"God,...hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son {Jesus},..."(Heb. 1:1,2) through His "fellow servant," Sis. E. G. White, the writer of the Spirit of prophecy--"the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 19:10). She was inspired to write the "testimony of Jesus" to Seventh-day Adventists and tell them that "they are the best people in the world."

"God loves His people who Keep His Commandments, and reproves them not because they are the worst, but because they are the best people in the world. `As many as I love,' says Jesus, `I rebuke and chasten.'"--1 Testimonies, pg. 569:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Peter said "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), so He does not tell Seventh-day Adventists that "they are the best people in the world" because He respects them more than other Christians, but because they have greater light; as Jesus said in His testimony--the Spirit of prophecy:

"Warnings and reproofs are not given to the erring among Seventh-day Adventists because their lives are more blame worthy than are the lives of professed Christians of the nominal churches, nor because the example of their acts are worse than those of the Adventists who will not yield obedience to the claims of God's law, but because they have great light and have by their profession taken their position as God's special, chosen people, having the law of God written in their hearts."--2 Testimonies, pg. 452:1 (bold emphasis added).

SAINTS ARE CHILDREN OF LIGHT

The Jews were the "best people in the world" in their day because they had "great light"! And so Seventh-day Adventists are the "best people in the world" today because they have "great light"! And they are also the "children of light" as well, because Jesus says so: "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (John 12:36). That "great light" is Jesus who not only said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," (Jn. 8:12), but He also said, "I am...the truth" (Jn. 14:6). Therefore, since Jesus speaks to us by His "testimony," which is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 19:10), then all Seventh-day Adventists who are among "the children of light" will "believe in the light" and the "Truth" (Jesus), and hear and obey what He says in the writings of His prophetess (1 S.M. 34:5)--Sis. E.G. White:

"We {Seventh-day Adventists} must follow the directions given through the Spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth {light--Jesus} for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through His word. He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church, and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position we should now occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer?"--Gospel Workers, pg. 308:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Seventh-day Adventists are the "Children of light" because they recognize Jesus speaking to them in His testimonies; but others do not, for they are the children of darkness: "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness"(Lk. 11:35); "and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (Jn. 3:19, 20). Plain it is then, that there are two classes of Seventh-day Adventists: (1) The children of light and (2) the children of darkness, which are called wheat and tares (Mt. 13:30). It is only the "children of light" that Jesus' testimony would say are "the best people in the world," because they follow Jesus, "the light of the world," through the Spirit of Prophecy, and accept new light.

GOD SENDS NEW LIGHT TO SAINTS

"New light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in Living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 34:1 (bold emphasis added).

"We {Seventh-day Adventists} must not for moment think that there is no more light, no more truth, to be given us. We are in danger of becoming careless, by our indifference losing the sanctifying power of truth, and composing ourselves with the thought "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." While we must hold fast to the truths which we already received, we must not look with suspicion upon and new light that God may send,"--Gospel Workers, pg. 310:4 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"A spirit of pharisaism has been coming in upon the people {of the Seventh-day Adventist church} who claim to believe the truth for these last days. They are self-satisfied. They have said "We have the truth. There is no more light for the people of God." But we {Seventh-day Adventists} are not safe when we take a position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth,"--Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg. 34:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light who follow Jesus are Seventh-day Adventists that believe more light is to come, because they do not think they are "rich" and "have need of nothing;" therefore, they do "not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send." Whereas the children of darkness think they need no more light and are very, very suspicious of any Seventh-day Adventist who tells them there is "new light" to come, or has come. That is the reason why Jesus' testimony inspired Sis. White to write a whole chapter in the Spirit of Prophecy entitled "Danger of Rejecting Light," because Jesus has more light for His "children of light," and He warns them not to reject it as the children of darkness will do. In that chapter she says:

"Whatever may be man's intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light. As a people, we are called individually to be students of prophecy....When God's people are at ease, and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favor them....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 (bold emphasis, braces added).

It is the "children of darkness" in the Seventh-day Adventist church who "feel no necessity for more truth and greater light"! But the "children of light" always accept new light, because they will never reject truth.

SAINTS DO NOT REJECT TRUTH

"But beware {Seventh-day Adventists} of rejecting that which is truth....No one should claim that he has all the light there is for God's people. The Lord will not tolerate this. He has said, 'I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.'"--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 106, 107 (bold emphasis added).

