Adventist Alert Church History Study

General Note: All the Specials and Commentaries are in the last file of the year. There are 4 files for each year: jm=Jan-Mar; aj=Apr-Jun; js-=Jul-Sep; od=Oct-Dec.

In memory of
Elder William Henry Grotheer, Editor

"Watchman,
What of the Night?" ( WWN) is a thought paper that was published monthly continuously from Jan, 1968 to the end of Dec. 2006 . by the Adventist Laymen's Foundation of Mississippi, Inc.(ALF), with William H. Grotheer as the Editor of Research & Publication.

Due to his failing health, Elder Grotheer requested that ALF of Canada continue publishing thoughts through its website www.AdventistAlet.com which now has developed into frequent Blog Thought articles plus all of the Foundation's historical published works written and audio.

As of 2010, with the official closing of the ALF of USA , The Adventist Laymen's Foundation of Canada with its website www.Adventist Alert.com is the only officially operating ALF branch established by Elder Grotheer worldwide.

We are thankful for the historical legacy that is now available through

The Adventist Laymen's Foundation of Canada, POB 8255,
Victoria, BC V8W 3R9 Canada

The Nov. 1977 issue discusses "What is the "Watchman What of the Night?"

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The MISSION of this site -- is to put the articles from the WWN in Essay form to be Browsed and Word Searched by word or subject. It is not our purpose to copy WWN in whole.

Any portion of the thought paper may be reproduced without further permission by adding the credit line - "Reprinted from WWN, Victoria, BC Canada."

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WWN 1975 Oct - Dec

1975 Oct -- JUST SUPPOSE (Times of the Gentiles) -- Just suppose you had been living in the days of Jesus, and were a citizen of Jerusalem. You were well versed in the prophecies of the Old Testament. You were zealous for the religion of your fathers. You firmly believed in the triumph of Judaism over all of her enemies. You looked forward to the day when the mountain of the Lord's house would be established in the tops of the mountains and would be exalted above the hills, and all nations would come and bow down before the God of Israel. 1 But you were aware that there were some very disturbing prophecies which didn't bear out all of these expectations. How would you have related yourself to these prophecies? Let us note these seemingly contradictory prophecies:

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night. …If these ordinances depart from before Me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever. (2)

Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. (3)

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. ...For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.(4)

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil shall come upon us. Therefore will Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.(5)

The people of the prince shall come and destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.(6)

P 2 -- Having been conditioned by the religious hierarchy of Jerusalem to believe, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we"(7) Which set of the preceding predictions would you have believed were to be fulfilled?

Then you were listening one day to Jesus as He was telling the hierarchy whom you reverenced and respected a story about a vineyard. You heard Jesus say to them after He had finished the story - "I say to you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (8) Would you have believed Jesus, or would you have been inclined to think that He was an impostor? Then before you could make a final judgment, you were hearing another story, and the words - "He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city."(9) - startled you, but looking around at the massive, and impressive edifice that was the very temple of God, you reasoned, this Man just can I t be teaching the truth. He must be insane and hallucinating. So you decided then and there -this Man they call Jesus is not the Messiah.

Interestingly, the prophecy of Daniel(6) which foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, also contained the very time prophecy as to when the Messiah was to appear; but blind prejudice and selfish pride withheld from the laity that all-important truth because with that truth was a revelation which struck directly at the establishment and power of the hierarchy. This failure to let the light of truth reach the laity of Jerusalem caused them to unite their voices in the cry - "Crucify Him, Crucify Him."

This "just suppose" situation which I have asked you to visualize was indeed a reality to many in the days of Jesus. We read: The Jews had misinterpreted God's promise of eternal favor to Israel: (Jer. 31:35-37 quoted) The Jews regarded their natural descent from Abraham as giving them a claim to this promise. But they overlooked the conditions which God had specified… To a people in whose hearts His law is written, the favor of God is assured. They are one with Him. But the Jews had separated themselves

P 3 -- from God. Because of their sins they were suffering under His judgments. This was the cause of their bondage to a heathen nation. Their minds were darkened by transgression, and because in times past the Lord had shown them so great favor, they excused their sins. They flattered themselves that they were better than other men, and entitled to His blessings.

