Copyright Don Adair 1998
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Ellen G. White, the prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist church (1 S.M. 34:5), stated that God's people cannot be a part of Babylon:

"Those who assert that the Seventh-day Adventist churches constitute Babylon, or any part of Babylon, might better stay at home {and not teach this error to others}."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 36, 37 (1934 ed.) (bold emphasis, braces added).

"When anyone rises, either among us or outside of us, who is burdened with a message which declares that the people of God {in the Seventh-day Adventist church} are numbered with Babylon, and claims that the loud cry is a call to come out of her, you may know that he is not bearing the message of truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 41:1 (1934 Ed.) (bold emphasis, braces added).

It has been said (above) that there would be false brethren "among us or outside of us" who would teach the false doctrine that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon. Their headquarters is in Europe with an office and underleaders in America, and they usually refer to themselves as Seventh-day Adventists who have been reformed. But the Lord recognizes only one church, whose Headquarters is now located at Silver Springs, Maryland in America with its leadership--the General Conference Of Seventh-day Adventists.

There are three sections to this study. To understand the purpose of this first part of the study, you must read "SECTION 1" to learn at its end why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

ANGEL (MESSAGE) FROM THE EAST SEALS 144,000

"I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: And there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."--Revelation 7:1-4 (boldings added).

FOUR WINDS OF TROUBLE HELD BACK TILL 144,000 ARE SEALED

The symbolic "winds" that John the Revelator saw are to blow upon the "earth, sea, and trees" in our day (latter days), after the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:1, 3). The definition of a wind is "a destructive force" (Web. Dict.). And when winds blow, such as storms, tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, typhoons, etc., they always bring some kind of destruction. But why "four winds"? because "there are four regions of the earth: East, North, South and West, which is expressive of the completeness of direction....Thus this number {4} is used in connection with incidences to signify earthwide" (2 S.R. 54:2). This fact proves that when the symbolic "four winds" blow, they must bring some kind of catastrophic trouble that is "earthwide," which is yet to blow from four directions. And it will blow against the 144,000 saints and those "with" them. And that is why they were sealed first so they cannot be killed by wicked men.

"Moving from the four corners of the compass, the winds must represent a world-wide disturbance of some kind....The wind's blowing is, of course, the anger of the nations against the saints."--15 Tract, pg. 60:1 (boldings added).

However, because the "four winds" were to blow soon after the 144,000 have been sealed, some Bible students have come to the wrong conclusion that the world-wide trouble caused by World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), supposedly proves that the 144,000 were already sealed before the sealing message came in 1929. But this is not true, because John did not say that these "four winds" were to blow against each other--nation against nation as it was done in both world wars.

"That the angels' holding the winds does not denote their restraining the nations from warring among themselves, is made clear by the fact that the winds were not held from clashing wind against wind (nation against nation), but rather from hurting the earth, the sea, and the trees. Moreover, that the nations from the north and from the south, from the east and from the west, were engaged in World War I, and also in World War II, although the 144,000 {who never die but are translated--1 Thess. 4:17} are not yet sealed, is another irrefutable evidence that the trouble which is forecast by the winds' blowing and the angels' hurting, is yet future {sometime after WW II}."--15 Tract, pgs. 60, 61 (bold emphasis, braces added).

FOUR WINDS SYMBOLIZE A TIME OF TROUBLE FOR THE SAINTS

It is obvious, then, that the "four winds" of trouble must blow against the 144,000 saints, because the winds are held back from blowing until after they are sealed, so that they cannot be killed when the winds are blowing with its death decree against the saints. And since the 144,000 have never been sealed from dying in times past, because all these people have died; and since not one person, even to this very day, has been made immune from death, then all sincere Bible students must conclude that this sealing of the 144,000 must take place in the latter days when these saints are kept alive until Jesus' second advent (1 Thess. 4:17). These facts prove that the winds must be directed, not against the wicked or against each other during a war, but against the 144,000 saints. And that is why they must be sealed first before the "four winds" of destructive trouble can blow, lest the wicked should kill the saints.

"Seeing that the 144,000, the servants of God, are not as yet sealed (not yet enclosed, protected, guarded, and ready to take their stand with the Lamb on Mt. Sion {Rev. 14:1}, but rather are still commingled with the tares) {in the SDA church} the angels are commanded {by God} to forestall the clash {blowing of 4 winds}."--15 Tract, pg. 61:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The sealing of the 144,000 is God's guarantee that they cannot be killed while the "four winds" are blowing to bring an earth-wide trouble upon these saints in the "sea"--Europe, the old world, and those in the new world the "earth"--America. But this does not mean that they cannot have troubles and trials, even though they cannot die.

