to diminish the writings of inspiration. Tragically, today’s theologians have become more authoritative than the prophets of God who had a higher source of inspiration. They are revising our historical beliefs about the mark of the beast in the same way that they have with women’s ordination and the LGBT+ agenda.
They declare that what Moses wrote in Leviticus about marriage was good for his day, but not for us. Those instructions do not apply to this age. They say that Paul’s writing and what he wrote on biblical headship was simply a cultural expression that ended during the rise of the feminist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Ellen White’s Own Defense of the Book Great Controversy
In 1888 Materials, pages 657-690, Ellen White presents her defense against church leaders who became antagonistic toward her book that she refers to as “Vol. IV.” This is a reference to the book “Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4,” which is the 1884 version of the Great Controversy. Notice her indictment against those who attacked the book the Great Controversy. And just as the Great Controversy book is the present truth for our day, the following admonitions are applicable to the false prophets and false scholars who would cause us to lose confidence in the testimonies of God’s prophet:
“The course pursued toward Vol. IV. (Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4 which is the Great Controversy) has confirmed the word of the Lord which has been given me, that men were occupying responsible positions who were not working where God was working; that the testimony of the spirit of God had no special sacredness to them unless it sanctioned their ideas and actions. Anything not in harmony with their ideas, they did not receive. Had they realized the importance of the light given me of God, would they have let the message of appeal and warning lie buried in the office of publication while they only expressed regret, and did nothing to change the order of things? Brethren, you may think that your course in this matter does not justify me in speaking plainly as I do, but the time has come for me to speak, and I refuse to keep silent longer. I cannot but feel that the enemy has warped your conscience and beclouded your minds. My oral testimony will do you no good while you stand where you now are” (1888 Materials, p. 660.1).
“But their course in regard to the circulation of my books has made it a necessity for me to speak. I cannot be clear and keep silent. I cannot have confidence to leave these matters, which to me involves so much, to their discretionary power, when I am brought into constant embarrassment. I have less confidence in their management than I have had, for I cannot believe that the Lord leads them to pursue the course they have taken.” (1888 Materials, p. 657.1)
Seventh-day Adventists have reached a watershed moment at this point in history. We must choose between the paths before us. God through inspiration has told us which way to go to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. Fallen, sinful human nature is telling us that we have to go down a different path, a path that leads not only to Egypt, but into the arms of Rome. Will the Spirit of Prophecy be believed and obeyed, as revealed in the Great Controversy book? Or will we believe these “legendary” scholars who tell us that they know more than the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord?
Join the conversation and share your thoughts with us below at the bottom of this page. We have opened the comments for you to tell us what you think.
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This is sad beyond words. I pray this false message by Dr. Paulien will not spread throughout our denomination. Our SDA prophetic interpretations are solid and trustworthy. We can put our faith in the Bible and Ellen White. These men are not uplifting truth but rather casting a shadow on our biblical doctrines because they aren’t socially acceptable.
Sadly Sister this message has been throughout the GC for a very long time. But we were told by scripture and the pen of inspiration that these days would arrive. This should only strengthen our resolve to work harder to complete the work that God has called HIS CHURCH (not his GC ) to do. God is now as He has always and forever been upon the Throne and His will shall be done. Amen.
Amen!
Wow! Amazing… We used to be told to watch for wolves in sheep clothing… This is just an out in the open wolf! Hard to miss it seems… But perhaps not for most of our leadership unfortunately
I am 110 % agreeing with you my sister!
Praise God there are some Bible /Spirit of Prophecy believing people still remain !
What ? Is Dr. Pauline gone MAD? Is he allowing The Old Serpent to wrap him around his pinky finger? No joke my sister ! But the man has lost all his marbles ( his brain cells )
Now I believe that Satan has deceived him even worse than Eve… I know I heard other nonsensical stories, but this one beats me to the core 😞 !
Let us pray for him /and others with same ERRORS.
Bible / Sop believing SDAs
Let us study more and more deeper and yet deeper ! These wonderful Words of Life ! Hold on to the Man Christ Jesus , the Rock or all ages . Anchor in Him ! With His Redeeming Blood we shall make it to the Kingdom ! Maranatha !
Maranatha !!
I fully support your suggestion we need to pray for our leaders & one another & become fully focused on studying Scriptures to know God & let His Spirit guide & strengthen our faith,
Paulein is fulfilling a prophecy EGW made, to make OF NONE EFFECT THE TESTIMONIES. This shows we are living at the very end of time.
Amen !
Yes we are , God have mercy on us all .
Agree
It is very dangerous to put our faith in the bible and Ellen White, our faith must be put in Jesus, that is the problem that we love “doctrine” more than Jesus
Jorge we cannot separate the Bible from Jesus. The Bible is truth. Jesus is truth. The Bible is what teaches us the way to life. Jesus is the way. The Bible points us to Jesus.
Jesus is the Word!
John 1:1,2
“ In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and
The Word was God .
The same was in the beginning with God.”
Mercy !
True my sister! They cannot be separated .