"When new light is presented to the {Seventh-day Adventist} church, it is perilous to shut yourselves away from it. Refusing to hear because you are prejudiced against the message or the messenger will not make your case excusable before God. To condemn that which you have not heard and do not understand will not exalt your wisdom in the eyes of those who are candid in their investigations of truth. And to speak with contempt of those whom God has sent with a message of truth, is folly and madness."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 32:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists would beware of rejecting any new light God may send because they "follow the directions given through the Spirit of Prophecy" (G.W. 308:1). They investigate with others for new light.

SAINTS INVESTIGATE NEW LIGHT

"We should never refuse to examine the Scriptures with those who, we have reason to believe desire to know what is truth. Suppose a brother held a view that differed from yours, and he should come to you, proposing that you sit down with him and make an investigation of that point in the Scriptures; should you rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn his ideas, while refusing to give him a candid hearing? The only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position presented in the light of God's word which will reveal truth and unmask error."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 107.

"When asked to hear the reasons of a doctrine that you do not understand, do not {Seventh-day Adventists} condemn the message until you have given it a thorough investigation, and know from the word of God that it is not tenable."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pgs. 31, 32 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"...if a message comes that you {Seventh-day Adventists} do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give, comparing scripture with scripture, that you may know whether or not it is sustained by the word of God. If you believe that the positions taken have not the word of God for their foundation, if the position you hold on the subject cannot br controverted, then produce your strong reasons; for your position will not be shaken by coming in contact with error."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 29:0 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"When a message comes in the name of the Lord to His {Seventh-day Adventist} people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation if its claims. No one can afford to stand back in an attitude on indifference and self-confidence, and say: `I know what is truth, I am satisfied with my position. 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 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).

"We {Seventh-day Adventists} are on dangerous ground when we cannot meet together like Christians and courteously examine controverted points. I fell like fleeing from the place lest I receive the mold of those who cannot candidly investigate the doctrines of the Bible....When the Spirit of God rests upon you, there will be no feeling of envy or jealousy in examining another's position; there will be no spirit of accusation and criticism, such as Satan inspired in the hearts of the Jewish leaders against Christ,"--1 Selected Messages, pgs. 411, 412 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventist are always seeking for greater light, and that is why they will "follow the directions given through the Spirit of Prophecy" (G.W. 308:1) to investigate new light. But not so with the children of darkness, they are bound by prejudice.

SAINTS BEWARE OF PREJUDICE

"...avenues to the {SDA} soul have been closed by the tyrant Prejudice,..."--Messages to Young People, pg. 218:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The spirit in which you come to the investigation of the Scriptures will determine the character of the assistant at your side. Angels from the world of light will be with those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance. But if the Bible is opened with irreverence, with a feeling of self-sufficiency, if the heart is filled with prejudice, Satan is beside you, and he will sit the plain statements of God's word in a perverted light.

"Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented, many {Seventh-day Adventists} do not ask, Is it true--in harmony with God's word? but, By whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the very channel that pleases them, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices,"--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 105-106 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we {Seventh-day Adventists} should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice."--Gospel Workers, pg. 301:3 (bold emphasis added).

"In your study of the word, lay at the door of investigation your preconceived opinions and your hereditary and cultivated ideas. You will never reach the truth if you study the Scriptures to vindicate your own ideas. Leave these at the door, and with a contrite heart go in to hear what the Lord has to say to you....Do not {Seventh-day Adventists} read the word in the light of former opinions; but, with a mind free from prejudice, search it carefully and prayerfully."--Messages to Young People, pg. 260:1,2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"He has given directions by which we may test every doctrine--`To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this work it is because there is no light in them.' But if it is according to this test, do not {Seventh-day Adventists} be so full of prejudice that you cannot acknowledge a point simply because it does not agree with your ideas."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 110,111 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists do not let their prejudices interfere with their investigation of new light; but the children of darkness do not want truth, and when asked to investigate new light, they either refuse to study with anyone, or if they do study, they are unfair.

SAINTS INVESTIGATE TRUTH FAIRLY

"I have beheld angels grieved as the most precious jewels of truth have been brought before men utterly incapable of appreciating the evidences in favor of the truth. Their entire being was at war with the principles of truth; their nature were at enmity with it. Their object in discussing was not that they might get hold of the evidences of the truth themselves or that the people might have a fair understanding of our true position, but that they might confuse the understanding by placing the truth in perverted light before the people. There are men who have educated themselves as combatants. It is their policy to misstate an opponent and to cover up clear arguments with dishonest quibbles. They {and many Seventh-day Adventists} have devoted their God given powers to this dishonest work, for there is nothing in their hearts in harmony with the pure principles of truth."--3 Testimonies, pg. 425 (bold emphasis added).