These things "are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."(10)

Note carefully - the servant of the Lord quoting I Corinthians 10:11 indicates emphatically that this situation in Jerusalem in the days of Jesus is for us upon whom the ends of the world have come!

We, too, face two sets of statements. Let us line them up:

While there have been fierce contentions in the effort to maintain our distinctive character, yet we have as Bible Christians ever been on gaining ground. (11)

I am instructed to say to Seventh-day Adventists the world over, God has called us as a people to be a peculiar treasure unto Himself. He has appointed that His church on earth shall stand perfectly united in the Spirit and counsel of the Lord of hosts to the end of time. (12)

That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today. (13)

[The word "church" in these last quotes is interpreted by many to mean the corporate, institutionalized church.]

Spiritual death has come upon the people that should be manifesting life and zeal, purity and consecration, by the most earnest devotion to the cause of truth. The facts concerning the real condition of the professed people of God, speak more loudly than their profession, and make it evident that some power has cut the cable that anchored them to the Eternal Rock and that they are drifting away to sea, without chart or compass. (14)

The church is like the unproductive tree which, receiving the dew and rain and the sunshine should have produced an abundance of fruit, but on which the Divine Searcher discovers nothing but leaves. Solemn thought for our churches! Solemn, indeed, for every individual! Marvelous is the patience and forbearance of God; but, "except thou repent;" it will be exhausted; the churches, our institutions, will go on from cold formality to deadness; while they are saying, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." (15)

These two sets of statements, while contradictory in import, do not make Ellen G. White a false prophet; but rather they point up the fact that stated by her in 1883 - "It should be remembered that the promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional."(16) Which then will be fulfilled?

P 4 -- Jesus gave a prophecy which stated that when a certain event should occur, "the times of the Gentiles"' would be fulfilled.(17) To the Seventh-day Adventist church as a corporate body was committed the trust of the unique message of Revelation 14:6-1l which was to go to every nation, tongue, and people. If then the times of the Gentiles are up -the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled in 1967 - then the trust given by God has been withdrawn. It is just that simple, - a faith in the prophetic words of Jesus even as our spiritual fathers manifest a faith in what took place in Heaven in 1844 following the disappointment, though they could not see with the natural eyesight. Another prophecy indicates that God has arisen from the cherub whereupon He was, and has taken things into His own hands, ordering a sealing work to commence in Jerusalem, the church.(18) Again, this "mark of redemption' will not be visible to "human eyes."(19) This fact will not, however, alter the reality of the experience.

These very prophecies which would warn the laity and cause them to follow the leadings of the Lord for this time are discredited by the hierarchy because such prophecies strike directly at the establishment and their power over the laity. We are thus brought directly to the same situation -and decision -that the people of Jerusalem were brought in the days of Jesus as they evaluated the prophecies of the Old Testament in regard to their city and nation. To us the fateful words have been written -Their experience was "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (10)

(1) Micah 4: 1-2 (2) Jeremiah 31:35-36 (3) Joel 3:20 (4) Isaiah 54:7, 9
(5) Micah 3:11-12 (6) Daniel 9:26 (7) Jeremiah 7:4; Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, pp. 397-398:- "The teachers of the Jewish nation professed to educate the youth to understand the purity and excellence of the laws of that kingdom which is to stand forever and ever, but they perverted truth and purity. Though they said of themselves, 'The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we,' yet they crucified the Originator of all the Jewish economy, Him to whom all their ordinances pointed."

p 5 -- (8) Matthew 21:43   (9) Matthew 22:7   (10) Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 106   (11) Ellen G. White, letter 170, 1907
(12) Ellen G. White, letter 54, 1908   (13) Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings. pp. 713-714   (14) Ellen G. White. Review & Herald, July 24, 1886   (15) Ellen G. White, Review & Herald Extra, December 23, 1890
(16) Ellen G. White, Manuscript 4, 1883   (17) Luke 21:24   (18) Ezekiel 9:1-4; Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 267   (19) Ellen G. White, letter 126, 1898. (1975 Oct) --- END --- TOP

1975 Nov -- JUST OFF THE PRESS! -- (Times of the Gentiles) -- The Thought Paper for this month is a reproduction of a section from the first monograph to be produced by the "embryo" Institute of Doctrinal Inquiry. The same paging is retained as will be found in the rnonograph itself. The title of this inquiry is -THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES FULFILLED -A Study in Depth of Luke 21:24.