Amen! Sister! Thank you!
Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and the Light!
And so are the Holy Scriptures!
And i am extremely thankful for The Lesser Light that helps clarify thing for many of us!
That’s ridiculous Jorge…You really should think and maybe even pray before you make comments like this…sad!
John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
How does anyone know Jesus? It is because there is a Bible. If you cannot put your trust in the ONLY record of who Christ is then you have NOTHING! There is a day coming when Jesus will say to those who claim to know him and have done His will by casting out demons, working miracles, and prophesying in his name that they hear the words, “I NEVER knew you…” and why is this? Because they put not their faith/trust in the authenticity of the INSPIRED Word of God, and by so doing had no direction, guidance, instruction in righteousness that they become a man of God, perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If you have no faith in the Bible then you really should not be a Christian for if the Bible isn’t real/true then Jesus isn’t real/true… and by the way, if you love me then keep my commandments… If you love Jesus then you will love his doctrine.
I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel’s message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.
Brethren we are almost at Midnight. The darkness is deepening not only in the world but also in the church. 2021 will surely see the abandoning of the pillars of SDAdventism by the GC. Thus we know that it’s Midnight!
Bro. David you are so right, I agree, the Bridegroom cometh, take heed.
Amen Angie. God bless you.
May God forgive these leaders in the SDA church and be shown that Prayer Bible study and the guiding of the Spirit of Prophecy are the only path to salvation and Faith we will find and need as we face the trials ahead as we walk in the coming darkness with no one else but Jesus by our side Thank you for Advent Messenger Prophecy Again/Saved to Serve and Amazing Word Ministries
Only Jesus is needed for salvation. I’m surprised your church doesn’t kñow that.
And knowing Jesus encompasses a lot you are not willing to learn.
Sir, how do I know Him without His Word, the Bible?
Bible students should not be surprised with these developments in SDA .The writings of Moses , and all the Prophets were never fully received in their day . These theories by scholars within SDA are to remind us , the hour is late , the night is far spent . Let us then stir ourselves , and as David advised Solomon , show ourselves men. Isa 6 : 9-10
In this day last day according to mat 23 there will emerge false people and prophets who will turn people away from the truth as in time of jeremiah when hannania said that people will not go to Babylon captivity likewise Dr Pauline is trying to deceive we Christian to deviate from truth even Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law but fulfill the issue she is saying that Jesus sabbath the sabbath let her read mark 2 26&27
Ironically, Ellen White herself penned these words. “Before the end, man will try to make of none effect the Spirit of Prophecy”. (I have paraphrased). I am just writing from memory. Our eyes should be opened and our ears in tune with what is happening at this time in the church, and out of the church. We are so close to the second coming, I can hear the rumble! I am 73 years old, and I truly believe that the Lord will return in my lifetime. I hope I am right. I have been a faithful Adventist for over 46 years. I have longed for this day…….Come, Lord Jesus!
Amén hermana Linda! Dios conceda el deseo de tu corazón, así lo quiero y espero con todas mis fuerzas. Maranatha!
I am actually perplexed at these sentiments,,,,,,it’s indeed true that “men” have taken lightly the foundation that our fathers laid through prayer and supplication. It’s indeed true that wolves have risen among the sheep and ready to devour the flock by false sentiments and man-made theories . OH THAT I wish that the Bible should be the only test of faith not human thoughts!
Jesus is the Word!
John 1:1,2
“ In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and
The Word was God .
The same was in the beginning with God.”
Mercy !
True my sister! They cannot be separated .
Amen and Amen!!!!!
Amen!!
Hasten on King Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
Amen 🙏
Amen
This saddens me. Yet I acknowledge that this is part of what we have known would come: a division and great falling away of those within our church – the turning away from truth and toward the deceptions Satan cunningly places before those who do not pursue and stand by what the Bible prophecies declare.
May we daily, prayerfully, faithfully seek our Savior and His light to our paths.
Jesuits have infiltered The church, and you know what there oath is, they work for the Pop.
Those who are not diligent to study the bible and spirit of prophecy with earnest prayer will be deceived. It’s not important to them they come to church and do not know if the truth is spoken because they are to indolent to spend time studying. Satan is a mastermind see how smoothly he brings doubt through this man . Trying to get us to believe the great controversy is in the past the Sunday test was back then was it of course it was. Now Satan cunningly slips in were in a different time we need new light it’s not Jesus that has lead us out thus far and if you have studied you know what was just said and they look back and fall off the path. To the brother who said we need Jesus that is true. We need to believe that He is our sin Bearer that He actually takes our sin from us and puts His Righteousness on us and believe it. RH, September 3 1889 par. 12 When the doctrine of justification by faith was presented at the Rome meeting, it came to many as water comes to the thirsty Traveler.The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, seemed a precious thought. The enemy of man and God is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken. If he can control minds so that doubt and unbelief and darkness shall compose the experience of those who claim to be the children of God, he can overcome them with temptation. Notice why Satan does not want you to understand this because it keeps him from overcoming you with temptation. One last thing I forgot to note this quote it goes something like this we are not to look to how Jesus and God look at us but how God looks at Jesus. Now do you see what Jesus righteousness does for us. Praise God for that free gift take hold of it for dear life because that is what it truly is. God bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ
Are we surprised? The SDA corporate beast trashed the publishing work years ago in NAD and Europe. By either publishing’s pseudo EG White writings and slapping her name on all but 6 books she actually wrote, or altering them and watering them down to make them more palatable to the flesh, the corporate beast all but destroyed them over 100 years ago.