"And even after the {144,000} saints are sealed with the seal of the living God {and can't die}, His elect will have trials individually."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 446:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

144,000 ARE SEALED FROM AMONG THE CHRISTIANS

Besides this, the Lord tells all sincere Bible students, as noted in John's prophecy about the 144,000 from Israel (Rev. 7:4-8), that these saints are not sealed in the latter days from among the false religions (Buddism, Islamism, Hinduism, etc.) in heathen countries. And surprising as it may seem to many, the 144,000 are not sealed from among the literal Jews who have not only rejected Christianiy, but have also rejected the book of Revelation (the only place in the Bible that speaks of that exact number--Rev. 7:4-8; Rev. 14:1). There is another reason why the 144,000 do not come from among the literal Jews, but from among the Christians in the latter days--the early Christians did two things which these anti-Christian Jews would not do:

(1). The literal Jews would not take the gospel to the Gentiles, which the Christian Jews did.

(2). The literal Jews would not marry Gentiles, which the Christian Jews did.

"From this scripture {Hos. 1:10} you note that this multitude of sons of Jacob are not the identified Jews of today {who reject Christianity}, but rather the lost descendants of Judah and Israel, of those who were assimilated by the Gentile nations and by the early Christian church by taking upon themselves the title 'Christians' {Acts 11:26}, of those who thus lost their racial and national identity....Thus many of us who suppose to be of the Gentile nations {because our Jewish ancestors married Gentiles} may at long last discover that we are of the lost tribes of Judah and Israel {144,000--Rev. 7:4-8}, and of the apostolic Christian Jews. Though none of us really know our genealogy very far back, yet God Who knows even the number of hairs on one's head has kept an accurate genealogical record of each of us {as He did with Jesus--Mt. 1:1-17; Lk. 3:23-38}. So He says: 'I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know Me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count {the 144,000--12,000 from 12 tribes of Israel--Rev. 7:4-8}, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.' Psa. 87:4-6."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 21, pgs. 6, 7 (bold emphasis, braces added).

This fact proves that when the Christian Jews took the gospel to the Gentiles and married them, the seed of Israel was mixed; and during the two thousand years of the New Testament era, they lost their racial identity, while the literal Jews kept their racial identity to this very day. But in spite of this Jew-Gentile mixture among the Christian Jews, the Lord has an accurate genealogical record of the descendants of Judah and Israel; and He knows which Gentile is pure Gentile and which Gentile is part Jewish, whom He can choose as one of the 144,000.

There are, however, some Christians who think that God does not recognize a Jew as a Jew if his blood is mixed with Gentile blood, and therefore they say the 144,000 must be pure Jews. But they overlook the fact that Jesus was not pure Jewish! He was a descendant of David (Mt. 1:1) whose father was Jesse, whose father was Obed, whose father was Boaz who married Ruth the Moabites--a pure Gentile (Ruth 4:21, 22)! Now if the Lord accepted Jesus as His Son even though He was not a pure Jew, because His blood was mixed with Gentile blood (Ruth), so He can accept the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel (Jews) even though their blood may be mixed with Gentile blood! This fact proves conclusively that in the latter days the Lord will choose the 144,000 saints, not from among the literal Jews who have rejected Christianity, but from among a few pure Jews and many Jew-Gentile Christians in God's Seventh-day Adventist church, who live among the Protestant Nations either in the "sea" (Europe) or in the "earth" (America).

THE SEA--A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANS IN THE OLD COUNTRY--EUROPE

The prophet Daniel saw that the "four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea; and four great beasts came from the sea" (Dan. 7:2). The angel Gabriel (Dan. 7:16) told him that the "four beasts" represent "four kings" (Dan. 7:17), or leaders of different forms of government in the earth, who rule over people and nations. And since "waters" symbolize "peoples and nations" (Rev. 17:15), and since all waters come from the sea, then the "sea" must symbolize the kings and peoples of the nations represented as beasts in the old Europen country where all people originated.

