| (This study was
written by Bro. Don Adair. You can print a copy for yourself and share it with
others if you include this notification in this parenthesis, if you make no changes in
it, if you take no credit for it, if you charge no money for it, and if you include
my name, address, and phone number at the bottom.)
THE SHAKING! WHAT IS IT?
Why does the Spirit of Prophecy say that Seventh-day Adventists are to be shaken? Are we not the last true remnant church? Do we not have the Sabbath and the truth of the Sanctuary? Are we not the people who "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 12:17)--"for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). So why must we be shaken? Because some of us do not believe the "testimony of Jesus." They do not believe that "we must follow the directions given through the Spirit of Prophecy" (G.W. 308), because "the testimonies are unread and unappreciated" (5 Test. 217). What is the testimony of Jesus in the Spirit of Prophecy that some of us do not believe? Just as the antediluvians did not believe Jesus through His servant Noah that a flood of waters would destroy the earth, and just as the Jews did not believe Jesus when He said their temple was to be destroyed, so some of us Seventh-day Adventists do not believe Jesus when He said that we are "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16), and asleep.  Oh yes, some of us generally believe that it is the other
Seventh-day Adventists that are "lukewarm" and not ourselves. As it was hard for
the Jews to admit that they were sinners and needed a Messiah to save them from their
sins, it is just as hard for some Seventh-day Adventists to admit that they are asleep
and need to be awakened and saved from their sins.
"Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}!"--2 Testimonies, pg. 337:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). Now since we are "lukewarm" and asleep so soundly that even our ministers cannot awaken us, because they are also asleep, then the Lord must do something to shake us in order to wake us from our sleepiness, and see that we lukewarm--"neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3:16). SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS---SHAKEN TWO WAYS "Soon the battle will be waged fiercely between those who serve God and those who serve Him not {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}. Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain."--9 Testimonies, pgs. 15, 16 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Ministers and people {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} lack spirituality and true godliness. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. God's people will be brought into most trying positions, and all must be settled, rooted, and grounded in the truth, or their steps will surely slide."--1 Testimonies, pg. 355:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). Contrary to some Seventh-day Adventists who think that they are not asleep, these two kinds of shakings have been sent to arouse us out of our sleepiness, because we need to be awakened. And if we are not shaken, then we will remain "lukewarm" and Jesus will "spue" (spit) us out of His mouth, and we will be lost forever (Rev. 3:16). But if we are honest enough to admit that we are indeed "lukewarm" and asleep, then when the two shakings will come, we will be awakened and saved. Thus, "everything that can be shaken will be shaken (9 Test. 15). And the first shaking (though not as strong as is the second shaking) is the introduction of error by false prophets. INTRODUCTION OF FALSE THEORIES "When the shaking comes {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}, by the introduction of false theories {error}, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness {against the truth}."---Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 112:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "False prophets will arise and will deceive many {by their errors}.
Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. Then does it not become everyone {in
the Seventh-day Adventist church} to understand the reasons of our faith?"--2 Selected
Messages, pg. 392:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "God will arouse His people {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}; if other means fail, heresies {errors} will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep."--5 Testimonies, pg. 707:3; Gospel Workers, pg. 299:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Seventh-day Adventists must "awake out of sleep;" we must be aroused. But other means have failed, so "heresies will come in among them" to shake us. In Gospel Workers, a whole chapter entitled "A WARNING AGAINST FALSE TEACHING" is written to help Seventh-day Adventists beware of false prophets and heresies. This and all the other similar writings of the Spirit of Prophecy have caused Seventh-day Adventists to be on guard for any kind of strange teachings, and especially any new doctrines. But such warnings will not help us recognize the heresies if we do not study and believe the Spirit of Prophecy. In this chapter of warning it says: "We must follow the directions given through the Spirit of Prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions." (G.W. 308). But a "warning" is valueless if we cannot "recognize" the source from which the heresy will come--either from "without" the church or from "within" the church, or both. Most Seventh-day Adventists look for heresy to come from "without" the church (not from the General Conference or ministers, or church officials); but if it did come from "within" the church, most would not be looking for it, and thus they would not recognize it as heresy. FEAR FROM WITHIN "We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the {Seventh-day Adventist} church itself than from the world."