The footnotes and documentation are complete so that the reader can check and study for himself. Three letters which cannot be obtained except through private reproduction are photocopied and entered as Exhibits A & D. The Froom letter which is a part of Exhibit B is his reply when the misrepresentation as found in Movement of Destiny was exposed in a letter to Elder R. H. Pierson. Pierson himself did not reply, but had his assistant acknowledge a second letter to him.

The 38 page monograph will include all the basic material which was found in the thought papers issued in 1975 on the subject of Luke 21:24. Other material from prior research and publication is also included.

Already an Adventist couple have ordered a copy sent to every family in the Church where they reside. "God's professed people" (3 Testimonies p. 266) need to understand the truth as taught by Jesus in His word, and prophecies. The monograph THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES FULFILLED - A study in Depth of Luke 21:24 is available through Adventist Laymen's Foundation, P.O. Box 69, Ozone AR 72854 with $1 for postage.

Monograph page - 25 -- Another Prediction -- In December of 1892, an article in two parts was published in the Review from the pen of Ellen G. White. The doctrine of the Sabbath was being discussed. In the midst of this discussion, she wrote:

After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices crying, "Lo, here is Christ, Lo he is there. This is the truth; I have a message from God; He has sent me with great light." Then there will be a removal of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith. (1)

If language means anything, "the witness to all nations," must come during the times of the Gentiles or nations. These words indicate that "after" this witness is given, "then" an attempt will be made to remove the landmarks and tear away the pillars of our faith. A frontal attack on the pillars of our faith would be too obvious, but an attempt to remove or alter them under the guise of building up the Movement of 1844 as a coming movement of destiny would be most deceptive.

More documentation of this prediction in it's entirety is needed than can be covered within the scope of this monograph. Bearing upon this prophecy is the thrice repeated axiom of the servant of the Lord. She wrote - "coming events cast their shadows before."(2) How does this interrelate with the prophecy of Jesus in Luke 21:24?

In 1948, the new state of Israel was established. Anyone cognizant of the aspirations of the Jewish people could have known that they never would be content until the area of Old Jerusalem most sacred to them would once again be .
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Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, Dec. 13, 1892; Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 179-180; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 364; Desire of Ages, p. 636.

Monograph page -26 -- under their control. We refused to see the shadows being cast athwart our pathway. We contented ourselves with the fallacious reasoning that since Israel as a nation was no longer the chosen people of God, and had not been so since 34 A. D., nothing that would happen in their history would be of any prophetic significance. By so concluding, we put out our spiritual eyesight, and have thus become blinded to the decision of heaven in regard to the Church as evidenced in the fulfillment of the prophecy of Luke 21:24 in 1967.

A quick resume of our own church history since 1948 is most revealing, and gives force to the prediction which Sister White made in 1892. Prior to 1948, every heresy which sought to disrupt the Church was met head-on, with the basic doctrines of the church such as the Godhead, Incarnation, Final Atonement, and the Sanctuary teaching in tact. The Holy Flesh Movement of Indiana which sought to alter our understanding of sanctification and the incarnation was aborted at the General Conference Session in 1901.(1) The Kellogg apostasy which introduced fanciful ideas in regard to nature and nature's God was declared to be the "alpha of deadly heresies."(2) Other doctrinal innovations introduced by such men as Balanger, Houteff and others were successfully resisted.

Following 1948 the pattern changed, and heresies entered the Church with sanction and approval of the hierarchy - coming events were casting their shadow before. In 1949, the standard evangelistic publication - Bible Readings for the Home Circle - was altered in the area of Christian perfection as it related to the doctrine of the incarnation. The alternation was ever so slight - a

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(1) See The Holy Flesh Movement 1899-1901 by Adventist Laymen's Foundation. This manuscript is available through Adventist Laymen's Foundation, P.O. Box 69, Ozone AR 72854 with $1 for postage.
(2) Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B, No 2, p. 50.