"In Revelation 17 {verse 15}, an angel explained that waters represent 'peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.' Winds are a symbol of strife {wars}. The four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea, represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution {wars} by which kingdoms {as beasts} have attained to power."--Great Controversy, pg. 440:0 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Those who win wars are the victors whose kingdom comes out of the "sea" of peoples as a "beast"--the most powerful kingdom which dominates the others. At the time of Daniel's vision of the beasts from the "sea," he was a captive in Babylon (Dan. 1:1,6), which was the first kingdom--lion beast (Dan. 7:4). It lost a war to Medo-Persia, which became the second kingdom--bear beast (Dan. 7:5). It lost a war to Grecia, which became the third kingdom--leopard beast (Dan. 7:6). And it lost a war to the Romans, which became the fourth kingdom--non-descript beast (Dan. 7:7). All of these kingdoms are in the old country--the "sea." But there is another "beast," which is a kingdom not a part of the old country (Europe). It came out of the "earth"--opposite of the sea, which is a symbol of America.

THE EARTH--A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANS IN THE NEW COUNTRY--AMERICA

"And I beheld another beast {symbol of America} coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns {two ruling parties--republican and democratic} like a {young} lamb {new country}, and he spake as a dragon."--Revelation 13:11 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"But the beast with lamb-like horns was seen 'coming up out of the earth.' Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied, and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World,--that turbutlent sea of 'peoples, and multitudes, and nations, tongues.' It must be sought in the Western Continent.

What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America {the beast from the earth}."--Great Controversy, pg. 440:1, 2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

FOUR WINDS OF TROUBLE TO BLOW ON THE TREES GROWING IN AMERICA

The "winds" not only blow on the "sea" (Europe) and the "earth" (America), but they also blow on the "trees" (Rev. 7:3) which must exist during the sealing time in the latter days, before the four winds can "hurt" (Rev. 7:3) them by a death decree. While the common people are symbolized as "grass" (Isa. 40:6,7), the "trees" symbolize kings, rulers, and leaders (Dan. 4:20-22). In this case they are religious leaders, because the "winds" blowing does not mean wind against wind (political nations fighting each other in a war). Instead, it symbolizes the Devil's religious agents using the political power of the state governments, who enact a death decree to kill the saints of a particular religion (the Seventh-day Adventist church) where the 144,000 are sealed. The leaders of that church are symbolized by the "trees." And since trees do not grow in the sea (Europe) but in the earth (America), then it is obvious that the Lord is telling His saints in the latter days, through John's prophecy of the symbolic "trees," that trees symbolize religious leaders (ministers) in the Seventh-day Adventist church, whose Headquarters cannot be located in Europe (the "sea"), but in America (the "earth")!

"Although the marking and the slaughter (Ezek. 9) include only the church,--Judah and Israel,--the hurting by the winds and the hurting by the angels (Rev. 7) include all the world--both 'the earth' and 'the sea,' each of which is indicative of a different locality: the sea, in the realm of nature the storehouse (home) of the waters, is therefore in the realm of symbols the birth-place of the nations--the Old Country; the earth, the opposite of the sea, is correspondingly a domain away from the Old Country. It is located to John in the symbol of the two-horned beast's coming up, not out of the sea, but 'out of the earth' (Rev. 13:11), the only place where trees naturally grow. And as according to Daniel 4:20-22, trees are figurative of rulers, therefore the trees in this instance represent 'the ancient men {Seventh-day Adventist ministers}...before the house' (Ezek. 9:6)--a fact which reveals that in this period {latter days}, the church's headquarters are in the two-horned beast's dominion--the New World {America}, 'the earth.'"--8 Tract, pg. 24:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

REFORMED SDA LEADERS ARE FAKE TREES TRYING TO GROW IN THE SEA

There are other Seventh-day Adventist people who split off from the General Conference Headquarters in America, elected new leaders, and set up their headquarters in Europe (the "sea") and say that they are Seventh-day Adventists who have been reformed. But they cannot be God's people, because the Lord has identified the "trees" as the General Conference leaders at the Headquarters of His Seventh-day Adventist church in America, because they are growing in the "earth"! This means that these reformed adventists in Europe are trying to plant new "trees" (religious leaders) in the "sea" (Europe), and expect them to grow. Since, however, everyone knows that God did not create trees to grow in the sea, then it is obvious that the "trees" (reformed SDA leaders) in Europe cannot grow, and will surely fail to accomplish their intended goal! But if these reformed Seventh-day Adventist laymembers, the "grass" (Isa. 40:7) and their leaders, the "trees" (Dan. 4:20-22), would accept the symbolism (Rev. 7:1-4), then they could see that the only religious leaders which the Lord recognizes in His Seventh-day Adventist church are the "trees" (leaders at the Headquarters of the General Conference), which are growing in the "earth"--America, at the time the 144,000 saints are being sealed by Elijah's message since 1929.