--1 Selected Messages, pg. 122:3 (bold emphasis, braces added). TO THE LAW AND TO THE TESTIMONY "All points of doctrine {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}, even though they have been accepted as truth, should be brought to the law {Bible} and to the testimony; if they cannot stand this test, `there is no light in them.'"--5 Testimonies, pg. 575:0 (bold emphasis, braces added). If the doctrines taught in the Seventh-day Adventist church were all truth, then there would be no need to "test" them; and the above statement should not have been written. But since it was written, then it is implying, if not outright saying, that not all doctrines taught in the Seventh-day Adventist church are true! This means that whatever doctrines the church teaches from the Bible, which is verified by the "Testimony" (writings of Sis. White), we must accept as truth; but all the other doctrines have "no light in them." Therefore, no Seventh-day Adventist should take it for granted that these false doctrines is the truth! TAKEN FOR GRANTED AS TRUTH "Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus, because it contradicts something {a false doctrine} which they have taken for granted as truth but which the Holy Spirit teaches is not truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 70:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). Truely, the above statement clarifies this point irrefutably: Seventh-day Adventists cannot take it "for granted" that everything they are taught from the pulpit or in their publications is all truth! They must first "test" it according to the law and to the testimony before they accept it as truth! HELLISH TORCH OF SATAN "Many {Seventh-day Adventist ministers} will stand in our pulpits
with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch
of Satan."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 409, 410 (bold emphasis,
braces added). IN IS "OUT" AND OUT IS "IN" Most Seventh-day Adventists think that to be shaken "out"
can only mean that they will leave the church because they have been "shaken out
of the church" as a member or believer. But this is an erroneous
conclusion, which is well proven by the Testimonies of the Spirit of prophecy and also the
Bible in three examples. EXAMPLE 1--DISBELIEVE THE TESTIMONIES "The class of professed Sabbath keepers {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} who try to form a union between Christ and Belial, who take hold of the truth with one hand and of the world with the other, have surrounded their children and clouded the church with an atmosphere entirely foreign to religion and the Spirit of Christ. They dared not openly oppose the claims of truth. They dared not take a bold stand and say they did not believe the testimonies; but while nominally believing both, they have obeyed neither. By their course of action they have denied both....This class are all professed {Seventh-day Adventist} Christians. Their names are on the church books."--5 Testimonies, pg. 52:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). There are many Seventh-day Adventists who do not openly deny the doctrines of the church, nor do they openly express their disbelief of the Testimonies; yet, they go to church and Sabbath-school professing to be a true believer, while they hold on to the world with one hand. They walk among God's people, they have their names on the church books, and are considered to be "in" and not "out" of the church. Yet, they have been shaken "out" of the truth because they do not believe in the testimonies. True, some who are shaken "out" do leave the church, but the great majority of them stay "in" the church while they are "out" of the truth, and "knowest not" (Rev. 3:17) this fact, because they are asleep! EXAMPLE 2--EATING THE FLESH OF ANIMALS "There are those {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} who ought to be awake to the danger of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of {dead} animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will {be shaken and} go {out} from God's people to walk no more with them."--Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 382 (bold emphasis, braces added). These Seventh-day Adventists are violating health reform and eating the forbidden flesh of dead animals; they are "half converted," and will "go from God's people to walk no more with them," because they have been shaken "out." True, some of them do leave the church, but the great majority of Seventh-day Adventists who eat flesh are still "in" the church. They have their names on the church books, and walk among God's people while professing to be "in" not "out" of the church; yet, they have been shaken "out" of the truth (vegetarianism), and they "walk no more with them" in spirit. Such dead-flesh-eaters have been shaken "out" of the truth by the "introduction of false theories" (T.M. 112), "which they have taken for granted as truth" (T.M. 70), when they are taught by ministers in Seventh-day Adventist pulpits with "the hellish torch of Satan" in their hands (T.M. 409,410), who say that it is alright to eat clean meats. And yet, while these ministers claim to be servants of God, they teach contrary to the Spirit of prophecy (the testimony of Jesus) which condemns the eating of any flesh whatsoever--clean or unclean! It is these kind of hypocrites (ministers and laity alike) who are "in" the church--walking among the saints, while they have been shaken "out" of the truth. EXAMPLE 3--FEAR OF BEING CAST OUT In the days of Jesus "the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." (Jn. 9:22). Since Jesus was the Christ, then He was the first one cast out of the synagogue (church), which included anyone else who believed He was the Christ. Now since Jesus said "I am the...truth" (Jn. 14:6), then when He and the Christians were put "out" of the Jewish church, they were still "in" the truth. But why were these Jewish laymembers so afraid of being cast out of the synagogue (church) by their priests? Because the priests scared them by saying that if they were loosed on earth (cast out of the church), they would be loosed in Heaven and lost forever. This is true if a Jew or Christian was cast out for open sin. But neither Jesus or the Apostles and disciples were cast out for open sin, but because they accepted truth. So they were not really loosed on earth and in Heaven. Instead, it was the Jews who kept their names on the church books by rejecting truth (Jesus) that were loosed on earth and in Heaven. They were deceived into believing that by having their names on church records they are saved, even while they were "out" of the truth, but were "in" the synagogue. This example shows a Seventh-day Adventist may be cast "out" of the church for accepting truth (as did the Apostles), but are still be "in" the truth. This is what the phrase "in is out and out is in" can mean regarding the truth and the church. These three examples prove, therefore, that it is a false idea that the shaking only means to physically shake Seventh-day Adventists "out" of the church. Primarily it means they will be shaken "out" of the truth, not out of the church, because they may or may not be "in" the church with their names on the church books. It is this false idea that has caused Seventh-day Adventists to think that it doesn't matter whether they eat flesh, or disbelieve the Testimonies. All that counts, they think, is to keep their names on the church books at all costs, even if they must obey their ministers and reject truth, and then they will be saved. But there is no salvation for those who reject truth, and they are not conscious of this startling fact. What a deception that is! But the saints are not deceived. They keep their names on the church books as long as they can hold to all truth. But if their names are taken off church records and they are cast out for accepting truth, they know they are still accepted by God as being "in" the church, just as He accepted Jesus and the apostles when they were cast out! But the first shaking caused by "the introduction of false theories" (errors) (T.M. 112) has not shaken "out" of the truth nearly as many Seventh-day Adventists as has the other second shaking. THE INTRODUCTION OF TRUTH Many Seventh-day Adventists are not aware of this other shaking. They are so afraid of being deceived by the "introduction of false theories," which is to shake the church, that they have entirely overlooked the other shaking--the introduction of truth. They have equipped themselves with an arsenal of doctrinal guns, loaded with bullets of prejudice, suspicions, doubts, unbelief, closed minds, and anything else they can use to defend themselves against their greatest fear--of being deceived. But if they really were the saints, the "elect" as they claim, they would know that its not "possible" to "deceive the very elect" (Mt. 24:24)! Yet, they are so afraid of being deceived that they do not realize that while they are in their "lukewarm" sleeping condition that they are already deceived. What a perfect deception! Fighting so hard to keep from being deceived by the shaking--"introduction of false theories," while they are already deceived and know it not. HONEST IN THEIR DECEPTION "The message to the {Seventh-day Adventist} church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time....The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease {asleep}, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments. `Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. "What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God....It is difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, and who believe themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge to receive the message which declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. The unsanctified heart is `deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.'...The plain message of rebuke to the Laodiceans is not received. Many cling to their doubts and their darling sins while they are in so great a deception as to talk and feel that they are in need of nothing. They think the testimony of the Spirit of God in reproof is uncalled for or that it does not mean them. Such are in the greatest need of the grace of God and spiritual discernment...But the message of the True Witness reveals the fac t that a terrible deception is upon our people, which makes it necessary to come to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and arouse them {by the shaking} to decided action."--3 Tesimonies, pgs. 252-254 (bold emphasis, braces added). Seventh-day Adventists should believe the Spirit of Prophecy which says that they are lukewarm, sleepy, and in a "terrible deception," though they are "honest in that deception" (3 Test. 253). And even if they brace themselves to resist the deceptions of the errors of the "false theories," this will not save them from their own "deception." If they are honest and accept the truth that is to save them from their own "deception," they will not "rise up against it" and "cause a shaking among God's people." THE SHAKING "I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown
that it would be caused by the straight testimony {truth} called forth by
the counsel of the True Witness {Jesus--2 Test. 36:1} to the Laodiceans. This will have