Monograph page -27 -- few words deleted, a note of explanation rewritten mitigating the force of the historical position of the Church. (1)

God did not leave His Church without a witness. In 1950 two missionaries on furlough from Africa presented a document to the General Conference leadership calling attention to the rejection of the 1888 Message by the Church, and where such a rejection was leading. (2) Major areas of doctrine were noted and a warning sounded. This warning appeal was rejected by a committee appointed by the Church to consider the charges made in the manuscript. (3)

In 1955 the fateful 18 conferences with the Evangelical representatives began.(4) The results of this Barnhouse-Martin dialogue with some of the leaders of the Church produced the book - Questions on Doctrine - in 1957. While the "Editorial Committee" declared this book to be "truly representative of the faith and beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,"(5) and while it was published by the Review & Herald Publishing Association, the writers remained anonymous. No official nihil obstat or imprimatur appeared in the book. Altering the teachings of the Church in the areas of the Atonement, Incarnation, and the concept of the Remnant, it was also written that sentences and quotations could be referred to in support of the historical position of the Church. It contained "double talk". But a coming event was casting it's darkening shadow before! .
====================

1. See Movement of Destiny, by L. E. Froom, pp. 427-428 for official version; see An Interpretive History of the Doctrine of the Incarnation as Taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, by Adventist Laymen's Foundation, pp. 64-66, 100, 102 for an analysis and comparison. The new paperback edition still contains the deviation.
2. See 1888 Re-Examined, by R. J. Wieland and D. K. Short.
3. A Warning and It's Reception, pp. 245-255. A collection of documents published by the A. L. Hudson Printing Company, Baker, Oregon.
4. Movement of Destiny, by L. E. Froom, pp. 476-481.
5. Questions on Doctrine, p. 9.

Monograph page -28 -- A voice was again heard in the Church. Elder M. L. Andreasen, dean of modern Adventist theologians, sent forth his Letters to the Churches.(1) His pleas were likewise rejected, and personal action was taken against him by the hierarchy of the Church.

Then came the year, 1967, and the fulfillment of the prophecy of Luke 21:24. According to the prediction of Ellen G. White, a major assault would be made upon the pillars of our faith after this date. In 1971, Dr. Leroy E. Froom published with the approbation of at least 60 of "the ancient men of the house of Israel" his monumental work, Movement of Destiny.(2) This book received the imprimatur of the President of the General Conference, and the Chairman of the Guiding Committee, who was and is the President of the North American Division.(3) This book contains doctrinal alterations of our basic faith in the areas of the Atonement, Incarnation, and actually misrepresents what Waggoner was supposed to have taught at the 1888 Session of the General Conference.(4) Further, this book is historically inaccurate, and thus misleading. This, too, has been documented.(5)

This cap-sheaf of apostasy was not the work of a moment but resulted from long laid plans. Froom himself reveals the background. In his own preface to .
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1. M. L. Andreasen, Letters to the Churches, Series A, Nos. 1-6.
2. See Exhibit B.
3. See Movement of Destiny, p. 13 - Foreword written by Robert H. Pierson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; pp. 15-16 - preface written by Neal C. Wilson, Vice-President, General Conference for the North American Division, Chairman of Guiding Committee for Movement of Destiny.
4. Movement of Destiny, L. E. From, pp. 188-189. For comparison between what Elder E. J. Waggoner actually wrote, and what Froom said he wrote see An Interpretive History of the Doctrine of the Incarnation as Taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, by Adventist Laymen's Foundation, pp. 83-87.
5. R. J. Wieland and D. K. Short, "An Explicit Confession…Due the Church", Nov., 1972.

Monograph page -29 -- the book, Movement of Destiny, he wrote: Back in the spring of 1930, Arthur G. Daniells, for more than twenty years President of our General Conference, told me he believed that, at a later time, I should undertake a thorough survey of the entire plan of redemption - it's principles, provisions, and divine Personalities, as they unfolded to our view as a Movement from 1844 onward, with special emphasis upon the developments of "1888", and it's sequel …

Elder Daniells recognized the serious problems involved, and sensed almost prophetically certain difficulties that would confront. He knew that time would be required for certain theological wounds to heal, and for attitudes to modify on the part of some. Possibly it would be necessary to wait until certain individuals had dropped out of action, before the needed portrayal could wisely be brought forth. He likewise envisioned the vast toil and time involved. He pressed me to lay long-range plans to that end, and never to give up. Such was the solemn charge in 1930. (1)

Compare this admission of the deep-seated plans to rewrite our history with this divine insight as portrayed by the divine servant of the Lord: The patience of God has an object, but you are defeating it. He is allowing a state of things to come that you would fain see counteracted by and by, but it will be too late. …Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard-bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry, Peace, peace, when the Lord has not spoken peace. …It may be that ere long all prophesyings among us will be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb their carnal slumbers.