SYMBOLIC TREES IN EARTH NOT SEA IS PROOF SDA CHURCH IS NOT BABYLON

At the time the 144,000 are being sealed (Rev. 7:4-8) in the Seventh-day Adventist church, the Lord has designated the symbolic "trees" (Rev. 7:3) as the religious leaders of that church with its Headquarters in America (the "earth") where "trees" (leaders--Dan. 4:20-22) grow, and not the Seventh-day Adventist reformed leaders in Europe (the "sea") where "trees" (leaders) do not grow. This irrefutable fact proves that this movement of Seventh-day Adventist reformers is a counterfeit church, and that their accusation that God's church in America (the "earth") is Babylon, is a false doctrine perpetrated by the enemy (Rev. 12:9) of God's church. And those members in the Seventh-day Adventist church who refuse to accept the fact that God's Headquarters must be in America (the "earth"), will be deceived by these Seventh-day Adventist reformers whose headquarters is in Europe (the "sea"), and believe that God's church in America is Babylon, and will come out of her to join and support this false movement in Europe! Now you readers know from SECTION 1 why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

There are three sections to this study. To understand the purpose of this second part of the study, you must read "SECTION 2" to learn at its end why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

REFORMERS USE ANGEL'S REPORT TO SAY BABYLON IS THE SDA CHURCH

The Seventh-day Adventist reformed leaders use Ezekiel's description of a "man"--angel (Gen. 19:1,5) who marks the saints (Ezek. 9:3,4) and "reported the matter" (Ezek. 9:11) to Jesus that he had "done as thou hast commanded me" (Ezek. 9:11)--that is, he had finished marking the 144,000 saints. These facts are well understood by those Seventh-day Adventists who have been guided by the writings of Sis. White, the Spirit of prophecy--the Testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10), when they study this prophecy of Ezek. 9. But the Seventh-day Adventist reformers try to use this part of the prophecy about the angel who "reported the matter" (Ezek. 9:11) to Jesus that he had marked (sealed) the 144,000 saints to make it say that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon! And they do it by teaching this error:

They say this: "The only people who are sealed by this angel who marks the saints is the 144,000 from the Seventh-day Adventist church and none others; and that to them the loud cry command applies, 'come out of her {Babylon}, My people {Seventh-day Adventists}' (Rev. 18:4) into the Seventh-day Adventist church of reformers"! To some Seventh-day Adventists this error is so convincing (because they do not study enough), that they are deceived into leaving the church. But if you will read the second part of this study to its end, you will see, according to Ezekiel's prophecy, why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon!

THE LORD COMES TO EARTH ON HIS TRAVELING THRONE

"'I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came {from God's throne} out of the north {Isa. 14:13}.' Ezek. 1:4. The fact that the 'whirlwind,' enveloping the throne, 'came,' says Ezekiel, shows that this {traveling} throne, just as with the one of Isaiah 6, is a moving one, and that it came {traveled} to the banks of the river Chebar."--1 Tract, pg. 10:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

This particular traveling throne moving like a "whirlwind" has been recognized by many as a "unidentified flying object" (U.F.O.); because this is how Ezekiel described it: It had "four wings" (Ezek. 1:6) which proves that it flys. It's appearance is more like a "living creature" (Ezek. 1:13), rather than mechanical, though it appears as if it had a "wheel in the middle of a wheel" (Ezek. 1:16), showing it to be designed by a power far beyond what man can do, because it moves (flys) like a "flash of lightning" (Ezek. 1:14). It has a "likeness of a throne" with the "appearance of a man" on it (Ezek. 1:26), which was the "glory of the Lord" (Ezek. 1:28). These facts prove that this unidentified flying object which travels like a "whirlwind" and like a "flash of lightning" is the "glory of the Lord" (Jesus) coming to visit the earth.