In Germany, Ellen White’s writings were not allowed in any church or to be distributed or even printed by the SDA German corporate beast in 2014 when I was there. Funding was chopped for Literature ministries and instead Yah’s tithe and offerings were put into more offices and bureaucracy, benefits, higher salaries for the mercenary hirelings, and new several million dollar conference buildings that will be burned.
The SDA apostate leaders rejected the Great Controversy years ago. I had a conference CEO tell me he did not believe in the Great Controversy any more. This was some 25 years ago. Why were all these things happening years ago? Because these apostate leaders we gave tithe money to no longer believed the historic faith of the pioneers of the SDA church. The name “Ichabod” is inscribed by the Holy Watcher over the doors of the GC and LLU. Time to flee this daughter of the Harlot, Babylon, before it is too late.
If she talks like Rome, walks like Rome and looks like Rome, SHE IS ROME. Leave ROME, NO LONGER ROAM, COME HOME TO the Remnant of biblical, Israel. James White said it best: “The Reformers stopped Reforming”. Instead they went back words into more and more apostasy.
I think there are many who haven’t bowed the knee to Baal. Things are going to get a lot worse when persecution comes. We are told the condition of the church in the book of Revelation. This is the Lukewarm condition we are warned about. I look at myself and see need for deep change. I pray my eyes will stay upon Jesus and I will be faithful to Him until the end. We are getting alert signs from every direction. Time to be serious about our faith like never before.
Praise God sister, I agree.
This is not surprising to me. But it IS saddening and angering. We gotta pray for them. Why does a guy like the professor continue to be so destructive to the true SDA message? Because the leaders are corrupt. We can call them cowards but that’s still corruption. If you are so cowardly that you, as a leader especially, will not stand for God then you are corrupted. Many will be lost for following the leaders. God help us. 🙏
So so sad!
Hang on! Jesus is Coming!
I would like to give everyone a word of encouragement, while not in any way agreeing with the false teachings that have been expressed. There are SDAs who have not yielded the message, while of course, we all still need to more fully sanctified by the truths of Christ and His character. Of course these four points are all incorrect, and very troubling. The Great Controversy is not out of date, as the last chapters take us down to the end of time.
EGW is a classical AND apocalyptic prophet, while not a canonical prophet. The Mark of the Beast is a future event, and internally, involved forming the character of Satan as opposed to the Seal of God and thus His character, and is externally demonstrated by lawlessness, and specifically, due to Satan’s goals to replace the creator, the Fourth Commandment. Regarding the Sunday Law, Laudato Si specifically discusses Sunday worship as a part of “climate change.” We all need a full conversion and total surrender to Christ, and to daily be seeking the Holy Spirit. EGW said that her writings would extend to the end of time. I have been an SDA and a pastor for over 30 years, and this is one of the most troubling presentations I have heard. Why? First, I took Paulien’s class on Revelation, many years ago. Secondly, I love this message, understand it in its broad, universal application and importance to the entire universe, and understand that the issue ultimately is not sabbath-sunday, while that is the test. The issue is our love and loyalty to God, to His Word, His Law, His Character, and His goal, which is to bring the universe back into harmony with Him. The universe was designed based on His character, of which His law is a reflection. You cannot change His law, for to do so would be to fracture the very existence of the universe. “To stand for the truth though there are few with us.” Please remember those words Those who do not believe that Jesus came in the “flesh” (sarx-nature of man after the fall) are said to be of the spirit of antichrist. I fully intend to write the GC, the seminary, the CA conference, and whomever else I need to write to. God bless.
The remnant, as I understand it is not a particular “church” but a group of people who remain faithful. We cannot assume that because we are part of the Seventh day Adventist church that we are the remnant.
The remnant are those that keep the commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy. Revelation 19:10
Exactly
As always, there is a lot of truth in this presentation but mingled with very crafty error that is dangerous! The logical conclusion of this is, if applied to all of EGW’s writings, is to make the SOP of none effect!
When I was in school if any part of a True/False question was not true then the whole thing was false. Anything false cancels out all truth.
The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18) 2Sm 78.0
I keep telling my friends to FOJ: FOCUS ON JESUS. He only can see is through till the end. Mrs White makes numerous statements about those giving up her writings. It is the first step on apostasy.
My friends, pray, pray and pray more. Jesus is almost here.
Wow! – this just proves what Mrs. White wrote – satan will attack from within and at the top of the ladder. Jesus said, “do not be deceived” – I hope we are not taken in by this man’s false ideas. Fellow believers – keep your heart and hand with the Holy Trinity and you will stand on higher ground.