its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and
pour forth {teach} the straight {message of} truth. Some {Seventh-day Adventist}
will not bear this straight testimony {truth}. They will rise up against it,
and this {their opposition} is what will cause a shaking among God's
people."--Early Writings, pg. 270:2 (bold emphasis, braces added) There it is, irrefutable proof that the shaking is caused by false brethren in the Seventh-day Adventist church who rise up against truth! If, however, all Seventh-day Adventists accepted the "straight truth," then there would never be such a shaking. But some Seventh-day Adventists will "rise up" against the introduction of truth, because they are "out" of the truth while they are "in" the church. They are deceived, but they are not "honest in that deception," because they hate truth. There is no hope for this class to ever wake up from their sleepy condition, and see their "lukewarm" deception, and thus be saved. FEARFUL DECEPTION "The spirit of hatred which has existed with some {Seventh-day Adventist} because the wrongs among God's people have been reproved has brought blindness and a fearful deception upon their own souls, making it impossible for them to discriminate between right {truth} and wrong {error}. They have put out their own spiritual eyesight."--3 Testimonies, pg. 266:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). These dishonest Seventh-day Adventists cannot "discriminate between right and wrong"--truth and error, because "they have put out their own spiritual eyesight." They confuse the one shaking (introduction of "false theories"--error) with the other shaking (introduction of the "straight truth"). Thus, while they are in a "fearful deception" they "rise up" against the truth, believing that they are resisting the errors of "false theories." PUT DARKNESS FOR LIGHT
A "woe" is placed upon every one, especially Seventh-day Adventists if they put "evil" and "darkness" (shaking caused by the introduction of error) for "good" and "light' (shaking caused by the introduction of truth), because "a fearful deception" upon them has made it "impossible for them to discriminate between right and wrong" (3 Test. 266). They can't tell the difference between the two shakings. What a terrible blindness deception that is! But the other class of Seventh-day Adventists who are "honest in their deception" (3 Test. 253:0) are only ignorantly fighting the introduction of the "straight truth." They too, confuse the shaking of the "false theories" with the shaking of the "straight truth." They do not really hate truth, but they "rise up against it" (E.W. 270) because they think that every shaking in the church is caused by "false theories," not realizing that the 'straight truth" also will cause a shaking in the church. So, they brace themselves to resist anything and everything that causes a shaking in the church. But there is hope for us if we are of this class of Seventh-day Adventists who are honestly deceived. HONESTLY BELIEVED A LIE "God will not condemn any {Seventh-day Adventist} at the judgment because they honestly believed a lie, or conscientiously cherished error; but it will be because they neglected the opportunities of making themselves acquainted with truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 437:1 (bold emphasis, braces added) We Seventh-day Adventists are not condemned for "honestly" believing a "lie," or for cherishing the "error" that any and all shakings among us must be resisted and fought against. But we are condemned if we refuse to investigate the shaking to see whether or not it is error or truth. The Spirit of Prophecy tells us about a non-Adventist who honestly believed Seventh-day Adventists were teaching error, yet he was not condemned for believing this lie, but because he did not investigate to find out for sure. He only took it for granted that Seventh-day Adventists were teaching error when he did not know. SOME REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE "I have been shown the case of Brother P. He had been standing for some time resisting the truth. His sin was not that he did not receive that which he sincerely believed to be error, but that he did not investigate diligently and gain a knowledge of what he was opposing. He took it for granted {by listening to preachers against the truth} that Sabbath keeping Adventists, as a body, were in error. This view was in harmony with his feelings, and he did not see the necessity of finding out for himself by diligently searching the Scriptures with earnest prayer."--2 Testimonies, pg. 695:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). So it is in our day when the truth comes to the Seventh-day Adventist church. If they "rise up against it" (E.W. 270) and cause a shaking because they are honestly deceived into believing it to be error by the introduction of "false theories," and if they refuse to "investigate" as this brother did, then what hope of being saved do these rejecters of truth have? Sister White wrote about her own brother who confessed to her that he was "guilty" of rejecting truth by refusing the "opportunity to know truth." Then she condemns the Laodiceans for being "perfectly satisfied" with their position when they say "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing {need no more truth}." (Rev. 3:17; G.W. 310). SATISFIED WITH THEIR POSITION "My brother said at one time that he would not hear anything concerning the doctrine {truth} we hold, for fear he should be convinced. He would not come to the meetings, or listen to the discourses; but he afterward declared that he saw he was as guilty as if he had heard them. God had given