When God shall work His strange work on the earth, when holy hands bear the ark no longer, woe will be upon the people. Oh, that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! Oh, that our people may, as did Ninevah, repent with all their might and believe with all their heart, that God may turn away His fierce anger from them!(2)
=========================================

1. L. E. Froom, Movement of Destiny, pp. 17-18.
2. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, pp. 77-78.

Monograph page -30 -- The most revealing factor in this whole picture is the way the sequence fits into what has now become fulfilled prophecy. Conceived in 1930, the apostasy did not begin to surface until the year following 1948 when the founding of the new State of Israel was a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Luke 21:24. It reached its climax after 1967 as indicated would be the case by the servant of the Lord in 1892. Truly as Jesus said - "I have told you before, that, when it come to pass, ye might believe." (John 14:29).

NOTES & COMMENTS -- Number One News in Mississippi --The first item of the Telex Notes for the Alabama-Mississippi Conference in August issue of Southern Tidings, official organ of the Southern Union read: Pastor Tony Russo of the Vicksburg and Greenville, Mississippi churches has been ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 43-MEMBER OF THE WARREN COUNTY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION. He will serve as president from August, 1975, to June, 1976. [p. 18, emphasis theirs.]

A spot check with a local Vicksburg minister verified that the Catholic priests of the County are members of the Association. Do we no longer know what constitutes "Babylon" in Bible prophecy? Amos well asked - "Can two walk together less they be agreed?" Amos 3:3. Interestingly the Adventist pastor is not yet ordained. Will this be his credentials for ordination as was similarly reported from Arizona? If so, he should be ordained at the next camp meeting or sooner if his work with the Ministerial Association demands such recognition. The Bible pre-requisite for ordination is given by Paul - "Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."2 Timothy 4:5. BUT - how can one on "chummy" terms with the priests and the prophets of Baal hold full-message evangelistic meetings in his community?

Bauer Tape -- The title for this month is - "Break Every Yoke". See .

A New Re-Printing -- THE CONSECRATED WAY by A. T. Jones. See Order Form. (1975 Nov) --- End --- TOP

1975 Dec -- THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD -- (The Times of the Gentiles) -- "The sovereignty of God involves fullness of blessing to all created beings."(1) As the Sovereign of the Universe, He is "working salvation in the midst of the earth."(2) In His hands are "the times" and "the seasons.".(3) He reveals that which is necessary to take place in an ever quickening pace.(4) Man's relationship to this Divine Sovereignty is elemental to his redemption. The enemy of God has suggested that because the father and mother of our race yielded to the invitation offered in Eden, that mankind has "chosen him as their sovereign."(5) To question the sovereignty of God has "become the purpose of the prince of angels."(6) Thus every human being must choose to whom he will yield full and complete allegiance. This is more than verbal; it is reflected in life's decisions that result in action.

To Nebuchadnezzar was revealed the history of the world from his day till the stone kingdom which was to stand forever would fill the whole earth. In this divine order of events, Nebuchadnezzar's place was simply "the head of gold."(7) But this did not harmonize with his personal ambitions, so he erected an image all of gold.(8) Still not having learned the lesson of God's sovereignty, he boasted - "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built."(9) The divine decree went forth taking from him his kingdom, and his rationality "until [he should] know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will."(10) After seven years, upon the return of his understanding, he confessed the confession of life: I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from

P 2 -- generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?(11)

In this same book of prophecy, sealed -set apart - for the time of the end, we find a lesson in the life of Daniel which speaks to the very present issues confronting us today. To Daniel was revealed the course of human history. In the first year of Belshazzar, Daniel had depicted for him in beastly symbols the succession of empires from Babylon's day till the Son of man should receive His kingdom.(12) In the third year of the same king's reign, Daniel was no longer at Babylon but "at Shushan in the palace, which was in the province of Elam." To him again was revealed the course of empires, but Babylon was not included. The inference was very clear - its days were numbered!(13)

Soon the Medo-Persian armies began pushing southward and westward. Daniel could have given himself over to the Persian forces, and asked for political asylum. He thus could have remained at the palace that was to become the royal capital of the Persians.(14) Was not one of the coming personalities among the Persians - Cyrus ? But Daniel did not do so. Even though no longer in the government, nor under obligation to the head of State, he retreated with the Babylonian forces, and returned to Babylon. God had not yet spoken. Circumstances indicated a change was imminent, but until God should speak, Daniel maintained a loyalty in harmony with God's original guidance in his life.