Amen sister Rose…I agree except I would say that the Father and the Son are alone to be exalted. We praise the Lord that he has sent his personal presence, his spirit, to reside in us. Stay the course as sister Rose has said, and yes..stand on higher ground.
https://atoday.org/pivoting-toward-our-conspiracies/
This apostasy is all over our church. Just another sign that we’re soon going Home being fulfilled. Look up!!
May the Lord God alone be our guide in these last days. Amen
If we have eyes like the eyes of Eagle, we will see that 1Timothy 4:1-2 and 2theselonian 2:3 is fulfilling. The falling away and the departing from the faith will preceed the coming of the Antichrist. We are in that time.
The Antichrist is coming with the Sunday law very soon. I have seen the current pandemic and the COVID-19 VACCINE in Bible prophecy. I have seen that this must happen before the mark of the beast is passed.
Stay connected to God
Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
I really see a lot of closed-minded opinions here. I think Dr. Jon Paulien has some very valid points. Times and meaning change and I believe if Ms. White were alive today her writing would sound much different. Just like the Jews who thought they knew how the Savior would come we have to be careful that we think we know exactly how the end times will happen.
You have the truth in your hands John you are responsible for what you believe or not believe the same with us all.
amen sister! Lucifer had many “valid” points too…that is how he managed to DECEIVE a third of the angelic host. If times and meanings change then by all means look at the Bible through the same lenses; how many more years is it out of touch with our times and meanings? The definition of ‘love’ has changed but that does not negate what the Bible says about lgbtqia. Or should we now embrace it because we live in a different time with different meanings? What will be has already been and what has been will be… To the law and to the testimony (SOP) if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is NO light in them… a little poison mixed into wholesome food does not change the nature of the poison…it just makes it more likely to be received unawares.
I am deeply distressed for our church. The book Great Controversy brought me out of the world and into this beloved church. That it should be denigrated along witg the prophet and the Bible beggars belief!
Every Wind of doctrine is blowing and has been blowing in our midst for a long time. To be coming from our leadership at the highest level is the most daunting. I take courage that Christ is in charge not the leadership. He will attend to them and I pray for their salvation and I ask for prayer for those in our church who are taken in by these men in authority when they have the truth in their own hands.
It really pains my heart. All I can say is Lord have Mercy!. All I am thinking about are those people who rely on scholars and will be led astray. We need to earnestly Pray for our leaders. They are making it so hard for us to witness. Clearly they come in the name of Rome. Smh. Please join us on Sunset Sabbath to sunset Sunday evening on Save to Serve (Prophesy Again Tv) for Prayer and Fasting. We need to pray now more than ever. Dr. Jon Paulien has been disconnected from God.
The hireling flees when he sees the wolves approaching…The evil servants/scholars will say, my lord delays his coming; and shall begin to smite their fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken Matthew 24:48-49 These are the some of the servants whom the lord has left to rule or take care of his household/ his church. These evil servants/scholars are the ones left in charge of the household/ the church. Jesus did not chose the spiritual leaders or scholars of his day nor will he use the present scholars in the end time for the lord will take the faithful man from the plow and other lines of work to preach the 3 angels messages to the world just as he took fishermen and tax collectors in his day.
We need to pray for our true leaders, men who are not afraid to call sin by its right name,,, those who sit along side us in the pew, sighing and crying for all the abominations done in Jerusalem/the church; they will receive the seal of God and be spared the judgment against those who say they are ancient men/scholars. The judgment begins at his sanctuary/the place where the people were taught the will of God. Ezekiel 9.
God did not spare Battlecreek. It all burned to the ground. Our apostate institutions will be taken away and the false shepherds will flee then God will raise up the remnant who will be faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion who will give the trumpet a true sound. The people will be warned and then the work will be finished.
Pray for those in the pews who are faithful.
As for the evil servants/leaders/shepherds/scholars that lead the people astray, let the Bible give us the instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17) “Therefore pray not for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear THEE. Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?”….Jeremiah 7:16 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them for I will not hear THEM in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble”….Jeremiah 11:14 “Then the Lord said unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.” Jeremiah 14:11
Lord help us to be found faithful!
Brothers and Sisters , The Shaking is upon us . Question , will our Anchor Hold ? Whatever separates us from Union In The Lord and His Word is our Idol. read Isa 30:22
praise the lord! finally some well known adventist leader is realizing that the bible shoud be studied just by its own.
not under the light of any writer.
please, i know that is hard to listen to different opinions, but at least try to verify if what Dr. Paulien says is correct. be the folk of the book as we claim to be.
And remember, the church has been wrong occasionally, and even Ellen White had some failed prophecies and bible contradictions, let’s filter everything through the great light, the bible and Jesus.
Si; debemos estudiar la Biblia todo filtrado por Jesús. Amén
Its true, our doctrine must be BASED on the Bible. So why are we bringing in Catholic doctrine?