him an opportunity to know the truth, and He would hold him responsible for this opportunity. There are many among us who are prejudiced against the doctrines that are now being discussed. They will not come to hear, they will not calmly investigate, but they put forth their objections in the dark. They are perfectly satisfied with their position. `Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:'...this scripture applies to those who live under the sound of the message, but who will not come to hear it. How do you know but that the Lord is giving fresh evidences of His truth, placing it in a new setting, that the way of the Lord may be prepared? What plans have you been laying that new light may be infused through the ranks of God's people? What evidence have you that God has not sent light to His children? All self-sufficiency, egotism, and pride of opinion must be put away. We must come to the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart."--1 Selected Messages, pgs. 413, 414. But Seventh-day Adventists do not have to be deceived into believing the lie that all shakings are caused by "false theories" (T.M. 112). We can know the difference between the two shakings, and "discriminate between right and wrong" (3 Test. 266), by knowing who it is that causes the shaking. THE ANGEL CAUSES THE SHAKING According to the already quoted references in E.W. pg. 270, the truth is to come, but it does not cause the shaking! It is Seventh-day Adventists that "rise up" against the "straight truth," "and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people" (E.W. 270). But who leads them to honestly and ignorantly rise up against the last message of truth? Since the "Laodicean church" (3 Test. 252) is the last symbolic candlestick (church) in Rev. 3:14, and since this church has an "angel" in charge of the church (Rev. 3:14), and since he is "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16,17), then the "angel" must be the ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist church (Laodicea), who will cause the "shaking" because he thinks he "has need of nothing"--no more truth! STARS ARE THE ANGELS "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand,
and seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels {ministers}
of seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven
churches."--Revelation 1:20 (bold emphasis, braces added). The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy clearly identifies the "stars" in Jesus' hand (Rev. 1:20) as the "angel of Laodicea" (Rev. 3:14)---the Seventh-day Adventist ministers! And so does Thomas A. Davis (associate book editor of the Review and Herald publishing) who explained this fact in his book entitled: "LAODICEA: THE CHURCH THAT DOESN'T KNOW," which is sold at Seventh-day Adventist book stores . On page 17 he says: "angels are represented by stars, which represent ministers...O Laodicea." On page 19 he stated that Laodicea is "the Seventh-day Adventist church today," and on page 34 he quotes the Testimonies where Sis. White said they are "honest" in their "deception" that they need no more truth. MINISTERS SAY THEY NEED NO MORE TRUTH "The present attitude of the {Seventh-day Adventist} church is not pleasing to God. There has come in a self-confidence that has led them to feel no necessity for more truth and greater light."--Gospel Workers, pg. 300:3 (bold emphasis, braces added).
AUTHORITY NOT ALWAYS TO BE OBEYED
"But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines {of the Seventh-day Adventist church}. Because those who were once the depositories of truth became unfaithful to their sacred trust, the Lord chose others who would receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and would advocate truths that were not in accordance with the ideas of the religious leaders. And then these leaders, in the blindness of their minds give full sway to what is supposed to be righteous indignation against the ones who have set aside cherished fables {errors}. They act like men who have lost their reason. They do not consider the possibility that they themselves have not rightly understood the word. They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they have misinterpreted and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 69, 70 (bold emphasis, braces added). With the introduction of the "straight truth," God will "commission men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines" of the Seventh-day Adventist church. And the ministers "in the blindness of their minds" will "act like men who have lost their reason." They have disregarded the writings of the Testimonies by Sis. White and "built up false theories, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith. And then they "rise up" against the "straight truth," which contradicts their errors, causing a shaking in the church. But these leading "men in authority are not always to be obeyed" (T.M. 69) when they tell the laymembers that they cannot study with anyone or take their literature. Those laymembers who fear God will study for themselves, even though they have heard the threatenings of their ministers to cast out anyone who studies with others. But the other laymembers who fear man will believe the lie that all shakings are caused by the introduction of "false theories," because they have absolute confidence in their ministers, though he is deceived. TRUST THEIR SOULS TO THE MINISTERS
Having committed "the keeping of their souls" to their
favorite minister, these laymembers see him act like he has lost his reason. They hear him
threaten anyone who would dare talk to those with the "straight truth,"
and forbid them their God-given right to prayerfully study and investigate for themselves.