In the final days of the tottering Babylonian Empire, Belshazzar made a feast and drank wine to the gods of gold, silver, and brass. Suddenly God speaks forth - a Hand writes - "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. Terror seizes the drunken king and his guests. When Daniel is brought to interpret -he reads the Hand of God as the Sovereign of the Universe. The hour had now come -the kingdom of Babylon had been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and had been found wanting.(15) Daniel could now

P 3 -- move freely, for God had moved. Though clothed in the garb of the third ruler of the kingdom the night of the Medo-Persia take-over, within days, he was appointed one of the three presidents of the realm of the new kingdom, and the king sought to make him the first.(16)

Here was a man greatly beloved of Heaven, whose life moved with the unfolding of the Scroll of Prophecy. Until God - the Divine Sovereign -indicated a change, Daniel was content to wait, but once the indication was given, he moved forth fearlessly. God could use him. .He continued until the third year of Cyrus, and saw the decree issued which fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning "the desolations of Jerusalem."(17) In this action, Daniel played a part in the Divine purpose because his life was governed by the sovereignty of God, "who doeth His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, "What doest Thou?"

We today would not find ourselves in such doubt and perplexity if we too, would simply recognize the Sovereignty of God. Through the servant of the Lord, God has plainly spoken: In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence, "Found wanting." By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.(18)

This is not a conditional prophecy, the Church is to be weighed. The conditional aspect is the decision to be rendered. God does not make an arbitrary judgment. We make the decision by our actions prior to the judgment.

When the Ancient of Days began the Investigative Judgment He set up a corresponding Movement on earth to work in harmony with His purposes and objectives. This Movement was entrusted to the Church. "In a special sense Seventh-day Adven-

P 4 -- tists have been set in the world as watchmen and lightbearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning message for a perishing world. …The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world."(19) This calling of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as the instrument entrusted with these truths was an act of the Sovereignty of God. And until God moved no man had a right to declare otherwise, or to dispute that Sovereign decision.

To so recognize that Sovereignty of God does not declare that the Church, or its leadership was perfect. In many instances -far from it! Voices of reproof and warning were to be sounded. But who had a right, no matter what the provocation to divorce themselves from the institution ordained by God until such time as God would indicate that the Church had been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and what the verdict of this investigation was? In our finite judgment, we might conclude the answer long before the heart of Infinite Love would so declare. God bore "long with the sins and transgressions of His people in this generation."(20)

However, prophecy does picture a time when God arises from the "cherub, whereupon He was", and calls for the sealing of His people to begin -those who had been sighing and crying for the abominations that were being committed in the Church.(21) This is described as "the last work," "the closing work for the church."(22) And lest there be any mistake, when this work began, God permitted a sign to be fulfilled that declared clearly the verdict of the Judgment in regard to the Church. The times of the Gentiles -the nations of earth to whom the Church was to give its entrusted message -was fulfilled. Thus "the closing work of the church"(23) had ended. That sign of Luke 21:24 came to pass in 1967. As clearly as the letters were penned on the wall of Belshazzar's palace, so clearly did God let history speak to this generation, -and to the Church!

We who are now living this side of 1967 can be just as guilty of disputing the sovereignty of God in relationship to the Church, as have those who prior to

P 5 -- 1967 anticipating the decision of a sovereign God, and went about establishing their own earthly spiritual kingdom. Lest this conclusion be interpreted as a call to establish now an earthly "city" this side of 1967, keep in mind Paul states that "here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come."(24)

When God arose from the cherub, whereupon He was, He took things into His own hands. It is He who ordered the sealing of the sighing ones of "Jerusalem." It was He who ordered the name "New Jerusalem" placed upon their foreheads, denoting their new citizenship.(25) Our present ties, connections, and support tell where our allegiance is, and whether indeed we have noted the sovereign will of God as it has spoken to us in history. Have we joined in the "closing work for the church" or are we still supporting the work which God has removed from the Church, considering this still to be the work of God?