But when does He come? The fact that Ezekiel saw the "likeness of a throne" (Ezek. 1:26), which had the "appearance of a man" (Ezek. 1:26), which travelled as the "appearance of a flash of lightning" (Ezek. 1:14), and which had the "appearance of the glory of the Lord" (Ezek. 1:28), proves irrefutably that he was seeing a vision of the Lord coming to the earth, not a literal coming in his day. That fact places the vision of the Lord's coming far beyond Ezekiel's day into the distant future; because the "testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10) in the writings of Sis. White stated:

"In Ezekiel's vision God had His hand {Ezek. 1:8} beneath the wings of the cherubim {traveling throne like a whirlwind}. This is to teach His {Seventh-day Adventist} servants that it is divine power that gives them success....The bright light {Ezek. 1:13} going among the living creatures with the swiftness of lightning {Ezek. 1:14} represents the speed with which this work {of Seventh-day Adventists--the loud cry} will finally go forward to completion."--5 Testimonies, pg. 754:1, 2 (bold emphasis, braces added)

Since Jesus said (through Sis. White's writings) that the vision of Ezekiel chapter one about the "work" for the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be fulfilled in our day (latter days), especially the ninth chapter about the angel marking the 144,000 saints in that church, then it is obvious that the vision does not apply to Ezekiel's day. Furthermore, the Lord on His throne told Ezekiel that He was sending him to the "children of Israel" (Ezek. 2:3), which was impossible for this reason: At the time of the vision Ezekiel was among the Jews of the kingdom of Judah whom Babylon had made of them "captives" (Ezek. 1:1), which was 126 years after the scattering of Israel (or Ephraim) by Assyria who caused to "cease the kingdom of the house of Israel" (Hos. 1:4), wherein they no longer existed as a "people" (Isa. 7:8)! Therefore, the Lord had to be talking to antitypical Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:5) who was to take a message to the Israel in the latter days--the Seventh-day Adventist church:

"...Seventh-day Adventists must have the Holy Spirit in their hearts...when the Israel of today humble themselves...He will hear their prayers..."--9 Testimonies, pg. 164:1 (bold emphasis, braces added)

Moreover, the message that the Lord gave to antitypical Ezekiel for the "house of Israel" (Ezek. 3:1) Seventh-day Adventist church in our day was as "honey for sweetness" (Ezek. 3:3). That sweet message is revealed by the symbolic grains of spiritual food (doctrines)--wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and fitches (Ezek. 4:9), which were to be put into "one vessel" (Ezek. 4:9)--the Seventh-day Adventist church.

Furthermore, it is important to note that after antitypical Ezekiel saw the "abominations" (Ezek. 8:6) which were the "idols of the house of Israel" (Ezek. 8:10)--the Seventh-day Adventist church, he saw the Lord still on the earth. Then His glory "was gone up from the cherub"--His traveling throne, "to the threshold of the house" (Ezek. 9:3) of Israel--the Seventh-day Adventist church.

"Continuing to behold in vision the cherubim and the glory of God's {travelling} throne, the prophet saw the Lord {on earth} come to the threshold of the house {Seventh-day Adventist} (church), and as He gave charge to His angel who was 'clothed with linen' and who 'had the writer's inkhorn by his side,' Ezekiel heard Him command the man: 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men {144,000} that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof {in Laodicea, the SDA church}."--1 Tract, pgs. 17, 18 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Especially in the closing work for the {Seventh-day Adventist church}, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God's professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men {who are angels} each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man {angel} among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. 'And the Lord said unto him, Go through the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men {144,000} that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof' {in Laodicea, the SDA church}."--3 Testimonies, pg. 266:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

THE LORD JESUS RETURNED BACK TO HEAVEN

Then after the angel "set a mark" (Ezek. 9:4) on all the 144,000 saints, and after he "reported the matter" (Ezek. 9:11) to Jesus who was on the earth, then the "glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house" {the Seventh-day Adventist church}, and stood over the cherubims" (Ezek. 10:18)--the traveling throne of "the Lord" (Ezek. 1:28). "And the cherubims {Jesus' traveling throne} lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight" (Ezek. 10:19) and returned to heaven! Did you comprehend that? Let us repeat it for clarity sake: After the angel "reported the matter" that he had marked all the 144,000 saints, then Jesus "mounted up from the earth"! Now why is this fact so important? Because after John saw the sealing of the 144,000 saints from the Seventh-day Adventist church (which Ezekiel saw as a mark), then he saw the sealing of a "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) who come from Babylon (Rev. 18:4)! That means that there are two different companies of saints who come from two different places:

TWO COMPANIES OF SAINTS--144,000 AND GREAT MULTITUDE

(1) While Jesus is on the earth, the first company of saints whom the angel has marked is the 144,000 (Rev. 7:4-8) in the Seventh-day Adventist church (E.W. 14:1; 42:3; 43:0); after which he reports (Ezek. 9:11) to Jesus that they have been marked before He "mounted up from the earth" (Ezek. 10:19) to return to heaven.

