By Warren Hick
“Those who have had great light and precious privileges, but have not improved them, will, under one pretext or another, go out from us. Not having received the love of the truth, they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and will depart from the faith” (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 400).
I hear huge alarm bells ringing. How long before God holds the Seventh Day Adventist Church accountable? It is impossible to culturally meet with other churches in this manner without being contaminated. No doubt, the devil is rubbing his hands in satisfaction. I am convinced that Satan has, in many cases, and by this means, turned Adventist eyes away from Christ Jesus, and by so doing, we have lost sight of the apostasy clawing its way into our ranks.
“In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead. The humble, self-sacrificing followers of Jesus will pass on to perfection, leaving behind the indifferent and lovers of the world” (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 608).
Adventists who continue down this pathway to interfaith unity will continue to the point where they will abandon every foundational doctrine that has made us God’s peculiar people. Brothers and sisters, if this trajectory is of concern to us, as it should be, are we making God our first point of call for help, in fasting and prayer? God is the only One who can remedy this cancer of apostasy. And He is the only one who can renew the right spirit within us and create in us clean hearts.
“I have tried in the fear of God to set before His people their danger and their sins, and have endeavored, to the best of my feeble powers, to arouse them. I have stated startling things, which, if they had believed, would have caused them distress and terror, and led them to zeal in repenting of their sins and iniquities. I have stated before them that, from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved—not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God’s own appointed way” (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 445).
Sadly, we should not be surprised at where some of our leaders are heading. Need I remind you that God, through His servant, warns us that some of our leading lights will go out. We need to now be praying and fasting on behalf of our fellow Adventists under such false leadership. None of us can afford to simply take what is told to us without comparing each statement with Scripture. Ellen White talks about unfaithful stewards in our church, leaving Adventism, and becoming our greatest accusers when we are required to stand alone before judges and magistrates in the time of trouble.
“When the day comes when the law of God is made void, and the church is sifted by the fiery trials that are to try all that live upon the earth, a great proportion of those who are supposed to be genuine will give heed to seducing spirits, and will turn traitors and betray sacred trusts. They will prove our very worst persecutors” (Bible Commentaries, Vol. 6, p. 1065).
“What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, ‘Peace, peace;’ and the workers of iniquity are not alarmed” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 78).
Leave the judging of unfaithful church leaders to God. We have neither the experience nor the expertise to judge righteously. God alone is righteous, and He never makes mistakes. Our only course of action is to pray, pray, and pray much more.
“Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 136).
My question is, “Will this be the catalyst causing the shaking within the Seventh Day Adventist Church?” Again, I put the question out there, “Is it time for us to consider the reality that Jesuits have infiltrated the Seventh Day Adventist Church?” The only thought that comes to mind is that God alone knows! How can the Adventist Church remain absolutely true to God when they keep on prostituting themselves to the Papacy? If we play with fire often enough, we become complacent and careless, and the inevitable occurs: we get burnt.
“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness” (Prophets and Kings, p. 188).
It appears to me that Spiritual Israel is following in the footsteps of historical Israel, and she is dabbling in rife apostasy. Never in all of human history have good apples made bad apples good. Always, and I mean always, bad apples make good apples bad. Period. If the Seventh Day Adventist Church, from the top down, does not put an end to this spiritual ecumenical madness, many of our people are going to be lost for eternity.
“Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged” (Testimonies, Vol, 5, p. 80).
I still have the courage to believe the Adventist Church is the apple of God’s eye, and as such, He will lead her to victory. But, what of the collateral damage this daring to play with the enemy, and on enemy territory is going to produce?
“The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ’s ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results with God” (Great Controversy, p. 609).
“Those professed believers who come up to the time of trouble unprepared, will, in their despair, confess their sins before all in words of burning anguish, while the wicked exult over their distress. The case of all such is hopeless” (Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p. 123).