The early apostles did not believe in the Trinity. Neither did the early Pioneers. Why are we making God Almigty a third of the one God in three.
The first commandment says not to have “Any other Gods before ME.”
Jesus came forth from God and thus is divine. He is God’s Son. The Biblical Research Institute states that the THREE were “Role Playing”
WE are to worship the Father and pray in Jesus’ name. Jesus told his disciples that He and the Father would come and abide with them. Their Spirit. Their Holy Spirit abides in us. We abide in Christ out King and deliverer, as He abides in His Father. He often told His disciples He wanted them to be one in the Spirit.
All Jesus has was given to Him from the Father. NOW He gives it to us. The full measure of His presence and power if we are open to receive Him.
Shame on you Ramiro Cano ! You should be dismissed permanently.!
What a message, WORTHY of the JESUIT NUMBER ONE of Loma Linda university
Writing with no sense of defending the prophet or any scholar I believe no matter how much trials can be made to interpret the bible which is so clear as sky everything shall come to pass.
even if our generation attempt dilution of the bible prophecy into so called dilemmas or failure prophecy or outdated inorder to establish apostasy foundation that seeks overthrowing the divine power,”remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set .(Proverbs 22:28)”
Solo debemos confiar y seguir a Jesus ; porque el es el camino la verdad y la vida.
Amén. Seguimos a Cristo, que es el único que nos sostendrá, y no a este asalariado.
Wow, so if we follow his line of thinking why be a Seventh- day Adventist at all? That is the logical end of his reasoning. We have friends who have left the Adventist church after embracing this heresy. They went from all days are holy, to Jesus is our sabbath rest so we don’t need to keep it, to no day is holy, to now they barely believe at all. They embraced the teachings of Dale Ratzlaff being disseminated. Some left to go to the Catholic Church for awhile. If leadership were more bold in calling out the wolves many more can be spared. Every time I read of more and more alliances with Rome I wait for someone in leadership to sound the alarm, someone do something about the steps being taken. How can one not see the playbook in motion now- the papacy is leading the way with the US administration, world economic forum, environmental lobby and lgbtq proponents all pushing forward the aligned agenda of this current pope leading to the great reset – all described in the Great Controversy. Heaven help us, our hearts will be broken for those who fall away in this deception . The explanation is spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Thank you Advent Messenger whoever you are- may God continue to bless you and widen your work.
THE WINE OF BABYLON BEING SERVED! WHAT A PITY FOR THE THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN MAN.
PROFESSOR IN THE WINE OF BABYLON INDEED!
GOD SHOULD HAVE MERCY FOR HIS CHURCH.
Very true. The Bible, including EGW and our Church Manual states the process for removing false teachers and members who do not believe in the remnant message of Jesus through his word and his prophets.
Praying for the soon coming of the Lord our God.
“Whosoever sins ye remit,” said Christ, “they are remitted;…and whosoever sins retain, they are retained.” Christ hear gives no liberty for any man to pass judgement upon others. In the Sermon on the Mount He forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But on the church in it’s organized capacity He places a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to testy. “Reprove, rebuke, exhort,” the Lord says “with all long suffering and doctrine,” 2 Tim. 5:2. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by it’s right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God “ Gal. 5:21.
This from the Desire of Ages pg 471 in my devotional for today is timely. Someone needs to set these leaders straight. Exhorting them in love and truth. For they will be judged for leading His flock astray.
Sorry typo…and if possible to restore.
The current misperceptions of the spirit of prophecy books and the person of sister White by the Loma Linda professor calls for caution. His position has made of no effect the core adventist belief of being the remnant church with a unique message and a unique messenger. Loma Linda and other adventist institutions established for the purpose of promoting the undiluted word of God are almost becoming a den of evil imagination and satanic conspiracy against the true message of the SDA church as represented by the church policies, Ellen White writings and above all the bible. I am so disappointed with the loma Linda’s acclaimed professor presentations. I think it is time for us to tell all those who thinks the pioneering beliefs of the SDA church is too conservative to please leave our church instead of bringing Babylonian teachings(unbiblical believes and teachings ) into the church. The call now should be Babylon leave our SDA church.
Very apt Fred! Blessings.
Perhaps in the words of Festus in the book of Acts, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad…” in this case Jon.
Why are most of our learned men going the way of political correctness and like Angie said, social acceptance?
The Bible is its own interpreter and its made so simple that everyone can understand it by the Spirit of God. Pauline, fortunately does not speak for the Church but his personal opinions have a lot of influence and something must be done to stop his position from having his desired effects.
Let’s not forget Sis White’s statement concerning these spurious statements as she wrote below –
Attempts to Make “Testimony of Jesus” of “None Effect”
Because of the nature of the great controversy, Satan hates the truth about God and how He plans to rescue men and women from Planet Earth. Consequently, he will do all his brilliant mind can devise to make “the testimony of Jesus Christ” of no effect. That should be expected. {MOL 535.1}
Ellen White knew from experience and from divine instruction how Satan’s tactics affected her ministry, and how he would operate in the future. In 1890 she wrote two letters: {MOL 535.2}
“Satan is … constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.” {MOL 535.3}
“There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.” {MOL 535.4}
May God help us be faithful to the end! Amen.