(2) Then while Jesus is in heaven, the second company of saints whom the angel has marked is the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) in the churches of Babylon (G.C. 383:1). They are being called out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4) by the 144,00 saints while Jesus is in heaven; after which the angel reports to Jesus the second time that he has marked another company of saints!

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude {from the churches of Babylon}, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."--Revelation 7:9 (bold emphasiss, braces added).

TWO SEALING (MARKING) REPORTS

"The fact therefore that there is an ingathering of two fruits, shows that the marking or sealing is in two sections--two periods--and that there are two sealing reports.

FIRST REPORT

"'And behold,' says Ezekiel, 'the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter [while on earth] {where Jesus was}, saying, I have done as Thou hast commanded me.' Ezek. 9:11. Here is the first report, made at the completion of the sealing in the {Seventh-day Adventist} church--the sealing of the firstfruits, the 144,000."--1 Tract, pgs. 20, 21 (brackets belong) (bold emphasis, braces added).

SECOND REPORT

"'I saw,' says the servant of the Lord {E.G. White}, '...an angel with a writer's inkhorn by his side returned from the earth, and reported to Jesus {in heaven} that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed.'--Early Writings, p. 279. Here is his second report, made at the completion of the sealing in the {Babylon churches in the} world--the sealing of the second fruits, the great multitude.

"Comparing both reports, each is seen to be of a different event: At the first report {by the angel}, the Lord {Jesus} was on 'the threshold of the house' on earth (Ezek. 9:3); at the second {report by the angel}, He was in the heavenly sanctuary {in heaven}."--1 Tract, pg. 21:1, 2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The fact that there is two sealing reports by the angel is very important, because the Seventh-day Adventists who have been reformed refuse to teach that the great multitude is the second company of living saints who are translated along with the 144,000 saints. The reason why is because they want to say that there is only one company of saints (144,000) marked in the Seventh-day Adventist church by the angel, so that they can read Early Writings, pg. 279 and say these words:

"See, the angel only marks the 144,000 from the Seventh-day Adventist church, which he reports to Jesus while He is heaven. This proves that the 144,000 are the saints who are called out of Babylon--the Seventh-day Adventist church"!

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST REFORMERS ARE WRONG--SDA CHURCH IS NOT BABYLON

But they are dead wrong; the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon. That is because the 144,000 are marked in the Seventh-day Adventist church while Jesus is on the earth (Ezek. 10:19); while the great multitude are marked in Babylon while Jesus is in heaven. This fact proves irrefutably that the saints who are called out of Babylon are not called from the Seventh-day Adventist church, but from the churches of Babylon (G.C. 383)!

Of course, those Seventh-day Adventists who refuse to accept the fact that there is a second company of saints, the great multitude (Rev. 7:9), who will be translated along with the 144,000, are those who are deceived by the Seventh-day Adventist reformers into believing that Babylon is the Seventh-day Adventist church, and that they must come out of her and join with these so-called reformers. Now you readers know from SECTION 2 why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

There are three sections to this study. To understand the purpose of this third part of the study, you must read "SECTION 3" to learn at its end why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

DAVIDIANS CANNOT UNITE WITH THE SDA REFORMERS

"The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists and the_________Movement {of Seventh-day Adventist reformers} do not unite because, unfortunately, they do not agree. Their being in wide variance on some doctrinal issues, makes union under the circumstances impossible.

"One such doctrinal difference, for instance, is that the____________Movement {of Seventh-day Adventist reformers} teaches that the sins in the Mother Seventh-day Adventist church make her a part of Babylon, whereas the Davidians teach that though she is in a sad condition, yet she is not, and indeed can never be, Babylon: for the sins do not make the name anymore than the name makes the sins. Babylon is not so named because of its sins; neither is it condemned because of being named Babylon, but because of having fallen and having 'become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.' Rev. 18:2.