As Seventh-day Adventist people, it behooves us to speak out against apostasy within the church. But, we need to do it in a way that shows we have not allowed the problem to mar the image of Christ in us. Always, with love and kindness, and a very firm “Thus saith the Lord.”
“When existing evils are not met and checked, because men have too little courage to reprove wrong, or because they have too little interest or are too indolent to tax their own powers in putting forth earnest efforts to purify the family or the church of God, they are accountable for the evil which may result in consequence of neglect to do their duty” (Gospel Workers, p. 83).
“The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 212).
Ever praying that God will weed out error, and establish genuine faith in the hearts of His people.
Warren Hick writes from Australia and you can email him at: whi99146@bigpond.net.au
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What is going to happen will happen! When pointed out their wrong they blatantly get in your face and speak these words, “Who are you to judge us in our course of action!” Unfortunately we are not living in times of grace and self-introspection. We are labeled ‘spitzers of hate speech’ and Christen profanity! We are delegated to the sidelines and to watch this complicated drama unfold before our horrified minds of “we knew this was going to happen and yet our hands are powerless to stop the crimson tide of satanic delusion. “Oh Lord we could have done so much more for thy kingdom but now too late…too late!”
I have another one for you which has been leveled at me also: “They [meaning me and you] may know all the doctrines, but have no love.”
It seems EGW was destined to be proved true when she said, “Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight.
They would no doubt counter with “that is a misuse or misquote of the passage. She was talking about spiritualism.” But that is my point. They are engaging in the principles of spiritualism and don’t even know it, when they claim to one of God’s remnant, yet go against the very principles of the Bible that identify the mindset of the remnant (2 Corinthians 6:17.
The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.—Selected Messages 2:380 (1886). { LDE 180.5}
It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon. This half-and-half work is a constant denying of Christ, rather than a confessing of Christ. So many have brought into the church their own unsubdued spirit, unrefined; their spiritual taste is perverted by their own immoral, debasing corruptions, symbolizing the world in spirit, in heart, in purpose, confirming themselves in lustful practices, and are full of deception through and through in their professed Christian life. Living as sinners, claiming to be Christians! Those who claim to be Christians and will confess Christ should come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing, and be separate…. { ChS 41.1}
The church that does not fall is the people who love God and keep His commandments. The SDA denomination will fall.
“The church has always consisted of FAITHFUL SOULS, no corporate 501-c3 organization. The church that does not fall must be only “faithful souls”
From the book “Maranatha”,
“Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths…. The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy.” 44SDA Bible Commentary 7:911.
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The church is not the organization
In Christ’s time it was the Sanhedrin (general conference) that wanted to kill Jesus
Not the church
Because the church cannot crucify it’s own head
The church that time was the body of believers who heard and accepted John the Baptists message and repented of their sins and were looking for the coming of the savior
It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. – ST February 19, 1894
Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few,—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader. – RH January 11, 1887
After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the Word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. – GC88 45.2
The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. The history of Joseph and Daniel is an illustration of what He will do for those who yield themselves to Him and with the whole heart seek to accomplish His purpose. – Ed 57.2
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. – Ed 57.3
But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature—the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man. – Ed 57.4
“Satan’s snares ae verily laid for us as they were laid for the children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan. We are repeating the history of that people” Healthful Living page 280 Section entitled “Lessons from the Experience of the Children of Israel.
“When Christ saw in the Jewish people a nation divorced from god, he saw also a professed Christian church united to the world and the papacy” R&H October 8, 1901 paragraph 15. Also in Kress Collection
“He will take his Holy Spirit from the church and Give it to OTHERS who will appreciate it.” E. G. White, (Review and Herald, Vol. 3,272).
“The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and sadly make of them all a reproach . God is not ‘worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25).” E.G. White, (The Upward Look, 131).
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience. {DA 232.2}
its time now to wake up don’t depend on your pastor but God a lone live by the word of God as written in the bible
forget about your so called pastors.