"There are some {Seventh-day Adventists} who indulge in levity, sarcasm, and even mockery toward those who differ with them. Others present an array of objections to any new view; and when these objections are plainly answered by the words of Scripture, they do not acknowledge the evidence presented, nor allow themselves to be convinced. Their questioning is not for the purpose of arriving at truth, but is intended merely to confuse the minds of others."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 108:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"No matter by whom light is sent, we {Seventh-day Adventists} should open out hearts to receive it with the meekness of Christ. But many do not do this. When a controverted point is presented, they pour in question after question, without admitting a point {of truth} when it is well sustained."--Gospel Workers, pg. 301:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Some {Seventh-day Adventists} have feared that if in a single point they acknowledge themselves in error, other minds would be led to doubt the whole theory of truth. Therefore they have felt that investigation should not be permitted, that it would tend to dissention and disunion. But if such is to be the result of investigation, the sooner it comes the better. If there are those whose faith in God's word will not stand the test of an investigation of the Scriptures, the sooner they are revealed the better; for then the way will be opened to show them their error. We cannot hold that a position once taken, an idea once advocated is not, under any circumstances, to be relinquished. There is but One who is infallible--He {Jesus} who is the way, the truth, and the life."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 105 (bold emphasis added).

"It does not require much learning or ability to ask questions that are difficult to answer. A child may ask questions over which the wisest men may be puzzled. Let us {Seventh-day Adventists} not engage in a contest of this kind."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 109:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Some {Seventh-day Adventists} have thought it an evidence of intellectual keenness and superiority to perplex minds in regard to what is truth. They resort to subtlety of argument, to playing upon words; they take unjust advantage in asking questions. When their questions have been fairly answered, they will turn the subject [and] bring up another point to avoid acknowledging the truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 108:3 (bold emphasis added).

"Many {Seventh-day Adventists} delight in finding something in the Scriptures to puzzle the minds of others. Some at first criticize and reason on the wrong side, from a mere love of controversy. They do not realize that they are thus entangling themselves in the snare of the fowler. But having openly expressed unbelief, they feel that they must maintain their position. Thus they unite with the ungodly, and close to themselves the gates of Paradise."--Great Controversy, pg. 526:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists would never allow themselves to "indulge in levity, sarcasm, and even mockery," toward others. Neither would they "play upon words" nor "resort to subtlety of argument" or "take unjust advantage in asking questions." Instead, they would be fair in their investigation and admit any "point when it is well sustained" with whom they study. They do this because they realize that the only way to find new light and truth is to consider all the evidences.

SAINTS TAKE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE

"The selfish, the proud, and the lovers of sin {among Seventh-day Adventists} are ever assailed with doubt. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence."--3 Testimonies, pg. 255:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"If you {Seventh-day Adventist} refuse to believe until every shadow of uncertainty and every possibility of doubt is removed you will never believe. The doubt that demands perfect knowledge will never yield to faith. Faith rests upon evidence, not demonstration"--5 Testimonies, pg. 69:0 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"God does not compel men to give up their unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which they will accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that {Seventh-day Adventist} men {and women} shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture."--Desire of Ages, pg. 458:3 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Many wander in the mazes of philosophy, in search of reasons and evidence which they will never find, while they reject the evidence which God has been pleased to give. They refuse to walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, until the reason of its shining shall be explained. All who persist in this course will fail to come to a knowledge of the truth. God will never remove every occasion for doubt. He gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith, and if this is not accepted, the mind is left in darkness."--Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 432:2 (bold emphasis added).

"Those {Seventh-day Adventists} who will not act when the Lord calls upon them, but who wait for more certain evidence and more favorable opportunities, will walk in darkness, for the light will be withdrawn. The evidence given one day, if rejected, may never be repeated."--3 Testimonies, pg. 258:3 (bold emphasis added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventist are always in the habit of taking "the weight of evidence" from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in their investigations of new light; but the children of darkness will reject the clearest of doctrinal evidences because of some erroneous ideas, which they assume is truth.

SAINTS NOT TAKE TRUTH FOR GRANTED

"Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus, because it contradicts something 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).

"And there are many in the {Seventh-day Adventist} church who take it for granted that they understand that they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness."--Gospel Workers, pg. 298:3 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"There is no excuse for anyone {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation."--Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg. 35:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Errors {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor truth error."--6 Testimonies, pg. 142:1.

"There are many today {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} 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 ideas as truth? So the priests and rabbis reasoned in apostolic days."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 69:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The Jews refused to receive Christ, because He did not come in accordance with their expectations. The ideas of finite men were held as infallible, because hoary with age."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 64:2 (bold emphasis added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists do not take for granted a single doctrine of their faith. They know that any old doctrine hoary with age taught by the leaders of the church does not necessarily mean it is truth; because it may or not be truth. That is why they are willing to investigate for themselves, because they do not trust any man to tell them what doctrines to believe.