May we have the same divine insight that Daniel had, and move as the Hand writes His purposes in history -in the unfolding of the times and seasons which He "has put in His own power."(3)

(1)   Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 33
(2)   Psalm 74:12
(3)   Acts 1:7
(4)   Revelation 1:1 Greek
(5)   Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 114
(6)   Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36
(7)   Daniel 2:38
(8)   Daniel 3:1
(9)   Daniel 4:30
(10) Daniel 4:25
(11) Daniel 4:34-35
(12) Daniel 7:1-28
(13) Daniel 8:1-4, 20
(14) Esther 1:2
(15) Daniel 5:25-28
(16) Daniel 6:2-3
(17) Daniel 9:2; 10: 1
(18) Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 247
(19) Ibid., Vol. 9, p.19
(20) Ellen G. White, Letter 106, 1897 (Faith I Live By, p. 288)
(21) Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, pp. 266-267
(22) Ibid. p. 266
(23) Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy. Vol. IV, pp. 271-272
(24) Hebrews 13:14
(25) Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 15. (1975 Dec) --- END --- TOP

1975 Nov -- Special Report -- FOR YOUR INFORMATION -- The Pacific Press Publishing Association is presently involved in three legal suits: -I) Merikay vs. PPPA; 2) EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunities Commission] vs. PPPA; and 3) Department of Labor vs. PPPA. The almost unbelievable implications of these suits stem from the legal briefs filed on behalf of the Press, and the officers of the Church. A report of this litigation states: The Press' briefs said that from a legal standpoint, there are only two forms of church government: congregational and representative, or hierarchical. Since the Adventist church was assuredly not congregational (that is, with complete autonomy in every local congregation), it was clearly of the "representative or hierarchical variety.'! The church was described as having II orders of ministry," with different levels of authority, and a first minister at the top. In his affidavit, Elder Pierson referred to himself as the "first minister" of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mrs. Silver's lawyer charged that this represented a major change from the traditional Adventist view, and that church leaders were taking on themselves powers which they did not possess. She argued that these legal briefs promoted ideas contrary to official positions stated in the Church Manual.

But in a reply brief, the Press further defended this view stating that "although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint, and the term 'hierarchy' was used in a pejorative [disparaging] sense to refer to the papal form of church governance [government], that attitude was nothing more than a manifestation of wide-spread anti-popery among conservative Protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned." (Spectrum, Vol. 7, #2, 1975, pp. 49-50)

In the Chapter entitled, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" found in Testimonies to Ministers, pp.359-364, the servant of the Lord charged -"The

P 2 -- General Conference is itself becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and principles," (p. 359) and then she noted what some of these principles were: When men who profess to serve God ignore His parental character and depart from honor and righteousness in dealing with their fellow men, Satan exults, for he has inspired them with his attributes. They are following in the track of Romanism. Those who are enjoined to represent the attributes of the Lord's character, step from the Bible platform, and in their own human judgment devise rules and resolutions to force the will of other . . .

The righteousness of Christ by faith has been ignored by some; for it is contrary to their spirit, and their whole life experience. Rule, rule, has been their course of action. Satan has had an opportunity of representing himself. When one who professes to be a representative of Christ engages in sharp dealing, and in pressing men into hard places, those who are thus oppressed will either break every fetter of restraint, or they will be led to regard God as a hard master. (pp. 362-363, 1962 ed.)

The issue of Righteousness by Faith is not a matter of past history; It is present at this very time -1975. The leadership of the Church rejected it at and following the General Conference Session of 1888. The leadership of the Church by their acts are again rejecting it today. It is more than a doctrine; it is a way of life! The righteousness of Christ "is pure, unadulterated truth" (TM, 65) lived out in the life, the Word made flesh. What says that Word?

Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. (Matt. 20:25-26)

All ye are brethren. (Matt. 23:8)

Is it not time that we come to understand the words of Paul in Hebrews 13:12-14: Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. -- (1975 Nov Special Report -- FOR YOUR INFORMATION) --- END --- TOP 2002