And they hear his forbidden "tirades" against the "doctrines held by
others" (8 Test. 156) from the pulpit. Yet, in spite of all this they honestly
believe that he is defending their souls against "false theories." But worst of
all they believe the lie that those who bring the "straight truth" are
the ones who cause the "shaking," not their ministers. Then, too, they know that they have the truth of the Sabbath, yet, when any Sunday-keeping teacher calls on a Seventh-day Adventist laymember to study with him, and the minister finds out, he doesn't lose his reason and shout in anger, threaten, and excommunicate him for his studying with a Sunday-keeper. Surely, if the minister tells the laity that they have all the truth, and no one can prove them wrong, and he has no fear of the laity studying with Sunday keepers, then why is he so afraid for the laymembers to study with other Seventh-day Adventist laymembers who have the "straight truth?" Doesn't he want them to be saved? MINISTERS ON THE WRONG SIDE "We must not trust to others {Seventh-day Adventist ministers} to search the Scriptures for us. Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side; and if God would send a message {of 'straight truth'} and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advancement, it would never reach the people."--Gospel Workers, pg. 303:3 (bold emphasis, braces added). Where else could the "straight truth" come from if not from within the Seventh-day Adventist ranks? The Sunday-keepers could not have it. And the "angel of Laodicea" (the ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist church) could not have the "straight truth," because they are deceived into believing that they have no need of more truth (G.W. 300). So it is only from the laymembers of the Seventh-day Adventist church that the "straight truth" could come. And what is that "straight truth" that we need? ANOTHER ANGEL TO UNITE WITH THIRD ANGEL
"Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, in a message which is yet future, the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon {not come out of the Seventh-day Adventist church}."--Great Controversy, pg. 383:0 (1888 Edition) (bold emphasis, braces added). "Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon {Protestant churches--G.C. 383:1}. In connection with his message the call is heard, `Come out of her, My people.' These announcements, uniting with the third angel's message {proclaimed by SDA church}, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth."--Great Controversy, pg. 604:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "In doing this work we {Seventh-day Adventists} are sounding the first, second and third angel's messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory."--6 Testimonies, pg. 406:5 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Thus the substance of the second angel's message is again given to the world {Protestant churches and nations} by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory."--2 Selected Messages, pg. 116:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The angel {message} who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message, is to lighten the whole earth with his glory."--Great Controversy, pg. 611:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "I know that a work must be done for the people {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}, or many will not be prepared to receive the light of the angel {message} sent down from heaven to lighten the whole earth with his glory."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 468, 469 (bold emphasis, braces added). Because Seventh-day Adventists are teaching the third angel's message, most of them think that they do not need the truth of the "loud cry" angel (message) to a dying world. But this last message cannot go to all the world without a special "power" fom God; and that is why Early Writings, pg. 277 says "another mighty angel" (message) is to "unite his voice with the third angel and give power and force to his message." Without this additional message of "power," the third angel's message that we have cannot "swell to a loud cry" to the Protestant churches and nations to call them out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4). This is the "straight truth" which the ministers should "unite" with. Instead, they "rise up" against it, which causes a shaking in the Seventh-day Adventist church! UNITE WITH THE MESSENGERS "A great work is to be done {for the people in the Seventh-day Adventist church}, and God sees that our leading men have need of more light {another angel's message} that they may unite with the messengers whom He sends to accomplish the work that He designs shall be done."--Gospel Workers, pg. 304:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). The aforequoted inspired references from the Testimonies prove irrefutably that "more light"--another angel (message) is to come to the Seventh-day Adventist church. It is the Loud Cry message to call God's people to come (Rev. 18:4) out of Babylon (Protestant churches and nations) during the time of the image beast (Rev. 14:9). But why haven't the ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist church accepted this additional message of truth? And why aren't they telling the laity about it? Why don't they "unite" with it and tell the laity about it, instead of fighting against the "straight truth," by which they cause a shaking in the Seventh-day Adventist church? The answer is because they do not believe the Testimonies which told us about that other angel (message)! DISBELIEF OF THE TESTIMONIES