Thanks so much elder Paul for your comments. May God protect his church from wolves in sheep clothing.
Unbelievable! Ellen White said in the Last Day Events these words:
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.—Prophets and Kings, 188 (c. 1914). – {LDE 178.3}
Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan…. – {LDE 179.3}
Ministers and doctors may depart from the faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given His servant declare they will.—Manuscript Releases 7:192 (1906). – {LDE 179.5}
I left the SDA church over 4 years ago after being deceived for over 35 years! EGW does not pass the test of prophet found in Deuteronomy 18 20-22. She said Millers charts were correct, God told her, so who is lying now? The SDA church has only a few truths. Investigative judgement is not real, SDA is not a house, Israel and Judah are. Messiah died on Passover, not on Friday. Messiah sits at right hand of the Father as spoken in Rev 4&5. She said blacks were an almalgamation of man and ape, racist I say! When you use EGW to replace biblical text, it’s called idolatry. Feast days have prophetic meaning, Millineum is spent on earth, Trinity is pagan, Echad in Hebrew, our God is one! Michael is not Christ. Meat eating is not a sin, we are grafted in to the Commonweath of Israel. Messiah wasn’t born Dec 25, the counterfeit Messiah was! How could she Brother Stockman and Finch in heaven, when our Messiah doesn’t even know the time and hour of His coming. The two sticks coming together again. By this video being made is an admission of guilt that SDA church is wrong!
Brian,
It appears you have deceived yourself for 35 years. SDA’s do not teach what you think they teach. I’m amazed you would make the statements you did. After 35 years you should know better. You are mistaken in almost everything you said. Let me give you examples: EGW never said blacks were an amalgamation. She never said meat eating was a sin. Never said the Messiah was born on Dec 25. Stockman and Finch, being in heaven, was in vision future. Never attested to 2520 accuracy. I can understand why some SDA’s are so confused. I’ve ran into some, like you, that have been in the church for many years and are as confused as you are. Study brother so you can make accurate statements.
Bill
AMEN! Brother William Thank you for your post. There are many who repeat what someone else told them she said or did…but they never produce proof because there is none to support their false statements against EGW and what she SUPPOSEDLY said or did.
There are many groups who keep the Shabbat and have more truth than SDA!
He is mental midget. The end time IS exactually the same yesterday today and forever what JESUS SAID . SHAME ON HIM
Alabado sea Dios por esta página, (Advent Messeger) atraves de ella me doy cuenta de cómo avanza la apostasía que predijo E.W. que sucedería dentro de la iglesia adventista. Le animo a seguir adelante con valentía y sin temor porque necesitamos de estas advertencias para continuar con nuestra urgente preparación para la crisis que ya está sobre nosotros y que empeorará con el paso del tiempo.
Gracias. Que el Señor nos conceda la gracia de hablar la verdad con amor. Bendiciones!
Dr Pauline is simply honest! The next thing you can “warn” members about is the free e-book or hard copy, Four Adventist Dilemmas, that are being sent out to all SDA Administrators in all Conferences in North America. Ask for YOUR free copy at radiogoodhope@aol.com. You will be shocked and blessed at the same time!
As a pastor I have known for many years that John was a liberal theologian. Why do you think he is where he is. This is another Desmond Ford senerio in the making. He is not someone I read or have any confidence in as a teacher of the Word or the SOP. When it comes to the SOP the evidence is quite evident, he thinks he knows better than EGW, who was guided by the Holy Spirit. I wonder by what spirit is he being guided as he undermines the SOP.
We all need to remember that the SOP supports what has been prophetically declared in Revelation. Amos 3:7 reminds us that God’s secrets, as declared in Revelation are for God’s end time people who are not blown around with every wind of false doctrine, irrespective of a mans status or degree.
Pastor Justis
Thanks for this testimony Justis. Long ago I became suspicious of Jon Paulien’s credibility when he was endorsing the saddistic work of Samir Salvinovic in New York City who was advocating that we cannot as Adventists have a complete spirituality without consulting the views of so many other faith communities including witch covens. Shocking!
So I ruled Paulien out as anyone I would ever trust as a Biblical teacher. And further…who gives him the right to decide who is a “classical” prophet and an “apocalyptic” prophet and that EGW was simply a “classical” prophet who wrote for her day only. Get a grip. Has your intellectualism gone to your head, Jon? Have you completely lost your “marbles” as one commenter here suggested? Have you lost all perspective on how divine inspiration works?