"The Seventh-day Adventist church may be in an even worse condition,--so much worse, in fact, that she does not even know that she is 'wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked' (Rev. 3:17); yet in spite of it all, she is called 'Laodicea,' not Babylon. And her members stand, not to be called out as do those {the great multitude} in Babylon, but rather to be left in, and her 'angel' (leadership) stands to be spued out {die in the slaughter of Ezekiel 9}. The Davidians are laboring to save both from this tragedy, to renew them in the favor of God and thus keep them in the Mother church {Seventh-day Adventists}; whereas the ________Movement {of Seventh-day Adventist reformers}, having no remedy for the Laodicean malady, is laboring to draw {call} them out {which cannot save them}."--4 Answerer Book, pgs. 78, 79 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The reason that the church is figuratively not 'Babylon' is that it is called Jerusalem (Ezek. 9:4, 8), and from among the good therein {144,000 saints}, the wicked (the tares) are destroyed, taken out, by the six men with the slaughter weapons (Ezek. 9:6-9), and then afterward the good (the wheat) are gathered in 'the barn;' while from among the wicked in Babylon, the just ('My people') {Rev. 18:4--the great multitude saints--Rev. 7:9} are called out and gathered into the barn, and then the seven angels pour out the seven last plagues, and the remaining wicked are destroyed."--3 Tract, pg. 71:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

DAVIDIANS DO NOT TEACH THAT THE SDA CHURCH IS BABYLON

Some Seventh-day Adventists say that the entire leopard-like beast with its seven heads and 10 horns (Rev. 13:1) is the papacy, because Sis. White says in Great Controversy, pg. 443:2 to "study the characteristics of the {leopard-like} beast itself,--the papacy." But they have failed to note that she also says in Great Controversy, pg. 442:1 that the "nations" are "represented by the dragon and the leopard-like beast." The "nations," of course, must be the 10 horns having crowns of authority (Rev. 13:1); while the seven heads are the Christian churches--Catholic and Protestant. This shows the world of today being ruled by the Christian Protestant nations (10 horns), because the papacy lost its power when it was wounded and separated from the state (horn). Thus, the entire leopard-like beast cannot be the papacy, because the papacy is only the wounded head--a church. And it can't have a wound without the second head--the Luthern church whose doctrine is about faith. Then came the Presbytarian church (3rd head) whose doctrine is about the Holy Spirit; next came the Methodist church (4th head) whose doctrine is about grace. Next came the Baptist church (5th head) whose doctrine is about true baptism; next came the First-day Adventist church (sixth head) whose doctrine is about the first and second angel's messages. And finally came the Seventh-day Adventist church (seventh head) whose doctrine is about the sanctuary and Sabbath. It is these six Protestant Christian Churches (heads) that have kept the wound on the papacy (1st head).

BLASPHEMY UPON THE SEVEN HEADS

But note that all seven heads (churches) have "blasphemy" upon their heads (Rev. 13:1); and this is how the meaning of this word is explained:

"John says: 'The {leopard-like} beast having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.' The fact that there is the name of blasphemy on the {seven} heads is an additional proof that they can only represent religious organizations {churches}, for blasphemy is equivalent to hypocrisy, and hypocrisy means an attempt to mix the sacred {church} with the common {state}. But the Lord says: 'I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews [Christians], and are not {which is hypocrisy}, but are the synagogue of Satan.' (Rev. 2:9.)'."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 89:1 (brackets belong) (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Disobedience to the Word of God is blasphemy, and blasphemy is hypocrisy; that is to say, they are not what they profess to be."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pgs. 94, 95 (bold emphasis added).

To say that you are a Catholic (wounded head) or a Christian (six Protestant heads) when you are not, makes you are a hypocrite, which is blasphemy! Now which of the seven heads (Catholics or Protestants) can boast that all their members are saints, and that there are no hypocrites in their memberships? Absolutely none! And since the Seventh-day Adventist church (seventh head) has hypocrites in their membership, then they, too, have blasphemy upon their heads as do the other heads! The fact, however, that the Catholic church (1st head) and the other major churches (4 heads)--Lutherns, Presbyterian, Methodists, and Baptists have together become a Babylon of confusion (G.C. 383:1), does not mean that Seventh-day Adventists (seventh head) are included with the other churches of Babylon, just because they all have "blasphemy" upon their heads. It simply means that the first six heads are called Babylon, while Seventh-day Adventists (seventh head) are not a part of that Babylon of confusion.

