Truth-filled Literature Containing the Three Angels’ Messages is Being Blamed on Extreme Religious Fanatics with no Connection to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Italy

LegnanoNews, a Northern Italian news outlet that serves Legano and Milan, published an article titled “Anonymous Manifestos of Religious Fanaticism Invade the Oltresempione in Legnano” on August 21, 2022. Images of the pamphlets distributed and placed in mailboxes at numerous condominiums in Legano, Italy, were included in the story.

The literature included Bible verses demonstrating how God’s word requires the Sabbath to be observed on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. It also displayed scriptures from Revelation 13, 17, and 18 warning against Babylon, the beast, Rome, the mark of the beast, and Sunday laws. It also referenced the book The Great Controversy, written by Ellen G. White.

However, the local press interpreted this as an attack on the Roman Catholic Church and those who observe Sunday as the Lord’s Day. The ones responsible for this work were described by the LeganoNews as “extremist, fanatical Adventists, not Italians, from some Milanese (Milan) community, or reformist Adventists,” and as having “no connection with the local community of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.” [1]

The LegnanoNews described the truth-filled literature that had been distributed as having “rather unusual content” that was “meaningless and raving.” They reported that the “anonymous” flyers were “not signed” and that it was “not clear” who the author was, with the only reference being Ellen G. White’s book “The Great Controversy.” [1] Even though the LegnanoNews says that this material “leads precisely to the Seventh-day Adventist community,” it was quick to disavow that this kind of work came from the official Seventh-day Adventist Church because this “manifestation” was “too different” from the “relationship of mutual esteem and collaboration with the Catholic Church.” [1]

As a result, both the secular and religious worlds regards this non-apologetic, non-ecumenical, public and open dissemination of the true Three Angels’ Messages, which actually tells people who the beast is and what the mark is, as coming from “extremist, fanatical Adventists” or “reformist  Adventists.” Tragically, this situation was predicted many years ago and has now come to pass:

“Men will employ every means to make less prominent the difference between Seventh-day Adventists and observers of the first day of the week. A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who were advising that the banner, or sign, which makes us a distinct people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed that this was not the best policy in order to secure success to our institutions. But this is not a time to haul down our colors, to be ashamed of our faith. This distinctive banner, described in the words, ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,’ is to be borne through the world to the close of probation. While efforts should be increased to advance in different localities, there must be no cloaking of our faith to secure patronage. Truth must come to souls ready to perish; and if it is in any way hidden, God is dishonored, and the blood of souls will be upon our garments” (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 144).

In Italy, Seventh-day Adventists are deeply embedded in Rome’s ecumenical movement. Adventists in Italy signed the Ecumenical Charter, which calls for the unity of all churches. The following year, they celebrated the anniversary of the Ecumenical Charter signing. Seventh-day Adventists in Italy also support the Pope’s climate change agenda and have embraced his call to celebrate the 2022 Season of Creation ecumenical/climate event. So why would they endorse the message in this flyer that depicts the papacy as the beast of Revelation who has changed God’s law? Why would our people in Italy claim credit for a message that exhorts people to come out of Babylon when they are moving towards a closer relationship and cooperation with Rome?

We don’t know who these faithful Seventh-day Adventists in Italy were, who had the courage to share the real Three Angels’ Messages in their communities, a truth that the ecumenical agents of Rome will never do. Pray for these faithful souls who are being targeted as radicals, extremists, and fanatics for standing up for God’s truth. These faithful souls are only doing what our church is supposed to be doing. We stand in solidarity with them, not with those who, according to the secular press, are united with Rome. We stand with every Seventh-day Adventist who still believes that our message must be “preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

“When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 136).

Sources

[1] https://www.legnanonews.com/aree-geografiche/legnano/2022/08/21/manifestini-anonimi-di-fanatismo-religioso-invadono-loltresempione-a-legnano/1038067/