To suggest that “The Great Controversy” would be far different had its author wrote it in today’s world is, in my view, completely absurd. What a sad day we will have come to in our denomination if these baleful ideas find any spread in our midst. Many bright lights will go out, EGW warned us. This is just a sample of that and likely more to be exposed. I hope God can reach this man’s heart before he becomes another Canright. Brace yourself and be settled in the Word of God fellow believers. The church is in for a rocky ride if this is the type of goop, so called “intellectuals” are going to be serving up. God help us. What a Pandora’s box this fallacious reasoning will open if it gets afoot. Finally, Ministerial Director of the Central California Conference, Dr. Pierre Steenberg, who introduced Jon Paulien as a speaker at the LLU School of Religion sponsored Symposium on Last Day Events… you might want to take a second look at how you could modify your “over-the-top” introduction of this person in the future.
There is enough confusion without Paulien adding to it. He should know better. I believe he is deliberately trying to shift our beliefs as other liberals are doing. They are either too into themselves or purposely trying to destroy God’s church. Either way, it is to their own destruction. If we change our beliefs as culture changes, the way evangelicals do, there will be no solid platform left to stand on. God’s Word (including both the Bible and SOP) is either true or it’s not. When people start changing the Word they eventually don’t have a belief at all.
Bill
EGW stated that when the testimonies were rejected, books of a new order would be written…we are seeing this more and more…I agree that there are people and LEADERS trying to deliberately shift our beliefs. I visited a SDA church for communion and the “pastor” spoke fondly of the Eucharist this and the Eucharist that…Needless to say, I didn’t participate…. I also know of several other SDA pastors who have done the SAME thing during communion.
This Mr. Paulien reminds me of another “scholar” and his book in which he states in a subsection titled Recipes for Overcoming that he has tried them all, prayer, quoting Scripture, singing hymns, didn’t work… so how did Christ overcome? by these very methods! Who is our example? Christ… I won’t say who he is because I don’t want to give him or his book free advertising. Just because a person is “well known” and has many titles behind his name or written many books doesn’t mean anything.
A lifetime is not sufficient time to read/study with understanding the topics written in the Bible let alone the SOP and pioneers of Adventism. Leave these modern scholars/authors at the ABC and focus on the Bible, the SOP, the pioneer writings, our fundamental beliefs which includes the 3 angels messages, the health message, and the Sanctuary message . These alone are worthy of our precious time.
Paulien has been the pied piper of Spiritual formation since he and Dybdahl were at Walla Walla and they marched this to La Sierra and then on to LLU and shortly thereafter the Biola Spiritual formation Bible was being used at LLU and promoted and now this erroneous nonsense! I’m ashamed of my alma mater for putting this forth and his teaching credentials and SDA ministerial license should be on the line and removed before he does any more damage to God’s cause and His prophet!
My great grandparents and grandparents all close friends of Ellen White would be jumping out of their graves to shut up this falsehood fake news ! May God help us all stand for truth and pray for wisdom and understanding as we continue to fight the good fight…
I’m trying to understand dr. Paulien, because the world truly is very different, and this can confuse many of us. But as someone who is among the leadership of our Church, he should know better. The world has changed, true – but it has not stop changing. In the “Great Controversy”, Ellen White writes that multiple Christians shall believe that the millennial kingdom on Earth has come. While at this moment the threat of Sunday laws has passed, it can return again, when the false “millennium” shall come. Of course this false “millennium” won’t last 1000 years, but I’m talking about a Christian millennialist ideology that at one point might sweep the world, and spearhead the end times. But in order for this movement to arise and sweep the world, the world has to change. It seems that today we live in a world where a global conflict (however it might look like) is imminent, and if it erupts, it will change the world by storm. Moreover, after said conflict, we can have huge revolutions and ideologies that will rival global Christianity (and even persecute it), before Satan sends his spirit to Christians to pour out the false latter rain, to begin the millennial movement, and to show himself to people as the coming Jesus Christ. And since Sunday is associated with Christianity, the main law of this “millennium” should be Sunday sacredness. So maybe Paulien needs to learn the possible other route towards Sunday laws, instead of showing doubt.
This is a clear indication that our church has been taken over by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Tares have overrun our beloved church but the LORD will not keep silent and with the condition of the church deteriorate like. HE will surely rise up and purity the Church. The church may seem like it is about to fall but it will not. The church will continue standing but these peddlers of falsehoods will meet their unexpected end ( Ezekiel 9).
Very sad indeed. I pray that those who are for the truth, and upholding our founding fathers faith, will remain focused and be unshaken by those who want to destroy and compromise the truth. Even Jesus aand the Biblical prophets faced critics who disbelieved their messages so it should not come as a surprise to see history repeating itself. It’s undeniable that Mrs White’s message has been a great blessing to the church.
Men’s heart failing them for fear. Let us keep our eyes to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let us continue to pray for our brothers and sister who are erroneously leading people astray. EGW said that there is to be a great shaking of the church. Jesus said there are my sheep that are not of this fold, when they hear my voice, they will come out of Babylon. Ther will be members leaving the church and they will be replaced by the multitudes coming out of Babylon. Lift up your eyes for our redemption draweth nigh! If my people who are call by my name would humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways. I will hear from heaven and heal their land. Let us continue to trust the Spirit of Prophecy, but most of all the Most High God the Father.
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, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Revelation 14:9, 10.
Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. . . . But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before. . . . {Mar 172.1}
Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power –all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. . . . As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it. {Mar 172.2}
As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. {Mar 172.3}
“Evil angels in the form of believers will work in our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief. Let not even this discourage you, but bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against the powers of satanic agencies. These powers of evil will assemble in our meetings, not to receive a blessing, but to counterwork the influences of the Spirit of God.” —2 Mind, Character, and personality. pgs. 504:3-505:0 Ellen G. White. Spiritual formation creates an Ignatius Loyola army that will do ALL to defend Popery. The True Watchmen on the wall must meet this and the many other apostasies in the GC with the full force and courage of Bible Truth. It is the Church Militant that becomes the Church Triumphant not a compromised and weak GC.
I realize most on this site have their minds made up about Paulien before they even listened to the presentations. I get that. But try, if you haven’t done so, to see all three presentations before making conclusions on what is being said on this third and final part of the series. He is not saying what he is being accused of here on this site or in these comments.
Exactly what does “Dr. Paulien is only affirming what many of our leaders already believe. His statements are a reflection of what Ted Wilson and other church leaders have already embraced” mean?
Ted Wilson is the most conservative president, totally dedicated t both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, that the church has had for a long time.
Conservative in what regard? As in tossing out ministers and leaders who believe in God Almighty and His only begotten Son is that conservative?
If you believe as the early Christians and are too vocal about it… well there are consequences.. I heard him peaking on You Tube at the Battle Creek celebration. It was chilling how he spoke against those who believed in the Father and His only begotten Son. He was dressed as a Pioneer, but he did not speak as one. sounding like one.
If you are studying the subject directly from the Bible it is so clear. Just don’t be too vocal about your Bible study. There are consequences. (As one of the professors in my neck of the woods found out after he lost his job!)
Consider that the Biblical Research Institute, the last word for the Church on SDA doctrine- they have been saying for years that God Almighty is one of the One God. They are openly calling the Godhead, the Trinity now. (I have even heard prayers TO the Trinity God or to the Holy Spirit in two local churches. )
The Early Church and the apostles never taught that Jevovah was 3. Neither did our Pioneers. If we are people of the Book, we build our doctrine directly on the Scriptures. When the Biblical Research Institute tells us that the three God’s were “role playing,” they do away with the relationship of Father and Son. If Jesus is only a ‘Role,” then there is no Father either. (Furthermore, Jesus was only a “Son” because he was born to the Virgin Mary? What!?) Interestingly, the Spirit of God hovered over MARY, was this the Spirit of God or someone OTHER than the Fathe? Can you make any sense of that? So the “Holy Spirit” is now Jesus’ Father?)
Perhaps the most plausible understanding is that God IS Spirit and God is Jesus’ Father.
May it be as Jesus said,: “The Father and I will come and make our abode with you.”
Study to show yourselves approved. Thousands were killed because of this believe and then Europe went into the Dark Ages.
Commandment Keeping Christians [That means not just the 1st, 4th, 6th, etc] will be God’s elect.
Yes persecuasion is coming again for those who keep God’s Commandments. (Not just the Fourth, but the First, Sixth and so on.) Catholics, Protestants and SPIRITism have joined hands across the gulf. It may seem like we are going into the dark ages again… but we will be rescued by the Second Coming of Jesus- our King and our Messiah! Oh, Happy Day!
Quote: “the ‘dilemma’ that Dr. Paulien was inferring was that there was no Sunday law forthcoming.”
Not a genuine remark, and based on something entirely different from what Dr. Paulien said considering this was part 3 of a 3 part series and not taken into context in what he was presenting. Nor was there any consideration to the parameters of his approach where he ws considering the idea of a believer to that of the scholarly approach; based on what one believed as compared to how one could defend that belief exegetically. Paulien, of course, did not say there was no forthcoming Sunday law; hence the reason Andy Roman said Paulien “was inferring there was no Sunday law forthcoming.” I think Paulien is due an apology for a false accusation and un-Christ-like treatment.
Abandonando la fe en los testimonios —Una cosa es cierta: los adventistas del séptimo día que adoptaron su posición bajo la bandera de Satanás, primero abandonarán su fe en las advertencias y reproches contenidos en los testimonios del Espíritu de Dios. {3MS 93.2}
https://egwwritings.org/?ref=es_3MS.93.2¶=202.501
Giving Up Faith in the Testimonies—One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit. {3SM 84.3}
https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_3SM.84.3¶=100.473
As an Adventist Pastor for 30 plus years, I have been leery of Dr. Pauline since I heard a similar presentation by him at a pastors conference which I attended about 13 years ago. About a dozen of us pastors were alarmed by what Pauline presented and we challenged him on e-Mail and he seemingly was silent to answer our concerns. Finally after we kept sending messages of concern he replied by saying that he was busy with other more important issues and that he really had little time for us.
Over the years I have seen Dr. Pauline question the legitimacy of the Three Angels Message and the proper Biblical understanding of our position on these very issues. Dr. Pauline is a shark in the Adventist educational system and should be let go.