Yet, all the Christian churches (seven heads) have hypocrites in their memberships, and that is why they all have "blasphemy" upon their heads. But in spite of these irrefutable facts, some members say that if Davidians teach that the Seventh-day Adventist church is the last church (seventh head) on the leopard-like beast which is the only one left today that is supposed to be protesting against the papacy, and that the others are called Babylon, then the "blasphemy" upon all their heads would make all of the seven heads become Babylon--which would include Seventh-day Adventists! But this cannot be true, because it is illogical to say that "blasphemy" and "Babylon" are the same; just as it is illogical to say that because Babylon is a church and Seventh-day Adventists is a church, so they are both Babylon! Or just as illogical to say that the Babylon churches sing religious songs, and the Seventh-day Adventist church sings religious songs, so they are both Babylon! Or just as illogical, even to the point of being foolish, to say that the Babylon churches violate the Sabbath by keeping Sunday, and the Seventh-day Adventist church also violates the Sabbath by their trafficking (1 Test. 471,472), so they are both Babylon! That is ridiculous! Laodicea (Rev. 3:14) is not Babylon and Babylon (Rev. 17:5) is not Laodicea, no matter what they do, because they are two different peoples!

SEVEN CANDLESTICKS (CHURCHES) ARE NOT ALL BABYLON

There is, however, another way that God assembles some symbols together in one prophecy, as He assembles the Christian churches (seven heads) on the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13:1) into one prophecy. In the Revelation He says: "The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches" (Rev. 1:20).

"If Christ by assembling these seven churches in a group of seven candlesticks and giving the blackest record to the last one, is not calling the Laodiceans Babylon, then neither is the interpretation of the {seven} 'heads' {on the leopard-like beast} doing so. It is not because the Laodiceans are better that they are not called Babylon, for their record is worse, but it is to show that on account of their increased light, He is to deal differently with them."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 94:2 (bold emphasis added).

"Moreover, as the churches are symbolized in 'The Revelation' by seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20), the symbolism must include the early Chrsitians, later the Protestants {Babylon}, and at last the Seventh-day Adventists, or the Laodiceans. These churches are not only symbolized by candlesticks of the same likeness, but are also grouped together as are the seven heads on the leopard-like beast. If the assemblage of the candlesticks does not make the Laodiceans Babylon, why will the {seven} heads {assembled on the leopard-like beast}?"--1 Symbolic Code, No. 4, pg. 8:5 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Do you see how illogical it would be to say that the seven candlesticks assembled together around Christ who is in the "midst" of them (Rev. 1:13), some of which are the candlesticks (churches) of Babylon, would make the last candlestick (Laodicean church--Seventh-day Adventists) Babylon as well? It is obvious, then, to be logical we must say that though all of the candlesticks (churches) are assembled together around Jesus, some are Babylon but not all, because the last seventh candlestick (Seventh-day Adventist church) is not Babylon, even though they are all candlesticks!

SEVEN HEADS (CHURCHES) ARE NOT ALL BABYLON

Again, to be logical: Though the leopard-like beast has seven heads assembled together, we must say that some of them are Babylon but not all, because the last seventh head (Seventh-day Adventist church) is not Babylon; even though they all have "blasphemy" upon their heads!

"Furthermore, for them {leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist church} to persist in accusing us {Davidians} of calling the church Babylon, when they know all too well that we not only cannot be driven from the denomination, thus proving that we do not call it Babylon, but also that our every publication proves that it cannot be Babylon,--thus for them to persist in this accusation is to engage themselves in misrepresenting us to the people and tempting us to commit wrong--leave the denomination."--7 Tract, pg. 57:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Do you see the logic? If we Davidians really do teach that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon, then why do we keep our membership there? Why do we refuse to leave God's church? Why would we want to be members of Babylon? If we really do teach that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon like the Seventh-day Adventist reformers teach, then wouldn't we leave the church as they do?

In conclusion, let it said here for the record: Davidians do not teach that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon; nor do we voluntarily leave it or tell others to leave it. If there are any who have lost their membership in the Seventh-day Adventist church, it is because some well-meaning brethren have believed the lie that Davidians teach the church is Babylon, and have cast them out (Isa. 66:5)! Now you readers know from SECTION 3 why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon.

If you want to read more about the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9), then click on---> STUDY