SAINTS NOT TRUST ARM OF FLESH

"Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm,..."--Jeremiah 17:5 (bold emphasis added).

"We {Seventh-day Adventist} are warned not to trust in man, not to make flesh our arm. A curse is pronounced upon all who do this."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 367:0 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"But beware of rejecting that which is truth. The great danger with our people {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} has been that of depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men, and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them....Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will gave the people the message for this time."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 106,107 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Some of our leading {Seventh-day Adventist} brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side {as they did in 1888}; and if God would send a message {today} 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).

"Precious light is to shine forth from the word of God, and let no one presume to dictate what shall or what shall not be brought before the people in the messages of enlightenment that He shall send, and so quench the Spirit of God. Whatever may be his position of authority {in the Seventh-day Adventist church}, no one has a right to shut away the light from the people."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 28 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"A brother asked, `Sister White, do you think we must understand the truth for ourselves? Why can we not take the truths that others have gathered together, and believe them because they have investigated the subjects {so we can trust in their flesh}, and then we shall be free to go on without the taxing of the powers of the mind in the subjects? Do you not think that these men who have brought out the truth in the past were inspired of God?'"

"I dare not say they were not led of God, for Christ leads into all truth; but when it comes to inspiration in the fullest sense of the word, I answer, No. I believe that God has given them a work to do, but if they are not fully consecrated to God at all times, they will weave self and their peculiar traits of character into what they are doing, and will put their mold upon the work, and fashion men in religious experience after their own pattern. It is dangerous for us to make flesh our arm."--Counsels to Writers and Editors, pgs. 33,34 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the word for ourselves. We {Seventh-day Adventists} are not to obtain it merely through the medium of another's mind {and trust in his flesh}. We should carefully study the Bible, asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit, that we may understand His word."--Desire of Ages, pg. 390:4 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"God cannot glorify His name through His {Seventh-day Adventist} people while they are leaning upon man and making flesh their arm."--5 Testimonies, pg. 729:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The tempter aims to lead men astray by persuading them to cease looking to Jesus for strength and efficiency, and to make flesh their arm. This has been done in many cases. Satan has laid his trap to catch {Seventh-day Adventist} men and win them to his side by trying to prevail upon them to depend {trust} upon their finite, erring fellow men."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 313:3 (bold emphasis added).

"Not withstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many {even Seventh-day Adventists} are ready thus to commit the keeping of souls to the clergy {trusting in the arm of flesh}. There are to-day 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. 596:4 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The "children of light" among Seventh-day Adventists do not trust the mind of their favorite minister and make his flesh their arm. And that is the reason why they obey God, not man.

SAINTS OBEY GOD NOT MEN

When Peter and the other apostles were threatened by the leading ministers of the Jewish church they told them emphatically: "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29). And even when they were imprisoned for disobeying them, the apostles still refused to obey the leading ministers (Pharisees).

"`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 are not always to be obeyed, even though they may profess to be teachers of Bible doctrine."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 69:1 (bold emphasis added).

"We {Seventh-day Adventists} are to go forward in Christ's name, advocating the truths committed to us. If we are forbidden by men {inside or outside the SDA church} to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles,`Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.'"--Acts of the Apostles, pg. 69:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"...Protestantism sets the power of conscience above the magistrate, and the authority of the word of God above the visible church. In the first place, it rejects the civil power in divine things, and says with the prophets and apostles,`We must obey God rather than man.'"--Great Controversy, pg. 204:0 (bold emphasis added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists worship God only, and when ministers try to tell them what they can study, or who they can study with, or what they must believe and not believe, they will obey God, not man and study for themselves.

SAINTS STUDY FOR THEMSELVES

"Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."--2 Timothy 2:15 (bold emphasis added).

"Young {Seventh-day Adventist} men should search the Scriptures for themselves. They are not to feel that it is sufficient for those older in experience to find out the truth; that the younger ones can accept it from them as authority. The Jews perished as a nation because they were drawn from the truth of the Bible by their rulers, priests, and elders. Had they heeded the lessons of Jesus, and searched the Scriptures for themselves. they would not have perished.

"Young men in our ranks are watching to see in what spirit the ministers come to the investigation of the Scriptures; whether they have a teachable spirit, and are humble enough to accept evidence, and receive light from the messengers whom God chooses to send.