Jesus was the "Word...made flesh," who "dwelt among us" (Jn. 14:6). Therefore, when ever the truth comes (the angel-message of the Loud Cry), and it is rejected, that is the same as rejecting Christ. "If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ" (T.M. 97). Thus, our ministers should study to find the truth and tell the laity about it, not "rise up" against it and cause a shaking in the Seventh-day Adventist church! "If light and truth {angel-message of the Loud Cry} is within our reach, and we {Seventh-day Adventist} neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light."--Great Controversy, pg. 597:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "When a message comes {to the Seventh-day Adventist church} in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation of its claims. No one can afford to stand back in an attitude of indifference and self-confidence, and say: `I know what is truth. I am satisfied with my position {lukewarm}. I have set my stakes, and I will not be moved away from my position, whatever may come. I will not listen to the message of this messenger; for I know that it cannot be truth.' It is from pursuing this very course that the popular churches {Babylon} were left in partial darkness, and that is why the messages of heaven have not reached them."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 28:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). What will you do when someone tries to tell you about the truth of the "Loud Cry" angel? Will you be deceived and "rise up" against it and cause a shaking in the Seventh-day Adventist church? Or will you prayerfully investigate the claims of the message and accept it as the "straight truth"? If you want to learn more about the message of the "Loud Cry" angel, which is the "straight truth" to the Seventh-day Adventist church, then please call or write to: END OF STUDY 15AWritten by
Don Adair www.davidian.org |
Errors
and "false theories" will be introduced among Seventh-day Adventists to arouse
us from our slumber, which will shake us. These errors will force us to
study the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in order to refute them, and this is what
shakes us. If we will not investigate and study, then the shaking will cause us to fall
out of the truth; but if we will study, then the shaking strengthens us and we
"remain" (9 Test. 15,16) in the truth.
"Woe unto them {Seventh-day Adventist}
that call evil {error as being} good, and good {truth
as being} evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter {error} for sweet {truth}, and sweet {truth} for bitter {error}!"--Isaiah 5:20
(bold emphasis, braces added).
"In His {Jesus'} hand are seven stars, representing the ministers
of the churches."--Sanctified Life, pg. 78:0 (see G.W. 13:3) (bold emphasis,
braces added).
Believing that they need no more truth the
Seventh-day Adventist ministers rise up against the introduction of the "straight truth;"
and by doing this they are causing a shaking in God's church. But how do they shake
the church when truth is introduced? They get angry and shout at those who bring
the truth. They threaten them, and tell them to go away or they will call the
police and have them put in jail. They preach their "tirades"
from the pulpit with the "hellish torch of Satan" (T.M. 409,410) in their hands,
to prejudice the laity and make them hate the truth and rise up against it. And they
forbid them to listen to anyone else, or go to their Bible studies; in spite of the fact
that the Spirit of Prophecy says: "But no tirade is to be made against the
doctrines held by others" (8 Test. 156). The word "tirade"
means "A protracted speech usually marked by intemperate, vituperative, or harshly
censorious language." (Webster's New Collegiate Dict. pg. 1224).
"`The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors,
and brought them forth and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the
words of this life.' We see here that the men in authority {even Seventh-day Adventist ministers}
are not always to be obeyed, even though they may profess to be teachers of
Bible doctrine. There are many today who feel indignant and aggrieved that any voice
should be raised presenting ideas that differ from their own in regard to points of
religious belief. Have they not long advocated their {false} ideas as truth?
So the priests and rabbis reasoned in apostolic days: What mean these men who are
unlearned, some of them mere fishermen who are presenting ideas contrary to the doctrines
which the learned priests and rulers are teaching the people? They have no right to meddle
with the fundamental principles of our faith."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg.
69:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).
"Notwithstanding the Bible is full of
warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls
to the clergy {even ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist church}. There
are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of
faith which they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious
leaders."--Great Controversy, pg. 596:3 (bold emphasis, braces added).
"Then I saw another mighty angel {'straight truth' to the
Seventh-day Adventist church} commissioned to descend to the earth to unite his voice with
the third angel, and give power and force to his message....The work of this angel
comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel's message as
it swells to a loud cry....This message seemed to be an addition to the third message,
joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel's message in 1844."--Early
Writings, pg. 277:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).
"The {Seventh-day Adventist} church has turned
back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward
Egypt {worldliness}. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power.
Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our
churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ
would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you.
Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted
and disregarded."--5 Testimonies, pg. 217:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).