"We {Seventh-day Adventists} must study the truth for ourselves. No {flesh of} man should be relied upon to think for us."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 109:2-4 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"No one of those {Seventh-day Adventists} who imagine that they know it all is too old or too intelligent to learn from the humblest of the messengers of the living God."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 30:0 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The rebuke of the Lord will rest upon those {Seventh-day Adventists} who would bar the way, that clearer light shall not come the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men gave need of more light, that they may unite with the messengers whom He sends to accomplish the work that He design shall be done."--Gospel Workers, pg. 304:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Because the children of light obey God rather than men and study for themselves, they are not afraid of being cast out of the church!

SAINTS CAST OUT OF THE CHURCH.

Jesus said: "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate {cast} you {out} from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake."--Luke 6:22 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Jesus and His disciples were blessed when they were hated by their own Jewish brethren, and blessed ever moreso when they were cast out of the Jewish Synagogues. But the Jewish leaders who cast them out were cursed and died in 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed by the Romans. In William Miller's day, Sister White experienced this same blessing when seven members of her father's family (including herself before she was married) were cast out. But those who cast them out were cursed and went into spiritual darkness, never to receive the truth that blessed Sister White and other Christians that were cast out of the church as she was.

"Most of my father's family were full believers in the advent, and for bearing testimony to this glorious doctrine seven of us were at one time cast out of the Methodist Church. At this time the words of the prophet were exceedingly precious to us: `Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.' Isa. 66:5"--Early Writings, pg. 13 (bold emphasis added).

This has been one of Satan's most effective weapons against the truth down through the ages--fear of man, rather than the fear of God. In Christ's day "...they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put {cast} out of the synagogue." (Jn. 9:22). Today, the Children of light among Seventh-day Adventists realize that there is a blessing in store for them when they are hated by the children of darkness, and when they are cast out of the synagogues by their ministers for studying with others in their search for new light. It is not what men say that determines what is truth, but only what the Bible says. And because the children of light "have great light" (2 Test. 452), and because they are ever seeking for greater light, then this is what makes Seventh-day Adventists "the best people in the world" (1 Test. 569).

"But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,--not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we {Seventh-day Adventists} should demand a plain Thus saith the Lord in its support."--Great Controversy, pg. 595:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The children of light among Seventh-day Adventists are blessed because:

(1) They are ever seeking for new light that God will send.

(2) They are very careful that they do not reject any new light.

(3) They do not allow prejudice to keep them from an investigation of any new light that God may send.

(4) They will investigate and study with other Seventh-day Adventists to find that new light.

(5) They are not unfair in their investigations, and will admit a point well sustained when it is proven by the Spirit of prophecy or the Bible.

(6) They study all evidences presented, and accept and new light because it is proven by the "weight of evidence."

(7) They do not take it for granted that everything they have been told by their ministers to believe is truth.

(8) They obey God rather than men when ever there is a conflict between the Word of God and the dictates of man.

(9) They study the Bible and Spirit of prophecy for themselves to find new light.

(10) They fear God, and are not afraid of being cast out of the "Synagogues."

The children of darkness among Seventh-day Adventists are cursed because:

(1) They are satisfied in their "lukewarm" deception, and they become very angry whenever someone tries to tell them about new light.

(2) They do not want more truth, and therefore they find it an easy matter to reject any new light that God may send to His SDA church.

(3) They are controlled by the "tyrant prejudice," and will not accept any new light that disagrees with their preconceived ideas.

(4) Some refuse to investigate any new doctrine, or study with other Seventh-day Adventists concerning new light.

(5) Others investigate unfairly by indulging in sarcasm and mockery; and when their questions are answered fairly, they refuse to admit it is truth.

(6) They do not take the "weight of evidence" in their investigations, but hold to preconceived ideas which cannot be proven by scripture.

(7) They take it for granted that every doctrine they have been taught by their minister is the truth.

(8) They do not obey God but trust in the flesh of their favorite minister and obey him.

(9) They do not study the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy for themselves, nor with anyone who has new light.

(10) They are so afraid of being cast out of the church, that they will not accept any new light that God sends.

What about you Seventh-day Adventist reader? Are you blessed as one of the children of light? Or are you cursed as one of the children of darkness? Only you can decide of which class you are!

If you are one of those who are of "the best people" in the Seventh-day Adventist church who is searching for the truth, because you are one of the Father's "children of light," and you want to know what is the "new light" that He has for you, then please write to us at:

MT. CARMEL CENTER
282 Davidian Way
Salem, S. Carolina 29686
USA

or call us at:
Phone/Fax number
(864) 944-1254

or e-mail us at:
dadair~innova.net